When Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman addressed the media, he talked about several different subjects, including how well a young safety in Tae Johnson played. However, one of the most interesting subjects he touched on was how the team is preparing for their season opener against Miami.
Specifically, Freeman noted that he and his squad are ready and waiting to play in a situation where they're playing in a very hot and humid environment.
Hydration habits headline Notre Dame football’s heat-focused practice routine
The Notre Dame football head coach noted that they can't control the weather, but they can control their hydration, specifically over time. “It has to be a habit," is how he explained making sure that his team is ready to play in environments that might not be all that familiar in South Bend. While today wasn't hot in South Bend, Freeman is hoping to get more than a few days with intense heat to somewhat prepare for what they'll see during the season opener.
It's a fascinating look into how the team is getting ready for its season opener, if for no other reason than that you don't usually hear a head coach complain about the weather being comfortable when his team is practicing.
However, Freeman knows that his team has to be ready for a muggy game that can sap the legs of even the most in-shape players on the team. As much is made of having to play Colorado teams in thin atmosphere, or northern teams in the middle of the winter, Notre Dame football taking on the Miami Hurricanes at the end of August will take some adjustments and Freeman hopes they'll get a hint of that before the big game.