The Notre Dame football team put together a heck of a win on Saturday afternoon. In fact, it was the kind of win that could convince some analysts the Irish belong in the playoffs.
After the win, head coach Marcus Freeman addressed the media. And after the 51-14 win he was in a pretty decent mood.
Even a Notre Dame football coach like Freeman knows that win like that is a big one. And he knows how hard it is to get.
Notre Dame football head coach talks win over Navy
Turnover margin was key
“That was a point of emphasis. This team was number two in the country in turnover margin. And I just told the guys we were plus six in the turnover margin. That's huge. Proud of all three phases. A lot of good.”
The Red Zone and how the coaches deal with it
“It's a point of emphasis. We gotta have a great plan, but it's also a mindset when you get down there that we gotta score touchdowns on offense and we gotta force them to try a field goal attempt on defense.”
On the trust that Leonard Moore has earned after stepping in because of injuries
“With the snap of a finger, you can be thrust into the spotlight. But I said this, I think in the press conference last time I was up there and I said it to the team. You earn the trust from your teammates and your coaches first before you're ever thrust into the spotlight. Leonard Moore earned the trust through fall camp, through season. And Benjamin Morrison goes down, he's thrust into the spotlight.”
“Now everybody recognizes it, but he earned that through his preparation, the way he came in here as a true freshman and he approached fall camp, approached each week that way. And so that's what we gotta continue to tell our guys, earn the trust of your teammates and your coaches first. And when you're thrust into the spotlight, you'll be ready to go.”
The Notre Dame football head coach was clearly happy with the way that his team played against Navy. Even if he paid lip service to wanting to get better. Now they go into their second bye of the season before taking on a Florida State team that’s sen its season spiral out of control.