Some coaches might be plenty happy about the blowout win Notre Dame had over Navy on Saturday night. That's not Marcus Freeman's bag, though. And that's why the Fighting Irish appear ready to go to the playoffs for the second straight year despite some crushing, early-season losses.
Freeman knows that one of the reasons the Fighting Irish are back in a good spot for the playoffs is because his team can't let up. Even when they're forging a blowout victory, they can't relax. He said as much after the game, as he talked about the focus his team needs in the final weeks of the regular season.
Marcus Freeman understands Notre Dame has to struggle in order to get better
Freeman was asked about his approach and how he keeps his team focused, especially in a blowout like the one on Saturday, and his answer is one that certainly applies to life as well as football.
"You thought it was over in the third quarter," the Notre Dame head coach said as he met with the media. "I hope not anybody in our football program thought it was over."
"That play in the third quarter, whatever play it was that you might've thought it was over, is the most important play for this team and who was on that field and who called that play to execute so we can win that game."
"And that's how we have to be. We can't relax, right? Or you won't truly elevate. Why do you have to struggle? Because you can't grow if you don't struggle."
"We can't get better if we go and do a Tuesday practice and it's not uncomfortable. You're not getting better. I tell them all the time. We can structure this thing however you want it. If you're not uncomfortable, we're not getting better. So that's why you have to struggle. That's why you have to struggle. Whatever it is your routine is, your process, it has to include struggle if you want to grow from it."
The Notre Dame football coach lives by this motto for every game and every season. And it's why he's made the Fighting Irish one of the most feared teams in the sport.