Despite fan rumblings, a change at Notre Dame football QB1 isn't imminent

Considering the start to the season for Riley Leonard, it’s hardly surprising that Notre Dame football fans on social media and radio call-in shows are already proclaiming it is time for Steve Angeli to take the reigns.

Demands to bench Leonard aren’t surprising at all. Even if he wasn’t off to a horrible start, Angeli is a fan favorite and Fighting Irish fans often have a stronger case of backup quarterback fever than the average program. 

However, anyone who was hoping Marcus Freeman might announce a change at quarterback for this Saturday’s game against Purdue were disappointed on Monday. While the Notre Dame football head coach didn’t specifically say Leonard is still the starter, nothing he said could be taken as a hint of a change.

“Riley is competitive person who takes ownership & puts a lot on his shoulders,” Freeman said at one point during his Monday press conference. “We had a good meeting on Sunday on confidence we have in him.”

Notre Dame football quarterback change isn’t on the horizon

There was also the question of Freeman on whether he had any thoughts about pulling Leonard on Saturday for Angeli. The Irish coach shot it down immediately.

“No consideration of that. We have a lot of belief in Riley. We have a lot of faith in Angeli too, but no consideration of that.”

Freeman did add that while Leonard needs to make better plays at times, the quarterback’s teammates and coaches need to step up and be better as well. 

What’s clear from the Notre Dame football press conference on Monday is that its head coach is not remotely happy with the way the offense is operating. However, he’s not hanging the reason for the struggles on his starting quarterback.

That’s bound to frustrate Fighting Irish fans. At least until Riley Leonard shows he deserves the level of trust the coaches have placed in him.