Marcus Freeman
Michael Reeves/Getty ImagesBefore his team's Sugar Bowl matchup against Georgia, Notre Dame's coach Marcus Freeman He asked his players, staff and their families to spend the holidays as a unit.
“It's a great honor, it's a great honor to be able to celebrate Christmas with your football program, with your football family, and to be coaching a College Football Playoff game,” Freeman, 38, told reporters this week.
Notre Dame prepares to face Georgia on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Freeman and his team beat Indiana 27-17 on Friday, Dec. 20, to advance to the game.
“There are a lot of college football teams that would like to do this,” Freeman continued. “We have to make sure we understand that. Our guys do. None of these guys are thinking about going home, at least they wouldn't tell me if they were thinking about it or not.”
Courtesy of Marcus Freeman/Instagram Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has a great team off the field as well. Freeman, 38, who became Notre Dame's head football coach in December 2021, married his wife, Joanna Freeman, in 2010. The couple met during their time at Ohio State University, where Marcus[…]
“I wouldn't want it any other way,” Freeman concluded.
The winner of the Notre Dame-Georgia game will advance to the Orange Bowl on January 9 in Miami Gardens, Florida against the winner of the Penn State-Boise State game, which takes place on Tuesday, December 31.
Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with the team after defeating the Indiana Hoosiers 27-17 in a first-round playoff game at Notre Dame Stadium on December 20, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana.
Michael Reeves/Getty ImagesFreeman and Notre Dame will face a Georgia team without the team's usual quarterback, Carson BeckWho will miss the rest of the qualifiers due to an elbow injury. In his place, Georgia will rely on a sophomore quarterback Stockton Artillery.
Despite the change, Freeman said his team's preparations have not diminished.
“You look at the 13 games they played,” Freeman said Tuesday, Dec. 24, on FS1. The Herd with Colin Cowherd. “Their offense isn't going to be all that different with a new quarterback.
Freeman added: “There are some things that (Stockton) does well within their system. He makes really good decisions. He makes quick decisions. Obviously he can extend the play with his feet – more runs at the QB. But we still plan to see the things we saw Their offense did it, regardless of who was at quarterback.
Christmas Day was sacred and joyful for many celebrities and their loved ones. “Christmas morning in London! Merry Christmas, guys. We love you so much,” Chrissy Teigen wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, December 25. Teigen and her husband John Legend kicked off the celebrations in a London hotel room with their daughter Luna, Estee and (…)
Notre Dame has won 11 straight games since its shocking loss at home to unranked Northern Illinois on Sept. 7. Later, Freeman said the defeat taught him a lot about his team.
“Well, right after the game, you're like, 'I've been here before,'” Freeman recalled. The herd. “I told them: 'Listen, it's going to be a tough week. It's going to be a long week, but I've been here before.'
“All season long, I kept telling them, 'Keep hurting, keep hurting,' because we can't let losing keep teaching us the lessons we need to learn to prepare,” Freeman added. “They did a great job of continuing to find ways to get better, but preparation and mindset were key.”
The Sugar Bowl between Notre Dame and Georgia kicks off on Wednesday, January 1 at 8:45 PM ET on ESPN.
