OT: Marcus Freeman Hired as HC at Notre Dame
Title says it all. Personally surprised they didn't wait on Fickell.
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— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) December 3, 2021
Please join us in welcoming @Marcus_Freeman1 as the 30th head coach of Notre Dame Football!#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/PVaPuPhukp
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:19 AM ^
It didn't sound to me that Fickell was going anywhere
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:24 AM ^
With Cincinnati going to the Big 12 and that conference still has a major TV deal for several years. Why not try and build what you already have in a conference where, you may enter as the team to beat?
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:37 AM ^
i was messaging with the vatican and they told me that ND wanted Fickell but he wasn’t willing to talk to anyone until Cincinnati’s season is over - whenever that may be. ND didn’t want to wait and there was a ground swell of support for Freeman within the program - multiplied by the coaching carousel happening and lots of schools kicking the tires on Freeman for both HC and DC roles - and that all adds to the recipe for ND to lock down Freeman plus the remaining staff in an effort for stability and youth.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:48 AM ^
So the Vatican is a ND insider? I thought the Pope was a Michigan fan?
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:02 AM ^
Benedict always struck me as a Domer, Francis is all Blue.
December 3rd, 2021 at 1:54 PM ^
I honestly feel like it's a good move on their part. ND hasn't had a likeable coach in god knows how long, so he should recruit well.
If it works, great.
If not, I'm sure ND will ink a contract that's highly leveraged in their favor (which we'll never see since they're private), and the cupboard will likely not be bare for the next guy.
ND is one of the few schools that can afford to take a chance, IMO.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:29 AM ^
Just my personal opinion, if Fickell was approached by ND and turned it down, that's all I need to know to assume that he is waiting for the OSU job to open up. Now, when that job will open up? Who knows. Unless Day starts losing The Game with regularity he's got that job for as long as he wants it. He may have NFL aspirations but there's nothing definitively proving that he does. But I digress.
I'm guessing that with Cincinnati moving to the Big XII before too long, Fickell is content to wait it out, continue building up that program and his coaching skills, further solidify his recruiting connections, both instate and out of state (with them going to the Big XII, recruiting Texas is even more of a priority, and OSU has recruited Texas heavily ever since Meyer showed up), and then when the OSU job opens up, all he's got to do is travel 75-100 miles up the road on I-71. Fickell will likely be the first and only call that OSU makes when that job opens up.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:27 AM ^
So even more reason to hate notre dame since Freeman was a LB at osu in his playing days.
(by all accounts, he's a great person and very different from Kelly. Nothing against the guy personally, but nd AND osu? come on...)
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:27 AM ^
Dear Gene Smith,
Day lost 'THE GAME'. That is unacceptable. I'm available to talk with you about anything you would like.
Yours truly,
Luke Fickell
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:31 AM ^
More plausible scenario...
Day to Chicago Bears -> Fickell to OSU
If beating the Lions meant the world to you, especially this Lions team, you shouldn't be a head coach.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:47 AM ^
Says the last OSU coach to lose THE GAME?
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:49 AM ^
:-) Fickell is a winner now. Keep up.
December 3rd, 2021 at 1:07 PM ^
Not anymore!!!!
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:11 AM ^
Yeah but Fickell is 0-1 in THE GAME as a head coach, so what's he going to talk about?
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:42 AM ^
And he's 0-2 against Michigan overall (2017 Michigan-Cincinnati).
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:30 AM ^
The way people here talked about that game at the time, you'd think his record was now 1-1.
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:37 AM ^
Luke Fickell would NEVER stoop so low as to write a letter to or email OSU's athletic department in a thinly veiled attempt to land the job for himself. You should be ashamed for even suggesting such a bush league tactic like that.
On the other hand, I did hear that Fuke Lickell has been whispering in Gene Smith's ear 24/7 since Saturday afternoon.
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:44 AM ^
Dear Luke,
You are 0-1 as a head coach against Michigan. Kindly piss off.
Gene Smith
December 3rd, 2021 at 8:13 PM ^
Let’s also not forget his record vs us as a player, which can’t be all that good
December 4th, 2021 at 11:23 AM ^
You’re right about that— as a player he’s 1-3 (1-3-1 if you count his RS year).
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:27 AM ^
I think there's only one CFB opening Fickell would leave for and that's OSU. Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe Freeman got the job so they could have an HC before Selection Sunday. There was no need to rush this hire if this is allegedly a Top 5 job.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:48 AM ^
Could be, but in the next 5 years, I'd argue that UC has a better chance of getting to the Championship game than ND. UC will be in a P5, get a conference championship game, doesn't have especially tough competition, avoids a resurgent USC, and can recruit more regionally if OSU is more national.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:29 AM ^
Fickell isn't going anywhere. He is waiting patiently for that one job he wants.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:42 AM ^
Some desperate NFL team is going to throw the bag at him.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:27 AM ^
I don't get this. Why would NFL teams be so hard up to get Fickell? He looks to be a good college coach, but even the greatest of those have sometimes struggled on that stage.
Fickell may get some NFL opportunities, but if I had the choice between coaching the Lions now or in Columbus in 3 years, I would choose the Buckeyes, and I HATE OSU. The better NFL jobs will have better candidates. The NFL Bag and the big-time college Bag are about the same, so as long as he thinks he has a chance at OSU, he's holding out for that one.
December 3rd, 2021 at 12:21 PM ^
From what I've read, he's not an NFL coach and knows it. He's really recruited well - for Cincinnati - as he's been getting the 2nd tier Ohio kids that OSU doesn't go after. The kids that play for him absolutely love him. His wife and family want to stay in the Midwest - close to their Ohio roots. Fickell's wife is also a graduate of OSU
He's not the flashy type that Day is but more of meat and potatoes type - more like Harbaugh. If he keeps the success going at Cincinnati, he'll be the next OSU coach after Day returns to the NFL - just a matter of time
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:30 AM ^
I read that the current team basically demanded this hire. I think ND made the quick hire to 1. keep the team together and 2. keep their current recruits. He will be a good coach, and ND will be relevant as long as they have a weak ass schedule.
Fickell will be the next coach at Ohio State when Day leaves. Staying at Cinci for now is the right move for him.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:40 AM ^
This was the best choice for them to keep a possible playoff run intact as well. No way Fickell bolts when his team has a better chance of securing a spot than ND right now.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:07 AM ^
We have a few kids from our town are on the ND roster and one who is a coach, and the feedback is that EVERYONE loves Freeman. The guys in town who are ND alums and close to the program are happy with the hire.
They don't view this hire as a desperate move.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:32 AM ^
Everyone loved Hoke, too, and maybe many still do. Freeman seems like a good option, but Fickell would be a better bet as he’s got HC experience.
But even more so, If Fickell refused to speak to ND until Cinci’s season is over, Fickell’s demonstrated exactly the type of character that Kelly did not. Makes him a more attractive candidate to lead young men and a program.
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:47 AM ^
I remember the West Virginia players basically demanding they hire Bill Stewart
Fast forward just a couple messy, mediocre years and Stewart's wife was calling local radio to slander coach-in-waiting Dana "Lifestyle" Holgorsen
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
Hiring a player's choice coach often fails; Bobby Williams, Larry Coker, and Mark Helfrich are examples of guys that couldn't cut it long-term. But Coker and Helfrich both made title games, and retaining a strong staff is a pretty big deal--it is arguably the reason that Dabo has maintained such a high level of success at Clemson. If Freeman is Dabo... that's a good choice.
And it seems like the surface-level feeling in our fanbase that Kelly is a jerk has legs to it, given how people have handled his departure from ND.
Also, no idea if Freeman is going to work out, but this introduction is pretty cool:
December 3rd, 2021 at 12:59 PM ^
I share a cubicle with a Notre Dame guy and yesterday our resident Buckeye old-timer stopped by to congratulate me for last weekend. The ND guy inserted himself in the convo because of course he did and I ended up making the Bobby Williams comparison because it's just too perfect. Coach goes to LSU, tries to take all his assistants and gets rebuffed by pretty much everybody when they promote the players coach that everybody loves. The ND guy is in his early 30's so it went totally over his head, but the Buckeye old-timer laughed and laughed, so I guess that's something.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:36 AM ^
Higher risk hire, but high upside. Great recruiter apparently, but we all know that can't be everything. The bad is that it will make it hard for UM to pick off any ND recruits. The good is that he won't be going to OSU to be their new DC. At least not yet.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:40 AM ^
Man what a turn of events. Weren't we all on here pissed when we didn't get him for our DC job? I haven't seen a single post about Macdonald getting looks as a HC, so I'm hoping if things go well, he can stay here for a while. Seems like Freeman was destined for a coaching job if he did well wherever he ended up after Cincinnati, and in this case Notre Dame.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:47 AM ^
Freeman has more experience as a DC vs Mac.
December 3rd, 2021 at 4:38 PM ^
I know, which was the point I was making. If Freeman took our DC job and performed well, he would've gotten a HC job quickly. Since Mac is newer, seems like there's less of a chance for a school to offer him a HC job right now. I'm still worried about Mike Hart leaving for Temple, or if Indiana moves on from Tom Allen they could pry him back for the head coaching role.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:40 AM ^
Good for him. I am tired of hearing the same litany of potential names from the so-called experts. Remember, Mo and Lloyd were both inside hires, although Mo had been a HC at Illinois for 3 years and Lloyd had never been a HC.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:45 AM ^
This is an interesting hirefirst time head coach at a blue blood. But I think it's a really good situation, Kelly is leaving ND in solid top 10 condition. Should be an an easy transition, not as easy as Day to OSU, but close enough.
Also ND is really still in the playoff picture and I think this serves the team well if they somehow backdoor into the CFP.
All in all it makes sense to do it now rather than wait
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:52 AM ^
so... youre saying.. born on 2nd and thinks he hit a double?
December 3rd, 2021 at 11:20 AM ^
Ha born on 2nd! That's great!
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:46 AM ^
First time head coach. Could boom, bust, or anywhere in between. It'll be interesting to see how it goes. Not a major concern for Michigan since they're not on the schedule for over a decade.
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:48 AM ^
The ND job always affects Michigan whether we play them or not. Recruiting is everything and UM/ND go head to head a lot. A strong ND coach makes that more difficult,
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:50 AM ^
Slightly higher risk with this hire than others they may have pursued, but given the buzz around him as an up and coming coaching star - very high ceiling on the rewards side.
Perhaps the most interesting thing is how much this effects Kelly at LSU and what his moves will be on the assistant front. Worth noting that his parallel in Riley seems to be comfortably moving his entire staff and two top flight recruiting classes with him to LA.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:51 AM ^
The claim from some is that ND did this, and kept the rest of the coaches to keep the committee from eliminating them because they had no coach and were directionless. A quick hire to say.. were the same team and if bama loses, put us in.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:52 AM ^
I hope he effects a bad Southern accent in his prepared remarks.
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:55 AM ^
I'm glad to hear this. My fear was if he was passed over he would end up at osu as the DC
December 3rd, 2021 at 9:58 AM ^
i think the players really put on a push for Freeman.
The guy was going to be a HC next season somewhere imo if he didn't get the ND job.
Seems like a good guy and most likely a good hire - having another year under his belt at ND as a coordinator would have been better, but at least he has a general sense of how things are run there.
I think Fickell said he wouldn't talk to anyone before the playoffs and ND didn't want to wait. that long
December 3rd, 2021 at 10:06 AM ^
They didn't wait for Fickell because waiting for Fickell would've completely destroyed their recruiting class. Honestly shocked they were able to basically retain all of Kelly's staff