Freeman emphasizes commitment as Irish look forward to Georgia Tech

Courtesy of The Pilot News, Photo by Maggie Nixon

SOUTH BEND — In his weekly Monday press conference, Notre Dame head football coach Marcus Freeman was happy to applaud his team for taking the Legends Trophy game with Stanford on Saturday, but quickly looked to another week of tough preparation for Georgia Tech.
“I told the team that trophy represents team glory and there was a lot of good as you watch the film on both sides of the ball but the important thing to remember is how we got to that outcome,” said Freeman. “We have to continue to recognize that we can play better. There are plays all over the film that we could perform at a higher level. We have to get back to work and understand how good this group can be and when you understand that you are willing to put in the work that it takes to achieve that outcome.”
“For us, that means playing at our full potential, the best we can. There is more to what this football team can do. Everybody’s definition of great can be different but to us as a program, it’s to elevate and take that next step.”
Freeman said that his emphasis on doing what it takes to be better each week was simply a reminder to his team and staff to stay focused on the goals at hand.
“People can naturally be complacent,” he said. “I have to make sure that everybody in our program understands that. We have to elevate and be better. They’ve (the team) been committed from the first day we started this journey but now I think we are beginning to see what that work and preparation truly entails and that’s got to be our focus.”
It would be hard not to be focused for this Saturday as the Irish head to Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta to take on a 5-2 Georgia Tech team.
“They are a really good football team,” said Freeman. “They do a lot of good things in all three phases. They will require great preparation, a great game plan, and execution on Saturday.”
“Both (Georgia Tech) quarterbacks can run the ball,” said Freeman. “(Haynes) King went out during the game last week but their offense didn’t really change much (with backup Zach Pyron). They are both threats with the ball in their hands.”
Having a great dual-threat quarterback of his own in Riley Leonard makes Freeman feel his team will be ready.
“Going against a quarterback that you know can run it every day in practice helps you develop a game plan,” he said. “But every offense is different. We will have a great plan for them, and we will have to execute it.”