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Jan. 8—MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Ahead of a blockbuster semifinal matchup, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is aware of what step of the postseason his Fighting Irish team is at by just listening to the noise surrounding his program this late in the season.
He’s warning his team to not fall into the trap a second time.
“I think it’s human nature to enjoy hearing people saying good things about you,” Freeman said Saturday after returning home from Notre Dame’s 23-10 Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal win over Georgia.
“It’s human nature,” Freeman continued. “But we’ve talked all year about being misfits and that’s what we have to continue to be. You have to make the choice to either waste time listening to people telling you how good you are and or what the past has been or you’re going to put your time into preparing for this opportunity right in front of us and that’s been my message loud and clear.”
Just four months ago, Freeman’s advice must have fallen on deaf ears, judging based on how the Irish faceplanted following its 23-13 win over Texas A&M of the Southeastern Conference. Now with another win over the propped-up SEC, his team is getting all the praise it could have dreamed of.
With 6th-seeded Penn State (13-2) awaiting in the Orange Bowl, Freeman is offering up why the Fighting Irish have no reason to rest.
“It’s a very talented, disciplined and tough football team,” Freeman said. “Very creative offense that utilizes a bunch of different personnel’s, a bunch of different formations. It’s going to force you to be extremely disciplined in terms of your eyes and your adjustments.”
Nittany Lion tight end Tyler Warren is someone, along with Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter, Freeman has tagged as “one of the best players in college football.”
Warren, this year’s top tight end and Mackey Award…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nd-football-notre-dame-penn-031600603.html
Author : Goshen News, Ind.
Publish date : 2025-01-09 03:16:00
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