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ATLANTA — It’s debatable whether Notre Dame and Ohio State have been the two college football teams most outspoken about their religious faith this season, as Irish quarterback Riley Leonard suggested ahead of their CFP championship showdown on Monday night.
Boise State players and coaches, for instance, made no secret of their Christian beliefs before losing to Penn State in the quarterfinals.
Regardless, the topic was raised Sunday morning at the final pregame news conference for both head coaches.
“When you’re at Notre Dame, faith is something that’s openly talked about, obviously being at a private Catholic university,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. “Amongst our football program, it’s promoted. I’m not saying you have to be Catholic; we’re saying we want our young people to grow in their faith.”
Soon after Freeman was promoted from defensive coordinator to replace Brian Kelly in December 2021, pregame Mass at the on-campus Basilica of the Sacred Heart was reinstated at Freeman’s urging.
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“When you have a leader like Riley Leonard who is very outspoken about his faith and is very intentional about putting together Bible studies and helping his peers grow in their faith … it’s huge,” Freeman said. “It promotes a culture where you’re comfortable as an individual seeking out ways to grow in your faith.”
Freeman converted to Catholicism in the summer of 2022. His wife Joanna and their six children were already Catholic.
“I’m a believer, and I have a strong faith,” Freeman said. “That’s my personal opinion and beliefs. But I think we have a team of leaders that do a really great job of promoting and helping young people grow in their faith.”
Seventh-year Ohio State coach Ryan Day…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/religious-faith-component-huge-part-172118724.html
Author : South Bend Tribune
Publish date : 2025-01-19 17:21:00
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