Legendary coach praises Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman on the Pat McAfee Show

When Nick Saban, arguably the greatest college football coach of all time, praises your coaching ability, you’re probably in a good place. Just ask Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.

Saban went on the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN and said that Freeman’s personality is a big part of why the Irish are already garnering attention as a College Football Playoff contender. Saban was doing the interview with McAfee from the field at Michigan Stadium.

“I love Marcus Freeman and your team reflects your personality … When your team knows you’re fired up that means something to your players,” Saban said.

The seven-time national champion coach went on to say that a team takes on its head coach’s personality to “some degree” and he pointed out that Freeman showing emotion and rallying the Fighting Irish shortly before they took the field against Texas A&M was key. That’s because, in Saban’s view, it means something to players to see that level of emotion from their head coach. It makes them feel like their coach is just as invested in their success as they are.

Freeman has been on the hot seat at times, in part due to inexperience and in part because of the team transitioning a bit after Brian Kelly decamped for LSU. But now that he’s in his third season and has shaped the roster and coaching staff, he seems to be growing into the gig.

He’s certainly impressed one of the GOATs.

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