Marcus Freeman Has A Message For Notre Dame's Critics

Marcus Freeman introduced Gerad Parker as Notre Dame's new offensive coordinator after a long search to replace Tommy Rees.

During Monday's press conference, per 247Sports' Kevin Sinclair, the Fighting Irish head coach responded to doubts over the program's commitment to winning a national championship.

"I don't see if there's any other way that they can show more commitment to us having success," Freeman said. "Now, it could be with coaching, salaries, that can be with NIL. That can be with the support of our football program and continuing to enhance everything we do. Facilities. Training table. Whatever it is that we believe our program needs to continue to climb to the mountaintop, I've had full support by the administration and [athletic director] Jack [Swarbrick]."

Freeman addressed "misconceptions" of the school missing out on coordinator candidates, including Utah's Andy Ludwig, out of a reluctance to pay a buyout.

"I want to be very crystal clear about that. At no point during this process or since my time that I've been here do I not feel that I've had the support of our administration and Jack," Freeman said. "He's offered to pay whatever buyout there's been."

Freeman plans to keep running a pro-style offense under Parker, Notre Dame's tight ends coach last season. However, Freeman insisted that he's "not hiring a buddy."

"You're hiring a guy to run the offense and to have a dang good offense," he said. "And at the end, I have a strong belief that we will under his direction."

Notre Dame hasn't won a national title since 1988 and lost both College Football Playoff games in 2018 and 2020. Freeman's program must make take major strides to enter the championship picture following a 9-4 season.