The roller coaster that has been the sports experience of your average Notre Dame football fan these last six weeks has not wanted for thrills or chills, with a heavy dose of the latter. From Notre Dame’s controversial exclusion from the College Football Playoff bracket to the equally-controversial decision not to participate in the non-playoff bowls to head coach Marcus Freeman’s will-he-or-won’t-he discussions with the New York Giants regarding their head coaching position to the slow-but-steady-wins-the-race experience in the recently-closed transfer portal, an investment in Procter & Gamble stock might have been something to consider.
In volatile environments such as these, even decisions that seem trivial can generate a spotlight. Such is happening with coach Freeman’s recent decision to join ESPN’s College GameDay show prior to the championship game as a guest analyst. Freeman will join Pat McAfee, Desmond Howard, and the other bulbs to bring his experience not only participating in the title game but also facing the Miami squad that will take on the Indiana Hoosiers in it.
Like anything involving Notre Dame football these days, Freeman’s decision has its supporters and its detractors, and both groups hold their opinions strongly. The detractors remind us, correctly, of ESPN’s not-insignificant role in the aforementioned playoff exclusion, and ask why anyone associated with Notre Dame should do anything that could be considered helpful to that network. The supporters remind us, equally correctly, that whatever its … let’s call them “faults”, ESPN remains an outsized player in the college football universe and alienating them unnecessarily would be cutting off our collective noses to spite our faces.
It’s a Good Idea…
Me? Consider me a supporter, with one very important caveat.
ESPN, never a supporter of the Fighting Irish, helped screw Notre Dame over, no doubt about it. Others like the ACC were merely Renfields to the Vlad Tepes role the “world leader” assumed. Given that the network has rights to very few Notre Dame sports productions, and even fewer when it comes to football, I wouldn’t expect either them or their minions to be in Notre Dame’s corner on many occasions to begin with. But the seemingly active role they took in the bracket determinations in December really went above and beyond. So if going forward, College GameDay in South Bend really is in South Bend — say, at Four Winds Stadium rather than sitting below The Word of Life — I’d have no problem with that.
Having said that, though, there can be too much of a good thing here. Those who have cheated us once can cheat us again, and while I don’t want Notre Dame to go out of their way for ESPN, there still remain opportunities to bolster ND’s image via appearances of which they should take advantage. Besides, Freeman’s presence will be a breath of fresh air in a vacuum of stale. I imagine at least Nick Saban will appreciate the increased wattage behind the desk.
…but it Comes with a Catch
So yes, I’m in favor of the move. But as noted, I also have a caveat, and it’s critical.
If I have a criticism of Freeman’s recent press conference, it was his handling of the inevitable questions regarding his recent NFL discussions and the potential for more of them in the future. While I’m sure the issue is settled in his mind, it certainly didn’t come across that way in the video I watched. If there was anything he should have walked in there knowing were coming, queries including the words “New York Giants” should have been top of the list, and a strong prepared answer was in order. And yet those were the responses for which he seemed unsure. Not good.
Personally, I believe this to be a function of Freeman’s honesty. As I noted on Dome & Domer earlier this week, given their experiences the last 30 or so years, Notre Dame fans aren’t used to their head football coach having a soul, not to mention the associated transparency and honesty. I have no doubt in my mind Freeman sees the NFL as an eventual goal, and I have no issues with him pursuing that goal (assuming he’s achieved a certain goal at ND first, of course). But the last thing someone as straightforward as Freeman wants to do is basically lie to the fans’ faces regarding something like this, and his difficulties reconciling that to the necessity of providing some kind of answer that didn’t blow up his locker room played out in that PC.
That’s fine for a group in the Gug, internet broadcast or not. It ain’t gonna work under the bright lights on GameDay. And that crew isn’t going to be content with the NFL questions — every soar and plunge since the bracket unveiling show is fair game for them, and the land mines will be aplenty.
Be Ready For It All
Freeman needs to prepare for all of it. I hope that he’s sitting down with A.D. Pete Bevacqua and/or someone from Notre Dame PR staff to “get the story straight”. When McAfee or Howard ask the inevitable knuckle-headed question(s), Freeman should have the answer at the ready with a smile on his face. Charm ’em, disarm ’em, bring the knowledge, and walk away with all the ordnance unexploded.
The opportunity is there, he should make it a good one and start planning Scorched Earth 2026.
Tell Mike what you think in the comments below
TumorGoByeBye says:
Thanks Coffey! Thoughtful words as usual.
Scorched Earth. Leave No Doubt. I kinda like the sound of that. I also like that ND CRUSHED IT in the portal after a start that seemed slow to knuckleheads like me.
Already excited for the 26 season, and hopefully the next time Coach is at the big dance, it won’t be as an analyst!
VernonJ says:
Amen to “Scorched Earth”!.
4-touchdown victories (minimally) and the traditionally impressive graduation rate should be ND’s middle-finger-with-a-smile to ESPN, this CFP committee and “join a conference” dopes everywhere,
Isn’t that what MF meant when he said “It’s up to us to leave no doubt.”?
The Obvious says:
Don’t blow one of the first two games this past season, and Freeman might have been coaching tomorrow night. Now we have to deal with all the Indiana BS. I’m not watching.
OneHistorian says:
Let me begin by stating the obvious – Freeman has class, espn has none.
What is the big deal? There will be numerous talking heads there and they will be falling all over each other to get their voices heard. In any case Freeman really doesn’t have to say much – he is, after all, the Head Football Coach at Notre Dame – the simple fact that he is there is a feather in the cap of ESPN.
To me there is no fear that Freeman can’t handle himself in this situation. Besides that – there will be MANY H.S. players watching, and MANY of next year’s transfers watching.
Let’s just relax and watch the game – if Indiana wins they will conclude the season with a record of 16-0, aka the first time that has been done since 1894 – 131 years.
GO HOOSIERS!!!
Vairish84 says:
While I don’t particularly like the idea of helping ESPN, it doesn’t bother me much.
I think the bigger benefit for this is recruiting. Every high school player will be watching, as will their parents. For several hours, he will be in every recruit’s living room. As you say, they will see an honest, transparent person who thinks through everything. They will also see someone who is knowledgeable and approachable. They will see someone they want to play for and that they want to trust with their children. You can’t buy that publicity.
He will have answers to the obvious questions, and this is a good sign we have moved on. Whether we want to or not, we have to move on. The purpose, as it should be, is to talk about Miami and Indiana. I can’t imagine there will be more than a few questions, if that, about the snub or not playing in the bowl. ESPN is basically telling its audience that this is a smart guy who knows football and can talk intelligently. Perhaps we accept it as a peace offering and just move on.
mike'73 says:
Optimism over pessimism is usually a better approach, than the reverse. However, when approaching a known and self-documenting enemy of one’s own welfare, optimism opens the door to catastrophe. Your closing assertions sound great, in a world where everyone is “pulling in the same direction,” which decidedly does NOT describe ESPN’s approach to ND, for all the well-established reasons ND fans are all too aware of. This situation at the CFBP NC game broadcast is one filed with landmines, and the “panel” that MF will sit with is composed of a dedicated enemy school graduate/Heisman Trophy winner who would like nothing more than to denigrate ND (and its recruiting prospects going forward) on national TV, as well as the recently retired GOAT of CFB coaching who had several opportunities to coach at ND and declined each, plus a national sports show podcasting knucklehead who is entirely unpredictable in public. The remaining two were none too hesitant to assert that ND did not deserve entry into the CFBP this year, on more than one occasion. So, in a sense, MF is entering a lion’s den of ND opponents of varying levels of dislike bordering on hatred. I too expect him to handle himself well, but 5-on-1 is a bit heavy-handed, no matter how you view it. Hopefully he IS very well-prepped in advance of his appearance.
NBND75 says:
Just an observation. Rece is an Alabama grad. I saw him at an event on campus honoring Ara, with Mark May also in attendance. He made a funny remark to Ara about how his teams broke a young boy’s spirit when ND beat Alabama in consecutive bowl games. Ara joked that he crushed Alabama by one point in the Sugar Bowl and 2 points in the Orange Bowl. It was a sweet exchange. Even Mark May spoke well of ND.
Neither Rece nor Saban are ever going to jeopardize their school’s chances of making it into the playoffs – neither would Desmond nor Kirk. Kirk also shows his bias toward anyone who puts one of his kids on their team (Dabo and Ryan). Also, these guys all make a lot of money from their employer. Common sense says you don’t anger your boss, no matter who employs you. Don’t take this as making excuses for them because I am not. Corso was our only real defender on that show and who I met at the Joyce Center when GameDay came to ND for its first road trip in ’93. Very classy man.
Mike G says:
If he was prepared and so inclined, he could use this as an opportunity to clearly explain in a professional manner HOW ESPN played a “not-insignificant role in the playoff exclusion”, and the entire country would hear it. Be specific and give examples. Perhaps it would be a step to meaningful change and reforms to the process. I don’t think he will do this but I would love to see it!
Craig Chval Sr says:
If Notre Dame employed anybody capable of what you suggest in terms of prepping Marcus Freeman for the Game Day appearance, Christian Gray wouldn’t have been left to the wolves in the locker room after last year’s national championship game.
Jack Swarbrick foolishly thought that “content creation” would supplant the media relations function (they’re not the same, nor are they interchangeable). Last year’s ambush of Gray was compelling evidence of just how wrong Swarbrick was (add it to the list).
John Heisler never would have let that happen and heaven knows Roger Valdiserri wouldn’t have either. Swarbrick fired the former and never would have been wise or secure enough to employ the latter.
NBND75 says:
Good analysis. It’s good PR for everyone. I don’t expect any cheap shots. More like the. Franklin appearance lovefest. Rece and Saban will be nice. Desmond and Kirk will ask questions to try and look thoughtful and Pat will continue to play the clown. Much ado about nothing.
mike'73 says:
With all due respect, ESPN has ZERO to gain with ND (in the person of MF) coming off well on its premier national TV broadcast of the ultimate CFB game of the season, ESPECIALLY given its by-now well appreciated role in ND not being invited to participate, despite the overwhelming evidence it was much more worthy than the schools ESPN and its business partners (SEC and ACC) pushed for – Alabama, Oklahoma (as well as JMU and Tulane, whose participation was admittedly unavoidable based on the current rules). I cannot be as optimistic as you are, and frankly it is usually I who am accused of being pollyanna-ish in advance of potentially controversial situations. I pray you are correct, and am glad it’s not me going up there, ’cause my “Irish” would be flaming from the get-go, with names, dates, times, and direct quotes, none of which would come off well for ND.
NBND75 says:
You may be right. And like you, if I were on the show they would have to listen to some very unflattering statements about their bias against ND. I do believe, though, that this is a “kiss and make-up” situation based more on business necessity than righting a wrong. Like it or not, we are business partners with ESPN, though to a much lesser extent than with NBC. ESPN broadcasts a lot of our away games and oftentimes schedules them for prime time slots for obvious reasons. Continuing animosity between us is not going to play well for either of us in future broadcasts.
Reflecting on how we were excluded, it occurs to me that there might have been more at stake than simply ESPN doing the bidding of the SEC, ACC and their on-air talent Saban. Saban went out of his way to say ND belonged but never touched upon the unfairness of a 3 loss Alabama team jumping us. Instead he directed his comments at the slots guaranteed to JMU and Tulane. And now I am reading that those 2 spots may now be reduced to only 1 with caveats. Perhaps we were used to help the conferences strong-arm a change in the treatment of the other Group of 5 conferences. Maybe I’m slow to realize what many others have thought.
I noticed that ND is showing up as #4 in the way-to-early polls for next season. Clearly the pundits know that last year’s CFP championship game appearance and 10 game winning steak this year were not flukes (like happened in the Kelly era).
Paul Stauder says:
My hope is that DCHCMF can pose a simple question to the panel at some point this evening: At what point did our team NOT look playoff-worthy this year? Then he can stare into their eyes individually and watch them squirm.