Rally Sons of Notre Dame, the university is headed to the NCAA playoffs!

The No. 7 Fighting Irish will face the No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers on Friday, December 20th at the House that Rockne Built. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST.

Nobody could have predicted this duel at the start of the 2024 season. While the university’s academic quality is top-notch, let’s take a closer look at the man currently leading the team: coach Marcus Freeman.

In an unprecedented move, Brian Kelly, the Irish’s previous head coach, left the team shortly before it was scheduled to play in the Fiesta Bowl on January 1, 2022, to become the new head coach of Louisiana State University. This news sent shockwaves, not only to the Notre Dame family, but also to the world of college football. New is Marcus Freeman, the Irish’s defensive coordinator, who received the ultimate promotion to head coach in December 2021, Week 13 of the season.

There are popular football game day traditions on college campuses that make each atmosphere unique. Aside from trumpeting in the Dome, eating Knights of Columbus steak sandwiches, and various rounds of touchdown push-ups, there are alternative traditions that our players participate in, and I don’t just mean the valuable “play like a champ today.” Sign.

Coach Freeman’s first-week priority was reintroducing a beloved tradition: game day Mass and the players’ walk from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart to Notre Dame Stadium.

During the famous Player Walk, the marching band and fans line up on opposite sides of the walk to cheer on our athletes as the team walks through the door marked “

“God, country, Notre Dame, in eternal glory.”

Under the direction of coach Brian Kelly, the tradition was moved to the night before.

In one Interview 2022 with the National Catholic RegistryFreeman, a Catholic convert, says:

“What better time for me to go to Mass?” What better time to be really excited, to understand every word that comes out of the priest’s mouth, and to be as close to God as possible?” He continues: “You go to Mass, and our whole team goes to mass, whether Catholic or not. And you realize that we all accept and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior. That’s important to me. I want our boys to ask themselves what it means to accept Jesus Christ.”

Coach Freeman was baptized into the Catholic Church and received his first Holy Communion and the sacrament of Confirmation in 2022 posted in the bulletin of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, Indiana, September 11, 2022. Coach Freeman’s wife, Joanna, is a Catholic, as are their six children.

Freeman was just named a George Munger College Coach of the Year semifinalist after posting a 30-9 record and playoff appearances over three seasons.

In a blog published on December 18, 2024, for The Players Tribune, Irish quarterback senior Riley Leonard #13 reflected on his time at Notre Dame, the brotherhood of the team and his faith.

“One of my favorite Bible verses, Matthew 23:12, says, ‘Whoever exalts or praises himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be praised.’ I wear these words on my wrist every game.”

As for our upcoming game under the Friday night lights, it feels good to know that Our Lady’s University has both a prestigious academic curriculum and a football program with a Catholic head coach who, for at least the next six years, will be “all.” in”.

But a few Hail Marys won’t hurt if you’re generous. The Mother of God Is At least on our Golden Dome.

Our Lady of Victory, pray for us!