Notre Dame is on its way to making history after defeating Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night to advance to its first national championship game since the 2012 season with hopes of winning its first title in nearly 40 years.

However, after the Fighting Irish’s win, head coach Marcus Freeman was asked by ESPN reporter Molly McGrath how much the win meant to him, as he was the first Black head coach to achieve one Title game.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on January 9, 2025. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Freeman, who asked similar questions leading up to this game, refocused the conversation on his team and the significance of their win.

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“You know, I’ve said this before, I never want to take attention away from the team. It’s an honor and I hope that all coaches – minorities, black, Asian, white, it doesn’t matter – great people continue to get the opportunity to lead young men in this way.”

He continued: “But this isn’t about me, it’s about us. And we will celebrate what we did because it is special.”

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and the team sing for fans after winning the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game against Penn State on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Some on social media expressed objections to the question. These critics included NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre, who praised Freeman for his answer.

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“Terrible question but great answer from Notre Dame head coach,” Favre wrote in a post on X. “Sports should bring people together, not divide them.”

Since then, Freeman has fielded similar questions about his race and the meaning of his achievements Victory over Georgia last week at the Sugar Bowl. Each time he focused again on the program’s successes.

“You’re grateful to be part of this opportunity and you’re grateful every time your name is mentioned because you’re the first, but you don’t want to lose sight of how we got to this point, and I’m speaking “about your team and everyone who has put in the effort to get your program to this point and those who have come before you,” he said during a press conference earlier this week.

“This isn’t about me either. This isn’t about one person. It takes a team, it takes a program and it takes a lot of people committed to something bigger than themselves to empower your team.” “Here I understand that and I’m very grateful for that,” he continued .

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman (left) greets a player before the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game against Penn State on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Freeman added that his accomplishments in opening up more opportunities for the future generation of coaches were “great,” but added that “the attention given to one person takes away from what really gives your program a fighting chance, here.” to arrive.”

The focus for Notre Dame will now be on the Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday night. Ohio State will face Texas and the winner will advance to the College Football Playoff national championship game to face Notre Dame on January 20.

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