meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Pivot Podcast

Coach Freeman: Finding Work Life Blend, Faith & Restoring Notre Dame’s Championship Ways

Pivot Podcast

The Pivot Podcast Network

Sports, Football, Society & Culture

4.93.1K Ratings

🗓️ 20 June 2023

⏱️ 57 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

FOLLOW THE PIVOT PODCAST: MERCH | https://pivotpodcast.com  YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/thepivotpodcast INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/thepivot TWITTER | https://twitter.com/thepivot TIKTOK | https://tiktok.com/@thepivot FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/thepivotpodcast FOLLOW HAPPY DAD: https://www.instagram.com/happydad FIND HAPPY DAD: https://www.happydad.com/find The Pivot took a trip to South Bend, Indiana for a special visit to one of College Football’s most sacred programs and truly gained an entire fresh perspective on the Irish’s historical winning lineage.  Yes that’s right, Ryan, Fred and Channing are sitting with Head Football Coach of the Fighting Irish, Marcus Freeman on his home turf, for an inside look at the football program, a special tour of campus highlighting the rich history and for an in-depth conversation covering Coach’s journey from young man to football player to father to husband to head coach.  Being named as only the second black coach in Notre Dame history, Freeman embraces the challenge to get the Fighting Irish back to championship traditions and build off last season’s winning streak after a bumpy start as the head coach. Pulling from his roots and focused on family and faith, coaching was never something Freeman dreamed of doing but rather it became his calling after his playing career took a turn.  As one of the most respected defensive players in college football and a NFL 5th round draft pick, Freeman’s professional career had a lot of promise until a few months in and results from a physical showed he had an enlarged heart valve and he would be unable to compete at the NFL level due to medical reasons. Leaning into his close relationship with former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, Freeman reached out immediately and the next day was mentoring as a college football coach, the start of a journey to becoming one of the most sought after defensive minds in football and now head coach of one of the most storied collegiate programs.  Fred asks about the values instilled in players and focus as a leader for Coach Freeman while Channing asks about the pressure of getting it right at such a prestigious school and reestablishing winning ways. As a father of six children, Coach Freeman shares with Ryan the importance of a work life blend and how he uses same approach to unify his melting pot of children at home as he does to lead the locker room of young men and his coaches. Showing by example is far more impactful than just using words.  Looking ahead to next season, Coach Freeman is ready to pick up where the team left off and continue to make an impact on and off the field.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is crazy.

0:02.0

Did you see, like, most statements you go in,

0:04.0

you see the school name and the sponsors?

0:06.0

No sponsorship, just clean.

0:10.0

There's nine lines, right?

0:12.0

So nine in each end zone pointed 42 degree angle.

0:15.0

So nine times two at 18, so 1842,

0:17.0

this university was created.

0:19.0

And so you realize, okay, why?

0:21.0

They all point at the golden dome.

0:23.0

Y'all sold out Ireland already, huh?

0:24.0

Oh, that is insane.

0:25.0

They go in Ireland and they sold it out on it.

0:28.0

They said this will be the biggest travel party

0:30.0

of Americans to go to Ireland at one point ever.

0:33.0

And Jim Trussell is there.

0:34.0

Uh-huh.

0:35.0

And I'm taking pictures.

0:36.0

And they kept saying, hey, coach, I'm like,

0:37.0

there's one coach in this room, right?

0:39.0

But he's always going to be coach.

0:40.0

Right.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Pivot Podcast Network, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Pivot Podcast Network and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.