Notre Dame Catholic coach who reinstated Game Day mass leads Fighting Irish to NCAA playoffs

Rally Sons of Notre Dame, the varsity is headed for the NCAA playoffs!

No.7 the Fighting Irish will face no. 10 Indiana Hoosiers on Friday, December 20 at the house that Rockne Built. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 PM EST.

No one could have predicted this matchup at the start of the 2024 season. While the university’s academic rigor 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, former head coach of the Irish, left the team just before they were scheduled to play in the Fiesta Bowl on January 1, 2022, to be the new head coach at Louisiana State University. This news sent shock waves not only to the Notre Dame family, but to the college football world as well. Enter Marcus Freeman, defensive coordinator for the Irish, who earned the ultimate promotion to head coach in December 2021, week 13 of the season.

There are beloved football day traditions on college campuses that make each atmosphere unique. Aside from trumpets in the Dome, eating Knights of Columbus steak sandwiches and various rounds of touchdown pushups, there are alternative traditions our players participate in, and I don’t mean just hitting that precious “Play Like a Champion Today” sign.

Coach Freeman’s one priority this week was to reinstate a beloved tradition: the Game Day Mass and the player walk from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart to Notre Dame Stadium.

In the famous player walk, the marching band and fans line up on opposite sides of the path to cheer on our athletes as the team walks out the door, which reads:

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

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

In one 2022 interview with The National Catholic RegisterFreeman, a Catholic convert says,

“So for me, what better time is there to go to Mass? What better time to be able to really be on the edge of your seat to get every word that comes out of the priest’s mouth and be so close to God , as you can?” He continues: “You go to Mass and our whole team goes to Mass, Catholic or not Catholic. And you realize that we all embrace and believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior. It is important to me. I want our guys to wonder what it means to embrace Jesus Christ.”

Coach Freeman was baptized into the Catholic Church and received his First Communion and Confirmation in 2022. The announcement was submitted in the bulletin on 11 September 2022 from St. Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, Indiana. Coach Freeman’s wife, Joanna, is Catholic, as are their six children.

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

In a blog posted on December 18, 2024, for Players Tribune, Irish Quarterback Senior Riley Leonard #13, reflected on his time at Notre Dame, the brotherhood on the team and his faith.

“One of my favorite verses in the Bible, Matthew 23:12, says, ‘Those who exalt themselves or praise themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be praised.’ I wear those 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 is home to both a prestigious academic curriculum and a football program with a Catholic head coach who is “all in,” at least in the next six years.

But a few Hail Marys couldn’t hurt if you’re feeling generous. The Blessed Mother is atop our golden dome after all.

Our Lady of Victory, pray for us!