The a Catholic convert who hopes to lead the University of Notre Dame to its first national football championship since 1988 credits his players — and his faith — for the success of the Fighting Irish, he told reporters this weekend.
Marcus Freeman took over the program in 2021 after the man who hired him, predecessor Brian Kelly, left for Louisiana State University.
Freeman came to Notre Dame that same year, he served as Kelly’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He had a choice: follow his boss to LSU or stay at Notre Dame, it was reported at the time.
WORLD’S OLDEST PERSON IDENTIFIED AS 117-YEAR-OLD SOCCER-LOVED NUN
Promoted to head coach of Notre Dame on December 3, 2021, Freeman renewed the team’s tradition attending mass together before every home game. It was before he became a Catholic.
“I remember being a freshman and coming to a Notre Dame football game — I was in high school — and watching the team come out of the basilica for the pregame Mass, and I thought it was the coolest thing,” Freeman told reporters Saturday at Atlanta, where the Irish prepare to face Ohio State University in the College Football Playoff National Championship. “I remember seeing movies about it.”
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has revived a team tradition by bringing back the pregame mass before home games. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The 39-year-old Ohio State graduate reflected on his freshman year at Notre Dame, recalling that there was no pregame mass.
“So when I was appointed as the head coach, it was something that I talked about with the management, about when the decision was made not to have mass before the game and what we have to do to change that… It was … important to me change that,” Freeman said.
Although raised as a christianFreeman was not Catholic when he arrived on campus in 2021.
POPE FRANCIS STARTS THE HOLY YEAR IN THE VATICAN WITH MORE THAN 32 MILLION VISITORS EXPECTED
Freeman was baptized in the Catholic Church and received his first Holy Communion next year, according to a September 11, 2022 bulletin at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Granger, Indiana.
The team’s chaplain, Father Nate Wills, helped prepare Freeman for his Catholic conversion.
Freeman converted to Catholicism in 2022, before his first full season as head coach at Notre Dame. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
“I think being at the University of Notre Dame is a place where your faith is encouraged,” Freeman said.
“It’s not just in Catholicism. It’s your reality having faith and conviction into something bigger than you.”
“You have to believe more than evidence, believe more than knowledge…”
The players also share that belief, among them running back Riley Leonard.
Leonard started at Duke University, starting for the Blue Devils in 2022 and 2023. But an injury forced him off the field in 2023, and he soon announced he was transferring to Notre Dame for his final season of eligibility.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“Notre Dame on the transfer portal was my first visit and my last,” Riley told reporters Saturday.
Riley has been open about his faith. He said he believes God had a plan for him to come to Notre Dame.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard is devout in his faith. (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
“I remember sitting in my room and praying at night, like, ‘Jesus, Lord, will you please give me something, give me an offering?'” Riley said.
“The next day I woke up and He gave birth to me.”
Riley said Freeman is a humble man who doesn’t shy away his faith.
For more lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle
“Our players have a Bible study,” Freeman told reporters. “I have a strong faith and … you have to believe more than you have evidence, believe beyond knowledge, which is another motto for having faith. We’re not shy about that. They’re not shy about that, and that’s important to us.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
That faith will be evident Monday night as Freeman looks to become the first Notre Dame coach since Lou Holtz, himself a devout Catholic, to hoist the national championship trophy.
As the inscription above the door of the east entrance to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Notre Dame, where the teams hold their pre-match masses, reads, “God, the earthNotre Dame, In eternal glory.”
