Notre Dame football: Marcus Freeman clarifies disrespectful comments about Ohio State

Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman had to walk back a previous comment he made about academics at Ohio State and Cincinnati.

Freeman was not necessarily wrong in his commentary, which claimed that academics matter far more at schools like Notre Dame than Ohio State, even as it pertains to the athletic department.

“If you don’t go to class [at places like that], OK, take some online classes, show up for your appointments,” Freeman said, per ESPN. “At Notre Dame, you’re forced every day to go to class.”

Freeman worked at OSU and Cincinnati previously, and appeared to take a shot at the programs.

Notre Dame football: Marcus Freeman clarified his comments

Freeman walked back those comments some on Wednesday, and for good reason — taking shots like that can backfire, especially if Notre Dame were to struggle at some point.

"“When Marcus Freeman says, ‘You don’t go to class at a place like that,’ it changes the entire narrative,” Freeman told WBNS. “When you really look, what exactly I said, I was talking about if you don’t go to class at these big schools that have 60,000, 40,000 students, OK, you can take online classes. We can’t. The majority of our kids cannot take online classes here because it’s a smaller school and you’re forced to have in-class attendance. That’s what I wanted to get cleared up.”"

Fair enough.

Freeman is not the type to burn bridges, especially with programs that he was previously employed at. Add in that Notre Dame is facing Ohio State to begin the season, and perhaps he wants to put out the flames before they reach Columbus.

If you known Ryan Day, however, you won’t be surprised when he uses Freeman’s comments as bulletin board material come early Sept.

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