Marcus Freeman has already made a huge impact as Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s head coach, bringing energy, leadership, and a defensive mindset to the program. In 2022, he led the Irish to a 9-4 record and a Gator Bowl victory. This followed a 10-3 season in 2023, culminating in a decisive Sun Bowl victory. Then, last season, his vision and relentless drive pushed Notre Dame into the championship conversation, battling Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes for a shot at glory. But now, Freeman stands on the brink of another major success.
That being said, Marcus Freeman is stealing the spotlight once again. On March 1, ESPN’s College GameDay announced that the Notre Dame HC will be the celebrity guest picker for Sunday’s Louisville vs. Notre Dame women’s basketball showdown. And the post wrote, “Marcus Freeman will be the guest picker on Sunday for Louisville-Notre Dame .” After leading the Fighting Irish to a National Championship appearance, he’s now set to bring his football expertise and championship mindset to the GameDay stage, adding even more excitement to the matchup.
Marcus Freeman will be the guest picker on Sunday for Louisville-Notre Dame pic.twitter.com/reBfyWjC2w
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) February 28, 2025
However, this showdown is more than just a game — it’s a regular-season finale with high stakes. And Notre Dame, ranked No. 3 in the country, is riding a two-game win streak and will be eager to close out strong. But Louisville won’t back down, having taken down 2 ranked opponents in their last 3 wins. So, expect an intense battle, as both teams fight for momentum heading into the postseason. But to be honest, with Marcus Freeman in the house, the energy will be off the charts.
Now, despite everything Freeman has accomplished at Notre Dame, the haters just won’t let up. And they’re hijacking his success, using Ryan Day as a weapon to twist the knife. Even some critics are bringing up the heartbreaking loss to Ohio State, trying to overshadow Freeman’s rise.
Marcus Freeman mocked online with Ryan Day reference
When Marcus Freeman took over as Notre Dame’s HC in Dec 2021, the program was in a unique spot — stable, yet in transition. He inherited a strong team but had to quickly steady the ship after Brian Kelly’s shocking exit to LSU. The Irish had just wrapped up an 11-1 season, barely missing the CFP, and Freeman stepped in right before the Fiesta Bowl with sky-high expectations.
As of now, going from that rocky start to a 33-9 overall record is no joke. Marcus Freeman has silenced doubters, proving he’s built for the big stage and ready to take Notre Dame to even greater heights. But this year, in the national title game, Notre Dame fell hard to Ryan Day’s OSU, 34-23. And that one loss became prime ammunition for the haters, who wasted no time hijacking Freeman’s success to fuel their criticism.
And just like that, the trolls wasted no time taking shots at Freeman. One fan commented, “Ryan Day’s son is growing up.” Following that, another kept it short and sharp, simply writing, “Ryan Day’s son.” But one fan took it even further, suggesting the national title loss was no accident, stating, “Ryan Day owns him.”
However, the hate kept rolling in. And one fan even took a shot at Notre Dame’s women’s basketball matchup, saying, “Notre Dame sucks. Why is this GameDay?” Then another fan piled on, questioning the hype: “You’re hyping a Notre Dame basketball game?” As of now, the criticism wasn’t just about football — it was aimed at the entire Notre Dame sports scene.
But don’t worry, haters will hate. We all know consistency is the key, and Freeman has a chance to silence them this season.
The post Haters Hijack Marcus Freeman’s Success as They Use Ryan Day to Rub Salt in Notre Dame HC’s Wounds appeared first on EssentiallySports.