My preseason projection was ND would take a step back from 11-1 to 8-4 this season, by virtue of the following facts
1. Head Coaching Inexperience
2. More challenging schedule
3. Not bringing in a 5th year QB like Jack Coan to upgrade the 2022 QB room
My thoughts were that ND would go 2-3 versus
@Ohio State, BYU, @UNC, Clemson and @USC
And ND would figure out a way to lose a weird game to a team they had no business losing to.
Well, ND actually is 3-1 in the bigger games, with a chance to go 4-1 Saturday
ND ended up losing not 1 but 2 weird games (Marshall & Stanford)
All in all, this has been a successful season for Marcus Freeman, he hired DC and ST coordinators that have been good to great, Hiestand has also greatly improved the offensive line,
Most importantly, I have been impressed by Marcus Freeman focus on the process and improvement, and the understanding that if you practice like crap, you're not seeing the field, no matter how much the fake media, and message board morons want you to be out there.
ND loses Saturday and the Bowl Game; I would give Marcus a C+/B-
ND losers Saturday and wins the Bowl Game, I would give Marcus a B-/B
ND wins Saturday and the Bowl Game, then Marcus is in B+ / A- territory
1. Head Coaching Inexperience
2. More challenging schedule
3. Not bringing in a 5th year QB like Jack Coan to upgrade the 2022 QB room
My thoughts were that ND would go 2-3 versus
@Ohio State, BYU, @UNC, Clemson and @USC
And ND would figure out a way to lose a weird game to a team they had no business losing to.
Well, ND actually is 3-1 in the bigger games, with a chance to go 4-1 Saturday
ND ended up losing not 1 but 2 weird games (Marshall & Stanford)
All in all, this has been a successful season for Marcus Freeman, he hired DC and ST coordinators that have been good to great, Hiestand has also greatly improved the offensive line,
Most importantly, I have been impressed by Marcus Freeman focus on the process and improvement, and the understanding that if you practice like crap, you're not seeing the field, no matter how much the fake media, and message board morons want you to be out there.
ND loses Saturday and the Bowl Game; I would give Marcus a C+/B-
ND losers Saturday and wins the Bowl Game, I would give Marcus a B-/B
ND wins Saturday and the Bowl Game, then Marcus is in B+ / A- territory