Will Marcus Freeman Be ND's Lou Gehrig?

[Drinking The Green Koolaid]

I found your comparison interesting if not exactly parallel, at any rate my previous response was just a joke. BTW, did you know the first major league park that Lou Gehrig hit a home run in? The surprise answer is Wrigley Field. As a 17 year old high schooler playing in an All Star game, Lou Gehrig hit a grand slam, leading his Commerce High School squad to a victory over Chicago's Lane Tech.

No worries, I knew you were joking.

I didn't know that factoid about Lou Gehrig. Very interesting. Maybe it was in The Pride of the Yankees, and I had simply forgotten it. Small world: my father went to Lane Tech, though he wasn't there until 1941, long after the Gehrig game you refer to.

 

[Silent Banjo]

No worries, I knew you were joking.

I didn't know that factoid about Lou Gehrig. Very interesting. Maybe it was in The Pride of the Yankees, and I had simply forgotten it. Small world: my father went to Lane Tech, though he wasn't there until 1941, long after the Gehrig game you refer to.

The year Gehrig hit that homer in HS was 1920, so your father wasn't even born. Phil Cavarretta was a very good ballplayer from Lane Tech who also came before your father. He had a 22-year career with the Cubs and actually was with them at 17 in 1934. The only other major leaguer I can think of from Lane Tech is Buzz Capra, who had a decent career as a pitcher, once leading the league in ERA. Sorry that this has nothing to do with you thread topic, I just love talking baseball.

 

[Drinking The Green Koolaid]

The year Gehrig hit that homer in HS was 1920, so your father wasn't even born. Phil Cavarretta was a very good ballplayer from Lane Tech who also came before your father. He had a 22-year career with the Cubs and actually was with them at 17 in 1934. The only other major leaguer I can think of from Lane Tech is Buzz Capra, who had a decent career as a pitcher, once leading the league in ERA. Sorry that this has nothing to do with you thread topic, I just love talking baseball.

I love baseball myself. I played it growing up, and have followed MLB all of my life. I grew up as a Cubs fan, so of course Phil Cavarretta is a name I recall. When Jack Brickhouse was announcing Cubs games, he had a fondness for telling stories about the old Cubs greats.

The game is so much different now, and I don't think it is for the better, although I try not to sound like one of those guys yelling at the neighborhood kids to "Get off my lawn!" I hate all the swing and miss in today's game, and too many games take too long to complete. Baseball is going to continue to diminish in popularity, I believe, until they fix the length of games. I was a pitcher growing up--a quite good one, actually--and I remember there was a sense of pride in finishing a game you started. Now, complete games are a relic of the past. In the 1960s and 1970s, the league leaders were routinely throwing 25-30 complete games every year. In the past 5 years, the league leaders were throwing 2 or 3 complete games per season, and I am sure there were more than a few teams that didn't have a single pitcher throw a complete game. And of course, relief pitching has really changed the game. You've got a long relief man, a middle relief man, a left/right hand specialist, a set up man, and finally the closer. Many of these changes are driven by sabermetrics, which is here to stay, I am afraid. Baseball is a great game, but it needs some fixes if it is ever to become the national pastime again.

 

[Silent Banjo]

I love baseball myself. I played it growing up, and have followed MLB all of my life. I grew up as a Cubs fan, so of course Phil Cavarretta is a name I recall. When Jack Brickhouse was announcing Cubs games, he had a fondness for telling stories about the old Cubs greats.

The game is so much different now, and I don't think it is for the better, although I try not to sound like one of those guys yelling at the neighborhood kids to "Get off my lawn!" I hate all the swing and miss in today's game, and too many games take too long to complete. Baseball is going to continue to diminish in popularity, I believe, until they fix the length of games. I was a pitcher growing up--a quite good one, actually--and I remember there was a sense of pride in finishing a game you started. Now, complete games are a relic of the past. In the 1960s and 1970s, the league leaders were routinely throwing 25-30 complete games every year. In the past 5 years, the league leaders were throwing 2 or 3 complete games per season, and I am sure there were more than a few teams that didn't have a single pitcher throw a complete game. And of course, relief pitching has really changed the game. You've got a long relief man, a middle relief man, a left/right hand specialist, a set up man, and finally the closer. Many of these changes are driven by sabermetrics, which is here to stay, I am afraid. Baseball is a great game, but it needs some fixes if it is ever to become the national pastime again.

Yep, I agree with all your points. I've followed the game since the '60s and remember when Fergie Jenkins used to have about 30 complete games a year. I'm not sure what the issues are, in the old days, a pitcher who threw 95 mph was really blinging heat, and now most bullpens have 4 or more guys throwing faster. Infield shifts have added further to bogged offenses. I could go on and on, but you know the deal. I've heard that minor leagues will be having robots call balls and strikes, even if some are wrongly programed they'll be more accurate than Angel Hernandez.

 

[4-4-3]

Whoa, 4-4-3, please don't take this as a criticism, but from where I sit you seem to live in a rather dystopian world. Or at least one that is devoid of hope and faith. While I understand it is foolish to believe in things you know are not true, what is so wrong with believing in something you hope is true? If you have decided to live in a world that is predicated on certainty, can there be any room for faith? After all, isn't faith the absence of certainty? Or as Anne Lamott wrote: "The opposite of faith is not doubt, it's certainty."

Thanks for the reference to Krishnamurti. I consider myself to be reasonably well read, but I had never heard of him before. I will have to look into his works. Or will I also find his world view too bleak?

No problem. Your points and questions are fair. As per a discussion as opposed to a POLEMIC. What follows is written in the same spirit. If it starts to sound STRIDENT, that's not my intention. I'm merely responding EMPHATICALLY.

So . . .

What’s DYSTOPIC about not hoping or believing? It’s actually pretty EFFICIENT, and it can also be potentially REWARDING. It allows you to GET ON WITH THINGS.

I’d argue that the person who hopes for and/or believes in specific outcomes beyond their own agency may IN FACT be the one living in a dystopic world as reliance on emotional SAFETY VALVES of that sort can become integral to a sense of well-being that often has its basis in FANTASY. Meanwhile, another person, despite a darker view, may be living a fuller, more satisfying life.

If I see the world as this FOLLY INCUBATOR, yet I PROSPER and attain a certain level of SATISFACTION by applying myself to the CONCRETE POSSIBILITIES nonetheless available to me – as limited and/or finite as they may be – why would I even CONSIDER “believing” in a team or a cause or some longed-for outcome? Better just to LET IT BE.

To me, the universe at its root is a HEAT EXCHANGE. Why waste energy? Accept the world on its terms, secure yourself and then watch it all PLAY OUT. Any way you look at it, the PLAY is the thing. The drama of what ACTUALLY OCCURS.

I don’t live in world of CERTAINTY as you seem to think. I live in a world of RANDOMNESS, and I accept that as a general rule, it’s largely a 50/50 proposition and that the RIGHT ROAD may run either to the LEFT or to the RIGHT of my CENTER.

By the way, what is it – outside of your own agency – that you’re actually hoping for and wish to believe in? Some DEUS EX MACHINA or Hollywood plot twist?

We live, and we die. Along the way, there may be love, growth, peace and satisfaction. But only if we’re lucky. As for hope, all hope is ALAMO HOPE. Time runs out over time.

I spent a lot of time in the once so-called THIRD WORLD. Africa and Latin America. I’ve walked the ARAB STREET and seen guys in Central America guarding PARKING SPACES with AK-47’s. And how about Syria or Lebanon? You want to talk about dystopia? Those people are living it.

As I said, the future is unknowable. And there’s nothing dystopic in refusing to INVEST in SUGARING IT.

As for Krishnamurti, he taught that INSIGHT through ATTENTIVENESS is superior to COMPULSIVE THOUGHT, much of which he viewed as the brain merely CHATTERING. He, too, tried to BE-HERE-NOW. What comes next DID NOT concern him.

 

[Ara64]

Wouldn't you have to be a player on the field to be consider along side the great Lou Gehrig?

 

[SubwaydomerDFW]

Smells like old spice, cigars and Macallan 18 in here.

 

[Patrirish]

Look at the coming of Ara to ND.... He was going pretty good at Northwestern. His team beat ND four years in a row. He went to his athletic Director and asked for a contract extension as a demonstration of the appreciation for his good work. The AD did not want too at that time. He wanted Ara to coach out his contract and then they would negotiate a new contract. Ara got mad and felt unappreciated by Northwestern. He informed the President of Northwestern that he was leaving the school and why. Meanwhile Father Joyce heard that Ara was dissatisfied at Northwestern. He informed Father Ted that Ara might be available. Father Ted informs the President of Northwestern of their interest. The President informs Father Ted that Ara was leaving and gave him his blessing. Father Joyce contacts Ara and agreed to meet with Father Ted and Joyce. They met in a Hotel Room in Chicago. Ara is hired and the rest is Irish Lore. I've been thinking about that the last few days. It seems so close to Ara's story. I look at Coach Freeman and see a young man fulfilling his dream. He learned the game under some very successful coaches. I'm excited to have him as our coach. It wouldn't surprise me if he has a legendary career here at Notre Dame. I know he will give us his best. It's in his DNA. Let the good times roll. Best of Irish Luck Coach Freeman.

Ara had extensive experience and proven success as a Head Coach.

Freeman has neither

Your analogy is nothing more than wishful thinking.

But, I understand your wishful thinking !

 

[ivan brunetti]

Stumbling to an 0-3 start has some fans calling Freeman "Tanglefoot".

 

[NevadaGreen]

As I lay in bed last night pondering the events of this past week, and in particular the press conference earlier yesterday introducing Marcus Freeman as the new Head Coach of Notre Dame, an image of a young Lou Gehrig popped briefly into my mind, and got me thinking about all that has happened.

For those who follow baseball, you likely know the Lou Gehrig story. In 1923, the Yankees' starting first baseman, Wally Pipp, got hit in the head with a baseball during batting practice, and had to sit out a few games. Pipp had been a stalwart first baseman for the Yankees, twice leading the league in home runs. The Yankees turned to a young (19 years old) and promising rookie, Lou Gehrig, to play first base while Pipp was out. The rest, as they say, is history. Gehrig's stellar play eventually forced Pipp out of the lineup permanently, and Gehrig went on to have a HOF career, winning 7 World Series with the Yankees and teaming up with Babe Ruth to become part of the famous "murderer's row." (I expect Harlem Irish and some of our other Yankees fans on this board know the whole story much better than I do.)

Which brings me to the hiring of Marcus Freeman. (I know, my imagination is probably a little bit over active, but stay with me on this.)

Several seemingly unrelated but interconnected events had to occur in order for this to happen.

First, in December 2020, Vanderbilt fired their head football coach, Derek Mason. A young and promising assistant coach at Notre Dame, Clark Lea, decides to leave ND to accept the head coaching position at Vanderbilt, his alma mater. If that doesn't happen, Lea is still coaching up the defense at ND in 2021, and Kelly has no reason to hire Marcus Freeman.

Second, with Lea gone, Brian Kelly has to hire a new DC, and sets his sights on a rising young coaching star at Cincinnati, Marcus Freeman. To the surprise of many, Kelly wins a hiring battle with LSU to retain Freeman's services. Had LSU won that battle, as most expected it would, I don't think Marcus Freeman stands at the podium a year later as the new HC at ND. But because MF comes to ND, Jack Swarbrick gets to witness, first hand, not just MF's coaching skills, but his special ability to connect on a very personal level with both players and recruits. As Swarbrick stated yesterday at the press conference to introduce MF, this contact proves invaluable when Swarbrick is confronted with having to unexpectedly fill the head coach position.

Third, to the surprise of the college football world, and the consternation of the ND football fan base (well, at least most of them), Brian Kelly announces this past Monday that he is leaving ND to become the head coach at LSU. Suddenly and unexpectedly, Swarbrick is forced to find Kelly's replacement. Had Kelly served out the remainder of his contract at ND, as most supposed he would, it seems unlikely that Marcus Freeman would be available as an option to succeed Kelly, as Freeman was on a fast track to take a head coaching position somewhere, and most likely would have been hired somewhere else after perhaps another season as ND's defensive coordinator. Did Kelly jump ship because, as he explained, he wanted a "new challenge" somewhere else; or did he decide to chase the pot of gold that comes with being the head coach at LSU? We don't know, and may never know, what ultimately motivated Kelly, but his actions opened up an opportunity--much like the ball that hit Wally Pipp in the head--that was not likely to have otherwise existed.

Are these events merely fortuitous? Or are they, instead, serendipitous? I guess time will tell. But I am going with the Lou Gehrig comparison.

Some see "luck of the Irish" as merely a catchy phrase, but sometimes the stars just line up right. Will this be one of those moments?

Go Marcus! And go Irish!

Naaah....c'mon clear your head.....this is Bobby Williams 2.0.

 

[Silent Banjo]

Stumbling to an 0-3 start has some fans calling Freeman "Tanglefoot".

Teresa Wright combined the wonderful attributes of sweetness and sexiness.

Also, Marcus Freeman is 36, the same age at which Gehrig retired, so maybe the OP is on to something here.

 

[burmafrd1943]

This thread has truly aged badly.

 

[BGI User 756]

Smells like old spice, cigars and Macallan 18 in here.

Haha

 

[Rockne's Rambler]

As I lay in bed last night pondering the events of this past week, and in particular the press conference earlier yesterday introducing Marcus Freeman as the new Head Coach of Notre Dame, an image of a young Lou Gehrig popped briefly into my mind, and got me thinking about all that has happened.

For those who follow baseball, you likely know the Lou Gehrig story. In 1923, the Yankees' starting first baseman, Wally Pipp, got hit in the head with a baseball during batting practice, and had to sit out a few games. Pipp had been a stalwart first baseman for the Yankees, twice leading the league in home runs. The Yankees turned to a young (19 years old) and promising rookie, Lou Gehrig, to play first base while Pipp was out. The rest, as they say, is history. Gehrig's stellar play eventually forced Pipp out of the lineup permanently, and Gehrig went on to have a HOF career, winning 7 World Series with the Yankees and teaming up with Babe Ruth to become part of the famous "murderer's row." (I expect Harlem Irish and some of our other Yankees fans on this board know the whole story much better than I do.)

Which brings me to the hiring of Marcus Freeman. (I know, my imagination is probably a little bit over active, but stay with me on this.)

Several seemingly unrelated but interconnected events had to occur in order for this to happen.

First, in December 2020, Vanderbilt fired their head football coach, Derek Mason. A young and promising assistant coach at Notre Dame, Clark Lea, decides to leave ND to accept the head coaching position at Vanderbilt, his alma mater. If that doesn't happen, Lea is still coaching up the defense at ND in 2021, and Kelly has no reason to hire Marcus Freeman.

Second, with Lea gone, Brian Kelly has to hire a new DC, and sets his sights on a rising young coaching star at Cincinnati, Marcus Freeman. To the surprise of many, Kelly wins a hiring battle with LSU to retain Freeman's services. Had LSU won that battle, as most expected it would, I don't think Marcus Freeman stands at the podium a year later as the new HC at ND. But because MF comes to ND, Jack Swarbrick gets to witness, first hand, not just MF's coaching skills, but his special ability to connect on a very personal level with both players and recruits. As Swarbrick stated yesterday at the press conference to introduce MF, this contact proves invaluable when Swarbrick is confronted with having to unexpectedly fill the head coach position.

Third, to the surprise of the college football world, and the consternation of the ND football fan base (well, at least most of them), Brian Kelly announces this past Monday that he is leaving ND to become the head coach at LSU. Suddenly and unexpectedly, Swarbrick is forced to find Kelly's replacement. Had Kelly served out the remainder of his contract at ND, as most supposed he would, it seems unlikely that Marcus Freeman would be available as an option to succeed Kelly, as Freeman was on a fast track to take a head coaching position somewhere, and most likely would have been hired somewhere else after perhaps another season as ND's defensive coordinator. Did Kelly jump ship because, as he explained, he wanted a "new challenge" somewhere else; or did he decide to chase the pot of gold that comes with being the head coach at LSU? We don't know, and may never know, what ultimately motivated Kelly, but his actions opened up an opportunity--much like the ball that hit Wally Pipp in the head--that was not likely to have otherwise existed.

Are these events merely fortuitous? Or are they, instead, serendipitous? I guess time will tell. But I am going with the Lou Gehrig comparison.

Some see "luck of the Irish" as merely a catchy phrase, but sometimes the stars just line up right. Will this be one of those moments?

Go Marcus! And go Irish!

I think Buchner-Pyne situation is a closer comparison to to the Pipp-Gehrig story than Kelly-Freeman.

 

[tbone3114]

I think Buchner-Pyne situation is a closer comparison to to the Pipp-Gehrig story than Kelly-Freeman.

Now that would be awesome!!!

 

[savvyandsassier]

There is absolutely no analogy whatsoever, to MF taking over for BK on the one hand, as compared with Lou Gehrig taking over for Wally Pipp.

It's pretty much the worst analogy I've ever heard in my life and is also the worst, most not-apt analogy ever made in human history......

 

[savvyandsassier]

Now that would be awesome!!!

Right, we could use that right about now. And it would be a fitting enough analogy if that's how it played out.

Just like what happened with Kizer and Zaire. Zaire got Wally Pipped, but BK didn't see it that way, and it almost cost him his job, and that's the reason why we went 4-8, because of all the toxic effects of that awful, and completely unnecessary QB controversy. Namely, that Malik Zaire himself turned out to be a classic cancer in the locker room. And it was for him that BK went to bat for, and it just about destroyed the '16 season in the process.....

So hopefully that part of it doesn't happen...

 

[Drinking The Green Koolaid]

There is absolutely no analogy whatsoever, to MF taking over for BK on the one hand, as compared with Lou Gehrig taking over for Wally Pipp.

It's pretty much the worst analogy I've ever heard in my life and is also the worst, most not-apt analogy ever made in human history......

Coming from you, the High Priest of Bizarro World, I suppose I will consider that as high praise.

 

[savvyandsassier]

Coming from you, the High Priest of Bizarro World, I suppose I will consider that as high praise.

Sorry, buddy. It's a terrible analogy. They are just not similar at all.....

 

[Bodizephax]

As I lay in bed last night pondering the events of this past week, and in particular the press conference earlier yesterday introducing Marcus Freeman as the new Head Coach of Notre Dame, an image of a young Lou Gehrig popped briefly into my mind, and got me thinking about all that has happened.

For those who follow baseball, you likely know the Lou Gehrig story. In 1923, the Yankees' starting first baseman, Wally Pipp, got hit in the head with a baseball during batting practice, and had to sit out a few games. Pipp had been a stalwart first baseman for the Yankees, twice leading the league in home runs. The Yankees turned to a young (19 years old) and promising rookie, Lou Gehrig, to play first base while Pipp was out. The rest, as they say, is history. Gehrig's stellar play eventually forced Pipp out of the lineup permanently, and Gehrig went on to have a HOF career, winning 7 World Series with the Yankees and teaming up with Babe Ruth to become part of the famous "murderer's row." (I expect Harlem Irish and some of our other Yankees fans on this board know the whole story much better than I do.)

Which brings me to the hiring of Marcus Freeman. (I know, my imagination is probably a little bit over active, but stay with me on this.)

Several seemingly unrelated but interconnected events had to occur in order for this to happen.

First, in December 2020, Vanderbilt fired their head football coach, Derek Mason. A young and promising assistant coach at Notre Dame, Clark Lea, decides to leave ND to accept the head coaching position at Vanderbilt, his alma mater. If that doesn't happen, Lea is still coaching up the defense at ND in 2021, and Kelly has no reason to hire Marcus Freeman.

Second, with Lea gone, Brian Kelly has to hire a new DC, and sets his sights on a rising young coaching star at Cincinnati, Marcus Freeman. To the surprise of many, Kelly wins a hiring battle with LSU to retain Freeman's services. Had LSU won that battle, as most expected it would, I don't think Marcus Freeman stands at the podium a year later as the new HC at ND. But because MF comes to ND, Jack Swarbrick gets to witness, first hand, not just MF's coaching skills, but his special ability to connect on a very personal level with both players and recruits. As Swarbrick stated yesterday at the press conference to introduce MF, this contact proves invaluable when Swarbrick is confronted with having to unexpectedly fill the head coach position.

Third, to the surprise of the college football world, and the consternation of the ND football fan base (well, at least most of them), Brian Kelly announces this past Monday that he is leaving ND to become the head coach at LSU. Suddenly and unexpectedly, Swarbrick is forced to find Kelly's replacement. Had Kelly served out the remainder of his contract at ND, as most supposed he would, it seems unlikely that Marcus Freeman would be available as an option to succeed Kelly, as Freeman was on a fast track to take a head coaching position somewhere, and most likely would have been hired somewhere else after perhaps another season as ND's defensive coordinator. Did Kelly jump ship because, as he explained, he wanted a "new challenge" somewhere else; or did he decide to chase the pot of gold that comes with being the head coach at LSU? We don't know, and may never know, what ultimately motivated Kelly, but his actions opened up an opportunity--much like the ball that hit Wally Pipp in the head--that was not likely to have otherwise existed.

Are these events merely fortuitous? Or are they, instead, serendipitous? I guess time will tell. But I am going with the Lou Gehrig comparison.

Some see "luck of the Irish" as merely a catchy phrase, but sometimes the stars just line up right. Will this be one of those moments?

Go Marcus! And go Irish!

Great post!!! Marcus will be coaching the Irish for decades. He is an awesome human being and coach. He has th Right Stuff. The Nancy boys on this forum will forget all the crap they have said about Notre Dame Iron Man!!! I believe in Marcus !! Weiss and Willingham both started off winning b4 they crashed and burned. Marcus will do the opposite. He will rise like smoke from a bonfire!! In Marcus, I believe!!!! Go Irish!!! Beat Cal!!