Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman Blue-Gold Game press conference live updates
Notre Dame held its annual Blue-Gold Game in South Bend on Saturday. Led by defensive line coach Al Washington, the Blue Team beat running backs coach Deland McCullough’s Gold Team 28-21. Head coach Marcus Freeman observed the 60-minute game from a few yards behind the offensive backfield on every snap.
Click the YouTube player below to watch Freeman’s postgame press conference. Scroll down and refresh the page frequently for real-time, written updates of what Freeman is saying.
WATCH: Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman Blue-Gold Game press conference
What Freeman is saying
**Keep refreshing this page for real-time, written updates of what Freeman is saying.**
• Freeman says it was a “great day” and he says he couldn’t have thought of a better way to end the spring schedule. He also mentions the news of Notre Dame breaking ground on a new football facility this morning.
• Freeman says there was “a lot of good, a lot of bad” in the game today, which is typical for a spring game anywhere.
• Freeman says seven combined sacks was a little bit of a product of mixed and matched offensive lines but also Notre Dame’s pass rushing being in a good place at the moment.
• Freeman says it was good for quarterbacks Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr to be live today, meaning they were subject to tackling from the Notre Dame defense. Freeman says that brought some playmaking ability out of his signal-callers.
• On the facilities, Freeman says if a recruit has ever said no to Notre Dame because of them then it probably wasn’t ever a loss. That player’s head wasn’t where it needed to be. But he admits Notre Dame had outgrown the previous building, and there is a necessary element in showing recruits that the Irish have everything they need to compete with programs at the highest level.
• Freeman says early enrollee freshman Aneyas Williams is the running back who stood out to him the most today. “Aneyas played well. He played really well. It was good to see.” He also mentions walk-on Justin Fisher and former running back Devyn Ford, who has transitioned to safety but got some reps in the backfield today.
• Freeman says Jadarian Price did not play in the Blue-Gold Game because he tweaked he hamstring earlier this week. “It just came at the wrong time… Shame on me, I take the blame on that one.” Freeman says the injury happened in a late-practice kick return rep on Tuesday or Wednesday.
• Freeman says Notre Dame will look to bring in a punter from outside the program to replace Bryce McFerson, who entered the transfer portal earlier this week.
• Freshman wide receiver Cam Williams did not play today because of a hamstring strain as well.
• Styles Prescod is working through muscle deficiency in one of his legs, so he did not play today.
• Freeman: “This is probably the most talented roster we’ve had since I’ve been here … I’m excited. I’m excited for this group.”
• Freeman says freshman wide receiver Micah Gilbert is a joy to coach because of the way he came up and because of his work ethic. Gilbert scored two touchdowns today from two different quarterbacks.
