'We're embracing the Holy War': Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman's final thoughts before Boston College

For the first time in the Marcus Freeman era, Notre Dame is headed to Chestnut Hill, Mass. And the No. 12 Irish (5-2) are not taking a 1-7 Boston College team lightly.

On Thursday, for the final time before Notre Dame heads to the East Coast, Freeman addressed the media. Here is what he said about the ‘Holy War’ and everything else he told reporters in his about 10-minute meeting with the media over Zoom.

On the differences between preparing for Boston College quarterbacks Dylan Longergan and Grayson James

“I think both do a really good job of executing their offensive game plan each week. It kind of changes just because I think Coach [Bill] O’Brien and their OC do a really good job of trying to attack what you’re going to see defensively.

“The biggest difference is going to be the intentional run game, the quarterback run game that they do with the guy James has been starting the past two weeks. You see more called QB runs. Will he pull it and scramble and do those things? Yes. But Lonergan can do those things also, but that’s probably the biggest difference. There’s a lot more called QB run game in the last two weeks with James than you saw earlier in the year.”

On whether the injuries to Notre Dame WR Jaden Greathouse and CB DeVonta Smith have been more difficult to navigate than expected

“Yeah, I think as you look at it, two different injuries. With DeVonta, we were aggressive with trying to get him back, and he re-injured it when he was in the game, and that’s something we’ve been trying to prevent. We wanted to get it to a point where we’re not pushing him to play if he’s not as close to 100% as he can be because of what can re-happen to the injury. 

“So, similar with Jaden, we’re being smart. We’re using what happened with DeVonta and kind of applying it to Jaden. Let’s be smart with how much we push him. Let’s let his body truly heal up, and when he can help us, we will make that decision to put him back in there, but we just don’t want to rush it. He’s not 100%, and we don’t want to put him in a situation to re-injure his hamstring.”

On how he gets players to admit they’re hurt 

“Yeah, that’s an ultimate challenge because it works both ways. One, a guy wants to feel perfect before he actually goes out there, and you’re trying to push him because he’s physically able to do it medically, right? Through the medical professionals. But then the other side is guys that won’t communicate how bad they’re hurting.

“So you try to remind these young people that you still have to put team before self, and that works both ways. That if you are in a position to help this team, and we feel like you physically and medically can help this team, no matter if you’re at 100% or you’re in pain or not, then you have to put team before self.

“Well, at the same point, if you are injured and you can hurt this team or hurt yourself, you’ve got to put team before self and be able to communicate that. And so I think as you can spin it, both of those situations and scenarios is putting team before self, no matter if you’re feeling great or if you’re hurt, right, is let’s do things that always put the team before myself.”

On Notre Dame WR Cam Williams’ development and the importance of seeing younger players in games

“Cam’s progressing, man. He’s getting better every day, and that’s all he can control, right? And where he fits into the game plan is determined by the depth chart, but the game plan each week changes.

“But again, Cam has to just continue to focus on improving, and he is. He’s doing better in every area of being a wide receiver for Notre Dame. He’s continuing finding ways on special teams to try to help our program.

“So, like I said before, I’ve always said this, even with Leonard, is that Cam earns the trust and the confidence behind the scenes before you guys are going to see it on the field to play. He’s improving, he’s getting better, and he’ll be seen in that light in your eyes here, hopefully, before you know it.”

“As far as playing young guys, that’s something you always aspire to do, right? If you’re in a situation where you can play some guys that haven’t got in-game experience, you want to be able to do that. But that’s a result of every play getting your job done. That’s a result of something that is uncertain in the future. 

“So it’s not a great answer to your question. It’s just that we don’t think about it, but yeah, we’d love that to happen. I love a lot of things to happen, right? I want to win, I want to play young guys, I want to be perfect. But wanting something and actually getting it done are two different things, and the focus has to be two different things.

“We got to focus on preparing to get our jobs done these next couple of days. And if we do that consistently on Saturday, maybe we can get some other guys in there.”

On whether any young Notre Dame WRs are pushing for playing time to give Malachi Fields and Jordan Faison a breather

“I mean, if they need a breather, we have guys that will be ready to go. KK’s [Smith] ready to go. He’s going to play and he’ll get more reps depending on the guys that might be in front of him, depending on how they feel. You’re seeing Matt Jeffery getting more and more opportunities. You’ll see Cam Williams, you’ll see Logan Saldate. So those are the names that are the next group of guys to go in.

“Elijah Burress has been improving tremendously, but we’re trying to hold him to not just waste his redshirt if we don’t have to. But again, all those names that I just mentioned, them being on the field will be determined by how the flow of the game goes.”

On who’s next on the depth chart at guard or tackle for Notre Dame 

“Big T, big Chris Terek — he’s ready to go. He could help us at both guards or at center. He’s the next guy I think you would see. Will Black is back doing good things. He’s improving. Matty [Augustine] on the outside, but on the inside, you’ll probably see Chris Terek would be the next guy to step up in all three of those positions you mentioned.”

On Notre Dame DL Boubacar Traore’s improvements since last year’s season-ending injury, and what he has done to improve

“Well, I think back to last year, before he got injured, he was doing some really good things in the pass rush game. I mean, he was one of our most dominant defensive players. I don’t know what the statistics says, but I know we viewed him as one of our best, if not the best pass rusher before he got hurt last year.

“Then what he’s done is work, while you rehab, work while you are getting back to playing mode. And it’s just a reflection of the hard work you put in, and that’s mentally and physically.  There’s probably two options after you tear your ACL. You can mope and feel bad for yourself, or you can utilize the pain to make you better. 

“And that’s what he’s done, he’s worked his tail off, he’s prepared his tail off, he’s gotten better with experience and time. But Boubacar’s always been a player that we view as a definite weapon for us in the pass rush game, and he’s doing great things in the run game too.”

On how he views the matchup with Boston College

“Yeah, the Holy War. Coach [Al] Wash[ington] has really educated myself and the team on what the view was when he was at Boston College. 

“The one thing that’s unique about this rivalry is it’s not played every year, and that’s probably why it’s not talked about enough. But there’s history, it’s a great opportunity and a great challenge.

“And so we’re embracing the Holy War, we’re embracing this rivalry. And as much as it is for us, the opportunity to achieve team glory together. And that’s represented by winning this game and the trophy. And so it’s definitely important to this football program and this university.”