1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: And now move the sticks with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks. 2 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 1: What's up everybody? Welcome to move the sticks DJ. Bucky 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: back with you, Buck. How you doing? Man? I'm excited, DJ. 4 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: I am excited because we have a great guest today 5 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: Notre Dame. He had coach Marcus Freeman comes on and man, 6 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: we've talked off air. This guy has a presence about him. 7 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: I'm excited to kind of pick his brain a little 8 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 1: bit about all things that are going on with the 9 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: fighting hours. Yeah, no doubt. I'm I'm always so pumped 10 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: for these podcasts when we get a chance to talk 11 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: to these type of guys because you're talking about leaders, 12 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: no doubt. But you're also talking about pressure. So a 13 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: lot of times the great leaders emerge when you have 14 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 1: pressure situations. You tell me, is there is there a 15 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: bigger pressure job the head coach and Notre Dame. This 16 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: is historical program as we have in college football. Oh yeah, 17 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: I can't think of a program with more pressure on 18 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: them than Notre Dame. The expectations are through the roof 19 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: to standard is Scott high. They expect their team to 20 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: not only uh compete for national titles on the field, 21 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: but they expect them to be able to dominate in 22 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: the classroom as well. And I know there are a 23 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: lot of schools they talk about it, but look, man, 24 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: when you go through and we've done it from the 25 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: scouting biz, like, it's hard to get through there, uh 26 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: and not be an achiever. And so yeah, he has 27 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 1: a tremendous amount of pressure because you not only have 28 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: the alums, you have the Subway alums and all of 29 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: the things they go along with Notre Dame from yesteryear 30 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: to now, the expectations up through the roof no now. Also, 31 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: he's got a chance to coach some really good players 32 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: this year. You look at their roster Michael Mayer tight ends, 33 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: a big time prospect Isaiah Fosky and defensive end coming 34 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: off on eleven sack year, one of the top centers 35 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: in the country, and Jared Patterson and a safety transfer 36 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: Brandon Joseph from Northwestern. So get a chance to get 37 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: his take on those four players during this conversation as 38 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 1: well as Buck can actually share something with coach that 39 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: you gotta stick around for it and you're gonna love this. 40 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: It's other sports related and get spoiler, it ain't baseball 41 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: and it ain't basketball. Uh so the States for that 42 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: part of the conversation, it's outstanding. Without further ado, here's 43 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 1: our conversation with the head coach Notre Dame, Marcus Freeman. 44 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: All right, Buck, excited to have our next guest with us. 45 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 1: Here we got coach Freeman from Notre Dame joining us 46 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 1: and coach First of all, I guess my my question 47 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 1: is when when was that moment where you kind of 48 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 1: woke up and said, Holy crap, I'm the head football 49 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: coach at Notre Dame. It's been really I can't tell 50 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 1: you countless day since I actually had that phone call. 51 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: Um Again, it becomes what you do now a part 52 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 1: of your life. But I still have those days where 53 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: you wake up and you you you remind yourself, man, 54 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 1: what the great opportunity and the privilege you have to 55 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: be the head coach here, you know, coaching and thinking 56 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: about that because um, everybody wants to be a head coach, 57 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: um at a big level. So now to have your opportunity. 58 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 1: What was the first thing that you did when you 59 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: were named the head coach at Notre Dame. Who the 60 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: first forty eight hours, I wasn't allowed to do anything. 61 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: You know. I was told on a Wednesday at that 62 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: hey we're gonna name you head coach, and and from 63 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: Wednesday to Friday was under strict orders to don't answer 64 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: your phone, do not talk to anybody. But what I 65 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 1: want to do is get around my guys, you know, 66 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: And and that's what I wanted to do. And that 67 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: Friday there's a video out of me being able to 68 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 1: be introduced to my players and and us embracing. But 69 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: that's what I wanted to do. I want to be 70 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: around our players. Who was at We're asking, hey, who's 71 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: the head coach? Are you gonna be our head coach? 72 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 1: And and that's what it's all about. For all, It's 73 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: always been about the players. It's about serving our players 74 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: and helping these young people reach their goals. Coach, I'm 75 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 1: curious what happened after that moment I saw that video 76 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: is so awesome that that individual moment, But I'd love 77 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: to know what your message was to those guys after 78 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: that embracing that celebration. What was the message of where 79 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: you need to take this thing going forward? Well? I 80 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: was really focused on the short term, right and that 81 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: was trying to prepare for a bowl game. I owed 82 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: it to the seniors and to those guys that have 83 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: put so much sweat equity into this program that hey, 84 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: we're gonna do everything in our power to try to 85 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: finish off that that season as champions, and and we 86 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,119 Speaker 1: didn't accomplish. I go, but um, you know, I think 87 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: we all grew from that that situation. We learned, you know, 88 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: And that's what I told him all the time. And 89 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: you win or you learned and be able to learn 90 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: from that opportunity in that situation. Um, I think will 91 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: help continue to develop us and continue to motivate us 92 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,359 Speaker 1: as we move forward, you know. Coach, Yes, So it's interesting. 93 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: I'm glad that you kind of talked about that opportunity 94 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: to kind of be the head coach during the bowl game. 95 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: In the bowl game prep, Uh, no one till can 96 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,559 Speaker 1: tell anybody what it's like to be a head coach. 97 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: So that was kind of like a trial run. What 98 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: did you learn in that brief period getting the team 99 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: ready to play in the bowl game that you think 100 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: can help you going forward as a head coach? Well, 101 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:40,359 Speaker 1: I think I go back and I look at the 102 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: preparation and you look to figure out why we weren't 103 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 1: successful in that game, and I think you learned many things, 104 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: but the biggest lesson I learned was we've got to 105 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 1: be intentional in terms of, you know, how we're coaching, 106 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: but who we're bringing into this program. And so I 107 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: kind of went back and said, Okay, this place deserves 108 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 1: the best coaches in the country. We've got to be 109 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: very intentional in terms of who we bring in here 110 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 1: and how we teach our players. And so because they 111 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: deserve the best, and UM, we made a couple of changes, 112 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: and I feel like we've got an unbelievable UH coaching 113 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: staff and and and now we always evaluate. Man, we 114 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 1: always look at the training, uh, the bowl game preparation 115 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: in terms of how to prepare for a game. Then 116 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: you look at spring in in fifteen practice and how 117 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: we prepare and so you always formulate those thoughts as 118 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: you go into the fall and prepare for your first 119 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: game in a season of twelve games. Coach, I wanted 120 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: to ask you this question as I've been following your 121 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: your coaching career, because I feel like a lot of 122 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: times we talk about and what we do on the 123 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 1: scouting side, the evaluation process, and you do that in 124 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: recruiting and we talked about the xs and os and 125 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,359 Speaker 1: the schemes that that everybody uses. But I feel like 126 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: maybe that missing ingredients, something you've been so good at 127 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: is a development uh portion of this process. Where did 128 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: you come up with your development plan with these guys? 129 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:53,039 Speaker 1: Because I can look at the guys that they get 130 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 1: your you get your hands on them, and to see 131 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 1: the improvement that they make over time has been quite impressive. 132 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 1: I think he's just developed over time from my own 133 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 1: development to seeing others and in every place I've been, 134 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 1: I try to learn, right, you try to grab something 135 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: from everybody you're around. And and you know, I still 136 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 1: think we have to remember that as much notoriety, in 137 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: as much uh celebrity status, maybe some of these young 138 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 1: people will have, they're still young people and they're still 139 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:18,599 Speaker 1: eighteen and twenty two year olds that need to learn 140 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 1: and need to develop, and and how do we continue 141 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: develop them? How do you always find ways to find 142 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: a better way. That's something that I believe in is 143 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:28,839 Speaker 1: challenge everything. Find a better way to teach, and find 144 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: a better way to coach, find a better way to 145 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: do anything you're doing. And so I can UH continuously 146 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: challenge myself. I challenge our staff to to always evaluate 147 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: what and why we're doing things, and let's see if 148 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 1: we find a better way. You know, coach, haven't watched 149 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: you from a foreign watch your career going from Cincinnati 150 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: and the Notre Dame. The one thing that has always 151 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: struck me is you appear to have great relationships with 152 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 1: your players, and sometimes on the outside, people can perceive 153 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 1: that to be that quote unquote players coach, and sometimes 154 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,359 Speaker 1: it's viewed in the negative, like can you tell me 155 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 1: why it's really important to have great relationships with your 156 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 1: players when you're trying to push them to another level 157 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: as a head coach? Yeah, I say this all the time, 158 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: like I am a player's coach, and what does What 159 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: does that mean to me is that there's no great 160 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 1: coach without great players, and that means we better recruit 161 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: great players. We better make sure that we understand that 162 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: if we don't have great talent and great players in 163 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: our system and our program, then we're not gonna be 164 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: great coaches. But the other part of that is is 165 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 1: how I like to lead. And I lead I tell 166 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: them all the time as a teammate and yeah, I'm 167 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: the captain and I set the standards and I hold 168 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: each other accountable. But we're all in this thing together. 169 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: They cannot depend on one guy to continue to hold 170 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: each other accountable. We all have to do it and 171 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: we're gonna fight together. We're gonna win together, We're gonna 172 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: lose together. UM. But you're gonna have a coach that 173 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: that that loves you. UM, that's gonna push the heck 174 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: out of you to make sure you reach your goals. 175 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: But at the end of IMNA respect you and make 176 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: sure that you know you gotta coach that has your back. Coach. 177 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: I'm curious. You know a lot of that comes about 178 00:07:58,080 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: with getting the right people in the building. When when 179 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: you're going through that evaluation process, that recruiting process, you know, 180 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: is there is there some non negotiables with you when 181 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: you're talking about players coming into your program. I wish 182 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: it was was black and white, UM, but it's not. 183 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: You know, we really have to understand though, that we 184 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: can't bring in people that will not be successful here. 185 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 1: And that is a process. That's an evaluation process from coaches, 186 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: UM head coach, from admissions, from other we have so 187 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: many checks and balances to try to do. UM kind 188 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: of just uh, research in terms of do we think 189 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: this young person will have a chance to be successful 190 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,199 Speaker 1: in Notre Dame, And um, that process is a long one, 191 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 1: a lengthy one that that isn't black and white. There's 192 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: some great to it. But um, if you don't really 193 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:47,679 Speaker 1: really value education, if you don't value hard work, um, 194 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: in the classroom, not just on the football field, this 195 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: isn't gonna be the right place for you. There is 196 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 1: no certain g P A you have to have. There 197 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 1: isn't a certain A T C or s a T 198 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: score you have to have. But you have to really 199 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:01,199 Speaker 1: appreciate what this place will give you in terms of 200 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: academically and really be committed to studying and preparing to 201 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: have success in the classroom because that is such a 202 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: vital piece of what it takes to be a part 203 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: of this place and what Notre Dame stands for. And 204 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 1: so we have to make sure the best players in 205 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: the country that fit that characteristic, fit those characteristics, are 206 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: the ones we're going out. But can I want to 207 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:22,959 Speaker 1: follow up that real quick, buck uh, coach, had there 208 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 1: been meetings, had there been times with your staff together 209 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 1: where you've had to make some of those hard decisions, 210 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 1: say man we love the talent. We we we we 211 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 1: see that, but this is just man, this is this 212 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: might not be a good fit. Yeah, it happens every day, 213 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 1: and I continue to tell our staff and myself that, hey, 214 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: we have to do what's right for Notre Dame. And 215 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: that's hard when you get emostly attached to a certain individual. 216 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:47,680 Speaker 1: And so it could be sometimes the head coach, it 217 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: could be sometimes our head of emissions. You know, we 218 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: interview our admissions, interviews everybody that we bring on official visits, 219 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,959 Speaker 1: everybody that we're looking to bring the Notre Dame. And 220 00:09:58,000 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, they're the ones that 221 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: can give us thumbs up or thumbs down in terms 222 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 1: of he's a fit for this place or not. And 223 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: so there's been times where maybe we disagree, and you 224 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: know what, at the end of the day, we all 225 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 1: have to have what's best for Notre Dame at the 226 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: forefront of our heads. You know, Coach, I think it's 227 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 1: interesting the last two questions to me lead me to 228 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: a place where I think DJ and I both worked 229 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:24,239 Speaker 1: for organizations where we really value guys who were high academic, 230 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: very smart guys. And so from your standpoint as a 231 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: head coach. You talked about the academic rigors of being 232 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: able to get through at Notre Dame. How does it 233 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 1: benefit you though, to have a collection of guys who 234 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: are very intelligent, who have put in a ton of 235 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 1: work academically. How are you able to take that and 236 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 1: really make it a strength for your team on the field. Yeah, 237 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: I think these young people are forced every day to 238 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: to really strain their bodies in their minds. And what 239 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:55,959 Speaker 1: does that mean. Yeah, you're gonna strain your body here 240 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: in the weight room on the practice field, but every 241 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: day when you leave our football facility, you have to 242 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 1: strain your mind. You have to go to class, you 243 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: have to really really study and learn the the information 244 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: you're being given. And so what I think the cumulative 245 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: effect of that is a young man it's battle tested, 246 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 1: and I'm not just talking about on the field, but 247 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: in every aspect of his life. And then that helps 248 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 1: you towards the end of the season, right that our 249 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:19,319 Speaker 1: guys usually don't tire out because they're used to be 250 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: grind in different situations every day. But you're also producing 251 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: great young men, you know. I think what Notre Dame 252 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: forces you to do is to be a well rounded 253 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,959 Speaker 1: individual that that you know what, you have a bond 254 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:34,079 Speaker 1: with those other students. Here's only a five students here 255 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: and not many people at Notre Dame or from South Bend. 256 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: So it forces you to become a community and really 257 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 1: lean on each other and count on each other during 258 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: those tough times. And so that's why I think, you know, 259 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 1: it's really a unique situation, but also a privilege to 260 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,719 Speaker 1: be a part of this place. Coach, I go back 261 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: in your history. Actually was able to dig back through 262 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 1: and found some some old reports from your Ohio State years, 263 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 1: looking at all the guys that were in your class. 264 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 1: I might hit you up with one a little bit later, 265 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 1: get your thoughts on and see how we did. One 266 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: of the things I think about your team that you 267 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: played on was that just a competitive depth that you had. 268 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 1: You know, you guys were deep across the board. And 269 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 1: how that can elevate the program. Where where is Notre 270 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: Dame at right now in that regard and what needs 271 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 1: to take place for you to get to the next level. 272 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 1: I think we are. We were in a good position, 273 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: and you talk about I think at the end of 274 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: regular season we're fifth in the country last year and 275 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: and Notre Dame made two out the past three playoffs 276 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,199 Speaker 1: before that, and so you're part of the elitist now. 277 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 1: To get to the to the top, right, that's our 278 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:32,319 Speaker 1: ultimate goal. We have to one continue to bring in 279 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:34,959 Speaker 1: some of those top tier players that fit this place, 280 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 1: right were we talking all all the time we talk 281 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 1: about as a staff, we look for high trust, high ability, 282 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 1: performance players. You know, I think right now we have 283 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:46,200 Speaker 1: a lot of high trust and really above average man 284 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: to two, really really good football players. But we have 285 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: to continue to find the best in the country right 286 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: that fit this place, and and that's what our staff 287 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:56,199 Speaker 1: has been been able to do. They're doing it. We're 288 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 1: doing an excellent job in terms of recruiting um right now, 289 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: but we still have a way to go to continue 290 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: to to reach that pinnacle that we're all striving to 291 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: get to. But our focus right now is, Hey, we're 292 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: gonna focus on this team. We're gonna focus on this 293 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,080 Speaker 1: roster we have and develop it to the to the 294 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: utmost degree that we can right and get to that 295 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 1: point where we're work as close as we can to 296 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: the ultimum optimum performance that we can perform. Coach, I 297 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: think your coaching journey is really unique, um, particularly because 298 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: you've been at some powerhouses, you've also played the role 299 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:29,959 Speaker 1: of the underdog where you had to develop and then 300 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: you're back at a powerhouse and thinking about your experience 301 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,559 Speaker 1: in your time at Cincinnati when you might not have 302 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: been afforded all of the resources or maybe the best players. 303 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 1: Where were you able to learn from taking the hand 304 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: that you dealt there, but getting those guys to play 305 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: at a high level, and how can it help you 306 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: at Notre Dame. I think, you know, I think about 307 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 1: those four years of Cincinnati and the first year wasn't 308 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 1: so great. We won four four games, and uh, I 309 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: think it made us really um reevaluate, you know, defensively 310 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 1: what we were doing, why we were doing it. But 311 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 1: we also man and coach Fickle ran a program that 312 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: was tough and and we pushed those guys and they 313 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: committed to the bigger picture, They committed to each other, 314 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 1: and they we recruited at a high level. I mean, 315 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: we had nine guys since I had nine guys drafted 316 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: this year, and so there's no you know, misman you know, 317 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 1: and misunderstanding about why they were so successful. UM, But 318 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: I think what you can utilize their bits and pieces 319 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: of it to hear one again, it's it's about players, right, 320 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 1: Let's get the best players in the country to fit 321 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: this place, but to continue to push them. Right, the 322 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: mind is the mind and the body are two different things. 323 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 1: And if we can push the body man to to 324 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: really really go places that maybe sometimes the mind even 325 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 1: won't let you go. That's that's to me what I 326 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: take from those times in Cincinnati to to what we're 327 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 1: developing here in that sense of brotherhood. You know, I 328 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 1: think Notre Dame naturally, you know, makes that happen. But 329 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: also we have to continue to preach it as a 330 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: staff and and hold our guys accountable and really try 331 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: to get them submit to a bigger picture, greater than themselves. 332 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: All Right, We're gonna try and get some homework done 333 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: ahead of time here, coach, because I know we're a 334 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: long ways away from the next draft and we just 335 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: got done with the previous one. But we're always looking ahead. 336 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: And I know you've got some intriguing guys there. Uh 337 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: So I want to hit you up on a couple 338 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: of tell me about your tight end man special special special, 339 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: that's the word I can use for him. I was 340 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: able to meet him when I was at Cincinnati because 341 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: he's from right across the river. Um and Cuve Catholic 342 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: and and I remember going to an event and getting 343 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: a chance to meet him, and um, wow, Am I 344 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: glad that he's on our team. And uh, I knew 345 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: from him day I stepped in here. He's a different animal, 346 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: and uh, I expect him to be a dominant tight 347 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 1: end and be one of those guys that are drafted 348 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: really early next year. I'll me get you up, buck, 349 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: let me hit a bout with a couple more here, 350 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: give me, give me Foster, here, give me the defensive event. 351 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 1: Eleven sacks last year. I haven't got a chance to 352 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: study him yet, but just talking to buddies in the league, 353 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: they're fired up about this guy. He's a freak. He's 354 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: got a lot of talent, a lot of ability, and 355 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:54,680 Speaker 1: he's only been playing in a position really for three 356 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: or four years. And uh he's continued to learn, um 357 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: what it takes to be a successful defense and outside 358 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: linebacker as he will project at the next level. But um, Foske, 359 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 1: he's a guy that will has very been very productive. 360 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: We challenged him to try to break justin Tuck's record. 361 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: He was close. I think Tuck is at thirteen and 362 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: a half sacks, which is the record for Notre Dame, 363 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 1: and so, um, I know he's trying to break a 364 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 1: single season and the school record for sacks, and so 365 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: we'll continue to push him, but he's expected to have 366 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: a really, really good season. All right, last two guys, coach, 367 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 1: and I'll let Buck jump back in here. I'm just 368 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: I'm cheating Buck. I'm just trying to get some Yeah, 369 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: it's early. It's just like gonna turn your homework in early. Man, 370 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: you got your centat there. And Jared Patterson, you've got 371 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: the safety that transferred over from Northwestern. And Brandon Joseph. 372 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 1: Talking about those two guys, coach, Yeah, j Pats a 373 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: returning captain, right, he was a captain as a junior, 374 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 1: had a chance to go to the NFL and decided 375 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: to come back and really as a leader on our 376 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: offense line but the entire unit. And so he's gonna 377 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 1: really benefit from a year of coaching over Harry. He's 378 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 1: standing and I'm excited to see what he does for us. 379 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: And then Brandon Joseph, Man is a kid that's only 380 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: been here for fifteen practices but done an unbelievable jobs. 381 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: Came in here with high expectation and is performed right. 382 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: And that doesn't that isn't easy to do when people 383 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:04,880 Speaker 1: hold you to this standard of being this all American 384 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,199 Speaker 1: from Northwestern and come in and you know what, I 385 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 1: think a lot of people understand why. And so I'm 386 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: excited for both the goals every every person you just mentioned, 387 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:14,400 Speaker 1: I'm excited for what they're gonna do for us next year. 388 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 1: You know a coach, and I noticed standard is high, 389 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 1: uh and Notre Dame Like I played with a bunch 390 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,399 Speaker 1: of Notre Dame guys down the line, and I know 391 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:25,120 Speaker 1: the expectation. You guys don't give our rings from anything 392 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:29,200 Speaker 1: other than national championships. And so for you, uh, as 393 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: you think about your first season, what would be successful 394 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:34,679 Speaker 1: in your eyes? Not necessarily in terms of win totals 395 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: and those things, but what should the product look like 396 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:42,200 Speaker 1: on the field if it's successful team according to markets Freeman? Yeah, 397 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 1: I mean the goals in national championship and that's very clear, 398 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 1: and I don't want to set any goals that are 399 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:51,120 Speaker 1: lower than that. Um, But then what is you can 400 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 1: say that, but then what is your focus every day. 401 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: It's not to go out there, hey every day were 402 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: national championship. No, we're saying that's our goal. How do 403 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 1: we get there? Right? We focus on who we are 404 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 1: right in the development of this roster, and you know what, 405 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 1: we do want to be a tough, disciplined and a 406 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:07,959 Speaker 1: team that doesn't have a lot of penalties, that can 407 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: run the ball and stop the run and score points 408 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: and obviously keep points off the board, and so all 409 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: those things and compass what I want this team to 410 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 1: be be about and look like. But but ultimately, you 411 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 1: have a maximum level that you can perform at, right, 412 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: and I think every day our focus is to get 413 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 1: as close as we can to that maximum level, so 414 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 1: that in those twelve guaranteed opportunites that we have to 415 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: play this game. You know what, let's perform as close 416 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 1: as we can to that maximum level and let's see 417 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:34,919 Speaker 1: what that leads us to. Right. We might go against 418 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:36,880 Speaker 1: a team that maybe their maximum levels higher than us. 419 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: We can't we can't do anything about that. He can 420 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:42,159 Speaker 1: really just focus on who we are and how how 421 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 1: much development we have here over the summer and the 422 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: course of training camp. And then on September three, comes around, 423 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,399 Speaker 1: let's go play, coach. I'm curious how you are dividing 424 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: your time during these summer months, because you know the 425 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 1: NFL is you know, you've got your general managers thinking 426 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 1: long term, You've got the coaches who are thinking short term. 427 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:00,080 Speaker 1: At the college of you got to do both. If 428 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: you've gotta be thinking about recruiting class too or three 429 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:03,880 Speaker 1: years down the line, and you've gotta be thinking about 430 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: how you're gonna win your opening game, how do you 431 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 1: go about balancing that schedule in the in the here 432 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: and now, but also the future. Yeah, it's still a 433 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: struggle of mine. You just blend everything together right now. 434 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:17,679 Speaker 1: I think the thing I've learned is to really depend 435 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: on the people around you, trust them to do their job. 436 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:23,639 Speaker 1: And we've hired some unbelievable coaches, some unbelievable support staff. 437 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: That everybody has a job to do, and everybody's role 438 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 1: is an important his mind is the head coach, and 439 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:30,200 Speaker 1: you have to trust them to do their job and 440 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 1: not try to do their job. And so I've really 441 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: been able to do that. Um, I believe in our 442 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 1: staff and those people that around me, And as I 443 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 1: said earlier, just as I am with the players. I 444 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:42,120 Speaker 1: am with this staff, I'm a teammate and I'm here 445 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 1: to help them and I'm here to to do this 446 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 1: mission that we all have together. You know, coaches, is 447 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 1: really um intriguing to think about your time and know 448 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:55,879 Speaker 1: how you stay with Jim Trust. So what are some 449 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:57,440 Speaker 1: of the things that you're able to learn from him 450 00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: being a player upnder him doing that successful run that 451 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:02,920 Speaker 1: you had a Ohio your state. I can't tell you, um, 452 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: how many lessons I've learned from him and I still 453 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 1: learned today. You know, I still depend on him for 454 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 1: a lot of different uh lessons to teach and to 455 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: learn and bounce ideas off of. But you know what, ultimately, 456 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: the thing I learned from Jim Trussell was everybody's important right, 457 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: and nobody's above anybody else, and you treat everybody with 458 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 1: respect and and um he was an unbelievable leader and 459 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 1: unbelievable example for how to lead, how to be a father, 460 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 1: how to be a husband. Um. Again, there's so many 461 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 1: lessons I learned under Jim Trust. But at Ohio State too, um, 462 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:35,160 Speaker 1: with a great experience I had for five years there 463 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:36,639 Speaker 1: as a as a player, then come back in g 464 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: a there, and so you know, there's many different situations 465 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: and environments that I've been through in my entire life 466 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: that all had made me who I am today, and 467 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 1: so I'm forever in debt to all of them. I'm 468 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: gonna get you in trouble with this one because I 469 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: went to app State and so I know obviously the 470 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 1: Notre Dame head coach, I want to go back for 471 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 1: your time at Ohio State. Where were you when we 472 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 1: when we beat Michigan? And how good did that feel? 473 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: I was at? Um? I was we were playing a 474 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,879 Speaker 1: home game, you know, and I think I saw that 475 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 1: in the locker room. They were playing that in the 476 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:10,919 Speaker 1: locker room, and so, um, I'm not gonna stay on 477 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,919 Speaker 1: here if I was happy or upset. Um, I'm just 478 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: gonna say I didn't see it. And I remember seeing 479 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 1: that feel being made. And uh, that's all I'm gonna 480 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 1: end that. You know, I couldn't help it, but there's 481 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:33,439 Speaker 1: a connection that can't be broken. Uh. It's funny because 482 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 1: you know that rab I think about that game, going 483 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:38,159 Speaker 1: to that game and understanding that. But now, coach, you 484 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: had a Notre Dame where you have a ton of 485 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 1: big rivalry games and so when you think about getting 486 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:45,320 Speaker 1: the team ready to play in the emotions that come 487 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 1: along with playing some of those rivals, some of those 488 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: games that are on the calendar, how do you control 489 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:53,880 Speaker 1: the emotions for those teams in those moments. Yeah, that's 490 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 1: something I hope that you You could ask a lot 491 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: of our players. And don't hear me say all the time, 492 00:21:57,359 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: one day, one life, one game, one life, right, and 493 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,880 Speaker 1: at every game we play the super Bowl? And how 494 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 1: do we make sure that we enjoy those victures? We boot, 495 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 1: we enjoy those times that we have success, but our 496 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 1: focus now goes to the next one right, one game, 497 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: one life, and and you learn from that previous game, 498 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 1: but it really has really no impact on the performance 499 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:20,000 Speaker 1: of the next game. And so I want our players 500 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 1: to truly understand that, Hey, it's played by play and 501 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:27,400 Speaker 1: game by game, and you can't put too much emphasis 502 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:29,359 Speaker 1: on one game in terms of what it does for 503 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 1: your program and what it does for the next game, right, 504 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:33,959 Speaker 1: And so we have to truly just spoke take one 505 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: game at a time. And I know that's coaches talk 506 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 1: one game at a time, but we live our life 507 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 1: that way. One day, one life, one game, on life alright, coach, 508 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,200 Speaker 1: you've been super generous with your time last one. Uh 509 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 1: then then I'll let you run here. But I just 510 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 1: want to give you an opportunity to tell the fans 511 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: out there that folks to listen to the podcast here 512 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:51,800 Speaker 1: as well. You know, if you turn on a Notre 513 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,679 Speaker 1: Dame football game during your tenure there, what is the 514 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: identity of the football team? The names and the players 515 00:22:57,080 --> 00:22:58,760 Speaker 1: are gonna change the year after year, but what is 516 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,919 Speaker 1: the identity of a Marcus Freeman led Notre Dame football 517 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:04,680 Speaker 1: team gonna be? Well, I think to answer that, I'll 518 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 1: just go over what we call is our golden standard, 519 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:08,880 Speaker 1: and this is what describes our football team but also 520 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 1: describes our program. At Number one is challenged everything. So 521 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:13,919 Speaker 1: as you think about challenge everything in terms of a 522 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: football team, you know what that's gonna be. A team 523 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 1: that's creative, a team that finds better ways to do 524 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:20,719 Speaker 1: what they're doing right, A team that you know, just 525 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 1: isn't just doing things by the book. We're gonna be 526 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 1: aggressive on offense, aggressive on defense, and really find different 527 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:28,119 Speaker 1: ways to make sure we have success. Number two is 528 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: unit strength, and what that means is really love, is 529 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:32,760 Speaker 1: that we're gonna love and sacrifice for the man next 530 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:34,680 Speaker 1: to us. So what does that? How does that look 531 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:36,359 Speaker 1: in terms of football? And hopefully you don't see a 532 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: lot of penalties, You don't see a lot of selfish plays. 533 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 1: You see teams truly, you see individuals just sacrificing for 534 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 1: the man next to them and given that person everything 535 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 1: they have. And the last thing is the competitive spirit. 536 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 1: And that's something that we try to find ways to 537 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: develop that every day in the meetings and practice and 538 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 1: in anything we do. We want to continue to develop 539 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 1: that competitive spirit. So on a football field, that that's 540 00:23:58,320 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: what I hope that you'll see is in the fourth 541 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: quarter or when the game's on the line, you're gonna 542 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 1: see a group that's just starting to get going. And Uh, 543 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: that's what I love about this place and I love 544 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 1: about this team, and we're gonna continue to develop that identity. Alright, coach, 545 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:13,400 Speaker 1: So so I'm leading on you because I'm a high 546 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: school head coach. This will be my fourth season. Um, 547 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 1: and I know that head coaches love reading books, So 548 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 1: I need to have a book to read over the 549 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:23,919 Speaker 1: summer as I'm getting ready for the season. Is there 550 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 1: a book recommendation that you have for there's one that 551 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:30,159 Speaker 1: I'm just finishing up right now, right, I don't know 552 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 1: if you can see that. It's called the Program Program, 553 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 1: and so it's really about you know some military stype leader, 554 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:42,480 Speaker 1: military type leadership, but just talks about um setting standards right, 555 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: setting standards, um, you know, holding guys accountable, right, and 556 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 1: they all got to be that they all got to 557 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: be aligned with your goals. And so that's been really 558 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 1: beneficial to me. You know, something talks about in there 559 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 1: is about hey, there is no such thing as a 560 00:24:56,760 --> 00:25:00,719 Speaker 1: vocal I mean a a leader by example, right, and 561 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: that Hey, if you're a leader by example, that means 562 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 1: you do whatever you're ask to do really really well, 563 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 1: but you don't say anything, right, So I just just 564 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:09,719 Speaker 1: call that say that's what you are instead of you know, 565 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,440 Speaker 1: we need more leaders, right, and that that hold each 566 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 1: other accountable and that really guess what your job to 567 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 1: take care of the team, because if you see somebody 568 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 1: performing underneath the standard right or below the standard and 569 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: you don't say anything, that becomes a new standard. So, um, 570 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 1: those are those are different books I'm reading with that 571 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 1: book right there is the one that I'm reading right 572 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 1: now that it's truly gonna help me. Okay, so I 573 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 1: got one for you. I don't have a book for you, 574 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:35,439 Speaker 1: but I'm gonna advise you study up on the Tampa 575 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:40,359 Speaker 1: Bay Lightnings culture for the third RDE Stanley Cup and 576 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:44,439 Speaker 1: in reading and consuming everything that they're talking about. Coach 577 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: it is player first program, high level of accountability and 578 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: playing the right way. This is a team that, look, 579 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 1: they're one of the third most playoff series in a row. 580 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:58,200 Speaker 1: And when you dig down, they talk about holding everybody 581 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 1: from the stars to the new rookie accountable and the 582 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:05,480 Speaker 1: players police themselves. It's a great culture to study and 583 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 1: and really dig into, well how do you, how did you? 584 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:11,119 Speaker 1: How do you learn about So there's a lot of 585 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 1: different articles and stuff um on the athletic now because 586 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:18,919 Speaker 1: they're in the Stanley Cup with UH playing the the Avalanche, 587 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 1: there's a lot of stuff that's talking about and their 588 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 1: coach John Cooper is outstanding. But I consumed a bunch 589 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:26,359 Speaker 1: of podcasts and a bunch of stuff. I kind of 590 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 1: do that like when we're going through the playoffs and 591 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: I'm like, oh, the heater or here, why the heat 592 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:31,720 Speaker 1: always here? So then you go and kind of dig 593 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:33,680 Speaker 1: down and figure out what they're doing, the same thing 594 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 1: with the Lightning. But I just came off a weekend 595 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:38,640 Speaker 1: where I kind of dug into the lightning and the 596 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:42,679 Speaker 1: common denominator is accountability. All those teams that do it 597 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 1: year after year after year, they find the way the 598 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: hold guys accountable. So when you talked about that book 599 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 1: the program, it reminded me of what I studied over 600 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,640 Speaker 1: the course of the weekend. I love it. I love it. 601 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 1: There you go, I love I love We go back 602 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 1: and forth like this, But that was like when, uh, 603 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 1: when I sat next to the assistant gm oh gosh 604 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,119 Speaker 1: where he's with the cracking the new team in yes Seattle, 605 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 1: and he had told me he was talking about Tampa 606 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:07,640 Speaker 1: Bay and it was at the trade deadline, and he said, 607 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 1: they if you look at them and study them every 608 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 1: year at the trade deadline, they don't girlfriend to have 609 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 1: the big names, like big impact guys, said, they always 610 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:15,800 Speaker 1: just get glue guys. They get guys that are veteran, 611 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:17,479 Speaker 1: like glue guys, and they're like those are like their 612 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:20,160 Speaker 1: little missing pieces, and then they do the same thing 613 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 1: every year. But yeah, I don't know a darn thing 614 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 1: about hockey. But the team building stuff translates no matter 615 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 1: you know what what you're studying. I like that. More 616 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:31,480 Speaker 1: glue guys. We need more blue guys like that. There 617 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 1: you go, Coach, You're the best man. It's been a 618 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 1: pleasure to to visit with you, hopefully the first of many, 619 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 1: and hopefully we get a chance to visit again as 620 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:41,400 Speaker 1: we get through the fall. Appreciate your man. Awesome man. 621 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 1: Thanks guys for having me off. All right, Buck, let's 622 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: take let's take a quick break. I want to dig 623 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 1: in to what we learned from Coach on that conversation. 624 00:27:48,240 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 1: We'll take a quick break and we'll be right back. 625 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 1: What do you think, Buck, that's an impressive guy. I 626 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,480 Speaker 1: mean I remember scouting him back at Ohio State and uh, 627 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:00,360 Speaker 1: you know, I think you can say, okay, a young 628 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: head coach, but this guy still has paid his dues, 629 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 1: he has worked his way up through programs and uh 630 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 1: and I'm stoked that he has this opportunity of Notre Dame. 631 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:09,719 Speaker 1: I think they're in good hands. Yeah, I think they 632 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:11,919 Speaker 1: are in great hands. His great hands one because I 633 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:14,360 Speaker 1: think he's an excellent man. I think when you talk 634 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:17,879 Speaker 1: to people about him and his interactions and conversations with 635 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:20,119 Speaker 1: his players and the way that there's a healthy and 636 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:22,920 Speaker 1: mutual respect between he and his guys and how they 637 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 1: respond to him. I think that video after he got 638 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 1: the job and walked in speaks volumes about the connectivity 639 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 1: that he has with his team. I'm excited now. I 640 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 1: know it's a tough job, is one that he is 641 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:35,439 Speaker 1: going to have to learn quickly, and he's gonna have 642 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 1: to kind of make mistakes hopefully while he's winning games. 643 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 1: But man, I I just love the fact that he 644 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 1: is an opportunity on a big stage with the program 645 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 1: that has the resources that might allow him to reach 646 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 1: his potential as a head coach. Um, all right, I 647 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: want I want to just touch on three things here. 648 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 1: The three things he mentioned that identity of Notre Dame 649 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:56,800 Speaker 1: football team. Give me your thoughts on kind of that. 650 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 1: The three mentioned challenge everything, unit, strength, competitive spirit. What 651 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: stands out to you, well, challenge everything? Uh to me 652 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: is look mad list dare to be different even though 653 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 1: things have been kind of status quo and Notre Dame 654 00:29:11,560 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 1: for a while, Like, there's no reason why these guys 655 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:16,160 Speaker 1: can't be in the final four. They've been in the 656 00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 1: final four, They've been in the playoff. They have seen 657 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 1: what it is. But he talked about, you know, the 658 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 1: biggest hurdle is going to the next level, and some 659 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 1: of that is talent acquisition to go with the talent development. 660 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 1: And so they got to challenge themselves to find a 661 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 1: way to develop the players that they get while also 662 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: challenging the norms when it comes to recruiting. Recruiting the 663 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:37,240 Speaker 1: best players, the players that are willing to embrace the 664 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 1: challenge of dealing with the academic rigors of succeeding in 665 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: Notre Dame while also playing a very competitive schedule that 666 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: is really going to reveal if you're an a level 667 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 1: player or not, no doubt. I just look, sometimes you 668 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: can argue about the plan, this plan or that plan 669 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 1: the whole thing to me, and you've gotta have a plan. 670 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 1: You gotta believe in it. And you can tell listening 671 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 1: to him talk he believes wholeheartedly and everything that he's 672 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 1: preaching to these players. Um, and they have a talent 673 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 1: at roster. So it's gonna be fun to follow Notre 674 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 1: Dame in this upcoming season. Anything else you want to 675 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:07,960 Speaker 1: add before we get out of here, Buck, It's always 676 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:09,720 Speaker 1: fun when we get these guests. You know, when we 677 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 1: get guys um that are in a relaxed environment and 678 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 1: able to share that conversation was terrific because I look 679 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:17,240 Speaker 1: forward to bringing on more guys to kind of open 680 00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 1: up and just kind of find the inner workings of 681 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:21,440 Speaker 1: college and pro football because it's always fun to me. 682 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:22,840 Speaker 1: All right, that's gonna do it for us today. I 683 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: hope you guys have enjoyed it. I told you Buck, 684 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 1: he had some hockey. Now on that not no boy 685 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:29,240 Speaker 1: is gonna go there. I love. That was fantastic when 686 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:31,160 Speaker 1: you get the head coach Notre Dame taking notes when 687 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:33,479 Speaker 1: you're when you're talking, you're doing some of them right. 688 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:35,840 Speaker 1: Nice work, Buck, All right, that's gonna do it for 689 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:37,680 Speaker 1: us today. Thanks for hanging with us. Catching next time 690 00:30:37,720 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 1: right here on booting sticks, you know,