Leftovers & Links: Freeman’s authenticity sheds truth to usual coachspeak; Notre Dame injuries update

Every so often, Marcus Freeman slips coachspeak into his otherwise authentic thoughts, including after Notre Dame’s 28-20 win against BYU in Las Vegas on Saturday. Considering much of his postgame press conference is filled with more transparency than is typically seen from that podium, perhaps that coachspeak should be reflected on from a few steps back.

Freeman can delve into frustration about the Irish kickoff returns at Ohio State immediately following that 21-10 season-opening loss — the type of detail that most might not consider until Monday — only moments after offering such obvious thoughts as “Do not turn the ball over,” and “Try to continue to run the ball vertically.” The unique sincerity of that kickoff return criticism, a valid one given Notre Dame took two kickoffs for 22 total yards at Columbus and has kept itself to just four returns for 60 yards since then, creates a sense of validity in his broader platitudes.

Freeman oscillates from “He’s a freak now” when discussing junior tight end Michael Mayer with NBC sideline reporter Zora Stephenson (above) to changing the usual rhythm of Brian Kelly’s favorite postgame axiom, “Winning is hard,” only 15 minutes later talking with the media.

“College football, the parity is pretty close for a lot of us,” Freeman said Saturday night. “A team like BYU, you’re going to have to find a way. They’re never going to lay down. You’re going to have to find a way to finish.”

He’s right. Immediate eligibility upon a player’s first transfer has furthered parity across college football (see: Marshall, USC, Mississippi), but it has long been a truth. Aside from the top-four teams, losses can be expected in the most unusual moments.

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