Q/A | Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman on Tennessee State Game

Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman spoke on Tuesday afternoon following the announcement the Irish will host Tennessee State in 2023. 

On if the Ohio State connection played in the game being set:
"Again, it's going to be, I think, a storyline that both of us played at Ohio State, but this is so much bigger than Ohio State. 

"This is about Notre Dame and its first opportunity to play an HBCU and I think that's where our focus is going to be obviously as a football program, and that's something I'm looking forward to.”

On what this game means to him:
"Well, it's a huge honor. I understand I'm a representation for many others and I think this game represents opportunities for all individuals and so it's a great honor. I couldn't be more grateful for Jack (Swarbrick) and Father Jenkins for putting this thing together. But I take it with the utmost respect and utmost appreciation for this opportunity."

On his experience with HBCUs:
"I think the only opportunity I had to have an HBCU as an opponent was a Cincinnati. We played Alabama A&M. Again, it was a great environment, a great opportunity, but it was a great experience too. I grew up in Dayton, Ohio, where we had Central State University, which is an HBCU that was really successful when I was growing up as a kid. That's something I've known about for a long time.

“Again, it's all about the opportunity for us as the University of Notre Dame to get this chance to play an HBCU and that's extremely, extremely exciting."

On his relationship with Tennessee State head coach Eddie George:
"Well, Eddie's a little bit older than me, but I grew up in Ohio obviously and grew up watching Eddie George and many other great Ohio State players. He won the Heisman, so I grew up more of a fan than anything. But we got to know each other obviously when I was at Ohio State and even after my time at Ohio State. 

"Other than that, the personal connection, it probably ends right there. But, again, we'll say it again, this game wasn't created because of our Ohio State connection, but other than an opportunity for us to play Tennessee State."

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