JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 11, 2025

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 11, 2025

Eric Hansen

3:01

OK that's going to have to do it for today .... got many multitasking things coming up yet. Thanks for all the great questions and hope to meet some of you soon. ... As to the next chat? For sure I'll do one the Wednesday after the title game, so Jan. 22 at noon ET. I will try to do one more before the game but have to work it around media schedule, which I don't have yet, and travel. Thanks again everyone.

2:59

HI Denny. I am bobbing and weaving through your fun commentary and hoping I don't miss the questions. ... I did mention ND's rushing advantage in the second half ... As far as run defense, Ohio State is 3. For comparison sake, IU is 1 and Penn State 9. Sacks, OSU is 3rd, better than anyone ND has faced, though they did face No. 18 NIU, No. 23 Penn State, No. 25 IU, No. 29 Ga. ... Huge, huge matchup in getting O-line play right ... and RL's running and escapability are huge too. Sam Pendleton did not play, had been working at No. 2 center with Jags taking over as No. 2 guard ... then No. 1. ... I hope I got to them all.

Denny from Beaverton

2:48

Hi Eric...What a game! Last chat you told me how important winning the ground game was in relation to win/losses in games, We dodged a bullet last night after we were outrushed by almost 100 yards. I was surprised Penn State put those rushing numbers up on us and also our inability to get effective pressure on the QB. The loss of Rylie Mills is bigger than I anticipated. Last night we lost 2 offensive line starters (and maybe 3 ...did Sam Pendelton play?). J. Loves magnificent touchdown run was epic Heisman like and he seemed supercharged but only had a couple runs in the first half. Rushing offense and defense will be vital in the Championship game. What are your thoughts about this factor? I do feel we will never be out of a game because of Coach Freeman's leadership and the cohesiveness of this resilient team but there are strong headwinds to face. What a pleasure having you to bounce things off of. THANKS ERIC!

Eric Hansen

2:48

Cooper Flanagan's injury makes three-tight end sets a little less enticing ... but maybe ... and yes, if you could bring back that version of Joe Alt ... or any version I'd take it. Guerby Lambert is a stud. That would be fun to see him in that role.

Len from the Jersey Shore

2:47

Any chance for three tight end sets for Jan 20? Or maybe a young Joe Alt with a TE number?

Eric Hansen

2:46

Thank you!!!

Sean, Schaumburg, IL

2:46

I forgot to add HNY, Eric. You and Tyler are top notch journalists. I enjoy FNS. Bob Morton's addition has been great. Be well. Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

2:46

Hi Eddie, thank you and I'll have to find out ... but I am hoping to try to get Manti on a podcast this week ... no promises, but I will effort it.

Eddie from Honolulu

(sorry got cut off) I believe that before the NIU game, Marcus invited Manti Teo to speak to the team as featured in Here Come the Irish. He gave a fiery, passionate speech about history being written by the victors, urged the team to write their own, and concluded by handing Marcus a pen. I wonder if Marcus pulled that out at halftime, among other things?

2:45

Aloha Eric, Appreciate all that you do to positively impact college football and the journalism profession by demonstrating fairness, decency, and impartiality in this ever changing landscape. We saw two Irish teams in the Orange Bowl: one that got beat up and pushed around for most of the first half and another one that rallied around Steve Angeli, great coaching/leadership, and astute halftime adjustments/speeches. After the game players said that Coach Free reminded them that history is written by the conquerors and to go out and write their own. This reminded me of an emotional segment of Peacock’s Here Come The It

Eric Hansen

2:45

Tom, really appreciate that. And let me add, you all are amazing. This is always a highlight of my weeks ... even when you break the no-drinking rule .... and even after NIU. Great conversations and they give me a lot of story ideas ... so thank you.

Tom F, Kennesaw, GA

Eric, just like a good coach/leader brings out the best in his players, I think that your insight and hard work bring out the best in us Chatters!!! I am always impressed with the level of questions that are in these weekly Chats. Thank you. Now, Go Irish!!!!

oooppps. I meant the TD catch and run by Jaden Greathouse, not Jordan Faison. My brain is still on an adrenaline high.

2:38

Ok Eric, I understand my Irish bias, BUT imho, the PSU defender did not "just fall down". If you look at it closely Faison made a great move to the inside off the line of scrimmage and then a great break to the outside. Then after he caught the ball he juked the last defender on his way to a great touchdown. Going along with your opinion of his rise at the right time, I just think that JF deserves more credit than most people are giving him. Go Irish!!!!

Eric Hansen

2:37

John, you telling the story about your uncle gave me goosebumps, and not just because its 31 degrees outside here. ... The most amazing part of the culture is Freeman never giving up on a player who's not a front-liner and neve letting them give up on themselves ... or wallow or feel sorry ... And that's why Junior Tuihalamaka matters now, and Pat Coogan and Charles Jagusah and Tosh Baker and Christian Gray and Jordan Greathouse and Steve Angeli and Mitch FREAKING Jeter ... they were all ready for their moments, because they believed they would matter. And they did ... and still do.

John Scottsdale, AZ

2:33

Eric, I appreciate these chat but I appreciate your writing and fine journalism even more. The ND continues to redefine itself” article was superb. And as I shared with you my Uncle from ND used to cut and send your articles to us regularly. This has been a magical and unexpected season, especially with all the injuries. Now for my question. In your opinion what part of the culture that Freeman built at ND is most important in this amazing playoff run.

Eric Hansen

2:33

Aloha, Eddie. I don't think there's any animosity there, but they only worked together for one year. They are not particularly close, don't talk regularly and BK wasn't thrilled Mike Denbrock left LSU for ND. But no bad blood. But BK had nothing to do with Marcus becoming a head coach, except creating the vacancy. I will say this... an unintentional factor, BK in his defense did get the program to a point where it COULD roll the dice on a coach with no previous head coaching experience. The same could not be said in 2009 December when BK landed the job.

Eddie from Honolulu

2:30

Aloha Eric! I’m curious to hear your thoughts about what was unsaid in the lead up to the Orange Bowl. Both Freeman and Franklin were asked about the significance of black head coaches in the game and how they arrived at this point. Freeman gave credit to his mom and listed many coaches from high school to college as well as the ND administration for giving him a shot, but notably didn’t mention Kelly. Is there anything to read into that or is that just Marcus being a class act and keeping the positive attention and focus where it needs to be?

Eric Hansen

Northern Illinois.

2:29

Hey Sean, thanks for the question and commentary. I'll leave the commentary alone and get to the question. Notre Dame will go for it on fourth and short, because they're good at it. They're tied for eighth nationally at 73%, but OSU is really good on 4th as well, 71%. And they both have great defenses they believe can hold up if they don't make it on fourth down. Ohio State is No. 1 in total defense and ND 9th. This will be the fifth game for each one against a top 10 defense. Two of those in common -- No. 2 Indiana and No. 7 Penn State. Fun fact... guess who No. 4 is?

Sean, Schaumburg, IL

2:23

Do you envision Freeman going for it more on 4th and short? More fake punt plays? Without the injuries we're a wee bit overmatched. It had to be Ohio State. I was at both games. It took me two weeks to recover from the 2023 game. I'm not for hyperbole, but this might be the biggest game in ND history. Win and glory returns. Lose and it's the same old mantra of not defeating the top tier teams in the biggest games. Defeating Georgia was a step in the right direction. Although, anti-ND fans can point to Beck being out. We get him in Miami to start the 2025 season. Just win, Baby. Nothing else matters.

Eric Hansen

2:22

If you anyone needs extra juice for THIS game? They are in a coma.

Brendan from Pittsburgh

2:22

Hi Eric. How much extra juice is ND going to have for this game? Obviously it's the national championship anyway, but may it be more personal given last year, Coach Freeman's connections, and the line initially being a pretty high 9.5?

Eric Hansen

2:21

In the times I've spoken with Mike Denbrock, that's the impression he's given me. Haven't talked much about it specifically. It's pretty common throughout college football. But again, the big money is made by being able to adjust ... and Denbrock did that too .,.. again and again this season, and in the Penn State game, as did Golden on D.

Mike from Rockville, MD

2:19

Hi, Eric! Do you know if Denbrock/Freeman script the first 10-15 plays of the game on offense? BK used to do it and I've heard others like Chip Kelly do it too. Thanks!

Eric Hansen

2:19

Jonathan!!! Strong exclamation point game without overtaxing your fingers .... I think Tyler Warren and Penn State's lack of WR threats made playing three linebackers more attractive than a lot of nickel. Jordan Clark only played 15 snaps out of a possible 67. He's usually in the 80-90% range if not higher. He will be higher for OSU. Some of Penn State's ability to block was scheme. Some of it was having two RBs who are really good who are 220-pounds plus. Trevor Etienne, for instance, was 200, if that, for Ga. But Al Golden adjusted, which is his fastball as a coordinator and he located it. ... And yes the run by J-Love for 2 yards is one of the most impressive 2-yard runs I've seen in more than four decades of doing this.

Jonathan in Hideaway, TX

2:13

Hi, Eric!!! So much fun to keep this season rolling! Hope you’re enjoying more than burning out. As I look at snap counts and PFF grades, it makes me wonder if the successful in-game adjustments might be summarized as responding to Penn St size and brute force with more size (and correspondingly less speed) in our own lineups. At least, as I look at who played more and less than usual, that’s my guess as to the reasoning. Am I on to something? Perhaps relatedly, PSU had more success blocking Irish defenders than anyone I recall since, I dunno, Bama 2012? Any insight into why? Scheme? Athletes? Sheer size? I certainly was surprised to see ND battle back despite what looked like physical domination (except on that one, glorious 2-yard run) by the N Lions.

Eric Hansen

2:13

Hi The Beave. Are you going down too? I'll have to check with Marie on the party, I will be working, but I am having dinner with her one night. ... The source I spoke to said the flu rumor was WAY overstated and would not affect the team. They had been fighting a bug for a couple of weeks, and it did affect Beaux Collins in the Sugar Bowl and his dad tweeted something to that effect, and it is worth asking about at the next presser. But if you look at the snap counts and sub patterns, only Collins looks off. The rest were injury-related. And thanks for the kind words.

The Beave. Grand Rapids

2:05

Hey Eric. Thanks for giving up your Saturday to allow the ND faithful to continue to celebrate this great run together. You are appreciated. The line for ND v PSU moved right before kickoff in favor of Penn State. At the same time, there were social media reports of Nora virus running through the ND team and reports of players getting sick in the locker room before the game, Do you have any information as to whether there is truth to this rumor and who, if any, if the ND players were affected? If there has been no official confirmation, did any of the snap counts or substitution patterns suggest any ND players were under the weather? Pre-game party at Marie’s house? Go Irish.

Eric Hansen

2:03

Carlos, if I'm ever at the Masters ... is that an invite? ... because I think can find a green jacket somewhere or golf shoes or a quote from the Dalai Lama ... any of those things. ... I can't do that math problem for you, however, but ND does not have to share playoff money with the ACC ... or the Trophy if they win, more importantly.

Carlos, Augusta GA

2:01

Does ND have to share playoff money with ACC? With the new TV deal and Under Armour contract what's the total take $$$. If you're ever in Augusta for the Masters look me up!

Eric Hansen

2:00

Hi Cliff. ND's O-line vs. OSU's front seven.

Cliff from Winnipeg

2:00

What are the biggest matchup problems for ND against your Buckeyes?

Eric Hansen

1:59

You know what Tom, that's a great question. And certainly IU coach Curt Cignetti could have tapped into that had Indiana made a run, given his pre-IU background. I think the FBS dynamics are different, but there certainly has to be something that can be gleaned. You have me a good idea. I'm going to take it and run with it ... just not in today's chat. Thanks.

Tom in Evanston, IL

1:58

Hi Eric. This playoff seems like a lot of games. I was surprised to see that North Dakota State also played 16 games in winning their title. Is ND having an unusual injury run or is this playoff likely to bring more injuries? Is there anything to find out from the division that has been doing a playoff for a lot longer?

Eric Hansen

Seriously, Bill, thank you.

1:57

OK Bill, now I'm getting a little verklempt.... Talk amongst yourselves. ... Rhode Island is neither a road, nor an island ... Discuss.

Guest

1:56

Bill from Denver.
Eric… Just a comment. I loved your post game article “Notre Dame continues to redefine itself in Orange Bowl in for the ages”. As a fan since the early 70s, your article really brought me back to those feelings in 88 when after 11 years the Irish were great again. That 11 years seemed like a long time back then. This teams accomplishments are far greater, win or lose going forward, given all the injuries and the new college football landscape, and your article captured that beautifully. In the old days (I’ve got several years on you) this would be clip and save article. Thanks for the great work over the years.

Eric Hansen

1:56

She might not be still on live. If not, I will text here and include it in the transcript.

Tony, Lake Mary, FL

1:56

When I lived there I had a hard time finding one, although we did go to one that is famous for its eggplant Parm heloing to induce labor. My wife and went when she was past her due date with our first...didn't work

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