Ohio State and Notre Dame are set to face off on Monday to determine the 2024 college football national champion. Before the big game, coaches Ryan Day and Marcus Freeman addressed the media with their teams.
Day emphasized the importance of roster retention, saying his team focuses on recruiting high school players and developing them over time. He also praised Georgia’s influence in recruitment, while acknowledging that he wants to recruit nationally. When asked about potential changes to the College Football Playoff (CFP) structure, Day said it’s a topic for discussion after the season.
Day highlighted the maturity of his senior class as an advantage, saying it benefits the team’s overall performance. He also expressed enthusiasm for growing football internationally, citing opportunities to develop young athletes from different parts of the world.
The Ohio State coach also spoke fondly of former linebacker coach Al Washington, who now coaches Notre Dame’s defensive line. Day said he has nothing but respect for Washington and praised his ability to develop young men.
On the other hand, Marcus Freeman focused on the team’s growth and development, citing Xavier Watts as an example of a player who benefited from sticking around. Freeman emphasized that every player’s journey is different and that their program will focus on high school recruiting with a minor emphasis on transfers.
Freeman also praised Notre Dame’s faith-based culture, saying it promotes a community where players feel comfortable growing in their faith. He acknowledged that the team’s pregame speech will be a call to action, urging his team to execute on the field and leave no doubt about their performance.
Overall, both coaches emphasized the importance of teamwork, player development, and execution in achieving success on the field.
Source: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2024-25-college-football-playoff/2025/01/153039/presser-bullets-ryan-day-not-planning-a-massive-pregame-speech-marcus-freeman-says