Students express pride after historic football season
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish began the 2024 season with a deep incorporation of faith under the leadership and example of head coach Marcus Freeman. In addition to his emphasis on character formation, Freeman led the team to the College Football Playoff, culminating in the program’s first National Championship appearance since 2013.
Freeman, a father of six and a recent convert to Catholicism, has made family and faith the cornerstone of the program by hosting holiday events, reinstating the pregame Mass tradition, and supporting a player-led Bible study, helping to nurture a team culture of humility and trust in God.
Prior to his conversion to Catholicism, Freeman reinstated the long-standing team tradition of attending mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart prior to kickoff, a practice that had been removed in 2009 under Brian Kelly’s tenure as head coach. In a 2022 interview in the National Catholic Register, Freeman said, “So, to me, what better time is there to go have Mass? What better time to be able to really be on the edge of your seat to get every word that comes out of the priest’s mouth and to be as close to God as you can?”
Throughout the season, and especially during the playoffs, fans noted the strong team culture promoted by Freeman and exemplified in the ongoing Peacock TV series “Here Come the Irish.”
The campus community was ecstatic as students, alumni, and fans set out for the championship game in Atlanta, Georgia. Freshman Lily Joy Santos described the atmosphere in the city: “The energy was insane. There’s just something about yelling ‘Go Irish!’ to a bunch of random people in green walking by and them yelling it back—everything was just so exciting.”
Sophomore Keiran Lobo also attended the game, and he described this spirit in a pre-game interview with the Rover: “The fact that we’re here for this right now is pretty special. It’s an exciting time to be at Notre Dame.” Fellow student Katiebelle Thompson added, “It’s my senior year, so I’ve seen the team through some kind of rough seasons, and seeing them make it this far felt so exciting. And I was just very proud of all the work they did to get to this point.”
The Irish faced the Ohio State Buckeyes in the National Championship game after a record-breaking year and near-spotless record. Despite a steady and promising opening drive, the Irish slowed down as the Buckeyes dominated on both sides of the ball. Despite a second-half resurgence from Notre Dame, the Buckeye lead proved insurmountable, and Ohio State triumphed 34–23.
Though they suffered a disappointing loss, the team maintained its characteristic loyalty to the traditions of the school. As the red and white confetti filled the stadium, the Irish joined their fans in singing the alma mater with their heads held high, facing the crowd.
Lobo reflected, “The alma mater is such a powerful moment. Even if we win or lose, we sing it with so much pride. It shows what makes Notre Dame special.” Freshman Samantha Lehman agreed: “[It’s my] favorite part of every single game. Win or lose, the fact that we always sing it with so much pride is pretty special.”
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard, who has been a model of faith, perseverance, and humility all season, did not miss the opportunity to glorify God in the loss. Despite his evident disappointment, Leonard said in the post-game interview: “I’m happy to praise Jesus in the lowest of lows as well.”
Lehman observed, “The team’s humility and trust in God is what sets them apart.”
The university’s unwavering support for its football team followed the players back to campus, where the university hosted a “The Boys are Back!” welcome. In spite of bitterly cold weather, students, fans, and families lined the bus route along the streets of campus to congratulate the Irish on an incredible year. The fans displayed signs and cheered as the team drove by, showing their support in both the highs and lows of the season.
Thompson, who attended, said, “I wanted to recognize all the team’s achievements. Seeing them make it this far felt so exciting, and I wanted to cheer them on as they came back home.” She continued, remarking how moments like this display what she loves most about the university: “I mean, we do have the saying ‘God, Country, Notre Dame’—it really is a second family [where] we all come together to support each other through wins and losses.”
Athletes and fans shared the familial sentiment. In a post-game press conference, team captain Jack Kiser, the record holder for the most games played at Notre Dame, reflected on his six years and highlighted the “character” of this place. “It’s the people that have made this place different.”
Notre Dame is set to begin the 2025–2026 football season at Miami, on August 31, 2025.
Whether it’s about faith, family, or football, Kayley would love to hear from you at klufrano@nd.edu.
Photo Credit: Notre Dame’s FightingIrish.com
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