The Ladder Reimagined
Musings about life, friendship, and reconnection.
Thursday Tidbits—Wisconsin
Happy Thursday - These are your Thursday Tidbits - Wisconsin
Team 138
Notre Dame begins its 138th football season on Sunday with high expectations. According to DraftKings, the Irish are +600 to win the national championship (second only to Ohio). They also have a nation’s leading 88% chance of making the playoffs according to The Athletic.
If all goes as planned, Marcus Freeman (43-12) will surpass both Elmer Layden (47-13-3) and Dan Devine (53-16-1) in victories sometime in November, becoming the sixth winningest coach in program history.
CJ Carr enters the season as the Heisman favorite by DraftKings (+700) with a 13% chance to win the award. The last player to successfully buck the “preseason favorite curse” was Marcus Mariota in 2014. There are also a slew of other Irishmen on multiple preseason awards watchlists.
Thursday Tidbits: Preseason Edition
Happy Thursday - These are your Thursday Tidbits - Preseason
“Leave no doubt…”
This simple message from Coach Marcus Freeman emerged after both his flirtation with the NFL and the CFP snub last year, signaling that the Irish are all in this season. The combination of coaching, team chemistry, players’ buy-in, scheduling, and financial resources is all aligned for a championship or bust run for Notre Dame, as Freeman has taken the long offseason and turned it into one of the most urgent ones in school history.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sean Pieri
Author
Speaker
Sean Pieri is an author, speaker, and professional fundraiser with experience in higher education, healthcare, and athletics. These days, though, what matters most to Sean isn't professional accolades, but the difference he makes in the lives of those closest to him.
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