Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman got a call from former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel two days after No. 5 Notre Dame won 23-13 against then No. 20 Texas A&M.
Freeman expected Tressel to congratulate him, but instead, Tressel gave him a warning.
“It was, ‘Hey, I just want to remind you that the greatest danger is the illusion all is well when indeed, all isn’t well,’” Freeman said. “That’s the reminder needed more than anything. It was a big win for our program versus a good opponent, but we have so much work to improve on.”
Freeman doesn’t need any reminders about how one result can affect the next game.
He only needs to remember his first season when Notre Dame lost its opener at Ohio State and then lost its home opener to Marshall in Week 2. This time, the situation is different.
With a notable road win already achieved and a favorable schedule ahead, the Fighting Irish (1-0) must avoid a letdown on Saturday afternoon against Northern Illinois. Freeman wants his team to stay focused for their home opener.
“You have to watch the film with a critical eye,” Freeman said. “You can’t let the emotions of a victory or a defeat affect the way you evaluate what you need to do to improve.”
This means they cannot underestimate the Huskies (1-0), who have been a strong team in the Mid-American Conference. Last week, they defeated Western Illinois 54-15.
Quarterback Ethan Hampton was named the league’s offensive player of the week after a nearly perfect game where he completed 18 of 20 passes for 328 yards and five touchdowns.
But this first matchup against Notre Dame will be a big challenge for Northern Illinois, possibly the biggest win in their history. Coach Thomas Hammock knows it will be a tough fight.
