Notre Dame is gearing up to end their breakout season on a perfect note. They will put their natty dream on the line against Ohio State Buckeyes in a breathtaking final on January 20th. The guy who has been carrying the chunk of responsibility to build the tempo up and lead it to the ultimate destiny, QB Riley Leonard, has his eyes on the prize, just like his coach. But the cherry on the top is that he is not just practicing; he is turning to the supreme of it all, the almighty, the God.

Marcus Freeman highlighted Riley Leonard’s contribution off the field 

Marcus Freeman spilled a unique update on his guy ahead of the big day. In a recent viral video, Leonard disclosed that the Fighting Irish do not miss their bible study session at all. Amidst the rigorous practice and constant hustle, they do not forget to keep the holy father on the top. Leonard noted that approximately 40 players join the study every week, a massive increase from its pretty shallow beginnings with just five participants.

The QB phenom accredited it to the players. But, busting his modesty, Freeman added to the narrative. He pinpointed that Leonard was actually making a difference among the collective. ”Faith is openly talked about in the program. Riley Leonard has organized Bible studies, and the program promotes players growing in their faith,’‘ said the veteran head coach.

If you scout through the QB’s social media handle, you can easily get his religious intensity. His Instagram biography says, “No Jesus–No Peace, Know Jesus–Know Peace.” The former Duke Blue Devils athlete led the Irish to a stupendous 23-10 playoff victory over the Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl and immediately returned the glory to the source. He followed that with another decent showing against Penn State in the semifinal of the CFP.

During a post-game interview on ESPN, he expressed heartfelt gratitude to none other than Jesus, noting, “First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without Him, I wouldn’t be here, and we wouldn’t be here as a whole group.”

But guess what, Leonard learned it from the best. Marcus Freeman, the utopian head coach set a benchmark of religious fairness and hegemony at the school of Notre Dame.

Marcus Freeman revived the 2017 catholic tradition in a trademark move

We don’t know about the betting odds; we don’t deny the fact that Notre Dame will suit up against the Ryan Day squad with only a five-star in their squad. But what we know is that they are walking on the right path, doing all the right things, and releasing everything to the higher being, the cardinal controller of the faith. They made some grave mistakes in a game against Northern Illinois.

But Freeman was quick to reevaluate and regroup. He didn’t let the team look back on a 13-game winning streak. The wins against Penn State, Georgia, and Indiana remain at the top of the chart in their season resume. In case you wonder about the feasibility of the journey from the average to the elite, it lies in its intangibles to some extent. Apart from what the third-year coach did technically on the field, he did mystically more to the school.

Freeman still has the memory of his first South Bend visit as a high school football recruit, when he was spellbound by a beautiful tradition of the Game Day Mass. The players walked from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart to Notre Dame Stadium before each game. In the archetypal player’s walk, the marching band and all the fans and veterans alike line up on the opposite sides of the path to cheer the players up with their iconic cry. ”God, Country, Notre Dame, In Glory Everlasting,” 

It never guaranteed them a win, but it reassured them of their faith, and as they say, faith restores power. The team heads to a fight loaded with power. Eventually, when Freeman returned, he found out Brian Kelly wiped the practice out. He immediately got approval and reestablished the fallen heritage. the rest is a beguiling history. Shortly after, he converted to Catholicism in 2022.

Let’s wait with a bated heart to see the battle of faith on the ground in Atlanta this Monday.