Thomas Hammock
Appearances
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
Well, I appreciate you guys having me on. Hopefully I can get in. Less trouble, but I'm certainly excited to watch that game on Monday night.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
Well, I think going into the week, we knew it would be a physical contest. And we built our team inside out. So we could withstand the physicality of the game. We felt like we had a chance. And I thought when they scored that first drive, and then obviously the next kickoff, we started at the two-yard line. When we had a chance to score that touchdown, I think we settled into the game.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
And it wasn't going to overwhelm us physically. And it was just about playing clean football and giving ourselves a chance in the fourth quarter.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
Yeah, you know, he was a difference maker for us. He has been a difference maker for us in our program. And he allowed us to even the playing field with his ability to create explosive plays. So he certainly gave us a chance. And then obviously our O-line and D-line played really, really well that day. And the rest is history.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
Well, I think, you know, Notre Dame is obviously a great football team. The way they've been able to overcome our loss and get better each and every single week, I think speaks value to Coach Freeman, his staff, and the players. They are very, very gritty, you know, defensively.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
They play a lot of man coverage, which I think that's going to be an interesting matchup with Ohio State and their receivers. That's going to be the key to the game, in my opinion. Obviously, Texas played a little more too high last week. But if they stick with man coverage, can their DBs handle those receivers? I think it's going to be a matchup to watch.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
And then obviously, Ohio State is very, very good on defense. I think the quarterback has the neutralized defense. the pass rush. Texas quarterback couldn't run last week. Obviously, Riley Leonard can run and extend plays. So if he can have a chance to keep them in normal down and distance, I think they'll give themselves a tremendous chance to win.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
I think that's going to be the interesting thing for that game, right? It's hard for a team to change what they do in one particular game. I think they play, what, 15, 16 games already. They are who they are. I just think it comes down to if they can guard number four, those other receivers. Even Tate played really, really well last week.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
So you got three guys that can be explosive and dynamic in a passing game. I think really that's going to be the matchup of the night.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
Hey, listen, I think that would be fantastic to bring Notre Dame to Husky Stadium. I'm sure it would be a sold-out event. You know, if they want to play us at Husky Stadium, I'm all about it.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
Double or nothing.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
You know, unfortunately, I think that money is already spent in the athletic department. So although I'm sure I don't know, they may be willing to give that money back to get Notre Dame to come to Husky Stadium.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
You know, to be honest, I was hoping they didn't come up to our players. You know, just from the standpoint of, you know, obviously I'm sure the NIL budget is extremely high. And for us to beat them means we had some guys that can play at their level. And I think, you know, I was more concerned about that.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
But certainly I think after we beat them, I think there was a lot of teams across the country that really started to scout our roster, which is always a tough thing in this day and age of college football.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
You know, it was kind of a blur, to be honest with you. You know, my emotions was running all over the place. But he said, hey, great game. You guys played extremely tough and physical. And he said you deserved to win. So for him to say that, you know, what – First of all, his humility and who he is as a person is unbelievable. And I don't know him well.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
Just had a chance to meet him when we played him. But the way he carries himself, obviously, you know, he's 39 years old, as James Franklin pointed out, which I thought was very, very interesting. But, you know, he handles himself in the most utmost way. And what a great representative for Notre Dame.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
I mean... You know, I think the thing that's funny, and I've never told anybody this story, you know, when we talked before the game, I was just thinking to myself, you know, man, what type of cologne do you have on? I said, I'm sure I can't afford it, but you smell really, really good before a game. You know, that's what I was thinking when I had a chance to meet him.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
But obviously, you know, he... He's a great-looking guy and handles himself well, and I'm hoping for the best for him.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
Well, I think, you know, I think, you know, I think I'm a Marcus Freeman fan. So the way he embraced me, I have a lot of respect for him. He didn't have to do that. And obviously we played them and we have been the only team that beat them. So, you know, I think that would be a fitting in if they won the national championship and we were the only team that beat them.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
No, I'm not interested in that whatsoever. We were good on that particular day, and we'll always have that moment.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
What do you mean?
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
I'm definitely not trying to get in trouble today. I just thought it was an interesting dialogue back and forth because, obviously, your age doesn't mean anything in the coaching profession. It's what you do, your body of work, and what Coach Freeman has done over the last three years or so speaks volumes about what he is and what he's about, and that's the only thing that should matter.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
I hope you guys edit this really well and make me look good. The last time I said something, they edited it out and it said, you know, it was the best dump of my career. So I'm sure. What was the second best dump of your career?
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
Coach, go.
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
GBF- Monday Hangover: American Coffee and Marcus Freeman's scent
I appreciate it.