Notre Dame final thoughts: Brandon Joseph at his best, Marcus Freeman cuts loose

Thirteen thoughts on Notre Dame’s 41-24 win at Syracuse,

 which recharged this season with some intrigue ahead of Saturday night’s showdown with Clemson.

1. I wanted to lead Saturday’s story with Marcus Freeman going ballistic on the sidelines,

 leaving the coaching box to berate a linesman in the second quarter.

 Freeman hasn’t cut loose on officials much this season.

 It makes sense for a first-year head coach who projects control.

But working the officials is a game-within-the-game, one Freeman will eventually have to play on his own terms

. I’ve been doing this long enough to remember Tyrone Willingham taking flak for being too

. I’ve been doing this long enough to remember Tyrone Willingham taking flak for being too

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Notre Dame statistical leaders through eight games