Earlier this year, Marcus Freeman spent multiple days aboard a United States Navy ship, and Notre Dame's third-year coach has routinely made similar gestures to pay tribute to U.S. forces.
So it was little surprise, then, when Freeman opened his press conference this week in praise of military servicemen and servicewomen as the United States celebrated Veterans Day.
This current Irish squad, which rests 8-1 on the season and is tracking towards a College Football Playoff berth as it hosts Virginia Saturday, has direct military ties.
"My father (Michael) served, so it's an important day to me. And we've got a couple of guys on our team who previously served," Freeman said. "Eric Goins (graduate-transfer from The Citadel who handles Irish kickoff duties) served in the Army, and then two guys are in the Army ROTC — Jerry Rullo and Nick Brown.
"So, just want to make sure to recognize those guys."
And while Freeman doesn't recall too many specific conversations with his father about his time in the U.S. Air Force, he does point to his father and growing up around Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as shaping influences.
"I can't remember what I used to describe his generation; 'Silent Generation,' Freeman said when asked by FootballScoop about the personal impact. "That's my dad. He doesn't talk much about his time in the service. We don't spend much time talking about it. I grew up to respect those who serve our country. I have the utmost respect for those who serve for many different reasons.
"No, we have never really discussed a lot of the details of his time - his 26 years in the service. That's kind of really life. I've always said this. You learn your greatest lessons from what you see, not from what people say."
Freeman emphasized the examples he witnessed as what helped shape the coach, husband and father he is today.
"Sometimes, as coaches, we think it's what we say, but the greatest lessons I've learned as a young person is what I saw and what you modeled," said Freeman, who's guided Notre Dame to six wins against ranked foes since the start of the 2023 season.
"That's how I gained my opinion and learned lessons about people. It's the same way with my father. I remind myself the people I'm in a position to lead, learn from me. It's not always what you say, but it's what they see."