Coach Luke Fickell discusses Cincinnati Bearcats football's first day practicing in pads. Fletcher Page, fpage@enquirer..com
WEST HARRISON, Indiana – Luke Fickell warned Marcus Freeman away from this way of life.
That's what happened nearly a decade ago when Freeman called his former Ohio State linebackers coach as his NFL playing days reached the end.
"He said he wanted to be a coach, and I said, 'no you don’t,'" Fickell said. "I always tried to talk him out of it. I said, 'No way; that’s stupid. You’re too smart.' "
It's true, Freeman had options. Fickell said high-ranking Ohio State athletic officials offered to guide Freeman, a native of Huber Heights, on a path toward one day becoming an athletic director.