NEW ORLEANS — Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman isn’t looking for any more Sugar Bowl history lessons, likely because he and his program have been on the wrong side of them.

Who knows, Freeman might even want to make a stop at one of New Orleans’ landmark “Voodoo” shops in an effort to reverse negative spirits that seem to be following him and the Irish where Sugar Bowl history is concerned.

The 38-year-old Freeman once had 14 tackles as an Ohio State linebacker in a BCS title game against LSU in 2008, his last Sugar Bowl, only to lose 38-24.

Freeman, chosen Dodd National Coach of the Year over Kirby Smart and other top coaches, is obviously hoping for better results in his next Caesar’s Superdome game on Wednesday, when the Irish play Georgia at 8:45 p.m. in a CFP quarterfinal.

“What I remember most about that LSU game is it was the second year in row that we lost the national championship, and that sticks with you a lot longer than however many tackles you made,” said Freeman, who had 15 tackles in Ohio State’s 41-14 loss to Florida in the 2007 BCS title game.

“It’s that we didn’t achieve the team glory that we aspired to have.”

Notre Dame didn’t find any glory when it faced Georgia in the Caesar’s Superdome in 1981, either.

Freeman did acknowledge that he now knows more about Herschel Walker’s history leading Georgia to a Sugar Bowl win over Notre Dame than he did a week ago when first asked.

“Obviously, I was made aware that we lost to Georgia, and Herschel Walker was the running back,” Freeman said.

“Listen, when I grew up, you hold Herschel Walker on a pedestal that not many people are on, and I’m thankful that we don’t have to play Herschel Walker tomorrow, but we’ve got some other challenging running backs that we’ve got to try to defend.”

Freeman is hoping his current Irish team can reverse the trend, but he knows it will be a challenge.

“I do believe they’re an offense that believes in running the football, and that’s what we believe in and our offensive philosophy,” Freeman said. “We have to be able to run the football. That creates a lot of openings in the pass game.”

Freeman knows all about the size and speed Georgia has on defense, especially Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker.

“Defensively, they’re big up front, they’ve got multiple backers, like they do running backs, that make plays, that are difference-makers,” Freeman said. “…. at the end of the day, it’s not going to be about tricking your opponent, it’s going to be about playing with velocity, which equals violence and some other physical attacking words.”

Freeman also believes Georgia’s offensive line will spearhead an aggressive and physical mindset on that side of the football.

“They’ve got big ol’ lineman that are tough, that can drive you off the ball,” Freeman said. “They do a really good job of trying to take advantage of what you are giving them defensively.”

And, while Georgia’s all-time Great isn’t running out of the tunnel on Wednesday night, Freeman knows Trevor Etienne brings plenty to the table beyond being a popular third-down option for the Bulldogs.

“Trust me, it isn’t just third down — it’s first, second, third and fourth,” Freeman said. “He is really explosive, very good football player. If you give him space, he’s going to take it, and he’s got the ability to take it the entire way.

“So he’s a challenge, and he’s a challenge in the run game, but also in the pass game.”

Freeman said that he doesn’t expect the Georgia offensive to change much without Carson Beck, even with Gunner Stockton making his first career start.

“(Stockton) does a lot of things well that Carson Beck did well,” Freeman said. “He can throw it … he makes great decisions on those 86 plays that we watched him.

“So, I don’t assume it’s going to be that much different, but it’s also a game of adjustments. We have to be able to see what they’re trying to do and their plan of attack versus our defense, and be able to adjust.”

Freeman said he’s focused on getting his team’s mindset ready for what it will take to out-physical and beat Kirby Smart’s Georgia football program.

“Velocity,” Freeman said, asked what he wants to see from the Irish. You know what I mean? It’s playing with velocity for 60-plus minutes, and in order to do that, you have to have clarity in terms of what you’re being asked to do.

“When the ball snaps, let’s go play with velocity, man. Go play with speed, go play to make plays, and win this play.”