Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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16 NOV. 26, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED A little more than two weeks later, Wimbush was informed by the coaching staff on offense that after 15 career starts, the operation that opened 3-0 to start 2018 had to go in a different direction at quarterback if it was to attain College Football Playoff contender status. "No matter what sport, if you're a competitor, you don't want some- one to take your place," Wimbush said of the initial jolt of shock he felt upon receiving the news that junior Ian Book is the better fit for the offense coordinator Chip Long wanted to run. "It was tough. You don't expect something like that." "We've all had those tough con- versations in one way or the other," head coach Brian Kelly recalled. "The first one is pretty short and to the point — it's the follow-up ques- tions that usually occur after. You have to stay in constant communi- cation. "… He's been a great teammate to Ian Book. He's been as supportive as any player on our team that I've ever coached. He's been there for him in the locker room at halftime. The first one that sits down with him and talks him through what's going on, what we need to do, is Brandon Wimbush. "He's been such a big part of our success this year. He's got to stay ready. Who knows what happens, right? Every week we remind him." That step occurred Nov. 10 ver- sus Florida State, fittingly on Senior Day, when an injured Book was un- able to play. Upon his final introduc- tion with his classmates at home, Wimbush entered from the tunnel with arms flailing in a windmill mo- tion, quite a contrast to what has been mostly an even-keel, sedate disposition throughout his career. "It's really emotional," Wimbush said following the 42-13 rout of the Seminoles in which the Irish built a 32-6 halftime advantage. "The six weeks were tough, but they were inspiring. They did something to me. It allowed me to work through adversity and give me a different perspective. "I was going to support the team however I could. I came out here today, and obviously the emotion showed. Ian was right next to me. He sat with me the entire week and nothing changed. It was an easy week." Part of the perspective Wimbush gained was that when evaluating the situation objectively, he understood the coaches did what was best for the overall good of the team — and he didn't want to be "that guy" who divided the locker room. "It proved to benefit the team. We started rolling a little bit more on the offensive side of the ball, and it's a testament to Ian and all the guys who put in the work," said Wimbush, who will graduate in his account- ing major this December. "You keep moving from there." Since then, the return of senior run- ning back Dexter Williams in game five and the progress of the receiving corps has grown. "That's a testament to Ian, too — to make these guys confident," Wimbush said. "I don't think I came in back to a better offense; I think I came back to an offense that was here, but these guys, have 10 weeks under your belt. Things are just roll- ing. Obviously, it's great to have Dex- ter back." Wimbush said he also recognized after the demotion that his actions would be under more scrutiny, and how he handled this setback would be a character test on how he would react in the future when inevitable trials arise. "I'm not a selfish person. Whatever it took for me to benefit the team and help the team out in any way to get us to where we are today, that's what I wanted to do," Wimbush said. "I didn't want to be that negative little thing in the team, in the locker room, that was pouting. I wanted to keep the spirits high." Teammates notice such traits. "He is the most selfless person, just an incredible teammate," senior Selfless-Made Man Brandon Wimbush abides by taking one for the team "I'm not a selfish person. Whatever it took for me to benefit the team and help the team out in any way to get us to where we are today, that's what I wanted to do. I didn't want to be that negative little thing in the team, in the locker room, that was pouting. I wanted to keep the spirits high." WIMBUSH BY LOU SOMOGYI T he transition of going from "The Man" to "Don't Be That Guy" has been a dramatic one for senior quarterback Bran- don Wimbush. Yet it became an example of what helps make a championship- caliber unit — or person — on or off the field. He was "The Man" in the 2018 opener versus Michigan, the incumbent quarterback who as a first-year starter in 2017 aided an Irish resuscitation to 10-3 from 4-8 the year prior while setting several school records as a dual-threat figure. Versus the vaunted Wolverines defense, Wimbush earned the game ball in the 24-17 triumph for his playmaking skills on an offense replete with relatively unproven running backs and wideouts.