Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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26 PRESEASON 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY ANDREW MENTOCK T o be successful, even the great- est quarterbacks need quality protection from their offensive line. That's why, in the National Foot- ball League, it's customary for the starting quarter- back to take his offensive linemen out to dinner or buy them a gift as a way to show his appreciation for keeping him out of the grasp of op- posing pass rushers. In 2018, NFL offensive lines re- ceived a variety of expensive gifts. Joe Flacco gave the Baltimore Ravens offensive linemen $2,000 slushy ma- chines. The top gift given, per USA Today, was a combined purchase from Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley. They bought each of their of- fensive linemen Polaris Ranger Util- ity Task Vehicles, costing more than $16,000 apiece. In college football, there are strin- gent rules and regulations that make it difficult for a quarterback to buy such lavish gifts — not to mention that they're not compensated like their NFL counterparts. So in order to show how grateful they are for their offensive linemen, college quarter- backs must get creative. In Ian Book's case, that meant growing a less-than- desirable mustache for fall camp. "The linemen do it, and those are my guys. I want to be with them," Book said at the start of fall camp in reference to the sprouting facial hair above his upper lip. "It's pretty nasty." Perhaps on its own, a mustache won't motivate members of the Notre Dame offensive line to stone- wall a defender or pick up a blitz, but them developing a strong overall rapport with the incumbent quarter- back won't hurt, either. To accomplish this, Book spends much of his free time with the offen- sive line. That may mean listening to music in the dorms during fall camp or picking up a bunch of pizzas for all of them to enjoy. During a private team camp din- ner at the Lakehouse Grille in Cul- ver, Ind., Book made sure he sat with the offensive linemen. According to restaurant staff, he even moved ta- bles when he realized there weren't enough seats for all of them. "I'm close with all those guys," Book said. "We hang out on and off the field. We just try to build chem- istry, and those guys, they're saving me out there. Those guys are block- ing for me every day. "I gotta show those guys I'm there for them." This is one of many examples of how Book is assuming the role of a top-tier college quarterback and leader — a combination of traits Irish fans have not seen since head coach Brian Kelly's took over the program. Book's offseason development started when he was named one of the Spring/Summer Workout Ac- countability Team (SWAT) leaders. It continued as he reshaped his body by adding nearly 10 pounds of good weight. Over the summer, he at- tended the Manning Passing Acad- emy, where he — along with 34 other top college quarterbacks — was a counselor. Many expected Book to be the first returning Irish quarterback to be named a team captain in Kelly's tenure — an honor bestowed on him, along with six other players, at the end of the first week of fall camp. "Being able to wear the 'C' on your chest is a huge deal," he said. "But I'm ready to hold this team account- able. I'm ready to lead, and I've been trying to do that even before I was named captain." While leadership qualities are im- portant for Book to exhibit, what Fighting Irish faithful are more ex- cited (or concerned) about is his ability to consistently push the ball down the field. Fans often credit Book's lack of arm strength for his in- ability to regularly throw it deep, but it likely has more to do with adjust- ing his psyche as a passer. "Ian does not have a personality where he's going to get many speed- ing tickets," Kelly said. "He doesn't live on the edge. But I think he cer- tainly is a lot more confident in push- ing the ball down the field. "We knew that's something that we had to do better." Book's ability to toss the deep ball isn't all on him. First, he must have receivers who can get open past the second level of the defense. Second, he needs time and room to throw. According to Kelly, Book should have both this year. Along with re- turning wideouts Chase Claypool and Chris Finke, several receivers with big-play speed — in the 4.4 range per a Notre Dame spring com- bine — should be in the rotation this year, namely Michael Young, Law- rence Keys III and Braden Lenzy. The offensive line returns four starters from the end of last season: Liam Eichenberg, Aaron Banks, Tommy Kraemer and Robert Hain- sey. The lone first-time starter is red- shirt freshman center Jarrett Patter- son, who the Notre Dame coaching staff has raved about since the end of last season. By adding more big plays, the goal is for the offense to significantly im- prove on the 32.9 points per game that Notre Dame averaged in Book's nine starts last season, which in- cludes the 30-3 loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff at the Cotton Bowl. Book's first chance to prove he's willing to take the appropriate — but UNBREAKABLE BOND Ian Book demonstrates winning leadership qualities through the relationships he develops with his offensive line "BEING ABLE TO WEAR THE 'C' ON YOUR CHEST IS A HUGE DEAL. … I'M READY TO LEAD, AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THAT EVEN BEFORE I WAS NAMED CAPTAIN." BOOK