Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1185700
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 23, 2019 27 NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY … On whether the game-winning drive against Virginia Tech was a galvanizing moment: "The culture was already built. It was a matter of gaining some confidence within, certainly with the quarterback. It was both drives, and him feeling as though no matter what slings and ar- rows are out there, that he can do this job as the quarterback at Notre Dame regardless. You just have to develop a thick skin. He has, and now he can go play football and be the quarter- back that he wants to be. That was a big moment for him. "As a football team, I think they learned an incredible lesson that the Michigan game taught them, and they just needed to get through the Virginia Tech game. But I saw it coming in their preparation leading into Virginia Tech. We just carried a lot of that with us into the Tech game, so once we got out of it and were on the other side of it, it was, 'Let's just go play and play fast and free,' and they have." NOTRE DAME SENIOR QUARTERBACK IAN BOOK … On senior wide receiver Chase Claypool: "He's having an awesome year. I would say it's starting to show on Saturdays because of how hard he's working during the week in prac- tice. He's taking the next step Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday in practice. "Not only going out there and just working hard every day, but being a leader, too. That's excelled his game a ton. He's someone that all the re- ceivers look to. He's someone our whole offense looks to be a leader, and he's doing that and he's showing that with his play as well." On the 27-yard throw to Lawrence Keys he had after buying time in- side and out of the pocket for over nine seconds: "Probably should have thrown it to somebody else if we're going to be honest, just because of the look we had. It was really one of the plays I wanted back. Was able just to extend the play. "I knew I wanted to go to my left with all the receivers already over on that side. I saw Keys coming to the sideline. Perfect. I knew I had some space. I'm confident enough to make that throw and glad it worked out." NOTRE DAME SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER CHASE CLAYPOOL … On being successful at the end of the season: "Chemistry with Ian Book has definitely helped a lot. We're room- mates in the hotel, so we're able to go through things if anything comes up. "I just think getting comfortable with the game plan helps as well." On having a linebacker match up with him on his 47-yard touchdown: "I think Ian knew it right away; I knew it right away. I was running down the field with a big smile on my face before the ball was even thrown." NOTRE DAME SENIOR DEFENSIVE END KHALID KAREEM … On if he feels like this Irish team is peaking: "I hope not! I hope we aren't peaking right now. We still have two more games left, but we are on a roll right now. "Coach, his message to us was to win the month of November and play the cards as they lay." NOTRE DAME SOPHOMORE LINE- BACKER PAUL MOALA … On being a hometown kid and making a big play: "It's a dream come true, the coaches come together and make sure all 11 players are play- ing on the same page. "To be able to be the one that makes that play, it is truly a hum- bling experience because it's not just a play I made myself, it's a play the other 10 players contributed to." NOTRE DAME JUNIOR LINEBACKER DREW WHITE … On preparing for the challenge of playing against Navy's triple-option offense: "They really test your dis- cipline. You've got to fill out your assignments, and I thought we came out of the game doing fantastic. We just followed a scheme that Coach [Clark] Lea had drawn up and had everyone in the right positions and just people doing their assignments." — Andrew Mentock and Vince DeDario FROM THE LOCKER ROOM The Fighting Irish defense did excellent work containing the Midshipmen's prolific triple-option attack, holding them 77 yards below their nation-leading rushing average of 357.9 entering the game. PHOTO BY ANDRIS VISOCKIS