Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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4 NOV. 30, 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED H unter Bivin knows what falling short of expectations feels like. It's why he spends all day, every day, doing his best to ensure no current Irish play- ers experience the same. Regarded in 2013 as an elite offensive lineman out of Apollo High School in Owensboro, Ky., Bivin com- mitted to Notre Dame with a bright future and a great opportunity to work under then-Irish line coach Harry Hiestand, a master at turn- ing high school hotshots into NFL starters. Bivin's three heart surger- ies while playing at Notre Dame — including an emer- gency procedure during his freshman year — cut any professional pursuits short and limited him to just one career start during his five seasons as an Irish lineman. "It was very disappointing, feeling like you're letting your teammates down and not fulfilling what you came here to do," Bivin said. "It was a tough time, but I had been through tougher." A player's perspective duly noted, Bivin was just 14 years old when he lost his father, Randy, to a heart attack at age 52. Hunter's uncle, Stuart Bivin, also died of a heart attack at just 36. Bivin explained that a rare congen- ital condition called Wolff-Parkinson- White Syndrome runs in the family. This rare circulatory anomaly causes overstimulation of the heart. Related to his family history, Bivin had three health scares, symptomized by shortness of breath and a rapid heart rate, that forced his early retire- ment from playing football, but not necessarily from working in football. Cherishing his time at Notre Dame upon graduation, Bivin stuck around campus and worked as an intern in the spring of 2018 under Notre Dame director of player development Ron Powlus, a former Irish quarterback and assistant coach. Career opportunities pulled Bivin to Chicago for a brief stint at a fi- nancial consulting company, before he returned to Notre Dame in Octo- ber of 2018 as a paid assistant under Powlus. And when the latter left his post shortly thereafter to become an asso- ciate athletic director at Notre Dame, Bivin was a natural fit to step in and begin a new career course. "Through my experiences," Bivin said, "I could really help people and stay close to the football program. What more could I ask for?" And at 25 years old and only two years post-graduation, Bivin provides a perfect blend of life experience with a been-there, done-that credibility. "He is someone who holds some position of power who's been in our shoes before," said senior defensive lineman Khalid Kareem, who spent many reps early in his Notre Dame ca- reer working against Bivin in practice. "… It's always just comforting knowing another person out there has your back, someone who you fought with, worked with, bled with." Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly raved earlier this season about having Bivin nearby. While coaches can often be intimidating for young players to approach during difficult times, Bivin is not. "I can't tell you how pleased I've been with his work." Kelly said. "It's an extremely im- portant position because it has direct contact on a day- to-day basis with very im- portant things that help in that day-to-day lifestyle of the student-athlete." Bivin explained that his responsibilities include ev- erything from the mundane — pointing a finger to send a freshman to the correct building for his first class — to bigger-life objectives such as helping "his guys" master the tough juggle of being an athlete-student at Notre Dame or planting the necessary seeds to forge a career path after football. On any given day — or any given hour — Bivin might be a mentor, or just a buddy. Next, maybe he's a confidant, then other times, he's a sounding board, or even a psychiatrist. "The way I like to explain it," Bivin said, "it's my job to help our guys make sense of their lives as football student-athletes at Notre Dame. I try to prepare them for a life of success after they're done here." His most important role, Bivin be- lieves, is to help the incoming freshmen. "That's such a tough time," Bivin said. "We are just trying to make sure their transition is smooth and that they're doing the right thing … But most importantly, that they under- stand the standard under which we operate at Notre Dame." Life never goes according to script, and during this Thanksgiving holi- day, Bivin is a perfect example. From high school hotshot to NFL hopeful, to a prospective financier, to teaching through learning, Bivin is back at Notre Dame, more valuable now than when he arrived almost seven years ago. "Here I am again," Bivin joked. "They can't get rid of me." ✦ The Perfect Person For The Perfect Job UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE Todd D. Burlage has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2005. He can be reached at tburlage@blueandgold.com Hunter Bivin came to Notre Dame as a highly recruited offensive lineman in 2013. He now plays a key role in the Fighting Irish program as director of foot- ball player development. PHOTO BY MIKE MILLER