Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1324423
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com JANUARY 2021 11 THEY SAID IT THEY SAID IT "Knowing that I'm not going to be able to see my family until the season's over, that's been the biggest impact for me, because my mom and my sister, they're the two most important people in my life. Not being able to see them for at least nine months, not being able to go home, because I'm a big homebody. Not being able to go home has really affected me." — Notre Dame sophomore running back KYREN WILLIAMS on missing his family during the season "It's definitely been harder during this pandemic to meet people and to kind of become close with people. Like Ben [Skowronek] said earlier, at our dinner and team meals we have a glass in between us that we can't really even hear ourselves talk to each other." — Notre Dame freshman tight end Michael Mayer on how difficult the COVID-19 pandemic has made it to bond with new teammates "After the game, I pretty much go home, lay on my couch, watch the game about two or three times and then probably go pick up some food. I'll talk to my parents for like 30 minutes outside, spaced out with masks on. They leave and I go to bed. It wasn't anything crazy. "We've sacrificed so much. For me as a fifth year, in my final season, there's a lot on the line personally. I can't risk getting sick, I guess you could say, and then along with that getting others sick. A lot of guys on this team, even the younger guys, have done a great job at sacrificing and understanding the protocols and the guidelines that we need to follow." — Notre Dame fifth-year senior left tackle Liam Eichenberg, who projects as a first- or second-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft "First of all, he's the most winning quarterback in Notre Dame history. Period. Joe Montana, Joe Theismann, Brady Quinn, Rick Mirer, Tommy Rees — it doesn't matter. No one has won more games at quarterback than Ian Book. That's a lifetime achievement. I said it on the broadcast, Ian Book can put that on his résumé. That's it. Just [put] 'the most winning quarterback in Notre Dame history.' Whatever job you have, he's the guy you want." — Ryan Harris, a former Notre Dame offensive lineman, Super Bowl champion and a football analyst for the Notre Dame Radio Network, on fifth-year senior quarterback Ian Book (Sons of Saturday Podcast) "I loved my three years up there. We got around some great players. Obviously, when we came there, everyone was hungry to win that first year, after coming off of a 4-8 disaster. And being able to flip it that next year. Then to lose all those great players and get to the playoff the next year, it was a testament to those kids and how badly they wanted to win. "Then the next year, being able to go 11-2 going through a lot of injuries and whatnot. It was a testament to those guys. I loved every second of it. Obviously, there are some things I would have loved to change, but I wouldn't trade anything in the world to have not been there for three years." — Former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long on his tenure in South Bend (The Athletic) UNDER THE DOME OF THE WEEK ➤ "Elite Education. Elite Football." — The official account of Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) Dec. 29 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED PO Box 2331 Durham, NC 27702 www.BlueGoldOnline.com 1-800-421-7751 DELIVERY LIMITED TO CONTINENTAL U.S. PLEASE ADD SALES TAX FOR ITEMS SHIPPING TO: (NC 7.5%, IN 7%, MI 6%) Made to order & shipped direct from manufacturer, returns not related to damage may incur fee. GRILL MAT $49.95 + FREE S&H Available in 2 Styles: ND or Leprechaun (Item #6622-ND or #6622-LEP) (Item #6621) CUSTOM GRILL COVERS Hand-made in USA using the finest com- mercial grade breathable vinyl featuring double-stitching, buckle clasps and mois- ture vent. Logo printed with UV-resistant ink in official school colors. AVAILABLE IN 2 SIZES & 3 LOGOS: Small: 60" wide x 36" tall x 21" deep $51.95 + $15.00 S&H Large: 72" wide x 36" tall x 21" deep $54.95 + $15.00 S&H Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS