Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com PRESEASON 2021 11 UNDER THE DOME OFFENSIVE LINEMAN HUNTER SPEARS RETIRES Hunter Spears has been through a lot in his football career. Two days before fall camp, Spears announced that ultimately it has been too much. The Notre Dame junior offensive lineman tweeted he is permanently stepping away from the game, citing "countless knee surgeries" as a major cause for concern. "After consulting with the program's medical team and coaching staff, I have decided that it is in my best interest to retire from football," Spears said in his tweet. Spears played in three games on the defensive side of the ball as a true freshman in 2019. He missed the entire 2020 season because of an injury. He did not participate in spring practices a few months back either. The former four-star defensive line recruit from Sachse (Texas) High School was injury ridden in his prep career, and that carried over to college. He leaves the Notre Dame program proud to have been a part of it in any capacity for two- plus seasons. "There is no greater university or family than the Notre Dame family," Spears said in his tweet. "The feeling of wearing that gold helmet on Saturdays is a memory that I will cherish for a lifetime. "I was able to live my dreams. I played football for the University of Notre Dame surrounded by brothers I will have for a lifetime and supported by people who love and care about me. "The only regret I have is not having another body to give to this program and university. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for this team and I am excited to contribute in any way that I can." Spears' departure frees up another scholarship for Notre Dame's 2022 recruiting class, which has 21 commitments and is Rivals' top-rated class as Aug. 13. — Tyler Horka Notre Dame and Navy will hold their 2024 meeting in a familiar location. Navy announced that year's game between the Irish and Midshipmen will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Ruth- erford, N.J., on its previously scheduled date of Oct. 26. It will be the 97th meeting between the two programs and eighth at the home of the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets. MetLife Stadium most recently hosted the Notre Dame-Navy game in 2010, a 35-17 Midshipmen victory. Its predecessor, Giants Stadium, held six meetings between the two teams. The game is a Navy home game by designation. On Na- vy's home years in the series, the games are usually played in NFL stadiums. Last season was supposed to be an exception when the teams scheduled a game in Dublin, Ireland. But the 2020 trip overseas was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns and initially moved to Navy's home stadium in Annapolis, Md. It was eventually axed altogether when Notre Dame joined the ACC for the 2020 season, mark- ing the first time since 1926 the Irish and Midshipmen did not play. It was the third-longest uninterrupted series in college football until the 2020 hiatus. Notre Dame leads the all- time series 79-13-1 and has won the last three meetings. The teams signed an agree- ment last August to continue the series through 2032. They are resuming the series this season Nov. 6 in South Bend. Notre Dame's 2024 schedule has road games at Texas A&M, Purdue, Georgia Tech, Navy and USC. The Irish will play the Yel- low Jackets at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. They will host Northern Illinois, Miami (Ohio), Stanford, Florida State, Miami (Fla.) and Virginia. There is one opening left on the 2024 slate. — Patrick Engel Spears, a former four-star recruit in the 2019 class, medically retired after two seasons at Notre Dame. PHOTO BY MIKE MILLER Notre Dame and Navy's 2024 game will be one of two that year scheduled to take place at an NFL stadium — the longtime rivals will meet at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., while the Irish's contest with Georgia Tech will be held at Mercedes- Benz Stadium in Atlanta. PHOTO BY ANDRIS VISOCKIS NOTRE DAME AND NAVY WILL PLAY AT METLIFE STADIUM IN 2024