Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1411895
32 SEPT. 25, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY … On the atmosphere: "Great to see the green, and just it felt like on the walk here, the energy on campus, it felt like we were back to what a Notre Dame home football game feels like. That energy was felt by our players, and it is what you want at Notre Dame and what you look for in a home game environment. "So thanks to all those that came out and were just part of a great atmosphere there today. I think it's important that we don't take this for granted. It's pretty special when you have the whole crowd into it on fourth down and big plays." On analytics: "I have been doing this a long time. I be- lieve in using analytics, but I'll trump them if I don't feel like the game is going the right way. There were a couple occa- sions where analytics said to go and I decided to punt and we downed one inside the 1. "It's art and science, and so I rely on it, but I'm not married to it. I still think you got to get a feel and a flow for the game." NOTRE DAME JUNIOR SAFETY KYLE HAMILTON … On defensive rotations in the secondary: "The first two weeks, we could have done a better job rotating guys. I think we are really deep in the secondary. A lot of guys haven't gotten a shot yet. Guys like DJ Brown really stepped up. TaRiq [Bracy], Ramon Henderson. Really everybody on the back end was really tight today. "We didn't give up too many big plays. Tackled the ball when we needed to. I think that just goes to show how deep we are as a secondary and as a whole defense." On the evolution of the Notre Dame defense: "Through- out practice this week, we really bought in. Obviously coming out of last week, we didn't play as well as we wanted to in all facets of the game. I thought we were a lot tighter in what we were doing and a lot more focused throughout the week. That showed today. "It can't just be a one game thing. We have to stack this ev- ery week in order to get where we want to go." NOTRE DAME GRADUATE STUDENT WIDE RECEIVER AVERY DAVIS … On Notre Dame's mentality going into the game: "I think the overarching theme this week was a sense of urgency. We just wanted to help our preparation with that sense of urgency. Putting ourselves in stressful situations in practice so that in the game we'd be more comfortable or ready for the situation. "On my part, I just know how those successful [Notre Dame] teams in the past have been. There's not too many guys in the locker room who have been a part of those undefeated teams that went to the playoffs. So I know how hard we worked in practice. I just want to translate that over." On the wide receivers' rapport with graduate student quarterback Jack Coan: "I know we didn't perform at the highest level today as a unit, but I think you guys know we have a lot of talent out there. We have a lot of speed. We're physical. We can catch the ball. We can make plays. "Don't knock us yet. Those guys are special in that locker room. The connections are good, too. We're getting in a rhythm. I think it's going to help the team grow moving forward." NOTRE DAME JUNIOR RUNNING BACK KYREN WILLIAMS … On the state of Notre Dame's running game: "After the way we ran the ball last year, teams this year were going to try to stop the run and obviously load the box. That's where we come in the offense having Jack [Coan] and all the receivers. We can open the field like you saw today, [Avery Davis] had his chance to make plays and he did that down the field. "That just complementary football, running the ball and passing the ball. As an offense running the ball, it's going to come. We're not worried about it." On running backs in the passing game: "Chris [Tyree] and I, we're both playmakers. We want the ball in our hands as much as we can get. If that's in the slot or in the backfield or running routes out of the backfield, we're going to take that. Me and Chris, we both complement each other. "We know we're going to have more shots coming in the rest of the season. It's only the third game. We know we're going to have a lot more opportunities in the pass game to make plays." FROM THE LOCKER ROOM Head coach Brian Kelly earned his 105th career win as Notre Dame's head coach, tying the school record previously set by with Knute Rockne from 1918-30. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER