Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1421675
28 OCT. 30, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY … On Notre Dame's offensive tempo with graduate student quarterback Jack Coan: "Certainly they weren't ex- pecting hurry-up Jack to be up there. He's been less than that all year. So it still was about matching personnel for them. "When we were in 12 and 13, they were trying to match personnel and Jack was still on the field and we were playing fast. So, it was certainly something that they weren't prepared for." On graduate student Isaiah Pryor playing safety: "We were in dime, so we were playing three safeties. I don't think it's something that, when we look at the depth chart, you won't see him on Mon- day as another safety. "But in our dime package, he became the third safety." On freshman wide receiver Lorenzo Styles Jr.'s big plays: "It's been gradually coming. We felt like he's a guy that has earned his opportunities. When he's in there, he's made plays for us. So, yeah, I just think it's been the natural evolu- tion of his opportunities coming to him and making plays. "He's got a burst. He's a guy that we really like on the field." NOTRE DAME SENIOR LINEBACKER BO BAUER … On what it means to beat USC: "You just kind of have that realization that when we go into other games it's like their Super Bowl every time. It's a big thing for them. For us, USC kind of is that big game. "It's always great to beat Southern Cal, and it's kind of something you just need to do every year." On where the defense is through seven games: "We're treating the second half as a new season. We're trying to es- tablish a high level of execution. Every day we are trying to be great responders to what is in front of us because at the end of the day those are the teams that are trying to beat us." NOTRE DAME SENIOR CORNERBACK TARIQ BRACY … On defending USC wide receiver Drake London: "He's a great player, so he's going to do what he has to do. Our job is to limit touchdowns and limit explosive plays. And when they do get the ball, just make sure there are no yards after the catch. "He's a good player, but we stuck to our job and were able to come out with the win." On having one of the best games of his career: "It feels good, but we're not done. We still have a lot of games left. I'm going to build off this game and keep playing and doing my job." NOTRE DAME GRADUATE STUDENT QUARTERBACK JACK COAN … On why the offense performed so efficiently: "I think Coach [Tommy] Rees had a great plan for us this week. I think it helped having a bye week, having extra time to prepare. "He did a great job of preparing me and the rest of the of- fense this week, and it showed up today." On conducting an up-tempo offense: "I haven't really done that since high school. And I obviously had a lot of suc- cess in high school with it. I think it just gets me in a little bit of a rhythm. "Getting a few quick completions gets me rolling a little bit. Additionally, the defense has trouble subbing and getting lined up. That helps as well." On the ups and downs he's had at Notre Dame: "That's what football is — nothing is ever going to be perfect. Football is a fun sport. I just try to have fun throughout it. Just focus on the next play, the next opportunity. "This is a dream come true to be able to come play here. I always have great perspective, and I'm just so happy to be here and to be able to play here." NOTRE DAME JUNIOR RUNNING BACK KYREN WILLIAMS … On Notre Dame's faster tempo on offense: "We talked about it in meetings today. We have it when we need it. Why go away from it? "Having that tempo creates that sense of urgency as an offense that we have to get things done." On the offensive line's improvement the last two games: "I had the feeling. We're gluing together. Then the bye week helped us coming up with USC. "We really just dominated. I expect nothing else." FROM THE LOCKER ROOM Head coach Brian Kelly earned his eighth win in 11 tries against USC, tying Frank Leahy as Notre Dame's second-winningest coach against the Trojans. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER