Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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12 OCT. 30, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME BGI: How did the NIL deal between Augie's Locker Room and WOPU Nation come about and what has it meant to the walk-ons? Leonard: "I'm really excited to provide these opportunities each week with all the athletes. All the guys on the team have been extremely excited to get on here and talk and allow the fan base to learn more about them. It's been awesome. "And Augie has been great. I approached him at the begin- ning of NIL, and we've been learning through it together. The results have been amazing for both Augie and us." BGI: You're a cofounder of an organization called Our Play- book. What is the mission for that group? Leonard: "Our Playbook's mission is to provide a place where all athletes can go use their name, image and likeness. As a current athlete, I wanted to provide a place where my teammates and friends have a safe place where we can all work together and find the good in this NIL rule, which is encourag- ing. "We're trying to take NIL and use it as a chance for teams to come together and work together. We're trying to bring team building through NIL." BGI: What has the reaction to Notre Dame striking a deal with Los Angeles-based digital art company IKONICK been like? Leonard: "The deal was awesome. The reaction from the guys was amazing. They all loved everything they got. They were given the opportunity to get whatever piece they wanted on the IKONICK website. They all got to redecorate their rooms a little bit. "It was an amazing opportunity. The opportunity of a life- time to be able to give all my teammates such gratification." BGI: How can Notre Dame student-athletes not on the football team get involved with Our Playbook to reap similar rewards from NIL? Leonard: "I would contact us on our social media accounts, @Our__Playbook. Just send us a message there and we will get back to you right away. "We want to encourage all athletes to reach out because we want to help every athlete that wants the help." BGI: You went 4 of 4 on extra point attempts in 2019. What was it like putting points on the board for the Notre Dame football team? Leonard: "It was really unreal walking out there to kick an extra point. It felt like the stadium was endless. It just kept go- ing up and up and up. But once you get the first one over with, it's a big relief off your chest. "When it sets in, it's like, 'Wow, I scored a point and that point is in the history books forever.' Really a cool moment and something I'll never forget." BGI: What are you studying at Notre Dame and what are your career goals after football? Leonard: "I'm studying finance in the Mendoza Business School. I've learned so much working with the students at the university. Everyone you meet in every class is really bright. Every class you go to is an experience to learn something new. "Right now, my post-grad plans are to work on Our Play- book full time. I love what I'm doing. It's really cool to offer all these opportunities for other athletes. It's hard work, but I love it and want to just keep doing it." BGI: Do you have any final thoughts about Augie's Locker Room? Leonard: "Yeah, the place is so cool. Every time I go in there he tells me he wants to turn it into a museum. He has so much cool stuff in there from old letterman jackets to old helmets to Chase Claypool-signed helmets to the shoes the team wore in Ireland from the game in 2012. "Literally everything you can imagine. Whenever my family comes into town that's where we go to get attire for the game." Junior kicker Harrison Leonard has been instrumental in helping fellow Irish student-athletes make the most of the name, image and likeness (NIL) era of college athletics. PHOTO BY ANDRIS VISOCKIS W A L K - O N P L A Y E R S U N I O N WOPU WOPU SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT BY TYLER HORKA Q&A With Junior Kicker Harrison Leonard