Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1478022
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 10, 2022 17 "That's what I love about him. He's a great football player but an even better person." The current cohabitation means Diggs is subjected to Estime's singing in the shower. Anyone who listened to Notre Dame's recent post-practice karaoke session knows Estime doesn't quite have the voice of an angel. That doesn't stop him from practicing. "I'm working on it," Estime said with a laugh. "Every night in the shower I'm working. I feel like I have personal sing- ing lessons, which is my shower. The next karaoke is going to be better." It's not clear exactly when that will be, but anyone who attends a Notre Dame practice can hear Estime's voice pretty easily. In a camp workout in mid- August, Diggs ran the ball in a play from scrimmage. The whistle blew, but Diggs kept running, something the coaches often encourage. He reached the end zone when it was already relatively quiet. " TOUC H D OW N ! " E s t i m e ex- claimed from about 80 yards down- field while throwing his arms in the air. According to McCullough, one doesn't even need to make a big play to hear the praises of the running back. He had a teammate, who Mc- Cullough declined to name, drop a pass last week in practice. Estime cheered anyway. "I see you out there!" Estime told his unidentified teammate. "He dropped the ball," McCullough said he told Estime after the mistake. "Cheer for him after he catches the ball! "But that's Audric for you. He's loud, in a good way." Estime's zest for life isn't an atten- tion-grabbing performance. He genu- inely wants those all around him to suc- ceed, a selflessness that stems from his upbringing. "It's something that my family taught — always just be happy," Estime said of where he picked up his attitude. "Just treat other people how you want to be treated. The other parts, I just learned on my own. Just share your knowledge and spread love to make the world a better place." His presence is certainly making Notre Dame a better place. ✦ Estime played in 12 games in 2021 but carried the ball just 7 times for 60 yards. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER