Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1506910
30 SEPT. 9, 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH MARCUS FREEMAN … On keeping his team focused throughout the season with match- ups against Ohio State, USC and Clemson ahead: "As I told this group, we work really hard for 12 guaranteed opportunities. Of these 12, the next Sat- urday is what's most important. It's a personal challenge for us. This is about Notre Dame's football program reaching its full potential on that Saturday. "We work so hard for 12 guaranteed opportunities. Think about that. That's 12 days in the year that you get a chance to go play this game that we love. So be grateful for the opportunity, and I'm sure when we turn on the film for NC State, we'll understand the chal- lenge we have ahead of us." On Devyn Ford's injury: "I saw him in the second half, and he said he's okay. He said his head hurts a little bit." On eight different players scor- ing touchdowns: "Sam is a big part, but I think we have some talented indi- viduals. Jeremiyah Love scored the first touchdown running the ball, so credit to our offensive line. Hartman, TD run; Tyree scored a touchdown from Hart- man; Audric, TD run. "Having Sam Hartman helps, but I think the depth on our offense and those skill positions show up when you see eight guys score a touchdown. Credit to our offensive coaches and the job they've done in those rooms." On the growth of his program two games into Year 2: "We're get- ting better. As I've said before, there's no substitution for experience. You can give me every blueprint from every head coach, and you still have to learn through experience. "I hope next year at this point I'm saying, 'Man, I'm so much farther along as a head coach after Year 2 than I was after Year 1.'" NOTRE DAME GRADUATE STUDENT QUARTERBACK SAM HARTMAN … On the last series before halftime: "It starts up front. I said that last week [laughs], but it really does. I think that our coaching staff, Coach Freeman and [offensive coordinator Gerad] Parker understand the ability that our O-line has to protect when we need them, and then obviously the guys can create space on the outside and at the tight end posi- tion. And you saw those running backs, too. I mean shoot, we checked the ball down — Steve Angeli's throwing 70- yard bombs, but they're pretty easy bombs to me. "But no, it was great. We haven't been in that situation yet where we could re- ally let it fly and drive and put some- thing together in a two-minute fashion going into the half. And again, these are important in a lot of games. So it was great to get some work at it." On facing North Carolina State this week: "There's no overlooking here. I understand the challenge. We understand the challenge at hand, es- pecially on the road. I played there last year, it's a very hostile environment. "Their fans are gonna bring it. They're not gonna like us, and we understand that there's a huge challenge." NOTRE DAME JUNIOR DEFENSIVE TACKLE JASON ONYE … On not having to deal with the triple option this week: "I would say, as a defense, it was great going back to normal football, and being able to play what we've been doing through camp, and what we practiced in the spring. "Just being able to go against another team that runs a regular offense, I feel like it was way better preparing for them, preparing for NC State." On not allowing a touchdown again: "I would say it's big, but it's our expectation, it's our standard as a defense. We want to make sure we leave teams with no touchdowns and no scores. Like last game, letting them score three points was like, we were up- set about that, you know? "We just want to make sure that this defense this year, we want to make sure we hold teams and just make sure we're dominant, no matter who we face." NOTRE DAME SENIOR CORNERBACK CLARENCE LEWIS … On his pick-six: "It was just a sprint-out pass, we just happened to be in good coverage for the sprint-out pass that we practiced. "He pretty much threw it right to me after that." NOTRE DAME SOPHOMORE RUNNING BACK JADARIAN PRICE … On catching a touchdown from Steve Angeli: "Right before the play, I was actually imagining in my head — I do that, I imagine success in my head before a play, and I imagined that, ac- tually. "Just the fact that it was — Steve's my best friend, he's my roommate. It just happened to be him, I happened to be his first touchdown pass. It doesn't get any better than that. … I'm going into the end zone laughing, because I'm like, 'Steve just threw me a touchdown.'" — Jack Soble FROM THE LOCKER ROOM Head coach Marcus Freeman loves the depth his team has shown at the skill positions, exhibited by eight different players scoring touchdowns against Tennessee State. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER