Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1526412
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 14, 2024 13 UNDER THE DOME THEY SAID IT THEY SAID IT "I've been wanting to scream, 'I think Notre Dame is going undefeated' from the mountaintop."— On3 national college football reporter Ari Wasserman during his debut episode of "Andy & Ari On3" "So, the next step for them is to not get tripped up by the Georgia Techs, the Louisvilles, who I think will both be ranked by the time they play them. And not have those games where they stum- ble. Kind of like last year with Louisville and almost getting beat by Duke. "That's the next step, is now being able to be the hunted and being able to handle that as they move forward in maintaining that No. 5 spot. Because you said it, this thing sets up very easily for Notre Dame to be hosting a first-round playoff game, and I can't wait to see what that environment's going to be like." — Former Notre Dame quarterback and current FOX Sports college football analyst Brady Quinn on the Irish after their win at Texas A&M (The Joel Klatt Show) "Notre Dame, through recruiting, through the portal, they look so different than where they were a few years ago. They used to always have big line- men, big tight ends, big D-linemen, big linebackers. Their skill just looks different. They're long, they're bouncing, athletic guys." — ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit on Notre Dame " The national perception of Notre Dame changed a little last weekend. … It's easy to look at the Irish offense and see the upside. It's easier to look at Notre Dame's defense and see an elite, lights-out unit. With an easy schedule combined with a top defense and developing offense, this should be a season that adjusts perceptions of Notre Dame … right up until the Playoff. "When it comes to playing in major bowls, which is basically everything after the first round, Notre Dame hasn't earned any benefit of the doubt. Win a CFP quarterfinal and consider the stigma broken." — Pete Sampson of The Athletic after the Irish's 23-13 win at Texas A&M "He was poised the whole game. I didn't see any type of worry, any type of doubt in his eyes. He's like a chill dude at all times throughout the game. I didn't know what to expect from Game 1, but he's definitely a leader that we needed." — Graduate student wide receiver Beaux Collins on senior quar- terback Riley Leonard "The former Michigan and Ohio State assistant nearly took the Tennessee defensive coordinator job in 2021. A Boston College alum, he impressed the Eagles during the interview process this offseason. "'He was runner-up for Boston College head job last year,' a source told On3. 'He's worked under Jim Harbaugh, Luke Fickell and Marcus Freeman. He's got a great pedigree.'" — On3's Pete Nakos on list- ing Notre Dame defensive line coach/defensive run game coordinator Al Washington among the names to know for next college football coaching carousel "We're preached to go out there and bust our ass every day. The competitive nature is instilled in you once you come here. Nothing shies us away from the moment. People don't feel like they don't have a shot of playing. … The expectation is to give it your all so you can play on the field one day." — Notre Dame senior wide receiver Jayden Thomas (The Athletic) "They're smart and they play hard. Howard Cross is special, hard to block and his motor is freaking crazy. I don't know if they have any freaks, though. No one scared us. There's not a game-wrecker like [Jeremiah] Owusu-Koramoah or [Kyle] Hamilton. Nobody like Jaylon Smith or Stephon Tuitt." — An anonymous Power Five position coach in a story by The Athletic Irish On Social Media PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER "There's always room to improve. I made second- team All-American; I want to be first team. I was what, No. 1 or 2 in tackles? I want to be No. 1. I want to be No. 1 in sacks. I want to be No. 1 in everything. There's always room to improve. Even if I am No. 1, God will - ing I get to that spot, I want to beat my own record." — Notre Dame graduate student defensive tackle HOWARD CROSS III