Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM OCT. 12, 2024 17 "We felt like Sam gave us the best chance to get the job done on the of- fensive line," Freeman said. Each veteran lineman had a decision to make. They could have checked out, bitter about losing their jobs as returning starter and started counting down the days until the transfer portal opens in December. That's not, of course, what they did. "I told myself I was going to take the chal- lenge head-on, show up, and help the guys the best that I could," C o o ga n s a i d . " H e l p Sammy the best that I could, help Knapp the best that I could, help those young guys because they needed my help." Coogan's love for Notre Dame — he grew up an Irish fan, a "diehard" since he was 5 years old — superseded any feelings he had about the coaches' deci- sion. Both players credited their support system, with Spindler's dad advising him to prepare to be the next guy up. "I truly believed then, that how it started wasn't going to be how it ended," Marc Spindler said. "If you don't hold yourself accountable and you're not responsible to that, then you might as well just leave. Then you're not the guy we think you are." Coogan echoed that senti- ment, calling it a "personal decision" to stay ready. Spin- dler stuck to his and the team's motto: "Tough times don't last, tough people do." In Week 3 at Purdue, Spindler and Coogan got their chance. Schrauth fell first. He was carted off the field at Ross-Ade Stadium and returned to the sideline a short time after in a walking boot and crutches. Later in the first half, Craig suffered an injury every offensive lineman dreads: A stray body crashed into his left knee, buckling it and ending his season. For Craig and Schrauth, par- ticularly the former, it was dev- astating. And it was difficult for Coogan and Spindler to take joy in their opportunities, given the circumstances that led to them. But they had a job to do, too. When Coogan entered the game at center, he and Spindler shared a look and thought, "Let's ride." 'NO GOING BACK NOW' As a defensive lineman, Marc Spin- dler explained, entering a game after spending time on the bench was easy. "You just have to be warmed up, get on a bicycle for three or four minutes and it's just reckless abandon," he said. On the other side, he explained, it's much more difficult. Offensive line play is all about continuity and chemistry among the front five. Coogan and Spindler did get a stroke of luck: It was a near-90-degree day Sept. 14 in West Lafayette, Ind., mak- ing it more difficult to get stiff on the sideline. But still, the seamless transition they made back to the lineup wasn't easy. "I think that's the portion that really is overlooked, and that's impressive," Marc Spindler said. "To have Pat and Rocco be able to step in and to be able to hit on all cylinders in a certain way — clearly, there's mistakes — but to be able to step in without a step back, I think that's really impressive for both of those young men." The Fighting Irish and Pro Football Focus were impressed with Spin- dler and Coogan's per- formances, both in the Purdue game and a week l a te r a ga i n s t M i a m i (Ohio). Coogan's PFF offense grade is 73.5, with an 83.5 mark as a pass blocker. Spindler's grades are similar at 70.8 and 77.0, respectively. A grade of 60 is average, by PFF's scale. Coogan and Spindler have played the best football of their careers since returning to the lineup. "I told myself when I came in there, just play ball," Coogan said. "Just let it rip. Once I go in there, there's no going back now. I have a duty to uphold the standard of the offensive line. Rocco and I have been here for a while, so that's bred into our DNA." In Notre Dame's Week 4 win over the RedHawks in particu- lar, Spindler stood out to his dad with his nastiness in the run game. "I like maulers that come ready to play each and every snap. You better pack your lunch, but they might not look pretty getting it done," Marc Spindler said. "We call that, in my family, winning ugly. And I won ugly for 10 years in the National Football League. Winning ugly, for me, is pretty important." Re-entering the lineup to- gether was important for the two veterans, too. Much like Craig and Schrauth made headlines for their chemistry up front, Coogan and Spindler feel the same way about each other. "He's a really smart, physical football player," Coogan said. "He knows what I'm about to do, I know what he's about to do. It's going to be really fun." ✦ "To start as many games as those two started, and to not be the starter and to be prepared and be great teammates, I can't speak any more highly of those two guys." HEAD COACH MARCUS FREEMAN ON COOGAN AND SPINDLER When right guard Billy Schrauth went down with an ankle injury in the win over Purdue, Spindler took his place. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER