Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1541560
28 NOV. 29, 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED HEAD COACH MARCUS FREEMAN … On Notre Dame's three non-of- fensive touchdowns before its first offensive play: "It's in the moment, right? Hey, you pick six. Hey, defense, get a quick sip of water, you're going right back out. You know, you block a punt for a touchdown. Defense, get a drink, you're going right back out. And I think they went three-and-out after that series. "But, again, you're always in the mo- ment. You're just coaching the moment. For me, it's unique because I gotta go from offense to defense to spe- cial teams. So I'm constantly, like, on the field, what's going on. But they gotta go: Quick sip, any coaching points they need to get back on the field and coach them to win that play. So just a reminder to stay in the moment." O n re d s h i r t f re s h m a n safety Tae Johnson's hand injury and Notre Dame's depth on defense: "I think it's maybe two games at max, one game at minimum. We'll see. He could possibly be back for Stanford. I think we have a deep team in all positions, but they don't always get the op- portunity to go out there and perform. And that's what was cool about today is no matter if you played or not, I want them to feel a part of team glory be- cause of the work they put in during the week. "But today was one of those unique games where they ac- tually got a chance to get a reward and go play in the game. And I'm proud of the way those guys that usually don't get an opportunity to play played, and [freshman safety] Ethan Long is a great example, to have two [interceptions]. "He had a couple tackles, like, that's what I talk about when I talk about the standard doesn't change no matter who's on that field. And for the most part, they really, really played to that standard the entire game." On winning a game 70-7: "You know, I hope I feel the exact way I feel right now that I did last week. And if we win — what was Boston College score? There wasn't a firework or whatever, that it wasn't great. But it was — like this is what I tell our guys. Like I don't care what the score. We gotta celebrate this victory. "We'll get to work the next day. We're going to dissect it. We're going to find ways to improve. But if you don't cel- ebrate — if it's 70-7 or 10-7, if you don't enjoy that, it's a miserable life, because they put a lot of work into this." JUNIOR RUNNING BACK JEREMIYAH LOVE … On the defense making plays in the first quarter: "Makes me feel great. Like I said, I love to see guys mak- ing plays. I would say some of my best moments have been when other guys are making plays. "Obviously a lot of people like to talk about me doing lots of great things, but I love to see my teammates go out there and have success. That's what really moves my heart. It's not very easy to move me, so I love seeing those guys have success." On whether he planned to hit the Heisman pose when he ran for his third touchdown: "Um … Yeah." On whether he was able to take in what could be his last game at Notre Dame Stadium: "I was able to take it in. And I don't know if this will be my last game at Notre Dame Stadium. That's unknown as of right now. "But I made sure to take it all in and just look at the guys that I was able to play with throughout my time at Notre Dame. Made sure that I walked down the sideline so I could see how the defense sits on their side of the sideline. Tried to take everything in. Get all the views that I can." JUNIOR WIDE RECEIVER JORDAN FAISON … On watching three pos- sessions before taking the field: "I think that was the first time we've been on the bench for that long. But to see your teammates and brothers go out there and make plays, it's great. "As a team, it's awesome to watch, going up 21 or whatever when we're not touching the field, and then we're able to come on and add more points, it's the kind of football you want to go out there and play." REDSHIRT SENIOR SAFETY JALEN STROMAN … On if he had extra motiva- tion in the first quarter in his first start since Septem- ber: "Yeah, I had to take advantage of the opportunity." SOPHOMORE CORNERBACK LEONARD MOORE … On how Notre Dame will avoid re- verting back to its early season de- fensive form: "Just practicing with the same mentality and remembering what it feels like to be 0-2. Like [Coach Free- man] always says, remember the pain. "That's something we won't let hap- pen again. So we attack every practice and we go out like it's our last practice." — Jack Soble FROM THE LOCKER ROOM In what might have been his final game at Notre Dame Stadium, junior run- ning back Jeremiyah Love said he "made sure to take it all in." PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER