Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546639
30 SEPT. 26, 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED HEAD COACH MARCUS FREEMAN … On how the team handled the sloppy conditions: "I think we prob- ably made it a bigger deal than what we thought it was going to be, than what it really was. It really didn't start coming down until probably late in the second, a little bit, and then late in the fourth. So it wasn't a huge factor. "We had a plan. And the plan is based on how your guys can perform in the weather, right? If our guys are having no issue, then continue to do what we do on both sides of the ball. But if there's is- sues, do we ask for a new ball every play? Do we go to a run game? There's certain types of plays we call. But I thought they did a good job." On the fake-punt call and whether Robinson should have bounced the run outside: "I've got to let some things go myself. I probably should have said no because we didn't make it, right? You know how it is. Now that we didn't make it, I should have said no. "But I love the play. I love the plan. I didn't love the execution. But you know, like, we got to be aggressive. It's a men- tality I have — that we have. I only regret it because it didn't work, but I really love the way our guys bought in and prepared for that play. We just didn't get it done. "And it ended up hurting our team. You think about that play, the follow- ing drive they end up and go down and score a field goal. We go, and we score, and then we get a personal foul celebrat- ing. And then they go down and score. That play probably started some negative plays for our team, and I put that on my- self, like be smart in that situation. Punt the ball. Your defense is playing great." SENIOR LINEBACKER DRAYK BOWEN … On what the defense did well that didn't show up in the statistics: "Probably communication this time. They had a bunch of tricks; bunch of gadget plays that they hadn't shown be- fore that we didn't really know what they were going to do — if they were going to do them or not. "Obviously, Max [former Notre Dame linebackers coach Max Bullough] is there now. So, it was just communication that second half, making sure we were in the right front, right coverage, and then just make sure that we were playing fast, playing physical." SENIOR SAFETY ADON SHULER … On comparing notes with CJ Carr about changing plays and disguis- ing coverages: "Me and CJ, we're al- ways talking. It's always a chess match, even at practice. And when we're done with practice, we always go over plays that we can both get better at. Just to see him go out there and diagnose other teams' defenses is really good. It goes back to the work at practice when we're sending crazy looks at him because we know during the season he will get those looks. "He makes us better every day by giving us great looks, changing protec- tions. Just doing things that quarter- backs — most people don't understand. He does his best." JUNIOR QUARTERBACK CJ CARR … On how his chess match with Notre Dame's defense has prepared him for games: "That defense brings pressures that are shown on Sundays in the NFL. I think the same blitz that [Irish senior safety] Luke [Talich] got a sack on, they brought against us in two- minute the other day. I feel for those Michigan State Spartans on that one. "Like he said, it's a chess match. Those guys know what they're doing, and they know what I'm thinking. It helps me kind of prepare for these weeks when you know you're playing a defense who brings a bunch of exotics on third down, and you've seen some looks that are similar before." JUNIOR WIDE RECEIVER MICAH GILBERT … On how much of a confidence boost his game against Michigan State gives him moving forward: "Huge. Just being able to go out there and make those plays with the confi- dence of the coaching staff, the quar- terback, CJ, being able to make those passes to me—having the trust in me— it's a huge confidence booster." MICHIGAN STATE HEAD COACH PAT FITZGERALD … On his postgame thoughts about Notre Dame: "Give Notre Dame credit. They've got an outstanding scheme in all three phases; they've got incredibly talented guys." — Kyle Kelly FROM THE LOCKER ROOM Junior quarterback CJ Carr credited the look the Irish defense gives him during practice for helping him find success during games. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER