Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/160704
✦ News & notes beaten at home (6-0) for the first time since 1998, and only the second time since 1990. The frustration of home losses to teams such as 2-8 Syracuse in 2008, Connecticut in 2009, Tulsa in 2010 and South Florida in 2011, among many others, led to a lot of introspection by head coach Brian Kelly and Notre Dame's hierarchy on what steps can be taken to enhance optimum performance at home. Tweaks in luncheons, pep rallies, unwinding before the game, etc., were gradually implemented. The most recent move is having the team mass on Friday instead of Saturday. "We're always going to have mass," Kelly said. "It's important. It's part of the fabric of Notre Dame football. It's part of our mission. There's certain things that will never go away as it relates to Notre Dame and its traditions. "What I was looking for were simply better ways to manage leading up to the game itself. We've been able to work together to give our studentathletes the best schedule leading up to kickoff." Early enrollees, upgraded facilities and a training table are among the many changes at Notre Dame over the past decade, but Kelly said the ability to manage the 24 hours leading up to kickoff has been important as anything. "The pep rally and the luncheon and the demands on the players' time and getting all of those things accomplished," Kelly said. "They're great things and … we want to be actively involved in them. We just wanted to make sure that they fit in a schedule that allowed our players the opportunity to really focus in on game time without being overloaded. "I think we've come to a nice schedule in working with our administration that now that mirrors what we do on the road and what we do at home." ✦ Miscellaneous Notes • Sophomore safety Chris Badger is transferring to Brigham Young, where he is enrolling next week. The Utah native was an early enrollee at Notre Dame in 2010 before going on a two-year Mormon mission. Even with the graduation of Zeke Motta and Jamoris Slaughter, and the season-ending injury to sophomore Nicky Baratti, Badger was caught in a glut at safety behind junior Matthias Farley, senior Austin Collinsworth, sophomore Elijah Shumate, junior Eilar Hardy, freshman Max Redfield and sophomore John Turner. • Slot receiver Will Mahone, who was converted from running back this August, is the lone Irish player injured over the last week who will not play against Temple. Mahone is recovering from a high ankle sprain. Earlier this month, senior Dog linebacker Danny Spond saw his football career ended because of chronic migraines, while junior defensive end Tony Springmann (knee) and Baratti (shoulder) also will be sidelined this season. • Sophomore right tackle Ronnie Stanley was back in action on Monday after recovering from a concussion incurred last week. Head coach Brian Kelly indicated that freshman Steve Elmer also will see time at right tackle. • Junior center Nick Martin and Stanley are slated to be the lone first-time starters on offense this Saturday. Defensively, the first-time starters are sophomore defensive end Sheldon Day, freshman Dog linebacker Jaylon Smith and senior safety Austin Collinsworth. • Nick Martin and senior defensive lineman Kona Schwenke were classified by head coach Brian Kelly as the two most improved players this August on their respective side of the ball. • In other news on Nick Martin, he and fifth-year senior tackle and tri-captain Zack Martin will be the first brother tandem to start along Notre Dame's offense line since 1978, when senior Dave Huffman was an All- Senior defensive lineman Kona Schwenke was singled out by head coach Brian Kelly as the most improved American center and sophomore Tim Huff- player on the Irish defense in August. photo by bill panzica man was the right guard. ✦ Page 14