Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/202503
✦ News & notes plays, and upgraded play along the edge, especially from freshman Dog linebacker Jaylon Smith, which is so important to the tenets of the 3-4 defense. "I was very confident that the markers were there, and they were pointing in the right direction," Kelly said of overcoming some of the early defensive deficiencies. "That was just a matter they all had to put it together. And they're putting it together." "Everybody wants a sure thing or what is perceived to be a sure thing," Kelly said of recruiting. "… You do have to have a sense that you can project." Robinson's pedigree, intangibles and growth potential were all taken into account, although the 6-4½ height is plenty now for the coaches. His father was 6-6 as a high school senior, 6-9 by the time he played his first game at Navy and reached 7-0 en route to becoming a two-time National Player of the Year. "If his dad's genes kick in … I think we're out of business here," Kelly joked. "Might be [head basketball coach] Mike Brey is talking to me a little bit." Here's To You, Mr. Robinson Last weekend against Air Force, there were family ties when Falcons' offensive left tackle Matt Rochell and Notre Dame freshman defensive end Isaac Rochell, brothers from Georgia, were on opposite sides of the ball. This week, Notre Dame freshman wideout Corey Robinson will be going against the school where his father, David, blossomed into the NBA's No. 1 draft pick. He led the Midshipmen to the Elite Eight in 1986, and became a 10-time NBA All-Star and league MVP while helping the San Antonio Spurs to a couple of championships. Son Corey was not considered a prime big-time football prospect at receiver while playing in a less prominent Texas league, but he's been of the top surprises of 2013. He was Blue & Gold Illustrated's offensive player of the game in the 17‑13 victory versus Michigan State Sept. 21 (three catches for 54 yards, plus drawing some pass interference calls), and last week he caught his first career touchdown pass, from 35 yards, to knot the game at 7‑7. Irish head coach Brian Kelly said having been a Division II coach for so long at Grand Valley State, he developed a pretty good feel for projecting players, which is one reason the staff took "a flier" on Robinson. Staying Fresh; Staying Hungry Freshman wide receiver Corey Robinson had a 35-yard touchdown grab against Air Force last week — the first score of his career — and has five receptions for 101 yards through eight games. Photo by Bill panzica ✦ Page 13 Head coach Brian Kelly was 12-1 in November/December regular-season games at Cincinnati from 2007-09 and he is 10-1 so far at Notre Dame. He said it's a combination of luck and emphasizing a conditioning and training program where sometimes less is more. He makes practices shorter as the season gets longer so it doesn't become a grind. Last Thursday the team practiced without pads for the first time, and this Tuesday's practice was scheduled to be only 90 minutes long. He also stressed that it's important to make sure the team knows what's coming each day before practice. "Your guys have to be mentally and physically fresh as well," he said. "They have to feel as though when they come in in November that there's an energy to them. They enjoy coming; that it's not a chore. "You have to be winning, you have to stay injury free, and I think you have to have a comprehensive plan that prepares you for success in November that goes 365 days out of the year." ✦