Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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where have you gone? "Those guys were my friends and classmates," he said. "I watched every game from out in Arizona where I was and at times it was difficult, but I would root for them and cheer for them. Those were my guys. I never felt any ill feelings towards anyone. "Of course, it sucked to sit there and watch them go 8-0 and at the same time watch them lose like that to Boston College, but that's part of life. "I took it on the chin. I've learned from everything I've done in life, and I believe I'm a better person for it." Jones emphasized that everyone travels down a different path in one's then play at the next level. I have no doubt that he will do exactly that." That's what Jones did, but after he returned it wasn't easy from the start. The Irish followed up their 10-win season in 2002 with a 1-3 start in 2003. Freshman quarterback Brady Quinn had been inserted in the lineup in the team's fourth game and was called upon to throw 59 times in a 23-10 loss to Purdue. After a bye week, Notre Dame — operating with the eighthworst rushing average per game in the country (91.25 yards an outing) despite having Jones and another future NFL running back, Ryan Grant, "Just having the opportunity to play at Notre Dame and be a part of that is something that can't be duplicated. I didn't want to short myself by just surviving and making it. I wanted to go back to Notre Dame and finish what I started." Jones life. His brother graduated in three on the roster — traveled to Heinz Field years from the University of Virginia to face No. 15 Pittsburgh. To top it all and earned a first-round NFL Draft off, freshman offensive lineman Ryan selection. The Notre Dame graduate, Harris started in his first career Notre however, had to spend a year in exile Dame appearance. before returning his senior season and "I remember it being an ESPN impressing NFL executives enough to game, and I hadn't really put up any be drafted in the second round by the numbers so far in my senior season," Dallas Cowboys. said Jones, who began the campaign "My path was obviously not my with 43 carries for 152 yards and one brother 's," Jones said. "I didn't go touchdown in four games. "We were that route. There are different ways struggling and I wasn't even starting. to get what you want in life, and it's I think Ryan was starting. all about what you do when you're "I was really anxious to get back in knocked down and how you respond. the groove, play again and also get a "I think the type of person Everett win. That's obviously the main reason is, he will come back and do what he's you play the games, to get a win. supposed to do and what he set his "It was an awkward time for us as mind out to do, and that's play foot- a team. We made some offensive line ball and graduate at Notre Dame and changes and had some guys in new