Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/234294
Grant averaged a career-high 19.0 points per game during Notre Dame's 8-4 start, before being lost for the remainder of the season following what he called "a poor decision." PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND the university around the same time during the 2006-07 campaign after being arrested on a marijuana possession charge, but returned and finished out his career in South Bend.) Without Grant, the Irish will have to significantly adjust the playing rotation — but Notre Dame's plan to redshirt sophomore Cam Biedscheid does not change following this news. Brey said the decision to preserve Biedscheid's year of eligibility is in both his and the team's best interest. Brey will call upon freshmen Steve Vasturia and V.J. Beachem to play more frequently, and for starting freshman guard Demetrius Jackson to become more aggressive offensively. The Irish coach said the team knew prior to its 64-61 loss to No. 3 Ohio State Dec. 21 that the game would be Grant's last this season. (Grant was able to play in that contest because the spring semester didn't officially begin until Dec. 23.) While unexpected, this development parallels the loss of McAlarney and, more recently, Tim Abromaitis and Scott Martin to injuries in each of the past two seasons. "When we get back [Dec. 26], I want to talk to our guys about how we recover from devastating blows, losing guys, injuries, suspensions," Brey said. "The interesting thing about most of this nucleus is they kind of witnessed two of them. "This one's going to be the hardest for two reasons. Jerian is so involved with everything we do on the offensive end of the floor, and we're trying to negotiate a new league." From the time of Grant's suspension to the ACC opener against perennial power Duke on Jan. 4, Notre Dame will have had 13 days to prepare for a new identity, which Brey says he hopes will be cemented by Feb. 1.