Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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MEDIA DAY Media Day: News & Notes Here are some of the talking points from Notre Dame's Aug. 19 media day. 1. Although attrition hit, the injury bug was low. Notre Dame potentially could lose four players to an academic fraud investigation, but other than senior defensive lineman Tony Springmann, whose football career is now finished, the Irish remained relatively healthy. • Senior Mike linebacker Jarrett Grace, who underwent major leg surgeries in March and April, probably will not be available until a couple of weeks into the season, per head coach Brian Kelly, or maybe not until after the Sept. 20 bye week to buy more time to heal. • Sophomore slot Torii Hunter Jr. (groin) could be on a similar timetable as Grace. • Sophomore tight end Durham Smythe and sophomore weakside linebacker Doug Randolph were out for more than a week with hamstring and bone bruise injuries, respectively, but are expected to be ready to practice the week of the Rice game. • Sophomore wide receiver William Fuller did not practice Aug. 19 because of a lower leg injury, but should be ready to practice the week of the Rice game, per Kelly. 2. Special teams need to help make a difference this year. It starts well with senior kicker/punter Kyle Brindza. "Sometimes we gloss over it, but I think we've got one of the finest kickers in the country … and I think games are decided at that posi- tion," Kelly said. The coverage units have had an overhaul in approach. "We had big thumpers on that 'search and destroy' crew, that cover team, but we didn't have enough speed," Kelly said. "The emphasis is to get a group that can get to the 30-yard line with great speed." 3. The FieldTurf in Notre Dame Stadium will allow the team to prac- tice there more often during the season. The grass turf was so torn up last year, it was like the team was walk- ing on eggshells when it walked inside there for practice. "Nobody is concerned about their footing and flipping and falling," Kelly said. "We were concerned with just running drills in there last year." Having a familiarity with every nuance on the home field is vital to Kelly. "Just getting our kids comfortable with the surroundings, the end zones, the sidelines … and then being able to play full speed there, not worry about your footing and your cutting, and then getting your kickers in there, knowing the wind, the direction, all those things are so, so important," he said. 4. The academic investigation doesn't alter expectations in 2014. "They can't change," Kelly said of the team goals. "We don't have a conference championship to play for, so we only have one goal in mind … to be one of those four teams to get in the playoffs. That's the only way you can think." — Lou Somogyi Senior Kyle Brindza converted 43 field goals in 2012-13, and will once again handle kicking, punting and kickoff duties. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND