Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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MURPHY'S LAW DAN MURPHY Manti Te'o. The 2013 team, despite hav- ing strong leaders like two-time captain Zack Martin on the roster, didn't have a voice. And while that certainly wasn't the only factor that dropped them from the BCS National Championship Game to the Pinstripe Bowl, athletics director Jack Swarbrick cited the change in lead- ership style as one of the main issues that team faced last fall. "Cam does a really good job of speaking up and knowing when it's appropriate," said fellow captain Nick Martin, who is likely to follow his brother's example as a strong and si- lent leader type. "It definitely is tricky. It's not all the time in your face. It's one of those things he knows when it's appropriate. When he talks, it just makes sense." McDaniel has never been shy about what he calls "taking ownership" of a situation. He said his hatred for losing helped him find his voice starting back in the juice box and orange slice days of recreational soccer. Often times, that desire to be in charge got him into trouble. As a 12-year-old little leaguer, Mc- Daniel remembers fielding ground balls as a second basemen and refus- ing to throw the ball to a weaker team- mate to complete the play. "I had no faith in this individual whatsoever," he said. "So I just didn't throw it. Obviously, I had to hone that in and learn how to develop myself." A more mature McDaniel — a re- cently married man with a child on the way and a career of ups and down on the field behind him — has learned to trust those around him and to trust the process. Otherwise, he wouldn't have survived at Notre Dame. The former Texas high school stand- out came to Notre Dame expecting to rise to the top of the Irish depth chart. Two years in, he was buried be- neath a pair of talented seniors and his future prospects looked dim. Head coach Brian Kelly asked him to move to a cornerback to plug a major lack of depth at the position. At the time, it would have been easy to write off McDaniel's chances of becoming an impact player in South Bend. "Doubt creeps in for every player that comes here every once in a while," he said. "You can't let it resonate and stay in you. "If you want to do great things at this university you have to expect to win. You have to expect to thrive." Last season, McDaniel led the Irish with 705 rushing yards. He became the backfield's most trusted weapon when he was expected to fall between the cracks of the speedy George Atkinson III and two promising freshmen. McDaniel's self-confidence will help just as much this season as he attempts to emerge as the outspoken leader of a young team. He's earned the right to speak. Kelly said no one on the roster has more consistently stood out as the team's voice this offseason. "That's his deal," Kelly said. "He feels comfortable doing that." ✦ Dan Murphy has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since August 2011. He can be reached at dmurphy@blueandgold.com