Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BY LOU SOMOGYI J oe Schmidt is no longer just a feel- good story at Notre Dame, and that's how he prefers it. Upon enrolling as a preferred walk-on in 2011, he had always been the "nice little surprise" — first mak- ing the traveling team (2011), then starting on special teams (2012), then in 2013 seeing spot duty in meaningful defensive situations, including helping save the 14-10 victory versus USC last year. Awarded a full scholarship prior to his junior season in 2013, the 6-0, 235-pound Schmidt takes being a sur- prise almost as a back-handed com- pliment, sort of like telling someone, "Hey, you're not as ugly as I thought." Above all, do not ask Schmidt — the team's second-leading tackler (30) to go with a forced fumble and intercep- tion during a 4-0 start in which Notre Dame ranked fourth nationally in scor- ing defense — about how it feels to arrive in the big time. "I don't ever want to feel like I've ar- rived," Schmidt said. "The second that you think you've arrived, that's when someone passes you. I don't know if there's ever going to be a moment where I say to myself that I've arrived — maybe when I die. If you're not working, you're not getting better." The starting senior linebacker has become a big-time power five confer- ence player who is starting because he helps set up the Irish defense — and also produces. "You always hope for great stories, and I think the one thing that I've al- ways felt is core to successful coach- ing is developing your players," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said of Schmidt. "Now, you want that to equal wins — because if you do that, you get to keep your job." With inside linebackers Dan Fox and Carlo Calabrese both graduated and senior Jarrett Grace sidelined while recovering from a broken leg, Schmidt seized the moment this spring by lead- ing and operating the defense under new coordinator Brian VanGorder so well, Kelly said the unit could not af- ford to take him off the field. That re- mark also makes Schmidt uncomfort- able, if not bristle. "I don't think anyone's indispens- able," he said. "I need the team more than the team needs me. It's important CHEMISTRY CATALYST Joe Schmidt's leadership and production aid early defensive success