Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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ful and help this defense be productive and successful." He has shadowed VanGorder every- where in the football office, and the 30-year coaching veteran said, "I never had a college kid that can learn like he's learned." "I've played every position in my ca- reer as a football player," said Schmidt, an Orange, Calif., native who started at Mater Dei and did receive numer- ous major college offers before opting to pursue his dream at Notre Dame. "Having that full understanding of how all the pieces fit together and thinking about it in terms of being a puzzle, it just works for me. "We learn conceptually, and that's how I think. … It's learning about the big picture [rather] than memorizing a sheet." Junior defensive tackle Sheldon Day describes Schmidt as "a know-it-all- guy" — in a positive way. "He's always about communication," Day said. "That's how we keep our defense fluid. Sometimes we think we know what the call is and he's like, 'No, no, no, it's this, this, this.' It's about be- ing in tune with each other no matter what, and he kind of helped us build our chemistry." "There's a billion good things you could say about Joe Schmidt," senior nickel Matthias Farley said. "He's al- ways been a leader and it's infectious for all of us to see that. It goes back to the way everyone feels about Joe off the field. He has a great relationship with everybody, and then when he's on the field he's loud, he's demonstra- tive, he gives everything he has, you never question his effort or how badly he wants it. "That shows on Saturday, but we see it the other 350-some days a year where he's just like that non-stop. Now that you see the fruits of his labor, I think it resonates throughout the team, not just on the defense." That's what really feels good to Schmidt. ✦ Walk-On Glory Over the last 50 years, these have been Notre Dame's top walk-ons on offense or defense who thrived on premier teams. Senior linebacker Joe Schmidt, eligible for a fifth season in 2015, could join this group. Nick Rassas (1964-65) — Consensus All-Amer- ican safety also led the nation in punt returns during an Irish renaissance under head coach Ara Parseghian. Mike Oriard (1967-69) — Co-captain and center on the 1969 team that finished No. 5 nationally, and he played four years in the NFL. Ed Gulyas (1969-71) — The leading rusher on the 1970 team that finished 10-1 and No. 2 after upsetting No. 1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Tim Rudnick (1971-73) — Started all 11 games at cornerback for the unbeaten 1973 national champs. Pat Eilers (1987-89) — Currently a volunteer assistant to the staff, he started at flanker during the school-record 23-game winning streak before playing at safety and on special teams six years in the NFL. Mike Brennan (1986-89) — Former lacrosse player joined Eilers during Notre Dame's run to glory, starting every game at left offensive tackle in 1989 and playing three years in the NFL. Shane Walton (1999-2002) — All-Big East soc- cer player had an itch to play football and started three seasons, earning consensus All-America honors during a 10-win season in 2002. — Lou Somogyi