Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/476884
UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE T he potential rewards for the pro- gram of former Notre Dame All- Americans Todd Lyght and Autry Denson joining the Irish coaching staff are obvious. N a m e re c o g n i - tion, on-field suc- cess and "been there, done that" top the list. Notre Dame is a demanding and u n i q u e s c h o o l , a n d t h e s e t w o legendary play- ers can provide all the necessary insight and ad- vice to players and recruits on b a l a n c i n g t h e pressures of big- time football and top-tier academ- ics — an understanding that typically needs to be learned by new coaches and rarely comes inherently. As Notre Dame's all-time leading rusher and a business administration graduate, Denson will have no prob- lem getting into high schools and liv- ing rooms to attract top recruits and share firsthand what the university is all about. "Notre Dame is like no other place. That's what we all understand," said Denson, who will serve as the Irish running backs coach. "That's why you either love us or you hate us." Lyght — a two- t i m e I r i s h A l l - American and na- tional champion, a S u p e r B o w l champion, a 12- year NFL veteran and a Notre Dame graduate — pro- vides a powerful résumé that will grab the attention of any high school recruit and col- lege player, even with his limited coaching experi- ence. "A long career, a lot of success, he's not used to not being successful," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said of Lyght, his new defensive backs coach. "You can tell when he walks into the room that he immediately has that. It makes up for any shortness that he may have in a résumé." The possible risks of hiring these two Irish icons aren't hard to define either, mainly no experience coaching at an elite level. Denson's one season working last year as running backs coach at Miami Irish Icons Provide Risk And Reward The qualities it takes to become a great player don't necessarily line up with those it takes it be a great coach, but Notre Dame is hoping both Autry Denson (pictured above) and Todd Lyght can match their accomplishments as players during their coaching careers. PHOTO COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY