Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/542018
BY JORDAN WELLS T he 2014-15 school calendar was loaded with noteworthy stories from the year. Here's a look at the ones many will remember most, in chronological order. 'Frozen Five' Receive Academic Suspensions Following a year in which quarter- back Everett Golson, basketball star Jerian Grant and top hockey defense- man Robbie Russo all missed games (if not a full season) due to academic suspensions, it was still shocking when Notre Dame announced on Aug. 16 that junior cornerback KeiVarae Rus- sell, senior wide receiver DaVaris Dan- iels, senior defensive end Ishaq Wil- liams and fifth-year senior linebacker Kendall Moore were all being held out of football activities, pending a univer- sity internal investigation for academic misconduct. Then on Aug. 28, the school an- nounced senior safety Eilar Hardy was also under investigation and likewise would be withheld from team activities. Eventually labeled "The Frozen Five," only Hardy would eventually suit up for the Irish in 2014, and even he was forced to miss the first eight contests. It was a huge loss for the pro- gram not only from a talent standpoint — Russell was the team's top corner- back, Daniels was the leading returning receiver and Williams was expected to start — but also in terms of depth with Moore because injuries on the Notre Dame defense piled up late in the sea- son, contributing to a 1-5 slide after a 6-0 start. Russell returned to the team this summer, while Williams also enrolled in school but it's unclear if he can rejoin the football program. Daniels departed for the NFL Draft, Moore exhausted his eligibility and Hardy opted to use his fifth year at Bowling Green State. TOP STORIES OF 2014-15 The moments and milestones we'll remember most from the past year