Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 21, 2016 11 UNDER THE DOME BRIAN KELLY: 'I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE' Four days before the Army game Nov. 12, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly was asked whether he plans to recruit more toward defenders tai- lored to play in three-man or four-man fronts, especially because who the coordinator will be is uncertain. Just in case anyone was wondering after the 3-6 start this year, Kelly also worked in the fact that he plans to be back in 2017. Greg Hudson is in an interim defensive coordina- tor role since Brian VanGorder was fired Sept. 25 after the 38-35 loss to Duke— but Kelly said whether it's a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme, the defensive players the Irish bring in will have to play both. "We're going to be in both, because I'm not go- ing anywhere," Kelly said. "They're going to have to be somebody that can do both." Nine of Notre Dame's 18 verbal commits in the 2017 class are on the defensive side, including six front-seven players. "We're full at certain areas, so I don't think it's regardless of whether it's three down or four down, we've committed to certain areas," Kelly said. "If there is an elite player at a particular posi- tion, I don't think it matters what defense you play. "So the foundation of the defense is already kind of found itself relative to the kids that have committed." DANIEL CAGE UNDERGOING CONCUSSION PROTOCOL During the Miami game Oct. 29, junior nose guard Daniel Cage — who had been splitting time with fifth-year senior Jarron Jones — suf- fered a concussion that didn't allow him to make the trip to Jacksonville, Fla., the following week versus Navy. He was still not cleared to practice during the preparation for the Army contest Nov. 12, and instead was being evaluated for a second opinion from Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, a renowned specialist who is the National Director of The Sports Neurol- ogy Clinic at The CORE Institute in Brighton, Mich. "He's made some progress, but anytime that somebody's in their second week and has not fully gone through the stages as we see them, we'd like to get a second opinion and make sure that every- thing is good," head coach Brian Kelly said of Cage. Kutcher was involved in the case of former Notre Dame wide receiver Corey Robinson. Junior safety Drue Tranquill and freshman cor- nerback Julian Love also suffered concussions against Navy, but were cleared for non-contact duties during the preparation for Army. Love recorded eight tackles against the Midshipmen before he had to leave the game. "I don't know if I've seen a true freshman play the triple option as well as he did," Kelly said of Love. "… In terms of assignments, in terms of physicality, in terms of tackling it was really good." Cage has been slow to recover from the con- cussion he suffered against Miami Oct. 29, so Notre Dame decided to have him evaluated by renowned specialist Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher. PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS Holy Cross Village is a continuing care retirement community, sponsored by the Brothers of Holy Cross, with a tradition of caring, compassion and trust. Holy Cross Village welcomes people of all faiths. 54515 State Rd., 933 North, Notre Dame, IN 46556 www.holycrossvillage.com ... AND ENJOY THE GAME OF LIFE AT HOLY CROSS VILLAGE I magine making new friends and developing new talents, where everything you need to enjoy the game of life is right outside your front door. Nestled among three institutions of higher learning, Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame is a senior living community unlike anything else around. Our warm and inviting community offers: Independent Living Homes and Apartments Assisted Living Apartments Skilled Nursing Memory Care Rehabilitation Services Call (574) 251-2235 today for more information and to schedule a tour.