Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/878660
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 2, 2017 15 THEY SAID IT "Yeah, he's playing — this is his fifth game and he's got three interceptions? The kid is a baller. He's a great friend of mine. I love Shaun. I really respect him and the work that he does, the preparation that he puts in, and it's exciting for people to finally see his hard work paying off." Notre Dame senior rover Drue Tranquill on junior cornerback Shaun Crawford "With three starters — including an All-American — back in the fold, there's no reason to believe that Notre Dame won't continue to build on its newfound status as one of college basketball's most consistent power conference programs. … No team in the country has been better over the last three seasons when it comes to assist-to-turnover ratio, not fouling and making free throws than Notre Dame. If the Irish are able to keep that up, and if [Bonzie] Colson plays like an All-American for a second straight season, then there's no reason why this team won't be playing deep into March." — Mike Rutherford of SB Nation on why Notre Dame might be the most underrated program in college basketball "The only thing that makes me uncomfortable is the fact they think I've been critical. In my mind, I actually believe Notre Dame is an amazing brand. That's why I have the opinion that I do. "The only critical opinion of Notre Dame I have is they don't need to be using excuses. I understand aca- demics are hard, and it's a phenomenal academic school and they don't allow everybody in. But neither do some other teams around the country that have had success. "I don't think that needs to be an excuse because I believe that Notre Dame is preeminent brand that should be in the top 10 every single year. … Brand gets you in the living room for a recruit. This sport is all about recruiting. You're telling me Notre Dame can't get into any living room in the country?" — FOX Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Notre Dame's brand "This state [Michigan] loves the tradition of ND, and its often sensational meetings with MSU and Michi- gan. It must be acknowledged. It's extraordinary. "Yet, Notre Dame is the one college football program that answers only to itself, despite being decidedly mediocre in every way since Lou Holtz departed. Notre Dame has had more than its share of off-the-field issues, too. "It might be said Notre Dame is an enigma. I would say it's more like Notre Dame has been enabled by the Big Ten, NBC, the ACC — and just everyone else involved with big-time college athletics." — Pat Caputo of The Oakland Press leading into Notre Dame's matchup with Michigan State "Matthias Farley has turned into quite the Cinderella story. Claimed off waivers last season from Arizona as a college free agent, Farley is tied with Arizona's Tyvon Branch for the most tackles among NFL safeties with 18." — Alex Marvez of Sporting News listing former Irish safety Matthias Farley as a bright spot for the Indianapolis Colts two weeks into the NFL season OF THE WEEK "'It's the classic case of banging that wall until it crumbles. You broke your opponent.' — @Coach BrianKelly #GoIrish" Notre Dame's official football account (@NDFootball) Sept. 18 PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL UNDER THE DOME