Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 13, 2017 17 BY ANDREW OWENS O n USC's first offensive play under the lights at Notre Dame Stadium Oct. 21, then- Heisman contending quarter- back Sam Darnold bobbled a high snap. For a moment, it looked as if the signal-caller might be able to salvage the play. But then Irish ju- nior linebacker Te'von Coney burst through the middle of the field and pummeled Darnold into the ground while ripping the football from his grasp. In 2017, Coney is taking full ad- vantage of his second chance while ensuring opposing players are not so fortunate. "I was going to go to my fit like usual and he fumbled the ball, so I just went to the quarterback and wrapped him up," Coney explained. "[Defensive coordinator Mike Elko] told us all week how he didn't hold the ball as tight, so if we got a chance to yank at it, to yank it. "I got an opportunity and I did it. I came up with it." Coney has come up with a lot this season. Through Notre Dame's first eight games and its ascension to No. 3 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, Coney paced the defense with 62 tackles, 5.5 stops for loss, two sacks and four quarterback hurries. He earned the game ball in the 35-14 drubbing of North Caro- lina State Oct. 28 after recording nine tackles (one for loss) and one quar- terback hurry. "It's the trust factor in the coach- ing," head coach Brian Kelly said. "It's like anything else, he's trusting the teaching. I think that trust is start- ing to show itself on the field. [Line- backers coach] Clark Lea has done a great job of teaching how to be part of that front and fit. "Quite frankly, Te'von has done a great job of trusting his teaching." A little more than one year ago at this time, Coney's future at Notre Dame was somewhat murky. Dur- ing the preseason, he and four team- mates were arrested and charged with one count of marijuana posses- sion after a traffic stop. "This is my 27th year of being a head coach, 34th year in coaching," Kelly said. "I've given my life to de- veloping 18- to 21-year-olds. He is one in a long line of young men that have made mistakes and have been held accountable, have from that point on grown from the mistake that he made. He's grown off the field, the decisions that he makes on a day-to- day basis, and now he's growing as a football player. "We were more interested in the growth of Te'von Coney off the field, and the football's starting to catch up, so we're good with that." Coney considers the arrest a turn- ing point for him, noting that he has since focused on representing himself in the best light and taking full advantage of his opportunity at Notre Dame. "[I have grown] tremendously," he said. "After the incident, I made a mistake and was able to accept the mistake I made that embarrassed the university, embarrassed my family and myself as well. I've been able to get over it and follow the traits and process that Coach [Kelly] talks about a lot that can help you become a better person, better football player, better student. Doing that, I've seen improvement in my life on and off the field. "Following those traits have def- initely made me a better man. It's great to be here and to have the op- portunity to follow the traits and the process like I'm doing so far." "I'm very proud of Te'von," senior linebacker Nyles Morgan added. "He's come a long way, and since the incident, he's steadily been trying to get better and to mature and learn and grow." The Palm Gardens, Fla., native will have the opportunity to return home when the Irish face Miami Nov. 11, but it was not always a sure thing that he wanted to make the long trek north for college. He chose the Irish over the in-state Hur- ricanes and Florida Gators, with the late and former Irish running back Greg Bryant an important factor in that decision. "[Bryant's advice] had a great in- fluence," Coney said. "Having that person that can give you the great insight on how to grow as a person and how to succeed at a prestigious university like this and trusting the people that want to be here to help you and using those tools to become a better person and to grow was helpful a lot. "It shows how much this univer- sity does for you as a person and in life in general and just keeping you on the right path to succeed and to do the right things and having the support staff behind you, you can't go wrong. You have everything you need." On the field, everything has clicked for Coney in Elko's scheme, which the linebacker attributes to "not as much [thinking], but to just go out there and play hard and play tough." "He's just realizing how impor- tant this is to him and how many guys are affected by the decisions we make on and off the field," senior captain Drue Tranquill said. "And so it's one of our traits of excellence, being smart. "He's one of those guys who has taken it to heart and continued to de- velop himself as a young man on and off the football field. And so I'm re- ally proud of him. He's a great team- mate of ours." ✦ COMING ON STRONG Junior linebacker Te'von Coney has asserted himself as a crucial piece on an excellent defense Coney led the Irish defense with 62 tackles, including 5.5 behind the line of scrimmage, through eight games. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL "He's grown off the field, the decisions that he makes on a day-to-day basis, and now he's growing as a football player." HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY ON CONEY