Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/954261
8 APRIL 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Nate Norman was introduced as the fifth head coach of the Notre Dame women's soccer pro‑ gram Feb. 20. He spent 2017 as an assistant to former Irish head coach Theresa Romagnolo — who resigned following this past season — after serving the previous five years as the head coach of Western Michigan and Liberty and re‑ cording a combined 58‑35‑14 mark while appearing in three NCAA Championships. Before his time as a coach, Norman played for legend‑ ary Notre Dame men's soc‑ cer coach Bobby Clark from 2003‑06 and was selected No. 21 overall in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. BGI: What was the decision‑ making process like when you were interviewing and offered the position? Norman: "It was probably the easiest decision of my life. Obviously, Notre Dame is a special place after having gone here and experiencing this place and what it has done for me. … It took me about half a second to make that decision." BGI: What experiences as a player and assistant at Notre Dame are you drawing from to help you now? Norman: "Ultimately, it will be understand‑ ing the school and the wonderful things about the school I experienced. Un‑ derstanding the expectations when a student‑athlete comes into the mix here not just from an academic and athletic standpoint, but also the ser‑ vice side and what the school values. "… It's a hard place that puts you through a lot of challenges and demands excellence in a lot of areas." BGI: How would you de‑ scribe your team's style of play? Norman: "There are a couple of identities that I try to create within the team. I want us to be a team that gets after other teams. From a defensive stand‑ point, that means we're looking to press other teams and make them uncomfortable. "We also want to be a team when we have it we have players who attack." BGI: What did you learn while at Western Mich‑ igan and Liberty as a head coach that you feel will benefit you in South Bend? Norman: "One is that every team is a little bit different. You can't take a template that worked on one team and place it blindly on a different team at a different school and expect the same results. "… Western Michigan and Liberty are very dif‑ ferent schools, and Notre Dame is very differ‑ ent than those two. … I have my principles and philosophies I want our culture to be like, but the process to get it there may not be the same depending on the group." BGI: What do you hope to bring to the program to help keep it going in the right direction? Norman: "Theresa did a very nice job. I think there are some philosophies that we share. It's taking part of what she did and building upon it. I've always believed that every team needs to have an identity on and off the field. "If you spoke to one of my players what are they great at, they should be able to say one or two things about what we hang our hats on in the tough moments. … For me, it's about cre‑ ating a more structured, definable and unique identity they have and go to during those tough moments." — Corey Bodden Five Questions With … WOMEN'S SOCCER COACH NATE NORMAN Look For Alohi Gilman To Start Emerging At Safety By Lou Somogyi With virtually the entire two‑deep returning on defense, my first inclination was to select someone on offense. Will tight end Alizé Mack finally fulfill his potential? Is the time ripe for receiver Javon McKinley to seize his opportu‑ nity? Can running back Tony Jones Jr. become the workhorse in the backfield? Upon further review, my "safe" pick is safety Alohi Gilman. Over the past four years, no single position at Notre Dame has undergone more upheaval or endured more setbacks than safety. Last year the play elevated to maybe average on an appreciably improved defense, yet for the first time since the move to two‑platoon football in 1964, an Irish safety didn't record an interception (and combined for only five passes broken up in 13 games). Enter Gilman, the transfer from Navy who was denied NCAA eligibility last year. Gilman starred for the Midshipmen as a freshman in 2016, highlighted by a career‑high 12 tackles in a 28‑27 win versus Notre Dame, and he was the Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 for the Irish while also organizing all morning workouts for scout team members. He combines military‑like discipline with burgeoning football skills, which is why he opted to transfer to Notre Dame and is a cultural fit. If Gilman's coverage and instincts can match his downhill play, he might get on the field sooner than later. Head coach Brian Kelly even proclaimed Gilman would have started last year. Now is the time to prove him correct. Michael Young Prepared To Be A Playmaker At Receiver By Bryan Driskell Junior running back Tony Jones Jr. emerged last spring and he could be the breakout player in the fall for Notre Dame. But the spring surprise this year will be sophomore wide receiver Michael Young. Do not let his size (5‑10, 192 pounds) fool you, Young is a physical football player that has excep‑ tional foot quickness and enough speed to be a home run hitter for the Irish offense. He is an ad‑ vanced route runner for his age, and he has always been noted as a top‑level pass catcher. Losing Equanimeous St. Brown and Kevin Stepher‑ son at wide receiver has created a void outside, and keeping Young from grabbing one of those spots will be difficult for his position mates. Young brings a skill set the position group lacked in 2017. In fact, his ability to turn screens and quick throws into big plays is something Notre Dame hasn't had since Will Fuller was making those types of catch and runs in 2014. Notre Dame's run‑pass option (RPO) offense was abysmal in 2017, failing to generate production on the outside. With the RPO game failing to get traction, opponents began to focus more and more on loading up the box and crashing the backside of the line, which contributed to Notre Dame's November struggles. Young's athleticism, toughness and talent with the ball in his hands is ex‑ actly what Notre Dame needs outside to get the RPO game on track, which will take pressure off the quarterback and run game. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHO WILL BE NOTRE DAME'S BREAKOUT PLAYER THIS SPRING? ALOHI GILMAN MICHAEL YOUNG Norman takes over the Irish pro- gram in 2018 after serving as an assistant last season. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS