Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football Pregame Quote, 12/28/2021

So many people labeled this as a rebuilding year for Notre Dame coming into the season. And despite being labeled a rebuilding year, you guys finished fifth in the country and are in a New Year’s Six bowl. What was the mindset like coming into this year? And what has made this team so successful this year?

We just knew that we had talent. This spring ball and summer workouts, just watching the guys work, we knew we had it in place. We just had to put everything together.

When you see that stuff out there that “this is a rebuilding year or we’re not going to be as good,” puts a chip on your shoulder. I think the guys really embraced that.

I was interested in how you feel like the offensive line, especially in pass pro, improved in the second half of the season, and sort of see this game as a test of that improvement, going back to Cincinnati and Wisconsin where things were a little bit more of a challenge for your group?

I mean, starting with me, if you watch game one against Florida State, we were not finishing as well. Our combo blocks on the second level were not as good.

If you turn to the Stanford film, you see everyone finishing their blocks, straining to finish. And Coach [Tommy] Rees talks about it’s contagious seeing that on film. We see a wide receiver finishing their block, the tight end finishing their block, and quarterbacks extending the fake ‚Äì that’s contagious for an offense. So we really took that energy and had a lot of momentum for us.

I know they don’t have 54 sacks out of disguise and deception. But what are some things Oklahoma State does that has really challenged offensive lines? What is your role and greatest challenge to try to identify that in all these passing situations?

Really just the variety of looks they provide. It’s three down, three-three, three-down joker, four-down. They do a lot. They can do all the looks.

So the biggest thing is our preparation, this week especially, has to be on point. We have to be ready for all of these third-down looks and really just win those obvious situations – third and short, third and long, red zone. All of those situations we have to win so we can help secure the Fiesta Bowl.

How has the offensive line dealt with the loss of Josh Lugg? I know that’s tough news for them with going into the Fiesta Bowl. And then how has Blake Fisher stepped up to the challenge in these last couple of weeks?

Yes, Josh is a great teammate on and off the field. Really could be considered a captain this year, just the leadership he’s done. He’s an outstanding player, and we are going to miss his presence on the field.

Blake will be ready. I think we saw it. You guys saw it during fall camp and Florida State. He will be good to go. And he’s dominating. The biggest thing I told Blake is, he’s got to communicate out there. It’s been a while since he’s played. But he’s been doing a great job in practice, his preparation; and he will be ready.

Just going off that a little bit, you are kind of the sack piece of that offensive line in this bowl game starting two freshman and another first-year starter, a transfer. How have you felt your role as a leader started? How has it developed throughout the season?

Like I said earlier, it starts with me. I have to finish my blocks. I have to set the tone out there so these other guys can see. So at the end of the day, you can say: What do you want to do that weekend? How are you going to finish the rest of the season? That’s got to show on film.

So for myself, I knew as one of the guys in the room and on the team, I have to start finishing better and setting the tone. It’s really been contagious for other guys, especially the younger guys like Joe [Alt] and Blake [Fisher]. Andrew [Yanoshak] in his first year, full time starting. So it’s going to be exciting to got out there and see the final product of the season.

I was interested in terms of how you guys have made grad transfers work for you, Cane [Berrong] and Jack [Polian] obviously you’ve had a good offense with them. What are the keys for the older, established guys who have been in the program to make the grad transfer work for the guy that’s coming in?

Yeah, I would say the biggest thing is our coaches do a great job of finding guys that fit in this program. Coach [Tommy] Rees and Coach [Jeff] Quinn, obviously they play a huge part in the team’s recruitment.

I know really for us, it feels like Cane’s been here for all five, six years, his whole career at Notre Dame. In reality, it’s only been six months. He’s been such a great teammate. He’s embraced the culture of the room and we have really taken him in.

I mean, the great thing our coaches did is just found a guy who is going to fit right into our culture at Notre Dame. It is not the easiest thing you always do.