WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.040 --> 00:00:07.200 It's time for coffee and company, fueled by Thornton's on 2 00:00:07.320 --> 00:00:17.559 Sports Talk seven nine day. Now here's Nick Coffee. 3 00:00:19.239 --> 00:00:21.399 As we get closer to Saturn to Saturday, I'm starting 4 00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:23.600 to get a little a little more jealous of those 5 00:00:23.640 --> 00:00:25.719 that are making the trip. There was no way I'd 6 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:28.239 be able to make it happen, and you know, that's life. 7 00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:31.000 You know, sometimes that's just going to be the case. 8 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:33.560 But I get the sense there's gonna be a decent 9 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.280 amount of red up there. I mean, I don't know 10 00:00:36.280 --> 00:00:38.679 if we'll see what we saw back in twenty fourteen, 11 00:00:38.759 --> 00:00:41.600 because that was insane when Louisville went up there in 12 00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:44.399 their first year in the ACC Reggie Bonafin at quarterback. 13 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:47.759 I mean, I'm sure there's been other fans that traveled 14 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:50.079 and really, you know, made their mark. I mean, obviously 15 00:00:50.119 --> 00:00:51.960 you're never going to get a home field advantage at 16 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:56.439 South Bend, but it was honestly something that I look 17 00:00:56.520 --> 00:00:58.200 back on when you when you look at highlights of 18 00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:00.640 those games and whatnot, or that game, I should say, 19 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:02.560 like you can just tell at any point when they're 20 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:05.359 showing a highlight that like there's there's a there's a 21 00:01:05.400 --> 00:01:07.680 small sea of red and of course the Louisville section, 22 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:10.319 but then they're sprinkled in there, and it was a 23 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:12.359 big moment for the program not to gas up Notre Dame. 24 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:14.840 But you know, there was a while where Louisville, you know, 25 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:17.599 just playing teams like that. It wasn't It was a 26 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:20.159 real rarity. And you know now that's not the case 27 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:23.000 because things have certainly changed. All right, is Coffee and 28 00:01:23.079 --> 00:01:25.799 Company hour number two here on a Thursday afternoon. We 29 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:28.159 are fueled by Thornton's. Make sure you sign up to 30 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:30.840 become a member of the Refreshing Awards program. You'll save 31 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:32.760 money at the gas pump and you could take advantage 32 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:35.879 of the Frequency Club. For those who know what that is. 33 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:38.959 There's certain items that are a part of the Frequency 34 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:42.000 Club and you purchase them frequently when you get to 35 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:45.719 a certain number, and it varies depending upon you know 36 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:49.239 the actual you know the actual product. But you get 37 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:51.840 one free and there's nothing, there's nothing better, even if 38 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:54.480 it's not an item that costs a lot of money. 39 00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:56.879 But you're you're up there, You're you're doing the self 40 00:01:56.959 --> 00:01:59.359 checkout because Thornton's, of course, is so convenient. They've got 41 00:01:59.400 --> 00:02:01.680 it to where you can walk up, scan couple of items, 42 00:02:01.719 --> 00:02:03.560 wipe your card. You can literally get in and out 43 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:07.840 of there, maybe not Rick Patino style in ten seconds, 44 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:10.520 but you know, less than a minute. Maybe if you're 45 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:13.120 really cooking and there's no line, but you put your 46 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:16.159 number in your phone number that's associated with the Refreshing Awards, 47 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:18.280 and you just see that they took off the cost 48 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:20.039 of one of those items because it's part of the 49 00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:23.280 Frequency Club. So we are feel about Thornton's I know 50 00:02:23.319 --> 00:02:25.039 you knew that, but I like saying it, and I'm 51 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:27.520 supposed to say it, But I mean, if they let me, 52 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:29.680 I'd say it for the next two hours. But we 53 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:32.199 can't do that. We got to talk football. And joining 54 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:35.479 us now to talk some football is Tyler Horker, who 55 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:38.599 joins us not necessarily from behind enemy lines, but he's 56 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:40.800 joining us from the Notre Dame side of things Blue 57 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:43.199 Andgold dot Com. I guess I'll start with this. Can 58 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:45.159 you set the scene for us from the Notre Dame 59 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:48.240 side of this? I mean, obviously Louisville. These two teams 60 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:50.680 have played each other in recent years. Notre Dame came 61 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:53.439 here last year. But what's the vibe from Notre Dame fans. 62 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:55.479 Are they feeling confident about this one? Obviously with that 63 00:02:55.479 --> 00:02:57.719 lost a couple of weeks ago. Every game from here 64 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:01.039 on it is super critical for the Irish. 65 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:04.599 Yeah, I'd say it's anything but confident, anything but comfortable. 66 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:07.840 That lost in Northern Illinois is still sticking with this 67 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:10.439 fan base, and quite frankly, the way that Notre Dame 68 00:03:10.520 --> 00:03:12.919 played last week is kind of sitting with this fan 69 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:15.960 base as well. Almost covered a twenty seven and a 70 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:19.080 half point spread, which is always something admirable, but the 71 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:22.719 way the Irish went about it wasn't convincing for this 72 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:25.159 fan base. I would say, and you know, they're only 73 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:27.319 up fourteen to three and a half. They're actually losing 74 00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:30.159 this game. I believe it was three to zero with 75 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:33.360 around six minutes to go until halftime, and then Riley 76 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:35.800 Leonard does Riley Leonard things and runs into the end 77 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:39.759 zone and then not so Riley Leonard things and throws 78 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:42.560 a touchdown pass a couple of minutes before halftime, his 79 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:45.520 first one of the year. In what was that his 80 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:50.199 I don't know, twelfth thirteenth, fourteenth quarter of football this season. 81 00:03:50.360 --> 00:03:54.080 So it's been a struggle for the offensive side of 82 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:56.520 the ball, for sure, but it's been pretty good for 83 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:58.479 the defensive side of the ball. But that was the 84 00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:01.280 case last year, guy is when Notre Dame went down 85 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:04.120 to Louisville, and obviously Louisville kind of had its way, 86 00:04:04.199 --> 00:04:06.879 especially on the ground, with a very good Notre Dame defense. 87 00:04:06.919 --> 00:04:12.000 So it's a scary proposition because of the opponent. It's 88 00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:15.719 one that this fan base obviously fears for very recent reasons. 89 00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:19.120 And then it's a scary proposition because Notre Dame really 90 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:22.160 hasn't looked like a world beater by any means, except 91 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:24.319 for that game against Perdue. But I think there's going 92 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:25.480 to be a lot of teams that look like a 93 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:28.439 world beater against Purdue this season. So it's a tough week, 94 00:04:28.759 --> 00:04:30.279 tough game for the fighting Irish. 95 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:32.879 So with Riley Leonard, you know, anybody in the ACC 96 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:34.839 should be familiar with him because of his time at 97 00:04:34.920 --> 00:04:37.199 Duke and he's had success, But what do you think 98 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:39.279 has been the biggest factor in why he's yet to 99 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:41.480 really get it going with his arm? I mean, obviously 100 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:43.519 he's shown his ability to take off and make plays, 101 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:46.040 but it just doesn't seem as if Notre Dame fans 102 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:48.519 and maybe even Marcus Freeman feel as if he's been 103 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:50.480 exactly what they thought they were getting at this point. 104 00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:52.040 A lot of football to be played, but it certainly 105 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:54.120 seems as if, you know, as you mentioned, the office 106 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:55.439 just really hasn't gotten going. 107 00:04:56.920 --> 00:05:01.439 Yeah, it's puzzling. I think last season injuries definitely have 108 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:03.199 a lot to do with it. And I mean he 109 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:05.959 was injured when he arrived at Notre Dame. And I 110 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:09.279 guess Duke once he said he's not playing anymore last 111 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:11.920 season and he was within his right. I mean, he 112 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:13.839 was so banged up, like you said, your listeners know 113 00:05:13.959 --> 00:05:18.120 that from being in the ACC. I guess he didn't 114 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:21.079 get the surgery that he needed at that time. And 115 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:23.639 then he shows up at Notre Dame and tries to 116 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:27.240 go through springball, and within a week Notre Dame realizes, 117 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:29.800 oh man, your ankle is still a little wonky. We 118 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:31.720 probably need to work on me. So he's had a 119 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:35.120 couple of surgeries since he arrived at Notre Dame. He's 120 00:05:35.160 --> 00:05:38.600 been good since the summer though, he's been healthy. He 121 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:41.040 looked healthy in fall camp. We got to see a 122 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:45.319 handful of practices, and you know, the body, the physical 123 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:47.319 part of it was not the issue. It's been the 124 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:50.759 mechanics some of his passes. He's not really stepping into him. 125 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:53.160 He's trying to whip things kind of, you know, trying 126 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:55.519 to do everything with his arm. But he used to 127 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:58.240 know as well as anyone that a lot of this 128 00:05:58.439 --> 00:06:01.160 is done through the legs. That's just not running the football. 129 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:03.199 That's throwing the football as well. You've got to throw 130 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:05.120 the football from the ground up. He's not doing that 131 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:07.720 right now. And it's funny. You go back to twenty 132 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:11.040 twenty two, and let's stay on the theme of y'all's 133 00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:14.800 listeners knowing Riley Leonard. He was a great quarterback that season. 134 00:06:14.920 --> 00:06:17.560 I put up his stats in that year up against 135 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:19.800 Caleb Williams. That's the same year that Caleb Williams won 136 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:22.600 the Heisman. Bradley Leonard was actually a better deep ball 137 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:26.800 passer in terms of accuracy, touchdowns, you know, you name it, 138 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:31.519 statistics wise, twenty plus yards downfield. Bradley Leonard was better 139 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:33.519 than Caleb Williams that year. So he has it in 140 00:06:33.639 --> 00:06:35.800 him and we saw it last week with the thirty 141 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:37.839 eight yard touchdown pass to Bill Collins, who has been 142 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:40.560 the team's best wide receiver. He can make those throws. 143 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:42.639 He's got a trust that he can make those throws. 144 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:44.079 And I think that has to do with the injury. 145 00:06:44.279 --> 00:06:46.480 That has to do with being in a new place, 146 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:49.879 new offensive coordinator, new surroundings, do everything, and you know, 147 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:52.560 sometimes that takes time to adjust. That's the irony in 148 00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:55.160 this transfer portal era, especially if you only have one 149 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:58.319 year of eligibility left, like rydleany Leondard did. You want 150 00:06:58.319 --> 00:06:59.879 to go somewhere and you want to make that year 151 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:03.639 your best year in college football. It just hasn't happened 152 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:05.759 in the first month for Riley Leonard. Not to say 153 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:08.439 that it can't. Maybe Louisville is the start of that, 154 00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:11.480 but it just hasn't happened yet. And you feel for 155 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:13.480 him because he's a great kid and you kind of 156 00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:14.399 want to see him succeed. 157 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:17.199 Tyler Horker notre Ame beat Writers our guest joining us 158 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:19.000 here on Sports Talk seven ninety getting ready for the 159 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:21.439 match up here with the cards in the Irish. I 160 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:24.399 would say Jeff Brohm has all but said that the 161 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:26.600 game plan for them is going to be, you know, 162 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:28.639 trying to trying to get Notre Dame off the field 163 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:30.879 on offense and slow that run game down. They are 164 00:07:30.920 --> 00:07:33.720 top twenty right now currently nationally and rushing yards per game. 165 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:36.959 Easier said than done, obviously, And make and make Robby 166 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:38.680 Leonard beat you with his arm, and that's something they'd 167 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:41.519 probably feel like right now would be their best case scenario. 168 00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:43.639 Dare him to make plays with his arm and force 169 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:45.160 him to do that. But what would you say on 170 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:47.600 the Notre Dame side. Louisville they had such a weird 171 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:50.120 start of the season with two Nobody opponents in the 172 00:07:50.120 --> 00:07:52.160 first couple of games. They took care of business in 173 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:55.000 those and then at Georgia Tech game where they covered however, 174 00:07:55.399 --> 00:07:57.759 you know it was it took a special team's touchdown, 175 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:00.240 a defensive touchdown, and a game then honestly, with with 176 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:01.759 you know, quarter or left, it looked like it could 177 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:03.800 go either way. The Cards end up holding on to 178 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:06.199 win by twelve. What would you say, you know you've 179 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:08.480 been able to see from the From the Louisville side, 180 00:08:08.519 --> 00:08:10.439 that would be you know, something you could exploit if 181 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:13.920 you if you're Marcus Freeman, yeah, stop to run. 182 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:17.720 I know Dreard Jordan went crazy against Notre Dame last year, 183 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:20.480 and you know it's a new running back contingent back 184 00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:21.959 there for Notre Dame. So they're gonna have to really 185 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:23.800 study those guys all week, and that's what they have 186 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:27.319 been doing. But they're a little embarrassed, quite frankly, by 187 00:08:27.319 --> 00:08:29.240 the way that that game went last year, because you 188 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:31.439 remember thirty three to twenty, and I think it was 189 00:08:31.480 --> 00:08:32.360 even thirty. 190 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:34.480 Three to you know, Yeah, there was a late score 191 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:36.600 that made it look a little more a little closer. 192 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:40.480 I remember that, yeah, But I mean when it was 193 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:43.120 tied up or you know, a one score game, whatever 194 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:45.720 it was, both teams felt like they could win. It 195 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:48.879 was Louisville who kind of went on the assertive, went 196 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:51.840 on the offensive on the ground, which which you know, 197 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:55.440 I think really sticks with al Golden defensive coordinator at 198 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:57.240 Notre Dame, sticks with a lot of these guys who 199 00:08:57.240 --> 00:08:59.679 have returned. I mean, you guys watched that game last year. 200 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:02.279 Going to you're going to recognize a lot of the 201 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:04.960 same names back for Notre Dame. And you're talking about 202 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:08.519 all American caliber guys who really haven't some of them 203 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:10.960 have not played all American football this season. So what 204 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:13.720 better opportunity to do that than against a team that 205 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:15.879 beat you last season. So I think number one has 206 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:18.320 stopped to run for Notre Dame, and then number two 207 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:20.519 is winning to turnover battle. I mean, Sam Hartman turned 208 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:23.440 the ball over five times last year and it was 209 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:27.000 just detrimental in every way. I guarantee you they're telling 210 00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:29.480 Riley Leonard, Hey, this is what happened against these guys 211 00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:31.759 last year. You know, Sam Hartman just couldn't take care 212 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:33.200 of the football. We need you to take care of 213 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:36.000 the football. And that goes for everybody. Jeremiah loved Jadarion Price, 214 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:38.440 the two running backs who have Notre Dame in the 215 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:41.080 top twenty. Like you said, it's a great rushing attack, 216 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:42.879 but what does it mean if you're putting the ball 217 00:09:42.919 --> 00:09:44.879 on the ground and losing it. What does it mean 218 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:46.600 for Rdy Leonard if you're trying to get better for 219 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:48.840 the air and really trying to make those strides that 220 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:50.840 we were just talking about. If you're going to turn 221 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:53.120 the ball over through the air, have an interception in 222 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:55.960 the offense comes off the field. So yeah, it's kind 223 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:59.000 of that's what's cool about this game. It's similar game 224 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:01.759 plans both ways. Both teams think they can win the 225 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:03.639 same way. So you're going to kind of see strength 226 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:06.279 on strength, and I think that's what makes this matchup 227 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:08.360 so good. What more would you expect right from the 228 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:10.679 fifteenth and fifteenth ranked teams in the country. I think 229 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:13.759 you're going to see a pretty even balanced football game. 230 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:16.360 Yeah, no doubt. The biggest matchup on the slate this 231 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:19.639 weekend for college football is the big one Georgia and Alabama. 232 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:21.000 But outside of that, I mean, this will be a 233 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:23.279 game that a lot of folks are focusing on, as 234 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:25.519 you got as you mentioned number sixteen and number fifteen 235 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:27.679 in a game that really is huge for Antor. I mean 236 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:29.360 it's huge forever. It's hue for both sides. But obviously, 237 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:31.679 with Notre Dame having that lost in Northern Illinois, a 238 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:34.159 loss here would all but eliminate them from the conversation, 239 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:37.320 seemingly from the college football playoff and not to bring 240 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:40.360 up a devastating loss for the Irish, but how did 241 00:10:40.360 --> 00:10:42.679 it happen? I mean it was. It's the biggest upset 242 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:44.600 of the season, and seeing how Northern Illinois hasn't really 243 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:46.559 been able to I mean they lost last week to Buffalo, 244 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:49.360 which was a real surprise, So I mean I watched 245 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:50.679 the end of it. You know, because a lot of 246 00:10:50.679 --> 00:10:52.720 people probably tuned in to see is this about to happen? 247 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:54.759 This would be a monster upset. But what was the 248 00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:58.720 formula that Northern Illinois used that gave them put them 249 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:00.159 in a position to where they could pull off that 250 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:01.840 kind of an upset because it certainly not as if 251 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:03.159 they had a talent advantage. 252 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:07.000 Yeah, it shouldn't have been that close in the second 253 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:09.759 half probably, so it was a slow start for Notre Dame. 254 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:13.120 Northern Illinois obviously realized that it could stay in that 255 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:16.360 football game. I wouldn't say it was totally a slow 256 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:18.039 start for Notre Dame, though they went down and scored 257 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:20.360 on their first position. Rylan Leonard had a lot to 258 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:22.840 do with that. With his legs, I mean, quarterback power, 259 00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:26.559 quarterback draws, counters, everything. Rydley Leonard was keeping the ball 260 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:28.240 on the ground. He's the one that ends up scoring 261 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:32.840 the game's opening touchdowns. But after that, MIU got kind 262 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:35.960 of a fluky eighty three yard touchdown pass to tie 263 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:38.480 the game. Thomas Hammock, the head coach, even said, Okay, 264 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:40.679 that was when we realized if we could just stop 265 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:43.159 them the next time with NIU did we're going to 266 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:46.440 be in this thing and in the second half, so 267 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:48.919 Ridley Leonard was dealing with a an injury to his 268 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:51.919 non throwing shoulder labor injury. Still dealing with it. Now, 269 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:54.879 that's something that doesn't heal. Either play through it or 270 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:56.480 you don't. He's chosen to play through it, and he's 271 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:58.559 played really well. But what he didn't do in the 272 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:02.200 second half that game, play calling and scrambling wise, was 273 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:05.200 run the football. He didn't have one single rusting attempt 274 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:07.799 in the second half. Guys, this is a quarterback who 275 00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:12.320 ranked top five among all FBS quarterbacks and total yards 276 00:12:12.440 --> 00:12:14.120 yards per carry. I think he would be close to 277 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:18.440 top five in the FBS if sacks weren't factored into 278 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:20.919 his rushing toal I mean, he's averaging seven yards per 279 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:24.000 carry with sacks. I think it's over eight and a 280 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:26.600 half without the sacks. He's one of the best runners 281 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:28.639 in college football. He didn't run the ball once in 282 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:31.120 the second half of that game. A guy who had 283 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:33.559 one hundred yards and one half against Purdue, a guy 284 00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:35.480 who had one hundred and forty three yards on the 285 00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:38.279 ground last week against Miami Ohio. That is the best 286 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:40.480 part of this Notre Dame offense. Right now, especially because 287 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:43.559 he's struggling throwing the ball is when Riley Leonard keeps 288 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:46.039 it and runs it. He didn't do that against Northern 289 00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:48.960 Illinois and it cost the Irish. They weren't able to 290 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:51.120 put it up points on the board. They only needed 291 00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:54.840 seventeen to win that game sixteen to fourteen final, but 292 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:57.720 because he was not running in the second half, things 293 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:01.039 went south for the Irish offense. And you know, that's 294 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:02.399 that's the recipe for an upset. 295 00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:04.320 Notre Dame is a program that is always going to 296 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:07.879 have very very high standards for good reason. Uh, Marcus Freeman, 297 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:09.480 if you were to check the pulse of the fan 298 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:11.480 base as of right now, how do you think they 299 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:14.039 feel about him as the head coach. I don't want 300 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:15.639 to indicate that he could be on the hot seat 301 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:17.200 or anything like that. There's a lot of football to 302 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:19.080 be played this year, but you know, Notre Dame you 303 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:20.279 don't need to just be good, You need to be 304 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:21.879 really good. You need to be you need to be elite, 305 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:24.480 and they're certainly not that right now. And I'm just 306 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:27.080 curious if there's if there's much noise from fans maybe 307 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:28.960 just questioning do you think this guy could could could 308 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:30.480 stick it out long term and be one of the 309 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:32.200 other great coaches that have coached here. 310 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:36.840 Yeah, there's a ton of fans that have him on 311 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:39.679 the hot seat. Really, you didn't say the words I 312 00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:42.440 would say it's the fans. It's the fans though. 313 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:44.799 As fans do. Yeah. 314 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:47.840 Yeah, the administration maybe has him on the warm seat. 315 00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:50.440 I mean they're looking at things like and you two 316 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:54.399 years ago, Marshall Stanford, and just the overall record as well. 317 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:57.360 I think it's twenty two and nine through thirty one games. 318 00:13:58.039 --> 00:14:02.720 He's got nine losses in his first two seasons and change. 319 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:06.000 Brian Kelly and his last five seasons on the way 320 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:09.480 out to LSU had nine losses. So you're talking about 321 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:11.960 it only took half the time for Marcus Freeman to 322 00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:14.759 accumulate as many losses as Brian Kelly had in his 323 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:15.879 last five years. 324 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:17.720 Wow, that's pretty telling. 325 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:21.480 It's very telling. And I put that on social media 326 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:23.600 and people came after me saying, we'll give the guy 327 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:26.200 some credit. He's thirty eight, you know, he's learning how 328 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:27.759 to do this. And I said, no, no, no, I'm not 329 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:30.240 trying to make this about Marcus Freeman versus Brian Kelly, 330 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:32.559 I'm trying to make this about where Notre Dame is 331 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:36.000 with Marcus Freeman versus where it just was with Brian Kelly. 332 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:39.799 And you made the point in prefacing the question, this 333 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:43.240 is not a truly elite program right now. It's not 334 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:46.679 a top five program. It's a top fifteen to twenty program. 335 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:49.399 And that's appropriately what they are ranked right now in 336 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:51.960 the coaches poll, the AP pole. But that's not where 337 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:54.679 Notre Dame wants to be. And to your point about 338 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:56.600 maybe losing this game and getting knocked out of the 339 00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:01.000 college football playerff, nobody who bleeds bloom goal wanted Notre 340 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:03.559 Dame to be out of a twelve teen college football 341 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:06.679 playoff race before October even hit. I mean, we're not 342 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:09.759 even eating Candy Corner carbon pumpkins yet and Notre Dame 343 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:11.519 is gonna be out of the college football playoff race. 344 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:14.120 That's not a good look on Marcus Freeman. So this 345 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:17.120 is one of his biggest games of his venuine. I mean, 346 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:19.039 I get it, the Irish have to win every game 347 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:21.039 from here on out, probably to get into the playoffs. 348 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:24.200 But again, it's that proposition of already being out that's 349 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:27.200 kind of scary and to your larger point about the fans, 350 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:29.000 that's what they're worried about. They don't want to go 351 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:30.879 into this by week at three and two. They be 352 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:32.320 feeling a lot better if it was four and one. 353 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:34.279 Obviously they'd be feeling a lot better if it was 354 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:37.080 five to zero. But it's kind of a constant worry. 355 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:39.559 That's the way I would describe the Marcus Freeman eras 356 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:42.159 so far as you got all these great things, the recruiting, 357 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:44.480 he's a stand up guy. The way he coaches these 358 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:48.279 guys is so admirable, but there's always this constant worry 359 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:50.879 that maybe they're gonna slip up the NIU, maybe they're 360 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:53.240 gonna lose to an acc team like Louisville that Brian 361 00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:56.440 Kelly wouldn't have lost to for so long. So it's 362 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:59.639 it's not quite pins and needles, but it's getting to 363 00:15:59.679 --> 00:15:59.960 that point. 364 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:04.039 Last question for you. I saw that they have decided 365 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:07.039 to wear the green uniforms. How rare is this? I mean, 366 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:10.360 you know, uniform social media stuff has become a big 367 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:12.759 deal with college football fans, and I know each team 368 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:15.000 does a really good job of putting out the UNI 369 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:18.759 thread pictures and whatnot, and you know, fans love that 370 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:20.519 kind of stuff, But is that I mean, I've seen 371 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:22.200 them wear green before, but I do feel like it's 372 00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:24.320 pretty rare and given the attention that it's got, I mean, 373 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:26.519 is this like a once a season, once every few 374 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:27.440 seasons kind of thing. 375 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:31.360 Yeah. Yeah, so it's a once a season thing in 376 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:33.759 the Freeman era. And Freeman's only been here for three years. 377 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:36.600 So he kind of got on social media a couple 378 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:39.080 of years ago and said, we're bringing back irishwear green, 379 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:41.440 and that means the players wear green too, because Notre 380 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:44.320 name has always had an Irish wear green game for 381 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:46.600 I think going back to you know, Dan Devine, heear 382 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:48.960 so we're talking nineteen seventies and they wore the green 383 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:51.600 jerseys more back then. But it was a thing for 384 00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:54.679 the fans to show up in green, which is not always. 385 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:57.360 You know, you'll see Notre Dame Stadium for the Miami 386 00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:59.120 Ohio game, for instance, you see a lot of blue 387 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.919 and gold in the stand. This week, you're gonna see 388 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:03.240 all green. It's a green out. But that didn't mean 389 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:05.960 that the players were gonna wear green. That announcement came 390 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:09.039 out today and so yeah, in the Freeman are this 391 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:11.200 would be the third time, so once per year. The 392 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:13.880 Brian Kelly era that was a dozen years, they only 393 00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:16.319 wore green jersey six times, So it was very much 394 00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:18.559 pick and choose, like every other year type of thing 395 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:20.839 for Brian Kelly. A lot of times it was the 396 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:23.920 Shamrock series game which Notre Dame goes out and plays 397 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:26.359 at you know, an NFL venue or her historic and 398 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:29.400 you they're playing Army in Yankee Stadium this year and 399 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:33.599 they're wearing some blue gray jerseys to kind of go 400 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:37.039 back to the four Horsemen to allude to that story. 401 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:43.039