You can't question passion....When you say name
BRIAN SMITH
For 4 seasons, and arguably some of the roughest stretch of road that Notre Dame had ever experienced, Brian Smith was one consistant bright image of determination!
It was that never quit....never back down...no team can intimidate us...attitude that
made him a fan favorite, and his image forever in the halls of Notre Dame History...
But it wasn't always easy...and even the strong have doubts...and regrets..
-When that call came with the ND offer...what was your reaction?
You know...it was crazy! I was in class and the counselor came down and got me and said that ND has requested transcripts... Thing was I went and called my dad and he said "Yeah, they called and offered this morning...I didn't want you too amped up for class!" He thought I'd be trippin all day... At first I was like...Hey!...They didn't want me before...But then I realized the opportunity not only for football but for life...
-Everybody could kinda see 07 coming...Ty had done nothing on the recruiting trail..(other than hit some nice golf courses!) What is the most painful memory of 07?
It had to be that Michigan game... We lost like 33-0 We got baptized by fire that day... I was running around like a mad man...just trying to make a play.. It was like we couldn't do anything right!...
Until then we didn't realize how young as a team we were... But that low was matched by it's complete opposite in the UCLA game...when our class got it's first win!.... That season was tough!...
-What do you feel the defense lacked durning the Weis years?
It was like a disconnect within the defense...We just never seemed like we were on the same page...I'd call adjustments and half the team would react...then we'd get gouged for 30 yard run... No contain!.. too many generals!...
-Last week's USC game had a different feel than last years....Why?
Last year nobody gave us a chance...Nobody believed in us..We just felt like we needed to go to SC and lay an ass whooping on them to make a point!.. That was an AWESOME feeling for our seniors...Just to know where we started....and were we ended!...
-Some comments from a Mr. Gilippo?...any response?
LOL...You know all I got to say is Robert Hughes was looking for a bitch when he got to SC...and when he left he found a bitch! He wasn't talking all that trash with Rob's cleat taste in his mouth!
-Coach Kelly....Your thoughts?
He's a good coach!... Some people don't know how to take him...he's set in his ways that's for sure. But it's because he knows how to win. He knows what it takes to build a team...to condition a team...and to win championships...He's not gonna change that now just cause he's at ND!...
It only took him addressing us 1 time for all of us to buy in!...
-Do you think ND will ever regain it's dominance of college football...and what needs to happen?
You can't fight sinners with saints!... I do feel ND will regain it's spot atop the BCS... But you have to start by looking at the big boy programs!... A kid that talks a little trash...that might come off as a "thug" doesn't mean he doesn't belong at ND!... Gotta get the playmakers!... I'll take a 3 star with a HUGE CHIP on his shoulder over a 5 start that thinks ND owes him! The SEC is full of a bunch of ROUGH NECKS!...(2 star and 3 stars at Bama all over the place) They play hard and with attitude!... ND needs that attitude!... They got some of those guy's now...but don't discourage that NASTINESS!...
-What progress jumps out to you since Kelly arrived?
First thing....Physical!... ND looks the part now!...I was at the Michigan game and I was like...DAMN! Those freshman are huge!.. They just look physically ready...cut up and strong!... They just need the belief now!... It's like the team now realizes...Hey..If we make a mistake...Let's address it and fix it!... Make adjustments!...
-Best ND game moment for you?
LOL...That's hard to say!...but one still stands out to me... Early in my career I had a play that it just seemed like things went in slow motion!... The funny thing is I did the exact opposite of what I was assigned to do!..(laughing) I looked back at Zibby and I was like...WHAT?.. He said shoot the b gap!... and before I knew it I was in the endzone!... It was when I realized to stop thinking and start reacting!
That felt amazing!
-If you could be in the locker room for this Saturday's game vs Navy...what would you say to the team?
You know who you are....You know what you can do...We have been our own worst enemy!..
That stops TODAY!... Believe in your coaches!....Believe in one another...Eliminate the mistakes!...
But more than anything....BRING THE NASTY!... You can respect Navy and who they are....
But not for these 4 quarters...Kick their ass!...
Some weeks I do a review of the upcoming game...
What they do right...what they do wrong... but this week is what it is...
A cross roads!... A question that can only be answered on the field and by the team..
Who are we?... Where do we go from here?...
And when we arrive....what will we look like?
And when we arrive....what will we look like?
That could be Saturday, the next week...next season?
But for tonight I want to thank a group that helped pave the way for Notre Dame...
Paved with tears and blood...and cheers and disappointment...
Here is to the class of 2010
The road wasn't always smooth!...But you battled every mile!
We had some great kids in that class...some that would be seniors right now...
But they were thrown into action and learned to be leaders!...
GO IRISH...BEAT NAVY!...
GOD BLESS!
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