Why this Notre Dame football offseason feels 'different' to Irish veterans
Notre Dame has one of its biggest season-openers in program history in two months. And yet, it’s hardly been talked about.
Notre Dame. Ohio State. The Horseshoe. Sept. 3 is rapidly approaching, but there is still time for the Fighting Irish to focus on the Fighting Irish. That’s when they’ve been doing all year and well into summer workouts.
Ohio State can wait.
“Coaches haven’t really spoken about that game specifically much which is good because they’re trying to emphasize this entire season doesn’t just hinge on beating Ohio State,” senior cornerback Cam Hart said on the Inside the Garage podcast. “If we win that game, we still have 11 more games to play and to win to get to our ultimate goal of winning a national championship.”
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Generally, one of the only things that gets student-athletes through the dog days of summer is the excitement of a season opener. Last year, it was the thought of playing at a historic venue like Bobby Bowden Field at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla., that powered Notre Dame through July. You’d think Ohio Stadium would provide even more motivation.
And it has. Hart admitted to the importance of that game. But to him, it wouldn’t matter who Notre Dame was playing in week one. The season could start against Marshall, the Irish’s week two foe, and he’d be just as exhilarated for it to arrive.
“I can feel a little more energy this offseason than I’ve felt in my other three years here,” Hart said.
Why? Fresh blood. In the locker room and on staff with new head coach Marcus Freeman and company.
“There are a lot of new guys who are going to have the opportunity to contribute unlike in past years when new guys come in and it’s like, OK, they’re going to have this year to adapt.’ No, Coach Freeman is emphasizing depth,” Hart said. “There are a lot of young guys on this team who are going to contribute this year right away. That adds to new energy and a new layer of leadership. All in all, it’s been a lot different than what I’ve been used to at Notre Dame. And it’s been fun.”
If anyone in the building has hyped up the season-opener, it’s been strength and conditioning coach Matt Balis. Inside the Garage cohost and walk-on wide receiver Conor Ratigan called Balis’ teachings “intentional” this summer. Everything is building toward Sept. 3.
Ratigan and his teammates glean the sense of importance of week one from Balis. From Freeman, they gather what it will take to get from week one to week 13. It’s only early July, but Notre Dame already has a feeling of totality about it. The Ohio State game is wildly important. But it won’t define the 2022 Fighting Irish.
They’ll write their own definition over time.
“Everyone knows this team is really talented and everyone knows this team is special,” Ratigan said.
