Quick-hitters: Marcus Freeman on preparing for a cold-weather game, Jarrett Patterson, Tyler Buchner recovery
Notre Dame will be without a starting safety for the second straight game. Senior Brandon Joseph will miss Saturday vs. Boston College (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC) due to an ankle sprain, head coach Marcus Freeman said Thursday.
The Irish will get their leading tackler back, though. Senior linebacker JD Bertrand is “100 percent a go” after missing last week’s win over Navy with a groin injury. Fellow senior linebacker Jack Kiser is probable to play after exiting the Navy game with an ankle sprain.
Freeman discussed injuries and several other topics in his Thursday Zoom media session. Here are some highlights.
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On preparing for playing in cold weather
“The first thing I told them Tuesday is we’re practicing outside. Prepare your mind for it. We’re going outside. We practiced all day Tuesday outside. [Wednesday] was going to be too wet. I wanted to stay outside all week, but yesterday because of the snow, I wanted to get good work.
“On third down day and the things we had to work on yesterday, we decided to go inside. [Thursday] we’ll be back outside. It’s just understanding that we’re going to practice outside and we’re going to play outside. Dress warm and go play. If you dress appropriately, it won’t be an issue. If you try to be a tough guy, there’s no such thing as cold tough guys. You better be a warm tough guy. Make sure you dress appropriately to go practice and go play.”
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On grad student guard Jarrett Patterson’s legacy
“J-Patt, the best way to describe him is the ultimate iron man. Just a guy who has battled injuries, multiple injuries, even before I got here. He has continued to sacrifice his body, continued to work and plays the game at such a high level.
“To this day he’s not 100 percent. He has been injured all season. He just goes out there, he practices and he plays. He could easily be the guy who says, ‘You know, I’m not going to play, I’m going to wait until the NFL and save my body.’ He doesn’t. He sacrifices his body for this university and this football program. I’m forever indebted to Jarrett Patterson. He’s a great captain, a great leader for our program.
“The frustration he showed after Marshall is expected of any competitor who loses a game you don’t think you should lose. He’s a great leader. He was emotional after a tough loss. He’s also a guy who can raise the play of others and raise the mentality of others. That’s important. That’s what leaders do. Leaders make other people better.”
On grad student defensive tackle Jayson Ademilola
“He’s a lot of fun to coach. He’s so energetic. It’s unique having a set of twins on your team. He plays at a high level. He enjoys practicing, which is something not everyone does. He’s a joy to coach and a really good football player, very productive for us.”
On his first senior class as Notre Dame head coach
“This group has truly laid the foundation for where I see this football program going forward. It hasn’t been just a smooth road. It has been a bumpy one and had some ups and downs. They have helped us really understand how to get through those tough times. The culture of this program is truly defined during some of the toughest times. What this group has done is taken this team and propelled us forward. We’ve gotten better through some of those bumps in the road.
“Without the leadership they provided, without the example they set, we wouldn’t have been able to truly improve though those ups and downs. They have done such a great job through changes in leadership, though wins and losses, being able to keep the mindset of this program and these players where it needs to be, and that’s constant improvement.
“When your leaders are coming in every day trying to improve and get better, there’s no other option for those young guys. Sometimes, they see better than they hear. The greatest example they see is our leaders and seniors.”
On quarterback Tyler Buchner’s recovery from September shoulder surgery
“He’s practicing, doing some individual stuff, not wearing pads, participating in parts of practice. Then other parts of practice, he’s doing some rehab.”
On defensive tackle Aidan Keanaaina’s progress from a March ACL tear
“Aidan has been doing scout team. He’s back and really been doing a good job on scout team. Do I think he’s 100 percent? Probably not yet. But he has been helping us and giving us a great look on scout team and working his way back into playing shape. He’s a guy who I could see possibly trying to help us during the bowl game.”
