Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 101 "He led by example," said Belles, a member of the Notre Dame program from 1986‑89. "When he had to get vocal, he did. … We ended up losing that game after losing the week before, and I remember he called the team up after the coaches had talked and kind of rallied the troops. We ended up winning our next 12 games and winning a state champion‑ ship with him." "It was definitely a great way to finish my high school career," Luke added. "We did start off rough. A lot of people doubted us. But we faced adversity pretty well and we beat the team that beat us in the beginning of the season [in the state title game], so that was a great feeling." Notre Dame enters the 2016 season after losing six starters from a defense that as a whole struggled to match its individual parts last fall, which makes Luke a critical piece. He enters his third season as a starting cornerback, and there's a good chance his leadership will be called on for the Irish. "There's no question he will lead when it needs to be done," Belles said. "He's not one of those fake leaders, which is what I really ap‑ preciated about him. He was real and you knew everything that came out of his mouth was real and not just phony." Luke has quietly gone about his business the past three seasons and has been a consistent force against some of the top receivers in the nation. Because of his calm demeanor, his strong play was sometimes overshadowed by the boisterous personality of third‑round NFL Draft pick KeiVarae Russell. "I don't disagree," Belles said. "That's how he was in high school, too. One thing about Cole Luke, even from high school to college, he's stayed true to himself. He is who he is and he makes no apologies for it and I think it's a quality, if followed, teams would be better for it." While Russell is happy to provide an opin‑ ion on any topic, Luke is more guarded in what he offers — even when asked about the differences between himself and his former teammate. "People think me and Kei are polar oppo‑ sites, which is probably the case, but I'm curi‑ ous to see how he would answer that question to be honest," he said. "We're like anybody else on the team." Don't confuse the laid‑back personality with a lack of passion or fire. Luke is as competitive as anyone on the team. "He always strives to be the best he can be at whatever he's doing, whether it's basketball or weight lifting or covering this guy or playing some offense," Belles said. "It didn't matter. He was going to do it at a high ability and he was a perfectionist. He didn't like making mistakes on the field. "He's going on his third year of being a starter there, so I think that speaks volumes in itself. This should be his breakout year in terms of leadership and being the last year he'll be with the Fighting Irish. I expect great things from him this year. I think even more so than the last two years." *** Luke is the nephew of former Dallas Cow‑ boys Pro Bowl safety Darren Woodson, al‑ though he didn't choose to be a defensive back because of his uncle's prolific career. "When I was a kid, I played running back," Luke said. "I really loved that, getting the ball. Who doesn't? I don't really know when I switched. I couldn't really tell you. I think it just kind of happened out of nowhere, and I liked it. I remember [Woodson] would call me and ask me — because I played safety, too — how I like it. "It's just fun taking the ball from somebody, to be honest with you. Since then I stuck with it." Luke spent a good portion of his childhood at Texas Stadium watching his uncle. When it was time for him to choose a school, Woodson was an invaluable resource and even traveled with Luke on an official visit to Oklahoma. "That was really special, just to go through this process with him, because it was different for him when he was getting recruited back in the day," Luke said. "Him and my mom were very big pieces of my puzzle. "Back then, it was just different. Now you have so much that goes into it. I feel like back then it was just like, 'Hey, we want you. Come get a scholarship,' and that was it. It wasn't like, we're going to recruit you heavily, call A STEADY PRESENCE A leader by example, Cole Luke enters his third season as a starter at Notre Dame Luke has been a stable aspect of the Irish defense during his time in South Bend, starting each of the last 26 contests over the past two seasons. PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS BY ANDREW OWENS S teve Belles remembers it well. The Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton head coach and former Irish quarterback/flanker and his squad had just suffered a second consecutive loss to open the 2012 season. After the most recent defeat, which occurred in Dublin, Ireland, the same weekend Notre Dame beat Navy there to open its regular season, Cole Luke decided he had seen enough. Luke cast aside his soft‑spoken demeanor to deliver an important message to his teammates that Belles says helped transform a disappointing start into a season to remember.