Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 35 per week, per NCAA rules, with football ac- tivities on the field or in meeting rooms. "The battle of coaching versus young player is not an easy process," VanGorder said. "A vision for them for what they can become as a player, coming from me they can't quite see that. "They've got their dreams and they've got their ideas of what they want out of this game of football, but … they don't necessarily see the things that they really need to really emphasize and make it their purpose each and every day right now. That's been the most interesting thing." The challenge is perhaps even greater at Notre Dame because the expectations are always going to be immense — even when the Fighting Irish have not won a major bowl since the 1993 season. "The youth of college football and the youth of these guys make it … it's quite challenging because it doesn't matter," VanGorder said. "We're at Notre Dame, so we put a guy out there and it says 'ND' on him, the expectation is that he's going to go out and win and succeed. "It's a fine line as we push and try to de- velop players, being realistic about kind of where they are. I think for me every year I get more into their development. I really see them as so young." Encouraging to VanGorder is the return of sophomore nickel Shaun Crawford and Tran- quill from ACL injuries. The loss of Craw- ford last August truncated the nickel package, and the absence of Tranquill after week three greatly diminished other aspects on the back end. The return of both allows for much more flexibility. "Because we're so multiple, we like to take players like [Tranquill] who are high-produc- tion players and do more with them — like we did with Sheldon, like we did with Jaylon at times," VanGorder said. "He gives us a lot of advantages. It gives us choices that maybe fit particular players a little bit better than some situations where, 'This is what we do, this is all we have, and you either fit it or you don't.' "We've got enough defenses where we can find the things we can do well and play within those capabilities and traits." With so many newcomers to the 2016 de- fense, it will be needed, otherwise the reac- tion might be "enough is enough." ✦ THE THIRD POWER Year three always has been powerful for a Notre Dame head coach to either establish himself or hasten his exit. Knute Rockne (1918), Frank Leahy (1943), Ara Parseghian (1966), Dan Devine (1977) and Lou Holtz (1988) finished unbeaten or won a national title, if not both, in their third seasons, which is why they have statues immortalizing them along Notre Dame Stadium. Seven other Notre Dame coaches faltered badly in their third seasons and, conse‑ quently, were ousted anywhere from years three through five. Current boss Brian Kelly matched Lou Holtz's 1988 standard of 12‑0 in year three (2012). The one remaining game that year resulted in a debacle versus Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game — but the best finish in 19 years at Notre Dame brought enough good will to where the now seventh‑year head coach likely is empow‑ ered to leave on his own terms. Year three is now also crucial to defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, who must replace six starters from a defense that was supposed to be a strength in 2015 but, in his own words was "inconsistent" and ended the season yielding 82 points in losses to Stanford (38‑36) and Ohio State (44‑28). Back in 2012, former Irish defensive coordinator Bob Diaco also was viewed with a leery and skeptical eye as he entered year three. His simple, bend‑but‑don't‑break scheme was loathed by many an Irish faithful during an 8‑5 finish in 2011, including yielding 28 points in the fourth quarter alone in the 35‑31 loss to Michigan, and col‑ lapsing late in the Russell Athletic Bowl defeat to Florida State. Entering year three in 2012, Diaco saw: • The transfer of his five‑star pass rusher, Aaron Lynch, a Freshman All‑American and highly prized game changer. • The graduation of star outside linebacker Darius Fleming, who would later win a Super Bowl ring at New England. • One starting safety, Harrison Smith, was selected in the first round that spring, and the other, Jamoris Slaughter, would be lost for the season early in game three with an injury. • The top three cornerbacks were all gone, and he had to turn to former wide receiver Bennett Jackson (zero career starts) and converted freshman running back KeiVarae Russell. Voila! During the 12‑0 regular season, Notre Dame was No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense with a 10.3 average, its best since 10.1 in 1980 in Devine's final season. The performance earned Diaco the Frank Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year award before becoming the head coach at Connecticut in 2014. Now in year three, VanGorder faces a similar challenge as Diaco in 2012, including the loss of his top lineman (Sheldon Day), linebacker (Jaylon Smith), cornerback (Russell) and safety (Elijah Shumate). Like Diaco, VanGorder also was a Broyles Award winner at Georgia in 2004 — which just happened to be year three for him there, too. Another crucial judgment year awaits. — Lou Somogyi Bob Diaco earned the Frank Broyles Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2012 after guiding a defense that yielded only 10.3 points per game during a 12‑0 regular season despite having to replace several key performers. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND "If you don't do well, you're going to hear those different things that come out. But within in our room, we know the truth, what we've got to do." VANGORDER