Notre Dame LS Michael Vinson Delivers on Saturday

College football has many great storylines each year and walk-ons making a name on the field has become more of a given than a rarity.

Notre Dame has a long and rich history of walk-ons contributing and long snapper Michael Vinson has added his name to the list. 

“Michael is a great example of WOPU Nation (Walk-On Players Union), the proud tradition of walk-on players here at Notre Dame," stated special teams coordinator Brian Polian. "I think through Coach (Brian) Kelly and my commitment, we are a results-based program.

"He was a walk-on player from outside Chicago, we scholarshiped Alex Peitsch, but we made it clear to both parties this is going to be a competition."

Vinson won the competition last fall and it was due to his hard work. 

"It feels great," explained Vinson. "I've tried to work really hard, be the best person I can and be the best teammate. At the end of the day, that was my ultimate goal, to be the best teammate I can be and everything else will fall in line. 

"I kind of put my head down and went to work. When I came back and I saw that my name was on the top of the depth chart, it felt really good."

The decision to start Vinson was easy for Polian as the program has been built on playing the best players.

"I'm just so proud of him," said Polian. "He's got so many fans in our locker room because they see how hard that kid has worked. It's not slight to Alex. Both guys have worked really hard, but again, we're in a results-based business and in the end, how can Coach Kelly or any of us get up in front of the team and say, 'Hey, it's a meritocracy. You've got what you've earned.'

"Michael has earned this job and he's not giving it up. We're a better football team for it."

Starting is nice, but the 6-foot-2, 230-pounder knows he can also lose the job as quickly as he won it. 

"I had to keep working hard to keep earning it every day," Vinson said. "Nothing is given here. This is Notre Dame, one of the top programs in the country. Everything is earned. I wanted to keep earning the respect of my teammates, Coach Polian and Coach Kelly." 

Polian has seen Vinson continue to put in the work to keep the job and also improve himself as an athlete. 

"Michael has an incredible skill to throw a ball between your legs 15 yards in 0.7 seconds and do it accurately," Polian said. "That's a pretty elite skill. He's improved himself so much athletically. He can get out there and cover a kick and fall on the pile every once in a while at the end of a punt."

Vinson, a New Trier (Ill.) alum, found himself in a similar position as many other Irish walk-ons as he had a chance to play football on scholarship somewhere else. 

"I had a scholarship offer from West Point," Vinson stated. "All due respect to West Point - that lifestyle just wasn't for me. Being from the Chicago area initially and the Notre Dame connection, it was just a no-brainer for me." 

Vinson might have one of the best nicknames in college football as it's not flashy and easy to remember. 

"My freshman year, Tyler Newsome was our punter and he nicknamed the specialists unit the Cheese Unit," laughed Vinson. "When I first came here, he gave me the temporary nickname of Milk. I was supposed to earn my cheese status, but then it just kind of stuck. 

"He introduced me as Milk to all the guys in the locker room, the strength staff and the coaching staff." 

And yes, Vinson can thank his head coach for the nickname sticking with him. 

"It was the Wake Forest game in 2018 and I was standing in the way of Coach Kelly and he said, 'Get out of my way, Milk,'" said Vinson. 

"That kind of indoctrinated my name as Milk forever."