Video | Notre Dame OL Josh Lugg on Harry Hiestand & Competition

Notre Dame offensive lineman Josh Lugg spoke this spring about Harry Hiestand’s return and the progress of the unit. 

0:00 - Harry Hiestand now and when he was at Notre Dame in 2016

0:19 - Significance of former players returning to Notre Dame for practice 

0:49 - Thoughts on Notre Dame defensive lineman Howard Cross III 

1:09 - Competiton levels during practice 

1:52 - Emphasis on competition 

2:27 - Impressions of the defensive line and the battles during practice 

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On the return of Harry Hiestand:
"I think the great thing about coach Hiestand is he's consistent every day and that hasn't even changed in the five years that I've been here. His teaching and his beliefs in the fundamentals, the basics, that doesn't change from day to day."

On the former players returning to campus:
"It's incredible for them to come back and be around the younger guys and even just be around me. We can keep establishing our offensive line culture that I'm sure you guys have heard us talk about and how important it is and how critical it is to our success. They're just able to help out and also learn from coach Hiestand too when they are back, just brushing up on a few things. Just having them around the program whenever you can have that is really beneficial for everyone."

On the development of defensive lineman Howard Cross III:
"He's worked on a few things. You can tell that he's powerful. The things that coach Balis got him doing in the offseason and preparing him for the spring, he's been dominant for us out there. It's been fun to work against him and try to improve against him each day."

On the competition levels at practice:
"Since coach Freeman took over as head coach, he wanted to establish being competitive and that competitive spirit in every single thing we do, and there's no other place where it should start other than the offensive line and defensive line every single day. Every play we're gonna be working against each other and if we can establish that competitive spirit, it's going to drift into the other position groups. We're going to set the tone and when other groups see us competing and finishing at a high level, it benefits everybody."

On the competitiveness being coach or player-led:
"I think it is a point of emphasis [from the coaches], but it is also player-led. Coaches can't every day be giving a lecture about how we need to finish and compete. At some point the leadership needs to take over and it needs to be instilled by the players, who want to compete with each other but also we're in spring and no one wants to get hurt. There's a level of competition, but you can't be chippy. I think right now our team is in a very good spot where we understand that dynamic between pushing each other to the limit, but keeping each other healthy and safe."

On the progress from the defensive line:
"It's been great. This defensive line is really working together and the new coach, coach Washington, he's really rallying the guys and they are working with each other and I know they don't have Jayson Ademilola out there, but guys are stepping up and each day you could see a guy out there working on one thing that he needed to improve."

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