Notre Dame Blue-Gold Draft Notebook
Notre Dame held its Blue-Gold Game draft on Wednesday morning, but there was a bit of unfortunate news for the Fighting Irish as quarterback Tyler Buchner will miss Saturday's spring game.
The sophomore quarterback missed a stair following a meeting on Tuesday night and sprained his ankle.
"Buchner had a non-football injury yesterday walking down the steps," stated Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman. "Rolled his ankle. Missed the bottom step. It happened yesterday at 5 in the evening. We had a quarterbacks meeting and when they left the quarterbacks meeting, it happened in the next 30 minutes."
When looking at the big picture, Buchner's injury isn't something to worry about and even missing the game isn't something to be overly concerned with at this point.
Buchner won't miss first-team vs. first-team reps in the spring game as the draft provides a mixture of the depth chart. The chance to get more reps is a loss, but Freeman was pleased with the body of work Buchner received this spring.
"Unfortunate accident, so he'll be out for the spring game," said Freeman. "He got 13 really, really good practices in. I'm pleased with that part of it."
COMPETITON
Marcus Freeman has preached competition this spring and the Blue-Gold Game draft was another example.
The coaches and players drafting teams was meant to be fun, but also can be used as a motivational tool in some cases.
"If I was a player and I wasn't No. 1, for example, I'd definitely be motivated to prove myself," stated Blue team head coach Al Washington. "I think that's what you want and I think that's part of Coach Freeman's plan - it was to bring that out. Enthusiasm. Guys bringing that competitive fire and spirit."
Cornerback Cam Hart (Gold) and Houston Griffith (Blue) were captains and had a hand in the drafting process - and both were bold and confident in their choices, which is what Freeman wanted.
"Our goal was execution over talent," Hart said following the draft. "I think a great group of guys can work together and get the job done. There can be a lot of talent on one side, but if they don't communicate or work together, it won't work out."
Griffith guaranteed a Blue team victory standing in front of his teammates and then doubled down to the media.
"I said we're going to see the results. Cam is talking about they're going to play with a lot of execution, but I don't know how your team is going to be executing with my team wreaking havoc on offense and defense."
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