Photo by Rick Kimball/ISD
Notre Dame Football
The Comeback Corner
March 26, 2017
7,794
Written by Dan Swanson
As soon as Nick walked into the Isban Auditorium in the Gug and sat down in the room with his red Under Armour sweatshirt, the hot topic was his injury. When asked to explain the situation Nick stated, "It hurt, not being out there with the guys that I go out there and work hard with. I talked with my Dad and we talked about what my goals were and not letting this set me back and keeping my eyes on the prize. It has been a long process, it’s good to be back out there.” It had been a long process and Nick confirmed that around the Michigan State game, after looking at the x-rays of his broken arm, the coaching staff ruled him out for the season.
It was clear the season had its ups and downs and Nick was asked to comment on what it was like not being able to be in either Texas game. He responded, "it was definitely tough, I thought I would be back and my arm would be healed and be in the Texas games, because I know a couple guys on the team. I just took it as a learning moment.”
But Nick is a fighter. He explains how he got through it all by stating, "Just keeping a positive attitude. It was a challenge, but I knew that my arm would heal and I put my trust in God.” And while Nick was fighting his injury, he had to sit back and watch the young defensive backs go through some ups and downs.
He went on the say that it was good to see the young guys out there competing and that he tried as much as possible to to give nuggets or words of wisdom where he could. But, as Nick said, he itched to be out on the field and he used his Dad to help him through those tough moments.
It is always challenging to not be able to stand with your brothers at practice, and so staying positive proved challenging but Nick shared with us how he stayed grounded, "Just think positive thoughts, my Dad taught me that. Put your trust in God. We go through a lot of things as people, my Dad just taught me not to push too hard, it is all going to play out.” Nick seemed to be a very mature young man capable of reflecting on this experience and growing from it.
It was clear that he did not regret the path that God had put him on, however arduous it might be. However, Nick’s life outside of football helped him stay grounded especially during the rigorous recovery process. Aside from a full course load, practice, hours of homework each night, and rehab, Nick is a self-acclaimed “movie-guy.”
He recently saw the new Kong movie and he very much enjoyed it, although he admits he likes pretty much every kind of movie. It is important to have a life outside of football to keep a person motivated and focused, but also to just be a regular college student every once and awhile. There are thousands of stresses being a student athlete at Notre Dame and sometimes those little moments, like going to see a $5 movie, are some of life’s most cherished memories and Nick seems to have struck a healthy balance of work and play in his life.
Looking ahead to next season, Nick is very excited about the new defensive scheme installed by Coach Mike Elko. He said, “I love the new defensive scheme. It is designed for us to make plays, for us to run around freely and to be who Notre Dame recruited us to be which is ball players and go out there and win.” He said that guys weren’t thinking as much, it wasn’t so much of a cerebral game anymore. It was instinctual and natural. Guys are flying around the field as brothers trying to make plays which, in this reporter's humble opinion, can only mean good things for the Notre Dame Defense in the coming year.
At Irish Sports Daily, we talk about the Strength program a lot, but it is because it is arguably the most important part of a football team and Nick commented, “We’re working really hard, tightening core muscle groups. And it has translated onto the field, you don’t really get too tired out there because we run so much. It’s a good balance between running and lifting.” One of the big problems I observed last season was that in the third and fourth quarters, our guys had their hands on their hips huffing and puffing. Even in practices, it was clear that they were tired. They just did not have the stamina because they were not being trained properly. I want a strength program that makes 60 minutes football games with endless TV timeouts feel like an easy workout. It seems like Notre Dame may be getting that in new Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt Balis.
Asked for any final comments on the team and Nick commented, “Everybody’s bought in, and strength is apart of that. Balis instills in us finishing. Everyone is bought in, I like the way the team is looking. It is a good group of guys that can do something special.” And although he is just taking it day by day and there is a long time until September when the season begins, it is evident that Nick Watkins has the right mindset, physical tools, and attitude to be the comeback corner.
As soon as Nick walked into the Isban Auditorium in the Gug and sat down in the room with his red Under Armour sweatshirt, the hot topic was his injury. When asked to explain the situation Nick stated, "It hurt, not being out there with the guys that I go out there and work hard with. I talked with my Dad and we talked about what my goals were and not letting this set me back and keeping my eyes on the prize. It has been a long process, it’s good to be back out there.” It had been a long process and Nick confirmed that around the Michigan State game, after looking at the x-rays of his broken arm, the coaching staff ruled him out for the season.
It was clear the season had its ups and downs and Nick was asked to comment on what it was like not being able to be in either Texas game. He responded, "it was definitely tough, I thought I would be back and my arm would be healed and be in the Texas games, because I know a couple guys on the team. I just took it as a learning moment.”
But Nick is a fighter. He explains how he got through it all by stating, "Just keeping a positive attitude. It was a challenge, but I knew that my arm would heal and I put my trust in God.” And while Nick was fighting his injury, he had to sit back and watch the young defensive backs go through some ups and downs.
He went on the say that it was good to see the young guys out there competing and that he tried as much as possible to to give nuggets or words of wisdom where he could. But, as Nick said, he itched to be out on the field and he used his Dad to help him through those tough moments.
It is always challenging to not be able to stand with your brothers at practice, and so staying positive proved challenging but Nick shared with us how he stayed grounded, "Just think positive thoughts, my Dad taught me that. Put your trust in God. We go through a lot of things as people, my Dad just taught me not to push too hard, it is all going to play out.” Nick seemed to be a very mature young man capable of reflecting on this experience and growing from it.
It was clear that he did not regret the path that God had put him on, however arduous it might be. However, Nick’s life outside of football helped him stay grounded especially during the rigorous recovery process. Aside from a full course load, practice, hours of homework each night, and rehab, Nick is a self-acclaimed “movie-guy.”
He recently saw the new Kong movie and he very much enjoyed it, although he admits he likes pretty much every kind of movie. It is important to have a life outside of football to keep a person motivated and focused, but also to just be a regular college student every once and awhile. There are thousands of stresses being a student athlete at Notre Dame and sometimes those little moments, like going to see a $5 movie, are some of life’s most cherished memories and Nick seems to have struck a healthy balance of work and play in his life.
Looking ahead to next season, Nick is very excited about the new defensive scheme installed by Coach Mike Elko. He said, “I love the new defensive scheme. It is designed for us to make plays, for us to run around freely and to be who Notre Dame recruited us to be which is ball players and go out there and win.” He said that guys weren’t thinking as much, it wasn’t so much of a cerebral game anymore. It was instinctual and natural. Guys are flying around the field as brothers trying to make plays which, in this reporter's humble opinion, can only mean good things for the Notre Dame Defense in the coming year.
At Irish Sports Daily, we talk about the Strength program a lot, but it is because it is arguably the most important part of a football team and Nick commented, “We’re working really hard, tightening core muscle groups. And it has translated onto the field, you don’t really get too tired out there because we run so much. It’s a good balance between running and lifting.” One of the big problems I observed last season was that in the third and fourth quarters, our guys had their hands on their hips huffing and puffing. Even in practices, it was clear that they were tired. They just did not have the stamina because they were not being trained properly. I want a strength program that makes 60 minutes football games with endless TV timeouts feel like an easy workout. It seems like Notre Dame may be getting that in new Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt Balis.
Asked for any final comments on the team and Nick commented, “Everybody’s bought in, and strength is apart of that. Balis instills in us finishing. Everyone is bought in, I like the way the team is looking. It is a good group of guys that can do something special.” And although he is just taking it day by day and there is a long time until September when the season begins, it is evident that Nick Watkins has the right mindset, physical tools, and attitude to be the comeback corner.
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