Photo by Rick Kimball/ISD
Notre Dame Football
McGlinchey Believing in the Process
April 12, 2017
3,830
Mike McGlinchey has been a part of various roles and situations over the course of his Notre Dame career. He was the new guy on a veteran line, then he was the veteran at a new spot on a new line, and now he will be the veteran on an experienced line in 2017.
“Having the four of us come back here and have four pieces to the puzzle that needs five is pretty big,” McGlinchey stated. “Last year, we only had Quenton and I. It’s a huge advantage for seeing through one set of eyes and being a collective unit on offense.
“Experience is everything in this game and having the experience we have now up front is certainly going to pay dividends in the long run.”
Experience isn’t the only difference the captain has seen in the last few months. Head coach Brian Kelly made significant staff changes and program changes after the 4-8 season, and it’s been a welcomed change.
“It’s a complete 180,” explained McGlinchey. “Everything about it is different. The way we work, preparation we are putting in, the detail we go about our business, and the way we train. Everything is changed, and we all believe it’s for the better.
“We have come to terms with catching our strides now that we are ten practices into the spring. We feel we are on a great track and we have goals in sight that we have the confidence to finally meet.”
The changes have made the Irish work harder, but it has provided them with more confidence.
“It’s been a great feeling going through winter training and now spring ball to have the success we have been having,” McGlinchey said. ‘We see success across the board. Young guys are improving faster and guys like me that have been here for five years are seeing dramatic changes as well.
“Coach Kelly and the staff have done an incredible job with our football and understanding where and how we needed to change. It’s been a huge success for us thus far.”
Most around the program knew change was coming after the 45-27 loss at USC. McGlinchey was one of those, but he didn’t know exactly what would be changed.
“After USC and you have your eighth loss, you know a storm is coming,” stated McGlinchey. “We didn’t know what was coming, but we trusted Coach Kelly and the guys he has put into place. The way he has taken back control of this football team has been tremendous.
“We’re so excited to have the opportunity we have had with Coach (Matt) Balis, and as we started spring ball, we have hit the ground running. Guys are excited, working, and playing at a level they haven’t seen before.”
The offseason is just getting started, as there is more work to do before August rolls around. McGlinchey and his teammates will continue to buy into the new changes and trust the process Kelly and his staff have implemented.
“I think it’s about sticking to the process we have now,” explained McGlinchey. “We have outlined the process that Coach Kelly and the staff want us to have. As a 76ers fan, it’s about trusting that process and going through the long haul of the offseason. As we keep going and maintaining the level of intensity we have been at since we got back here, I think things are going to look a lot different come Saturday’s in the fall.”
“They are both big fighters, and they have the want to do what’s right,” stated McGlinchey. “Both have a great knack for the game of football and very competitive guys. They want it bad and the things they have to clean up, they know they have to clean up.
“They are two physically strong players, and they are going to be good players in the future. The two of them want it so bad, and they have a promising future. We’re excited for them.”
The other massive change to the offense is at quarterback. Brandon Wimbush is running the show and has impressed everyone, including the veterans like McGlinchey.
“He’s been fantastic,” said McGlinchey. “We all knew the kind of guy that he was – the highest character guy you can get and an unbelievable athlete. This spring he has taken over. He has led our offense and has started to lead our team in the way we wanted him to do so.
“You can’t say enough good things about Brandon because of he just that kind of kid. You love blocking for him. He’s taking all these crazy changes and pressure of being the quarterback at Notre Dame in stride. We’re excited for what he’s going to do on Saturday’s.”
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It’s a huge advantage for seeing through one set of eyes and being a collective unit on offense.
The Notre Dame is banking on the experience up front to take the offense to new heights and the 6-foot-8, 312-pounder believes it will be a significant difference. “Having the four of us come back here and have four pieces to the puzzle that needs five is pretty big,” McGlinchey stated. “Last year, we only had Quenton and I. It’s a huge advantage for seeing through one set of eyes and being a collective unit on offense.
“Experience is everything in this game and having the experience we have now up front is certainly going to pay dividends in the long run.”
Experience isn’t the only difference the captain has seen in the last few months. Head coach Brian Kelly made significant staff changes and program changes after the 4-8 season, and it’s been a welcomed change.
“It’s a complete 180,” explained McGlinchey. “Everything about it is different. The way we work, preparation we are putting in, the detail we go about our business, and the way we train. Everything is changed, and we all believe it’s for the better.
“We have come to terms with catching our strides now that we are ten practices into the spring. We feel we are on a great track and we have goals in sight that we have the confidence to finally meet.”
The changes have made the Irish work harder, but it has provided them with more confidence.
“It’s been a great feeling going through winter training and now spring ball to have the success we have been having,” McGlinchey said. ‘We see success across the board. Young guys are improving faster and guys like me that have been here for five years are seeing dramatic changes as well.
“Coach Kelly and the staff have done an incredible job with our football and understanding where and how we needed to change. It’s been a huge success for us thus far.”
Most around the program knew change was coming after the 45-27 loss at USC. McGlinchey was one of those, but he didn’t know exactly what would be changed.
“After USC and you have your eighth loss, you know a storm is coming,” stated McGlinchey. “We didn’t know what was coming, but we trusted Coach Kelly and the guys he has put into place. The way he has taken back control of this football team has been tremendous.
“We’re so excited to have the opportunity we have had with Coach (Matt) Balis, and as we started spring ball, we have hit the ground running. Guys are excited, working, and playing at a level they haven’t seen before.”
The offseason is just getting started, as there is more work to do before August rolls around. McGlinchey and his teammates will continue to buy into the new changes and trust the process Kelly and his staff have implemented.
“I think it’s about sticking to the process we have now,” explained McGlinchey. “We have outlined the process that Coach Kelly and the staff want us to have. As a 76ers fan, it’s about trusting that process and going through the long haul of the offseason. As we keep going and maintaining the level of intensity we have been at since we got back here, I think things are going to look a lot different come Saturday’s in the fall.”
He’s been fantastic.
Notre Dame also has to find the fifth piece to the puzzle. Redshirt freshmen Tommy Kraemer and Liam Eichenberg are battling it out this spring for the right tackle spot, and the battle will likely stretch deep into fall camp. “They are both big fighters, and they have the want to do what’s right,” stated McGlinchey. “Both have a great knack for the game of football and very competitive guys. They want it bad and the things they have to clean up, they know they have to clean up.
“They are two physically strong players, and they are going to be good players in the future. The two of them want it so bad, and they have a promising future. We’re excited for them.”
The other massive change to the offense is at quarterback. Brandon Wimbush is running the show and has impressed everyone, including the veterans like McGlinchey.
“He’s been fantastic,” said McGlinchey. “We all knew the kind of guy that he was – the highest character guy you can get and an unbelievable athlete. This spring he has taken over. He has led our offense and has started to lead our team in the way we wanted him to do so.
“You can’t say enough good things about Brandon because of he just that kind of kid. You love blocking for him. He’s taking all these crazy changes and pressure of being the quarterback at Notre Dame in stride. We’re excited for what he’s going to do on Saturday’s.”
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