Notre Dame LB Jack Kiser Looking to Earn One More Mr. Indiana Crown
Jack Kiser won Mr. Indiana in 2018 after leading Pioneer High School to a perfect 15-0 record. During his senior season, Kiser also tallied 159 tackles, seven interceptions and six forced fumbles with five fumble recoveries while adding 1,183 passing yards, 2,109 rushing yards and 62 total touchdowns on offense.
It’s not likely Kiser will be putting up his high school numbers on Friday night, but Kiser, who has strong family ties to Purdue, crossed the Boilermakers off his list in September and the Notre Dame captain can officially take the crown of Mr. Indiana back with a win over Indiana.
And yes, Kiser has noticed the importance of this game locally, probably more than his teammates.
“No one’s hiding it,” stated Kiser. “Everybody says Indiana is a basketball state and when you get a matchup like this, it kind of makes people realize, ‘Hey, there's more than just than just basketball and basketball courts in Indiana.’ You look on the rosters, there's a good amount of Indiana guys on both sides. I take a lot of pride in it, and knowing that this is a big time matchup.
Game Day is going to be here on Friday. The whole world is going to be looking at the state of Indiana. And that's pretty, pretty awesome being an Indiana kid.”
Kiser is well aware of the strong allegiances in the Hoosier State, but he also knows there’s a lot of jackets that can be flipped inside-out, which makes this game interesting.
“I feel like when I've grown up, you're either a fan of Purdue football and basketball, or you were a Notre Dame football fan and IU basketball fan,” explained Kiser. “There's gonna be that split of Notre Dame and Indiana fans, but I think we have all the Boilermakers on our side.”
To make the moment even larger, Notre Dame and Indiana will play in the first Division I college football playoff game on a college campus under the 12-team playoff, and it’s the only game of the night, which could create a special atmosphere.
“There's been a call to action and I think that call to action is real,” Kiser said. “This is an atmosphere that if you have the opportunity to be in there, you got to be in there. Yeah, it's gonna be special. Eight o'clock on a Friday. When was the last time we played on a Friday?
“It’s gonna be rolling. I know the students are done with finals already and that are sticking around. Just being a part of it. I think it's a big deal if you can be there, put your coat on, put your hat, hand warmers, wherever you got, but make sure you there and make sure you're standing up. You're not going to be warm sitting down, right? So I think there's been a call to action, and it's going to be something that we haven't experienced yet.”
Friday night will officially be the final time Kiser plays inside Notre Dame Stadium. The Indiana native has played in 66 games, the most in the program's history, for the Fighting Irish, and with the emotions of senior day in the past, Kiser will look to add a playoff win to the Notre Dame record book.
“During Virginia, the defense, we were kind of talking about ‘Guarantee one more,’” stated Kiser. “Last guaranteed, but let's guarantee we want more. We took care of business down the stretch and did guarantee one more in Notre Dame Stadium.
“Honestly, I haven't really thought about it, or put the emotions into it to think this is the last game at Notre Dame Stadium because I've already done it right. But yeah, it is the last game at Notre Dame Stadium, so we have to make sure that everybody knows this is our house.”
As for the moment, Kiser knows it’s enormous, but he’s keeping it simple.
“It’s the Playoff atmosphere,” said Kiser, who won back-to-back titles as a junior and senior in high school with a perfect 30-0 record. “It takes me back to high school, playing in the state tournament, so it’s big time.”
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