There is one college football team that reigns supreme in the South Florida area—the Miami Hurricanes.
Most young athletes who grow up there likely dream of attending the biggest school close to home.
For Notre Dame senior wide receiver Jordan Faison, that was never the case.
“I didn't really grow up being a Miami fan,” said Faison. “But it's a college that's around you, a college you grew up knowing, so it's pretty cool to play a team from your hometown. You know what environment they're in and what they go through on a daily basis, so it'll be fun.”
Now, Faison will get the opportunity to face the Hurricanes on the gridiron for the second season in a row.
Unlike last year, Miami is ranked No. 1 and will be traveling to South Bend to take on the Irish.
However, Faison has been part of big games like this both on the gridiron and on the lacrosse field.
“Yeah, just having that experience under your belt, I'd say, helps you a ton,” said Faison. “Knowing that the moments aren't too big. It's mainly in your head when you make things bigger than what they are is when you've got to play, so keeping it kind of humble and staying down to earth is just another game.”
For Faison, staying in the moment is how he handles big time games like this.
“Staying in the moment means not listening to all the noise, all the distractions outside,” said Faison. “Staying within our brotherhood. It's one play at a time. You can't think too far into the future. You can't think about the past. Just being where your feet are.”
While Faison and the Irish are focused on staying in the moment, it’s hard to not acknowledge the type of game this is.
Notre Dame is welcoming not just the Mo. 1 Hurricanes, but also College Gameday.
However, Faison and the Irish aren’t shy about how big this game is without allowing that to take them out of the present.
“Yeah, for sure,” said Faison. “You can acknowledge it, but at the end of the day, it's not going to do nothing for you. Sitting here on a Tuesday, daydreaming about what could happen for this game. It doesn't do us any better.”
Faison’s experience throughout the last three years of college athletics has made it easier each time he gets to a game like this.
“Yeah, definitely,” said Faison. “As an older guy, you have experience with it, you know, all the College Game Day and stuff, but it's just basically just shutting it all out, being here, being with your brothers, being inside this building as much as you can, kind of tuning it all out and just focusing on the now.”
That doesn’t mean that Faison isn’t seeking information out about how big this game is either.
For a game like this, he deletes all social media for the entire week and stays off his phone.
“I won't even pull it out,” said Faison. “I delete all social media for the week. Stay in the zone. I try to put the phone away as a whole. Just kind of do other things and not to touch any of it.”
Putting the phone away and staying in the moment allows Faison to stay dialed in during the week.
The work the Irish have been putting in on the practice field is why Faison thinks the Irish are going to be able to meet the challenge ahead of them on Saturday.
“Yeah, just how hard all the practices have been and in the mindset of each of our players,” said Faison. “I mean, whether it's good on good or it's one's going against scout, I mean, everything gets bloody. It's hard work out there. You know, guys are embracing their roles and doing everything they can to make sure the team is ready for Saturday.”
One area of improvement for Faison, and the Irish offense during practice, could be keeping the passing game in rhythm against the Hurricanes.
“It's all in preparation and our practice,” said Faison. “Each day we come out here working on it. We've worked on it in the past weeks and also getting into the film with each other, seeing the little spots we can get better at, and ultimately that will be the center.”
Wide receivers coach Mike Brown sees Faison’s improvement and possibly as the key to keeping the passing attack in rhythm come Saturday.
“It feels like he's light years better,” said Brown. “He's playing so much faster. I thought it was more evident in really the North Carolina game was where I saw a huge difference in him and just little things in this game, catching the ball, getting up the field, playing physical.
“His run after the catch is continuing to get better and better. His field is getting better and better, understanding the nuances of his routes. And so he's in a good spot right now. He's in a good rhythm and we got to continue to work with him to continue to build on that.”
As the Irish prepare for Miami to come to South Bend, Faison is staying in the moment, unfazed by what it brings and prepared to do whatever he can to help old Notre Dame win over all.
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