Early in the third quarter of Notre Dame’s home showdown with the No. 1 Miami Hurricanes, linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa did something for the first time in 2026.
Viliamu-Asa got home and sacked Miami quarterback Darian Mensah as the crowd of 77,000 fans in Notre Dame Stadium erupted with cheers.
“It was electric,” said Viliamu-Asa. “You're practicing that pressure all week, so when it hit in the game, it was like all that work paid off. It was awesome.”
That sack happened to be the first by an Irish linebacker all season.
It was far from the only play where the Irish front seven was able to impact the game as they logged 34 pressures against the Hurricanes—their most all season.
“It was fun,” said Viliamu-Asa. “You know, when you get quarterbacks off their platform and get them anxious like that in the pocket, we talk about smelling blood. It was fun to get after them.”
Viliamu-Asa was also stepping into a bigger role on Saturday night with starting linebacker Drayk Bowen out with an injury.
That doesn’t mean that Bowen didn’t have an impact on Viliamu-Asa and the rest of the Irish linebackers during the game though.
“He's been a big part, and for him just to be on the sidelines, that meant a lot to us,” said Viliamu-Asa. “He's over there elevating his legs, so it meant a lot for him to be out there. He's been around.
“He's been in practice. He's been in meetings. He's put his two cents in watching film, especially with the young guys. He was there when the captain spoke on Thursday. So he's been a great point of leadership for us even with the injury.”
Bowen also had a clear pre-game message for Viliamu-Asa and the linebackers before their 31-24 win over the Hurricanes.
“‘You come to Notre Dame to play games like this and to do it for each other, do it for the guys,” said Viliamu-Asa. “We were in that room last year, and just to continue to fight no matter what happens that night.’”
Viliamu-Asa, while he played against Miami, is also dealing with a thumb injury himself.
While it has been restrictive to Viliamu-Asa, he invites the challenge of having a cast on his hand as he has to learn different ways to improve his technique like getting off blocks.
“A little bit,” said Viliamu-Asa. “But it's been a fun challenge to find ways to defeat blocks without the thumb. It's kind of hard because you don't have as much wrist flexion when taking on blocks, but I found ways to defeat blocks with my feet and reduce my surface, so it's been fun.”
Part of stepping up in Bowen’s absence was to take on that leadership role for Viliamu-Asa.
One way he did that against Miami was to get the Irish locked in with a Samoan Mili, a traditional Samoan call and response before war.
“It's called a Samoan Mili,” said Viliamu-Asa. “It's basically a call and response in Samoan from me to the players. It's something that you do before you go to war. So it means everything to me to represent my culture and also do something for my brothers.”
Representing Polynesian culture is important to Viliamu-Asa since they are not as represented in the Midwest.
That’s not the only way in which Viliamu-Asa has tried to share his Polynesian culture with his Irish teammates as he has also shared Polynesian food like his favorite, pisupo.
“It means the world to me because we're not as represented out here in the Midwest in general,” said Viliamu-Asa. “So to be out here and to represent my culture back home means everything to me and everything to my family. I've introduced some of my teammates to some Samoan food, some poly-music, taught some of my friends some Samoan words, and I like to chant.”
Now the Irish have to move on to focusing on Boston College and Viliamu-Asa is focused on handling the success by not wanting to be average.
“You've got to turn the page,” said Viliamu-Asa. “You've got to turn the page and fight the urge to be average.”
For Viliamu-Asa, being relaxed is the last thing he wants to be when he and the Irish take the field to face the Eagles on Saturday.
“I think being average is once you have success, it's kind of relaxed,” said Viliamu Asa. “I think it's just what happens the next week. That's kind of the secret of the nation. Fighting that is continuing to find ways to get better. Even when you win, no matter if you win or you lose, just continue to get better, continue to elevate, and find ways that we can improve.”
Now it’s up to Viliamu-Asa and the Irish to improve and get better coming off their first signature win of the season against Boston College on Saturday.
