Photo by Rick Kimball/ISD
Notre Dame Football
Adams Took Chris Brown's Advice to Heart
August 21, 2017
6,212
Chris Brown had just finished his last collegiate game and the now-former Notre Dame receiver was sitting in the corner of a quiet locker room after a 44-28 loss to Ohio State in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. Despite the defeat, Brown, a current Cincinnati Bengal, made sure to seek out a few underclassmen to challenge them to fill his void.
“With how many young guys we had contributing and how they were thrust into roles, it builds leaders,” Brown stated. “I told Josh Adams, ‘You are one of the most productive freshmen we have ever had here. Be the leader of your whole class. I know you’re a quiet dude, but lead your class.’”
Now a junior running back for the Irish, Adams took Brown’s words to heart and was named a captain on Sunday.
“I received the news right before our mental edge meeting,” explained Adams. “Coach (Brian) Kelly brought me in and talked to me. He explained the process of why I was put in this position early on to lead an S.W.A.T. (Spring/Summer Accountability Team) team and to progress as a leader.
“He announced it and I addressed the team. I told them how I felt from my heart. I explained it’s about all of us and not just one person.”
Being a captain at any program is a significant honor, but Adams joins a select group at Notre Dame. The Philadelphia native isn’t taking it for granted and know his work is just beginning.
“It’s an honor and a blessing,” Adams said. “I had to thank God for the opportunity, but I was more focused on becoming the best player I can be and trying to get better to win a National Championship.
“If it was given to anyone, it would be amazing and it’s an amazing feeling. I was just focused on leading by example and how I knew how to lead. I’m just trying to progress and get better every day. It’s an amazing opportunity.”
Rick Kimball/ISD
RB Josh Adams
Kelly challenged Adams to lead the team and the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder has stepped out of his shell to accomplish the goal.
“I am trying to step out and trying to lead more vocally,” stated Adams. “I wanted to express through words how I felt and what kind of standard I set for myself and the other guys. I want to continue to lead by example and continue to bring other guys along. I want to hold myself to high standards and others to high standards.
“I want to make sure everyone is held accountable. I’m not a guy that speaks up a lot, but it’s necessary and needed.”
Adams joins Quenton Nelson, Mike McGlinchey, Austin Webster, Drue Tranquill, Nyles Morgan and Greer Martini as captains in 2017, a collection of different personalities.
“We’re all different and can bring different things to the table,” Adams said. “It’s like a little family within a big family. We all have our good things and our bad things we need to work on. We feed off each other and continue to grow in our leadership.”
The 2015 Irish had a family feel to the team and that was Brown’s last piece of advice for Adams after the Fiesta Bowl.
“Be the man,” Brown told Adams. “If we have someone leading in every class and guys leading on defense, that’s a whole bunch of leaders, and that’s family. If you can talk to each like family, then the sky is the limit.”
“With how many young guys we had contributing and how they were thrust into roles, it builds leaders,” Brown stated. “I told Josh Adams, ‘You are one of the most productive freshmen we have ever had here. Be the leader of your whole class. I know you’re a quiet dude, but lead your class.’”
I know you’re a quiet dude, but lead your class.
Now a junior running back for the Irish, Adams took Brown’s words to heart and was named a captain on Sunday.
“I received the news right before our mental edge meeting,” explained Adams. “Coach (Brian) Kelly brought me in and talked to me. He explained the process of why I was put in this position early on to lead an S.W.A.T. (Spring/Summer Accountability Team) team and to progress as a leader.
“He announced it and I addressed the team. I told them how I felt from my heart. I explained it’s about all of us and not just one person.”
Being a captain at any program is a significant honor, but Adams joins a select group at Notre Dame. The Philadelphia native isn’t taking it for granted and know his work is just beginning.
“It’s an honor and a blessing,” Adams said. “I had to thank God for the opportunity, but I was more focused on becoming the best player I can be and trying to get better to win a National Championship.
“If it was given to anyone, it would be amazing and it’s an amazing feeling. I was just focused on leading by example and how I knew how to lead. I’m just trying to progress and get better every day. It’s an amazing opportunity.”
Rick Kimball/ISD
RB Josh Adams
“I am trying to step out and trying to lead more vocally,” stated Adams. “I wanted to express through words how I felt and what kind of standard I set for myself and the other guys. I want to continue to lead by example and continue to bring other guys along. I want to hold myself to high standards and others to high standards.
“I want to make sure everyone is held accountable. I’m not a guy that speaks up a lot, but it’s necessary and needed.”
Adams joins Quenton Nelson, Mike McGlinchey, Austin Webster, Drue Tranquill, Nyles Morgan and Greer Martini as captains in 2017, a collection of different personalities.
“We’re all different and can bring different things to the table,” Adams said. “It’s like a little family within a big family. We all have our good things and our bad things we need to work on. We feed off each other and continue to grow in our leadership.”
The 2015 Irish had a family feel to the team and that was Brown’s last piece of advice for Adams after the Fiesta Bowl.
“Be the man,” Brown told Adams. “If we have someone leading in every class and guys leading on defense, that’s a whole bunch of leaders, and that’s family. If you can talk to each like family, then the sky is the limit.”
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