From The Locker Room: USC
Notre Dame’s players were fired up after Saturday’s 49-14 win over rival USC. The Irish all stated they were going to enjoy the win, but they also know they have to lock back in as NC State comes to South Bend next weekend.
Brandon Wimbush
On falling on his shoulder:
“Everything's okay. I kind of thought about the Aaron Rodgers deal that went on. But I got up, and I was good, good to go.”
On the touchdown pass to Equanimeous St. Brown:
“It was really supposed to be targeted to Alize Mack. But they went to cover zero, and I had a good one-on-one matchup with EQ outside, and he got a good step on him. And I kind of saw it a little bit late, but I made the play. And EQ went up there and got the catch for me.”
On the offensive line:
“Being physical, using their size, and their dominance to move guys up front, they've been effective doing that all year. So why change what you're doing and you're being successful with it? So they've done a great job all year.”
On Top 15 matchup:
“I try not to pay attention too much to the rankings and being overrated or underrated. I think coming out here week by week and executing and doing the things we're taught to do and playing Notre Dame football will tell its tale as we come closer to the end of the season. So the rankings are the rankings. We'll just keep winning games.”
On the offense being able to turn turnovers into touchdowns:
“it's pretty special. When they turn the ball over, I've heard about the statistics that we're able to put some points up on the board usually after a turnover. So they've been dominant.
“When they take away the ball, you just get so excited, and Coach Long wants to be aggressive and call a play, usually a shot. So I think the offense has done a great job of turning around and putting points on the board after the defense does a great job.”
On receiver Kevin Stepherson:
“I liked his two weeks of preparation. At least the way he played today. He was focused for the entire two weeks, and you saw that in him today, even earlier from this morning in our walk-through, how focused he was.
“He exploded off the ball. We got him a couple of reverses. And I knew that he was going to have an effective day. I told him before the game I was, like, man, I'm coming to you a couple of times here today. And he did his thing and went up and got the ball for me.”
On offensive tempo:
“Some plays guys are not lined up on the defensive side of the ball, and you're able to throw it out and get eight yards. And eight yards is a lot. And it paid huge today.
“And the speed, it wears the guys out. Doesn't allow them to substitute sometimes. And, like I said, guys are not lined up, so it makes it easier for our blocking schemes. And I think that's something that is becoming part of our identity.”
Daelin Hayes
On how the win felt:
“Oh so sweet, this is probably the biggest win of my career. It was awesome man. It was electric, and we put on a show for Irish Nation.”
On how it feels to show the whole country what Notre Dame Football is about:
“It’s huge, to be able to show everyone the work that we put in this offseason and the care factor in our locker room. We’ve known for a long time, but it was just a matter of putting it on the scale. We got redemption under the lights, last time we were at home under the lights, we didn’t get it done, so this time we had to make a statement, and we put a stamp on it.”
On what the limit of this team is:
“The sky is the limit; we just have to continue to take it one day at a time.”
On the challenge that Brian Kelly gave to the team after the USC game last year and whether he thought the team could get back to this point:
“Absolutely, it was not a matter of talent. It was a matter of changing a few small things, and coach has done a great job to put us in position to win games.”
On what those small things are:
“Balis has been huge for this team. USC felt us. We out-physicalled them today.”
On what allowed the defense to get after USC:
“Our preparation, our coaches challenged us that the front seven would have to win this game. We would have to go out there and collapse the pocket and make [QB] Sam [Darnold], and we did that.”
On what has led to the number of turnovers this year:
“Guys really buying into the process to become a great and detailed defense. We have really bought into that. We do those turnover drills in practice every day. Really buying in and playing hard.”
On the readiness of this team for another Top 15 showdown next week:
“Let’s do it. We try to go out and dominate every day.”
On how Coach Elko’s system works for the Notre Dame defensive players:
“He puts us in position to make plays. It really complements our gifts and abilities as a unit. We really mesh well with that.”
On how much fun it was out there today:
“It felt like flowing, it was an electric atmosphere, and we were defending our home turf against our rival who is also a top 15 team, I think that was huge. It was an electric atmosphere.”
Josh Adams
On if he feels he deserves to be in the Heisman conversation:
“I don’t really think about that too much, I am just blessed to play football. It can be taken away at any moment, and I thank God that I am here and able to play and am healthy. The most important part to me is being out there with those guys who I have built a bond with. We don’t really concern ourselves with anything that is outside of ND football. It is an honor to be apart of that conversation if I am, but I still got my guys, and we are still going to play some football.”
On how it feels to have Coach Kelly call him the best back in the country:
“That’s cool, shoutout to Coach Kelly. He worked probably harder than anybody to bring this team to the level that it is. He laid the platform out for us. He trusted in us to build the culture and every guy in that locker room took it upon himself to do so, and I am going to make myself better and the guys around me better. Hearing that from him is definitely a big honor, but I know that he is more excited about the win. We are going to enjoy this.”
On what Kevin Stepherson does for the offense:
“That kid goes out there and play football. If there is one thing he knows how to do, it is play football, and he goes out there and has fun with it. He is an amazing athlete, and he goes out there and tries to have fun. Having him back is great, and it just adds another weapon to our offense, and I know that each and every guy in that receiving corp has gotten better each and every week. They are progressing each week, and the sky is the limit for that group. He’s one of those guys that has shown that he is going to be, he is going to be great.”
On what he has improved in his game this year versus last year:
“I think I have done a better job of being a better leader. Holding myself accountable and trying to hold guys around me accountable. Holding myself to a higher standard than I did in previous years and not accepting anything less, trying to do the best that I can to help lead my teammates and lead myself. Most importantly is taking care of my business first so that I can do everything else. I don’t think I have done anything extraordinary, the guys on that team have helped me out by getting to the point that I am. I don’t think I’ve done anything too special.”
On if he thinks 190 yards is extraordinary:
“It is pretty good, but when you’re running behind guys like that, they make it easy on me. All I have to do is run the ball.”
Khalid Kareem
On the feeling after getting a big win over USC:
“It feels amazing. It’s a team win, and we just want to keep the ball rolling. It’s the greatest feeling in the world, with all of your brothers out there balling with you. It’s amazing to come out and beat a rival like this. The work we’ve put in as a team is starting to be clear. It’s the best feeling, so much fun.”
On the biggest factor in the win:
“Playing physical. Just doing our jobs and staying locked in at all times. We’re really going out there and playing for each other, locked in, with one mission at all times.”
On defending against Sam Darnold:
“Definitely we wanted to keep him in the pocket, and we wanted to be as physical with him as possible.”
On national recognition for Notre Dame:
“We don’t pay attention to it. We just keep working, day in and day out, and the results will show.”
On the team’s confidence level after the win:
“We’re very confident. But obviously, we’re staying focused on our goal of winning each week and getting to the National Championship.”
On responding to Coach Kelly’s challenge at the end of last season:
“I really just put my head down and kept working every day at getting better, going out there and doing my job to the best of my ability, and listening to what the coaches have to say. It was a frustrating result last season, especially with our goals of winning a National Championship with each other. We just want to keep working every day.”
Sam Mustipher
On Coach Kelly’s challenge at the end of last season to bring Notre Dame football back to where it needs to be:
“I definitely remember Coach Kelly’s challenge. I did think we could definitely get back to that point quickly, and just with the work, we did this offseason, even after this past spring semester I thought that we could do some special things this year. The guys that are on this team are ready to do exactly what Coach Kelly wanted. We’ve been hungry, definitely.
"Last season was embarrassing, and we knew that. It was something we took to heart. When coach came in, he emphasized that that was behind us. This is a new team and a new group, and Coach Kelly’s message is something we believe in and is something we try to play up to every Saturday. Even if a guy wasn’t there for that moment, they know what this team meant to each other, and getting back here is something we’re proud of, but we still have a lot of steps left to go.”
On preparation for this game:
“I felt great going into this game. The coaches and higher-ups told us that if we prepared the way that we were supposed to, we were going to succeed. This was arguably our best week of preparation of the season, and the bye week last week was really helpful, really letting us attack our recovery and giving us extra days to get back to 100%, especially for guys like Brandon [Wimbush] and Tony Jones. Being able to put in the extra hours watching the film as a unit with the other guys to understand USC’s front and how they were going to play us was huge.”
On success running up the middle:
“Just being on the same page. We knew where we were going and what play was coming, and it was something we envisioned and worked on all week. We knew that if we protect the linebackers and put Josh [Adams] in a one-on-one position or give him a hole that he’s going to get through there and have a chance to take it the distance.”