Daelin Hayes: “We have to remain focused"
Notre Dame’s defense hadn’t given up more than 20 points in a game until last weekend when Wake Forest scored 37 points. The Irish got the win, but it was clear the defensive side of the ball wasn’t happy with the performance.
Sophomore defensive end Daelin Hayes believes the Irish need to lock back in and last Saturday was a wake-up call.
“We have to prepare as we’ve prepared for each and every other team,” Hayes said on Wednesday evening. “Getting back to what we do day in and day out. We have to make sure we’re on the details of everything.
“We have to remain focused. I think maybe last week we had some distractions. We were able to bring it back in and get back to work.”
The first College Football Playoff rankings were released last week, but it doesn’t sound like the Irish were caught up in it. The rigors of the academic and athletic grind are bound to take a toll at some point, and it sounds like the Irish just got a little-worn down.
“Guys had a lot of things to do last week,” explained Hayes. “We go to Notre Dame, so school and that whole thing. It’s not really one big thing. Collectively, we have to get back on the same page.”
Notre Dame will head to Miami for a showdown on Saturday night against the seventh-ranked Hurricanes. It’s hard to deny from the outside that Saturday is a huge game as playoff spots are on the line, but a win would also be significant for both programs as they try to move back into the nation’s elite.
However, Hayes and the Irish aren’t focused on the hype leading up to this weekend's matchup.
“Our coaches have always stressed there isn’t a big game,” stated Hayes. “Every week we prepare. We prepare with the idea that it doesn’t matter who we are playing. Our execution and being locked each play is what matters. That has been the biggest focus for us each week.”
Hard Rock Stadium and Hurricane fans have taken some shots over the last few years for poor turnouts, but last Saturday it was rocking in Miami.
Hayes isn’t too worried about the crowd as it’s something he simply doesn’t notice.
“I don’t really hear a lot of the crowd unless I am trying to get a check, but other than that, I don’t hear it,” explained Hayes. “It’s kind of like you’re zoned out and locked into what you have to do.
“After you make a play, you hear it, but then it kind of goes away.”
As far as the rivalry goes, Hayes and his teammates have downplayed it all week. They are aware of the history, but they also know it doesn’t impact the game on their play on Saturday.
“I know we have to execute, come out and play our game and dominate,” said Hayes. “That’s the biggest keys for this week.
“I wouldn’t say the rivalry doesn’t mean anything because both schools have a tradition of excellence. For us to be focused on what we have to do this week, I don’t think any of that outside noise is relevant to this week.”