McGlinchey Believes in Wimbush

Written by Alex Swain

Coming into this season, the Notre Dame program had a lot to prove. An anxious Irish fanbase was ready for change, and the beginning of a turnaround was on the shoulders of a first-year starter at quarterback, Brandon Wimbush. 

Wimbush has not been flawless as a starter but has maintained a constant improvement week after week. For that, Wimbush deserves a lot of credit. Throughout the program, his progress has been noted and his contributions are a big reason Notre Dame is currently looking at a playoff run. 

“I think he has done a great job of just getting better every day,” explained captain, Mike McGlinchey. “Brandon, obviously, isn’t a complete football player yet. None of us are. That's part of the great thing about this game of football is that there is always something to work on. And he takes that with a lot of pride and a lot of intent.”

McGlinchey is one of the most respected players on the Notre Dame roster and with his support (and blocking) it is easy to see why Wimbush and his confidence have been able to grow. Every week, every throw, and every read he takes in a live game setting will contribute to his added confidence. 

This week, Wimbush will need at confidence as he faces a tenacious undefeated Miami Hurricanes team in Miami. Wimbush will need to play mistake-free football against a defense who is hungry for turnovers. 

“They’re a really good football team,” stated McGlinchey. “They are undefeated for a reason; they are top 10 in the country for a reason. So they get that kind of feel, and you can definitely see it when you watch them play football.”

McGlinchey and the rest of the offensive line will have to limit the pressure Miami gets on Wimbush this week. If Notre Dame can continue to pound the ball in the running game and the defense can get back to their dominating ways, Notre Dame should come home with another impressive win. 

There is a lot at stake this weekend as the history of this matchup, and playoff implications come into play. Notre Dame will have to play with “grit,” focus, determination and an overall desire to win if they plan on extending their playoff hopes.