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Notre Dame Football

Wimbush Seeing Things Slow Down This Spring

March 26, 2018
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Brandon Wimbush had an up and down 2017 season as the Notre Dame starting quarterback. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder accounted for 30 touchdowns in his first year as the starter, but the New Jersey native also battled adversity the last month of the year. 

 “I felt I did well,” Wimbush said of his first year starting. “As a competitor, there is only so much you can do when you don’t have success. Everyone goes through adversity. Different people deal with it in different ways. I felt I dealt with it as reasonably as I could.” 

Despite the highs and lows, Wimbush felt he didn’t get too low on himself and believes he is in a positive spot this spring. 

 “It was humbling,” stated Wimbush. “I thought I was level-headed throughout the whole year. I never over my head. Things like that have happened, and they’ve happened in the past here. You have to go with it and come back a better quarterback.” 

Ian Book replaced Wimbush against LSU in the Citrus Bowl and has turned the spring into a quarterback competition. Wimbush has embraced and knows it will only make the entire team better. 

 “Healthy competition is good competition wherever you’re at,” explained Wimbush. “It pushes Ian Book and I to be better on a daily basis. It focuses us on the things the coaches want us to focus on, and it’s only going to make the team better.” 

Wimbush also kept an open mind after being replaced by Book. As any competitive person, it hurt, but he also knew he wasn’t getting the job done in Orlando. 

 “We won,” stated Wimbush. “I was stoked for the guys and Ian. Whatever is best for the team at that moment. I knew I wasn’t performing to the best of my ability and Coach thought so as well. He knows. He has been doing this for 27 years, so he knew what was going to be best for the team.” 

Things have started to slow down for Wimbush this spring. The experience of going through games, game scenarios and getting his feet wet has allowed him to get a feel of the game, but also being in the same offense for the second year is a huge positive. 

“It feels like everything has slowed down,” said Wimbush. “Year two is always better when you’re in an offense. I think everything has slowed down for the entire offense and the guys that are in year two. We’re in a good spot.” 

After speaking with some in the quarterback industry, Wimbush has also changed his warmup routine before practice, and he believes that has provided him an advantage. 

“I have a different warmup routine,” Wimbush said. “I have a little bit of a cool down and a few things I do on my own that I didn’t do last spring. Those little things have made a difference. 

“It’s a warmup to get some of my scaps going and my shoulder areas I wasn’t really focusing on last year. The biomechanics of throwing the ball, I have a different opinion on that, and it helps me.” 

As the spring moves forward, Wimbush and Notre Dame will look to build on the positives from a year ago, which includes winning 10 games. 

“Winning 10 games was tremendous with the schedule we have,” stated Wimbush. “Everyone was a part of it. Up front, those five guys dominated the line of scrimmages. We had some great backs and receivers. As a team, we did a great job of winning ten games.” 

Wimbush also is focused on taking on a more significant role now that he has a year under his belt. 

“For me in year two, I have to take on a new role and be more vocal,” said Wimbush. “I understand I have to improve my game and I’m doing that. 

“I have to be better and help the guys around me do better.” 

 
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