Aug. 14--Horn-shaped speakers spit out the words to a B.o.B song called "Ready" on Thursday morning during Notre Dame's second football practice on campus.
The chorus of "We just gettin' ready" inspired some impromptu dance steps from linebacker Joe Schmidt, who, along with teammates, arrived home Wednesday after five days in Culver, lnd.
Schmidt hopes those words are prophetic as the Irish try to fill in the blanks left behind by previous years.
He is a 6-foot-1, 235-pound graduate student now, his days as a little-regarded walk-on but a distant memory. All those days of follow-the-leader have led him to be a leader -- Notre Dame's best, according to coach Brian Kelly.
"I've never see anybody who has immediate recall for what we do," Kelly said. "It's very important for him to be here."
That never was in doubt in Schmidt's mind. He was named team MVP last season despite missing the final five games after fracturing his left ankle against Navy.
Schmidt said the pain felt "like someone shot or stabbed you several times." The Irish lost the first four games Schmidt missed.
After that, there was no not going back. Schmidt, who made 65 of his 86 career tackles last season while forcing two fumbles, intercepting two passes and deflecting three more, was determined to finish his college career.
When the cast came off, his ankle wouldn't move. He couldn't walk or put weight on it for 12 weeks. There were nights he went without a wink of sleep, he said. All things he uses to motivate teammates.
"Some guys, maybe they come out here with the poor thought of, 'I've got to go out here and run around,' " Schmidt said. "For me it's like, 'I'm playing a kids' game. I'm running around, playing with my friends. This is incredible.' I'm playing with house money and I'm so excited to be here."
It's no act. Schmidt embraces his leading role.
"I have a very finite amount of days left as a Notre Dame football player," Schmidt said. "I'm really valuing every one of them."
A model citizen: Walk-on senior running back Josh Anderson struck a Heisman pose to a chorus of applause from teammates Thursday when he modeled the mostly green Shamrock Series uniform the Irish will wear for their game against Boston College on Nov. 21 at Fenway Park.
Then Kelly awarded Anderson a scholarship.
"He models a lot of things that are right with Notre Dame football," Kelly said.
Bryant update: Suspended running back Greg Bryant would be welcomed back to Notre Dame if he's committed to getting his degree, Kelly said.
"From what I'm hearing, that's not what he's interested in," Kelly said. "He wants to play football."
Several reports have said Bryant has enrolled at a community college in Florida. Kelly said he has not spoken to Bryant and has been following the story thirdhand like everyone else.
From B.o.B to Bob: Notre Dame and New Mexico will play in South Bend on Sept. 14, 2019, according to the Lobos' website. The Lobos are coached by Bob Davie, who was 35-25 at Notre Dame from 1997 to 2001.
Notre Dame will pay New Mexico $1.1 million for the game, with $50,000 payable this year, according to the website.
He said it: "He's not open, Malik. The clock is ticking." -- safety Max Redfield ribbing quarterback Malik Zaire during a drill Thursday.
He said it II: "If I had a couple guys like that, we could wear whatever the hell we wanted." -- Kelly on the large mannequin that was dollied into his post-practice news conference.
pskrbina@tribpub.com
