SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Barely 15 hours after his Notre Dame defense was shredded in a 34-10 loss to Clemson and shortly before finding out his next challenge would be preparing for top-ranked Alabama in the College Football Playoff, Clark Lea spoke about time management.
‘‘Obviously, I’m living a double life right now, right?’’ Lea said during his introductory video conference as Vanderbilt’s new coach. ‘‘My challenge is just compartmentalizing my energy and my focus.’’
After the Irish were unable to pin a second loss on Clemson in as many tries after that magical night in early November, Lea now must find a way to slow the top scoring offense in the country. Quarterback Mac Jones has a slew of weapons at his disposal, starting with running back Najee Harris.
That’s how the Crimson Tide put up an average of 49.7 points through their first 11 games. No one has held Alabama to fewer than 38 points all season, and that came in the opener against Missouri.
Nick Saban’s offense converted on third down 59% of the time and reached the end zone on 46 of 60 forays into the red zone, the second-highest percentage among teams to play at least eight games.
With all he must handle as a first-time program leader at age 38 — everything from recruiting to re-recruiting to picking his first coaching staff as he returns to his alma mater — how is even the hyper-organized Lea supposed to come up with a game plan to slow the Tide on New Year’s Day?
‘‘There are 24 hours in the day,’’ he said. ‘‘I will certainly use some of those to sleep, and I will use plenty of them to be with the team and be with the defense in South Bend and game-plan whatever opponent awaits us. But in the corners of the day, I have people here [in Nashville, Tennessee] that I’m relying on. I’ll find time when I can.’’
Vanderbilt chancellor Daniel Diermeier, who spent 17 years at Northwestern and six more at the University of Chicago before landing in Nashville last summer, assured Lea he would be given full latitude during the transition period to finish out his obligations at Notre Dame. Commodores athletic director Candice Storey Lee reinforced that promise.
‘‘Part of my angst in all of this was, if we’re going to be about relationships and about commitment, then it’s of the utmost importance I follow through on the relationships and the commitment I have in South Bend,’’ Lea said. ‘‘I’m fully supported in my efforts as defensive coordinator at Notre Dame by the people here at Vanderbilt. They allow for the completion of a cycle before the start of a new cycle.’’
Lea’s impact on the Irish’s defense cannot be overstated. In his three years in charge of the unit, Notre Dame lost only four times while ranking between 12th and 14th nationally in scoring defense each season.
Even after sending a combined seven draftees to the NFL the last two springs, Lea was able to maintain those high standards while retooling on the fly. His ability to connect with players isn’t only the biggest reason he remains the leading candidate to follow coach Brian Kelly one day; it’s the Irish’s best hope to put forth a representative effort against Alabama despite the potential distraction of a coordinator on the move.
‘‘He’s a Nashville guy, he played there,’’ Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton said. ‘‘It’s kind of like the perfect storm, and it only makes sense. We’re really happy for him. It doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s still our defensive coordinator. It’s obvious he’s still focused on Notre Dame and winning a championship here.’’
Defensive end Daelin Hayes, a team captain, said he doesn’t feel slighted, either.
‘‘If anybody’s invested in these next few weeks, it’s coach Lea,’’ Hayes said. ‘‘He’s put so much time and effort into this. He’s given so much to this.’’
Lea, a finalist for the coaching position at Boston College a year ago, has built up enough relationship capital to finish the job.
‘‘You talk about that trust you have to have as players in your coaches,’’ Hayes said. ‘‘You have to know that they care and that they’re willing to go that extra mile for you. That’s something coach Lea has done day in and day out.’’
