Dec. 30--Sheldon Day's days at Notre Dame are numbered.
As in one game left numbered -- the Fiesta Bowl on Friday against Ohio State.
The All-American defensive tackle completed his course work in October, when he earned his business degree, officially removing the "student" from student-athlete. His next stop is the NFL. Day used his days to learn more about Sheldon Day. What he found was that he needs to find a new hobby.
One bad decision after another filled his days.
He cooked -- or tried.
"I tried to do salmon and put barbecue sauce on it and put it in the oven," he said. "It tasted awful."
He inexplicably tried to bake a steak. Another mistake. He called the experiment "hit and miss."
"I don't know why," he said. "I might as well have just grilled it, right. It was the worst decision of my life. It was really pink on the inside. It was just a bad situation for me and my cooking experience."
When he wasn't ruining perfectly fine steaks, Day attempted to draw, oftentimes resorting to Google for inspiration.
"Can't draw," he said.
Video games quickly turned into a nocturnal habit he didn't want to keep.
He tried to teach himself how to play guitar via YouTube. The results weren't music to his ears.
On Monday he hit the driving range, still searching for answers.
"Maybe I'll try golf or something," he said. "I'm trying to get my swing right, but I found out I'm not that good."
So the search continues.
"I've got to find something," Day said.
Maybe he should stick to football, which soon will be a living for Day, who is expected to be chosen in the first round of the NFL draft.
The All-American and Irish captain led his team with 14 1/2 tackles for loss this year. He also had four sacks. He's also feeling a bit nostalgic this week.
The down time has allowed Day to catch up on himself.
"It was good, but there were times I was like, 'What am I doing with myself?" Day said.
"I wouldn't' call it depressing," he said of his last game. "But this is a surreal moment for me. Everything is finally coming to a close."
Day pointed to assistant strength and conditioning coach David Grimes, the one Brian Kelly shoved on the sideline during a game against Temple this year, as his most influential coach. He said the two began building their relationship when Day arrived in South Bend, Ind., from Indianapolis
He said the two studied scriptures and Grimes, a former Notre Dame captain himself, has been there for him from the start.
"If I had a question, he was there helping me out, trying to make sure my family is OK," Day said.
pskrbina@tribpub.com
