Sept. 10--Sheldon Day was all work and know plays during training camp.
With freshman Jerry Tillery -- or "Terry Jillery," as Day prefers -- and sophomore Daniel Cage next to him on Notre Dame's defensive line, the senior had little choice but to play student and teacher simultaneously.
While Day may mix up his "T's" and "J's" in an effort to rib his younger teammate, he said Tillery and Cage more than minded their "P's" and "Q's" on Saturday during Notre Dame's 38-3 victory against Texas. Like Day, Tillery's lone tackle came via a sack. Cage pitched in three tackles.
"They played out of their minds," Day said. "(Tillery), first time playing, didn't look like a freshman at all. Definitely good to see him and Daniel play well.
"It was all about staying on them and making sure that they got it each and every play."
But there's one play in particular that Day, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound captain, said he worked on all summer. It finally came to the forefront for a cable TV audience Tuesday night during the premiere of Showtime's "A Season With Notre Dame Football."
And Day said Wednesday he hadn't seen it because he doesn't have the channel.
During a line drill, a camera caught Day driving offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey -- he of a 6-7 1/2, 310-pound stature -- 5 yards in reverse, setting off Day's WWE-style celebration.
"It was exciting," Day said. "I'm definitely trying to find a way to look at that."
While Pro Football Focus gave Day (plus-4.6) the second-highest grade for an Irish player Saturday behind quarterback Malik Zaire (plus-6.2), Day wasn't satisfied with his night.
"I'm all about evaluating myself with my finishing ability," Day said. "So I would say I didn't grade out that well personally."
And Tillery wasn't giving Day high marks for his "Terry Jillery" bit either.
"I don't get it," Tillery said on Showtime. "It's kind of stupid to me."
Yes, Michigan? Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said Wednesday during an appearance on Rich Eisen's radio show that the possibility of the Irish and Michigan renewing their rivalry is "trending up."
"We're going to be working hard to see if we can get that done," Kelly said. "I think we're going to see it happen."
The teams won't meet this year for the first time since 2001. Notre Dame opted out of its contract with Michigan in 2012, when the school struck a deal to play five Atlantic Coast Conference teams per season.
The programs have met 42 times, with Michigan holding a 24-17-1 advantage in the series that began in 1887.
pskrbina@tribpub.com
