2026 Spring Practice Thread

[Irish#1]

I've felt that we were competitive potential contenders pre-season several times in the Kelly-Freeman era. All manner of things would have had to happen to get us all the way, of course, but that's what not being an overwhelming juggernaut means. I've never felt that we were an overwhelming juggernaut, and (due to the quality of the competitors) do not feel so now. But "competitive contenders"? Hell yes. Generally speaking, I've enjoyed "modern" Notre Dame football. Great to get out of the Weis+ years, let alone the Kuharich years. (By the way, it was no walk-in-the-park even with Parseghian, Devine, and Holtz. There were MANY nail biters and some disappointments even then. You have to go to ancient history to get the kind of legend that some here want.

Not a cake walk, but expectations were high. I remember in '77 when ND opened the season with a loss to Ole Miss. I thought the season was over and look what happened. lol

 

[Irish du Nord]

... last year's team could have won. .... just sayin'

And the year before, had we avoided a few key injuries.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

We win last year if we simply don't come out slow vs Miami OR a obvious holding penalty is called against A&M. 2024 we win if we don't run into a historically good Ohio State team. We're in a run right now that if we cap it off with a title or two in the next few years will be remembered for a long time.

 

[ozzman]

If it clicks for this guy, lookout.

 

[RudyVerse]

ISD update, nothing crazy. Dallas Golden held out and in rehab, but not brace or anything. Daryk Bown back in action but no contact. The starting OL seems to be solidified, they're not really rotating (pending Charles J and Ashton Craig coming back). Zachary with the 1s at corner while Christian Gray is at nickel. Two freshman DL have added 20 and not skipped a beat athletically. Sounds like they're deserving of reps.

 

[allenm5333]

ISD update, nothing crazy. Dallas Golden held out and in rehab, but not brace or anything. Daryk Bown back in action but no contact. The starting OL seems to be solidified, they're not really rotating (pending Charles J and Ashton Craig coming back). Zachary with the 1s at corner while Christian Gray is at nickel. Two freshman DL have added 20 and not skipped a beat athletically. Sounds like they're deserving of reps.

Was Zachary playing field?

 

[RudyVerse]

Was Zachary playing field?

Didn't specify.

 

[allenm5333]

Didn't specify.

More trying to get an idea if Moore was out there

 

[Dale]

Moore has been practicing

 

[BeatSC]

Any updates on blue gold game? Format? Peacock again?

 

[Blazers46]

Any updates on blue gold game? Format? Peacock again?

From what Google AI says, Peacock and adjusted rules format that I assume has been like years in the past.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Have McKinney or Sanders started practicing?

 

[IRISHbluehen]

Have McKinney or Sanders started practicing?

Sanders is, no McKinney until summer when he is officially enrolled

 

[Dale]

Sanders is repping at CB and Nickel, similar to Gray.

 

[GoldenAura]

 

[Kak7304]

If it clicks for this guy, lookout.

I think he bulked up a little too much for last season and lost some quickness. Glad to see him a little leaner.

 

[RudyVerse]

II podcast l, Charles J’s corner thinks he’ll be back for an August practice. Coaches message to him is it’s most important you’re ready for 2nd half of season.

 

[JamIrish]

A lot of fans/guys on the beat needed this.

 

[pumpdog20]

I'm guessing our kicker gets carded at the club.

 

[arrowryan]

II podcast l, Charles J’s corner thinks he’ll be back for an August practice. Coaches message to him is it’s most important you’re ready for 2nd half of season.

I’ll believe it when I see it

 

[allenm5333]

I’ll believe it when I see it

Podcasts are on YouTube. So you can see them say it

 

[IrishInOntario]

II podcast l, Charles J’s corner thinks he’ll be back for an August practice. Coaches message to him is it’s most important you’re ready for 2nd half of season.

If he could be practicing in August and playing by BYU / Miami, I'd consider it an enormous win!

If he's actually back at the beginning of the season that's a friggen awesome story and I'd be pumped for the kid... If I'm ND though, with a soft first 6 weeks of the schedule, I tread lightly and give him all the time he needs!

 

[RudyVerse]

If the over/under was Purdue I’d take the under, meaning he plays before that.

 

[irish4ever]

If it clicks for this guy, lookout.

Opposing QB's won't want to see that menace coming at them. This is gonna be a fun season, I can feel it. LEAVE NO DOUBT. Up by 30 going into the 4th quarter, go for up by 40. Up by 40 going into the 4th quarter, go for up by 50. Run the fuckin' score up just as teams have been doing all the past years.

 

[allenm5333]

Opposing QB's won't want to see that menace coming at them. This is gonna be a fun season, I can feel it. LEAVE NO DOUBT. Up by 30 going into the 4th quarter, go for up by 40. Up by 40 going into the 4th quarter, go for up by 50. Run the fuckin' score up just as teams have been doing all the past years.

With backups bc we know if a starter got hurt while we did this….

 

[bpob55]

 

[Crazy Balki]

II podcast l, Charles J’s corner thinks he’ll be back for an August practice. Coaches message to him is it’s most important you’re ready for 2nd half of season.

Which one though?

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Which one though?

The first one. And then he’ll be out for the season

 

[IrishLax]

II podcast l, Charles J’s corner thinks he’ll be back for an August practice. Coaches message to him is it’s most important you’re ready for 2nd half of season.

If that's actually the coaches message, that means they're cementing the left side and looking at a swap for Absher (or move Lambert back inside and play him at RT) for the stretch run. I would lean towards the former.

I just don't know how realistic it is for him to get strength/fitness back to an acceptable level given this kind of layoff.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Over/under 45 team sacks this year?