Notre Dame Football: It’s More Than Just X’s and O’s

The 127th Notre Dame Football team was spotted wearing shirts that say “Culture Beats Scheme.” 

But what exactly does this mean? After spending some time around the team this preseason, I have picked up on three essentials that will make or break the culture of the 2015 Irish:

1. Attention to Detail

Detail is important in a game where every inch matters. The first day of camp at Culver Academies did not start out how head coach Brian Kelly would have liked.

Before any footballs were thrown, linebacker Joe Schmidt was forced to take a lap after one of his teammates messed up in stretching lines. Schmidt said, “We try to be perfect with a couple of exercises after we do our static stretch, and today we were not perfect, so we had to pay the price for that.”

Although something like a stretching routine does not necessarily dictate a team’s success on the field, it is important to perfect such routines. If one player messes up the routine, it throws off the beat of the entire team. If one player jumps offside, it costs the entire team five yards. Such concepts leads us to the next essential, team unity.

Graduate student linebacker Joe Schmidt

2. Team Unity

In his first press conference of the season, Kelly said, “Some guys may have to give up a few carries and accolades to reach the playoffs.” However, that is easier said than done.

Each individual player must buy into the concept of team. What is the Irish football team doing to build team unity? Corey Robinson mentioned a program that the team participated in as part of their summer workouts. Instead of running sprints on the practice fields or lifting weights in the Gug, the Irish hit the swimming pool with Navy Seals as their trainers. Robinson said, “They showed us how to handle pressure and how to act as a team, all in one body, under a lot of duress… We were trying to not drown. How can all 105 of us focus on the same thing at the same time?”

If the Irish can figure out an answer to Robinson’s question, this team is destined for success. 

Brian Kelly speaks to the media during ND’s Media Day

3. Consistent Leadership

Attention to detail and team unity are both imperative for the Irish to find success, but neither of these can be instilled without strong leadership. Already, the coaching staff has seen leaders emerge.

Kelly pointed to Schmidt, defensive lineman Sheldon Day, and cornerback Matthias Farley to lead the defense. On the other side of the ball, dual-threat quarterback Malik Zaire has already shown an innate ability to lead. On the other hand, it is interesting to look at players’ perspectives on leadership. Robinson mentioned that their program with the Navy Seals established and reinforced who the leaders really are. Robinson said, “Ronnie Stanley used to turn on his leadership when necessary, but now he understands that the team needs him to be a leader all the time. Also, Malik has done a good job of realizing he needs to be a leader and taking command.”

These are just a few names that stand out as leaders, but there is a long year ahead for this team and its individuals to grow.

On paper, this team is strong, fast, and experienced. All of the necessary components are there for the Irish to be a championship team. It is up to the leaders to establish standards involving attention to detail, not only on the field, but socially and academically, in order to build a unified team where “Culture Beats Scheme.”

Images: 1, 2, 3 provided by author

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