The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are coming off back-to-back blowout wins, and that's allowed the team to use some backups who don't usually see much action in closer games.
However, head coach Marcus Freeman has made it clear that no one should claim that the minutes that guys like Cole Mullins get are "garbage time." In fact, when Freeman was asked about Mullins getting garbage time, he went off on the reporters.
"Every play's important, man," the Notre Dame Fighting Irish coach said. "Every single play's important and Cole's a guy. Here's why I tell you that. Because if Cole or any of our guys had in their minds that this is garbage time then they don't understand they're being evaluated the exact same way as the new starters are."
Jaden Mickey recovering ahead of game vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Defensive back Jaden Mickey may not be a member of the Notre Dame football team anymore, but his former head coach and teammates still love him. Mickey suffered a concussion in a scary-looking play for Boise State last weekend, and he's currently in a concussion protocol, which means he may or may not play when the Broncos visit South Bend this weekend.
"These guys, they’re not cars, you don’t rent them for a couple years and then when they leave, that’s it," Freeman said. "You sold ‘em, it’s done, these are relationships that last forever."
More Notre Dame Fighting Irish news
- While there were some who thought that Mickey might have suffered a spinal or neck injury, there is some hope that he'll be able to play against his old teammates on Saturday afternoon.
- CJ Carr was named a Davey O'Brien finalist earlier this week and now the accolades keep coming for the Notre Dame freshman. This week he was named the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week thanks to his 354 yards passing, and 4 TDs to zero interceptions.
- Offensive lineman Aamil Wagner is up for his own award. Wagner is on the finalists list for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award.
- Tyler Buchner isn't the only member of his family who is doing big things for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Earlier this week, his sister, Paige Buchner scored her first goal of the season en route to her No. 2 ranked team lodging a 5-0 win over Clemson.