USA TODAY International Edition
Notre Dame’s Wimbush shows resolve
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Brandon Wimbush’s Senior Night began with a rollicking gallop out to midfield, where he gave his mother and grandfather big hugs and let his emotions flow.
It ended with another embrace, this time from Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, after a timeout at the two-minute mark of a 42-13 demolition of Florida State. The timeout was called purely out of respect for Wimbush and the way he has conducted himself throughout these past four years, but especially this fall amid trying circumstances.
“He deserves that kind of recognition,” Kelly said. “To step in and (lead) our football team when we needed him, he should feel great about it. Look, it’s not an individual game. There’s 22 players out there, but he had a big hand in it.”
Three first-half touchdown passes, two of them to tight end Alize Mack, turned this game into a laugher early. They also served as a reminder of the depth this 10-0 Irish team has at the most important position on the field.
After losing Ian Book to a rib injury in the aftermath of a rugged win at Northwestern, Wimbush was thrust back into the starting job he lost three games into his senior season. According to a source, Book gave Wimbush an indication how much he was hurting at halftime Nov. 3 in Evanston, Illinois, but it wasn’t until last Monday that the situation truly escalated.
Wimbush said he was in class when he received an urgent text message from quarterbacks coach Tom Rees. “Need to see you ASAP,” it read. Wimbush’s mind raced. “I was like, ‘This can’t be good. He never texts me,’ ” Wimbush recalled Saturday.
Upon his arrival at the Guglielmino Athletics Complex, he was brought up to speed on Book’s health issues.
“You’re going to have to step up this week,” Rees told him. Wimbush never blinked.
“I was like, ‘I’ll do whatever I need to do for you guys and for the team,’ ” he said. “Ian was right next to me. He sat with me the entire week. Nothing changed. It was an easy week.”
As Book, just a sophomore in eligibility, blossomed into a star while ripping off six consecutive wins and leading the nation in completion percentage, it would have been easy for Wimbush to go into a shell. After going 12-3 as the starter over the past season-plus, including a win over Michigan to start this season, Wimbush knew his teammates would be watching closely for his reaction. He refused to become a distraction. “No matter what sport, if you’re a competitor, you don’t want to get (benched),” he said. “I knew it would be looked at more. I’m not a selfish person. I didn’t want to be that negative little thing in the team, in the locker room, that’s always pouting. I wanted to keep the spirits high.”
If anything, he and Book grew closer after the switch was made during Wake Forest week. The senior from northern New Jersey and the late bloomer from Northern California found they had plenty of common ground.
All of those big second halves Book kept having? Wimbush was another set of eyes, along with Rees and offensive coordinator Chip Long, that helped Book stay one step ahead of opposing defenses.
“We support each other,” Wimbush said. “We know there’s more to life than football. I think that’s a huge spark between the two of us. We have similar interests. I support him. He supports me when things get tough.”
Wimbush’s running ability (68 yards on 12 carries) helped Notre Dame hang a season-high 365 rushing yards on the nation’s sixth-ranked rush defense Saturday. Two careless interceptions in the second half also served as a reminder that Book’s return will be welcomed.
Whether that will be as soon as Saturday at Yankee Stadium in New York against No. 13 Syracuse remains to be seen. Kelly, setting new standards for quarterback-related coyness in the past few days, playfully batted away attempts to ascertain the starter against the Orangemen.
“Who says Ian’s the starter?” he said. “I thought Wimbush was great tonight. Didn’t you guys think he was great? I think we start a controversy right now and get this thing rolling, so you guys have plenty of stuff to write about during the week. You guys would be bored just talking about one guy.”
Kelly was reminded he told The Observer, Notre Dame’s student newspaper, that Book was kneed in the ribs against Northwestern.
“If he had severe kidney issues, that’s four to six weeks,” Kelly told The Observer. “We’re not dealing with that. We think he’ll be prepared to play next week. We’re very confident.”
Another attempt at a definitive statement. Another sly smile.
“All the signs are pointing toward that, yes,” Kelly said of a Book return against Syracuse.
As the starter?
“When the doctor says he’s cleared to go,” Kelly said.
Book, wearing his green No. 12 jersey beneath street clothes, strolled among his teammates before Saturday’s game. Once the game started, he remained on the sideline as a valuable resource for Wimbush.
What were those conversations like with the roles reversed once more?
“The same as they were all year,” Wimbush said. “I’d come off to the sideline and we’d chat and see what we saw. And we’d go to the phone and converse with Tommy and make the adjustments. Ian and I, we’ve been on the same page since the beginning of this year.
“It’s been the easiest relationship I’ve had.”