Unbelievable Access

Day 1 is in the books, and while it was just a half day, it was still pretty freaking amazing. After a long day of travel from the West Coast, I got to ND around 4pm. Not much time to get settled or to walk around, as things had kicked off at 3. So I headed straight to the Gug to check in.

First off, let me say this: this football staff, led by Chad Klunder, is awesome. Everyone is 100% professional, on top of things, and they'll do whatever they can to ensure that this camp goes off without a hitch. All of Chad's staff, the equipment folks, and the GA's were nothing but helpful and friendly. A true Notre Dame welcome.

First up was our helmet and shoulder pads fitting. As I was escorted back, it hit me: this is unbelievable access. We strolled right back into the equipment room, and just hung out for 30 minutes while guys got fitted. Just hanging out there, with Braxton Cave chilling a few stools down, getting to know the staff and talking ND Football.

Big Country, a Camp Veteran, Gets Fitted

And putting on that legit, game-used, gold-lacquered and gleamingly perfect helmet? Yeah, it's better than what you'd expect.

Glorious

From there we headed into the trainer's area and talked to the medical staff about the various ailments that trouble all of us. Because we're old. Awesome.

Then a quick stroll through the locker room, which was, to be honest, awe-inspiring. Coach Kelly had the room re-done to reflect his personal philosophies with a mix of ND.

I loved the locker room themes:

"Pride. Work. Win."

"Purposeful Practice"

And the Irish Covenant ("Do you Care? Can I Trust You? Are you Committed? Observe the Golden Rule. Do the Right Thing.")

One thing that Coach Kelly did that I freaking LOVE is he roped off the ND in the middle of the locker room floor.

He protected the symbol of the University from guys walking over it and on it, from dirtying it and perhaps unintentionally degrading it a bit. I'm not saying that before Coach Kelly gave the interlocking ND the red velvet rope treatement that ND football players (and others in the locker room) disrespected the University or the ND symbox - it's more that this treatment communicates SUCH respect. It puts the University in a different place in peoples' minds when they see it this way. It very much goes back to his approach to molding this team: It's about what you can do for Our Lady, and not the other way around. This is that philosophy made real. Gave me the chills.

After getting a mouth guard and being told we will (hopefully) live through the week, we took a quick campus tour. While I didn't really need it, it was a great way to see campus. Plus, I was able to add some of my own highlights: "That bush right there - I puked all over it sophomore year." "That corner over there is where my girlfriend at the time dumped me." I'm sure our guides just loved it.

After a brief break we headed up to the Press Box for dinner. This is where it got really surreal. On our way over, we saw Coach Molnar walking. "Hey Coach, want a ride?" In comes Charley Molnar, chilling with me in the back seat. Upstairs, more of the same. The ENTIRE STAFF hanging out, chatting us up, and welcoming us to campus. Talked recruiting with Tim Hinton. Marveled at Coach Diaco's perfectly quaffed hair. Oh, there goes Joe Theismann chatting with Tony Alford. Un-be-lievable. Even got to see my boy Lance Legree from Dillon Hall back in the days. There are literally as many, or more, staffers, ex-players, and coaches than there are campers. Every table had someone from the 'inside' joining the participants. Solid.

One interesting development was David Grimes' presence back on campus. Turns out the ND star who made the best ever catch that was not ruled a catch has come back to ND to work on the staff as a player liasion. I haven't yet caught exactly how his role will work, but it sounds like an awesome situation for a great ND guy and a good way to continue to evolve the management of communications between players, the staff and the university brass. Welcome back David!

Anyway, we sat down to a top quality dinner (prime rib, lasagna, the good stuff) and the dinner program began. Mr. Klunder kicked it off, followed by none other than the man Coach Kelly himself. Coach made some brief opening statements.

I now get what everybody says about Coach Kelly in person. The man has presence. Coach's talk was very much focused on how different ND is, and how the camaraderie we'll experience this week with other players and the staff/coaches is exactly what they experience as a group the rest of the year. That that is what sets ND apart, and makes it so special. Great opening words and it definitely fired me up for the rest of the week.

This was followed by player introductions: "Hi, I'm Biscuit. I run the ND blog herloyalsons.com. I have no position, as I've never played before. I hope I don't die. I'm an ND alum, class of 2000 and I lived across from Lance in Dillon my frosh year - sup Lance?!?!? - I am excited to be here to reconnect with Our Lady and to strap on some pads for the first time in my life." Or something along those lines. A few of the guys had a few classic lines:

"I'd like to play a position that doesn't require me to move." "I am going to make this short and sweet because I'm old and have to pee." Along with a heart-touching intro of a father and son doing the camp together.

Finally, Joe Thighs-man took the mic and delivered an awesome, and longer-than-expected keynote. He touched on a number of things and he's as funny as he is loquacious. In classic Joe form, he talked of his time at ND, his recruitment, and how ND changed him (in both name - to make Thees-man rhyme with Heisman - and in spirit). He also regaled us with some stories of injuries (many) and pro and college experiences and personalities. Most importantly, he talked about how special and unique ND was for him, and how it remains so today. His description of what it feels like to run out of the tunnel will stick with me forever. And while I guess my own experience of that on Friday will also help, what Joe said was spine-chillingly great: You don't run on that field. You glide. You're lifted up by 80,000+, and you glide.

It was a fantastic speech and he even took some extra time for Q&A and pictures afterwards. With that, Day 1 wrapped up. Holy Geez this is a crazy experience - and we haven't yet strapped on the pads.

View from the Press Box at Sunset. Doesn't Get Much Better.