By John Brice
Special Contributor
The preceding moments all had purpose, but not like this.
Not as Notre Dame got to the final period of its Saturday practice inside the Irish Athletics Center, where the Irish continued their preparation for the Dec. 30 Gator Bowl against South Carolina.
That final stanza? Offense versus defense.
Bragging rights rested within.
Talking rights, too. For at least another 24 hours.
“We have a little leaderboard, so it’s back and forth,” said Notre Dame freshman cornerback Ben Morrison, a recipient of multiple Freshman All-America honors after a sterling debut season that saw him lead the Irish with five interceptions, one for a score. “As defense, we’re not trying to lose and offense is not trying to lose. So of course there’s going to be a little chirping going back and forth. It’s fun.
“Defense is going to win, we’re winning right now and we’re going to win it all, too. You gotta make plays. Offense has to score. Defense has to stop them. Tackles behind the line. All that.”
Evident in the aforementioned scene, and fabric of the program’s DNA, is the nonnegotiable foundation of Marcus Freeman’s competitive development for the Irish.
“Coach Freeman tells us competitive spirit, so we want to compete in the classroom, be able to reach that goal and reach those goals, off the field or on the field, and bring that competitive spirit,” said rookie linebacker Junior Tuihalamaka.
It’s been like that every game week, every day, since the moment he was head coach and even when he was defensive coordinator. You can definitely feel the competitive spirit out of Coach Freeman, how he talks and how he approaches everybody. It’s great.”
Perhaps no position group, certainly not on the defensive side of the ball, is more front and center in the program’s future than the linebacking trio of Jaylen Sneed, Nolan Ziegler and Tuihalamaka.
Mindful of as much while gleaning every digestible morsel possible from veterans JD Bertrand, Marist Liufau, the injured Bo Bauer and Jack Kiser, the trio might only match their lofty expectations with their daily film sessions.
“Every day we text each other what we’re seeing on film,” said Sneed, praising the open-door film access to watch with defensive coordinator Al Golden and assistant linebackers coach James Laurinaitis.
“Me, Nolan and Junior, we’ve been talking about it a lot. We want to be the future here. We want to be some of the best…