Fighting Irish prepares for the Blue-Gold game with new leadership for their offensive line

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind -- Notre Dame football makes changes with a new offensive line coach but the familiar name will have them prepared for their annual Blue-Gold game.

When it comes to the offensive line there may be a change from last year’s coach but Harry Heistand is a familiar name in the Fighting Irish locker room.

During the offseason head coach Marcus Freeman had the responsibility of filling vacant coaching roles.

When doing so, Freeman made sure the line of scrimmage would be in the right hands, bringing back Harry Heistand who coached the offensive line for six seasons and is now looking to improve an essential group of players.

"I feel good about the way they approach practice and their attitude when they come in to learn and the effort that they’re giving. So, those were the things that were very important to us," said Notre Dame football offensive line coach Harry Heistand.

In his short time back with the Fighting Irish Heistand has gained the trust of his offensive line and has even gotten the help of former and current players.

Guys like Quenton Nelson, Zack Martin, and Josh Lugg are familiar with the level of success the team has at the line of scrimmage under his leadership and where it can take them in the future.

"One of the great things about coach Heistand is that he’s consistent every day and that even hasn’t changed in the 5 years that I've been here. His teaching and the beliefs in the fundamentals and basics that doesn’t change from day to day," said Notre Dame football offensive lineman Josh Lugg.

"We’ve had a ton of guys come back through and it’s just really awesome to hear their experiences just because they played for coach Heistand. You know they’re all NFL guys now," said Notre Dame football offensive lineman Andrew Kristofic.

Knowing that their new coach has the ability to lead them to success both as a unit and individually, players say it’s his teaching that helps them become more cohesive.

"Every day when we break we say together on tune. Like everything we do we want it to be together and for him it’s been when we say it we got to mean it. Like if we say together we better do things together. So for him it’s just been us working five guys as one," said Notre Dame football offensive lineman Zeke Correll. 

The first time we’ll get to see them together will be in the annual Blue-Gold game.

"We’re a work in progress. We’re slowly improving and our expectation is that we keep improving but we’re on the right track I’ll say that," said Heistand.

The Blue-Gold game is coming up on Saturday April 23rd at 1 p.m.