Weis finds a leader on O-line
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Charlie Weis assumed the worst.
The Notre Dame coach had good reason after watching four sophomores transfer and his Irish program lose a school record nine games. So when Weis' "double secret probation line" rang at 5:30 Monday morning in his Guglielmino Center office, the Notre Dame head coach didn't expect good news.
"Oh no, here we go again," Weis said. "I thought we had another person that was looking to pack his bags."
On the contrary, Weis received rare positive feedback in an otherwise bleak autumn. Sophomore offensive tackle Sam Young wanted a private audience with his coach to figure out how he could take a bigger leadership role.
Notre Dame needs that initiative from more players in general and Young specifically. With center John Sullivan sidelined by a leg injury for this weekend's home finale against Duke, Young becomes the offensive line's most veteran voice.
"That's the type of guys you want on your team, guys that aren't sleeping because they're worrying about how they can step up and take on more of a leadership role," Weis said.
OK, so maybe Young wasn't suffering from the insomnia of angst. He arrived at Weis' office wearing rainbow flip-flops, not exactly business attire. But in a season soon to be remembered for all the wrong reasons, Weis will take all the positive news he can get.
"I was there anyway; I guess I'm an early riser," said Young, who returned home for a nap after the sit-down. "There was one time when I beat Coach Weis to the Gug."
Weis called the departing Sullivan his best offensive lineman but there's little debate Young is the team's most talented. To put his high school potential in perspective, only quarterback Jimmy Clausen ranks as a more touted Weis recruit. When Young signed with Notre Dame two years ago the coach compared the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., product to a standard issue NFL offensive tackle.
The 6-foot-8, 310-pound Young soon became the first freshman offensive lineman to start a season-opener in school history. He's stuck in the lineup ever since, flipping from right tackle to left earlier this season to help protect an injured right wrist.
"Last year he was just a guy that had his eyes open as far as they can open," said offensive line coach John Latina. "I like where he is right now. I like his demeanor and I think he's going to be a really good player."
Even though Notre Dame's offensive line has surrendered a school-record 51 sacks, the position appears in steady shape with Young leading it. Of the five offensive linemen expected to start against the Blue Devils, all five will return next season.
By then Young's leadership should have taken hold with his approach in stark contrast to Sullivan's style that Weis called "domineering." The sophomore appears more all-inclusive dating back to his prep career at St. Thomas Aquinas.
Before Young's senior year the Raiders brought in a Swedish foreign exchange student on the offensive line. Marcus Lind didn't know much English, never mind his way around one of Florida's preeminent high school programs. Young was the first to welcome Lind, now a back-up offensive lineman at Duke.
"He's a good leader, good teammate and makes sure everybody on the team comes before himself," Lind said. "He made sure I was on the right track."
Getting Notre Dame there won't be as easy, although returning nine starters on offense next season should help. As much as Weis wants to make the home finale a senior sendoff, the view is better when focused on life beyond this season-long struggle.
"Building some momentum for next year can't hurt us," Young said. "Sully did a great job helping us being a young line. This week I have to step into that role."
Notre Dame needs Young to stay there.