Aug. 7, 2015
Full Preseason Camp Coverage
Photo Gallery
CULVER, Ind. – While one often hears about rigorous academic standards testing the mettle of Notre Dame student-athletes, one member of the Irish football team enjoyed a relative state of academic bliss on Friday as the team began preseason practice at Culver Academies.
While linebacker Jarrett Grace was unable to attend today’s session due to academic commitments from his intensive graduate level business program, no one else on the team had to worry about schoolwork because classes, generally, are not in session. The Irish are free to focus solely on football and team-building this week while enjoying the stunning Culver campus on the shore of Lake Maxinkuckee, about an hour south of Notre Dame.
Everything about this, however, is a new experience for graduate safety Avery Sebastian who officially began his Irish football career today. Sebastian transferred from California where he graduated in four years but retained a year of eligibility which the 31-game Golden Bear veteran will use this fall for the Irish.
Cal never left its Berkeley campus for training camp because, unlike the Irish, the Golden Bears were in classes.
“The first week and a half of camp you still had classes,” Sebastian recalled. “It was difficult. You had to find a balance of class and football at the start. Here, we can be in camp and not have to worry about anything outside of football until school actually starts at the end of August. I’m glad to focus on one thing at a time.”
Coming to Notre Dame in a capacity similar to Cody Riggs, the 2013 Florida graduate who helped sure up the 2014 Irish cornerback position while earning a master’s degree. Notre Dame hopes to bolster its safety group with the addition of Sebastian’s experience and abilities.
A teammate of Isaac Rochell’s at Georgia prep power Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy, Sebastian said he was excited to be back on a football field today. He missed Cal’s 2015 spring practice between the January declaration of his intention to transfer and his May graduation from Berkeley. Earning his bachelor’s degree in sociology allowed for his transfer to Notre Dame where he will work on an individualized degree from the Mendoza College of Business combining business management and entrepreneurship.
“It’s been exciting,” Sebastian said. “I’ve been out of it since December, so to be able to get my feet wet felt great. I already know a lot of the plays. I have a good relationship with my teammates so I feel comfortable out there.
“I had some first-year jitters about being on the field today. I really wanted to come here and make an impact. I’ll go back and look at the film to see how I did today, but I’m just glad I was able to go on the field and get back to doing football things.”
FRIDAY IN BRIEF: Notre Dame held its first practice of the year on Friday morning with no pads but an audience of about 50 media members. Following practice, Malik Zaire and KeiVarae Russell were popular choices among the reporters and Irish fans can look for updates on them in the local media. After lunch, the Irish had some down time to enjoy the lake and other activities. A late afternoon and early evening battery of weight room sessions and meetings awaited the team, sandwiched around a steak dinner at Culver’s classically-styled dining hall.
As usual, Fighting Irish Media’s presence was sizeable with an eight-man crew on site for video, blog, social media and publicity purposes.
Today’s Video Content
Some of the top tweets about the team from Friday can be found below.
WHAT A DAY!
It was great to get on the field with the team.
We have to use these practices to get better everyday! pic.twitter.com/GMwWso9V43
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) August 7, 2015
Check out @WatchND all week for exclusive content from #NDFB training camp. pic.twitter.com/J8CdrbEzfE
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 7, 2015
“You definitely know when KeiVarae is out there & he has a new visor so he feels pretty good about himself” – Brown pic.twitter.com/laqEhzNvJC
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 7, 2015
“That is the cowards way out & I’m not a coward, I’m here to be a champion” – Russell on choosing to return to ND pic.twitter.com/JllRSWDO05
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 7, 2015
“This summer we learned a lot about leadership and what it’s going to take to achieve our goal” – Malik Zaire pic.twitter.com/Zh5HG6eNdG
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 7, 2015
“It’s just about football, there’s nothing else here. No visitors, just football” – Coach Kelly on Culver atmosphere pic.twitter.com/i4a00bV7W7
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 7, 2015
QBs are slinging darts on Day 1 https://t.co/CgYgXSe9El
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 7, 2015
Day 1 of training camp is underway in Culver, IN.
#AccomplishTheMission pic.twitter.com/xuMP6mcnxO
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 7, 2015
Golden domes to Golden Jackets
Legendary Irish WR & ’87 Heisman trophy winner Tim Brown is a member of the #PFHOF15 pic.twitter.com/W9yEClsFVd
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 7, 2015
The BUS makes it’s final stop in Canton.
Congrats to Jerome Bettis, Irish RB great & #PFHOF15 pic.twitter.com/u8Q39Lnl1R
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 7, 2015
Brian Kelly is somewhere in there… #Day1 pic.twitter.com/veMrYPiYcC
— Laura Thomas (@NDSportsBlogger) August 7, 2015
Nice view of Lake Maxinkuckee behind @NDFIM‘s @NDJackNolan and @JacCollinsworth for today’s @WatchND recap standup. pic.twitter.com/WDZtk5P9qf
— Leigh Torbin (@LTorbin) August 7, 2015
Happy 80th Birthday, Lee Corso.
You and the @CollegeGameDay crew are welcome back anytime! pic.twitter.com/qmP7AidUVO
— The Fighting Irish (@FightingIrish) August 7, 2015
Brian Kelly is somewhere in there… #Day1 pic.twitter.com/veMrYPiYcC
— Laura Thomas (@NDSportsBlogger) August 7, 2015
Day 1 🍀
— Mike McGlinchey (@BigGlinch68) August 7, 2015
First day of camp😈
— Corey Holmes (@coreyholmes4) August 7, 2015
🏈NDFB has 4 players on ESPN’s #CFBRank Top-100 players in 2015
T25-J. Smith 34-R. Stanley 54-S. Day T77-K. Russell pic.twitter.com/2otqmx9Utr
— The Fighting Irish (@FightingIrish) August 7, 2015
Day one…😎😈 https://t.co/7NdP6mFHnW
— Nick Coleman (@NDotCole_24) August 7, 2015
KeiVarae Russell always planned to return, but his first practice back was “surreal.” On @CSNChicago: http://t.co/YS1a0tluKm #NotreDame
— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) August 7, 2015
Notre Dame opened camp this morning. @BGI_CoachD78 has his take on Zaire and the offense .. $ http://t.co/Nt1AtZfK28 pic.twitter.com/vOz5jiiRhw
— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) August 7, 2015
Training camp is in full swing here at Culver Academies. pic.twitter.com/Bf7mthe430
— Laura Thomas (@NDSportsBlogger) August 7, 2015
VIDEO: If he could sing karaoke to one song, #NotreDame WR Will Fuller would choose…Sinatra? http://t.co/7gDxGcQgDl pic.twitter.com/yr3cwvg5Nl
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) August 7, 2015
WR Corey Robinson has shown flashes of brilliance at #NotreDame. Now, he’s ready for more than just flashes ($): http://t.co/lxB4UdYUPB
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) August 7, 2015
Depth and talent are coming together on the #NotreDame offensive line. http://t.co/JT1sITntx1
— Nick Ironside (@nironside247) August 7, 2015
.@EvanSharpley with a detailed breakdown of major points from Brian Kelly’s 70-minute Thursday press conference. http://t.co/ncLBFS1dy8
— Nick Ironside (@nironside247) August 7, 2015
The ball is now in Justin Brent’s court with the move to RB writes @BGI_LouSomogyi .. Story: http://t.co/0DSFJm8alS pic.twitter.com/MgovaD24RI
— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) August 7, 2015
— written and compiled by Leigh Torbin, athletic communications assistant director and Michael Bertsch, director of football media relations