(This article appeared in the 10-23-02 issue of Irish Today.)

Six-foot, 235-pound fullback Ashley McConnell is one of the more personable and charismatic young men I've spoken with. Like Nick Borseti, McConnell is just a good guy; a guy that you would want to talk to about anything, but especially football. They both have a passion for the game and for Notre Dame that resonates when they speak. They're both just good people...and awful good players too.

McConnell talked with Irish Today to give our readers an update on his season and what it's like to know that he will be at Notre Dame next year.

How is his season going so far?

"Better than most people expected," McConnell said.  "We're beating teams that people didn't think we could beat."

For McConnell personally, the season has had some bumps, but is back on track now.

"I played in the first two games and then I had a partial ACL tear," McConnell said. "The knee is fine now, but I didn't play offense again until last week.  I scored two touchdowns and a two point conversion."

McConnell wants to be a part of re-establishing the role of the fullback at Notre Dame. He watches his position carefully when he watches Notre Dame games.

"I catch myself watching the fullback mostly," McConnell said. "I like seeing the fullback get some carries. Any carry for a fullback is precious. I understand the role for the fullback and I like to catch the ball, which gives me an advantage."

While McConnell wants to contribute as the fullback any way that he can in the offense, he doesn't have any aberrations about getting 20 or 30 carries a game.


"Trust me, I'm used to a lot of blocking," McConnell said laughing.   "In the second game of the season, I got three carries.  I just want to be on the field."

McConnell has already enjoyed being a part of the Fighting Irish, thanks in part to Coach Willingham.

"I talked to Coach Willingham last Tuesday or Wednesday and he gave me some insight on how things are going for the team, stuff you don't see or read about," McConnell said.

Naturally, he didn't pass any of this insight onto me, but he did reiterate how much he and his mom like Coach Willingham.

"You have to think when you talk to him, you don't just listen," McConnell said. "He's not like your boss at work, he's like a father. That what my mom says.   She compares him to a father."

In my article on Monday, I mentioned how Coach Willingham has washed away the most common negative recruiting tactics used by other schools concerning Notre Dame.  So what are other schools saying about Notre Dame now?  McConnell, from Georgia, has witnessed some negative recruiting from the in-state Bulldogs.

"The University of Georgia said, 'Do you know how cold it is up there?'" McConnell said. "My mom said, 'As long as Coach Willingham is up there, I don't care how cold it is.'"

McConnell will take his official visit to Notre Dame on December 6th for the football banquet and is planning an unofficial trip to the Boston College game. In the meantime, he's just soaking up the idea of getting to go to Notre Dame.

"I swear everywhere I go, everybody knows I'm going to Notre Dame, people I don't even know," McConnell said.  "It still hasn't hit me yet. When it sinks in, I'll probably drop to my knees. I just wanted to play college football and I'm going to play at Notre Dame.

Yes, you are, Ashley. Yes, you are.