Notre Dame’s captains and assistant coaches didn’t mince words on Wednesday — if the Irish want to leave Hard Rock Stadium with a win on Sunday, they’ll need to come out swinging. From the trenches to the secondary, the message was clear and consistent: physicality, effort, and setting the tone early are non-negotiable.
Quick Hits
- Coaches emphasized stopping Miami’s downhill run game from the jump
- Defensive captain Drayk Bowen said communication and toughness will be key
- Fellow captain Aamil Wagner called for a “violent” tone on Sunday night
- Veterans on both lines stressed making a statement that this is a new Irish team
- Players echoed that Miami’s physical style has to be met head-on
Defense Wants to Dictate Early
Defensive coordinator Chris Ash didn’t hesitate when asked what he wants to see from the defense.
“I just want to see them playing really hard,” Ash said. “The effort’s got to come through on film. I want to see us be fundamentally sound, situationally aware. Don’t want to see a team beat ourselves,” he added. Ash also stressed the importance of turnovers – something Notre Dame led the nation in in 2024. “And we want to take the ball away. Those are the things that we want to see every single Saturday.”
Captain Drayk Bowen said the defense has to match Miami’s physical style right away. “It’s for us, the way we’ve talked so far, it’s a downhill run game. It starts with their offensive line, and for us, we got to set the tone,” said Bowen. “A big thing for us this week is gonna have to be stop the run. They want to run the ball downhill. That’s something they did last year, and for us it’s just we’re going to have to play downhill and meet them.”
Communication as Part of Tone-Setting
Bowen also pointed to the importance of communication as part of playing fast and physical.
“A lot of old guys left, it was just kind of natural for them. Working with (Jalen) Stroman, (Bryce) Young Tae (Johnson), Donovan (Hinish) obviously coming back, just a mix of everybody communicating, talking. That’s probably where we’re best right now.”
In a loud road environment, Bowen stressed that the ability to be clear and connected on the field is what allows physical play to carry over across four quarters.
Captains Emphasize Physicality
For the captains, the message wasn’t just about scheme — it was about attitude. “It’s important for sure. We got to send a message” said offensive captain Aamil Wagner. “We got to let people know we’re back. We’re not the same team from last year. We’re a new team. Watch out for us, too, because we ain’t backing out from nobody,” Wagner added.
“I’m not going to try and hype it up like it’s an MMA fight or anything, but it’s going to be a lot of fun. And we’re definitely going to have to send a message with this game,” said Wagner.
Fellow Captain Donovan Hinish echoed Wagner’s message and kept it simple when asked what his unit needed to do. “It starts up front. We’re excited. It’s going to be a great matchup. A lot of history between these two teams and fired up to get out there.”
For offensive captain and OG Billy Schrauth, leadership and physical play go hand in hand. “I’m a leader that sets the example. I try to be a guy who goes out there and leads in my own way authentically. But I think it’s also important to kind of set the tone with things. There’s a standard the way we do things around here. I think it’s important to uphold that.”
Wagner agreed that tone-setting isn’t just physical, but also about embodying the responsibility of being a captain. “It’s the greatest honor of my life by far. The ability to serve this team, like the people I love the most. There’s nowhere else I’d rather do it at, and there’s no other people I’d rather serve.”
What It Means
If you listened closely this week, a common thread tied together coaches and players: Notre Dame doesn’t just want to win — they want to set the tone. That means punching Miami in the mouth early, winning at the line of scrimmage, and proving this team isn’t living off of last year’s accolades. For all the talk about quarterbacks and game plans, the Irish are betting that a violent, physical identity is what will carry them to a statement win on Sunday night.
