Countdown to kickoff: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State is only 11 days away
To preview one of the most anticipated games for Notre Dame this century and the official start of the Marcus Freeman era, BlueandGold.com is counting down the days to the matchup against Ohio State on Sept. 3.
This daily series of 99 stories celebrates by the numbers some of the most notable names, dates, moments and memories related to the past and present of Notre Dame football.
Today, with 11 days remaining until kickoff, we look at the brief but impactful career of Irish safety Alohi Gilman.
Gilman donned the No. 11 jersey for Notre Dame in 2018 and 2019, and made an important impact wearing it as a strong safety and a team captain.
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Well-traveled
Gilman didn’t necessarily feel lost during his four teenage years of non-stop relocation. Yet, the talented safety admitted later to his relief in June of 2017 to have finally settled in South Bend, and at a place he called home for three consecutive years.
From his sophomore high school year in 2014, life’s journey took Gilman and his family to Utah for a year, then back to Hawaii for him to finish high school, then to Rhode Island for prep school, then to Maryland as a freshman at the Naval Academy in 2016, before his transfer to Notre Dame the following summer.
A long way from home
Gilman hales from Laie, Hi., an isolated city on the north shore of Oahu Island, 30 miles from Honolulu. He grew up a stone’s throw away from former Irish players Manti Te’o and Robby Toma.
“We didn’t have TV and all that,” said Gilman, who upon his arrival at Notre Dame referenced chasing wild chickens around town among his favorite childhood pastimes. “We didn’t have video games. We were there at the park.”
In two seasons at Notre Dame, Gilman recorded 168 tackles, 6.0 for loss, with three interceptions.
Post-graduation, Gilman became a sixth-round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers in 2020.
And currently, the third-year player is carving an important role with the NFL franchise.
After a nondescript, seven-tackle rookie season in 2020, Gilman earned more playing time in 2021 and responded with 44 tackles, and an important game-saving interception against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes last September.
Gilman is working this preseason as the backup strong safety behind Derwin James Jr.
Misguided venom
Not long after his transfer to Notre Dame, Gilman received a misguided message from a half dozen Fighting Irish “fans.”
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In an angry and disrespectful letter signed anonymously by “six veterans and college football fans!” a group of critics questioned Gilman’s patriotism.
“We must express utter contempt for you and your educational and career decisions over the past couple of year,” is how the grammatically-challenged letter begins before it took a nasty turn. “You spit on the flag and transfer because you believe you can make the NFL quicker. Much more talented players than you received their commission, served their country, and went to the NFL.”
Gilman shared the letter in photo form on his Twitter account.
It was dated Dec. 30, 2020, one day after Notre Dame lost 30-3 to Clemson in the Cotton Bowl Classic.
Gilman freely admits that improving his NFL stock was a transfer consideration.
And now, in his third season of a four-year $3.4 million contract with the Chargers, it looks like a wise young man made a wise career decision.
“I had to do what I felt was good for me and what I felt in my heart to do,” Gilman said.
