Everything Stanford players said about Notre Dame football

Stanford has one player on this year’s roster that was with the Cardinal in 2017. That was the last time Stanford beat Notre Dame.

Defensive end Thunder Keck is the only Cardinal player who knows what it’s like to topple the Fighting Irish, and even he did not see any action in Stanford’s 38-20 victory. He was a redshirt freshman.

Here’s what two current Stanford players said about facing Notre Dame, a program that has had their number for as long as they’ve been college football players.

Junior kicker Joshua Karty

On the South Bend weather affecting his kicking routine

“For the most part, weather doesn’t affect how I approach things a whole lot. The only thing it would change is in warmups, maybe the wind is blowing a certain direction from one side and a different direction from the other side. That’s when I play with things and get adjusted for a feel for the stadium on that day with that weather and the wind.

It’s going to be a colder game, unfortunately. I like a nice Stanford Stadium 75-degree weather game. But that just means the balls might be a little colder and they travel a yard or two less far. That doesn’t change anything in my approach to the game or to the weekend. I look forward to the opportunity to put on a long-sleeve shirt this weekend.”

Senior defensive end Stephon Herron

On being from Indiana and playing against Notre Dame

“Personally, this week another time to go home and experience playing in front of my family. I’ve only had that opportunity one time since being here. Freshman year, Notre Dame came here and I was redshirting. I didn’t get to play in that game. Sophomore year, COVID year, we didn’t play them that year. And last year I had the concussion. So for me, this is my first time playing Notre Dame at all.

“It’s kind of like a homecoming, kind of like what Vandy was last year for me. It feels great to go home and play in front of my family. I have 30-40-50 people going to this game. It’s exciting to see my grandparents who struggle to getting out to games out here. Seeing both of my parents get to come, nieces and nephews and coaches from high school. It’s kind of great. I’m really excited.”

On preparing for the Notre Dame offense

“Starting with Notre Dame, it’s Notre Dame. There is not much to explain there. Just because they’re not ranked top-five in the nation does not mean this is not a Notre Dame team. It’s going to be a dog fight in there. You guys know how Notre Dame is, especially this time of year. I was in the room when you guys told Karty the weather forecast. It’s just another day in Indiana for me.

“Just got to go in there and attack them. We know their game plan. We have to come in with ours as a defense. Honestly as a defense we just have to do our best to play complementary football. We got to stop the run. That’s got to be first and foremost. Without doing that, we’re not going to see the pass and it’s going to be a lot more difficult to win this game especially in South Bend.”

On defending Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer in run-blocking vs. pass-catching

“Believe me, he is no slouch in the run game at all. He’s got great run-blocking. He runs his feet through contact. He knows how to roll his hips through contact as well. So for our front seven, we have to go up and strike him in that run game. I think if we strike him, we can put ourselves in some good positions.

“Pass-wise, he’s one of their biggest threats on offense. You do have to stop him. If you don’t stop him, you can’t win this game in my opinion. Eighty-seven has kind of become their safety net. I think when [Drew Pyne] gets into a rough patch in the game or can’t find his right read, the first thing he’s looking for is [Mayer]. If we can stop him and take him away, it’s going to give our D-line and our secondary chances to make plays if we can get to the quarterback and get some pressure on him and get him uncomfortable. Getting him off his spot and stopping that primary connection is going to be really integral for us.”