Newsstand: Notre Dame football player wins national championship with Irish lacrosse
The year is 2023, and a Notre Dame football player has won a national championship. Not plural, though. Singular. And not on the gridiron, either.
Graduate student walk-on running back Sam Assaf is a member of the Irish lacrosse team that won its first national title in program history on Monday. The No. 3 seed Irish defeated No. 1 seed Duke, 13-9.
Assaf did not play in the game or log any statistics all season, but he took a celebratory photo with Irish football coach Marcus Freeman after the game. He had the national championship trophy in his arms, a piece of cut-down net in his hair and a national title shirt on his back.
Freeman would obviously love to take an identical photo at NRG Stadium in Houston on Jan. 8.
The men’s lacrosse championship gives way to a short summer before all eyes turn to Irish football. Freeman’s team opens the season 87 days from today vs. Navy at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, on Aug. 26. The game officially sold out a week ago.
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Assaf is a part of a Notre Dame running back group led by junior Audric Estimé. The Irish bolstered the corps last week in securing graduate transfer Devyn Ford from the portal. Sophomores Gi’Bran Payne and Jadarian Price and freshman Jeremiyah Love complete the unit once occupied by senior Chris Tyree, who has made a transition to wide receiver.
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Quote of the day
“The relationship is great with Coach [Mike] Mickens, Coach [Chris] O’Leary and Coach Freeman has been great … I definitely love Coach Freeman. He knows how to connect with families and his players. It’s great.”
— Class of 2024 cornerback Kaleb Beasley, who has scheduled a visit to South Bend for Sept. 23
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Preorder Blue & Gold Illustrated’s 2023 Notre Dame Football Preview magazine before June 12 and get free shipping! On3 subscribers should go to The Lou Somogyi Board for discounted pricing.
