Corwin Brown is a players' coach. Yes, the product of the Bill Parcells-Bill Belichick-Al Groh-Eric Mangini coaching tree is a players' coach. No, he's not a lackadaisical, non-disciplinarian. He's not a guy who is going to play favorites or coddle starters.
In 2007, Irish fans step back into the unknown. Some people dread the unknown and fear that 2007 will bring disappointing results. After all, who could blame them for thinking that way? Last season, everybody knew who everybody was on the team. Quinn, Samardzija and Walker were known quantities.
Travis Thomas spent almost all of last season on defense and special teams - a departure from his natural position of running back - in order to help bolster the Irish defense with speed. But Saturday, the fifth-year senior captain returns full-time to the offensive backfield and can already visualize the big plays he wants to make against Georgia Tech.
Last season, as Notre Dame prepared to face Georgia Tech in the opening game of the season, Irish defensive coaches had one name on their minds - Calvin Johnson. But the Yellow Jackets' All-American wide receiver, who caught seven passes for 111 yards and a touchdown against Notre Dame last fall, has moved on.