With two days to go in game week, Thursday combined an ND press practice; a press conference with coaches and players from each team; and a clinic outside for younger Japanese players.
Members of the press received white ND Japan Bowl caps in lieu of badges today- a nice touch. Practice (in helmets and shorts) went more smoothly, with the defense looking pretty good working through calls and assignments. Ambrose Wooden took all the snaps on offense, as Tony Rice had an ice pack on his leg and #2 QB Gary Godsey was still limping. Things have improved, but to me honestly still seemed a bit too slow- going through pass progressions for example- to handle the Japanese defense come Saturday. We shall see...
Team speed was also an issue at the press conference- Holtz, Tim Brown, and Tony Rice mentioning Japan's team speed, and Japan Coach Kiyoyuki Mori mentioning how they went with younger players and (even) more speed than the World Cup team in 2007. The age of the Notre Dame roster worried them- former ND and NFL receiver Tim Brown begged off on playing, saying he is "over forty", although Kris Haines is on the roster as a WR, and celebrated his 52nd birthday(!) on Thursday.
Holtz repeatedly mentioned his concerns about the skill positions- problems about age and condition of the skill players for Notre Dame; and the ability of the Japanese squad. There were eyebrows raised and looks exchanged on the ND side when they heard WR Noriaki Kinoshita speak of his status on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad. Kinoshita reminded me of Ichiro Suzuki speaking of the first World Baseball Classic in 2006, that in spite of playing abroad, identifying himself as Japanese, and the importance of such games in terms of national pride. Many were also surprised to learn that Kinoshita has been playing twenty years now- since the age of five in the Chestnut League in Kansai.
However Holtz- quite notorious for his tendency to play up the strength of the opposition and his fears for his own squad- may have strained credulity just a bit when asked to evaluate the quality of Japan's football. Reasoning that the 2007 US World Cup team was made up of Division IAA players, and that Japan nearly won the World Cup game , losing on a blocked field goal in double overtime, Coach Holtz told the press conference it was the Japanese team was the equivalent of a Division I [mid-major] football team, such as East Carolina (coached by his son Skip). While the quality of Japanese football is is surprisingly good and continues to steadily improve, the reality is the US World Cup team in 2007 was comprised of post-graduate players of a geographical mix from all college divisions, including NAIA and even three or four Division I players, who had used up their eligibility, and were not drafted or signed as free agents with the NFL.
I had a chance to ask the final question at the press conference, which was for Coach Mori of the Japan team: to prepare for this game, what video did you look at? Mori, who is another one who can be wily, but also be effusive, replied that they looked at numerous things, including the various coordinator's most recent coaching jobs; but he made it a point to mention he got somewhat side-tracked watching the classic 1988 matchup between ND and the Miami Hurricanes during that national championship season for the Irish, a a thrilling 31-30 battle. Holtz and Tony Rice both beamed. Tim Brown had graduated a year earlier.
Coach Holtz greeted me at the bottom of the stairs on the way out, saying "thank you"- not really sure if that was for just being there, or asking the question...
