This veteran offensive lineman is latest to do that for Notre Dame football during CFP run

You could tell something about that night of Notre Dame football was different for one particular player by seeing his sweat-soaked T-shirt.

You could tell something about a College Football Playoff semifinal against Penn State was different for one particular player by looking at his flushed face.

Noie: How much thanks should a former Notre Dame football head coach get for a magical 2024 run?

Standing against an interior wall of a Hard Rock Stadium locker room late last week without pads and a helmet, Irish offensive lineman Tosh Baker looked more bouncer than football player, all 6-foot-8, 325 pounds of him. He looked like someone you definitely didn’t want to mess with over a $10 cover to hear an 80s band and consume watered-down drinks, but something about Baker’s disposition gave him away.

Noie: In a CFP semifinal where Notre Dame football was pushed, could it push back?

His smile made him look more teddy bear than bouncer.

Baker stood there and smiled wide for all to see. Didn’t matter that midnight had come and gone and he could have used a shower and some fresh clothes, and a Gatorade or two, but if Baker had to stand there against that wall for another 30 minutes (even though the interview period was set to close in four) he wouldn’t have minded one bit.

Baker became the latest Irish — position doesn’t matter, class standing doesn’t matter, playing experience doesn’t matter — to go from afterthought to excellent. In a 27-24 win over Penn State, Baker played his role as an emergency left tackle after starter Anthonie Knapp hobbled off with a high left ankle sprain.

“You hate to see a teammate go down, but the opportunity presented itself,” Baker said. “It was my turn to step up and I had to deliver my best. The guys next to me deserve it. I had to do my best for the guy next to me.”

One…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/veteran-offensive-lineman-latest-notre-132221913.html

Author : South Bend Tribune

Publish date : 2025-01-13 13:22:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.