UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 17, 2022

Jacob Lacey

Press Conference

Notre Dame 24, California 17

Q. Jacob, what was it like for the defensive line to be challenged, I guess, in game by Coach Freeman and then have to come time after time after a quarterback with that escapability?

JACOB LACEY: Well, we prepared all week for this. We knew we had a chance to get after the quarterback. We emphasized it every day. It served him out sometimes, but as you can see, it paid off, and I wasn't the only one that benefitted from that. We had a crazy day on the defensive line, and we're only going forward from here.

Q. What did it mean to you when Foskey comes back in the game? Seemed like he had been out a couple series. What can you say about the courage he showed to play through whatever he's dealing with?

JACOB LACEY: Well, I would say we definitely have one of the toughest if not the toughest defensive line players in the country. We all get banged up and have little injuries here and there, but what you see is we fight through everything, and it's not only that we're fighting through it, we still make plays through it, and it's just fun to watch.

Q. Take us through the emotions of the final minute. Obviously it looked like you guys won the game 17 times and then didn't and then finally did at the end. To finally get that first win, take us through those emotions?

JACOB LACEY: It was a roller coaster for sure. We got the interception and then the fumble recovery. You're up and down, but we knew if we were on the field, the game was going to end regardless. We weren't worried about the next play. We weren't worried about them scoring, honestly, we just knew we had to execute and that's what we did.

Q. How critical was it for this defense to have a fourth quarter like this after the way the last two weeks went?

JACOB LACEY: It's everything we worked for. It was one of our keys to victory, finishing in the fourth quarter. We talk about it every week. We fell short a couple times, but now we're on the right track, and we can still do even better. We still had some mistakes, so yeah.

Q. What was Coach Freeman's message after the game, and how was it different, win aside, from the last two weeks?

JACOB LACEY: It was definitely way more electric for sure. It was fun. The locker room felt great. His message was, this is not it. This is just the start, and we're only going forward from here. But we're going to enjoy this one, see where we messed up and just get back to work.

Q. Could you sense him struggling to enjoy the win while also wanting to coach you in that moment already?

JACOB LACEY: I mean, he had a smile on his face with the words he was saying. Head coaches got to say what they got to say, but he does a great job, so I'm thankful for him.

Q. We've seen you come off the bench or start in a pinch and come up with big games and others, too. What's the reward where it's a game where you guys as a defensive line flexed you guys' depth and put up the production you did?

JACOB LACEY: Honestly, it's the greatest feeling ever, just knowing that we probably have 11, 12 guys run out there and be as good if not better than the guy that was just in front of him; depends who's hot that day. It's just fun to see the way we all execute no matter who's on the field. It meshes really well.

Q. Jacob, Coach Freeman mentioned a moment during this game where he was hard on you guys, possibly throughout the week, as well. But you told him that you had him. What really gave you the motivation during that moment? Could you kind of expand on that?

JACOB LACEY: Yeah, it was just the refusal to lose, honestly. We've been through so much. We go through the hardest weeks, I believe, in the country, and at some point it's got to pay off, and today it did, and it's only going to keep paying off, and we're just going to keep going, honestly. That's how it is.

Q. You had that sack late there I think it was in the fourth quarter that eventually led Notre Dame to take the go-ahead touchdown. How important was that play in your mind and what was the feeling to capitalize on that moment to kind of turn the tide of the game in the favor of your team?

JACOB LACEY: Yeah, honestly my mindset was just put on for my brothers around me. I knew I had a chance to make a play based on what they were doing. I could kind of understand the things that they were calling and knew a pass was coming, and I knew I had to make a play for my team. I honestly kind of blanked out and did what I had to do.

Q. Their center, No. 73, said something during the week that he was looking forward to playing here but he didn't think 25 years from now he'd remember any of the people he played against. Did you know he said that, and what do you think he'll remember about your line?

JACOB LACEY: No, I honestly didn't know that. I try to stay off of Twitter and Instagram during the week. But I think we'll remember this one. Not much has to be said for that.