UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

November 18, 2023

Audric Estime

Press Conference

Notre Dame 45, Wake Forest 7

Q. Audric, you probably heard Sam just call it a noteworthy offensive performance. How much did you guys need that? What do you attribute it to?

AUDRIC ESTIME: Yeah, it honestly felt good for our offense as a whole and our whole team to go out and finish strong in our stadium. We have a lot of older guys on this team, a lot of seniors on the team. We had a guy like Same Hartman who came over for his sixth year.

It is honestly just a staple of how this whole entire offense worked this while entire off-season and whole entire season, and I'm so blessed to be part of this. I'm grateful that we finished in that way.

Q. You may or may not have another year left at Notre Dame. From an offensive standpoint, when you have a performance like this, how do you guys make sure you carry the momentum forward?

AUDRIC ESTIME: Yeah, we know we take it one week at a time. We finish this week and have one more guaranteed game that we have an opportunity to win. We just got to attack that week like we do every other week.

Q. You've stayed in some games late to hit the 100-yard mark. What does that mean and why is that important to get to that mark?

AUDRIC ESTIME: Yeah, honestly, it's cool to hit that mark every game, but that's not the goal. It's to reach our full potential. We had some offensive linemen in there. Blake, Joe Alt in there. Honestly, so just staple of how I play. I came in with those guys and I just wanted to finish with those guys.

Q. Coach Freeman alluded to the fact this could possibly be your last game at Notre Dame Stadium. How do you compartmentalize those things?

AUDRIC ESTIME: Yeah, it's been a journey, a ride, a lot of ups and downs, but I'm so bless that had I chose this place. This place honestly changed my life for better.

Like you said, I could come back; I could not. That's not a decision I made yet. Just looking to finish the next two games, and so blessed to be a part of this great team with a great group of guys and great group of coaches and great ref, media, professors, everyone.

Q. Did you feel any kind of wave of emotions that that could potentially have been your last time walking off that field?

AUDRIC ESTIME: Yeah, not going to lie, definitely, because I haven't made a decision yet, but like you said, it could be potentially my last time. I know for a fact it's Sam Hartman's last time, and some of the guys on defense last time, a lot of seniors.

So just going hard with them the whole summer, dying in conditioning just to be able to finish out strong like this to see the smiles and their face and see everyone's family on the field was a great moment and a moment I'll remember forever.

Q. Marcus told us he doesn't like to keep guys in to hit numbers, but wanted to make sure you hit 100 yards today and you guys talked about it. What was that conversation like?

AUDRIC ESTIME: It was just they told me I had like 20 yards and I got to get it. I'm like, oh, I can easily get it. Just let me stay in there. They're like, all right, I'm trusting you, and they let me stay in there.

I stayed in with Joe Alt, Blake Fisher and it was an honor for them to allow me to do that. Show how much they trust me and you trust them until it's over, so I really appreciate them for that.

Q. Going to ask about the emotion as well. And you Coach McCullough had that embrace on the sideline. What was that like and explain that for us?

AUDRIC ESTIME: Yeah, man, McCullough, he done so much for me in my life in the span of two years. Felt like I known him my whole life. He is a guy that is always going to have your back no matter, on the football and off the football field. He is just a great man. He taught me so much. He made me into the man I am today, and I'll just be forever grateful for him.

Q. What are the conversations you had with family, those here with you supporting you through the loss of your mother and those things to get you through this time of the year?

AUDRIC ESTIME: Yeah, I have the best support system from my family to my friends to my staff, to people like KD over here. I have the best people around me. I need those people in my life forever.

I wouldn't be in this position without those people. The decision to come back or not will be made with my loved once. I just can't do anything without those people in my life and I'm so thankful for them.

Q. Could you describe how important was the performance by Joe Alt and Zeke Correll?

AUDRIC ESTIME: Yeah, great performance by them. They perform really well every week. We are led by the strong, which our offensive line and defensive line. Coach Freeman always preached we are and O-line and D-line driven unit, and those guys come to practice every day and practice hard. It was great to get that type of win for them at the last home game for them.

Q. You had a terrific season. The Notre Dame brand a worldwide known. In Mexico you already have tons of fans.

AUDRIC ESTIME: That's nice. I didn't know that. (Laughing.)

Q. Especially youth football kids that are now they are not dreaming about playing college football in Mexico, they are thinking about playing high school in the U.S. and then go to Division I. What is your message for the fans there and those kids?

AUDRIC ESTIME: Yeah, this is all about -- I'm very appreciative for those guys. That's why I came to Notre Dame, because it's a great brand. Opened so many doors and opportunities. Like you said, people in Mexico know me. I didn't know that. Very blessed.

I appreciate those guys for watching, and we just got to finish strong for those people and all the supporters around the world.