STANFORD UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

November 25, 2023

Audric Estime

Postgame Media Conference

Notre Dame - 56, Stanford - 23

Q. During the game, did you feel this pregame, or did you have some type of motivation to have a game this extraordinary?

AUDRIC ESTIME: I feel like it was another game, but this game was definitely different. Last regular season -- for the 2023 season. So we always pride ourselves to finish strong, start fast and finish strong. We were talking about the game in particular, but it goes to the season, you've got to start fast and finish strong. I feel the team did that and represented at a high level today.

Q. How badly did you want to be in there in the first quarter? Did you realize you were that close to setting a yardage record?

AUDRIC ESTIME: I realized it toward the end, but I'm not really chasing records, honestly, or stats. It's nice to get it, but at the end of the day, we got the job done. We won by like, what, 40 points? We had over 300 rushing on the ground as a total offense. That's all that matters at the end of the day.

Q. Big decision for you coming up, obviously. Really recent after the game, not much time to think about it. What do you think your timeline is, and when are you going to make that decision?

AUDRIC ESTIME: I don't really have a timeline right now. I'm just worried about coming in on Monday, getting a lift in, going over this game, see how I could have done better and we'll start having conversations then.

Q. How did you find out you weren't a Doak Walker semifinalist, and how much did it motivate you?

AUDRIC ESTIME: I found out the night before. It was pretty hard. It was definitely a goal of mine, but it wasn't the end of the world at that point. We still had some football to play, which is all that matters. I just have a bunch of guys that rely on me. So I couldn't shut down no matter what.

Just have to keep on going. Had to come in the next day at practice like nothing happened, just keep on rolling.

Q. Do you feel it fueled you in any way?

AUDRIC ESTIME: I'm not going to lie, it definitely fueled me. I definitely feel like I'm one of the best running backs in the country, if not the best. And I would definitely want other people to notice. But I feel like after today I feel like a lot of people notice.

Q. Obviously a lot of (inaudible) at the game. As one of the leaders on this team, how do you attack that and (inaudible)?

AUDRIC ESTIME: So Coach Freeman always prides, was our main message to come out fast today. We did come out fast, I would say, but we had things we're shooting ourselves in the legs, like turnover. Our main pillar, first pillar, is the ball. Have to do a better job taking care of the ball. But offense played a great game. Defense played a great game. Special teams played a great game. We just didn't let the negative plays run our whole game, just took one play at a time, kept on going.

Q. What was the message that Coach Freeman was trying to pass on to you at the end of the first half?

AUDRIC ESTIME: I'm the leader of this, one of the leaders of this team, I'm the leader of this offense. I'm the leader of the running back group. When a guy like that fumbles the ball at the 1-yard line, it's a reflection on me, reflection of Coach Freeman. That's Coach Freeman holding me and our running back group to high standards. I appreciate that. And just great coaching, something that everyone needs to take their game to the next level. That's what he was doing.

Q. You must have been pretty excited it was overruled?

AUDRIC ESTIME: I was happy about that. Happy for Gi'Bran to get a touchdown.

Q. How much more frustrating is it to know that Ohio State lost today and you guys are in a much better position with the comeback you had?

AUDRIC ESTIME: It was a good game. Both teams, Michigan and Ohio State are good teams. But it's hard to go back in time that far down the line because there's a couple things we could have done better. But at the end of the day, that's football. The ball goes out of the way. You just have to bring it every other game. This week our opponent was Stanford. We handled business. We'd love to have that back, but it's life, have to keep moving, have to find ways to improve from that.

Q. The tweet that said "bet," what did that mean?

AUDRIC ESTIME: Exactly what I meant today. Bet.

Q. Bet on you or --

AUDRIC ESTIME: No, it was just really -- I felt like I was kind of cut short. So that "bet" was just, all right, you guys don't think I'm one of the 10 best in the country, I'm going to show you.

Q. (Inaudible)?

AUDRIC ESTIME: They did an amazing job. I couldn't do anything without them from Joe Alt to Patrick Coogan, to Ashton stepping up and Billy stepping up and Blake. Those guys did a phenomenal job for me all year. I'm so thankful for them.

Honestly, I told them I've got to take them all out to eat. I gotta do something for them. I'm so thankful for them. Those guys are hard workers, led by (indiscernible). Coach Freeman always prides that we're an O line- and a D line-driven program. And they do a great job us leading us as leaders. They're the first ones in on practice on Monday, last one out of the facility because they're always having meetings. They just do a great job, and I am really appreciative of those guys.

Q. Do you recognize a couple (inaudible)?

AUDRIC ESTIME: Yeah, definitely Eli stepped up with Holden not playing, and Mitch Evans getting down, Eli doing a great job. And David Sherwood and Cooper playing, they've all done a great job. Sky's the limit for them because those guys are young, they're just now getting their groove. I'm excited to see where it's going to take them.

Q. What does it mean to you to have the single season program record for rushing touchdowns?

AUDRIC ESTIME: It's amazing. Coming into this school, coming in as a freshman, coming in as Notre Dame, I always pride myself when I say I'm going to give them something to remember, do something legendary and having a record like that has my name stamped in the history books forever.

So that's amazing for the whole offensive line to help me get them and Coach Freeman, Coach Deland for trusting me, giving me opportunity to put me in a position to be successful. I'm thankful to God and everyone who helped me along this way.