The Golden Domers

Photo Credit: Notre Dame

Written By Ulad Danilovich

Edited By Liam Abayasinghe

Having the pleasure of interviewing a D1 athlete is not on everybody’s bucket list, but we were able to capitalize on such an opportunity. Marty Auer: an academic scholar, and esteemed athlete, is currently in his senior year at the University of Notre Dame, studying economics. In our interview, Liam and I discussed what it takes to be a student-athlete at Notre Dame, and received a little glimpse into the workload one has to take on to handle such a diverse college experience. 

Strength and Conditioning

During the interview, Auer revealed the helpfulness of the athletics department at the University of Notre Dame. From meal plans to physical therapy, the athletics department was able to help Auer and his teammates every step of the way. Referencing meal plans, Auer mentioned that anybody could walk onto the team at any weight and the athletics department would help the player get to any desired weight by providing three nutritious meals every day honed to that person in particular, ensuring that no players would go hungry on their watch while being able to maintain calories and macros. 

Coaching Transition

With the transition from Brian Kelly to Marcus Freeman, Auer expressed his joy for a stronger and more connected team dynamic with Freeman now at the head. Freeman’s not all fun and games, though, with Auer referencing the drastic change in workout intensity during the team’s season, and even stating that Freeman took an approach that’s based on science and physical research rather than “toughing things out”. With this change, exercises that are more common in a Football game were cycled into the team’s workout plan during practice. Three hundred-meter workouts morphed into more mindful forty-meter workouts, which mimic the motions in a game better than being forced to run up and down the stadium repeatedly. These tiny changes in the workouts will go a long way for Notre Dame.