Heat slows new-look Notre Dame offensive line to open preseason practices; QB competition continues for now

If you can’t stand the heat, get into the kitchen before the next practice. Or something like that.

Such was the thinking of Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman after the first preseason practice for the Irish on Friday. As Freeman memorably said in the viral video showcasing the uniforms Notre Dame will wear in the Shamrock Series against BYU on Oct. 8, he is not the players’ friend, he is their head coach. And the head coach understandably gets frustrated when two starting offensive linemen were not adequately prepared for the early August heat.

He minced no words for sophomore right tackle Blake Fisher and senior Zeke Correll, both ending the first practice sidelined due to overheating.

“It’s a great reminder, those guys have been busting their tails all summer to get in shape, and then you get out there that first practice — the heat, the sweat, the anxiety, the energy, it all just kicks up,” Freeman said Friday. “That’s why I remind them after practice, it’s your job to make sure you’re available. What you have to do from now until tomorrow when we’re back on the field, it’s up to you and it’s up to each individual to make sure they’re ready to go.”

As understandable as Freeman’s frustration was, it was also understandable that two players weighing 327 and 308 pounds, respectively, wore out in humid weather with temperatures in the upper 80s.

The more notable aspect of Correll’s fatigue was that he was part of Notre Dame’s starting offensive line. He spent the spring starting at center, but that was when a torn pectoral forced fifth-year offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson to the sideline. Patterson has started three seasons at center. Correll (No. 52 above) would have to force the issue to usurp the veteran.

And