‘They went in there and did their job’: Veteran offensive linemen Coogan and Spindler rely on preparation, commitment in return to key roles

Entering the 2024 season, it was unusual for the inexperience of Notre Dame’s offensive line — typically one of the nation’s strongest and most battle-tested units — to be a major question mark for the Irish offense. Prior to the season opener against Texas A&M, the five starters up front had started just six combined games for the Irish, with freshman left tackle Anthony Knapp, sophomore left guard Sam Pendleton and junior right tackle Aamil Wagner all making their first starts against the Aggies .

Even more unusual is the fact that the Irish roster did feature an abundance of experience and high-level in-game performance — just not in the starting lineup. In 2023, senior Pat Coogan started each of Notre Dame’s 13 games at left guard, while graduate student Rocco Spindler started 10 games at the opposite guard spot. Both were key contributors for an Irish unit that was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award for the nation’s best offensive line, and both helped serve as the backbone for one of the best offenses in school history, as Notre Dame’s 39.1 points per game ranked second all-time for the program.

Following the 2023 season, that loaded Irish offensive line saw a mass exodus, with star tackles Joe Alt and Blake Fisher each being selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft and center Zeke Correll transferring to NC State. After losing three key pieces on the line, it was natural for Irish fans to assume that returning starters Coogan and Spindler would be the clear-cut leaders of the 2024 unit, guiding the youthful lineman that would join them in the starting lineup.

But for a team that recruits and develops offensive line talent as well as Notre Dame, everything is earned and nothing is given, and after a long slate of practices through the spring and fall, Coogan and Spindler both found themselves on the bench as the Irish kicked off their season in College Station.

In today’s era of college football, especially, it would have been easy for either player to enter the transfer portal in search of greener pastures, knowing that players of their pedigree could step in as no-doubt, day-one starters for most programs across the country. Likewise, some players might have let the disappointment of losing out on their starting position bleed into their attitude in the form of poor effort on the practice field or failing to support the younger teammates that took over their roles.

That was never a worry for anyone within the Irish program, however, a testament to the strong team-first culture that Notre Dame has built.

“It was pretty simple for me. My love for the University of Notre Dame is so much stronger than any individual honor, goal (or) accolade I could’ve imagined,” Coogan said about his mentality entering the season as a backup. “Sure, it sucked, and there were some dark moments, but the pride of this University and the pride of this program — especially the offensive line unit — I knew I had to be ready at any moment and helping (the new starters) out (brought satisfaction) for me as well. It sucked not being on the field, it really did. But everything happens for a reason, I’m a firm believer in that, and I just put my head down and told myself I was going to come to the building with a positive attitude every single day, and that’s what I did.”

That next-man-up mindset paid dividends for the Irish in their 66-7 demolition of Purdue on Saturday, albeit in unfortunate circumstances. In the first half in West Lafayette, junior right guard Billy Schrauth exited the game with an ankle injury. Shortly after, junior center Ashton Craig went down after injuring his knee.

For most teams, losing two offensive linemen in rapid succession midgame could prove disastrous, grinding the offense to a halt. But most teams don’t have players the caliber of Coogan — who stepped in at center — and Spindler — who took over at right guard — ready and waiting on the bench. The transition was seamless for the Irish, who would continue to dominate the Boilermakers on the ground, finishing the afternoon with 362 rushing yards and six touchdowns at a sky-high clip of 8.2 yards per carry.

Coogan discussed the preparation that enabled him and Spindler to transition seamlessly from not playing all season to stepping into the starting offensive line in a must-win road game. That preparation proved crucial, especially for Coogan, who didn’t miss a beat at center despite having previously only started at guard for the Irish.

“That’s kind of one of the best things about Notre Dame,” Coogan said. “Everyone’s gotta be ready to roll and everyone’s talented enough to be ready to roll, so when I saw Craig go down unfortunately — and same thing as what happened with Rocco — it’s just like, I knew everyone had all the confidence in the world in me and all the confidence in the world in Rocco, so you’ve just gotta go out there and play ball. You can’t think of the what-ifs or the worries or anything, you’ve just gotta go play ball.”

Irish head coach Marcus Freeman had an abundance of praise for the play of his veteran lineman duo after entering the game on short notice, as well as for their strong commitment to the program.

“It was huge,” Freeman said about the play of Coogan and Spindler. “To start as many games as those two started and to not be the starter (now) and to be prepared and to be great teammates, I can’t speak any more highly of those two guys. They went in there and they got the job done, and it’s a (credit) to their preparation, their unselfishness, to their love for the team. Those two guys deserve a lot of credit for the way they prepared, the way they make the guys in front of them better and the way that, when they got their opportunity, they went in there and did their job.”

Senior quarterback Riley Leonard faced significant criticism after Notre Dame’s upset loss to Northern Illinois the week before but responded in a big way against Purdue, carving the Boilermakers up for 112 passing yards, 100 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in the first half alone. Leonard attributed his success to the resilience of the Irish offensive line, highlighting Coogan and Spindler specifically.

“Up front, you get a couple guys that go down and the next guys just bounce back up, the next guys just come in and play their tails off,” Leonard said. “I’m super proud of them and have all the confidence in the world in whoever’s up front blocking for us.”

The Irish coaching staff’s confidence in the depth and talent across the offensive line will be vital for the remainder of the season, especially after it was announced earlier this week that Craig’s injury is season-ending and Schrauth is expected to miss several weeks. Fortunately for Notre Dame, Coogan, Spindler, and the entire offensive line are always prepared to step up when called upon, helping to create openings for one of the nation’s top rushing attacks while providing crucial protection for a passing game still looking to find its rhythm .

When the Irish return home on Saturday to face Miami (Ohio) in hopes of securing their second straight win and first of the year at Notre Dame Stadium, it will be Coogan and Spindler manning the center of the offensive line, and the level of confidence that their teammates and coaches have in them will be just as high as it was on Saturday when they were forced into action with no warning and rose to the occasion.

Later in the season, if Spindler returns to the bench when Schrauth recovers from his injury, you can bet he’ll remain just as focused, supportive, and committed as ever—just like Coogan or any other member of an Irish offensive line known for its unwavering culture. As Leonard described it, their bond is “unreal,” adding, “the culture in that room is something I wish everyone could see.”

After all, Coogan, Spindler, and the rest of the linemen proved it throughout the season, and their commitment paid off when it mattered most — just when everyone was watching.

“Just how much they love their teammates and love Notre Dame,” offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said about what he’s learned about Coogan and Spindler during his first year with the Irish. “Those guys are a testament to hard work, commitment and what a true Notre Dame man looks like. They came to work every day, regardless of circumstance, and put the work in (that was) necessary, and I don’t think you saw much of a blip on the radar screen when those guys went in the game Saturday because of the preparation that they (put in) to be ready to go when their time came… It came on Saturday, and they were ready to go.”

Their opportunity may have come unexpectedly and under less-than-ideal circumstances, but the Irish are counting on them to stay ready against the RedHawks and in the weeks ahead — confident they’ll rise to the occasion.