An injury will force No. 4 Notre Dame to change who wears its defensive radio helmet Saturday against No. 1 Miami.
Coach Marcus Freeman wants fans to make sure it won't matter when the longtime rivalry returns to Notre Dame Stadium for the Fighting Irish's biggest game of the season, one filled with playoff implications.
Notre Dame (7-1) announced Monday that starting linebacker Drayk Bowen would not play because of a right ankle injury from Saturday's 35-13 victory over Navy. Starting safety Brauntae Johnson also will be out with the left foot injury that has kept him sidelined. The hope was Johnson could return this week.
It's not all bad news, though. All-American cornerback Leonard Moore and linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa are expected to return after each missed two of the last three games. Moore was in the concussion protocol while Viliamu-Asa had a left thumb/left wrist injury. And it's likely Viliamu-Asa will inherit the “green dot” helmet from Bowen, a duty that could be more difficult than usual.
“I hope it’s so loud when we’re on defense, it really doesn’t matter what coach (Chris) Ash is telling the green dot,” Freeman said. “I hope it’s that loud, and it’s a challenge to our fans to be loud because it impacts the game. I know when we’re on away games and in hostile environments, we have to prepare for it being loud like if you’re not able to hear us, you’re not going to hear the verbal communication on the field and that’s a game-changer."
Losing Bowen is about more than just who's relaying the play calls from the defensive coordinator to players on the field. Bowen leads the Irish with 45 tackles, is tied for third with two pass breakups and returned his lone fumble recovery for a 15-yard touchdown in a Week 4 win at Purdue.
He appeared to get injured when his leg got twisted in a pile. Bowen was in street clothes for the start of the second half and in a walking boot after the game. Notre Dame did not say if the Indiana prep star would miss the rest of the season.
Bowen has been a key cog on a team ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense (15.8 points), run defense (85.4 yards), pass defense (150.9), takeaways (16) and No. 1 in total defense (236.2).
Getting Moore and Viliamu-Asa back certainly will help offset the losses of Bowen and Johnson.
Moore is the top-rated cornerback in April's NFL draft class and is expected to be paired against one of the nation's top receivers, Heisman Trophy contender Malachi Toney. Moore has only 13 tackles and five pass breakups in large part because teams have thrown away from him. The Hurricanes (8-0) may be more likely to challenge Moore.
Viliamu-Asa has 15 tackles in five games but also has 1 1/2 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery. And he could face an even bigger challenge if he is wearing the radio helmet.
“Really, the coach-to-player communication is just more of a backup. I’m expecting the stadium to be so loud the coach-to-player communication ain’t helping anybody but the person who has the helmet on," Freeman said. "It really does impact the offense and that’s the type of environment I’m hoping we have here at Notre Dame Stadium.”
The Irish also could have defensive linemen Francis Brewu and Jason Onye back. Both are listed as questionable this week. A right knee injury has limited Onye to only three games this season. Brewu has continued to play through a left knee injury.
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