The man in the flip-flops called the head coach’s top-secret direct line before dawn Monday, odd timing that usually leads to the distribution of condolences, scholarship releases or bail money.
Instead it was just Sam Young, shuffling over to the Guglielmino Athletics Complex in his rainbow-colored sandals around 5:30 a.m., figuring he might as well discuss his role in the Notre Dame football reclamation project with coach Charlie Weis.
The sophomore tackle had not snapped awake in a cold sweat. And he regularly enters media sessions barefoot, so he’s not much of an irritable brooder. The idea of becoming a leader just happened to strike Young then, so why not catch Weis for an early-word special?
“I don’t know if it’s quite that movie-plottish,” Young said. “I woke up, it came to my mind, I moseyed on over, had a conversation, moseyed on back and went to bed.”
Of course, if this 2007 season were a movie, it would be “The Rockne Horror Picture Show,” which was the point of Young’s visit. Someone must lead the Irish out of the mire, and few figures are easier to follow than one measuring 6 feet 8 inches and 310 pounds.
Young was the giant-sized cornerstone of Weis’ first full recruiting class, a freshman starter. Now he helps man a line contributing to a school-record 51 sacks and counting in ’07. Young was a sizable investment, and given the limited returns, he felt compelled to take ownership.
“With the line the way it is right now, I’m trying to put myself in the position to help us get better, more than anything,” Young said. “Whatever that entails for me, I’m more than willing to do.”
Weis considers leadership an inherent trait, so Young’s capacity to drive the Irish remains undetermined. He certainly has the opportunity, with center and captain John Sullivan out of Saturday’s game against Duke and potentially the finale at Stanford.
What profile Young cuts in his teammates’ eyes is obviously paramount. Maybe it was just an innocent omission, but when asked what leaders might emerge offensively in 2008, tailback James Aldridge mentioned quarterbacks, receivers, even himself.
Asked then about Young, a starter for 23 straight games, Aldridge exclaimed, “I forgot about Sam!”
“[Young] has the capability of being a fine leader,” offensive line coach John Latina said. “He’s somewhat different than Sully, because Sully was a boisterous leader; he voiced his opinion. I think Sam can develop into one of those kinds of guys but in his own way.”
Young said: “[The Irish linemen] are smart, intelligent players. I put my two cents in if I feel I need to put it in .”
The Irish might settle for Young developing into a road-grader at left tackle and matching the promise that made him the Class of 2006’s No. 1 tackle prospect nationally, according to Rivals.com.
Weis and Latina say a lineman’s greatest gains occur between his second and third years. Some progress took place, apparently, once Young switched to the left side two games into this season. More will occur, Weis said, if Young boosts his weight to the 330-pound range.
“He has played much better on the left side than he played on the right side,” Weis said. “He looks more natural both in the run game and the pass game. … He already has grown into this big old body now, and as he continues getting stronger, he’s going to become more dominant.”
Meanwhile, Young must embrace the idea of standing out, something not entirely natural for him. For example, Saturday, Young again will hear the entreaties of former high school teammate Marcus Lind, a 6-4, 300-pound redshirt freshman for Duke from Gavle, Sweden.
“He keeps trying to get me to come to Sweden with him,” Young said. “He said he’s a giant over there. I don’t know how I’d fit in over there with red hair and freckles.”
Better to try and command everyone’s attention in South Bend anyway.
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bchamilton@tribune.com
