I caught up with 2023 Rivals250 OL commit Sam Pendleton to learn what it was like witnessing Notre Dame's upset of No. 4 Clemson as a recruit in person. Here's what he had to say.
Inside ND Sports: What was it like before the game? What did you guys do?
Pendleton: "We were all in the indoor facility. We were hanging out and playing games. It was a really good time for us because I hadn't met all the 2023 (commits) guys. A bunch of the guys that I hadn't met came. So it was a really good opportunity to meet and hang out with some guys I hadn't met before.
"All four of the offensive line commits were there. So we hung out basically all day. We all just hung out, ate, fellowshipped and talked to parents and (director of recruiting) Chad (Bowden) a little bit."
Who did you meet for the first time?
"I met a bunch of guys for the first time. I met Joe Otting. None of us had met him yet. So he was the offensive lineman guy that I hadn't met. I hadn't met Brenan Vernon before. He's a cool guy. I hadn't met Jaiden Ausberry.
"I met some of the 2024 guys. I had met (quarterback commit) CJ (Carr), but then I met (wide receiver) Cam Williams. I met (defensive lineman) Brandon (Davis-Swain) and (defensive lineman) Owen Wafle."
What was it like getting you all together? Is it starting to feel like you're teammates?
"It's definitely aided our chemistry a little bit before we even get there. Just speaking with the guys I've met. I met most of the guys on my official visit. I met (offensive lineman) Charles (Jagusah) on my very first visit up, so he and I've been talking for a long time. And it's just really made us closer because this is way more than just recruiting now.
"You build relationships, and you're trying to figure out, like, what kind of people you're gonna play with. How well your personalities work together, because it's not just how well you play football, it's how well you interact with people. Two Type A personalities don't go well together. So, it's been really great for us to be able to have that opportunity to talk and hang out in just an easy environment—kind of like before game day. We're just playing games and just really competing against each other at just a little basic level.
"It was really cool. And I feel like it's definitely aiding that for sure."
What was it like watching your first game at Notre Dame Stadium?
"It was probably the most electric atmosphere I've ever been in, and I've been to some big games. It didn't feel like another game I was going to. It felt like home. It just felt like this is where I'm supposed to be instead of just sitting in the crowd watching somebody else play. I know a bunch of the guys on the team, personally. And it was really cool to watch them play in person.
"Every Saturday, I sit at my house with my dad and talk to the TV like a psychopath, but it's just really cool being there in person and seeing the crowd. I'd never thought it'd be that big of a crowd and how loud it would be. But like I told some other people, my ears were literally ringing when we got out of the stadium. It was so loud."
What did you observe of the offensive line's performance?
"That's all I do when I watch football now because you want to improve your game, and what better way to do it then to watch the guys who are getting coached by the guy who's gonna coach you? I watch them play, and I watch them get coached up on the sideline. I was really, really impressed because not only have they gotten better since the season started, they've gotten closer.
"Obviously, you can see on the field — playing offensive line. You can pick up on body language and what you're doing during the play. Just for an example, I saw Zeke Correll miss a block and (Jarrett Patterson) pick it up like it was nothing like they've done it a million times. JP played center last year. Guard is not foreign for him. But it's just super cool to see that bond that they have.
"Then, like you see him celebrating together on the sidelines, talking to each other, agreeing and talking about the game plan. You're not just watching the game being antisocial or staying by yourself. So I was really, really encouraged by that. And just really excited to be part of it."
What was it like rushing the field?
"With about two minutes left, we started really crowding up against where the gates were to get down on the field. Once they took that last knee, we just started flooding the fields. It was just a really cool opportunity to be a part of, especially being one of the persons on the field.
"And then also, it's just super cool to be a part of because now you're celebrating for a reason. You're not just celebrating someone who won. You're celebrating because your team won. That's gonna be your family one day. So it just has a whole new meaning."
Was there someone you were looking for when you ran onto the field?
"I ran on the field, and coach (Chris Watt) caught my eye. We saw each other. I ran up and hugged him. And then, I got squished amongst all the people. Then, I was just trying to make it to the tunnel."
Inside ND Sports: What was it like before the game? What did you guys do?
Pendleton: "We were all in the indoor facility. We were hanging out and playing games. It was a really good time for us because I hadn't met all the 2023 (commits) guys. A bunch of the guys that I hadn't met came. So it was a really good opportunity to meet and hang out with some guys I hadn't met before.
"All four of the offensive line commits were there. So we hung out basically all day. We all just hung out, ate, fellowshipped and talked to parents and (director of recruiting) Chad (Bowden) a little bit."
Who did you meet for the first time?
"I met a bunch of guys for the first time. I met Joe Otting. None of us had met him yet. So he was the offensive lineman guy that I hadn't met. I hadn't met Brenan Vernon before. He's a cool guy. I hadn't met Jaiden Ausberry.
"I met some of the 2024 guys. I had met (quarterback commit) CJ (Carr), but then I met (wide receiver) Cam Williams. I met (defensive lineman) Brandon (Davis-Swain) and (defensive lineman) Owen Wafle."
What was it like getting you all together? Is it starting to feel like you're teammates?
"It's definitely aided our chemistry a little bit before we even get there. Just speaking with the guys I've met. I met most of the guys on my official visit. I met (offensive lineman) Charles (Jagusah) on my very first visit up, so he and I've been talking for a long time. And it's just really made us closer because this is way more than just recruiting now.
"You build relationships, and you're trying to figure out, like, what kind of people you're gonna play with. How well your personalities work together, because it's not just how well you play football, it's how well you interact with people. Two Type A personalities don't go well together. So, it's been really great for us to be able to have that opportunity to talk and hang out in just an easy environment—kind of like before game day. We're just playing games and just really competing against each other at just a little basic level.
"It was really cool. And I feel like it's definitely aiding that for sure."
What was it like watching your first game at Notre Dame Stadium?
"It was probably the most electric atmosphere I've ever been in, and I've been to some big games. It didn't feel like another game I was going to. It felt like home. It just felt like this is where I'm supposed to be instead of just sitting in the crowd watching somebody else play. I know a bunch of the guys on the team, personally. And it was really cool to watch them play in person.
"Every Saturday, I sit at my house with my dad and talk to the TV like a psychopath, but it's just really cool being there in person and seeing the crowd. I'd never thought it'd be that big of a crowd and how loud it would be. But like I told some other people, my ears were literally ringing when we got out of the stadium. It was so loud."
What did you observe of the offensive line's performance?
"That's all I do when I watch football now because you want to improve your game, and what better way to do it then to watch the guys who are getting coached by the guy who's gonna coach you? I watch them play, and I watch them get coached up on the sideline. I was really, really impressed because not only have they gotten better since the season started, they've gotten closer.
"Obviously, you can see on the field — playing offensive line. You can pick up on body language and what you're doing during the play. Just for an example, I saw Zeke Correll miss a block and (Jarrett Patterson) pick it up like it was nothing like they've done it a million times. JP played center last year. Guard is not foreign for him. But it's just super cool to see that bond that they have.
"Then, like you see him celebrating together on the sidelines, talking to each other, agreeing and talking about the game plan. You're not just watching the game being antisocial or staying by yourself. So I was really, really encouraged by that. And just really excited to be part of it."
What was it like rushing the field?
"With about two minutes left, we started really crowding up against where the gates were to get down on the field. Once they took that last knee, we just started flooding the fields. It was just a really cool opportunity to be a part of, especially being one of the persons on the field.
"And then also, it's just super cool to be a part of because now you're celebrating for a reason. You're not just celebrating someone who won. You're celebrating because your team won. That's gonna be your family one day. So it just has a whole new meaning."
Was there someone you were looking for when you ran onto the field?
"I ran on the field, and coach (Chris Watt) caught my eye. We saw each other. I ran up and hugged him. And then, I got squished amongst all the people. Then, I was just trying to make it to the tunnel."
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