Here's the postgame transcript from linebacker Audric Estimé. Questions are paraphrased.
Q: Did you feel this pregame? Or did you have some other type of motivation to have a game like this?
A: “It was definitely another game, but this game was definitely different. Last regular season [game] for the 2023 season. We always pride ourselves to finish strong and start fast. We were talking about the game in particular but that also goes into the season. We got to start fast and finish strong and I feel like the team did that and represented at a high level today.”
Q: How badly did you want to be in there in the fourth quarter? Did you realize you were that close to breaking the record?
A: “I realized towards the end but I’m not really chasing records, honestly, or stats. It’s nice to get it but at the end of the day, we got the job done. We won by like, what, 40 points? We had over 300 rushing on the ground as a total offense so that’s all that matters at the end of the day.”
Q: With your big decision coming up, what is your timeline and when do you want to make a decision?
A: “I don’t really have a timeline right now. I’m just worried about coming in on Monday, getting a lift in and going over this game, seeing how I could’ve done better. And then we’ll start having conversations then.”
Q: How did you find out you weren't a Doak Walker semifinalist and how much did that motivate you?
A: “I found out the night before. It was pretty hard. It was definitely a goal of mine. It wasn't the end of the world at that point. We still had some football to play and that’s all that matters. I just have a bunch of guys that rely on me so I couldn't shut down no matter what. Just had to keep on going, had to come in the next day at practice like nothing happened and just keep on rolling.”
Q: Did you feel like it fueled you in any way?
A: “Yeah, I’m not gonna lie, it definitely fueled me. I definitely feel like I’m one of the best running backs in the country, if not the best. I definitely want other people to notice but after today, I feel like a lot of people will notice.”
Q: As one of the leaders on this team, how did you help attack the early turnovers and help the offense turn it around?
A: “Our main message was to come out fast today. We did come out fast I’d say but we kind of had things that were shooting ourselves in the legs like turnovers. Our main pillar and first pillar is the ball so we gotta do a better job taking care of the ball but offense played a great game, defense played a great game, special teams played a great game. We just didn’t let those negative plays ruin our whole game and just took one play at a time and kept on going.”
Q: What was the message from Coach Freeman at the end of the first half?
A: “I’m one of the leaders of this team. I’m a leader of this offense. I’m the leader of the running back group so when a guy like that fumbles the ball at the one-yard line, that’s a reflection of me. It’s a reflection of coach Deland. That’s just coach Freeman just holding me and holding our running back group to high standards. You know, I love that. I appreciate that. It’s just great coaching. It’s something everyone needs to be to take your game to the next level.
Q: You must’ve been happy about the overruling then?
A: “Yeah, I was happy about that. Happy for Gi’Bran to get the touchdown.”
Q: How much more frustrating is it to know that Ohio State lost today and you guys would be in a much better position today if their comeback didn’t happen against you all?
A: “It was a good game. Both teams, Michigan and Ohio State, are really good teams but it's hard to go back in time that far down the line because there’s a couple [OF] things we could've done better. But at the end of the day, that's football. The ball goes out of the way, you just gotta bring it every other game and this week, our only opponent was Stanford and we handled business. You’d definitely love to have that back but it’s life. You just gotta keep moving and gotta find ways to improve from that.”
Q: What did you mean by your “Bet” tweet earlier this week?
A: “Exactly what I meant, today. Bet.”
Q: (Can’t decipher follow up but related to his tweet)
A: “I felt like I was kinda cut short so that, ‘Bet,’ was just like, ‘Alright, you guys don’t think I’m one of the 10 best in the country, I’m [gonna] show you.”
Q: Can you talk about the job the offensive line did today?
A: “They did an amazing job. I couldn't do anything without them. From Joe Alt to Patrick Coogan to Ashton [Craig] stepping up, Billy [Schrauth] stepping up to Blake [Fisher]. Those guys did a phenomenal job for me all year and I’m so thankful for them. Honestly, I told them I gotta take them all out to eat. I gotta do something for them. I’m just so thankful for them. Those guys are hard workers. We’re led by the strong. Coach Freeman always prides that we’re [an] o-line, d-line driven program and they do a great of leading us. They're our leaders. They’re the first ones in practice on Monday, last ones out the facility because they’re always having meetings. They just do a great job and I really appreciate those guys.”
Q: Did you recognize some of the blocks Eli Raridon threw?
A: “I definitely did. Eli stepped up with Holden [Staes] not playing and Mitch Evans getting down. Eli’s been doing a really good job and Davis Sherwood and Cooper Flanagan, they’ve just [been doing] all a great job. The sky’s the limit for them because those guys are young and those guys are just now getting into a groove so I’m excited to see where it’s gonna take them.”
Q: What does it mean to you to have the single-season rushing touchdowns program record?
A: “It means amazing. Coming into this school, coming in as a freshman, coming in at Notre Dame, I always prided myself and I was saying, ‘I’m gonna give them something to remember. I’m gonna be something legendary.’”
A (cont'd): “Having a record like that has my name stamped in the history books forever. That means amazing for the whole offensive line to help me get that and for coach Freeman, coach Deland for trusting me and giving me an opportunity to put me in position to be successful. I’m just thankful to God and everyone who helped me along this way."
Q: Did you feel this pregame? Or did you have some other type of motivation to have a game like this?
A: “It was definitely another game, but this game was definitely different. Last regular season [game] for the 2023 season. We always pride ourselves to finish strong and start fast. We were talking about the game in particular but that also goes into the season. We got to start fast and finish strong and I feel like the team did that and represented at a high level today.”
Q: How badly did you want to be in there in the fourth quarter? Did you realize you were that close to breaking the record?
A: “I realized towards the end but I’m not really chasing records, honestly, or stats. It’s nice to get it but at the end of the day, we got the job done. We won by like, what, 40 points? We had over 300 rushing on the ground as a total offense so that’s all that matters at the end of the day.”
Q: With your big decision coming up, what is your timeline and when do you want to make a decision?
A: “I don’t really have a timeline right now. I’m just worried about coming in on Monday, getting a lift in and going over this game, seeing how I could’ve done better. And then we’ll start having conversations then.”
Q: How did you find out you weren't a Doak Walker semifinalist and how much did that motivate you?
A: “I found out the night before. It was pretty hard. It was definitely a goal of mine. It wasn't the end of the world at that point. We still had some football to play and that’s all that matters. I just have a bunch of guys that rely on me so I couldn't shut down no matter what. Just had to keep on going, had to come in the next day at practice like nothing happened and just keep on rolling.”
Q: Did you feel like it fueled you in any way?
A: “Yeah, I’m not gonna lie, it definitely fueled me. I definitely feel like I’m one of the best running backs in the country, if not the best. I definitely want other people to notice but after today, I feel like a lot of people will notice.”
Q: As one of the leaders on this team, how did you help attack the early turnovers and help the offense turn it around?
A: “Our main message was to come out fast today. We did come out fast I’d say but we kind of had things that were shooting ourselves in the legs like turnovers. Our main pillar and first pillar is the ball so we gotta do a better job taking care of the ball but offense played a great game, defense played a great game, special teams played a great game. We just didn’t let those negative plays ruin our whole game and just took one play at a time and kept on going.”
Q: What was the message from Coach Freeman at the end of the first half?
A: “I’m one of the leaders of this team. I’m a leader of this offense. I’m the leader of the running back group so when a guy like that fumbles the ball at the one-yard line, that’s a reflection of me. It’s a reflection of coach Deland. That’s just coach Freeman just holding me and holding our running back group to high standards. You know, I love that. I appreciate that. It’s just great coaching. It’s something everyone needs to be to take your game to the next level.
Q: You must’ve been happy about the overruling then?
A: “Yeah, I was happy about that. Happy for Gi’Bran to get the touchdown.”
Q: How much more frustrating is it to know that Ohio State lost today and you guys would be in a much better position today if their comeback didn’t happen against you all?
A: “It was a good game. Both teams, Michigan and Ohio State, are really good teams but it's hard to go back in time that far down the line because there’s a couple [OF] things we could've done better. But at the end of the day, that's football. The ball goes out of the way, you just gotta bring it every other game and this week, our only opponent was Stanford and we handled business. You’d definitely love to have that back but it’s life. You just gotta keep moving and gotta find ways to improve from that.”
Q: What did you mean by your “Bet” tweet earlier this week?
A: “Exactly what I meant, today. Bet.”
Q: (Can’t decipher follow up but related to his tweet)
A: “I felt like I was kinda cut short so that, ‘Bet,’ was just like, ‘Alright, you guys don’t think I’m one of the 10 best in the country, I’m [gonna] show you.”
Q: Can you talk about the job the offensive line did today?
A: “They did an amazing job. I couldn't do anything without them. From Joe Alt to Patrick Coogan to Ashton [Craig] stepping up, Billy [Schrauth] stepping up to Blake [Fisher]. Those guys did a phenomenal job for me all year and I’m so thankful for them. Honestly, I told them I gotta take them all out to eat. I gotta do something for them. I’m just so thankful for them. Those guys are hard workers. We’re led by the strong. Coach Freeman always prides that we’re [an] o-line, d-line driven program and they do a great of leading us. They're our leaders. They’re the first ones in practice on Monday, last ones out the facility because they’re always having meetings. They just do a great job and I really appreciate those guys.”
Q: Did you recognize some of the blocks Eli Raridon threw?
A: “I definitely did. Eli stepped up with Holden [Staes] not playing and Mitch Evans getting down. Eli’s been doing a really good job and Davis Sherwood and Cooper Flanagan, they’ve just [been doing] all a great job. The sky’s the limit for them because those guys are young and those guys are just now getting into a groove so I’m excited to see where it’s gonna take them.”
Q: What does it mean to you to have the single-season rushing touchdowns program record?
A: “It means amazing. Coming into this school, coming in as a freshman, coming in at Notre Dame, I always prided myself and I was saying, ‘I’m gonna give them something to remember. I’m gonna be something legendary.’”
A (cont'd): “Having a record like that has my name stamped in the history books forever. That means amazing for the whole offensive line to help me get that and for coach Freeman, coach Deland for trusting me and giving me an opportunity to put me in position to be successful. I’m just thankful to God and everyone who helped me along this way."
