QB Book deftly handling reins for No. 3 Irish
At 9-0, No. 3 Notre Dame keeps moving closer to a spot in the College Football Playoff.
A big reason for the Fighting Irish’s success is the emergence of junior quarterback Ian Book. He will command the huddle once again Saturday as Notre Dame prepares for its home finale against Florida State (4-5).
Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly is proud of Book’s success. The quarterback has 15 touchdown passes and four interceptions.
“I think he’s handled it pretty good,” Kelly said to reporters this week. “I think he’s aware of the scrutiny that comes with this position. I think he’s very cognizant of the fact that now whatever he does, wherever he does it, he’s under a microscope.
“But I think it hasn’t changed the way he prepares or the way he handles himself with his peers. So I think if you’re kind of balancing those two things, I think he’s handled it well because it hasn’t changed. He’s a lighthearted kid. He doesn’t get too wound up, not too high, not too low. I think he’s handled it pretty good.”
Book has a chance to post more big numbers against Florida State, which has surrendered 106 points in the past two games. But the Seminoles historically have played the Fighting Irish tough.
Film study helps, Kelly said, but ultimately Book will learn the most by going up against Florida State in live action.
“He needs to see it,” Kelly said when asked about Book’s preferred learning style. “Once he sees it, he’s great. He’s not a whiteboard learner. He is an in-game, ‘Once I see it, I got it.'”
Book replaced Brandon Wimbush, who accepted his demotion to backup quarterback without creating a public stir.
“(Wimbush has) been such a big part of our success this year,” Kelly said. “He’s got to stay ready. Who knows what happens, right? Every week we remind him. He knows that he’s one step away from going back out on the field.”
