Ian Book gained large video games at Notre Dame. Now he’s studying to speak about them

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Ian Book doesn’t actually know what he’s doing, however that’s the purpose of attempting.

On Saturday afternoon, Notre Dame’s all-time winningest quarterback made the primary begin of a possible second act, offering evaluation for the Blue-Gold Game on Peacock. Play-by-play voice Tony Simeone gave Book a pleasant face within the sales space. Notre Dame Stadium put the quarterback on acquainted floor. Still, from the NBC sales space at midfield, roughly 50 rows above the Notre Dame sideline, Book had by no means seen his previous program fairly like this.

“When you’ve never done something, you don’t even know what to expect,” Book mentioned after going off air. “Hopefully I don’t get rocked on Twitter.”

Book pitched in for Notre Dame’s protection of professional day final month. He expects to do a podcast this fall linked to Rally, the athletic division’s collective. On Friday, he entered the tv sales space for the primary time, calling the primary three drives of final 12 months’s spring sport as a dry run. It helped, although he nonetheless felt chilly for the true factor the following day.

The 90-minute broadcast let Book play to his strengths and self-scout his weaknesses. The Athletic tagged alongside, embedded with the published workforce.

When it involves telling tales about Notre Dame soccer, few have higher ones than a quarterback who led this system to the College Football Playoff twice and was a part of two Super Bowl groups. He lived by Notre Dame’s 4-8 collapse throughout his freshman season. Then he was a foremost character in bringing the Irish again to the game’s grownup desk.

During the sport, Book talks about studying from Patrick Mahomes whereas with the Kansas City Chiefs and explains how checking to a run could be the final word win for a quarterback. He tries to clarify why some gamers are straightforward to throw to and others usually are not. Simeone asks if Book want to identify names after the quarterback notes Aneyas Williams doesn’t give CJ Carr a big goal, regardless of catching a brief go within the flat.

“I do not,” Book laughed. “I’m gonna be safe here today.”

That may be the place Book can transfer the needle most. Book’s profession — the highs and the lows — is the form of materials Notre Dame broadcasts may use, not as a result of NBC wants blue-and-gold glasses within the sales space, however as a result of it affords context most viewers can perceive. How did Carr’s expertise in a quarterback competitors final season have an effect on his efficiency? Book has gained (and misplaced) these battles. What’s it prefer to return just about a complete roster with expectations set at nationwide title ranges? The final time Notre Dame appeared this good heading right into a season, Book was a fifth-year senior and notched an upset over No. 1 Clemson.

“We really felt, especially in the later years, that we were going to win every single game. I think I get that vibe from them,” Book mentioned. “The one thing they said at practice was, ‘How do we not get over-complacent?’”

(Pete Sampson / The Athletic)

Book can clarify why how a lot gamers bear in mind from a head coach’s speech issues. He can open the door to the locker room as a participant for Brian Kelly and beneath Marcus Freeman, too. Notre Dame’s head coach gave Book a locker final offseason whereas he skilled with the workforce, hoping for a remaining NFL shot. That meant Book threw with Carr — the 2 share a personal quarterbacks coach — whereas understanding a few of Notre Dame’s youthful receivers.

Book couldn’t delve into all that through the rapid-fire broadcast, which requires calling the sport for 2 groups concurrently whereas utilizing a scoring system that doesn’t all the time make sense. It’s unclear whether or not Book shall be a part of NBC’s protection this fall in some capability — analyst Jason Garrett popped into the sales space on Saturday to want Book luck earlier than kickoff — however perhaps it’s one thing to think about.

At Notre Dame, Book was in a position to get into the weeds on play-calling whereas additionally talking for this system from an elevated perspective. His quotes have been normally low-key and measured. Some of that interprets to tv, however a few of it doesn’t. Before happening air, Book questioned whether or not he was getting the amount proper. Sports tv could be a present, nevertheless it’s greatest when the expertise isn’t performing.

“Trying to describe inside zone run to someone sitting on the couch in 13 seconds? They said just call it an inside run between the A gaps and stop,” Book mentioned. “If I had a whiteboard and 20 minutes, that’s something else.”

Book freezes up as soon as through the broadcast after a Devin Fitzgerald catch, blitzed by data. Book is attempting to complete a thought in regards to the receiver’s Hall-of-Fame father whereas taking in data over the headset and making ready for the following play. He seizes up and goes silent. A few snaps later, Blake Hebert hits Elijah Burress for a landing. Book dissects the throw.

Off air, Simeone assures Book that the second felt worse than it sounded. The broadcast retains rolling.

“I already know where I messed up. I was talking and just stopped. I didn’t know where I was,” Book mentioned. “And I have a problem of saying, ‘And that was a good play.’ I cap every play with, ‘That was a good throw,’ or ‘That was a good play.’ I shouldn’t, but it’s so hard not to.”

Book doesn’t know the place he desires to take this transfer into media whereas dwelling in South Bend through the soccer season. He not too long ago purchased a home close to campus. Book simply desires some connection to the game that took a three-star prospect from Northern California and turned him right into a family Notre Dame identify. He’s stopped on the sector pregame for footage with followers and will get hit with selfie requests postgame upon leaving the sales space.

“I want to be around the game, and I don’t think I want to coach,” Book mentioned. “I felt like this was another avenue.”

Toward the tip of the published, Peacock flashes Notre Dame’s schedule on display, selling the season opener at Lambeau Field towards Wisconsin. It’s a Shamrock Series sport, so NBC will broadcast it regardless of the away venue. Audio of Mike Tirico and John Madden rolls over the photographs, two broadcasting icons teeing up a first-timer. Book went to Lambeau throughout his rookie 12 months with New Orleans and assures viewers the stadium is all the things it’s made out to be.

“If you love football, it’s a bucket list place. It’s something you want to check off the list,” Book mentioned. “I’m going to do my best to get up there to go watch.”

Maybe Ian Book will even be a part of the present.