Up later on this hour of PepsiCo to Rutgers -- six -- the right number seventeen Kyle flood but wants us Notre Dame football. Notre Dame is unbeaten there's six know they are number five in the BCS standings they're number five both posts they play host of BYU on Saturday. I'm joined right now by an all American linebacker and defensive captain in UVs the team with tackles he's got three interceptions. And had a huge game. In beating notre -- that would or Stafford last Saturday. Matt's high -- joins us men had really nice heavy on Dario. And thank sounding good -- Good really good nice to visit with you mentioned your six million number five in the country. -- at the very start just how good does it feel to be playing football and Notre Dame right now -- -- -- going so well. Those great new whenever we're winning you know that's always some that go the source something that's positive and now we got to do is do whatever it takes to. You know continue that. Let's take him back Stanford they beat you guys and not just on the scoreboard in recent years but physically. How important was it not only to beat Stanford -- to win the way you did the goal line stand in overtime. I was definitely you know very important is very exciting. We we knew we walked into the game knowing him. Knowing what to expect you know that is actually fight and know that we're gonna come out with some bumps and bruises some. And you know we're just very fortunate to two -- -- very happy. Is that how it felt I mean just two heavyweights Danks who voted so Manningham -- his last guy standing in Alaska land was gonna win that fight. I definitely -- Coke on commission and a lot of those. You know a lot of the results of those same actors that I took. -- timetable as my guest you know Stanford players and fans obviously were very upset they felt -- to -- Taylor got into the end zone. Watch it take you through that final play what did you see what did you hear. -- -- you know our guys you know expected been -- just the farmers here is his fighting infighting and fighting in. You know as you know he's just fighting you know guys here's until bodies end. You know the whistle blew and we look -- behind the goal alignment. And that's an area where you just -- instead of celebrating and so. So we saw and a now -- -- -- corner around but SOB so. -- before that final play in overtime you towards your teammates I love you guys. Talked to me about why that was so important and -- -- that's something -- -- came out or in that moment was -- something you felt you really need to say and if so how come. Yeah there's just something that I felt I needed to say and I think it did you know that puts you know excitement of the game and opportunity for us to do something special. And I understood that he -- this. Oh wait for my guys to just really mystery show them how much I appreciate them and outside of Opel. You know trying to prepare them and invest when and how. For what was gonna about to happen in. I knew that. You know I don't know much guys know me -- -- one -- them to hear me say be true enough to battle. For those for those last few few plays and I'm too you know whatever happened in its existing together and that's exactly what they did. Yeah it's it's it's goose -- material and obviously you're creating memories and you've got this bond in this camaraderie disgusted with you for the rest your life no matter where you go. -- it's Yuri Notre Dame and you love your teammates and they love -- you've got this thing going but growing up were you when Notre Dame guys is we want to end up. And had no for ban argue if you spend -- money into the -- -- I prayed about it and nine go to the day before signing and they want to go to USC. And I prayed about it and you know -- my dad always told me that and the hardest staying you know and asking another look for and crisis. There's not necessarily get engineers and drank it. I've been encouraged to follow through a -- that you see even. And I at that time policy not -- USC fan named you know want to go to UCN. An answer I got to come here that if I got to come here wasn't on that day and anticipated then. North and the one that I wanted. But no fun things that have happened and then you know nothing related to football. You know the support data that have gone here and you know to and especially with the know that. To -- perceived that that that just hit recently. Just as the support of the -- that I've received from mine for my teammates and no fans both in -- -- Notre Dame men nominated offense and giving me -- -- found the united. And -- and myself. And you're seeing you at the right place men's I'd say it was my guests so when it's a few moments and talk about that September 12 you have probably about as. Typical of the day as any person could possibly have you grandmother passed away after an extended illness and then about how is after that. Yeah telephone call from your brother and he knew something -- was wrong he talk about what happened what are you gonna tell you. -- you know sitting in the locker room preparing and going to come to the meetings and I got a phone call from her brother and and here's just crying current and current. And and and that's he just says she's gone and in saying merely has been you know. I've been -- now -- it was gone new music he's just coming. -- -- is gone and and I broke and so that's enough so there are looking around me just been really dark. And I've never felt Elway before. And you know guys just immediately came to my paid enough. And my coaches and and no -- To get through them. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Then if CNET. I can describe Hershey. To my best friend. My fellow with then known. And -- you we slept there and had a perform together because they're leukemia and you know what you came while she couldn't sleep. And for some reason. Inducted ashamed and you know particularly as painkillers -- yet she still couldn't sleep and she's just sit just called boyfriend I can sleep and so. In other referred asleep we slipped on the phone each morning and each night and separation and then every morning. Now me you know that's that's that's another issue we have where you know but the joke around and you know we always put god first and make sure that we're. Taking care were found reason. And knows it was perfect and don't. You know although she's gonna. And I still semi present which is still here and them so -- and she's still there sometimes and individualistic. And show is here with me. Mats I tell my guests you know you're so young she's so young and I speak from experience that's -- my father. My father had leukemia so I I think I know you're talking about a terrible terrible terrible thing. And he passed way when he was 59 I remember thinking at the time you know as my late twenties I was so young. What on earth goes through your mind when you're told that somebody cares deeply about the -- in love with. Has cancer has leukemia and especially when she's so young. You know -- for me. I lost my grandfather among -- religious custom and it hurt her has been the last payment now. And two -- up -- number -- January 2 to cancer. And I lost my other grandfather my dad's. Father to cancer as well. And so you know council has you know been. Big enemy's community homes so I want a fond of my girlfriend that has seen that really. Kind of and they hit it had a big impact on me. And I kind of signal I don't want world wise counsel -- around me. And two I still felt that you know. Then they can get there she can get they're insisting she is going to choose to -- well just getting better and then September 12 -- We found ask you this I mean you're very devout person is -- any party that says you know why me why us why I heard this is in fair. What do we do. I definitely not have had those moments you know for any for anybody the city and I've never hear. The question that you know that in their -- uniform mean it definitely had a question. And to -- me. You know look at what can I do and didn't do anything wrong you know Vichy doing -- on -- didn't do anything wrong. But that time in -- -- tested it and I don't. That's when you know we can either you know restraint and our relationship with her father. You know. Kind of fall off and no fortunately for me in my great parents send him -- on the scene among grow from this. You know is -- for a woman and and I had a great support system foundation around me so I knew exactly know who returned to and so you know that would let us say before. A source -- you know whenever life it's hard working on YouTube feature walking on your knees and so that's exactly what I did. And although that times are still hard and I have a lot of moments must so far just break down. Not find strength and comfort and peace in knowing that you know we'll see here in the D'Amato once again. And until that -- comes and -- And we keep doing it what they can do to insure that that does happen. -- -- it was my guests and I really appreciate you your thoughts on that he talked about Notre Dame and you say maybe at the time when I prayed on the decision I didn't really understand it but I knew it was the right thing and you go through something like this and you have a support system. In the and you really know the you are in the right place once you tell me about that missing game when you come back in it was the day of her funeral. Then you come when you play that game in the student bodies there and fans are there and there winner there wearing blaze to feel their kinship in their support and how did that feel. -- me I definitely dead and you know. In the weeks before that you know prior to that game you know it's just I'm Qaeda people sending me letters and you know people that don't even know and they don't even know me think only Simeon. On TV playing football. You know they'll send me letters and he -- insists. You know Notre Dame fans and nominating parents not -- -- Michigan fans wearing. -- and and no -- around that tunnel and saw that that stadium and all those people. You know definitely humbled. And that's may not follow a lot of joy. To know that you know people -- -- to understand. Well like fish truly about you know this football and that's and you know there's -- that the game and then there's just there's like. And those are two big different things and now. I think you know they have brought a lot of joining me know that uniting -- their -- people that I could show people that. -- and the visiting other matters and other matters is that relationship with the very far then you know Irish relationship and their families and now I'm just very. -- -- due to experience what I experience so far. You must been so humbling and yeah I am really hate that you had to go through something like that you're still dealing with something like that I would never wish Sony embody. But the streets -- -- part of the story where it's not just Notre Dame fans but fans of other teams now the school was the you don't even know. David you've never even met that they would take the time to send to those letters and live in a society like social media where she -- so negative and so bitter some nasty. It's gotta make you feel can makes me feel good to know the people that they don't know you personally would take the time to do that. Mean that I mean for me -- to people. The same that is if you look in my locker. You know I have that there have thousands of letters -- from people that he's not afraid each and every one of them. And -- religious there's their prayer letters their prayers in there and people who approved taking him I don't know how it works but they take. They -- -- my Graham my grandmother my girlfriend's name and into prayer and these kind of scored with their names on it. You know got a lot of goes and you know just 'cause of -- non non -- in on Twitter in. And I just you know it's it's. I'm very blessed enough to be where I am meant to have and other support of you know fans are on the world and and I am I hope that I can continue to you know impact the lives of people around around me and hopefully you know bring some good. I only am I semi PP impact with this conversation alone. For a -- and -- explain this to me you have a phrase do you like to use quote what makes to a man is what you do. When that storm comes current do you think about that very often what does that mean to you. On the time you know there's you know one day you Leo back in the sunlight. No one thing one day everything will be perfect ten and then everything will be good and got September 11. In September 10 night on abandons one day you know. Just normal -- And one national incomes you know -- -- men actually do when it comes. In a much storm came. I've been decent storms that nothing as great as September total. And we'll well -- you do well what are you gonna do for me I. They opened my eyes to what's important to me. And you know it's not about money it's not a -- You know of course -- nothing like that homes you know big homes it's as far as sharing that my loved ones and of people around me are happy that they exchange joy. And then I had a hand in in in doing that and to ensure that you know at the end of this life. Delano demise in -- -- facing my girlfriend and my grandmother and -- -- senate -- And when that happens you know that's our experience my children in my journal become Hong Kong from interior thinks there's no monetary they can. That. I can experience do those things that in a month -- I've expressed my girlfriend and my family and so and so -- them. Now I'm intuitive very tend to bring missed some -- -- -- and I enjoy here with my family in the people who whom whom. -- had done this a long time -- -- a lot of young people on my drive ever. Quite spoken to a young person quite like you know once again very very sorry for your losses but I think it in addition inspiring those in helping to secure those around you. I think you helped countless others stay with that conversation thank you a once -- how much I appreciate you and I am -- -- losses but I'm so glad he came on and really is a pleasure to meet you. Thank you okay you take him -- I think you. That's my tail. In absolutely astonishing conversation. He's 21 years old. He's all American linebacker Andy defense is capped in with Notre Dame. And and I'm almost speechless coming -- that conversation. Myself and -- free 1806368686. I noted. At times -- might be prone to hyperbole coming off interesting interviews include interviews because. -- there's so many that are neither. And then when somebody really stands on somebody's unique I'm quick to -- -- that there really was exceptional. But. I'm not sure that had a conversation I certainly don't think they have spoken very many people have experienced what he's experienced. Much less had a conviction and the courage and faith and the perspective. To put it on order. Did that was truly astonishing that was beautiful. A short time nod and a white dots on that I want to reset that I want talk about that.
