Notre Dame football trying to look past 4-1 record and early success under coach Evan Yabu
After earning the job as head coach for the Notre Dame High football team, Evan Yabu reached out to former head coach Kevin Rooney. He wanted to understand what it meant to represent the Knights and how to reshape a storied program that hasn’t had a winning season since Rooney’s last season in charge, in 2019.
“Coach Rooney is an example of the pinnacle of Notre Dame football,” Yabu said. “We strive to be a program that reaches some of the heights that he’s reached.”
So the two met for a meal.
One thought it was lunch and the other claimed it was breakfast. Rooney ate a salad and Yabu got avocado toast. In some ways his order was symbolic, as Yabu sought modernized solutions to better a football program that prospered in the past.
Clearly neither focused much on their food.
“I did my best to fire questions at him centered around the program and culture,” Yabu said.
Rooney’s answers: “It’s not just about football, it’s about having players who are unselfish.”
“(Yabu’s) a good guy and he’s doing the right things,” Rooney said.
Rooney found sustained success during his 40-year tenure. Comparing Yabu to that level is unfair, but within his first few months at the helm he’s taken strides in that direction. He’s prioritized human growth and development while seeking like-minded players.
The Knights are 4-1 after going through their nonleague schedule, with shutouts in their first three games. They begin Mission League play next week, against Sierra Canyon on Sept. 29, and the culture that Yabu’s trying to build for years to come will be tested.
Future outcomes aside, the Knights have shown spurts of improved play from the three previous seasons. But to understand why it’s so vital that they rise up again, one must recognize the impact Rooney’s Knights had on football in Southern California.
Current Portland State running back Christian Grubb certainly experienced it. The atmosphere that Rooney cultivated influenced him to transfer from Crespi after his freshman season, back in 2015.
“The whole team was just really welcoming,” Grubb said. “He liked teaching us lessons that can apply to us not only just on the field.”
Only one of Grubb’s former teammates continues to play football, but he says the majority of them have found something that allows them to give back.
Rooney’s departure, after the 2019 season, coincided with the outbreak of COVID-19, which made the transition tougher for his successor, Joe McNab.
McNab oversaw the Knights for three seasons before stepping down to retire. A hiring process ensued — the first one Notre Dame’s higher-ups had to conduct in 43 years, as McNab was Rooney’s offensive coordinator for 39 years before earning the promotion.
They wanted someone that possessed the same combination of qualities that Rooney did — an affinity for coaching that drives one to care about the players’ academics, rather than a teacher who likes to coach.
Yabu, who in three years took Thousand Oaks’ program from a 25-game losing streak to a 10-0 regular-season record in 2022, stood out to athletic director Alec Moss.
“The big thing that jumped off the page to me was his passion for the game of football,” Moss said. “He also understands the relationships and effort that go into the whole student.”
The pillar of Yabu’s plan for the future relies on his players learning from their mistakes while they grow as people off the field.
Take these past two weeks for example. The Knights took their first loss of the season to JSerra in Week 3, but Yabu felt it showed his team they could compete with the best in Southern California, he said.
Then in Week 4, their 27-6 win against Westlake (1-4) on Thursday night was rockier than the final margin might suggest. The Knights flirted with a loss throughout the contest. They led by just four at halftime and quarterback Steele Pizzella threw two interceptions — the results of poor decisions.
“There are some areas that I think we can clean up,” Pizzella said. “It’s like self-inflicted wounds. I think my guys are playing very hard, and we’re still connected.”
It’s recognizing those moments where growth — for players and staff — can be had that will keep the Knights on track. Like last week, when they made the decision to unleash Brandon Bryant — a star linebacker who also plays running back — in the second half.
Or when Jadon Wells came up with a game-sealing pick-6 in the waning minutes.
The talent at Notre Dame is undeniable. That’s never been the problem, though.
Rebuilding the program extends beyond the sideline. Yabu believes players should gain life skills from football and that specific aspect will attract top talent from across Southern California to Notre Dame. He’s harping on the importance of education by being in and around the school.
“Football is a game that will always come to an end for every single person.” Yabu said. “We try to do our best to create great growth experiences, so players can leave and feel like they have tools they can use to be happy.”
Following Thursday night’s game, he spoke in front of his players. After addressing the flaws of their performance — which he felt were the byproduct of diminished effort during the practice week leading up to the game — he made sure to reiterate the importance of his goal’s which transcend the football field.
“Tomorrow, you need to be at school,” he said. “This isn’t a night where you get to go out.”
He put those words into action by showing up at their classes Friday and checking on their attendance.