Faine living up to expectations in second year
By TIM CASEY
Assistant Sports Editor
Jeff Faine felt the pain.
Around this time last year, as a freshman, Faine sat on the bench during games, was getting knocked around on the practice field and struggled in the classroom.
Not exactly what the high school All-American anticipated.
"For the first half of the first semester [last year], I didn't think I had to study," Faine said. "When that first test came out..."
Just say he studied after that. For Faine, currently Notre Dame's starting center, receiving the grade on the exam was the culmination of a rocky freshman campaign.
He arrived here with all the typical honors: first-team All USA Today, consensus top 100 national prospect, All-State selection. But like many of his teammates, Faine had second thoughts about his college choice during summer practice.
"Two a days are not fun," Faine said. "Every day I came home [to his dorm] wanting to go home. I was everything coming in, then when we were here with just the freshmen, I was still everything. When the first day of pads came, with the varsity coming back, I went to the back of the line."
He did not stay there for long. Though he never played in a game, Faine served as senior John Merandi's backup. When spring came, Faine was thrust onto the first team. He joined veterans Jim Jones, John Teasdale, Mike Gandy, Jordan Black and Kurt Vollers and soon became the natural replacement for Merandi.
Faine was the first member of a strong group of offensive linemen in the Class of 2003 to see action.
Three of the quintet (tackle Brennan Curtin, guard Ryan Gillis and guard Sean Milligan) are currently reserves while Neal Ambron left school in the spring.
Besides the obvious need for a center, Faine also believes his high school background has helped him adjust to a quicker, more physical game.
"I was fortunate to have a good weightlifting coach [in high school]," Faine said. "A lot of offensive linemen come in that aren't as strong, that aren't as muscular. I'm not saying I'm that muscular. But I had a pretty good base when I came in."
Thus far this season, Faine has started every game. And in addition to the pounding he takes each day, Faine also feels mental anguish as the anchor of the line.
"There's a lot of calls for the center to make," Faine said. "We base off all of our protections and make a lot of calls on the run. So it's a pretty heavy mental game."
Last week against Michigan State, Faine sprained his ankle in the first half and struggled, according to coach Bob Davie.
"He had some missed assignments," Davie said of Faine's play against the Spartans. "But overall, if I assess his performance [for the year], it's been pretty darn good."
That includes his off-the-field life as well. Faine has switched majors from engineering to an undeclared arts and letters discipline, maybe economics. His study habits have improved and he is on the verge of becoming another great Irish offensive lineman.
But whether he becomes an All-American or just a solid starter, Faine will never forget those first few months last year.
"I wish every freshman knew that it's as tough as it is," Faine said. "You're going to be away from home. You don't know anybody. You don't know who's your friend or enemy. But in the end, you find everybody's here to support everybody else."
Irish Items:
u The quarterback position remains open for competition. Matt LoVecchio, Gary Godsey and Jared Clark all took equal snaps at Wednesday's practice, according to Davie. "It will probably be a game time decision," Davie said. "I don't want it to be but we've got a long, long way to go. That thing will probably be an ongoing issue the rest of this football season."
Despite the indecision, Davie said LoVecchio is "probably" in the lead. "Right now it looks like Matt LoVecchio, as I've said before, has a slight edge," Davie said. "He's a little more mobile and he played pretty well with his opportunity."
All Sports Stories for Thursday, September 28, 2000
