Irish display new uniforms

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SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame revealed its uniform and helmets for its annual off-site game during Thursday’s media day.

The uniforms, which the Irish will wear against Miami at Chicago’s Soldier Field on Oct. 6, have the classic blue jersey with gold numbers in a Celtic font and gold pants with a blue stripe. The helmet will catch most people’s attention as one side is sparkling gold and the other is navy blue with a white leprechaun logo.

Athletic director Jack Swarbrick said the Irish will modify their uniforms for every Shamrock Series game, and linebacker Manti Te’o said he likes this year’s uniform.

“I love them,” said Te’o, who modeled the uniform with Bishop Dwenger graduate Tyler Eifert on Thursday. “If you look good, you feel good. You feel good, you play good.”

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said right tackle Tate Nichols suffered a patella subluxation in his left knee, and the junior will be out for two to three weeks. Nichols was battling Christian Lombard for the starting role, and Kelly said Nick Martin and Ronnie Stanley will fill in for Nichols.

Nose guard Kona Schwenke cracked a bone in his knuckle on his right hand, but Kelly said the junior is able to play in a cast.

Safety Jamoris Slaughter is dealing with a heel injury that kept out of contact drills, but the senior will be able to play in the Sept. 1 opener, Kelly said. Slaughter’s absence elevated sophomore Matthias Farley to first-team duty.

Kelly also cleared up the situation with linebacker Danny Spond, who has been absent from practice for a week.

Spond is being treated for a migraine, but there is no timetable set for his return.

Bishop Dwenger graduate John Goodman joined Cierre Wood, Theo Riddick and Davonte’ Neal in returning punts Thursday. Kelly said George Atkinson III will return kickoffs, but the punt return job is still open.

“We’re still a work in progress there,” Kelly said.

tkrausz@jg.net