Chatting with Ambrose Wooden

Called the ultimate team player by his position coach and being shuffled around like the sixes in a six-deck set of playing cards throughout his time at Notre Dame, fifth-year senior cornerback Ambrose Wooden saw himself fall on the depth chart again this week -- this time to sophomore Darrin Walls.

One would think Wooden, who perpetually has a smile on his face, would be frustrated with the demotion. During his meeting with the media he spoke fast but never once said he was frustrated about dropping down the depth chart.  Head coach Charlie Weis and defensive backs coach Bill Lewis stressed Wooden did nothing wrong, but Walls has played that well to necessitate the change.

"I just have to go out there and play," Wooden said. "I just have to focus on what I can do to help the team. That's all it's about."

Wooden began the 2006 season as a starter but eventually gave way to Terrail Lambert after Wooden was sidelined with an injury earlier in the season. Remember, too, that he began his Notre Dame career as a wide receiver from The Gilman School in Baltimore.

No one would commit to Wooden moving into the nickel back slot, but both Lewis and defensive coordinator Corwin Brown said Wooden will have a role on the field Saturday. It might just be different than what he initially expected a few weeks ago.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Kelly]

I enjoy reading your work and hate to be a jerk, but that first sentance, which is also a paragraph, makes my brain hurt like a four-iron to the forebrain on the third thursday of a month -- with the exception of November.

[Moose Krause]

Sure Michael is professional writer but this is a blog. Standards are relaxed.