SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The words continue to be more encouraging, with each passing press conference, from Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman when it comes to kicker Mitch Jeter returning to form.
The on-field results are still buffering.
Perhaps Friday night at Notre Dame Stadium — when the stage is the biggest, most frozen tundra-esque and most snow angel-friendly — is when the Jeter who made 92 percent of his career field goals at South Carolina before transferring in, will reappear.
“This is as close as he’s been to where he was before he got hurt,” Freeman said Sunday during a pre-practice press conference in preparation of 7 seed ND’s College Football Playoff first-round matchup with 10 seed Indiana (11-1).
TV start time on ABC/ESPN is 8 p.m. EST, with Friday night’s survivor advancing from the expected mid-20s temps to a Jan. 1 quarterfinal date with bye-receiving/2 seed Georgia (11-2) at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
Can …