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Steven M. Sipple: Bears’ post-practice standing ovation for Raiola speaks volumes, center says | Football


Meanwhile, Mustipher also speaks glowingly of Raiola. Keep in mind, Mustipher had never played center before he arrived at Notre Dame in 2014. Under Raiola’s guidance, he became a three-year starter.

He said Raiola treats football as if it’s a high-level chess match.

You have to be a thinker, and also a mover of massive human beings. 

“Obviously, it’s a game of brute strength and domination and moving your man from point A to point B, and all of that,” Mustipher said. “But Donovan’s understanding from the ground up of how the game works, and his ability to see tips, keys and alignments from the defense, it’s crazy.”

Raiola taught Mustipher to draw up each of the offense’s formations and plays as well as the defense’s alignments for those formations. 

“I would write down the down and distance, the yard line and the coverage they were in,” Mustipher said. “You do that for every play. Obviously, that takes a lot of time, but it’s the easiest way to identify patterns. The details are in the dirt. Donovan was always willing to work at it and help me understand it.”

Mustipher takes none of it for granted.

“I’ve had O-line coaches that I hated playing for,” he said. “I’ve had O-line coaches who were terrible people and great coaches. Donovan happens to be a great guy off the field, but he’s also great on the field and a great guy to learn from.



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