One of the biggest differences at Notre Dame from last year under former head coach Charlie Weis and this year under new coach Brian Kelly is how the team got ready for the season.

Director of football strength and conditioning Paul Longo introduced a new style of offseason training.

And the consensus from former Bishop Dwenger standouts John Goodman and Tyler Eifert is that it the most intense conditioning they have been through, and it will help the team entering this season.

"Compared to last year, it was so much more up tempo," Goodman said. "It was more to get into camp rather than just working out. Pretty much last year, it was just working out to work out. This year it feels like there is so much more of a purpose.

"Coach Longo understands what they are doing with the workout and the training to get us ready for camp and then the season. It is just another step of the process. It leads into camp and doesn't just lead into the season. It enables to be peak in November when we really need to peak. It doesn't just unable us to be really in shape for camp and really in shape for the beginning of the season and dieing at the end of the season."

Eifert, who is coming back from offseason back surgery, said Longo designed a specific workout regiment for him and that it went well.

Eifert also found out what being in shape means.

"I thought we were in shape, but nothing compares to this," Eifert said.

For more from the two former Saints, check back later in the week for a story in The Journal Gazette.