Irish LB Spond thriving after being hospitalized

"If they were giving out helmet stickers, he's have a lot of helmet stickers," coach Brian Kelly said. "He's a guy that gets a lot of production points."

Spond played quarterback at Columbine High School and was recruited to play quarterback at Colorado, where he originally committed to play, but chose Notre Dame instead even though he wasn't sure what position he would be playing for the Irish. Spond believes being a former quarterback helps him be a better defender.

"I've seen what he sees during a game. That's definitely helped me," he said.

Spond said doctors still don't know what triggered the migraine and don't know whether it will ever occur again. He said the first few times he began getting headaches after that he was concerned, but doesn't worry about it anymore. He said his Catholic faith helped him get through the most terrifying moments of dealing with the migraine and gives him confidence he will be all right.

"I'm just at a point where I'm fully relying on God to take care of me out there," he said.

With all he's been through, Spond is grateful to be playing for a team that could finish the season undefeated. He said he's not spending time worrying about whether the Irish will make it to the BCS title game.

"All we can do is win every game we have the opportunity to play. Numbers and computers, I don't mess around with all that. All we have control over is who we play and how we can play against them each Saturday," he said.