Ties That Bind: Notre Dame Running Backs Coach Deland McCullough's surprising connection with Miami Ohio

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame Running Backs Coach Deland McCullough grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, where he was raised by his adoptive mother Adele Comer.

His adoptive father left when he was 2 years old and never knew his birth parents.

A standout on the football field, sports gave him the opportunity for life outside of Youngstown.

That's how he met Sherman Smith, an assistant coach at Miami University of Ohio, who in 2017, he would learn the surprising connection neither knew of.