We Are ND

There is no better feeling than beating an opponent in their stadium - especially one as arrogant as USC that has dominated you for the last eight years. The celebration amongst Irish fans lasted far beyond the final seconds and spilled well outside the confines of the LA Coliseum. The chants of "We Are ND" echoed off the surrounding campus buildings of USC, as Trojan fans huddled around camp fires and sat in their cars, dejected and melancholy.

The IRISH won a thrilling 20-16 come-from-behind victory over the Trojans, scoring the winning touchdown on a 5-yard Robert Hughes rumble with 2:23 to play. It's the first Irish victory over USC since 2001 and capped a three game winning streak for the Irish, who finish their regular season at 7-5 and now await their bowl game destination.


HEISMAN BABY

IRISH DEFENSE - Typically four turnovers in your own territory would doom a team, but not with a stout defense! The Irish D held USC to 16 points on 261 yards. It gets better. The longest USC scoring drive was 18 yards. The others: 15, 3, and 2 yards. The 2-yarder went for a touchdown, and even then, it took USC four tries to score. Needless to say, USC would not have scored a point if not for the Irish turnovers.

MICHAEL FLOYD - 11 rec. for 86 yards - TD - Floyd capped off a great regular season, finishing with 73 receptions for 913 yards and 10 TDs. He is easily the best player on the Irish offense.


ROCK SOLID

CIERRE WOOD - 15 carries for 89 yards - Playing in front of his hometown crowd (Oxnard, CA), Wood was effective when needed most. Wood gained over 80% of his yards on two inside draw hand offs that ultimately led to two touchdowns - one right before halftime and the winning scoring drive.

ROBERT HUGHES - 11 carries for 69 yards - TD - Hughes capped off the winning scoring drive with a 5-yard plunge into the end zone. Hughes was crucial on that drive, providing power in the running game when the Irish offense needed it most.


GET HIM OUTTA THERE

TOMMY REES TURNOVER CRAZE - The Irish QB accounted for all four ND turnovers, including poor throws and a costly fumble. Rees owes everything to the Irish defense for watching his back. All things considered, Rees is 3-0 as a starter, and the led the Irish offense on scoring drives of 79, 62, and 77 yards.


WAIT WHAT?

Three moments from that game stood out to me. The first was when the Irish got the ball back on their own 38 with around 40 seconds to go the 2nd quarter. I was fully expecting Kelly to take a knee and head into the locker room up 7-3. Instead Kelly hands it off to Cierre Wood who rumbles for almost 40 yards and into field goal range. In just 37 seconds, the Irish were up 13-3 heading into the half and poised to receive the ball to open the 3rd quarter.

The second was when USC kicked the go ahead field goal with 6:18 to play in the game. For some odd reason, I felt really comfortable with the position the Irish were in. It's a great feeling to have. After all the turnovers, Notre Dame had the chance to win the football game.

The last was the dropped pass by Ronald Johnson. He was wide open!!!! As the ball was in the air, I thought it was over. But wait, a lucky break for the Irish?! It seems as if everything has gone against the Irish in the past few seasons, but suddenly a big break in our favor!! After that pass, I knew ND would hang on to win one for the record books!


-DH

Empire State of Mind

On Saturday, under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium, the IRISH posted another impressive victory, 27-3 over the Black Knights of Army. Anchored by the defense and the Rees-Eifert connection, Notre Dame and coach Brian Kelly moved to 6-5 on the season and a lock for a post-season bowl game.


HEISMAN BABY

MANTI TE'O - 9 tackles - Te'o anchored another stellar performance by the Irish defense as the Irish held the vaunted Army ground game to only 174 yards of offense (135 on the ground) and only 3 points. Te'o is one of nation's leaders in tackles, and did I mention he broke his nose yet finished the game!


ROCK SOLID

TYLER EIFERT - 4 rec for 78 yds - TD - Eifert made two beautiful grabs that accounted for both IRISH offensive touchdowns in the game. Eifert, a redshirt sophomore, is quickly making Irish fans forget some guy named Rudolph, and has become QB Tommy Rees number one target.

IRISH D - 3 points - The Irish D stopped one of the nation's most successful rushing attacks. For the second straight week, the Irish did not allow a touchdown, a streak last seen in 1988!


GET HIM OUTTA THERE (1st Quarter only)

TOMMY REES - 13 of 20 for 214 yds - TD, INT - Rees opened the game and marched the Irish offense 69 yards on nine plays into the Army redzone, only to throw a terrible interception. Rees tried to force the issue into the smallest of small windows and simply did not see the Army defender right in the passing lane. Army proceeded to march down the field for points and visions of Navy danced in my head.

HARRISON SMITH - 6 tackles - Following the Rees INT, Army moved the ball 74 yards on 17 plays. On that drive, Notre Dame was holding the Army offense to conservative yardage on each play, but the Black Knights were four for four on third down conversions. The go-to play was their toss sweep to the tailback, which was Harrison Smith's responsibility. He was consistently late getting to the edge, allowing Army to continue the drive. However, the Irish D finally held after Army reached the 6-yard line, forcing a field goal. After that opening drive, Army only mustered three first downs the remainder of the game.


WAIT WHAT?

Was that a pick-six?!?!?! DARRIN WALLS (7 tackles, INT) picked a great opportunity to reinvent himself. Walls' pick six in the third quarter closed the door on Army putting the Irish ahead 24-3. It was Walls' third INT of the season, his 2nd career interception return for a TD (2007 v. Penn State), and the first pick six for the Irish D since Robert Blanton (2008 v. Purdue). It is important to note that for the second straight week, Notre Dame is finding ways to score outside of the offense and doing it in a dominating fashion.



-DH

50th Game

On Saturday, as the Irish take on Army for the 50th time and at Yankee Stadium, a historic venue for a historic rivalry, I will be in attendance for my 50th Notre Dame Football game. With such a combination of historic feats, it is a great opportunity for me to reflect on my Notre Dame Football memories over the past fifty games.

I was only eight years old when I attended my first ever Notre Dame home game - #1 ND versus #2 Florida State in 1993. Oh what it game it was! I remember visiting the set of the first ever ESPN College Gameday - as they set up in the JACC outside the Monogram Room. Being all of fifty pounds, I remember being launched in the air for push-ups after Irish touchdowns. I remember the final play by Shawn Wooden, fans going absolutely nuts, and students rushing the field. I could not have asked for a better introduction to Notre Dame football.

In 1998, I remember the Irish beating LSU 36-33. For some reason, I have always had visions of #27 Bobbie Howard's pick six. Everytime I see a pick six, I think of that play. You may also remember a notorious play from that game when Irish QB Jarious Jackson took a knee in the endzone for an intentional safety. However, Jackson did not take the knee quick enough to avoid a hit, subsequently blowing out his knee. Jackson missed the rest of that season, and was replaced at QB by Arnaz Battle shortly into the following season.

From 2001 to 2003, with my brother now a student at Notre Dame, I started attending two home games a year. The one that I remember most was in 2001 when the USC Trojans came to town. They had a new head coach by the name of Pete Carroll and new quarterback by the name of Carson Palmer. At that time, those two were still developing as coach and player, and the Irish handled the Trojans 27-16, in what would become ND's last victory over USC.

In 2004, I became a freshman at ND where I watched the Irish go 3-3 at home. After that season, I, among many others, pulled Ty Willingham off the golf course and ran him out of town. I then woke up at 6AM to greet Charlie Weis on his first day in the office. Little did I know that man would provide me with the greatest highs and lows of my Notre Dame football watching career to date.

In 2005, I watched the Irish go 5-3. In 2006, easily Weis' best season, I happened to be studying abroad. Lucky me right? I returned to attend a wonderful 1-8 campaign in 2007. Although, I must thank Charlie and my friends for a great learning campaign on the ins and outs of tailgating, because that is all we had to look forward to on Saturdays. In 2008, my final year of ND football as a student, I watched the Irish go 5-2.

Seems all good right? There is nothing more you will take away from your football career than your senior day. Unfortunately, for me, it happened to be a loss to Syracuse. It was freezing cold and snowy. It was a day when the ND team was more worried about students pelting them with snowballs, than about actually playing defense. It ended in a loss that will sting forever - and an overall record of 14-16 (.467 winning percentage) for live games during my career as a student.

Since graduation, I've seen the Irish go a mediocre 6-5. Sadly enough, I seem to be getting used to it, as mediocre is about what the Irish have done during my tenure. My overall record in person is 26-23 for a whopping .531 winning percentage. At Notre Dame Stadium, I've watch the Irish go 23-19 (.548). Outside of the hallowed confines of the House that Rockne built, I've witness a 3-4 record (.429). My worst statistic may be overtime games where I am 2-3 (.400).

Nonetheless, I can easily say that the 1993 Florida State game is the best game I have been a part of. It is followed by the home opener of 2004 - my first home game as a student - where the Irish beat #3 ranked Michigan and I stormed the field in celebration. As for the worst loss, it is without a doubt the notorious "Bush Push" USc game of 2005. I have never gone more nuts than when Brady Quinn scrambled for a TD to put the Irish ahead, yet only to see it end in heartbreak.

At the end of the day, whether it is a win or loss (50/50 chance based on my record), it is memories like these that I will cherish forever. Yet, at the same time, there's plenty of room for growth in the win column, especially over the next 50 games. All I know is there is something special about Notre Dame Football that will always keep me coming back for more.


-DH

It's About Time

Finally! Watching the Irish dominate Utah in all facets 28-3 on Saturday was beyond refreshing. It was much needed, well deserved, and a true statement about the progression of the Irish program. I couldn't be happier for the senior players, Irish coaching staff, and true ND fans who have stuck with the team. Here's why:

- First win over a ranked opponent since 2006 when the Weis-led Irish dominated #19 Penn State 41-7. The Irish had lost the last eleven games against ranked foes, all during the tenure of the current senior class.

- Three points is the least points allowed by an Irish defense since the 2009 season opener, when the Irish shut out Nevada 35-0.

- Kelly picked up his first win in November, a month that has been historically disastrous for Notre Dame. The last November victory for the Irish dates back six games to November 15th, 2008 when the Irish held on to beat Navy 27-20. Weis finished with a 10-12 career record in November, including 0-4 in 2009 that ultimately sealed his fate.

- The win moves the Irish into bowl eligible status. While the bowl game might be played in mid-December in some no-name bowl, Kelly is pleased to receive the extra practice time.

While Tommy Rees put on a fine display in his first career start, it was the seniors who stole the show. Harrison Smith, Brian Smith, and Gary Gray in this edition of the Hackademy Awards:


HEISMAN BABY

MICHAEL FLOYD - 4 rec. for 39 yds - TD - Playing in what could be his final home game, Floyd's TD catch put the Irish up 14-3. Floyd has 59 receptions for 767 yards and 9 TDs on the year. He is only two touchdown receptions away from tying the school record for career TD receptions (27 - Jeff Samardzija). And by the way, Floyd has done this in 2.5 years.


ROCK SOLID

TOMMY REES - 13 for 20 for 129 yds - 3 TDs - Rees was impressive not because of his stats, but because of his efficiency. His TD passes were on the money and he didn't turn the ball over. Rees did a fantastic job for his first career start and victory. Dayne who?

GARY GRAY - 5 tackles - Gray proved why he is ND's #1 cornerback and one of the most valuable members on the defense. Gray's back to back pass break-ups to prevent a Utah touchdown proved Gray's value to the Irish D. Gray is arguably the best corner ND has produced since Vontez Duff or Shane Walton.

HARRISON SMITH - 7 tackles, INT - Where has that athletic ability been all his career? Harrison Smith arrived at ND to much fanfare about his athleticism. His INT on Saturday is one of the better picks to date. It was a big-time play from an athlete who has had an up and down career at ND, mostly because of position switches and defensive coordinator changes. Hopefully, it continues on the upswing.

BRIAN SMITH - 10 tackles - Brian Smith not only led the Irish D in tackles, but also in heart and hustle. Smith seemed to be all over the field making plays. It's great to see for a kid who deserves a little success considering his career. Smith catapulted to heroic status early in his career, even being named a captain last season, but was relegated to a reserve role this year.

DUVAL KAMARA - 2 rec for 38 yds - 2 TDs - Little used Kamara came up big in his final home game. Kamara's two touchdown receptions in one game equals his TD receptions over the past two seasons. Kamara was a starter his freshman year, but quickly fell out of favor with the arrival of Floyd, an injury setback, and questionable hands. Nonetheless, it was a great display Kamara will remember forever.


GET HIM OUTTA THERE

Amazing what happens when you play well and win.


WAIT WHAT?

A few weeks ago, OC, a fellow expert analyst on Notre Dame Football, sent me a gameday text frustrated as to why ND did not attempt to block more punts. After all, with John "Fair-Catch" Goodman fielding punts, there was no reason to block anyways. Well, the coaches finally watched the same film. The Robert Blanton blocked punt and housing was absolutely awesome! It swung the momentum for the game, and hopefully the rest of the season. The last time ND blocked a punt was. . .exactly, no one knows.



-DH

Opportunity Knocks

On Saturday, the 15th ranked Utah Utes enter Notre Dame Stadium on Senior Day for the Irish squad. While many predicted Notre Dame to be entering this game at 6-3 and Utah undefeated and ranked in the top 5, things could not turned more different. Notre Dame sits at 4-5 coming off their bye week and Utah got crushed by TCU last week. Therefore, both teams have something to prove. For Utah, it's a marquee win (funny how that works) over a storied program and the continuation of their season as BCS at-large hopefuls. For Notre Dame and Brian Kelly, it's a statement game.

While Utah, at #15, is the top-ranked team Notre Dame has faced this season, the Irish have already had one opportunity this season to make a splash: #16 Stanford. Now we all know how that game ended up (I left early). Nonetheless, Notre Dame and more importantly Brian Kelly, could use this win to avoid his second 3-game losing skid this season. Not to mention, a loss on Saturday virtually eliminates Notre Dame from bowl contention (hard to believe).

But for me, the game this weekend begs a deeper analysis on two fronts crucial to the future success of Notre Dame - winning the big game and winning at home. I've already touched on a few reasons why a victory this weekend is monumental for this season, but it can easily be a springboard for the coaching career of Brian Kelly. Taking a simple look at precedent: Willingham, who's overall record against ranked teams was 6-8 was fired because he would lose to BYU and then upset #8 Michigan. Weis, who posted a record of 5-13 against ranked foes, was fired because he couldn't win the big game, and he lost to Navy - twice. Kelly has started off 0-1 against ranked opponents, and already has racked up marquee losses to Navy and Tulsa. Therefore, Brian Kelly needs this win to ensure the IRISH faithful, and recruits, we are not heading down the same historical path.

Secondly, if you want to compete for a national title, you must win your home games. It's a simple no-brainer for success. It's your home field - everything should be slanted in your favor. However, as OC pointed out in his recent column "Blow it Up," Notre Dame lacks an extreme advantage at home and it is not something new, but is something traditional domers have chosen to ignore (and blame on the coach). Willingham went 11-7 overall at home with a 5-1 season. Weis went 19-14 overall at Notre Dame Stadium with a 6-1 season. This year, the Irish are 3-3 at home. Kelly needs a highlight victory at home for all Notre Dame fans. Otherwise, these statistics will continue.

I'm as anxious as all to watch the Irish on Saturday. While I have yet to throw in the towel on Kelly, I believe this weekend, for better or worse, will set the tone for the rest of the season, and the rest of Kelly's tenure at Notre Dame. Opportunity knocks Coach Kelly, answer it.


-DH

Blow It Up

(Warning – this is very opinionated)

I reached my breaking point with Notre Dame football this past Saturday with another inexcusable loss to another team that doesn’t belong on the field with the Irish. I’m tired of it and I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel without blowing up Notre Dame football as we know it. After starting the season out so optimistic, I am all out of kool-aid. I’m not calling for Kelly’s head, I understand it takes time. I understand that many championship coaches have had rough first seasons, but to me, numerous changes need to be made. Notre Dame is not in a good place and it needs to be recognized that changes need to be made (I am not a believer in the performance on the field will cure all problems Notre Dame faces).

Coaching

Like I said, I am not calling for Kelly to be fired. However, I am asking him to not be arrogant and have some humility. I am asking him to make better football decisions. Please do not tell me to “get used to it” after a loss to Tulsa. I disagree whole hearted with throwing for the end zone. Brian Kelly is not Les Miles. You have a true freshman quarterback. Kick the field goal. These decisions drive me mad. Throwing the ball against Pittsburgh where Mike Ragone drops the ball and not forcing Pitt to take their timeouts. Not kicking the field goal at the end of the 1st half against Michigan. Even going back to Charlie Weis last year. Throwing the ball against Michigan instead of forcing them use their timeouts and Shaq Evans drops the ball. Yeah, all great plays if they work out. But they didn’t. Some consider running the ball or kicking the field goal playing “not to lose” and these play calls are playing to win. No, I call it smart football. So, Brian Kelly, if you haven’t already learned, you and your Notre Dame football team is the biggest game on every opponent’s schedule. You got dominated by Navy. Navy lost to Duke! Tulsa celebrated like they just won a National Championship after beating a .500 hundred Irish team. Brian Kelly needs to pick up his learning pace and start coaching his players “up” instead of “down”. I’m all for Kelly teaching the kids and giving them an earful when they screw up. However, it’s getting old.

The Notre Dame Stadium Experience – Blow it up

Now comes the good part. Tradition, blow it up. Notre Dame Stadium, blow it up. The band, blow it up. The lame graphics on the scoreboard, blow it up. Blow everything up that is Notre Dame stadium and start new traditions. As the one who has attended the most Notre Dame games among us, especially in the past 7 years, I can honestly say that the Notre Dame experience has gotten worse and lamer every year. It’s pathetic. The Tulsa game was rock bottom for me. It was terrible. I think the interaction I had with a fellow Notre Dame fan after the game sums it up best.

(Tulsa just took a knee to win the game)

Kevin (Screaming, very loud in the angriest voice): Way to Go Irish! You guys SUCK! You’re terrible, you just lost to TULSA! It’s Tulsa!

Notre Dame fan in front of me: Well, why don’t you just put a Tulsa shirt on?

Katie (before I can respond, pushing me towards the isle): Okay, time to go.

That fan sums up what Notre Dame has become. Just happy to experience a Notre Dame game. “Gee golly we lost, but what a great experience” It’s become Disney World. It’s become Wrigley Field. Everyone is there for the sacred Notre Dame experience. What experience? The band playing the same damn cheer 100 times during the game? The band doing some lame ass dance during halftime and getting the loudest cheer from the student section? The ushers saying “Welcome to Notre Dame”? The team running out of the tunnel with no excitement and their tails between their legs? The student body starting the wave with ND up only two points and Tulsa moving down? The best seats in the house (the gold seats) constantly empty? The boring, long TV timeouts where you’re forced to hear the band play some more of the same sh!t? The slow, lethargic We…………………R…………………N………………….D chant? Does this really excite people and draw them to the games, especially for $70 a ticket?

The stadium experience needs to change, soon. I suggest blowing the whole thing up and starting from scratch. Install the biggest Jumbo-Trons you can afford. Play the loudest rap and rock music out there. Oh, but what about the poor band? Tell the band off when they get offended that the loud music and video screens take away from the attention on them when they’re trying to play a cheer for the 100th time in one game. I’m here to see a football game, not to listen to you play the 1812 overture for a damn coach that can’t beat Tulsa. Oh, about the 1812 overture, that’s gone. Instead, we’re going to copy Wisconsin and play jump around during that time. ND stadium is currently the easiest place to play for a visiting team. Even when ND is playing well (Purdue this year), it’s not an intimidating place to play. ND will not win a National Championship unless the stadium atmosphere changes. Notre Dame stadium is currently a stadium that feeds off the product on the field. The team feeds off the stadium atmosphere. It’s a lose, lose. When they sense the fans are not into it, they’re not into it (See Stanford and Tulsa). ND needs to change that. Something needs to be done to keep the blood flowing throughout the 4-5 hour game. Get a black out game, a white out game, a green out game, a blue out game, a go F* yourself USC game. Paint Notre Dame in the end zones and put a huge leprechaun at the fifty. Maybe then the players will realize they are playing on their home turf and get a sense of pride in them. Speaking of turf, install the field turf (which I don’t get why it’s taking so long, considering 3 out of the 4 fields ND practices on are field turf. If you’re not going to put it, then use all grass practice fields. I have talked to many people that have played on the new field turf and all have echoed that it makes a difference when you go back to grass) Change how the player’s enter the field. It’s incredibly boring now. The band plays and the gold helmets run out. Bring the opposing team out first. Then copy Virginia Tech and make the best, most intimidating entrance in college football. Let them see what they are in for. Get the fan base fired up right from the get go. Put the student body along the fifty. Put in luxury boxes for all the fans that want to remain silent throughout the game only to tell you to sit down when it’s a key third down. Better yet, by playing all this loud music and showing videos of past Notre Dame greats with some advertisements (who cares if there are advertisements!), these people probably won’t want to go to the games. Fine with me.

The product on the field will not change my viewpoint on this. I need to see more effort than the “rinse and repeat” we have going on with bringing in a new coach, waiting for this coach to get his players or install his system, then realizing the wait was worthless five years from now. Sure winning will make all the things I hate mentioned above more tolerable, but I’m tired of tolerating things when it comes to Notre Dame. I want enjoyment out of Notre Dame Football and that has been unheard these past years.

Something new needs to happen to draw people back into Notre Dame Football. A new coach didn’t do that. The ticket lottery wasn’t even a lottery this year except for Michigan. Next year is going to be the same way, probably much worse. Something needs to change to draw fans back.

I know most of what I said is summarily dismissed by the traditionalist. The main counterargument is: how does a jumbo tron equate to performance on the field? I don't disagree with this viewpoint. A giant video screen doesn't miss tackles, throw interceptions, or fail to stop the fullback dive (as evidenced by the fact that the meadowlands has jumbo trons). However, creating a hostile environment where a visiting team is legitimately at a disadvantage does help win games. Winning at home is the first step to winning a National Championship. I just want Notre Dame to be a hostile place to play. Keeping fans into the game is the first step towards a hostile environment. Many football programs have successfully integrated their band with a Jumbo tron and other.

Keys to Failure

Notre Dame exhibited all the right moves for failure on Saturday in an embarrassing, and suddenly typically, 29-27 loss to Tulsa on Saturday to drop to 4-5 (when we all thought they would be 6-3). The Irish, players and staff, followed the directions perfectly, giving the game to Tulsa on a silver platter. While everyone will debate the final pass call, which coincidentally I liked, the game should not have even gotten to that point. Look more in-depth at the following:


SPECIAL TEAMS

The Irish special teams allowed Tulsa to score from all facets and at key moments. Exhibit A: The blocked extra point returned for two points. Personally, I thought Tulsa lined up over the center, which is against the rules in college. Nonetheless, is it that hard to block? Instead of tying at 7-7, the Irish found themselves in a whole at 9-6. Not to mention, those two points were the difference in the outcome. Exhibit B: John Goodman's muffed punt would have cost the Irish points, had Tulsa not missed the field goal attempt. Exhibit C: The punt return swung the momentum back into Tulsa's favor managing to keep them in the game, even though their offense hadn't scored since the 1st quarter.


MENTAL MISTAKES

While this category largely includes turnovers, it also involves things like giving the game to the opposing team!!! The Irish had four turnovers on the day, improving their record to 1-4 when losing the turnover battle. The Goodman fumble, while not resulting in points, is devastating to the defense who just worked their ass off to get off the field. Rees three interceptions not only led to seven points for Tulsa, but also cost ND the game in the end. Even more stunning, is the fact that all three interceptions came in the final minute of each half. That is poor and pathetic.


MOMENTUM

College football is exciting because of the aforementioned failures. These are kids who at times lose focus and discipline resulting in errors, turnovers, and big plays. No game is ever won until the final seconds tick off the clock. It must be an accepted fact of college athletics. That being said, the events that occur against the Irish are laughable. Exhibit A: The Irish score and kick the extra point to make it 7-7. Exhibit B: The Irish capitalize on a turnover in Tulsa territory before the half to make it 27-10, Kelly knees into half and no INT return for a touchdown ever occurs. Exhibit C: Irish open up 3rd quarter with TD on first drive (following a turnover) and suddenly its 34-10 and the game is well in hand (and Tommy Rees declared next great Irish QB). Instead, Tulsa scores 13 offensive points yet still wins the game 28-27.


And because I have to:
HEISMAN BABY

MICHAEL FLOYD - 11 rec. for 104 yds - 2 TDs - Floyd is an impressive football specimen. It's unfortunate that the pathetic play of the Irish overall as a team has hindered his incredibly successful season (728 rec yds - 8 TDs).


ROCK SOLID

MANTI TE'O - 8 tackles - Te'o anchored a defense that forced two turnovers, had four sacks, and only gave up 13 points. That's an impressive outing for the Irish D considering Tulsa had 400 yards of offense in the game.

CIERRE WOOD - 115 yds of total offense - 2 TD - Getting his first start for the Irish, the redshirt freshman did not disappoint. With Armando Allen's career at Notre Dame seemingly over, it's Wood's time to shine.

GET HIM OUTTA THERE

JOHN GOODMAN - It would be different if Goodman actually made some attempts at punt returns sometimes. But when a guy gets the nickname "Fair-Catch", I expect you to actually catch the ball.

WAIT, WHAT?

When the Irish went up 27-18 in the 3rd quarter, things were actually going well. Furthermore, when you took a look at the line-up it was quite shocking:

QB - Tommy Rees - FR.
RB - Cierre Wood - RS FR.
WR - Roby Toma - SO.
WR - TJ Jones - FR.
WR - John Goodman - RS JR.
TE - Tyler Eifert - RS SO.

After all, with the final outcome, all we have is the future.


-DH