For starters, this was a pretty good performance. Yes, ND pitched a shutout against a pretty good offense, but it was one of those games where there were a lot of “baserunners and Irish pitchers were fortunate to get the double play ball when they really needed it”. But any time you can hold an accomplished WAC offense like Nevada’s scoreless, it should be noted and celebrated. This was ND’s first shutout since 2002 (Rutgers). The Irish gave up quite a bit of yardage in the middle of the field, but were both stout and lucky when it came to red zone defense. Clearly, Jon Tenuta’s defense will frequently employ the blitz and Saturday Nevada’s offense was swarmed repeatedly from multiple directions.
On offense, Notre Dame used a highly efficient and very effective passing game to dismantle the Wolfpack. Clausen connected on 15 of 18 throws, and with a little help from his talented WRs and TE, he amassed 315 yards and 4 TDs. Like the Hawaii Bowl game, this was more evidence that ND’s offense will be prolific when both Golden Tate and Michael Floyd are in the game. They are two outstanding WR’s and when combined with Kyle Rudolph at TE and running backs who can catch, Clausen has mutliple weapons with which he can perform surgery. When the OL gives him time to throw, yards will be amassed and points scored.
As ND prepares to go into the Big House next week to face RichRod’s Michigan Skunkbears, there’s really only one thing that bothers me: run defense. At times Saturday, Nevada tailbacks shredded ND’s D-line and easily got into the defensive backfield. There were holes up front followed by sloppy tackling further downfield. Was this because the Irish were focusing so much on stopping the dangerous QB Kaepernick? Or is this really a chink in the armor? I suspect it’s a little of both. If there was one recognized worry coming into this season, it was the youth of the defensive linemen. There’s talent there, but not a lot of experience, plus they are little undersized. Of course, this doesn’t mean they won’t get better as we go, but this is something that teams will try to exploit and we’ll have to keep an eye on it.
Overall, Irish fans should be pleased with the effort and the confidence displayed by ND Saturday. This year, there seems to be a different “feel” … not sure what it is … I know it’s only after one game and everything could change a week from today … but the team looked quietly confident. Business like, but having fun. They knew what the gameplan was and they knew they would execute it. As an observer, I never really lost confidence that ND would emerge victorious Saturday. I can’t remember the last time I had that feeling for most of the game. Anyway, maybe it’s a sign that experience, maturity and leadership have found their way into the locker room.
Again, it’s only one game. I’m really looking forward to how this team “takes the show on the road” into very hostile territory. I honestly don’t see UM beating the Irish next week … but what I’m hoping we don’t see is the Irish beating themselves. If ND has truly improved in the maturity area, we should expect to see and Irish W and a 2-0 record.
Have a great Labor Day and a good week!
I didn’t get a chance to watch the game (no TV at a friend’s wedding). I’m surprised Lippincott didn’t get any touches. Was he in the lineup? He was injured last season, but everything I read suggested he would play this year – his sixth year in college.
Not sure if he even saw any action, Casey. Is he a Rochester kid?
Not a Rochester kid. Sporting News talked about him. He gained 1,000 yards two years ago.
Posted on open thread yesterday. Slightly different than Wally’s take.
ND just finished overpowering “powerful” Nevada. The good news; the defense looked good now that Charlie has taken himself out of THAT equation, and there were virtually no dumb mistakes on either side of the ball. The bad news; with 2 consecutive “good” games, confidence is on the verge of cockiness, and this team can ill afford to be cocky.
Casey, are you sure about “Lippincott”? Never heard of him. 1000 yards where?
Lippincott gained 1,000 with Nevada in 2007 – see here: https://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=161504
He was injured in Nevada’s first game last season and received a medical red shirt. In the Sporting news season preview, they emphasized Nevada’s back field with two 1,000 yard rushers coupled with Kaepernick.
Pete —
Agree … Irish showed a lot of composure in Game 1 as evidenced by the absence of dumb mistakes and penalties. Some of the play calls were “curious” in first half … situations where I was thinking we should run but instead got cute.
Rey —
You are right (reference to Open Thread)!!! Nobody should ever again refer to Navy when discussing a weakness in one’s schedule. Actually, that goes for the academies in general. They’re smart, tough and they play every play full out for the entire 60 minutes. Navy was thisclose to tying Ohio State with 2 minutes left. So instead of the academies, let’s instead discuss openers vs Nichols State, North Texas, Towson, Western Michigan and Louisiana Monroe when talking cupcakes!!!
When they discuss again, and they will, ND joining a football conference, I vote for the WAC!
Pete – what a triumph it would be.
Helmet sticker!!!!!!
The best thing about ND at Michigan is NBC will not be be televising it. NBC telecasts suck every bit of fun out of college football.
Boog … good point … but if Brent Musberger is doing the game for ABC, that’s got to be even worse!!
Who cares though? Just win baby!
Still bitter about the Palehose beating up on your BoSox over the weekend? (Sorry … but at least your guys will be in the playoffs).
Very few “professional” broadcasters have ever shown the clear biases that Musberger displays against ND.
Even Stewart Mandel, who I believe is a Domer Hater, is professional enough to post an email sent to him that is Irish-supportive! Lengthy, but I thought the author had some good points.
You may find this hard to believe (actually, you probably won’t), but the team about which I receive the most e-mails is not Florida, Texas or USC. It’s Notre Dame. And unlike with most schools, I receive nearly as many Irish-related queries from non-Notre Dame fans as from Domers. Generally, those particular readers aren’t writing in to compliment the Irish.
Thus, on the eve of Saturday’s Notre Dame-Michigan duel — a game 80 percent of the country will complain receives too much attention, but 75 percent will still watch — I found this e-mail from Marc Perras of Somerville, Mass., to be particularly thought provoking.
Stewart, I think we agree that a perennial powerhouse for fans to love/hate makes any sport more fun. I’ve seen the love drift away from Notre Dame over the past decade, but the hate still seems to be of New York Yankees/Duke basketball proportions. Is it the NBC contract? Because it’s certainly not the winning. Shouldn’t fans be more worried about USC and Florida dominating the sport?
Marc has a point. The Yankees haven’t won the World Series in a while, but at least they contend. Duke doesn’t go to the Final Four every year, but it’s usually in the mix. The Irish, however, haven’t won a national championship in 21 years and have only finished in the top 10 (No. 9, in 2005) once in the past 15 years. And yet, national resentment toward Notre Dame remains as strong as ever.
Why is that? Probably because…
• The Irish play by their own set of rules. Twenty years ago, Notre Dame’s status as an independent was hardly unique. Florida State, Miami, Penn State and others were independents as well. But in the BCS era, when so much is made of conference strength, it frustrates fans of other teams that the BCS treats Notre Dame as a conference unto itself. Why should one school get special treatment?
• The relentless media attention. While doing preseason radio interviews around the country, I was asked about Notre Dame more than any team besides Florida. No matter the media market, the Irish are a constant topic of conversation. Meanwhile, one of ESPN’s most visible analysts is a former Irish coach-turned-cheerleader. In a sport where fans are perpetually paranoid about perceived media favoritism, Notre Dame is the one case where it’s quite noticeably true.
• The NBC contract. At this point, Notre Dame’s TV contract is not nearly as lucrative as those of any Big Ten or SEC school, but that’s not really the point. The fact that the Irish have their own dedicated network irks people for the same reason as my first point: special treatment.
• Their (perceived) arrogance. Notre Dame fans may not have much to brag about wins-wise lately, but they’re the first to point out their school “does it the right way” — high graduation rates, no juco transfers, no jock majors. In theory, this approach should be something to which the rest of the country aspires. In reality, most people simply refuse to believe it’s true and resent the fact a vocal fan base perpetuates this “myth” (though I personally don’t believe it’s a myth).
• The BCS bowl losses. Notre Dame is hardly the only team that’s lost multiple BCS games, and Ohio State and Oklahoma have received their share of criticism for similar failures. But those Buckeye and Sooner teams were BCS-conference champions that would have played in one of the big games regardless. Every time the Irish lay an egg against an Oregon State or an LSU, there’s frustration over the fact someone more “deserving” could have received that bid.
• Their coach is a (perceived) S.O.B. I don’t remember a whole lot of venom toward the Irish when Bob Davie and Tyrone Willingham were coaching them. But from the minute Charlie Weis arrived on campus and announced his intent to out-scheme all comers — then received a big, fact contract for almost beating USC — he became a villain. While he’s changed his tone considerably the past couple of years, first impressions are hard to shake.
There a couple of interesting historical footnotes to add to this discussion. For one, most fans don’t realize that in the 1920s, Notre Dame actively sought membership in the Big Ten, but the league’s schools — most vocally Michigan — voted against it. And in light of the hubbub about the Irish’s preferential bowl treatment, it’s incredible to think that for more than four decades (1925-68), the school did not allow the team to play in bowl games, period.
But that’s all moot today. If the Irish win Saturday, and if they string together more victories after that, they’re going to rise up the polls, and as they do, fans around the country will inevitably grow more and more incensed.
Here’s what I wonder. What would happen if Notre Dame does fulfill Dr. Lou’s prophecy and reach the BCS Championship Game? More importantly, what would happen if the Irish won? Would respect finally replace all that resentment and skepticism?
I doubt it, and here’s why. While no self-respecting Big 12 or SEC fan would ever admit it, there’s one universal theme behind all that hatred: envy.
Read more: https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/stewart_mandel/09/09/notre-dame/index.html?eref=sihpT1#ixzz0QdAXUQOx
Great research, Pete! Bottom line is this (to quote Col. Nathan R. Jessup in ‘A Few Good Men”): “You want us on that wall! You need us on that wall!” The sport of CFB is better when ND is “contending”. Just like the Yankees factor in baseball, as was pointed out. That being said, let’s win some games!!! There’s a lot of work in front of ND starting Saturday.
GO IRISH! Beat Wolverines!
What do you call a Wolverine with a national chan’ship ring?