AP Photo/Darron Cummings

By Mark ‘Wally’ Watzke

Maybe you’ve seen the polls that came out yesterday … and/or maybe you happened to hear Colin Cowherd dissing the Irish today (Monday) on ESPN Radio. Now, before I go on my rant, please realize that I’m NOT saying that ND belongs in the Top 15. What I am saying is that they almost assuredly belong in the Top 25 … that’s based on being 4-1 and who they’ve played thus far. For whatever reason, there is a poll bias against Notre Dame … and it’s not the type that over-rates them. Instead, it’s a bias that clearly under-rates them. Here are the facts:

– At 4-1, ND is essentially ranked #28 in the latest ESPN Coaches poll. They have beaten Nevada, Michigan State, Purdue and Washington. They lost in a very close game on the road at Michigan. 3 home games, two road games.

– At 3-1, Oklahoma State is ranked #13. They have played 4 homes games: they have beaten Georgia, Rice and Grambling. They lost to Houston by 10 at home. Houston was not ranked.

– At 3-1, Ole Miss is #16. They have trounced these “powers”: Memphis, Southeastern Louisiana, and Vanderbilt while losing 16-10 to South Carolina.

– 4-1 Oregon is #17. They lost to Boise State 19-8. Barely beat Purdue at home, beat Utah , Cal and Wash State all at home. Note that Cal has looked like absolute dog**** lately.

– Then there’s 4-1 BYU at #20. A squeaky win vs Bradford-less Oklahoma 14-13, and their other victims include “powers” Tulane, Colorado state and Utah State. But they were killed by a mediocre Florida State team AT HOME 52-28!!!

– 2-2 Oklahoma is next in line. They’ve played without Bradford … but not well. Losses to BYU and Miami. Wins at home vs Idaho State and Tulsa. They have two losses in 4 games and haven’t beaten anybody in the Top 60 yet.

– 3-1 Nebraska is #22. Their only “tough game” was a loss to VaTech, but look at how they’ve beaten the snot out of these powder puffs at home: Florida Atlantic, Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette.

I could go on and on. Anyway, I think I can objectively make the case that ND’s 4-1 record against their schedule is AT LEAST the equal or BETTER than the performance to date of the teams mentioned above. Sure, ND could stink up the joint vs USC in two weeks and this observation and argument is moot. But I sure get the feeling that a win over #7 USC will somehow be discounted as tainted, lucky, an aberration, etc. and ND might climb all the way up to ….. #23! Wow.

My only point is this … if there were a shred of objectivity in these polls, right now the Irish deserve to be somewhere #15-22. Not sure what it is … maybe folks resent the “arrogant Weis”, the NBC contract, who knows? But when the Irish win, it’s perceived as luck and when they lose it’s because they just stink and don’t have the horses. Well … all I know is that USC lost to Washington two weeks ago … a UW team that gave LSU all it could handle. Does USC stink? Nope … they’re #7 in the country. Oh … Notre Dame beat Washington? Must’ve been all luck!

Out.

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

It’s darned exciting … but I’m stressed out.  Can’t ND play another game like the Nevada contest one of these days?   In case you missed JC … that’s Jimmy Clausen, who’s been playing like another JC … he rallied the Irish for TDs near the end of regulation and then again in overtime to give Notre Dame it’s 3^rd cardiac arrest win in the last 4 nail-biting games by a 37-30 score in overtime.  Clausen also threw for over 400 yards and hopefully made Heisman voters notice that there are legit candidates playing above the Mason-Dixon Line.

Well, one might’ve thought coming into this contest that the Irish would have success running the ball on Washington.   After all, UW gave up 325 yards on the ground to an unranked Stanford squad last week.  That and, you know, the Irish have “a veteran offensive line that is coming into its own”.   Oh … and UW was ranked something like 108^th nationally in rushing defense coming in.   Nope … again the Irish baffled logic and failed to expose a less-talented opponent at home.  At least the passing game was working … and it saved the Irish in the end.

The first half saw ND keep the game closer than it should’ve been.  This was capped by another failure to close the first half as the Irish gave up a FG after allowing Washington to travel about 60 yards in less than a minute.    In addition to the fumble by Clausen returned for a TD, which was really the play that kept Washington in until the end, another big second half disappointment was ND’s inability to score a TD once reaching the UW 2 yard line and had to settle for a FG to take 19-17 lead.  Then after relinquishing a Husky TD on their first drive of the 3^rd, ND quickly moved to Washington’s 30 yard line where they had a 2^nd down and two.  A false start penalty on the Irish spoiled a good chance of keeping the chains moving and Turk punted.

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Down 24-19 late in the 3^rd, Locker easily moved Washington inside ND’s 5 yard line only to be stuffed at the one on 4^th and goal which seemed to energize the Irish.  ND marched right down to the UW 7 yard line in about 6 plays highlighted by a 37 yard romp by Robert Hughes.  But AGAIN, ND failed to capitalize on being well inside the red zone and only gained 2 yards to the 5 and had to settle for yet another Nick Tausch field goal with 12:23 left in the game.   The inability of ND to stuff the ball in the end zone on the numerous chances it had inside the 10 is both an offensive line failure and a coaching failure.  This supposed veteran OL lacks both toughness and smarts … things that are terribly important in key short yardage situations.   And you’ve got to put a lot of the blame on this Irish coaching staff.    If you cannot get an experienced O-line to give you that push, especially against a suspect rushing defense, then you’re simply not doing your job.  And in taking a look at 3^rd down efficiency for both teams … ND, playing at home, converted on only 20% while Washington was clutch 41% of the time.

With the score 24-22 on Washington’s next possession, Locker again marched the Huskies down to ND’s 36 yard line where they faced a 4^th and 3 situation with 9:42 remaining.  After a time out, UW got a key first down.  Then the the Irish gave up a 16 yard rush right up the gut and Washington would go on to score another easy TD after moving the ball effortlessly down the field to make it 27-22 Huskies.

The worry coming into the game was ND’s defense and it proved to be well-founded.  Not only did they give up that easy FG to end the first half, but Jon Tenuta’s unit’s inability to make any kind of aggressive statement or adjustment in the second half is obvious.   Let’s look at UW’s second half drives:

• 57 yards for a TD (3Q)
• 79 yards and stopped on ND’s 1 yard line
• 69 yards and a FG (4Q)
• 70 yards in 1:09 to kick a game tying FG to force OT.

That’s 275 yards of offense yielded in the second half … and Washington never punted!

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Well, as ND fans were getting ready to jump off the ledge, another great drive led by Clausen in about 6 plays gave the Irish a 1 point lead and then a 2 point conversion made it ND 30-27 with just over a minute remaining.   But once again, the Huskies moved the ball quickly down the field in very little time (about a minute) to kick the game tying FG with only 6 seconds left in regulation.

ND had the ball first in the OT and scored a quick TD made possible by a 22 yard Clausen-to-Tate pass.   Irish lead 37-30!

On Washington’s OT possession, the Irish finally sacked Jake Locker!!!!   Where was this all day?!?!!?   This helped set up a 4^th and very long and the game ended when Locker’s final pass was jarred loose by a ND defender.

Clausen for Heisman, Clausen for Heisman!!!   Jimmy was a stellar 23 for 31 for 422 yards, two TDs and again REALLY CLUTCH down the stretch when the Irish had to have scores.  Here’s a summary of game stats:

Well, we go into the off-week with some momentum BUT also plenty of nervousness.    The Irish are 4-1, a lucky 4-1.   This team is equipped with the confidence that they have the moxy and talent to come back from deficits and darn near put up 30+ point per game.  But on the other hand, a VERY LEAKY defense is preventing this team from being taken seriously … and rightly so.  Just cannot understand how this Washington team … a team the Irish completely smoked in Seattle last year (okay … it was without Jake Locker), came in to South Bend, racked up 457 yards, and took the Irish to the brink Saturday.   And the O-line just isn’t providing the toughness and physicality to make the offense completely dominant, especially when 3-4 yards are needed in key situations.

Anyway, we’ll take the win, which sets the table for the Irish to take the major step we’ve been waiting on for several years:   beat USC!    ND has two weeks to rest, get healthy, and prepare for this home game on Oct 17.   USC is beatable, but it won’t be easy by any stretch.   They are going through some growing pains with a new young QB, a young defense and new coordinators.   But if the Irish can somehow win this game against the 7^th ranked Trojans, this will create significant and much needed momentum for possibly a great season and also for the program in general.   Losing, or worse yet, not competing in this game will only stir the doubts about the coaching staff’s ability to ever bring the ND program firmly into the Top 10-15 in the country … a place were fans and alums expect it to be annually.

So … it was good to get the win, yes we needed some luck (like the overturned UW touchdown), but it’s good to be 4-1 right now.  And a doubly good day since the Michigan Skunkbears lost to Michigan State!!!

Have a great week  … and you can rest up with the Irish to get ready for the USC game.  See ya in 2 weeks!

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

By Paul Gotham

With their leading rusher and receiver on the bench and a hobbled quarterback shuffling in and out of the game, the Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish made good on fourth down for a road win. Something they hadn’t done against a Big Ten foe since the first year of the Charlie Weis tenure.

Jimmy Clausen found Kyle Rudolph in the end zone, and the Irish upended a pesky Purdue squad, 24-21. The touchdown came at the end of 12-play drive.  Clausen completed six of nine passes as ND marched 72 yards in 3:17.

Minutes earlier, Joey Elliott found Jaycen Taylor open in the middle (a common theme for Purdue), and the Boliermakers took their first lead in the second half. After the extra point, Purdue led 21-17.

Clausen took over from there. Hobbled with a sore toe on his plant foot, Clausen and Notre Dame took possession on their own 28. The junior signal caller completed passes to Golden Tate, Robert Hughes, and Kyle Rudolph, and ND had first down on the Boilermaker 32. Completions to Robby Parris and Tate gave the Irish first and goal on the Purdue 4-yard line.

The drive almost stalled there. A pass over the middle fell incomplete. Purdue stuffed a draw. On third down, Clausen tried to find Tate in the corner of the end zone. Again, the pass fell incomplete. Those plays served the purpose of setting up the drama as Clausen, out of the shotgun, avoided pressure and found his trusty tight end, Rudolph, for the score.

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Dayne Crist came off the bench and sparked the ND offense. With Clausen injured, the coaching staff opted to insert the sophomore early to get him some touches. Crist responded with a 16 yard rush on his first play from scrimmage. ND completed the drive with a touchdown and a 10-7 lead in the second quarter. ND ran the ball eight times for 73 yards on the drive.  Tate and Robert Hughes carrying much of the load.

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

With Armando Allen sitting on the bench, Hughes came back to life. The junior rushed the ball four times for 36 yards on the drive. In all, Hughes led the Irish with 68 yards on 15 carries. Hughes entered the game 20 yards on seven carries. Hughes gained 294 yards on 53 carries as a freshman and 382 yards as a sophomore.

Tate, a former tailback, scampered for 55 yards on 9 carries. He also made five receptions for 57 yards. With Michael Floyd out for the season, Tate received more attention from the defense. Floyd has 13 catches for 358 yards and five touchdowns.

Allen leads all Irish rushers with 326 yards on 59 carries.  The junior sat with an injured right ankle.

While the Irish offense adapted to win the game, the defense will keep this ND squad from championship aspirations.

ND offered little resistance as the Boilermakers mounted two touchdown-scoring drives in the fourth quarter. Missed tackles and blown coverage were too common as Purdue took the lead late.

Darrin Walls thwarted what could have been another touchdown drive with a spectacular interception on the Irish 22. Replays showed the pass was under thrown. Elliott missed a pair of passes earlier in the game which would have gone for  long gains. Couple those mistakes  with 13 penalties for 103 yards, and the Irish should be thankful to leave West Lafayette with a win.

Notre Dame’s last road victory over Big Ten came September, 23rd 2006 when the Irish downed Michigan State, 40-37.