What A Difference a Year Makes
UHND.com - Frank Vitovitch
October 23, 2000
Notre Dame, Ind - Last season Notre Dame had 29 turnovers(15 interceptions and 14 lost fumbles) for an average of 2.4 turnovers a game. Thisseason the Irish have thrown four interceptions and lost no fumbles for an average of 0.6turnovers a game. The Irish are not giving up the ball and the result is a 5-2 startafter seven games with the chance for a BCS bowl game.
Last season Notre Dame averaged at least one lost fumblea game; this season the Irish have gone 7 games with losing a fumble. The Irish arenot just improved in the turnover game either. From last year the Irish haveincreased production in sacks, kick returns, punt returns, place kicking, punting, andpenalties.
Last season Notre Dame had 18 sacks throughout the wholeseason; this year they have 20 through seven games. The increased pressure has alsohelped a secondary which was shredded last year. This year Notre Dame is only 200.1yards a game in the air after surrendering 241.5 yards a game last year. The Irishhave also done this with virtually the same personnel with the exception of Brock Williamswho was suspended last year.
The return game has not only improved, but has kept NotreDame in games and put them in position to win. Against Nebraska, the two kickreturns for touchdowns were the difference in the game. Last season the only returnfor a touchdown came from Julius Jones against Boston College on a punt. This yearthe Irish have three returns for touchdowns already (two punts by Getherall and one kickby Jones).
The other end of special teams has also been muchimproved. Notre Dame has blocked two punts this year which have come at crucialtimes especially in the Purdue game. Irish opponents are also averaging six lessyards a kick return this year.
Another drastic improvement from last season is the placekicking. Last season Notre Dame was 8-18 on field goals and missed five extra points(going 36-41). This season Nick Setta has converted on six of ten field goals andhis one miss against West Virginia was most likely good but the kick was higher than theposts and the refs called it no good. Nick has also only missed on extra point thisyear.
Joey Hildbold has also improved from last season. As a rookie last year he averaged 38.3 yards a punt and only 35.2 net yards perpunt. This year he is averaging 42.4 yards a punt and 40.2 net. He is alsokeeping Notre Dame in games when the offense comes out sluggish. He has pinnedopponents deep in their own territory 17 times after only getting the ball inside the 20yard line only 15 times last season.
Overall Notre Dame is a much better football team thisyear and whether fans want to admit it or not, Bob Davie deserves most of the credit. He realized what was wrong with the team last year and fixed it this year. The special teams are one of the top five groups in the nation in my opinion andthe defense is leagues better than the one Notre Dame put on the field in '99.
Notre Dame is 4 wins away from going to the team's firstmajor bowl game since '95 when they lost to Florida State in the Orange Bowl. If theIrish win out their chances of going to a BCS game as an at large team are very good. If they win out they should find themselves in the top 10 and could find themselvesin playing on New Year's Day.
The true optimist can also look and say Notre Dame is twoplays away from being 7-0 and a top three team. Take away the third and nineconversion in overtime in the Nebraska game and the Haygood touchdown on fourth and longin the Michigan State game and the Irish are undefeated.
All in all, this Irish team is much, much better than theversion we saw in '99 and one of the biggest improvements that I didn't mention iscoaching. Offensive play calling has been disappointing, but the coaching staff hasthe team ready to play and has fixed a lot of problems from last year. At this point Ithink its almost safe to say that Davie definitely will be back next year, and if theIrish go 9-2 and to a BCS Bowl, he deserves to be. He is not getting a lot of creditin the media for really improving his team and has no chance at coach of the year with BobStoops, Lou Holtz, and Dennis Erickson all having their teams playing better than anyonethought they would, but he has done a great job so far this season.