ND, OSU - Keys to Victory
UHND.com - William Murphy
December 28, 2000
For the Irish, this year’s game marks the return to major bowl competition since a 1996 range Bowl loss to Florida State, and a chance for Bob Davie’s 9 - 2 Irish to justify their return to major bowl competition and to the elite of Division I football. Their choice by the BCS over Nebraska and Virginia Tech was considered a stretch by many. This is also a personal quest for Coach Davie, whose contract with the University was just extended, and who is 0 for 2 at Notre Dame in bowl competition, with losses to LSU and Georgia Tech.
If Notre Dame is ecstatic about its return to major bowl competition, consider the case of the Beavers of Oregon State. Up until the 1999 season, the Beavers only consideration for any type of post season award would have been for the ‘Perennial Doormat of the Year Trophy’, with 28 consecutive losing seasons. In his first year Coach Dennis Erickson, the ex-Miami of Florida head coach (along with two National Championship rings), changed the losing season syndrome around, and added bowl game to boot. This year the Beavers, who like the Irish were unranked in the pre-season and started their season slowly, finished strong with impressive victories over Southern Cal, UCLA, and Arizona. Their finale, a 23 – 13 spanking over inter state rival and 6th ranked Oregon, guaranteed their BCS appearance. This season’s 10 – 1 record and AP 5th ranking is their best in school history. Not surprisingly, the odds makers have made them a slight favorite over the Irish.
Despite this phenomenal coaching achievement by Dennis Erickson, he did not accomplish this through sheer force of will. He did what all great coaches do, motivated, and inspired the talented Beaver players to excel, honing their talent through his leadership and confidence, justified by his prior collegiate accomplishments.
The Irish will have to play their best game of the year to defeat the explosive offense and very quick and aggressive Beaver defense. Though a very confident and talented team themselves, they will not do well playing from behind, so they must keep the score close for their power and talent to thrive.
The four categories that have propelled the Irish to their 9 and 2 finish, 7 - 0 after starting 2 - 2, will all be called into play if they are to defeat OSU. The first two go hand-in-hand: the fewest turnovers, eight, since the 1966 record tying performance of Miami of Ohio, and the poised and mature play of their freshman quarterback, Matt LoVecchio. His steady and confident leadership is a major reason why the Irish are in Tempe, and is a requirement for victory. It allowed the not so explosive offense the chance to wear down the opposition’s defense. While his maturity have not have won them games, his stats aside from turnovers are only average, the spectacular play of the special teams has.
The Irish nearly defeated Nebraska on special teams play alone, and their constant success here throughout the year has changed outcomes in their direction, especially since their heartbreaking loss to Michigan State. They block punts and field goal attempts equally well, and their success in the return game was so good, the opposition would adjust their kicking style to prevent the field advantage that the Joey Getherall and Julius Jones tandem were likely to make. The punting of Joey Hilbold has been aces, and they’ve been uncanny in their success when faking the kick. Nick Setta’s place kicking has been the only less than spectacular, although dependable, aspect of this entire team effort. This has been their margin of victory on the scoreboard.
The last component in ND’s success is the ever improving power of the defensive front. The stellar play of Tony Weaver and Anthony Denman in particular are the flip side to the success of LoVecchio. With all that’s been said, this is where the game will likely be decided. OSU is explosive, and they have in Ken Simonton, a leading contender for next Year’s Heisman Trophy, the best running back they will have seen this year. Stopping him is a must, but only half of the picture, as their passing game is just as powerful, with QB Jonathan Smith throwing for over 2400 yards, and just three receivers combining for almost 2000. The senior defensive backfield duo of Brock Williams and Tony Driver likely may be the two most exhausted Irish players at the game’s end.
Matt LoVecchio, Tony Fisher, Julius Jones, and that strong and talented Irish offensive line will not be able to outrun even a few of the starters on the OSU defense. Their only chance is to overpower and run over them, straight over them. The Irish are probably the strongest and most physical team OSU will have faced. But, OSU is also a team that makes few mistakes. It is, after all, a Dennis Erickson coached team.
The first sign of how this game may go may be the in the result of the Rose Bowl between Purdue and Washington, a game which will just be ending at the Fiesta kickoff. The Irish barely managed to defeat the Boilermakers, albeit with a different first time QB freshman starter, and Washington was the only loss for the Beavers. Purdue, even with their three losses, is the slight favorite over the 10 – 1 Huskies, a team which also defeated Miami. It just may be that the Pac Ten, OSU notwithstanding, has still not returned to the talent level of the Big Ten and, hopefully, the rejuvenated Irish. They are almost certainly the more talented team all round, but can they win one more game, with a freshman quarterback, and still unproven bowl coach, against possibly the best team and certainly the most accomplished coach they will have played against all year?