Victims of Success

After the fireworks burnt out over Chicago’s Soldier Field in Notre Dame’s 41-3 smack down of the Miami Hurricanes, the Irish found themselves 5-0 for the first time since 2002. The 2012 squad appears quite comfortable shattering records, and the massive win over Miami was no different. Notre Dame opted for a simple game plan of outmuscling the Hurricanes by rushing for 376 yards and 5 touchdowns, racking up two running backs with over 100-yards rushing for the first time in a decade. To rub some salt in Miami’s wounds, Irish quarterback Everett Golson and backup running back Cam McDaniel each chipped in another 50 yards on the ground as ND posted its highest rushing total in one game since 2000. Despite the excitement and buzz growing around the Irish program, the biggest obstruction in their current path comes from an unlikely source: ND’s own success.

Though Brian Kelly had done an excellent job of recruiting the kind of athletes the Irish arguably hadn’t seen since the Holtz era, Notre Dame’s youth and inexperience, coupled with the nation’s toughest schedule, led to ND being outside of the AP Top 25 to start the season. What a strange trajectory this year has taken, with the Irish currently #7 in the AP poll while nearly every major program the Irish have faced, or will face, has taken a tumble. Number one USC lost to Stanford. Number four Oklahoma lost to Kansas State. Number eight Michigan lost to Alabama. Number twenty-one Stanford lost to Washington. The only program the Irish tangled with that hadn’t stumbled out of the gate was Michigan State. The result? When Notre Dame faces Stanford this weekend they will be favored when no more than two months ago the Irish would have been underdogs, not only against the Cardinal but in every one of these contests.  And should ND emerge victorious against Stanford, there’s a very real possibility they will travel to Norman, Oklahoma, to face the previously #4 ranked Sooners as favorites. Regardless of whether it’s justified, such is the price of winning when everyone around you has struggled. Is Notre Dame up to the challenge of no longer being upset-minded upstarts but front-and-center favorites?

Stanford looms as the biggest foe the Irish have encountered due to their style of play. The Cardinal doesn’t hide behind schemes or design. Stanford brings an old-school feel to the game of football – they line up and smash whatever has the gall to stand in their way. Their physical play has given the Irish nightmares in recent years, where just two years ago the Cardinal pounded the Irish by running right down their throats in a 37-14 win. They possess the statistics to back up their physical nature, too. Stanford is 6th nationally against the run, only allowing 77 yards per game with an opponent average of a paltry 2.66 yards per carry. Their scoring defense ranks 41st, only allowing 21 points per game. And it’s worth noting Stanford’s scoring defense was considerably higher before giving up 48 points to Arizona in an overtime win last week.  Still, it’s not as if Stanford doesn’t have points of concern.

Stanford’s passing defense is one of the absolute worst in the country. They rank 113th out of a possible 120 teams, giving up over 300 yards passing per game. The Cardinal’s defensive unit as a whole isn’t necessarily elite, ranking 55th with an average of 379 yards per contest. The result is a Stanford defense that gives up yards – especially through the air – but tightens up, not surrendering too many points.

Are the Irish finally ready to out-physical Stanford, and are they ready to do it on a national stage? ESPN’s College GameDay returns to Notre Dame’s campus for the first time in seven years, offering yet another opportunity – in addition to three straight primetime night games – for ND to highlight itself in the nation’s consciousness. College GameDay will be returning to its roots in South Bend, as the program was created when ESPN traveled to Notre Dame’s campus to cover 1993’s “Game of the Century” between #1 Florida State and #2 Notre Dame, with the Irish prevailing 31-24.

While the outcome of Notre Dame and Stanford will be determined this Saturday, there is mounting evidence the Irish have regained their confidence and swagger after the drubbing of Miami, and the fact the Irish defense has not given up a touchdown in three straight games to the likes of Michigan State, Michigan and Miami. If Notre Dame is to beat Stanford they will need the same swagger and anybody-anywhere-anytime attitude the Holtz-era teams possessed, as evidenced by Holtz’s famous quote before the 1988 Miami-ND game after both teams scuffled during pregame warm-ups.

“After we win the game, if Miami wants to fight, fine, we’ll meet ‘em in the alley. And if they do, save Jimmy Johnson’s [butt] for me.”

The days of Notre Dame being physically intimidated by their opponents are fading once again, and I believe the Irish are up for the challenge.