Notre Dame looked like a top 10 team for the first time since the opening weekend on Saturday in a 56-27 drubbing of Wake Forest in the first start of the season for Ian Book. Brian Kelly rolled the dice by making a change at quarterback this week and it paid off with Book accounting for five Irish touchdowns (2 passing, 3 rushing).
Tony Jones and Jafar Armstrong added rushing touchdowns on top of Book’s. Chase Claypool and Brock Wright were the recipients of the Book passing scores.
Notre Dame improved to 4-0 on the season with the victory as they prepare to host a potential top 10 opponent next week – pending the result of tonight’s Stanford-Oregon contest. The Irish host the Cardinal next Saturday for their second primetime contest of the year.
Much more to follow as we slice and dice this. For now, enjoy the highlights.
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
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There can be no question that Stanford’s defense is excellent. Three second half turnovers, counting the one in overtime, and stunning pass coverage in the closing minutes and then in overtime too.
BGC ’77 ’82
FOUR.
The next two weeks the calculation changes a bit because we face two defenses that are very good, like the “M” defense was. We may see one or both of the games become a low scoring defensive struggle. But having successfully rearranged the deck chairs, I’m happy to report that the Titanic has righted herself in the water, and Stanford is dead ahead.
The only thing left to do then is to bring the big boat up to ramming speed…so “damn the torpedoes…full speed ahead” as M. Farragut put it.
BGC ’77 ’82
BGC, sure would like to see that V hoisted up next week. Lots of hard work ahead for the Irish. This has to be Books dream come through, lining up vs. the Cardinal. And, if we can get Dexter back, we will need all hands.
If Stanford’s defense is very good, then Oregon’s offense is top three. And it is more like very good. Stanford’s defense looks vulnerable.
I believe what convinced me most about Book was him leading those three touchdown drives in the third quarter that put the game to rest. It was a night and day difference between what we saw before to what we saw today.
R brooks on the post game show , what game did you watch? IB looks like a real quarterback, there’s no comparison. I know WF blows but holy moley, what a diff .