Notre Dame blows past Miami in Windy City, will likely climb in polls

admin October 7, 2012 0

By DOUG GRIFFITHS
ISL Correspondent

Notre Dame continued to show the college football world it’s back and relevant again by pounding Miami (Fla.) 41-3 Saturday night in Chicago’s Soldier Field.

As a result, the Irish moved to 5-0 on the season and will be thrust even more into the national spotlight as ESPN College Gameday will converge on Notre Dame’s campus for its next game against nationally ranked Stanford Oct. 13.

Now the ninth-ranked Irish will climb in the polls since Florida State, LSU and Georgia fell from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Against the Hurricanes, Irish coach Brian Kelly turned to Tommy Rees after two days prior he said Everett Golson would continue to start. After the game, though, Kelly’s decision made a lot more sense as he explained Golson violated team rules so was benched.

Just how long Kelly was going to bench Golson was in question. That answer came shortly into the game when Kelly benched No. 11 after just three snaps, one of which nearly resulted in an interception.

Golson said all the right things about his suspension after the victory.

“I understand it was a team violation. That was the consequences I had to deal with,” Golson said. “I just kind of knew when I got my time I had to go out there and have fun and manage the team.”

“Our team rules are pretty simple as it relates to being on time,” said Kelly to the media after the game about Golson’s benching. “It wasn’t a big thing in terms of a disciplinary approach.”

He did more than just manage the game.

Once Golson was inserted into the lineup he wasted little time getting the Irish into the end zone. He led the Irish on a 10-play, 88-yard drive which was capped when Theo Riddick scored from one yard out, giving the Irish a 7-0 lead with 9:28 remaining in the first quarter.

Golson wasn’t done after that initial drive either.

He proceeded to lead Notre Dame to two scoring drives the next two times it touched the ball.

The Irish would’ve scored on four of its first five drives that Golson was in for had it not been for Kyle Brindza’s barely missed 34-yard field goal.

Golson had his best passing game of the season, throwing for 186 yards completing 17-of-22 passes.

Hopefully we’ve seen the last of musical chairs at the quarterback position.

The quarterback situation aside, Notre Dame’s defense continues its magnificent season. It kept Miami, a team that had scored over 30 points in each of its last two games, out of the end zone. Remember no one still has scored a rushing touchdown against the Irish this season.

The Irish now have the second-best defense in the nation behind only defending national champion Alabama. Notre Dame allowed the Canes just 285 total yards.

Kelly liked the kind of effort he got from his defense and for good reason. He was particularly pleased with what he saw from what has turned into a young secondary, especially from a tackling standpoint.

“You couldn’t script it any better,” he said. “You have some young players out there. We worked hard on his skill level increasing as it relates to tackling, one of the lost arts that seems to be out there is tackling. (Defensive coordinator Bob) Diaco did a great job with the tackling circuit this week.”

Yet another impressive aspect to what’s quickly becoming a magical season for the Irish is how they’re taking care of the ball. Notre Dame had no turnovers against the Hurricanes and has committed just four miscues this season. The Irish are quickly making fans forget about last year’s turnover-plagued season.

What Notre Dame fans also have reason to smile about these days is the team’s running attack, which once again showed why it has to be the deepest in America.

Miami had no answer for George Atkinson, Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick. Atkinson and Wood both topped the century mark. Atkinson led the way with a game-high 123 yards, averaging 12.3 yards per carry. Wood averaged 6.6 yards every time he touched the ball en route to 118 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns.

Atkinson’s lone touchdown on the night was a highlight reel worthy 55-yard scamper late in the third quarter. Atkinson’s score made it 34-3.

Wood’s touchdown runs came just prior to Atkinson’s. Wood had scoring plunges of two and three yards, which increased a 13-3 halftime lead to 27-3.

“I think this game was needed,” said Golson afterwards. “I don’t know necessarily about my confidence, but just for the team’s confidence, the offense’s confidence.”

It’s hard to be critical in a 38-point win, but you know Kelly would like to see more production from the passing game. He’s very satisfied with Golson’s completion percentage, but probably would like to see more of a vertical passing game. Notre Dame’s longest pass play against the Hurricanes was 24 yards. The Irish finished the night with 211 yards through the air.

With all that said, Kelly won’t want the running game to drop off so getting a whole lot more production from the aerial attack will be easier said than done.

Can you imagine if Notre Dame’s passing game blossoms even more in the next six weeks? If it does, the Irish will be even tougher to beat.

As the remaining schedule is shaping up now, the Irish will be favored in probably all but one game the rest of the way. The possible exception is the game at Oklahoma.

It’s hard seeing this Notre Dame team, which appears to be so focused and boasting perhaps one of the program’s best defenses ever (still a ways to go there though, remembering the 1988 season), losing a home game. Obviously winning in Norman will be very challenging as will the finale in Los Angeles against USC, but the Boston College game in Massachusetts should be a laugher much like the Miami game was.

Now who out there would’ve taken an 11-1 season or even 10-2? Either way, it’s hard to imagine Notre Dame not being involved in the BCS now.

The Irish vs. Alabama in the national championship game? It could happen. For now though, continue to enjoy the ride, one that will keep on being magical as long as Notre Dame keeps winning, and that seems to be a sure thing.