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Notre Dame Football

Game Thread | No. 9 Notre Dame at Florida State

September 5, 2021
169,706

Game One | No. 9 Notre Dame at Florida State 

Doak Campbell Stadium | 7:30 p.m. ET | ABC | Notre Dame - 7.0 | Over/Under: 55.5

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Notre Dame in Tally

Fighting Irish football is back. 

Notre Dame should win this game on paper, but there are many interesting aspects of this game to watch as Florida State will have a chance to make this one interesting. The Irish offensive is breaking in new quarterback Jack Coan and four new starters on the offensive line. Always tricky, but outside of true freshman Blake Fisher, it’s still a group that’s played in big games. 

Irish receiver Kevin Austin Jr. will also be making his return to the field after basically two years away from the field as he played in just one game a year ago.

It will also be the first time Notre Dame fans get to see Marcus Freeman’s defense. The Blue-Gold Game in the spring was extremely vanilla and some have even stated Notre Dame under 10 plays on defense. 

On the Florida State side, it’s still an unknown how Mike Norvell will play his quarterbacks as Jordan Travis seems like the likely starter while grad transfer McKenzie Milton could play if he’s healthy enough. 

Finally, you have Seminoles left guard Dillan Gibbons facing his former teammates as he transferred from Notre Dame in spring. 


Five Players To Watch

Notre Dame WR Kevin Austin Jr.
Expectations are high for Austin heading into this season and Notre Dame needs him to at least come close to meeting them. Can he be a true WR1 for the Irish? He'll get his first shot to prove it against the Seminoles.

Florida State DE Jermaine Johnson
The transfer from Georgia is going to be counted on to provide a consistent pass rush off the edge for Florida State. The buzz in camp is that he's the best player on the defense. Maybe even the best player on the team. His matchup with true freshman LT Blake Fisher will be one to keep a close eye on.

Notre Dame LB JD Bertrand
Now that we know that Marist Liufau is out of the season, Bertrand steps into the spotlight as the starting Will linebacker. He was someone who rose up the depth chart during the spring and summer and flashed quite a bit as a blitzer.

Florida State QB Jordan Travis
Even though he's listed as a co-starter with McKenzie Milton, it's expected that Travis will be the main guy for most of the game. He's a dynamic runner and has reportedly improved as a passer. He'll need to be much better in that area to give FSU a chance at an upset.

Notre Dame QB Jack Coan
Notre Dame players and coaches have been saying all of the right things about Coan before the season. Now we see if he can live up to the praise he's received. Poise in the pocket is one of his strengths, but Irish fans anxiously await the chance to see him connect on the deep ball with the wide receiver group.


Quotes of the Week

RB Kyren Williams:
"Nobody really knows what Kev (Kevin Austin Jr.) can do. The only people that know what Kev can do is what we see at practice and that's really just our team. 

"We all know what Kevin has in store. We've been bragging out - I know I've been bragging about since I got here. I'm excited and I can't wait for Kevin to show his natural ability to the whole world." 

WR Kevin Austin Jr: 
"I'm very hungry and excited. I've been waiting a long time and it's a great opportunity to finally be here and be in the moment. I have to take by the rails and keep going.

LB Jack Kiser:
"Everybody is certainly excited to get to Sunday and play some real football in an electric environment down in Tallahassee. 

"I don't know what more you could ask for - Florida State vs. Notre Dame on a Sunday night in primetime. It's going to be huge and everyone is very excited to get there." 

Head coach Brian Kelly on what he wants to see from QB Jack Coan:
"Poise would be probably the first one. Decisive. Look, we're not starting a freshman. We're starting a guy that's played this game. We want him to be poised, but we want him to be decisive. He's been in this. He's seen it and knows what it looks like. 

"To be decisive, you have to be confident in your ability and we know Jack is. So go out there and be decisive. 

"The third thing is one of the things we were looking for in this quarterback position is being aggressive. Push the ball. If you got opportunities to push the ball down the field, let's go. Those are the things we've talked to Jack about and now we got to go do it on Sunday." 


For the Instagram users, 2022 tight end Holden Staes‍ will be in Tallahassee with his family for the game and will be taking over the ISD Instagram story for the day. 

Follow us on Instagram here: IrishSportsDaily


For Your Nerves 

Game Thread | No. 9 Notre Dame at Florida State

169,692 Views | 1621 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by DischFalk
ndsean44
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Blake was arguably the most impressive of the starters on the OL, which obviously isn't saying much
ohiondfan
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That's just the annoying FSU tomahawk chant

liquidcrystal23 said:

Is it just me or is the sound really really awful ?
AZdoc
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liquidcrystal23 said:

Is it just me or is the sound really really awful ?


Nah. The announcers just suck that bad.
REMND
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mjhahn said:

NYNDBLUE said:

Last year ND gave up 113 rushing yards per game. Alabama only rushed for 140.

FSU has rushed for 152 yards in a half.
Not correct - According to the official stats FSU has 107 yards rushing.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401282614

They have 152 TOTAL yards.


And 89 of them came on 1 play.
parisite
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other than not throwing early enough and leading his wr on 2-3 plays coan has played pretty well for a first game. hopefully they get that timing worked out
hubriscube
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Mediocre audio and video here. Not available in 4k where I am. I'd guess it's closer to 720 than 4k.
Portland, OR Bureau Chief, currently on assignment in Washington, DC
Sgt Hulka
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AZdoc said:

liquidcrystal23 said:

Is it just me or is the sound really really awful ?


Nah. The announcers just suck that bad.


I mute every game. Last year was a treat having Dungy in the booth. I'll probably be back to muting home games as well.
pjcaulfield
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No. Had it easily if he didn't bobble the ball.
NYNDBLUE
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mjhahn said:

NYNDBLUE said:

Last year ND gave up 113 rushing yards per game. Alabama only rushed for 140.

FSU has rushed for 152 yards in a half.
Not correct - According to the official stats FSU has 107 yards rushing.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=401282614

They have 152 TOTAL yards.
I just noticed error. But their 3 running backs have carried 7 times for 132 yards for 19 yards per carry.

One is a sophomore and the other two are freshmen.

So, used the wrong number but the point is rushing defense has been terrible and it's curious why FSU hasn't rushed more.
emeyers
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9:35 and 2H hasnt started yet. I love ND football, but don't love all the delays / commercials.
PhillyNDFan
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Sgt Hulka said:

AZdoc said:

liquidcrystal23 said:

Is it just me or is the sound really really awful ?


Nah. The announcers just suck that bad.


I mute every game. Last year was a treat having Dungy in the booth. I'll probably be back to muting home games as well.
I loved Dungy. Hoping Brees is better than Flutie.
Your friendly neighborhood moderator.
Referee for the BGS/Buccos PPV fight.
irishfan32489
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Really have to figure out what the identity will be on offense.
toliver0917
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Some of the rising starters with really nice plays. Loved the tackle by cam hart the first drive
cjdav
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A discombobulated ND coaching staff, play calling, players not executing, etc. This is why when you read reports from pre-season practice and everyone is saying how "great" these players are, take a breath and wait until they play real games. The line is marginal at best, Coan has been "ok", WR are not getting separation on several plays, Rees has called some "head scratchers" or at least that is the way it appeared (might just be execution), D lost contain and out of position on TD's (tackling on the first run was poor).

Hope they get it together in 2nd half or this could be a "forgotten" season...
Sgt Hulka
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Brees seems likableunlike you know who.
mattfreeman
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Staff
I don't get why Notre Dame doesn't let Jon Doerer kick it through the end zone.
mattfreeman
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Staff
mattfreeman said:

I don't get why Notre Dame doesn't let Jon Doerer kick it through the end zone.
Maybe that's why lol
johnson33
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Something doesn't seem right when Coan is in shotgun. It is like he doesn't actually drop back and is too close to the line.
irishfan32489
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And our specialist line drive kick and a big return (lucky for fumble)
parisite
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down dammit
Rwolf101
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Think he was down.
mattfreeman
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Staff
Notre Dame forces a fumble and recovers to start the second half...play under review.
irishfan32489
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What won't stand
Sgt Hulka
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Open this up
Firefighter8196
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He's down. Can't give up big returns guys
REMND
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Stick a dagger in
CelticIrish
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Year 5 and Doer still kicking ground balls
ndsean44
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Ball is bobbling prior to it flying out
Rwolf101
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CelticIrish said:

Year 5 and Doer still kicking ground balls

That might have been by design.
NYNDBLUE
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Probably down, but no clear view. Can you overturn?
Firefighter8196
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ndsean44 said:

Ball is bobbling prior to it flying out


He was down but it does have to be clear cut evidence
mattfreeman
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Staff
FSU ball.
mjhahn
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In any event that was terrible coverage. Doerer had to of kicked it that way on purpose - why the staff wanted that? Your guess is as good as mine.
NYNDBLUE
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ACC needs a win and ND will not get favors from Conference refs.
pbrad28
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Way to start the half good job
 
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