The Back Corner Fade
Well now, that was fun, wasn’t it? The Irish got to work early, rushing out to a 28-0 lead at halftime and just for fun added a 14 more in the 2nd half to dismantle Navy 42-3 in Dublin. Like many of you, I can’t ever remember ND looking that crisp in an opener and executed with military precision, especially on offense. Sure, Sam Hartman is in his 6th year of college football, but he also is playing in a completely different offense and is working with a very talented, yet inexperienced group of receivers. He looked like he had been running the Irish offense since Day 1 of his freshman year at Wake.
The offensive line was also exceptionally impressive. Joe Rudolph’s boys looked like a well-oiled machine that had been playing together for a few seasons. Hats off to Pat Coogan and Rocco Spindler who were exceptional in their first collegiate starts (also, that just sounds nasty: Pat Coogan and Rocco Spindler. Sounds like a couple of fellas you would meet in Hell’s Kitchen during the 70’s if you got out of line.)
Not to throw a bucket of water on this resounding win, but Navy is bad. I can’t think of a Navy team this rough since before Paul Johnson came to town. They’re in for a tough year and turnaround. That being said, the Irish did what you should do to Navy every time they play them: bury them. That game was over in the second quarter, and hope that we’ll say a few more early KO’s this season with some of the lesser opponents on the schedule.
Week 1 of the season begins in earnest this week and we finally have some games to talk about. Sure, there aren’t many marquees matchup’s this week, and the vast majority of the big boys in college football are tunning up with cannon fodder, but at least there is a full schedule of games to watch from noon on Saturday until well into the evening. Let’s look at some of the better games to check out….
Thursday night kicks off the weekend as Matt Ruhle makes his debut as the Nebraska HC as the Huskers travel to Minnesota. I thought this was the best hire in last winter’s coaching carousel, and think he’ll eventually bring Nebraska around to at least bringing a scare to the Big 37’s big boys, but let’s be honest, that program has a very long way to go. If he can get the Big Red into a bowl game in his first season, that would be a heck of a job. That being said, it’s the Big 10 West…not hard. They won’t get this one on the road, but it’s well worth a watch. Gophers 28-17.
Interesting one on Saturday evening when UNC and South Carolina get together in Charlotte. UNC has super-sophomore Drake Maye at the controls, but they are breaking in a new OC after guru Phil Longo headed to Madison to turn Wisconsin’s ground and pound offense into the flying circus. South Carolina is coming off an impressive end to their season beating Tennessee and Clemson before losing to ND. Spencer Rattler is back for what seems like his 10th season in college football, and when he’s right, he’s exceptional. When he’s second half against ND Spencer Rattler, it’s really, really bad. Baby Beamer is quietly doing a nice job in Columbia, and think he gets the boys off to a nice start. Oh yeah, UNC still has Mac Brown. Advantage: Gamecocks. South Carolina 31-28.
Miami (OH) plays Miami (FL). Prediction, Miami is going to win. Another prediction: there maybe 5,000 people there to witness it.
Sneaky one on Monday night as Clemson heads to Durham to play Duke. I’m not totally sold yet that Clemson “just had an off year” and that it was a blip on the radar. DJ Uwenttooregonstate is finally gone ending a tumultuous three years, and HS phenom Cade Klubnik finally has the keys to the offense under Garrett Riley. First game, on the road (ok it’s at Duke, there’ll be more CU fans there than Duke fans-scratch that one) with a rookie QB with a new OC, against a defensive minded coach in Mike Elko. I think Clemson will get out of town with a win, but think it’s gonna be a close one. Tigers 27-21.
The premier game of the week goes down on Sunday night as LSU heads to Orlando to take on Florida State. If you remember last season, we all had a lot of laughs watching Brian Kelly’s forgettable debut as the head coach of the Tigers against these same Seminoles. Say what you will about the son of a…..I mean Brian Kelly, he has dudes and a team more than able to win the SEC West. First things first, he has to beat an awfully good Mike Norvell (by the way, he has a constant look on his face of sadness and fear on his face like a 7-year-old getting an ice cream cone knocked out of his hand by the neighborhood bully) led Seminole team. Jordan Travis leads the ‘Noles (like Rattler, guy seems to have been there since 2014), and he is a heck of a lot of fun to watch. I think this will be a lot like last year’s game and wouldn’t be surprised if it’s undecided well into the 4th quarter. Kelly gets a bit of payback in a real good one: Tigers 28-24.
Notre Dame returns home for the first time since laying the wood to Boston College in the “Snow Globe Game” last November and welcomes in the Tennessee State Tigers. The Tigers are led by Eddie George, and the Irish fans will remember the last time they saw George, he was running up and down the field in Ohio Stadium as the Buckeyes pasted ND, kicking off his road to the Heisman Trophy. TSU’s only real shot in this one would be to have Eddie gear up and tote the bean 30 times, and if you look at him, he still looks in shape to do just that!
Let’s face it, if this game is still in doubt midway into the 2nd quarter, it would be considered a letdown from last week. Tennessee State just doesn’t have the athletes to match up with the Irish in any phase of the game. Navy, for as down as they are, still present you with an uncommon offense and one that if you’re not totally prepared for, can bite you. Unless the Tigers come out in the Single Wing, I don’t think they can exactly styme ND.
Here's hoping that the Irish can get Sam, Audric, and the rest of the boys out of there by halftime and the back-ups and younger kids can get some solid reps in and show the Irish faithful a glimpse into the future.
Offensive Pick to Click: Gi’Bran Payne-90 yards and 2 TD’s
Defensive Beast of the Week: Cam Hart- 2 PBU’s and a pick 6
Irish. 56-6
Beat TSU