For more on the Irish, check out One Foot Down. For more on the Spartans, check out The Only Colors.
The sense of "Oh no, here we go again" was back in full force with four minutes to go Saturday afternoon at Notre Dame Stadium. The Fighting Irish had just forced the Spartans into a 4th and 17 from midfield, and they elected to punt the ball away, seemingly giving up only down by 15 points.
They clearly knew something everyone else didn't, as ND punt returner John Goodman, normally very sure handed, muffed the punt at his own 20 yard line, and the Spartans recovered, leaving the Irish faithful, including Head Coach Brian Kelly, completely dumbfounded.
"Here we go again."
Thankfully, somebody on the Irish defense has had enough, and it's Senior CB Robert Blanton making sure last week's choke job at Michigan didn't rear its ugly head again. Blanton read MSU QB Kirk Cousins' eyes right on the goal line, intercepting a pass and returning it 82 yards inside the Spartan 15 yard line, ending any possible Michigan St. comeback. David Ruffer tacked on a Field Goal, and the Irish stopped a last-gasp drive, making the final score 31-13, giving the Irish their first victory of the season.
Blanton had himself a great game before his game-sealing interception, knocking down passes all over the field, and sacking Cousins on a trick play that didn't fool Blanton. The INT could end up being one of those season-changing plays for the Fighting Irish, who haven't been able to catch a break all season. It was Blanton last year who seemingly gave ND new life with a blocked punt for a TD against Utah, catapulting them to a 4-0 finish to the season.
The entire Irish defense played a great game Saturday, holding a potent Spartan rushing attack to just 29 yards on 23 carries, a minute 1.3 yards per carry. They did force two turnovers, the Blanton INT as well as a sack/fumble in the first half. Cousins did throw for 329 on 54 throws, basically dinking and dunking down the field, but couldn't get it done enough on third down, converting just 5 of their 17 attempts. B.J. Cunningham was the workhorse for the Spartans, catching 12 balls for 158 yards.
The Irish still need some work on taking care of the football, committing three more turnovers, but the team stepped up after all of them, only allowing 3 points after those turnovers. QB Tommy Rees had both a fumble and an INT, but made several really great throws, including a key 3rd down conversion late in the second quarter deep in Irish territory, a drive they scored a touchdown on later. He also had a sideline comeback route throw to Michael Floyd in the third quarter, followed by a perfect 26 yard go route to T.J. Jones for ND's final touchdown, putting them up 28-10 midway through the third quarter.
Jonas Gray and Cierre Wood led a balanced Irish rushing attack, combining for 126 yards on 26 carries, including two TDs by Wood. Wood also had six catches out of the backfield, although they only accounted for five yards. Michael Floyd also set a personal record Saturday, catching his 200th pass in his career. He had 6 catches total for 84 yards on the day. It was also the first time since 1993 that Notre Dame beat the Spartans by more than 7 points.
The Irish travel to Pittsburgh next weekend to take on the Panthers, who blew a 27-10 4th quarter Saturday at Iowa, losing 31-27. Notre Dame is hoping that they don't put that blown 17 point lead behind them like they did Saturday.
While the Fighting Irish haven't cured themselves of the turnover bug, they've at least learned how to put them behind them, as they once again look impressive in the first half Saturday, leading 21-10 at halftime against the Michigan State Spartans. Sophomore Tommy Rees has thrown an interception, as well as fumbled after a sack, but is 7 for 11 passing for 83 yards. On perhaps the biggest play of the first half, Rees found TE Tyler Eifert for 9 yards on a 3rd and 8 deep in Irish territory, kickstarting a 93 yard drive that put them up 21-10.
Junior RB Cierre Wood has been the Irish's MVP so far, carrying 9 times for 64 yards and two touchdowns. He's had some huge holes thanks to the Offensive Line, but has powered his own way into the end zone both times. The third TD was an 89 yard Kickoff return by Freshman George Atkinson III, the first for an ND Freshman since Rocket Ismail back in 1988.
The Notre Dame defense has stifled the Spartan running game, allowing just 13 yards on 14 carries, a huge difference from last season's game where the Spartans averaged over 5 yards per carry. QB Kirk Cousins has had a pretty good half, going 12 for 18 for 141 yards and a TD. Senior WR B.J. Cunningham has 4 catches for 64 yards. Freshman DE Aaron Lynch has been all over the field, continually getting pressure on Cousins, making his life uncomfortable.
The Spartans had driven down to the ND 2 yard line, where they faced a 4th and goal with just under a minute to go in the half. After beating the Irish with a fake field goal last year, the Irish were clearly ready in case Spartan Head Coach Mark Dantonio decided to recreate history. And he did just that, where the Irish were sitting there waiting for the shovel pass, preserving the 11 point lead.
Michigan State Defensive Coordinator Pat Narduzzi seems a bit paranoid the day before his Spartans head to South Bend to take on Notre Dame. Irish Illustrated's Tim Prister informs us today that Narduzzi thinks the Irish sideline was stealing his signals last year in their 34-31 OT victory over ND:
"They don't look to the sidelines as much, but against us they did for some reason... Whether they're stealing our signals, I don't know. But we've got something (changed) on the signals, too. You never know. Guys are thieves, you know?"
Asked to elaborate further, Narduzzi accommodated.
"Against everybody else, they just kind of make checks," Narduzzi said. "Against us, it seemed like he was looking to the sideline to see what (the coaches) said. Well, if they are looking to the sideline, there's a chance. You never know."
Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly downplayed the accusations:
The Fighting Irish, reeling from their heart-breaking loss to Michigan last weekend in front of the largest crowd in College Football history, has no time to feel sorry for themselves, or dwell on those last 30 seconds against the Wolverines, as they welcome in the 15th ranked Michigan State Spartans. MSU, who finished last season 11-2 and co-Big Ten champions, have breezed through their first two games by a combined score of 72-6 against Youngstown State and Florida Atlantic, so they will obviously encounter their first test Saturday afternoon.
Both head coaches are quite familiar with each other, as ND Head Coach Brian Kelly took over at Cincinnati from MSU Head Coach Mark Dantonio back in 2007. It was also last year after the two teams met that Dantonio suffered a heart attack the day after a thrilling 34-31 Spartan win in Overtime, thanks to a fake field goal. It's a great sign that nothing serious has resulted from this, and that he seems to be in good health now.
ND has been their own worst enemy in their first two games this season, committing five turnovers in each game, with half of them coming inside the red zone. SBNation.com's Bill Connelly put all those turnovers into Equivalent Points. Just how bad have the Irish been hurting themselves?
55.3
Value, in Equivalent Points, of Notre Dame's 10 turnovers in two games this season. Almost eight touchdowns. They committed five more turnovers for 21.6 points in Ann Arbor this weekend -- three inside Michigan's 30 -- and fell to 0-2 despite, on a play-by-play basis, outplaying their second straight solid opponent. The next time you think your team is being negatively affected by turnovers, realize it could be worse. On a play-for-play basis, Notre Dame has played like a Top 20 team this year. But 10 specific plays have massacred them.
What does this mean? Well, it could be possible hope for the Fighting Irish, as long as they learn to take care of the football. Problem is they've shown nothing so far this season to suggest they can do that. Sophomore Tommy Rees made several bad decisions trying to force the ball to Michael Floyd last week, and Cierre Wood had the ball come popping out after running into the back of his own lineman. Preventing just one of those red-zone turnovers in each game would probably mean a 2-0 record, rather than the 0-2 one that doesn't sit well with the Irish Faithful.
The series between the Spartans and Fighting Irish has been an exciting one over the past decade or so. Notre Dame hasn't beaten MSU by more than a touchdown since 1993 (yes, 18 years), and 6 of the past 9 meetings between the two schools has been decided by 4 points or less. Last season, the Irish had a fourth quarter lead before giving up the tying TD midway through the 4th quarter, and losing in overtime. Le'Veon Bell and Edwin Baker combined for 204 yards on the ground, averaging 6.6 yards per carry between the two of them. They're both back in 2011, and will once again look to carry the load for the Spartans.
The Spartan defense hasn't been truly tested yet this season, but a leader has emerged already. Sophomore LB Max Bullough has 19 tackles already in the first two games, and seems to be all over the field. Overall they've only given up 302 yards in total over the first two games, so there's a very good chance that number will more than double after Saturday, seeing as the Irish have gone over 500 yards in offense in both games. The key will be what happens once ND gets close to the end zone. If the Spartans can keep them out of the end zone, either holding them to field goals or forcing them into even more turnovers, it'll be another long day in South Bend for the home team.
This isn't the first time Irish Head Coach Brian Kelly has had his back against the wall, as he faced heavy scrutiny after being dominated by Navy, then losing in the final seconds against Tulsa last season. Kelly had the benefit of a bye week last season to correct several things, and ND ran off four consecutive wins. This time around, however, they don't have that extra week, and dropping to 0-3 will only increase the pressure on his head.
It's really tough to judge just how good either team is at this point. Michigan State has had no issues whatsoever in their first two games, but their two opponents are ranked 140 and 145, according to Jeff Sagarin, so they clearly haven't been tested yet. The Irish have moved the ball up and down the field almost at will in the first two weeks against very competent competition, but have killed themselves with turnovers at critical moments. It makes sense that things will even out over the course of a season, but it's difficult to predict just when that will start happening.
What we can determine is that the game will be a back-and-forth contest, decided in the last 5 minutes of the game. Surprisingly enough, the line for the game has ND as a five-point favorite. Either they know something everyone else doesn't, or they are counting on the fact that the turnovers will go away this week for the Irish. As for me, until I see it with my own eyes, I can't count on Notre Dame to get out of their own way. As Kelly said Tuesday in his weekly press conference, he believes the Irish haven't been beaten yet this season:
I said, I really believe that you haven't won a game yet, but you haven't been beaten. Last year we were beaten. We got beat by Michigan last year. As much as I don't like to say it, they beat us last year.
We've really had a hand at beating ourselves, and that's the big difference. If we do not beat ourselves, we've got a chance to be the kind of football team that we all believe that we can be. I can see it. I've coached almost 250 football games. I can feel and see a football team coming together. They've got to take care of the football. They've got to execute better, and they will. I know it's just a matter of time for them.
Even though Vegas seems to think Notre Dame will come out victorious, until they show they can take care of the football, or they learn how to put several years of losing close games behind them, I can't see them pulling this game out. Michigan State is the best team the Irish have faced this season, and it looks like they'll be staring 0-3 right in the face.
SB Nation Indiana Prediction: Michigan State 28, Notre Dame 27
2011 College Football: Wrapping Up Week 3 For Indiana's Colleges
In one of the more surprising stories in college football, the Indiana State Sycamores are becoming a very dangerous FCS team. After predictably losing their opener at Penn State, the Trees notched their first victory over an FBS opponent in 10 years with a dominating 44-16 win at Western Kentucky. it was also their first non-conference road victory since 2004. Shakir Bell ran for 221 yards and two touchdowns in the victory for ISU, as the Sycamores are now a threat in the Missouri Valley Conference. Ronnie Fouch, who transferred into the program from Washington, threw for three touchdowns.
Elsewhere, the state's teams went a perfect 4-0 all at home:
Ball State 28, Buffalo 25 - The Cardinals won their home opener one a four yard touchdown pass from Keith Wenning to Willie Snead with 29 seconds left. That puts BSU int he very early lead in the MAC West with a 1-0 record. JahWan Edwards rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
Purdue 59, SE Missouri State 0
Purdue earned its first shutout victory since beating Syracuse 51-0 to open the 2004 season. From Hammer & Rails:
Indiana 38, South Carolina State 21
The Hoosiers were sloppy, but it was a win according to Crimson Quarry:
Sep 19 12:28p by Travis Miller