Holiday's maturity starting to show
By ANDREW SOUKUP
Associate Sports Editor
Two weeks ago, Bob Davie decided to start sophomore quarterback Carlyle Holiday because he thought the Irish offense needed a spark.
Against Texas A&M, Holiday was beat up and smacked around. He threw a pair of interceptions and left at halftime with a neck injury.
But last Saturday, when Holiday broke multiple tackles and scored a 67-yard touchdown, he finally showed Notre Dame fans the explosiveness coaches have been touting for weeks.
"The reason we're playing Carlyle right now is because of the positive things that come with the unexpected adjustments he makes," head coach Bob Davie said.
"He seems to be developing more confidence ... but there's no substitute for experience," offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers said. "The more times he gets under center and the more things he sees, the better he'll be."
Holiday has shown improvement since he took his first snap in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. He doesn't try to make a big play happen every play. Instead, Holiday is much more patient and much more confident.
"I think I'm more mature now," he said. "I've worked hard to get to where my feet aren't wet anymore."
Holiday has showed how he's matured in the two games he has started. Against Texas A&M, Holiday spent most of the day scrambing around in the backfield, and was sacked three times. But against Pittsburgh he stayed the the pocket much more often, and when he did scramble, he threw the ball away.
"I looked at film and felt it was my obligation to not do those things," he said. "Those were real costly mistakes. I felt if I don't have that play, then get rid of the ball instead of losing yardage."
One of the reasons Holiday is starting at quarterback is because of his ability to create his own plays. Offensively, the Irish have made minor changes to allow Holiday to keep his hands on the ball more. But coaches are making sure he stays within the game plan and doesn't try to make too much.
"I don't want him to look like a chicken with his head cut off," Rogers said. "There's times where he gets back there and misses a read and runs all over the place. There's a difference between that and creativity."
Davie and Rogers are particularly excited about the opportunities Holiday allows the offense. He averages four yards a carry — and most of those carries come off the option, when Holiday sneaks inside the linebacker to pick up key yards. Rogers said that while he isn't too comfortable with Holiday's passing abilities — the sophomore is 22-for-35 with three interceptions — he was impressed with how Holiday threw the ball Saturday.
"He made some really really good throws under duress," Rogers said. "He was getting hit as soon as he threw it and threw it well and accurately."
But Davie, Rogers and Holiday are quick to say that the young quarterback still has a lot to learn. While it's still too early to learn how good Holiday can be, Davie said its obvious that he provides the spark that the coaches feel the Irish offense needs. All he has to do is gain more experience.
"He's going to go through a lot of different phases," Davie said. "He's going to run the gamut before this year is over."
Notes:
uHead trainer Jim Russ talked briefly about various injuries sustained by Notre Dame players on Saturday.
Tony Fisher, who hurt his knee and his hamstring on the same play, was able to run at full speed, but coaches held him out of practice.
Jeff Faine is listed as probable for the West Virginia game after spraining his ankle Saturday afternoon. He played the entire game.
Russ also said that Grant Irons, who did not play Saturday, could have played as a backup. He practiced at full speed Monday.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, October 9, 2001
