FOOTBALL: Not once, but twice, Setta looks human
Observer Staff Report
Although Setta connected on a 19-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, he missed a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter that would have given the Irish the lead. His mediocre performance Saturday came one week after he made 5-of-6 field goals against Maryland.
But coach Tyrone Willingham's confidence wasn't shattered by Setta's 1-for-3 day.
"He'll hit the next one," Willingham said. "It's that simple and I have confidence that he'll hit the next one. … He's a good kicker and he knows that."
Setta's first miss was a 38-yard kick that sliced just inches right of the upright. His second kick, a 42-yarder, appeared to get partially deflected at the line of scrimmage and sailed left of the uprights.
"I hit [the first one] solid," Setta said. "It was going in, but all of a sudden it took a real big slice and got pushed out."
Bold prediction
At least one member of Notre Dame's defense isn't worried about when the offense will come around.
"The offense will probably have 600 yards next week," safety Gerome Sapp said. When a reporter pointed out that the Irish would be playing No. 7 Michigan, who have allowed 724 yards this season, Sapp confidently responded, "We're not worried at all. They'll step up when they need to."
Winning the turnover battle
Already, the 2002 Irish are winning games much like the Fiesta Bowl-bound Irish did two years ago — by taking care of the football.
Just two games into the season, Notre Dame has a plus-six turnover margin. They picked off three passes against Maryland and one against Purdue and recovered three Boilermaker fumbles. The lone Irish turnover this year came Saturday, when Holiday fumbled the ball in the third quarter.
"One of the goals we list for our team each week is the turnover margin," Willingham said. "Usually whatever team wins the turnover margin wins the game … I think I calculated once in the NFL that when a team scores on turnovers, you've got a 90 percent chance or better of winning the game. That's a great statistic."
Gameday captains
Notre Dame's four game day captains for Saturday were defensive tackle Cedric Hilliard, tight end Gary Godsey, Sapp and Setta.
All Sports Stories for Monday, September 9, 2002
