Irish should forget Michigan, focus on Boilermakers
By ANTHONY BIANCO
Is anyone else aware that Purdue is the team next up on Notre Dame's slate and not Michigan?
With everyone still up in arms over the so-called controversies surrounding the Irish last weekend, you'd think that the loss to the Wolverines ended our season. We were tagged for excessive celebration and a late hit penalty. We lost yardage. Michigan capitalized. They scored. They won. End of story. Let's move on — remember, we still have ten more games to play this year.
True, I have forgotten to take into account that its 1999. It's our year to win it all. It's just too bad that we forgot to let Michigan know that. Just in case the Boilermakers don't know about our destiny, there are a couple of things we might want to bring with us to Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday — in the odd event that we have to work to beat them:
u A secondary that can give up less than 237 passing yards. Yes, Michigan's Tom Brady and Drew Henson are quarterbacks capable of throwing for far more yards, but their aerial arsenal is nothing compared to Drew Brees'. As a sophomore last season, Brees averaged around 30 completions a game. Michigan completed 20 against Notre Dame last weekend.
Clifford Jefferson is getting a feel for the backfield. Against Michigan, he made nine tackles and broke-up what would have been a key play to David Terrell, Michigan's best receiver. But he and the rest of the backfield cannot afford to get burned when Brees is checking his receivers. Senior Deveron Harper will fill the other corner and will need to set the tone like he did against Kansas with his 22-yard interception touchdown return. He'll certainly have a lot of passes to pick from.
u An offense free of fundamental errors. Michigan brought a defense capable of doing far more damage to the Irish attack than occurred last week. In amassing 398 yards, Jarious Jackson and the offensive line must have done something right. But getting sacked four times, botching five pitchouts and throwing a fourth-quarter interception were not them.
Is Kevin Roger's option offense something new for the Irish? Of course, I'd like to think that's the reason for the sloppy play. But they can't expect to move the ball as well as they did against Michigan with the critical mistakes. Notre Dame got lucky at Michigan (you never would have guessed it), but as we all know, luck sometimes runs out.
u A little more composure in the game's closing minutes. The Irish had the Wolverines beat, the Big House crowd silenced, and the momentum in their favor. All they needed was to stop Michigan in their final drive. Was it possible? Yes, considering the Wolverines only scored one touchdown up to that point, despite being inside Notre Dame's 40 five times.
Who knows, maybe the Irish can win without correcting some of the errors that gave Michigan the win. That is, if the Boilermakers can figure out the significance of 1999 for Notre Dame.
The views expressed in this column are those of the auther and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Sports Stories for Friday, September 10, 1999
