Football: Grant finds focus despite fumble
By: KATIE McVOY
Associate Sports Editor
Last year Ryan Grant fumbled. During an Irish loss to Tennessee, the freshman running back dropped the ball and Bob Davie took him out of the game. He didn't see much playing time for the rest of the season.
On Saturday against Michigan, Ryan Grant fumbled. During an Irish victory against the Wolverines, the sophomore running back dropped the ball. And Tyrone Willingham didn't change a thing about his lineup.
"I thought today that Ryan, other than the one fumble going in, I thought he played a really good football game," said Irish offensive coordinator Bill Diedrick.
On the second Notre Dame offensive drive, Grant reached his arm out, trying to reach the end zone. Instead of scoring, he fumbled. But he didn't let that stop his game.
"I just tried to stay focused," Grant said.
Grant stayed focused enough to amass 132 rushing yards during the game, marking a new career best and the first 100-yard rushing game of his career. He pushed his way through the middle, he found holes in the Michigan line, and he ran outside to pick up yards for the Irish.
Oh, and he caught a pass.
"I just take it," Grant said. "We were running it up in the gut and running outside. It's a matter of reading it and being patient."
But what has been the most important statistic for the tailback was the fact that he finally found what had been eluding the Irish offense since the second quarter of their season-ending victory against Purdue last December. Grant scored Notre Dame's first offensive touchdown of the season, crossing the goal line less than five minutes into the first quarter.
Grant took a pitch right and, with a block by Tom Lopienski, rushed three yards to be the first Irish offensive player to cross the goal line this season.
"It was great to get up in there and get things rolling," Grant said. "Now points are going to come in bunches for us. It's a matter of staying on top and executing. There's more coming."
And there was more coming for Grant. In the third quarter, with the Wolverines up by one, Grant took advantage of a beautiful setup on a 47-yard pass to Omar Jenkins. Two plays later he rushed again for three yards, right into the end zone. That gave Notre Dame a lead that they didn't relinquish.
"[Grant] stepped up a lot," Jenkins said. "It was great to see him run through the field."
So what was the difference between this week and the 66 yards he had against Maryland? Irish coach Tyrone Willingham will attribute it to evolution.
"I kind of relate it to an evolution," he said. "… We keep playing the game week after week. Hopefully we improve."
Grant might attribute it to aggression. Notre Dame's offense took the offensive. Grant made it clear that one tackler was not going to be enough to stop him. If he had to, he would drag a Wolverine with him.
"That's something I try every week — run as hard as possible," Grant said. "As a running back you don't let the first one take you down. That's something I was trying to do."
Whether it was aggression or evolution, Grant made strides on the field this weekend. After recovering from a fumble in the end zone, he moved on.
"That's something I take pride in, get stronger as the game goes on," Grant said.
All Sports Stories for Monday, September 16, 2002
