The second bye week of the season couldn't have come at a better time for the Irish.

After fumbling away their undefeated season two weeks ago against Boston College and narrowly escaping defeat at the hands of then 1-7 Navy Saturday, both the Irish coaching staff and players may be in need of physical and mental recovery.

"I think [mental rest] all comes with resting the body more than anything else, because now you don't have a game so you're not under the mental pressure of the preparation it takes to prepare yourself for a game that weekend," Irish coach Tyrone Willingham said. "At the same time we still want our young men intense because you want value to their participation during each day you're out there on the field."

The Irish will be spending a little less time on the field in practice this week to give their bodies more of a rest.

"It will be similar, but probably a little bit less than we've done in some of the other weeks," Willingham said. "We'll cut back a little bit because it is now, I think, week 11 of the season. We've been practicing since it started. It is time to have a little bit of a break."

The coaches, too, will have a chance to take a break from the everyday grind of a football season that includes the time on the field, hours critiquing film and late nights in the office.

"I'll probably go home at night," Willingham said. "I mean that in the sense that I probably go home a little earlier, probably a lot earlier, to be perfectly honest. I need it. My family needs to see me sometimes before it's dark."

The true break, however, will come Saturday, as the Irish get their first break from the gridiron in six weeks. With no game weekend activities, Irish players will be able to rest , and coaches can return to a more normal lifestyle.

"I think I probably have a lot of things that my wife is itching to do." Willingham said jokingly. "I think it's like most husbands that have a free moment, there's always something for you to do."

One thing all members of the team will be doing Saturday is watching. With Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas and Georgia — all schools ahead of No. 7 Notre Dame in the most recent BCS standings — in action this weekend, Irish eyes will be paying close attention to the television to see if their team can move closer to securing a BCS bowl selection.

"Oh yes, there will be quite a bit of football being watched," Willingham said. "We'll have what they call strange bedfellows this weekend — teams you may not be normally rooting for, you'll be pulling for this weekend."

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