In the final home game of the 2010 season, an unlikely cast of characters exposed "#14" Utah with a surprising 28-3 outcome in favor of the Golden Domers. The game not only turned the average ND fan around on Brian Kelly, but brought hope for a possible resurgence over the final month of the season. If we won out, three big ones to finish the year, how would this season go down in our memories? Okay, slow down. I'm putting a lot on young Tommy Rees' shoulders.
So, the fans stormed the field, exploding in celebration all thanks to a win over Utah? The cynical ND fan would point to our happiness as proof of how far this team has fallen. But let's put Brian Kelly's biggest win as our head coach in perspective to show why we're so happy. This was our first win against a ranked team since 2006, as we failed at all 11 tries since then. This was the first "Senior Day" victory since 2007. This was a win that happened despite not having Kyle Rudolph, Armando Allen, Dayne Crist, TJ Jones, Ian Williams, or Theo Riddick. This was a win in a game where we ran 29 times and passed only 20. This was a win where we owned the trenches, played with a killer instinct, and dominated the game (even in the fourth quarter). Can you see why the win has us a little pumped up?
The stats are all there for you to enjoy. Utah came in averaging 41 points per game, and found themselves unable to do anything against the Irish defense. Te'o managed 9 tackles and a sack, and the D held the Utes to a 26% 3rd down success rate. Utah managed just 71 yards on the ground, coughed up 2 turnovers to ND's zero, and showed their anxiety with 11 penalties for 70 yards. Meanwhile, the Irish ran for 127, averaged 6.9 yards per pass, and did the right things to take the pressure off of our starting true freshman. Tommy Rees finished 13/20 for 129, completing 3 TD passes. Michael Floyd, who led the team with 39 yards caught one on a bullet pass, and Duval Kamara caught the other two (and had 38 total yards). Cierre Wood filled in for Armando Allen, and controlled the tempo of the game. He ran 19 times for 71 yards, and got additional support from Gray (44), and Robert Hughes (21) in the ground attack. Rees and company looked confident and comfortable at times, and that made Notre Dame dangerous.
Maybe it was all those crazy signs with Curious George and Double Mint gum on the sidelines that helped. By the way, nice sign holdng by Nate Montana, right?
Just because his name is Tommy, I want to give Mr. Rees a little more love for leading the team to a win as a starting freshman QB. What follows is a list of starting freshman QBs at Notre Dame (present-1910), and what they were able to do:
1. Tommy Rees: 1-0
2. Jimmy Clausen: 3-6
3. Brady Quinn: 4-5
4. Matt LoVecchio: 7-1
5. Ron Powlus: 6-5-1
6. Paul Failla: 1-0
7. Kent Graham: 1-0
8. Steve Beuerlein: 5-3
9. Blair Kiel: 6-2-1
10. Charles Dorais: 4-1-1
While Rees only has two more chances to make an impact as a freshman starter, he clearly joins an impressive list with Saturday's win. Can you even imagine what we'd feel like if he beats USC in two weeks?
At 5-5, the Irish are just one win away from becoming bowl eligible. Hopefully they'd accept the bid this time around, and bring us a little joy between Christmas and the New Year. Next weekend is the big Yankee Stadium mash up with Army. The Black Knights are 6-4 this season, but they have only beaten A) teams from primarily basketball schools (Duke, Temple) and B) teams you've never heard of (Virginia Military Institute, Eastern Michigan). The fact that this is a big time game at a big time venue may lend well to the Irish, even with all the injuries and fresh meat starting. This game is a huge recruiting opportunity, and with all of those 16 year old eye balls glued to the TV on Saturday night, Notre Dame cannot let this opportunity pass us by.
Let's de-enlist the Army!
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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