Print Edition of the Irish Insider for Friday, October 12, 2018 by The Observer

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The observer | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2018 | ndsmcobserver.com

By ELIZABETH GREASON Assistant Managing Editor

For Dexter Williams, the journey to — and through — Notre Dame hasn’t been a road that’s been easy to travel. Except when he’s heading to the end zone. The senior running back has seen the field in all four of his seasons at Notre Dame, and has seen a steady increase in his playing time and in his impact on the team over his four years. However, some of Williams’ actions off the field have distracted from his accomplishments on it. Williams did not play in the first four games of the current season due to a rumored internal suspension, a potential second disciplinar y issue after he was arrested before the start of his sophomore year along w ith four other players and was charged w ith misdemeanor possession of marijuana. But through the good times and the bad, he’s had a stellar support system in place, led w ithout fail by his mother, Cher yl. Cher yl and Williams do not have your ty pical mother-son relationship. Williams lights up when talking about his mother, who was diagnosed w ith a terminal illness, myasthenia grav is, in 2006. W hen Cher yl heard that her son would not be able to play football for the first month of his senior year, she left her treatments behind in Florida and moved in w ith Williams in South Bend to prov ide support for him. “It’s been great having her, just hav ing her emotional support and just being here w ith me, just being able to just stay w ith me — and also she’s been cooking for me a lot, so I love that as well,”

Williams said. “I love my mom’s cooking and just having her here just helped me to just stay humble and just keep my mind on the right track, so I can just continue to focus and push hard.” Williams is not the only member of the Notre Dame squad who has benefitted from Cher yl’s home-cooked meals during her time living w ith her son. He said seniors A lizé Mack and Shaun Craw ford, in particular, take advantage, but the entire team is welcome to join the Williams family for meals, just as any children from the neighborhood were welcome in the Williams house while he was grow ing up. “Dexter’s home was kind of the safe sanctuar y for all the kids in the neighborhood. So she would have — I know when I visited that home — 10, 15 kids in that home, just because it was a safe sanctuar y. And [Cher yl] was the matriarch of that neighborhood,” Irish head coach Brian Kelly said Oct. 2. “So there’s a ver y strong relationship there. If I have ever had a problem, I just call her and it gets fixed like that. There’s no debating when it comes to his response to his mother. Certainly, she’s going through a difficult time right now, but she’s ver y strong and inspirational to Dexter. His fight to get back to where he is is certainly personal. But family had something to do w ith it as well.” Cher yl has been there for Williams through all the ups and the dow ns, but he has been there for her just as much. W hile Williams was in high school, Cher yl’s condition took a turn for the worse. She fell into a threemonth coma and was nearly taken off life support. “It was definitely a hard

process, just her not being there for three months. It was kind of hard just dealing w ith it, and then she wasn’t there on my birthday,” Williams said. “So it kind of hit home — hit hard, really. And I just had to continue to just stay focused and just continue to fight for her and just believe that ever y thing is going to be OK and just stay the course, because I know she’ll be happy w ith me doing what I’m doing now.” And happy she was. It was Cher yl who ultimately nudged Williams in the direction of attending Notre Dame after the Orlando, Florida, native had already committed to Miami. “Just getting up here to see Notre Dame and hav ing a chance to see Miami as well, I just fell in love w ith Notre Dame. It was just something about the school and the tradition and just the players [who] were here. It was just a lot of love and I felt like I belonged here,” Williams said. “And then on top of that, my mom, she was really pushing for me to come here as well. So I had that support from home and it was kind of hard to leave home. But I knew it was a better choice, a better opportunit y for me here. And so, I decided to just leave home and come to Notre Dame and just enjoy this process.” Williams de-committed from the Hurricanes and promptly signed w ith the Irish. And he has not looked back since. “I definitely feel like it’s the right decision,” he said. “Just being here w ith these guys, it’s just a wonderful group of guys and we grind each and ever y day. It’s a lot of love here, and the tradition and the fans here, it’s crazy. And just being on this campus, it

just gives you a feeling that you don’t get any where.” Love is a theme w ith Williams, both among him and his teammates and his family — his parents, Cher yl and his father, Leonard. There’s love at Notre Dame ever y where Williams looks, and he felt it especially in his time of need — those first four games when he couldn’t play and wanted nothing more than to get his hands on the football, or “the rock,” as he calls it. “It was definitely a lot of love. Just hav ing all my teammates come over and just spend some time w ith me and my mom — it’s just great hav ing them there, and just like how she supports me, they support me a lot,” he said. “They’re holding me accountable for all my actions, and just hav ing them just to spend time w ith me, it’s been ver y helpful through this whole process.” Another helpful — and light-hearted — element of Williams’ life throughout the process has been his pet bearded dragon, Rocco. “That’s been my buddy, he’s been w ith me through this process and we be kicking it ever y day,” he said, beaming. “That’s been my guy.” During the time he wasn’t available as one of Notre Dame’s most talented running backs, Williams knew he still had a role to play on the team. He needed to step up and be a leader in the locker room, no matter how hard he found the time. “I just had to remain humble and just trust God’s timing and also just continue to just trust my teammates and just continue to just trust this process, because it was a hard process not being there the first four games,” he said. “But at the same time, I

had to just continue to think about I had to just grind each and ever y day and just continue to take things day-byday. I didn’t really want to force any thing, and I just had to continue to be that leader for my teammates. And also, just continue to just grind. And so when I did step on the field, I knew I would be ready.” As a leader for the Irish, Williams considers himself to have a specific role: That of hy pe man, or, in his words “juice man.” “I just really have to be the juice man. I have to really just be the spark for my team, because I know they need me,” he said. “They feed off my energ y. So, I know if I get going, they’re going to follow along. And then the energ y is just going to spring from the offense to the defense, so just hav ing them and just being a guy that they need on the team is being helpful.” That “juice” Williams is referring to? It’s also his nickname. The 5-foot-11-inch, 215-pounder has gone by “Juice” since well before he got to Notre Dame, another impact his mother has had in his life. “I have gotten the nickname ‘Juice’ because I like orange juice,” he said. “So my mom would call me ‘Juice.’ A lot of my teammates in high school called me ‘Juice,’ and I just brought their name here w ith me as well. So it just stuck w ith me ever since.” Williams lets his juice f low any chance he can get, whether it’s dancing on the sidelines or amping up his teammates, but it might be best exemplified by one of the plays he considers to be the highlight of his Notre Dame career thus far. “The Duke game, my

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sophomore year, I think [former running back] Josh [Adams’] shoe came off in the game and the coach didn’t know who to put in,” Williams recounted. “So I just ran in and the first time I touched the ball, I broke, like, I think four or five tackles and I scored, so it was definitely one of the highlight reels of my career.” W hile that juice is loose any time Williams steps foot on the field, it might have been poured out like never before as four games’ worth of pent-up energ y was unleashed against Stanford on Sept. 29, when he took the field in Notre Dame Stadium for the first time as a senior. And on his first touch, he took the ball 45 yards to the house to put the Irish up 7-0. “I was just really so happy just to be out there w ith my teammates again and just being able to just play football and just do the thing I love and just, really, just take the field,” Williams said. “And just get a chance to beat Stanford because we hadn’t beat Stanford my three years here. And for my senior year, to beat them, it was a great accomplishment.” In his two games since returning, Williams has continued his successful start, nearly totaling his season yardage from last year. He has already picked up four touchdow ns, including a 97yard touchdow n run against Virginia Tech last weekend, and he is averaging nearly 170 yards per game — leaving his 36 yards per game from last season in the dust. “[My impact has] definitely been a good impact, and I just can’t really just thank my teammates enough, because they’ve been there w ith me through this whole process,” he said. “So just hav ing them there, just

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having them show ing the love and support and I just do ever y thing for them because I know they w ill do a lot for me, so I’m sacrificing ever y carr y I can get. “And also just laying it all on the line ever y time we cross that line to take the field. And definitely w ith that front five, none of this is possible w ithout them, so I really thank them a lot, and I’m show ing them a lot of love because I need them, just like they need me. And I need ever yone on this field including the defense, and we got to stick together and continue to trust the process.”

Despite the success, Williams has remained humble, perhaps in part due to another off-the-field incident before the start of his sophomore season — his aforementioned arrest w ith four other Notre Dame players. Williams said his arrest has helped him mature and learn about himself, as well as improve his work ethic. “I just had to hold myself accountable and just really just know that ever y thing doesn’t just fall around me. This world doesn’t just revolve around me so I have to continue to hold myself accountable and just continue to push, continue the grind,”

Williams said, dropping his signature smile. “And also just really know what I have ahead of me. So just the whole process, I just had to keep my head dow n and just keep grinding. I can’t give up because if I give up then I w ill let my family dow n, so I have to continue to just push and just let my teammates know that they can count on me.” Hav ing left the incident in the past, Williams is focused on the future and has his eyes on the prize. And the person who has given him the encouragement to get to that future? “My mom, she always just

tells me to trust and believe in myself that I’m a king’s kid and to always continue to push and to never give up,” Williams said. “And that’s just how I’ve just been going through this whole process, is never giv ing up and just continue to trust her and just be w ith her. And also, she wants me to continue fighting. And I know she’s fighting through her illness. So just, her feeding off my energ y and me feeding off her energ y is just something special, and she’s just been a big part of my life.” Contact Elizabeth Greason at egreason@nd.edu

EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

Irish senior running back Dexter Williams looks back at chasing defenders while about to score a touchdown during Notre Dame’s 45-23 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday at Lane Stadium. Williams has rushed for 339 yards and four touchdowns in his first two games this season.

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Kareem, depth on D-line help anchor unit By CHARLOTTE EDMONDS Associate Sports Editor

Six games in, and the sense of deja vu is undeniable. With just under five minutes left in the first half, the Notre Dame defensive unit stepped up to its own 1-yard line in the midst of arguably its most important road game. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, had just ripped off a 41-yard run to come within striking distance of taking the lead. Reminiscent of the 2012 team, notorious for allowing teams to gain yardage only to pin it down in the red zone, the Irish defense had a goal-line stand for the ages, keeping Virginia Tech from scoring three times from the 1-yard line and eventually forcing a field goal. Notre Dame would go on to score another touchdown and never looked back on its way to a 4523 routing of the Hokies. One of those key plays at the goal line came down to junior defensive lineman Khalid Kareem. On second down, Kareem made a diving play to wrap up Hokies senior running back Steven Peoples as he barreled towards the end zone, maintaining the Irish lead. For Kareem, this play just came down to trust. “You’ve got to bull up right there,” he said. “You know, you’ve got to match pad lower, you just can’t be denied in that situation … just go out with the mentality that you cannot be stopped or blocked and you know, you’re bound to make a play.” Kareem, a native of Detriot, had a breakout sophomore

season last year, playing in all 13 games and recording three sacks. That dominance has only continued, having totaled seven tackles for loss for a total of 46 yards. He’s also contributed 3.5 sacks to the team total of 15, a statistic head coach Brian Kelly and Kareem agreed isn’t even the beginning of what this pass-rush defense is capable of. “We’re much more interested in quarterback hurries and getting them out of the pocket and getting them out of rhythm, much more than anything else,” Kelly said. “ …The passing game is a three-step passing game. Pass deflections are also part of that, getting your hands up. The escapability of quarterbacks make it much more difficult, obviously, the ability to run. We’re much more interested in disruptions, hurries, pass deflections and getting the quarterback out of the midfield. … [If we] get him out of the pocket, we’re affecting the pass.” “Clean up the messy mistakes,” Kareem said. “ … Fine tune everything and we could be elite.” As much as Kareem has been a standout in his own right, he insists it’s a team effort. The defensive line’s greatest strength is its depth, and while senior Jerry Tillery leads the team with seven sacks and juniors Julian Okwara and Daelin Hayes have been effective off the edge, the ability to rotate guys in and maintain an effective pass rush has been the difference between this unit and those from years past. “I feel like everyone’s confident in you know, whoever’s

ANNA MASON | The Observer

Irish junior defensive lineman Khalid Kareem attempts to block a pass during Notre Dame’s 38-17 win over Stanford on Sept. 29.

behind them,” he said. “It’s really not a second or third string; it’s just next man in. You know, there’s no drop off between the depth chart so everyone’s confident in each other you know, we’ve got each other’s back.” Kelly emphasized that same team mentality, saying it comes down to patience and development. “We’re fortunate that we’ve had some players over the years, but there has to be a level of patience in developing our players from a fit standpoint, and then obviously having the ability to go out and impact the game, and I think we’ve seen that with a number of our players,” Kelly said. Kelly said it’s rarely plugand-play, and spoke highly of his assistant coaches efforts in creating a culture that prepares all players to play at their highest level. That all-hands-on-deck attitude will be crucial this weekend against Pittsburgh, a program that has a history of spoiling top-team’s seasons, including nearly unravelling the 2012 run to the national championship game in Kelly’s third season with the Irish. Kareem, knowing that Pitt is expected to play its best this weekend, said the team will have to bring its A-game to hold off the Panthers. “We’re preparing the same way we did the last game,”

EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

Members of the Irish defensive line attempt to block a field goal during Notre Dame’s 45-23 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday.

Kareem said. “You know, one game at a time. We focused on that one and now we lock in on our opponent now. We’ve always had … the same mindset of just dominating them. “We’re definitely aware of [Pitt’s past upsets]. But we just have to come in w ith the mentalit y that no one can stop us. … As long as we do that we’re fine.” After struggling offensively throughout the first quarter of the season, the defense Paid Advertisement

kept the team af loat, limiting its opponents to an average of 20 points per game and has found success largely thanks to the depth of the defensive line. Now, w ith the toughest half of the schedule behind it, the Irish offense has joined Kareem and the entire defensive line in hitting its stride in hopes of an undefeated season. Contact Charlotte Edmonds at cedmond3@nd.edu

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Kelly talks squad’s final preparations before Pitt By TOBIAS HOONHOUT Managing Editor

On Thursday, Irish head coach Brian Kelly gave some final updates to the media before Notre Dame takes on Pittsburgh on Saturday, as the Irish (6-0) are looking to go 7-0 for the first time since 2012.

in the opening game against Michigan. “It’s good,” Kelly said on Tagovailoa-Amosa. “We had an X-ray, the healing has begun. He’s getting that cloudiness over the area, so that was surgically repaired. I’d say he’s probably another month away.”

Defensive line Injuries Kelly gave promising news on the status of junior defensive lineman Daelin Hayes, junior corner Troy Pride Jr. and junior running back Tony Jones Jr. “He’s looking great. His health is great,” Kelly said on Hayes. “So, yeah he’s cleared, he’s clear to practice and play. “ … I’d say [Pride]’s OK. He’s going to probably play but we think we’ve got to use [junior cornerback] Donte [Vaughn] and him. I think he’ll see probably a couple of corners play, but he’s probably better than I thought.” Kelly also said that graduate student offensive lineman Alex Bars had a successful knee surgery, and that sophomore defensive lineman Myron TagovailoaAmosa was progressing well after suffering a broken foot

Kelly touched on the development of Hayes and junior Khalid Kareem, who both came into Notre Dame as highly-touted recruits but had to wait for their turn before making an impact. Despite their different personalities, Kelly said he was impressed with how both have matured. “I’m proud of Khalid,” Kelly said. “You know, [he] had some rough moments that he has matured from. … I think his off-field development has really been beneficial, because it’s helped him on the field. Growing up as a young man off the field, here at Notre Dame in our community, has really helped him as a football player. “ … So Khalid, you know, he’s kind of handled himself with adversity and progressed quickly. Daelin, he’s a young man that has

ANNA MASON | The Observer

Irish junior defensive lineman Daelin Hayes pushes through the Stanford offensive line during Notre Dame’s 38-17 win over the Cardinal on Sept. 29. Hayes was given the all-clear to play this weekend.

definitely matured. But he’s such high energ y, high-spirit guy that sometimes we just got to remind him that it’s not all going to happen today. … We have to remind him he’s making great progress. He’s a little too hard on himself at times.”

One final hurdle With the home matchup being the final game before Notre Dame takes a bye week, Kelly said the program is looking for ward to the rest Paid Advertisement

and the opportunit y to assess, but also didn’t diminish the matchup w ith the Panthers (3-3, 2-1 ACC). “We just want to get to the bye week,” he said. “That bye week is going to give us the time to rest these guys up, and then that’s really the time that that w ill kind of assess where we are. But no, I think this is all-hands-ondeck this week. We’re pushing them, they’re pushing themselves. They’ve done a really good job. I’m really

pleased w ith our guys, and they were really workmanlike and businesslike in the way they’ve handled things. No drama. “But they know that they’ve got a break coming up after Saturday. They’ve got to play well on Saturday against a physical team in Pittsburgh, and then they know they’ve got some time off after that.” Contact Tobias Hoonhout at thoonhou@nd.edu

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Former Irish running back Lee Becton pushes through a tackle during Notre Dame’s 44-0 win over Pittsburgh on Oct. 9, 1993. The game was Becton’s first 100-yard performance for the then-No. 3 Irish.

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Anthony Weaver, left, celebrates an interception in Notre Dame’s 24-7 win over Pitt on Oct. 8, 2001.

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Four Irish defenders tackle Pitt receiver Antonio Bryant during Notre Dame’s 24-7 win in 2001. Paid Advertisement

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Former Irish defensive end Brad Williams hurries Pitt quarterback Pete Gonzalez during Notre Dame’s 45-21 win on Oct. 11, 1997.

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recruiting

Irish miss on Trice, aim to wrap up 2019 class

EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

Irish junior safety Alohi Gilman wraps up a Virginia Tech player during Notre Dame’s 45-23 win over the Hokies on Saturday at Lane Stadium. Gilman recorded nine tackles in the game, six of which were solo. By JOE EVERETT Sports Editor

W hile the Irish have been increasingly dominant on the field over the last three weeks, Notre Dame’s progress on the recruiting trail has slowed considerably. October usually isn’t a key time to pick up steam on the recruiting trail, as coaches are primarily focused on and devote almost all their efforts towards the current team and season. Even so, Notre Dame still lost a key recruiting battle this past

weekend, Blue and Gold recruiting analyst David McKinney said. “[Class of ] 2019-wise, Bralen Trice committed to Washington,” McKinney said. “He was a top target left at defensive end. It was dow n to Notre Dame and Washington, and he chose Washington on Saturday, so he’s off the board. “ … Notre Dame definitely wanted him bad. He was going to be the last piece of their defensive line puzzle for the 2019 class, so they definitely wanted him bad,

but there are some other guys they’ll take a look at and target.” W hile the loss of Trice stings, the Irish indeed have other options that they’ll pursue a commitment from to round out the class of 2019, and not just from the defensive line position, McKinney said. “I think in the next couple days or weeks, we’re probably going to see cornerback Isaiah Rutherford out of California make a decision,” he said. “Notre Dame’s trending prett y heav ily Paid Advertisement

there, we think he probably ends up at Notre Dame. Doesn’t have a set decision date or any thing yet, but it’s looking prett y good for Notre Dame and looking like [he’ll commit] before the end of October.” Rutherford, the four-star, 6-foot, 175-pound corner out of Jesuit High School would be the 19th commitment for the 2019 class should he choose to join the Irish. McKinney noted, ahead of Notre Dame’s matchup w ith Pittsburgh on Saturday, that the Irish have a shot at landing another Rivals four-star recruit who’s coming into tow n this weekend. “The interesting name [this weekend] is J.D. Bertrand, who is a Rivals 250 four-star linebacker from Georgia,” McKinney said. “He de-committed from the Universit y of Georgia last week, sort of a mutual parting of ways. Georgia told him they would honor the commitment but that they had other guys coming in and might not have enough room in the class, and he could find some play ing time elsewhere. He’ll unofficially v isit [Notre Dame

this weekend]. Doesn’t have an offer from Notre Dame yet, but he’s coming up from Georgia, so I think the mutual interest is there and he’s [a highly-ranked player], so I think a lot of schools w ill be going after him. That’s probably the most intriguing name of the short list of guys we have so far [coming in this weekend].” Overall, McKinney affirmed the notion that October isn’t a groundbreaking time for recruiting news, but explained that the Irish coaching staff w ill be doing its research over the next few months to fill the hole they hoped Trice would occupy. “Yeah it’s prett y quiet, there isn’t a ton going on right now,” McKinney said. “I think over the next weeks and months you could see Notre Dame’s coaching staff start to evaluate more defensive end film. I think they still want to take another defensive end in this class, so that’s a development to keep an eye on in the coming weeks and months.” Contact Joe Everett at jeveret4@nd.edu

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HEAD T

2:30 p.m. ET | Notre Dame Stadium EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

PANTHERS PASSING For a team that’s struggled to convert offensive production into points in general, the Panthers have been especially bad in the air, getting out-passed by an average of 75 yards. Sophomore starting quarterback Kenny Pickett’s five interceptions are only one short of his six touchdow ns, a statistic that should be easy for the Irish secondar y to exploit. Additionally, the Panthers have been abysmal throw ing the ball on long third-dow n situations, only converting 34 first dow ns at the midpoint of the season. The Irish (72nd in pass defense) actually rank behind Pittsburgh (63rd in pass defense) in passig yards allowed, giv ing up an average of 229.5 yards through the air. However, much of that due to Notre Dame’s bend-don’tbreak mentalit y on defense, which has locked dow n opponents in the red zone this year. As long as the Irish defensive line can contain the run game and force Pickett to look to his receivers, expect cornerbacks Julian Love and Troy Pride Jr. to have a field day on Saturday. EDGE: NOTRE DAME PANTHERS RUSHING The Irish defense has been lethal as of late, especially against the run. The unit held former Heisman candidate Br yce Love of Stanford to 73 rushing yards on 17 attempts, an impressive feat. Senior linebacker Te’von Coney has looked phenomenal in Notre Dame’s last few games, and the defensive line has left little room for opposing backs. North Carolina held Pitt to a total of 35 rushing yards earlier in the year, and the Tar Heels rank 117th in defensive efficiency. Notre Dame ranks 16th in defensive efficiency, and the unit has proved itself so far this season. However, Pitsburgh does feature a dy namic two-headed backfield w ith seniors Qadree Ollison (596 yards, five touchdows)and Darrin Hall (314 yards, four touchdow ns). Even though Pittsburgh’s rushing attack has been the strength of its offense this season,

PITTSBURGH

EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

the Irish have been stout against the run this season and should have no problem against it, especially when they’re able to stack the box. EDGE: NOTRE DAME PANTHERS OFFENSIVE COACHING W hile this isn’t an elite Pitt offense, coordinator Shaw n Watson has a histor y of developing quarterbacks under his tenure, and last year’s upset w in over Miami w ith true freshman Kenny Pickett under center — the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Pitt since 2007 — set a high bar. This year, the Panthers are certainly runheav y, and last week proved they can score in 44-37 w in over Sy racuse. But Clark Lea’s unit has been getting better and better each week, and even w ith the potential loss of defensive end Daelin Hayes for another game, the Irish have definitely faced tougher tests than Pitt. EDGE: NOTRE DAME PANTHERS SPECIAL TEAMS You know a special teams unit is particularly good when a head coach specifically notes it in his opening press conference. Well, that’s what Brian Kelly did this Tuesday. He talked about how the Panthers have made a number of 50-plus yard field goals, this season. The Panthers are also averaging over 23 yards per kickoff return and 10 yards per punt return this season. In comparison, the Irish have held their opponents to just seven yards per punt return and 21 yards per kickoff return. EDGE: EVEN

(Fr.) Shocky Jacques-Louis 18 (R-Fr.) Dontavious Butler-Jenkins 88

(R-Sr.) Stefano Millin 70 (R-Sr.) Qadree

Ollison

(So.) Kenny Pickett

(Sr.) Darrin Hall 22

(R-Jr.) Ricky Town 12

(R-Sr.) George

Aston

35 81

(R-Jr.) Jim Medure

RB QB FB

(R-Fr.) Carson Van Lynn 59

(R-Sr.) Connor Dintino

(R-So.) Brandon Ford 56

(R-So.) Jimmy Morrissey 67 (R-Fr.) Owen Drexel 60

(R-Sr.) Mike Herndon 66 (R-So.) Bryce Hargrove 71

(R-Sr.) Alex Bookser 78 (R-Fr.) Gabe Houy

(Jr.) Will Gragg 10 (R-Fr.) Grant Carrigan 84

(R-Sr.) Rafael

Araujo-Lopes

(Jr.) Maurice Ffrench

(R-Sr.) Phillipie Motley 32 (So.) Jason Pinnock 15

(Jr.) Damar Hamlin 3 (R-Jr.) Jazzee Stocker

(R-Sr.) Elijah Zeise 25 (R-Jr.) Saleem Brightwell 9

(R-So.) Elias Reynolds 44 (R-So.) Chase Pine 36

82 2

WR LT LG C RG RT TE WR

Money

DE Shane Roy NT Keyshon Camp DT Rashad Weaver DE

(R-Sr.) Dewayne Hendrix 8

Mike

(R-So.) Patrick Jones II 91

(R-Sr.)

(R-So.) Rashad Wheeler 90

(R-Sr.) Oluwaseun Idowu 23 (R-Jr.) Anthony McKee Jr. 28

Star

(R-So.) (R-Sr.) Dennis

Briggs 20

(R-So.) Phil Campbell III 24

(R-So.)

(Jr.) Amir Watts 34

(R-Sr.) James Folston Jr. 40

SS (R-Jr.) Dane Jackson 11 (So.) Damarri Mathis 16

PANTHERS SCHEDULE (3-3) Sept. 1 Albany(W 33-7) Sept. 8 @ Penn State (L 51-6) Sept. 15 Georgia Tech (W 24-19) Sept. 22 @ North Carolina (L 38-35) Sept. 29 @ UCF (L 45-14) Oct. 6 Syracuse (W 44-37 OT) Oct. 13 @ Notre Dame Oct. 27 Duke Nov. 2 @ Virginia Nov. 10 Virginia Tech Nov. 17 @ Wake Forest Nov. 24 @ Miami

(R-So.) Alex Kessman 97 (R-Fr.) Jake Scarton 49

(R-Fr.) Kirk Christodoulou 98 (Fr.) Ethan Van Buskirk 97

(R-Sr.) Rafael

Araujo-Lopes (R-Fr.) Paris Ford

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PK P PR

Tobias Hoonhout

Elizabeth Greason

Joe Everett

Managing Editor

Assistant Managing Editor

Sports Editor

With all the hype surrounding the Irish after a massive road win in Blacksburg, Virginia, last weekend, there’s a lot to overlook with Pittsburgh coming to town. Patt Narduzzi and the Panthers have a history of raining on playoff pictures — last year, it was a defeat of Miami. The year before, it was Clemson on the road. And of course, Irish fans will remember 2012. Pitt doesn’t have any stats or players that really jump off the page, but this is the definition of a trap game. After a long midterm week — not without controversy — I won’t be surprised if the Irish come out a little sluggish. If the Irish hadn’t struggled against Ball State and Vanderbilt, I could very well see this going down as a shocking loss with all the baggage involved. But this Notre Dame team has had its fair share of scares so far, and is definitely more talented than the Panthers. I’ll take it. FINAL: Notre Dame 38, Pittsburgh 17

Watch out, it’s a trap. Sort of. The Pitt game has all the makings of the quintessential trap game. Coming off Notre Dame’s first ranked win on the road since 2012, the squad may have thrown all its energy into last week. It’s fall break and the Irish aren’t playing Stanford or USC, so the crowd support will be lacking at best. And Pitt has made a name for itself by taking down the best of the best, which some might argue Notre Dame is among this season. And yet, it’s not a trap, because the Irish have their eyes on the prize. While it may not be a blowout, it should still be a win. Pitt’s strength is its run game, which is a unit Notre Dame has had no trouble shutting down defensively, as the deep Irish D-line has taken down some tough backs in past weeks. And offensively, the Panthers defense should not pose a problem for the Irish, led by Ian Book and Dexter Williams. FINAL: Notre Dame 28, Pittsburgh 17

(R-Fr.) Jake Scarton 49 (R-Sr.) Kellen McAlone

(Jr.) Maurice (So.) Cal

Ffrench

(R-Fr.) Paris Ford

Adomitis

(Fr.) Jack Hansberry 52

H KR LS

Halfway through the year, the Irish have many of their toughest tests behind them. But, in the spirit of midterms, any test can be difficult if you don’t study for it like you should. The Irish need to study for Pittsburgh. The Panthers hold a mere 3-3 record that includes a 45-point loss to Penn State and a 31-point loss to UCF, but earned an overtime win against Syracuse last week and feature an impressive running game. Also, it’s Pittsburgh — a team notorious for upsets and spoiling seasons. Remember 2012? Pitt should’ve won that. Luckily, I think the Irish front seven should match up well with Pittsburgh’s strength — the running game. The Panthers defense has had at least 37 points put up on it over the last three games, so I envision Ian Book and company continuing to roll. Pat Narduzzi’s squad will fight well for a half, but I think the Irish dominate the second period again. FINAL: Notre Dame 45, Pittsburgh 20

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O HEAD on NBC

Notre Dame

EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

IRISH PASSING

8 Donte Vaughn (Jr.)

BUCK DE NG DT DE

23 2

Drue Tranquill (Gr.) Jordan Genmark Heath (So.)

WR WR RT RG C LG LT TE WR

H KR LS

Khalid Kareem (Jr.) 91

Adetokunbo Ogundeji (Jr.)

Jonathan Bonner (Gr.)

41 Kurt Hinish (So.)

Jerry Tillery (Sr.)

MLB

Alohi Gilman (Jr.)

14 Devin Studstill (Jr.)

Te’von Coney (Sr.)

52 Bo Bauer (Fr.)

57 Jayson Ademilola (Fr.)

Daelin Hayes (Jr.)

42 Julian Okwara (Jr.)

Rover CB

The reasons to believe junior quarterback Ian Book is not the real deal are few and far bet ween, and since his assumption of the starting job, the Irish passing unit has taken on a new life. With Brandon Wimbush under center, senior w ide receiver Miles Boykin had no games w ith over 100 receiv ing yards. Since Book has taken over, he has t wo in three games. Notre Dame Book has been incredibly efficient throw ing the ball, w ith a 73 percent completion rate, almost 900 yards and nine touchdow ns, all in three starts. It’s clear that the receivers are stay ing busy under Book for the better. Pitt is ranked No. 76 in FBS in defensive efficiency, and frank ly, the unit is no match for Book and the Irish. Barring a Ball State-esque performance, Book and the receiv ing corps should have no problem handling this Pitt defense.

Julian Love (Jr.)

Jalen Elliott (Jr.) 24

Nick Coleman (Sr.)

Asmar Bilal (Sr.) 33

Shayne Simon (Fr.)

Troy Pride Jr. (Jr.)

35 TaRiq Bracy (Fr.)

Chase Claypool (Jr.)

87 Michael Young (So.)

EDGE: NOTRE DAME

Chris Finke (Sr.)

18 Joe Wilkins (Fr.)

IRISH RUSHING

Robert Hainsey (So.)

75 Josh Lugg (So.)

Tommy Kraemer (Jr.)

76 Dillan Gibbons (So.)

Sam Mustipher (Gr.)

61 Colin Grunhard (So.)

RB QB

Dexter Williams (Sr.)

6 Tony Jones Jr. (Jr.)

Ian Book (Jr.)

7 Brandon Wimbush (Sr.)

Trevor Ruhland (Sr.)

69 Aaron Banks (So.)

Liam Eichenberg (Jr.)

55 Jarrett Patterson (Fr.)

Alizé Mack (Sr.)

82 Nic Weishar (Gr.)

Miles Boykin (Sr.)

4 Kevin Austin Jr. (Fr.)

Ian Book (Jr.)

85 Tyler Newsome (Gr.)

Michael Young (So.)

3 Avery Davis (So.)

John Shannon (Jr.)

65 Michael Vinson (Fr.)

PK P PR

Justin Yoon (Sr.)

39 Jonathan Doerer (So.)

Tyler Newsome (Gr.)

EDGE: NOTRE DAME

Chris Finke (Sr.)

IRISH OFFENSIVE COACHING

42 Jeff Riney (Sr.)

Against Virginia Tech, which has a top-10 rushing defense, and w ithout the reassuring presence of A lex Bars on the line, Dexter Williams and the Irish were still able to finish the game w ith over 150 yards and three touchdow ns. With Williams now in the mix, who has 339 yards and four touchdow ns in only t wo games since returning from suspension, Notre Dame has game-changing explosiveness in the run game, and even w ith the loss of Bars, the Irish line has the depth to hold its ow n. Pitt ranks No. 105 in run defense, and has given up 14 rushing touchdow ns through six games. It also just lost linebacker Quintin Wirginis, who led the team in tack les, suffered a knee injur y this past week and is done for the year. This won’t be a contested area.

11 Alohi Gilman (Jr.)

Notre Dame vs. Temple

Thanks to the emergence of Book and Williams in Notre Dame’s backfield, the Irish offense has hit a new level. W hile

Charlotte Edmonds

Connor Mulvena

Associate Sports Editor

I’ll always be wary of a undefeated Notre Dame hosting Pitt. The script is too similar. Having been at the marquee win over Oklahoma the week before in 2012, I remember the pit in my stomach as I watched a team that had previously been routed by a 7-4 Youngstown State team at home come a field goal short of unraveling Notre Dame’s championship hopes. But, I’m officially jumping on board the bandwagon. This team’s already had their Pitt (i.e. Ball State and Vanderbilt) and Ian Book has cemented his status as “the guy” for the Irish. Book’s ability to create from the pocket will be a nightmare for this Pitt defense. Having tasted the potential to be a playoff contender last season before falling apart, this team should be looking to make a statement. Every sign points towards history repeating itself, but I have a feeling this team’s just starting to hit its stride and there’s nothing Pitt can do to stop that. FINAL: Notre Dame 49, Pittsburgh 17

I simply can’t fade the Irish this week. Up until this point, I just could not believe that the Irish would keep winning. My two years following this team instilled a pessimism in me. But let’s be honest, Pitt is a bad football team. North Carolina, a bottom-tier FBS team held the Panthers to a total of 35 yards rushing earlier in the season. It’s just not Pitt’s year. That being said, I’m still not sold on the Irish as a legitimate top-four team. The Virginia Tech win makes me think they’re the real deal, but I still don’t see that Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson killer instinct in this team. Plus, Pitt has shown a tendency to surprise and ruin some teams in seasons past, and the Panthers have given the Irish trouble in the past. After two big wins, I think the Irish are in danger of playing down to a team they’ve had close calls with in the past. Notre Dame will win, but don’t expect it to be a cake walk. FINAL: Notre Dame 31, Pittsburgh 24

the play-calling in the first half against the Hokies was a bit questionable, but, in general, Chip Long has proven himself to be a solid leader for the Irish offense. The Irish have converted in the moments when it counts, with a 54 percent fourth-dow n conversion rate. The team has also scored on 22 of its 25 attempts to do so in the red zone, giv ing it a top-notch offensive efficiency in the red zone. This trend should continue on Saturday, especially against Pittsburgh’s porous run defense.

EDGE: NOTRE DAME IRISH OFFENSIVE SPECIAL TEAMS Justin Yoon became the all-time leading scorer in Notre Dame football histor y against Virginia Tech this past weekend, and for good reason — the senior kicker has done ver y well thus far this season, converting seven of 10 field goals and all 26 of his attempted extra points. The Irish return game has been ser v icible when given the opportunit y, and was highlighted by senior Chris Finke’s 61-yard punt return against Wake Forest. However, the Irish special teams did slip up last week against Virginia Tech, as a bouncing snap caused graduate student punter Tyler Newsome to be taken dow n in the backfield for a big loss. The Panthers have been solid in defending special teams this season, giving up only an average of 21.8 yards on kickoff returns and 8.08 yards on punt returns. Consider this an area of the field that shouldn’t sw ing the outcome ver y much.

EDGE: EVEN IRISH SCHEDULE (6-0) Sept. 1 Michigan (W 24-17) Sept. 8 Ball State (W 24-16) Sept. 15 Vanderbilt (W 22-17) Sept. 22 @ Wake Forest (W 56-27) Sept. 29 Stanford (W 38-17) Oct. 6 @ Virginia Tech (W 45-23) Oct. 13 Pitt Oct. 27 Navy Nov. 3 @ Northwestern Nov. 10 Florida State Nov. 17 Syracuse Nov. 24 @ USC

Follow Observer Sports on Twitter for live updates and analysis during the game this weekend and all season long. @ObserverSports

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commentary

Forget past years; the Irish are the real deal Tobias Hoonhout Managing Editor

Let’s start with some time travel. Just over a month ago, before Notre Dame re-opened its contentious rivalry with Michigan, I told people to slow down. I had a feeling the Irish (6-0) would emerge, but I was still wary of what such a win over the Wolverines ((5-1, 3-0 Big 10) — keep winning, Jim Harbaugh!) would do for the Notre Dame faithful. Because for all of the ecstasy, I couldn’t help but hear an ominous oracle whispering to me as Brian Kelly once again began his quest for the title. “Beware! Beware!” it croaked. “Beating the Wolverines early in the season doesn’t guarantee a national championship! Plus, it’s at home! You may want to believe it, but beware the consequences!” Ok, maybe I’m being a little dramatic. But let’s do some more time travel — which will take us to not one, but two seasons in the last seven years. We can begin in 2012. Coming off back-to-back 8-5 seasons under Kelly, there was a sense that the Irish could finally make some noise in 2012. The defense had grown under coordinator Bob Diaco, and the offense had an exciting young quarterback named

Everett Golson. After opening 3-0, including a dominant 20-3 victory over No. 10 Michigan State on the road, Notre Dame returned home to face No. 18 Michigan. The Wolverines, led by Hesiman hopeful Denard Robinson, had beaten the Irish three seasons in a row. What ensued was Notre Dame’s coming-of-age party as a team to be reckoned with. The Irish defense chewed up and spit out Robinson — who had 948 yards of total offense in his previous two games against Notre Dame — and forced six turnovers in the win. The win over the Wolverines sparked an incredible run. Despite a loaded schedule, the Irish held their own, at home and on the road. Now, the offense wasn’t the greatest, but with a defense as good as Diaco’s, it didn’t need to be. The Irish finished the regular season with an elite unit: leading the country in scoring defense and red zone touchdown percentage. In fact, they nearly forced as many turnovers (five) as touchdowns given up (eight) inside their own-20-yard line — just ask Stanford how its goal-line offense turned out. So when Jan. 7 rolled around, Notre Dame was No. 1 in the country and playing defending national champion Alabama for the title. But

EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

Irish junior cornerback Julian Love runs up the sideline after scooping up a fumble during Notre Dame’s 45-43 win Saturday.

there were a lot of Irish fans that scoffed when Vegas made the Crimson Tide 10-point favorites. “No way!” they said. “Have you seen our defense?! Have you seen Manti Te’o play!? This team is destined!” And then those very same fans watched Brian Kelly’s team get smacked 42-14 in a game that was over at halftime. Because the reality was, the Irish were not destined. They didn’t have an offense capable of hanging with Alabama, and the Tide knew it. From the first snap, Alabama head coach Nick Saban punished Notre Dame at the line of scrimmage, and the Irish defense, as good as it was, couldn’t get off the field and quickly tired. The final stat line? Notre Dame: 32 yards on 19 carries. Alabama: 265 yards on 45 carries. Ok, I won’t rub it in. Yeah, it sucked. Notre Dame had an incredible season, and in many ways that wasn’t a fair way to end it. But, that’s not to overlook the striking disparity between Notre Dame’s offense and Notre Dame’s defense — and the Tide exploited it. The real issue is that Notre Dame fans let their expectations cloud their reason. Not convinced? Let’s compare the national championship game to one earlier in that season, against Michigan. The Irish finished with 94 yards on 31 carries; the Wolverines managed 161 yards on 41 carries. In Week 4, there were clear signs that the Irish offense was going to struggle against good teams. Notre Dame forced six turnovers against Brady Hoke’s team. Six. And only managed 13 points. This team was defensefirst from the beginning, and when the wins started piling up, the Irish faithful let their hunger for a national championship idolize a good, not great offense as one that could take on Saban’s Evil Empire. Stats matter. A lot more than wins against Michigan. Not convinced? Let’s move on. When you beat perhaps your biggest rival 31-0, it’s always going to get people excited. And that’s what happened in 2014. This was a new-look Notre Dame. Turf on the field, sleek Under Armour uniforms on the players and a crazy-smart new defensive coordinator named Brian VanGorder, who brought a fancy NFL scheme to build Notre Dame’s young and athletic defense into a powerhouse. Once again, the Irish had something to

prove, and once again, the Wolverines came into Notre Dame Stadium early in the season. 31 points and a shutout later, the benchmark was set. Was it fair? Well, for the following 240 minutes of football, it looked the part. The Irish defense was keeping teams under 20 points (besides a blip against North Carolina) and Everett Golson was back and balling. The hype was building and building as the Irish went into Tallahassee, Florida, to face the defending national champions, No. 2 Florida State. This was it. Alabama was a f luke. The Irish weren’t a program of the past, they were here to hang with the big boys of college football. For 59 minutes and 47 seconds, it looked legit. In fact, it looked better than legit when Golson capped off an incredible final-minute drive with a fourth-and-goal sling to Corey Robinson for the game-winning touchdown. That was all until the Irish were called for offensive pass interference, the touchdown was discounted, the offense couldn’t replicate the score and the Seminoles won the game. What followed was an epic collapse. Notre Dame lost five of its final six regularseason games after starting 6-0, and went winless on the road. For a team with such high expectations, few, if any, saw this coming. Especially after Michigan. But again, take a step back. Look at the details. Notre Dame was young defensively. The defense was undergoing a complete overhaul. The quarterback was back after being suspended an entire year. There was a lot in f lux. And, perhaps even more importantly, look at the teams the Irish played, starting with Michigan, up until Florida State. Sure, it may have been a good win at the time, but the Wolverines finished 5-7 that season. Purdue? 3-9. Same with Syracuse. Stanford, the one ranked team Notre Dame played in the build-up to the Seminoles (and barely beat, for that matter) finished 8-5. Not exactly playoff contenders. So yes, it was disappointing to see the Irish fall so far from grace. But again, if you look closer, it’s not all that surprising. If you’ve gotten this far, you’re probably interested in why this matters for 2018. Or probably annoyed at my pessimism — hey, at least I’m not Connor Mulvena. The fulcrum of my column before Michigan was that the Irish needed more than

a win over the Wolverines; they needed to beat a ranked road team before the playoff became even a remote possibility. Why? Well, since, 2014, the Irish had beaten exactly one ranked team on the road: Temple. Thus, this year I pointed to Virginia Tech as the benchmark. Now, I’ll admit, I was drinking the Tech Kool-Aid at the time, and probably unfairly — just ask Old Dominion, or the stat that the Hokies haven’t beaten a ranked team at home since 2009. But that’s not to say that the Irish didn’t look impressive last weekend in a 45-23 win. Lane Stadium is still a tough place to play, and the Hokies gave the Irish all they could handle. Notre Dame stood tall, handled the adversity and marched on. It did so by controlling the line of scrimmage, on both sides of the ball, and it moved in for the kill in the second half, as the Alabamas and the Ohio States of college football do on a regular basis. What I saw in Blacksburg, Virginia, was a team that has emerged from the shadows of past expectations — and past shortcomings — to forge something new. Defensively, Clark Lea’s squad is as good, if not more complete than 2012’s unit. It has everything you want in an elite unit: athleticism, depth and experience. And the offense, with junior Ian Book under center, suddenly looks like a juggernaut. Gone are the struggles against Ball State. Look at what the junior did first to Stanford, and then to Virginia Tech on the road. Notre Dame may be only 30th in offensive efficiency, but with Book over the last three games, Chip Long’s offense has hit a whole new level. Perhaps most importantly, however, is this team’s balance. The Irish aren’t tipped in heavy favor of defensive prowess, like in 2012, or towards offensive output, like in 2014. This year, they have the ability and the consistency, on both sides of the ball, to win tough games. And that’s a scary thought. So, it may have taken me 1,500 words, but I’m here to say it. Cut the hype after a home win over Michigan. Cut the expectations after a 6-0 start. Even cut the history. What do you have left? The Irish are the real deal. Contact Tobias Hoonhout at thoonhou@nd.edu The opinions in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

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EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

Irish sophomore tight end Cole Kmet runs upfield after a reception during Notre Dame’s 45-23 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday.

EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

Irish junior cornerback Julian Love drags down the Virginia Tech quarterback during Notre Dame’s 45-23 win over the Hokies on Saturday at Lane Stadium. Love recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the game.

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Irish senior linebacker Te’von Coney tackles a Hokies player to the ground during Notre Dame’s win over Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium.

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Irish senior wide receiver Chris Finke breaks to the right with the ball during Notre Dame’s win over the Hokies on the road on Saturday. Finke recorded his longest reception of the season, 56 yards, in the game.

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IRISH IN THE NFL

ND graduates continue to find success in NFL Observer Sports Staff

Josh Adams Philadelphia Eagles

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Adams was picked up by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent after the 2018 NFL Draft. He was moved up from the practice squad to the active roster on Sept. 18. Adams ran for 30 yards on six carries in his first-career NFL game against Indianapolis.

Matthias Farley Indianapolis Colts

three touchdow ns, as well as 15 first dow ns. Fuller’s t wo best games came in his first two games of the season, picking up 113 yards against the Tennessee Titans and 101 yards against the New York Giants.

Romeo Okwara — Detroit Lions Okwara is in is third season in the League, but his first with the Lions. In his first four games with the squad, he has tallied three sacks and seven tackles. These three sacks

make up three fourths of his career sacks, as he has recorded four in his three years in the NFL.

Isaac Rochell — Angeles Chargers

Los

Rochell was drafted in 2017

by the Chargers, and has played in each game so far this season, helping the team to a 3-2 record. He has recorded 13 tackles on the year, five of which came in one game against Buffalo. Rochell also grabbed his first-career

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Entering his third season in the NFL and with the Colts, Farley has emerged as a leader for the squad. He has recorded 19 tackles in his five games this season and he has also forced one fumble. Last week, during the Colts’ loss to New England, Farley intercepted Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Will Fuller Texans

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Houston

Fuller is in his third season w ith Houston, and continues to be a favorite target for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. Fuller has been targeted 28 times so far this season, 19 of those catches for 278 yards and

Observer File Photo

Former Irish wide receiver Will Fuller runs for a touchdown during Notre Dame’s 50-43 win over North Carolina on Oct. 11, 2014, at Notre Dame Stadium. Now in his third year in the NFL, Fuller has currently recorded 19 receptions for 278 yards and three touchdowns this season. Paid Advertisement

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interception this season against San Francisco.

Kyle Rudolph — Minnesota Vikings Rudolph is in his eighth season with the Vikings and the tight end has become a stalwart in the offense. He is 23-of-27 targets this season and has recorded 229 receiving yards so far for two touchdowns and 15 first downs.

Jaylon Smith — Dallas Cowboys Smith was drafted in 2016 by the Cowboys and is putting up big numbers five weeks into the season. He has recorded 41 combined tackles with Dallas this year, 25 of which have been solo, and he racked up 12 in the team’s Week 5 matchup against the Texans, including three for a loss. Houston walked away with the win, but Smith’s performance for Dallas earned him a spot on the Pro Football Team of the Week. He has also notched three sacks on the season so far.

Harrison Smith Minnesota Vikings

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Smith is another Irish NFL veteran, in his seventh season in the League, all of which have been spent with Minnesota. He continues to make his presence known in the Vikings secondary, with 25 combined tackles, nearly

Observer File Photo

Former Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith waits in his stance for the play to start during Notre Dame’s 50-43 win over North Carolina on Oct. 11, 2014, at Notre Dame Stadium. In his second season playing for the Cowboys, Smith has recorded 41 tackles and three sacks so far.

all of those coming unassisted. Smith is again a presence all over the field this season, also tallying two sacks and an interception — the 18th of his career.

Golden Tate — Detroit Lions Nine seasons into his NFL career and five into his time with the Lions, Tate is posting a 64.7 percent reception rate, with 33 receptions for 431

yards and three touchdowns. He is averaging 86.2 yards per game, more than his 83.2 yard average during his first season in Detroit in 2014, when he was selected to the Pro Bowl. Tate also has one carry for nine yards on the season.

Stephon Tuitt Pittsburgh Steelers

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Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt is in his fifth season with Pittsburgh. After Paid Advertisement

missing four games last season with bicep and back injuries, Tuitt has started all five games so far this year. He has amassed 17 total tackles and defended a pass this season.

Irish on the offensive line Zach Martin is in his fifth season as a guard with the Dallas Cowboys. Nick Martin is in his third season at center with Houston.

Tackle Mike McGlinchey was drafted in the spring by the San Francisco 49ers. Guard Quenton Nelson was drafted in the top 10 by the Indianapolis Colts. Ronnie Stanley is in his third season with the Baltimore Ravens, playing offensive tackle. Center John Sullivan is entering his 11th season in the League and plays for the Los Angeles Rams.

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Pittsburgh focused on improving execution By CONNOR MULVENA Associate Sports Editor

For Pittsburgh, 2018 has been a year marked by struggle. A program that is seemingly notorious for crushing the playoff hopes of national contenders, a big time performance has eluded the Panthers so far this season. Of course, the Panthers (3-3, 2-1 ACC) have an opportunity to fulfill that upset role this weekend against the Irish on the road. On Monday, Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi was asked about what goes into executing a big upset, and for Narduzzi, the Panthers are focused solely on improving themselves right now, as execution has been lacking for them in 2018. “You know, we’re not thinking about big upsets, we’re thinking about us. We’re thinking about the guys in this room and us doing the details of what we need to do to be good on the first play of the game, and then as soon as the first play of the game is over, we go to the next play and play one play at a time, and that’s how you win football games,” Narduzzi said. “We’re not talking any upsets. We never do. We’re talking us and being a better football team and executing. “It’s a matter when you execute and you believe in what you’re doing, those are the keys to playing well and having a chance to win the football game. That’s all — you just want a chance. We have yet to do that. We get to go on the road, which is always another challenge. We’ll be playing — I’ve been in that stadium plenty of times. I know what it’s like. I’ve sat and watched tape of 2015 when they came here, what they did and how they did it, all their screens. We’ve seen everything.” The Panthers have gotten their chance against national contenders this season, specifically against UCF and Penn State, but they failed to put up a solid showing in either contest. In fact, they were outscored by a daunting 76 points in the two games combined. And much of that has to do with Pittsburgh’s woes on the defensive side of the ball this season. The Panthers have allowed 37 points or more in four of six contests this season, and the two games in which they allowed less were against Albany and Georgia Tech, two teams who don’t come close to the national stature of a top-10 team. And now, with a defense that has tallied a defensive efficiency rating of 50.0, which ranks 74th in the nation, the Panthers will be facing arguably the best offense they’ve faced all year. For Narduzzi, it is crucial that the defensive line makes

plays on junior quarterback Ian Book. “We’ve got to make plays on the quarterback,” he said. “They’re going to keep the quarterback and the quarterback can run. We’ve got to be disciplined this week, and Ian Book is a good football player. We’ll see how athletic we are this week when we go to South Bend.” The speed, size and athleticism of Notre Dame’s offensive weapons pose a significant problem for the Panthers this weekend, and Narduzzi is aware of the matchup. Specifically, Pitt only has one defensive back taller than 6-foot-1, while the Irish boast several large receivers in senior Miles Boykin, junior Chase Claypool and senior tight end Alizé Mack. “Their receivers are big. I can’t tell the difference between their tight ends and the receivers. I think our guys are going to get confused,” Narduzzi said. “They put them all in 80 numbers and you can’t tell. They’re all big. They’re all fast, and we’ll have our hands full when we get out there Saturday at 3:30, 2:30 central.” During Narduzzi’s press conference Monday, the head coach was specifically aware of Notre Dame’s recent momentum under Book. Narduzzi said his squad is excited to play the Irish, but it is aware that Notre Dame under Ian Book is one of the best teams in the country. “But I’m looking forward to Notre Dame, and when I say I’m looking forward, I don’t know if I’m looking forward to playing the No. 5 team in the country because they’re awful good,” he said. “Maybe as good of a football team as you’re going to see, that Notre Dame has ever had, I think. Ian Book is — you hate to say it every week, could you face a better one, but that [Trace] McSorley is excellent. I thought McKenzie [Milton] was excellent. I think [Eric] Dungey is excellent, but he scrambles, making plays with his feet. “Now all of a sudden here we’ve got a guy named Book, the guy named Book. You’re like, where did this guy come from, where’s Wimbush? Wimbush is really good, St. Peter’s Prep High School, Jersey guy, and then there’s Book, and Book is — offensively he’s making things click. He can run. He’s tough. He’ll run you over ... you’d better watch out on the sideline if you’re standing around. He’ll take you out, too. He’s got the whole package. I think they’ve found their guy. Their tailbacks, their wide outs.” The Panthers have been able to put points on the board this year, scoring over 30 points in

three of their six games this season. But with an offensive efficiency rating of 51.0, which ranks No. 67 in the nation, the offensive unit has not been without struggle this year. Sophomore quarterback Kenny Pickett has logged an adjusted quarterback rating of 45.4 and thrown for only six touchdowns this season. Notre Dame’s defensive unit, which currently ranks 16th in defensive efficiency in the nation, will pose a notable threat to the Panthers offense this week. On top of the challenges the Irish pose for the Panthers this weekend, Pittsburgh has

lost two of its starters this week — tight end Tyler Sear, who is leaving the team for personal reasons and linebacker Quintin Wirginis, who leads the team in tackles, due to a non-contact knee injury suffered in practice. Ultimately, Narduzzi relihes the opportunity to play a team like Notre Dame, but it’s still a football game for him at the end of the day — it’s purely business. “Notre Dame is a great institution, great place. I’m Catholic, I love Notre Dame, but this is a football game,” he said. “We’re going to walk in there. It’s a business trip.

We’re going to stay in the hotel, we’re going to get them up in the morning, we’re going to drive our bus to the stadium, we’re going to get out, we’re going to go through some cement walls to a locker room and we’re going to put our gear on and we’re going to go out and go. I don’t know if there’s a difference. It’s all about the football game. We’re not going to go to the Basilica or go see Touchdow n Jesus. We’re not taking any tours. We’re going to play a football game.” Contact Connor Mulvena at cmulvena@nd.edu

EMMA FARNAN | The Observer

Irish senior tight end Alizé Mack takes off after a catch during Notre Dame’s 45-23 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday at Lane Stadium. Mack has caught 19 passes for 209 yards and one touchdown this season. Paid Advertisement

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Irish junior quarterback Ian Book fakes a handoff to junior running back Tony Jones Jr. and drops back to throw during Notre Dameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 45-23 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia. Jones is second on the team in rushing yards with 302, trailing only Dexter Williams, and has also rushed for three touchdowns this season. Paid Advertisement