Notre Dame 48 Rice 17
This opener started out just like past seasons with back to back 3 and outs. Then the Everett Golson show started, running, throwing and a lot more more. Golson accounted for 5 TD’s – 3 running and 2 passing.
Long and short passing, some drops but 295 yards passing is a great day. Will Fuller scored on a pass that was 60 yards in the air and CJ Prosise made amends catching a 53 yarder just before the half sealing the game.
We have a running back problem in that all 3 McDaniel, Folston and Bryant all played very good. Problem is how to keep them all happy. I like Bryant to win the most carries going ahead with Cam finishing games to seal the win. Probably alternating Bryant and Folston for next few games and then pick the winner. Nice problem to have.
QB Zaire got to play and showed his running ability while Bryant scored his first Irish TD. The kid is a powerful runner.
Hanratty apparently won the LG position and the whole OL played very well, handling Rice’s All American Covington except for very early in the game.
On Defense the back end has to be shored up as starting Safety Collingsworth is out with a knee injury and at times the other DB’s just running all around but leaving guys wide open. Redfield is in his first year as a starter and I think eventually true freshman Drue Tranquill will win the now open position.
All in all a whole lot of players got into the game – Trumbetti, Tranquill, Cage, Martini just to name a few of the freshman – couldn’t keep track, guys going in and out like a revolving door. Upper class-men Rabassa And Utopo played well. I didn’t see Hounshell. I guess he’s hurt again.
Special teams a marked improvement helped by the new turf – Riggs, Bryant and Carlisle played exciting football.
Outside of the back end the ILB’s Schmidt and Jaylon Smith will have trouble handling the big power running teams. Both played exceedingly well and made the hits, but in Schmidt’s case he bounced right off of the runner. Maybe it’s more important at this point to run the defense – he sure as hell is damn good at that.
So we had a fun filled first game but so did Michigan. Michigan will define this season – we just MUST win that game.
Another “uh oh” was Navy almost beating Ohio State.
UND watchnd.tv provides the highlights and Kelly post game interview: