CFI: ND REPORT: ONE FOR THE GIPPER

BY SHANNON O'KEEFE
NOTRE DAME INSIDER

Two days prior to the first Irish victory of the season, the remains of George Gipp, the Notre Dame football player who inspired the movie “Knute Rockne All American” and the famous rallying cry, “Win one for the Gipper”, were exhumed for DNA testing.

Did this event somehow inspire the Irish to exhume their own remains? To rediscover their ability and desire to win? Hard to say, but Notre Dame and its fans have always been big on symbolism. Coach Charlie Weiss may have gathered his team in the locker room and told them to win one for the Gipper, or just to win one. Just one! Regardless of the pre-game speech, win one they did.

Coming into last Saturday’s game against UCLA, the Irish were 21 1/2 point underdogs. Understandable, given that Notre Dame had failed to score at least 20 points in their six prior losses, and gave up at least 30 points in their last seven. While the offense still struggled, putting up measly numbers (140 yards total offense) and missing opportunities to score, the defense soared. Linebacker Maurice Crum Jr. was the hero of the game, proving that the team need not rely solely on its teenagers. Crum finished the game with a sack, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and seven tackles. All told, the Irish forced seven turnovers, which led to 17 of their 20 points. Seven of those points came courtesy of Jimmy Clausen on a quarterback sneak, following an interception by safety David Bruton. Crum scored the other touchdown by running back a 34-yard fumble recovery.

It didn’t hurt that Bruins Quarterback Ben Olson went out with a knee injury late in the first quarter, after a sack by Tom Zbikowski. Olson fumbled the ball on the play, setting up Brandon Walker's first field goal, and Notre Dame’s first points in the game. John Carlson also contributed to the Irish offensive effort with six catches for 38 yards. In a year of team worsts, the 140 total offensive yardage accrued by Notre Dame was the least in any Irish victory in 25 years.

While all of this was going on in California, fans of the Boston College Eagles started their own rallying cry, “Matt Ryan for Heisman.” Ryan is putting up serious numbers this season, including four 300-yard games, while leading his team to their highest ranking since Doug Flutie took the Heisman in 1984, and earning his own feel-good piece in a recent issue of “Sports Illustrated”. First-year coach Jeff Jagodzinski has led the Eagles to their best start since 1942. Their offense may rank last in the ACC in pass defense, but the Irish don’t put up enough balls to make that count. Look for safety Jamie Silva to be grabbing at the ones they do.

Boston College will likely be the best team the Irish have faced all season, which doesn’t bode well for the home team. Look for a strong effort by the Eagles in South Bend, one that will make the Irish glad they sang the fight song twice after last week’s victory. It may be a while before they get to belt it again. Look for small gains on the part of the Irish offense, and a few big plays on defense. The team will continue improve, but Saturday’s game belongs to the Eagles. Short of sending Ryan out with an injury, it’s hard to imagine the Irish eking out another win. The Irish will lose this one by at least three touchdowns, probably four, and may only put up 6 points of their own, all by foot.