Great Win observations from the game

[ZORO50]

This was the first home game I've attended since 2009.
The crossroads project is tremendous. It doesn't look so huge on TV.
Miami traveled well for the game.
The home crowd was great. Everyone was standing up on every 3rd down and the place was super into the game.

Our coverage was excellent. Even on their touchdown passes.
Vaughn, Love and all of our coverage were stride for stride on every down field pass.
I think Todd Lyght knows talent.
Vaughn looks awesome out there.

Jarron Jones, Morgan played out of their minds.

Chase Claypool- wow! That kid looks great in a uniform. Have to get him involved fully next year.

The running scheme- still don't get why we can't get more pitch outs. Create more dynamic downhill runs.
The read and react thing isn't what's suited best for the lineman or even our backs. I think Adams really gets moving on step 2,3.
Great option pitch run where Adams gets a head of steam going.

Almost busted a trick play I've been waiting for all year with CJ Sanders.

Energy level of the team was high.
I do like the sidelines getting pumped up on kickoffs a lot.
If BK could just create more power running.

We know the special teams issues.
I can't even get on Sanders. The kid is so good. He was just trying to spark the team anyway he could when things went dead for a bit.
(Huge punt return by Fink).

Very Angry on 1st and goal at the 1 and we are taking all day to call a play out of empty shotgun and get a penalty? I know they were probably overthinking scoring a TD too quickly vs burning clock but c'mon.

All in All- a very good feel good win
and the energy of the crowd so behind the 2-5 team was nice.

 

[nemeth#5]

Anyone else notice the lack of energy on the field on defense? Sure the sidelines were jumping up and down but the players on the field acted like they had somewhere else to be.

Jones was making TFL after TFL and he would get up.... maybe give a hive five and slowly walk back to the huddle.

It was sooo weird to me.

 

[Toby Smart]

I was digging the world class opera singer doing her version of "God Bless America" at the end of halftime. I'm serious. I'm not an opera fan at all, but she was phenomenal.

 

[coolirish9]

the only thing I had an issue outside of still not being able to open holes for our rbs more often was the call for a screen pass on 4th and 1 when kizer had been running well on that drive and getting yds. I was also happy to see the crowd still showing support by yelling and getting loud even though the team was 2-5 coming into the game

 

[Ara64]

I'll take the win and move on to Navy. This season is shaping into another 2010. When you can play decent to good defense with an offense like ours; you have a good shot in these last 4 games. It would help if special teams would stop making catastrophic mistakes. Well see how the last four games play out.

 

[Telx1]

Zoro...thanks for posting your at game experience. Watched the game with the sound off as we had company, so nice to read the crowd was into the game so much. The only loud noise at our house was me screaming at every ST mental error; and the decision to pass on fourth and inches. As you note, Jones and Morgan were finally very disruptive and each played great. Thought it was the best and hardest running we've seen from Adams this year.

 

[BGI User 348]

Watching on TV the 1st half crowd was great-------less so when ST imploded. Glad ND won. Still hate the u!!!

 

[Ara64]

I've been impressed with the student body all season. I heard pure joy erupt through the television Saturday night after an exciting comeback win. Many of the message board crowd may have given up on this team, but the student body hasn't and I'm so proud of them. They brought me back from monument valley. Go Irish!

 

[OnSHATterday]

I am a Pittsburgh guy, Pitt alum and season ticket holder, raised in a big Catholic family with 12 years of Catholic schooling and therefore a life-long love of ND. We watch all the games and we've been out before for Pitt/ND games but Saturday was my first time there without my Pitt-lenses on.

I know it's a huge down year in your neck of the woods, but you guys do it right. To see 60k+ in their seats 30 minutes before kick off and just a few empty rows in the student section for a 2-5 football team was amazing. I am used to a half-filled NFL stadium with zero atmosphere.

Thanks, collectively, for the hospitality and experience. We'll be back every year moving forward for a game even with Pitt only on the futures schedule in 2018.

 

[tkirish]

At this point I'll take any win. For me I was not happy they blew a 20 point lead. The offense bogged down most of the 2nd half. As I was watching on tv I noticed something that I hadn't seen all year. It was late in the game and ND was on the field on offense. I forget the actual play but they didn't convert a 3rd down. At that point as the offense was heading off, the camera was on Kizer. He was pissed! Visibly mad! it was at that moment I realized he wanted to win and I'm sure the team did as well. You could see the disgust on his face. Most other times in similiar situations he would look disconnected. Not this time. The end result was not luck. ND wanted to really win that game. Even at the end you could see how determined Adams was running when he had the ball. For a season that's been lackluster, it is very encouraging to see that the players do indeed care. In 1986 it was the USC game that was the turning point for a young team. Maybe this win over Miami will be the turning point for this young team.

 

[coolirish9]

I know it's a huge down year in your neck of the woods, but you guys do it right. To see 60k+ in their seats 30 minutes before kick off and just a few empty rows in the student section for a 2-5 football team was amazing. I am used to a half-filled NFL stadium with zero atmosphere.

yeah i'm also proud of our fan base that goes to the games and fills the seats when our irish are having a down year. Miami fans are the biggest bandwagon fans that I have ever seen. if the canes aren't on a 10 win type pace then there home stadium will have less than 15 thousand in attendance at a 60 thousand plus seating stadium

 

[NDSMC78]

I am a Pittsburgh guy, Pitt alum and season ticket holder, raised in a big Catholic family with 12 years of Catholic schooling and therefore a life-long love of ND. We watch all the games and we've been out before for Pitt/ND games but Saturday was my first time there without my Pitt-lenses on.

I know it's a huge down year in your neck of the woods, but you guys do it right. To see 60k+ in their seats 30 minutes before kick off and just a few empty rows in the student section for a 2-5 football team was amazing. I am used to a half-filled NFL stadium with zero atmosphere.

Thanks, collectively, for the hospitality and experience. We'll be back every year moving forward for a game even with Pitt only on the futures schedule in 2018.

I know it's a ways off, but Pitt also comes to ND in 2023.

 

[Toby Smart]

Ara: many of the students left at the half. Don't know where they were going that was so important, but many left. The many that stayed were loud and supportive.

 

[iwish]

Zoro...thanks for posting your at game experience. Watched the game with the sound off as we had company, so nice to read the crowd was into the game so much. The only loud noise at our house was me screaming at every ST mental error; and the decision to pass on fourth and inches. As you note, Jones and Morgan were finally very disruptive and each played great. Thought it was the best and hardest running we've seen from Adams this year.

Pretty sure I heard that Kizer was given by th a run and a pass play option, if I remember correctly. I was as irritated as everyone else at the time. In theory, I get it - they had the two on one, and if Hunter had blocked his man the play would have resulted in not only a first down, but potentially a big play.

That said, hard to argue against just leveraging the line for a yard.....

 

[twalsh]

Pretty sure I heard that Kizer was given by th a run and a pass play option, if I remember correctly. I was as irritated as everyone else at the time. In theory, I get it - they had the two on one, and if Hunter had blocked his man the play would have resulted in not only a first down, but potentially a big play.

That said, hard to argue against just leveraging the line for a yard.....

Flutie summized that, but he has a reason to know something about offensive play. A lot of times in important play situations the QB has two plays called, and chooses one at the LOS. On the late 2 pt conversion last year against Clemson Kizer had one pass option and one run option to choose from based on what Clemson showed at the LOS. He picked the run, didn't work. $hit happens.

 

[Telx1]

After seeing the replay without the benefit of Flutie's comments, I was pissed all over again seeing that it was a two on one situation. Hunter shouldn't block in that situation, he should take off and make the lone defender decide who he stays with, which should have resulted in a big play one way or the other. Another metal mistake that was costly.

 

[MTIrish98]

Why call an option on 4th and a foot? If you line up under center, QB sneak behind the left side, you really should be able to get a foot -- regardless of the coverage in the flat.