The way they came out playing at South Bend it seemed at first look that Brian Kelly had brought back the happy days to Notre Dame football.
The 2010 edition acted and played differently from the Charlie Weis teams who could always be depended on for a major mistake at a critical point in the game.
But by the end of the second half the jury was still out on that.
Even though Notre Dame won, the creepy music from the Weis days --- you know when the Twilight Zone theme took over and weird stuff started happening---- is still hovering around South Bend.
In the first half Kelly looked like he had exorcized the demons as his team played flawless take away football.
Then leading twenty to three and with the game seemingly won the Irish conceded a safety and then a touchdown and Purdue were within a score.
Michael Floyd had previously fumbled the ball on his way into the end zone.
Suddenly the bad old days seemed back.
Against a better team the slip ups might have proven fatal but Kelly has seemingly proven one thing on the basis of this game.
This Notre Dame defense will be no pushover like last year’s.
They buckled down and forced Purdue mistakes and eventually the Irish ran out easy enough winners.
Still, when you thought they might just have a blowout game, when leading 20-3 and deep in Purdue territory it all started to go ominously wrong.
Hopefully just a minor glitch and the important thing is they have the victory.
But it was still a Scary Movie for a while there.
7 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.IrishTierney | Sep 07, 2010, 06:35 PM EDT
Every season is a difficult season for the Irish. What people fail to realize is that any team who has Notre Dame on their schedule is playing in front of a national audience. It is in essance a bowl game for that team, and the kids rise to the occasion week in and week out. Kelly is a fantastic coach. He is no comparison to Charlie!
oldbear | Sep 05, 2010, 07:43 PM EDT
The spirit of winning is there but, it will be a diifficult season for the Fighting Irishmen
SouthBendNative | Sep 05, 2010, 02:15 PM EDT
What do you mean when you say that the Irish "conceded a safety and then a touchdown"? They conceded nothing. SeamusMor, apparently you have not been a long term fan of the Irish. The jury is still out. I am hopeful that we can beat USC this year but that game is a long way off. Let's take care of Michigan and take it 1 game at a time. I agree that they Irish look much improved, especially on defense, but Crist is very inexperienced and injury prone. Don't pencil in a MNC just yet. It was a win over an average Purdue team, not Alabama.
SeamusMor | Sep 05, 2010, 01:02 PM EDT
This year's Irish football team is one of the best I've seen. They are bigger,faster, and stronger than ever. Their open field tackling is like never before. The offense traditionally would go 80 yards in 10 or 12 plays to score. Kelly's exciting spread offense makes it only 7. 14, 15, 17 yard gains instead of 3 or 4 yards a crack. The offensive line is as adept at clearing the way for lighting fast backs as they are keeping defenders away from a potentially great young quarterback. The defense is fast and effective. Special teams are excellent. This is going to be the year we beat USC!!!
PhlutiePhan | Sep 05, 2010, 12:47 PM EDT
I wish to remind you of the real Irish-Catholic College football team. It is Boston College and they suit up against the Irish on the "Heights" on October 2. BC had won six in a row until last year. I do admit that Kelly had the Irsih flying in the first half.
1314balesdr | Sep 05, 2010, 12:07 PM EDT
A win is a win.
boydshield | Sep 05, 2010, 10:29 AM EDT
Sean, a score in this article would have been nice, ND 23-12 over Purdue.