The Notre Dame fighting Irish are gearing up for their first game under coach Brian Kelly when they host the Purdue Boilermakers next week.

All eyes are on Coach Kelly as he prepares for his first season with the team. Armando Allen, Michael Floyd, and Kyle Rudolph are some of the key players expected to churn out optimum performance in the coming season.

Kelly came to Notre Dame committed to making improvements and progress in the field. With an impressive catalogue of success transforming Grand Valley State, Central Michigan and Cincinnati teams, Kelly is hoping to work similar magic with the fighting Irish.­

The team were 76th against the pass last season, a number they will be hoping to improve on in the coming months.

The Purdue Boiler makers lost by Notre Dame by 3 last season but the game could have gone either way.  Predictions for the opener on September 4th next favor the Fighting Irish.