Trav's Thoughts

Disclosure: The post is long. The post is about Notre Dame football. The post also has a couple of non-sports interludes.

It's the first game of a new season and all things are possible. So let's go IRISH!



This is the 400th game at Notre Dame stadium and the 200th consecutive sell out.

The defense gets off to a good start, giving up one first down and then forcing a punt. But the offense can only manage three plays and a punt on 4th down. Here's the good report though...the offensive line didn't give up a sack (they gave up a total of 58 sacks last season) and the offense didn't have a turnover (last season they turned the ball over 25 times).

I'm looking to build some positives here.

Oh...it has been suggested in comments that I make sure there is something here for any ladies who aren't interested in sports. I checked with Pam, and she said this might be acceptible.


OK, moving on now.

The Irish still can't get rolling on offense while the defense is playing pretty well. Although SDSU manages to get themselves out of a 3rd down hole at their own 5 yard line. The Aztecs apparently have no running game. They ran 19 pass plays in their first three possessions before the first running play. The run went for no gain. Maybe that's why they mostly pass.

SDSU puts together a pretty good drive, but it stalls just outside of field goal range and the Irish take over at their own 20 yard line after a short punt. The Irish offense needs to answer with a sustained drive of their own.

Wooooooooooooooo!!! ND gets a break on a pass interference call. After a couple of short gains, QB Jimmy Clausen connects with wide out Duval Kamara on a big gain down the sideline. But then the drive blows up and the Irish miss a field goal try.

Rats.

The first quarter ends with no score, and again I'm looking for the little victories here. ND gave up 80 points in the first quarter last season, so holding the Aztecs scoreless in the first 15 minutes is a victory.

We're not going to mention that the Irish gave up 102 points in the second quarter last season.

Dangit! I said don't mention that!

Oh...Pam says it's time for another offering to the non-sports crowd. Here you go.


ND head coach Charlie Weis isn't calling offensive plays this year. I think that's a good thing because I always thought he relied too heavily on screen passes. Well, they just ran the first screen pass of the day and it went for about 15 yards. And the Irish are driving now with a good mix of the run and pass. The play calling is diverse and keeping the Aztec defense off balance.

DAMMIT!

The Irish drove 72 yards in 9 plays, down inside the SDSU 5 yard line. But then there was a fumble on a running play and the Aztecs recovered.

Wait...on replay it looks like the back's knee was down before the ball came out. The refs review and don't overturn the call, so it stands as a fumble. And worse, RB Robert Hughes twisted his knee or ankle on the play.

Rats rats.

The Irish defense is playing well, but they can't seem to consistently get off the field on third down. Last season, opposing offenses converted on third down 42% of the time. That wears a defense down over the course of a game.

DAMMIT!

Another turnover. Clausen drilled a pass that bounced off his receiver and was picked off on the deflection.

Rats rats rats.

GAH! SDSU QB Ryan Lindley just hit on a big completion to wide out Darren Mougey down to the Irish 1 yard line. They punch it in on a QB sneak for the TD on the next play to take a 7-0 lead.

Rats rats rats rats.

OK, this short interlude is for me and the rest of the sports guys. I need something hawt to get my mind off the last few minutes of game time.



See how I did that? Faith Hill sings the Sunday Night Football song, Waitin' All Day For Sunday Night. Hawt, sexy, and a football chick. HA!

The Irish offense can't get anything going after the SDSU TD and have to punt again. The defense needs a big play...like a pick 6...something good to happen and change the momentum.

There we go! Big sack by linebackers Maurice Crum and Brian Smith!

Wooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! The Irish force a punt on 3rd and 17. Then ND gets a big punt return from Armando Allen, and a personal foul horse collar penalty tacked on to the end of the run. That sets the Irish up 1st and 10 at the Aztec 13 yard line.

GAH! Clausen misses WR Golden Tate in the end zone, and then the Irish blow the snap on the field goal try and come away with nothing.

Rats rats rats rats rats.

There are glimpses that this team is better than they were a year ago. Most of those glimpses are on the defense. The offense is still too prone to mistakes and bad play.

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! I was just about to say that special teams still has big problems too, but they get a blocked punt to set up the offense 1st down on the Aztec 21 yard line with about a minute and a half to play in the first half.

YAY!!!!! Touchdown!!!! Wooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! Clausen throws to WR Michael Floyd in the endzone and we have a 7-7 tie game.

GO IRISH!

That's going to be it for the first half.