In spite of ND being an option team behind Tony Rice, and ND’s defense practicing against ND’s first team, it usually took ND’s defense two Navy possessions to settle down.
And, ND’s worse game in 1988 was against Navy, with ND winning 22-7. It was not on tv here in California and I could hear the frustration in Tony Roberts voice all during the game.
second half of the second game.
Here comes midline......again.
Davie never adjusted.
It was an offense problem, mostly.
That said - you were right about the frustration. I distinctly remember wondering how Davie could give up a 26 yard run on fourth and 1.
There is no preseason in CFB to work out kinks, and Irish hadn't faced a live opponent in over 9 months. Unlike most other top programs, they faced an opening opponent w/ a pulse. One other (purportedly) top program should've lost to an opponent w/o a pulse.
Second half looked pretty damned good to my semi-trained eyes. Our D outscored WI's O.
Over the game as a whole, ND committed no turnovers and had 44 yds in penalties. Carr looked pretty sharp.
While there are always areas that can stand improvement, on balance, it was a good start.
And not the first two games.
Wisconsin spent a lot of money over the winter and spring and it's the first game of the year. Looked to me like Freeman and Denbrock spent the first half breaking in new starters on the line and feeling out the flow of the game. Not sure how you can be upset with the second half.
They lack a deep threat, and Love and Price are not in the building any longer. But those were known issues going into the season and need to be dealt with. Those are not early season issues, rather, they are season long obstacles.
Up by two points with 15:33 left in the game, and finally winning 25-10, against a pathetic BC team. Other than Love's fourth quarter 94 yard run, he ran for 42 yards in 16 carries.
We can sputter any time of year. But yeah, it seems pronounced in September (Marshall, Northern Ill., last year...)
College teams in particular seem to struggle after the disrupted routine caused by the bye week but many pro teams do as well
Is that what Wiscy and ND battle for? I am so out of the loop.
was a slow start except for the first half.
A win by 4 touchdowns is OK.