Notre Dame Thumps Miami (FL) 33-17, Wins Sun Bowl to Close Brian Kelly's First Season

by CW on Dec 31, 2010 6:12 PM EST in Notre Dame Football

The Hurricanes got a couple of touchdowns late to make the score respectable, but Notre Dame had leads of 27-0 and 30-3 as the Irish won their second consecutive bowl game and earned their eighth win of the 2010 season. Playing in what will likely be his final game as a member of the Fighting Irish, Michael Floyd sparkled, grabbing two touchdowns and coming awfully close to two more.* He finished the day with 6 catches for 106 yards, helping Tommy Rees to keep the Irish offense humming. The running game was a one-two punch of Cierre Wood and Robert Hughes, who combined for 169 yards on the ground, including a nice 34-yard touchdown run by Wood.

*I'm preparing for the worst, people. It helps the grieving process.

On defense, it was the Harrison Smith show, as he had three first half interceptions as Bob Diaco's defense chased Miami starter Jacory Harris from the game. Miami could never really establish the running game, averaging 3.4 yards per carry over the course of the game and achieving a game-high carry of eleven yards. A Manti Te'o injury dampened the second half, but he was walking around on the sideline and it didn't seem too severe.

The last four games for Notre Dame were a joy to watch, and now they head into the 2011 season with all kinds of momentum. Everyone have a safe and fun night, we've got all next week to recap how fun this win was.

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It's always nice to end on high note

Looking forward to next season. Spring ball can’t get here soon enough.

by Mike Garza on Jan 1, 2011 12:57 AM EST reply actions

Excellent 1st half on both sides of the ball

Rees played efficiently, run game was solid, defense shut down the run and took advantage of the poor QB play of Harris.

Disappointed in the 2nd half. Seemed as if there was a let down on both sides of the ball.

Lots to be optimistic about for 2011 and lots of questions, first and foremost, who will be the QB. It should be a heckuva battle for the top spot. Rees has done a very good job for a true frosh since being forced into the starting role. That said, he has not dazzled. He has the look of a smart kid with limited skills who could be very successful with the right coach and in the right system. He reminds me of some of the QBs Bill Walsh had in his two tenures at Stanford. He had a bunch of moderately talented QBs who put up big numbers, QBs like Guy Benjamin, Steve Dils, Turk Schonert, and Steve Stenstrom. I think BK could do the same for Rees, but I find myself hoping Crist comes back and is able to play a whole season and/or Hendrix is what many here think he is, much more talented players who can be not just competent but spectacular.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jan 1, 2011 10:53 AM EST reply actions

What are the chances Notre Dame sneaks into the top 25?

I wouldn’t say likely, but its possible.

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by averagegatsby on Jan 1, 2011 7:14 PM EST reply actions

I don't think so

The only teams with only 8 wins in the top 25 coming in to bowl season were Miss. State (No. 21 in both the BCS and the AP poll) and UConn (No. 25 in the AP poll). I don’t see how an 8-5 Notre Dame team sneaks in.

by long time listener on Jan 1, 2011 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

there are five reasons why they do not belong in the top 25

loss to Michigan,
loss to Michigan St
loss to Stanford,
loss to Navy,
loss to Tulsa

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jan 2, 2011 11:35 AM EST up reply actions

Also...

Not to say that I don’t like Reece, and the guys basically said the same thing during the game that “Reece won’t wow you when its just him on the field, but when there is 22 on the field, thats when he shines” (Im paraphrasing), but he just doesn’t do anything that makes you go WOW!!! which is fine if he doesn’t make any mistakes, but its almost like he has gotten a little lucky, when he throws a bad pass, a defender falls down etc… I like him, and I think he can be really good, but man… I haven’t seen him get “unlucky” might be scary if his “luck” runs out.

Your 2010 Royals Review Fantasy Football Keeper League Champion

by averagegatsby on Jan 1, 2011 7:56 PM EST reply actions

Who is this Reece kid?

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jan 2, 2011 11:36 AM EST up reply actions

He invented the Peanut Butter cup

Your 2010 Royals Review Fantasy Football Keeper League Champion

by averagegatsby on Jan 2, 2011 4:37 PM EST up reply actions

Pretty embarrasing when a "fan" does not know the QB's name.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jan 3, 2011 9:14 AM EST up reply actions

And so is your face

BOOM!

Your 2010 Royals Review Fantasy Football Keeper League Champion

by averagegatsby on Jan 3, 2011 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

not just weak, spectacularly weak

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jan 3, 2011 5:07 PM EST up reply actions

AND SO IS YOUR FACE!!!

BAZINGA!!!

Your 2010 Royals Review Fantasy Football Keeper League Champion

by averagegatsby on Jan 3, 2011 5:15 PM EST up reply actions

Boom

Roasted

by burger23 on Jan 3, 2011 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

are you 12?

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jan 7, 2011 8:59 AM EST up reply actions

AND... SO... IS... YOUR... FACE!!!

GADOOOSH!!!

Your 2010 Royals Review Fantasy Football Keeper League Champion

by averagegatsby on Jan 7, 2011 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

What a great game

I was impressed with the offensive game plan. ND ran quite a few plays from under center with a fullback (usually Eifert, I think) and then they ran the ball well. Kelly seemed to understand that with a freshman at quarterback, the best way to go was to run a power running offense with Hughes and Wood. Rees didn’t have a fantastic game, but he certainly played well enough. I wouldn’t say Notre Dame played their best game of the year, but they looked good and showed they could win even when not playing their best football.

by burger23 on Jan 1, 2011 10:48 PM EST reply actions

Playing Rees forced BK to change his plan

he had to become more conservative. He could not use the full playbook as he did when Crist played, he had to simplify things. The best way to help an inexperienced QB succeed, run the ball effectively and design pass plays to get the ball into the hands of your playmaker, Floyd. BK did a brilliant job of creating a game plan that matched what Rees could be expected to do.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jan 2, 2011 11:40 AM EST up reply actions

Yup, I agree

But I also think that’s why Rees won’t be the quarterback next year. I love the kid and the four wins he brought us as the starter, but Kelly’s system needs an athletic quarterback. He tried to replicate that with the Wildcat, but that had rather limited success. You could tell the team was playing out its comfort zone when they lined up in the I with a TE at FB. It worked in this game but I don’t think it’s something BK wants to do for a full season.

by burger23 on Jan 2, 2011 11:56 AM EST up reply actions

I, too, hope someone other than Rees is the starting QB next season

Rees is a competent QB who can, with BK calling the shots, execute the offense, but I would hope ND can find someone who is better than competent to play QB. Crist, if healthy, can be, hopefully so can Hendrix and Golson.

As for the Riddick wildcat formation and the use of a two back formation, it was BK’s attempt to show Miami something they have not seen before without asking too much of Rees. I agree, I doubt we will see much of that next season.

I wonder if BK plans on integrating Golson into the offense right away or if he will “redshirt” him next season. Golson provides BK with a true dual threat QB that BK might find irresistible. Rumor has it Hendrix can run pretty well. If true, maybe he can be the dual threat BK wants allowing Golson to save a year of eligibility. If Crist wins the starting job, I doubt we will see many designed runs for him, so BK will have to dust off the playbook he used at Cincy with Pike. That worked pretty well.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jan 3, 2011 9:25 AM EST up reply actions

I've heard Hendrix is the type of QB Kelly wants in his system

If I had to pick, I would want Hendrix to start next year and allow Golson to save a year of eligibility. Like I said, I appreciate everything Rees did for this team but I don’t think he’s right for this offense. As for Crist, I just don’t trust a player coming off two major knee surgeries. But I trust Kelly will pick the right man for the job.

by burger23 on Jan 3, 2011 6:02 PM EST up reply actions

What a win!!!!!!!!!!

"Welcome to the place where I lazily threaten people and then everyone laughs."
- Kev H

by chicago030 on Jan 1, 2011 11:14 PM EST via mobile reply actions

solid, if spectacular

nice momentum at season’s end.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jan 2, 2011 11:42 AM EST up reply actions

should have read: solid if unspectacular

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Jan 2, 2011 11:42 AM EST up reply actions

maybe I'm just a sour puss

But the losses to Michigan State and Tulsa are chapping my hide a little bit right now. Though I guess if we had won those games and went to USC with 8 wins USC might’ve played the game differently. And if not, we would’ve gone to a different bowl game and maybe wouldn’t have won that one. I guess I’ll be an optimist and say that we can build on our strong finish and hopefully challenge for a BCS game next year.

by long time listener on Jan 2, 2011 1:13 AM EST reply actions