Notre Dame notebook: Kelly wants players to stay grounded
By DOUG GRIFFITHS
ISL Correspondent
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly has already heard how his program is off to its best start in a decade and knows that all week, his players will be told how good they are.
Such is expected, considering the Irish just knocked off a top-10 team in Michigan State on its home field and are 3-0 for the first time since 2002.
One of Kelly and his staff’s main jobs this week will be to try and keep the Irish as grounded as possible as they prepare for 18th-ranked Michigan (2-1 overall) for a Saturday night showdown in Notre Dame Stadium.
When Kelly met with the media today he said the Irish need to be careful not to get infected with success.
It’s easy to forget how you got here, Kelly said. We’ve got to avoid the noise and stay disciplined on the process. If we do that, we’ll be pretty good in November.
Of Notre Dame’s remaining nine regular-season opponents, four are currently ranked (Oklahoma No. 6, Stanford No. 9, USC No. 13 and Michigan). Another opponent – BYU – just fell out of the top-25 with its loss last night at Utah. Plus, Pitt, another team the Irish will face, had no trouble with No. 13 Virginia Tech Saturday, upsetting the Hokies 35-17.
Climbing in the rankings
Thanks to the win at Michigan State, the Irish climbed nine spots in the Associated Press poll.
Notre Dame is now ranked 11th. That’s the highest the Irish have been ranked since 2006, when they were ranked 11th before meeting LSU in the Sugar Bowl.
Going to be missed
The Irish will have to play the remainder of the season without starting safety Jamoris Slaughter, who was injured in the Michigan State game. Slaughter tore his Achilles tendon and will have surgery this week.
Kelly knows without Slaughter his young secondary will be even younger. It is worth noting that the Irish have gotten used to playing without him, particularly in the second half after he dinged a shoulder in the Purdue game and then suffered what turned out to be a season-ending injury last night.
The last couple weeks we’ve played a lot of football without him, Kelly said. We’ve done a nice job there.
In less than a month, Kelly’s team has lost two starters in its secondary to injury. First, cornerback Lo Wood also suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in August and now Slaughter.
Te’o going home
Irish star linebacker Manti Te’o will head home to Hawaii following Notre Dame’s home game against Michigan Saturday.
Last week Te’o’s grandmother passed away and so did his girlfriend, after she had a long battle with cancer.
It looks like we’ll be able to get him out to Hawaii on the bye week, Kelly said.
After Saturday’s game, the Irish don’t play again until Oct. 6 when they face the Miami Hurricanes at Chicago’s Soldier Field.
Also: Griffiths looks back at Notre Dame ‘s 20-3 win over Michigan St.
Also: Purdue rolls past Eastern Michigan
Also: Purdue-Eastern Michigan slideshow
