Notre Dame, Miami renew storied rivalry Saturday night in Windy City
By DOUG GRIFFITHS
ISL Correspondent
Nearly a quarter of a century ago, Notre Dame and Miami (Fla.) were among the nation’s elite in college football. Fast forward to present day and the two storied programs are on a course to return to their glory days a lot sooner than later they hope.
The two once heated rivals will meet against Saturday night in Chicago’s Soldier Field in the Shamrock Series, marking the first time the Irish and Hurricanes have clashed in the regular season since 1990.
No. 9 Notre Dame comes into the contest winners of its first four games this season, while Miami is off to a surprising 4-1 start, having won three straight.
Of course few of the current players were even born the last time these two teams met in the regular season. However, for fans of college football when Notre Dame-Miami meet on the gridiron, it conjures up images of the classic 31-30 Irish victory in 1988 or the Canes’ 58-7 drubbing of Gerry Faust’s team in 1985 that led to his dismissal.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly says his players know of the two teams’ history against one another.
I think they’re very much aware of Miami, and the tradition, and the rivalry dating back to 1985 where obviously Notre Dame was beaten handily in that game, Kelly said. Then of course coming back and having a great victory against them (in ’88).
So they know a little bit about the history and tradition of the Miami game because everybody talks about the history and tradition.
It’s a series that Notre Dame dominated early on, winning 11 straight from 1967-80. Miami rattled off five of six in the ˜80s, but the Irish have come back to take three out of the last four, including a 33-17 convincing win in the 2010 Sun Bowl.
This time around you’ll see an Irish team that’s overwhelming strength is defense and a Hurricane squad that has its offense to thank for its good start.
Miami can score some points. It put up 38 against Bethune-Cookman, 42 in overtime against Georgia Tech and 44 in a seven-point win last week over North Carolina State.
Against the Wolfpack, Miami junior quarterback Stephen Morris threw for a school- and ACC-record 566 yards and five touchdowns. His last scoring strike was a 62-yard strike to Phillip Dorsett with 19 seconds remaining in regulation, which proved to be the game-winner. Morris and Dorsett helped Miami rolled up 652 yards of total offense.
Morris finished the game 26-of-50 passing to run his season totals to 1,635 yards passing (completing 124-of-207, 59.9 percent) with nine touchdowns and four interceptions.
One of Morris’ favorite targets is Dorsett. He’s coming off a seven-catch, 192-yard performance against N.C. State. On the season, Dorsett leads the Canes with 28 catches for 464 yards and three touchdowns.
Another receiver to watch for the Canes is Rayshawn Scott. Last week he hauled in six passes for 180 yards. Scott is his team’s second-best receiver, averaging 19.2 yards per reception (17 grabs for 326 yards), with a pair of touchdowns.
Kelly expects the Canes to test the Irish secondary.
Obviously they’re going to want to stretch the field, he said. They’re looking for one-on-one matchups.
Look a good defensive team has got to be able to play both the run and the pass. This will be a challenge for us.
Miami relies on a pair of backs for its rushing attack.
Heralded freshman Duke Johnson is the team’s top runner. He averages 6.9 yards a carry with 359 yards total on the season in his 52 attempts. Johnson has five rushing touchdowns on the year. Physically Johnson is able to carry the ball 25 or 30 times a game so Miami will spell him with Mike James. He has gained 278 yards via the ground and scored three times rushing.
No doubt Miami’s offense will test Notre Dame’s defense. The Canes are second in the ACC in passing, averaging 328.4 yards per game.
As good as the Cane’s aerial assault is, their defense is equally worse.
Miami flat out can’t stop people. Its last two opponents have scored 36 and 37 points, respectively. As a result, the Canes find themselves ranked tied for 98th in the FBS out of 120 teams in points allowed as opponents are averaging 33.4 per game.
Only six teams in all of FBS have allowed more yards than Miami. The Canes are giving up 494.6 yards every time out and a good chunk of those yards are coming on the ground. Miami is 112th in run defense, permitting a whopping 225.6 yards via the ground.
Defensive end Shayon Green, a junior, and outside linebacker Eddie Johnson, a redshirt freshman, are the Canes’ top two tacklers, with 35 and 31 stops, respectively.
Sophomore defensive end Anthony Chickillo seems to be the most disrupting force Miami in terms of getting into the backfield. He has four tackles for loss on the season, including a pair of sacks.
As far as special teams is concerned, Miami kicker Jake Wieclaw has connected on 7-of-11 tries, but his season long is just 38 yards. Punter Dalton Botts is just OK, averaging 40.2 yards per boot with a season long of 51 yards.
My Take
I just don’t see any way the Irish don’t win this game and win it in convincing fashion.
The Hurricanes’ strength is offense, which plays right into Notre Dame’s strength – obviously its defense.
Look for the Irish to pressure Morris, collapsing the pocket with regularity. As a result, the Canes will have to roll him out more and settle for more underneath options in their passing game.
On the flipside, Miami’s defense is simply not good.
Expect Notre Dame to do pretty much what it wants offensively, establishing the run game and pounding the Canes, testing their young linebacking corps. Plus, things should be open for Everett Golson through the air all night and don’t be surprised if Tyler Eifert’s name is called throughout. No. 80 should have a big evening.
Irish winning ways continue.
Notre Dame 30, Miami 13
ND Nuggets
– There have been rumblings that Tommy Rees might start at quarterback for the Irish Saturday night. Kelly squashed those rumors following Thursday’s practice by saying Golson would start his fifth straight game.
– Notre Dame will be wearing new uniforms and helmets in the game.
The Irish will sport dark blue jerseys with gold numbers on them. Their helmet will be half sparkling gold and half dark blue with a giant Irish leprechaun on the blue side.
– Notre Dame leads its all-time series against Miami 16-7.
– The Irish have won eight Associated Press national titles, while Miami has won five.
– Notre Dame’s defense ranks ninth in the FBS in both sacks (3.5 per game) and pass efficiency defense (96.79).
– The Irish defense has totaled eight interceptions this season. That total equals the number of thefts they had last season in 13 games.
– Notre Dame is the one team in the FBS to have not trailed in any game this year.
– The Irish defense has not allowed a rushing touchdown this season, making them the only team in the FBS to hold that distinction.
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