Notre Dame looks to try to build on last season’s NCAA run

And with victories over both the Midshipmen and Georgia Tech, the coaching staff’s work over the offseason achieved its desired result.

Notre Dame opens its exhibition slate October. 30 against St. Francis (Illinois) at Purcell Pavilion and will open its regular season against St. Francis (Pennsylvania) at home November 13. “Learn from our successes and just get better”. They were amazingly efficient in an 18-22 minute clip of time, what does he do when he gets 30 minutes?

But when it comes to the Trojans, a disliked rival, the Irish believe they can make a positive out of a huge negative. Jaylon Smith was opportunistic when an option pitch fell through the hands of Chris Swain.

The Irish won the turnover battle for the first time since 2012.

Normally, Kelly has a 24-hour rule: Win or lose, the players have 24 hours to mull over a game and then move on. “No individual is better than the team”.

Helton jokingly referred to himself as the “third-string head coach” back then, but this season he became the backup who gets a chance to play, albeit under dismaying circumstances. Nick Martin tweaked his ankle, though returned to play. “So the last couple of weeks, the last two, three weeks have been pretty good”. “We have the recipe, we know what it feels like to be in that situation”. That’s the kind of approach a Notre Dame starter needs to have.

“It’s all hindsight, and a few of it’s conjecture”, Kelly said.

“That’s the biggest thing we have to look at”. Asked afterward to assess the slow start, Kelly said Notre Dame looks at everything in search of an explanation.

One of Jackson’s biggest roles on last year’s squad was defensive – pressuring the ball. “It’s not like I need to put any road maps out there. That’s the biggest thing”. “We have a number of options”.

Kelly said changes like USC’s upheaval can often inspire and bring a team together.

“There’s pressure on this group after a year ago, and that’s a good thing”, Brey said.

“To see him get out there and play on Saturday was pretty gratifying that he could get out there and help us”.

“He’s watched on his iPad; he watches pep rallies; he watches team meetings; he watches everything”, his mother said. “You don’t play that kind of football here at Notre Dame”. “And I think ball pressure is something I can do to help our team”.

Another option opponent, another monster day by Greer Martini.

Another game, another monster day from C.J. They want to try to chase it again. Not too many defenses can stop that type of scramble drill, and Kizer’s ability to keep his eyes down field is really impressive for a young kid. So you’re just coming off a very physical game, that’s all. I’m sure he’ll have his football team prepared and ready to go. It was an embarrassment; I think it’s fair to say that.

Thursday, Jack went behind-the-scenes, getting an all-access pass to the Joyce Center and Notre Dame Stadium. But the Irish seemed to struggle running north and south, disappointing against a defense like Navy’s. It will now be the ninth straight year the game won’t pit two ranked teams. Again, I think he can be amazingly efficient. And I think a lot of it is just the bodies that are added. “Our team remembers. We did not play with the needed grit and determination”. “This doesn’t mean a lot if we don’t take care of business”, he said.