WAKE UP THE ECHOS!
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THURSDAY NIGHT- I can remember listening to Notre Dame football on the radio as far back as 1964 when USC spoiled the Irish dreams for an unbeaten season in Ara Parseghian's 1st year with a come from behind 20-17 win at the mystical Los Angeles Coliseum. I listened to the 10-10 tie with Michigan State on the radio and then the next week, the Irish crused the Trojans 51-0 to finish 9-0-1...To an impressionable teenager, the Irish seemed as important as the Yankees , Giants and Celtics back then.
Obviously, times have changed. Notre Dame football no longer commands the landscape like it did back then. But for me, the idea that UConn, which 10 years ago was playing Rhode Island and Maine, is now going to South Bend, still seems like a big day. Some are trying to downplay it. Ok, to you, it's no big deal. But to me, somebody who remembers the days when the idea that Connecticut could compete with Yale was important, it's a great game.
The Huskies seem to have charged their batteries during their week off. The timing was perfect, coming off a grueling three week stretch, both on and off the field. The players are anxious to atone for the three losses that followed the unthinkable stabbing death of Jasper Howard. They are anxious to pay tribute by finishing strong.
But, it won't be easy. Even though the Irish have struggled to a 6-4 record and the only topic more in the limelight than health care is the job status of Charlie Weis, Notre Dame is still a formidable foe. The Irish offense can be lethal. Jimmy Clausen has had a terrific year and he has as good a tandem of receivers as anyone with Golden Tate and Michael Floyd.
It's imperative UConn gets a pass rush on Clausen. If he can sit back and have time to pick out targets, there is no telling how many yards he can throw for. The kid is a winner.
Another way for UConn to slow Clausen down is to not give him the football. And I do believe the Huskies will be able to run the ball against the Notre Dame defense. Others (a.k.a. Navy) have done just that.
Zach Frazier and Ryan Griffen were the guests on the Coaches Show tonite and Zach seemed pretty relaxed about his return to the school where he started his collegiate career. If he can be that poised at 2:42 Eastern on Saturday afternoon, than the Huskies have a chance to score win #5.
Pre game time with Bob Joyce is 1 pm on Saturday. I hope you can join us!
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