Fighting Irish Dominate Nevada (35-0)

This morning I heard Mark May say this..."Nevada will run all over Notre Dame in the opening game upset." Now let me be clear...I've never liked Mark May, and that made me dislike him even more...But as I watched the Fighting Irish do nearly anything and everything to the Nevada Wolfpack, that they wanted to...I thought of stupid Mark May and the stupid words that came out of his mouth...And I smiled...

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That said, I did think that Nevada was going to give the Irish a tougher game...But I'm glad they didn't...
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The Irish moved the ball well in their first series, including Weis going for a fourth and short, which he has done consistently through his career...But this time he didn't have to pass for it...This year's Fighting Irish can run the ball...There was an explosiveness from the offensive line we haven't seen in the last few years...The opening drive ended with a 19 yard touchdown pass from Clausen to tight end Kyle Rudolph...The fact that Rudolph was covered well didn't matter...As his 6'6" frame went up over the defender to get the ball...

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In the second quarter Clausen hit WR Michael Floyd twice for touchdowns...The first was a 24 yard reception...The next one was a quick strike followed by 70 yards to the end zone as Golden Tate threw a good block that helped spring Floyd...

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The Irish scored again in the second quarter on a 1 yard run by Armando Allen...Set up by a 19 yard run by Jonas Gray...

Clausen had started out completing 10 of his first 11 passes, for 184 yards, and 3 touchdowns...He would add to the numbers in the third by connecting with Floyd again on an 88 yard touchdown reception...

Clausn would finish 15 for 18 with 314 yards, and 4 touchdowns...Floyd had 4 receptions for 189 yards and 3 touchdowns...Golden Tate had 3 receptions for 59 yards...Allen rushed for 72 yards and 1 touchdown, on 15 carries...Gray had 50 yards on 9 carries...

The defense clearly had a great game, keeping the Wolfpack off the scoreboard...Kyle McCarthy and Robert Blanton both had interceptions and the defense also recovered a fumble on a dropped option pitch...

Final game stats for the Irish...1st downs: 20...Total Yards: 510...Passing: 332...Rushing: 178... 3rd down conversions: 6-12...4th down conversions: 1-2...0 turnovers...Time of Possession: 33:40

Great way to start the season...Next up...Michigan.

Later, The Beeze.

College Football Season Has Started....

And so has the good sportsmanship...

After running his mouth leading up to the game...LaGarrette Blount didn't like what Boise State's Byron Hout had to say, after the Broncos beat Oregon last night 19-8...So Blount blasted him in the chin...Then he got into it with his teammates...Then some Boise State fans taunted him, and he tried to go after them, and had to be restrained by coaches, players and security...

If losing wasn't bad enough for the Ducks...Now they're going to spend all week fielding questions about their running back who can't control his temper...It may be a long season for the Ducks...

Other scores from last night...Utah beat Utah State 35-17

South Carolina beat NC State 7-3

and North Texas defeated Ball State 20-10

I love college football...I like it more then the NFL even if the BCS system sucks, which it does...Maybe because I'm a Cleveland Browns fan, and I just haven't had much to cheer about...

And on the Browns for just a second...What the hell is Eric Mangina doing? He refuses to name a starting QB...And in last night's preseason game, the two guys competing for the job, Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, didn't play...Ben Ratliff played...What Mangina...Your third string QB from the Jets last year is gonna be the answer, over a first round pick, or a former pro- bowler...Get your head out of your a$$ and name the starter already...

My opinion it should be Quinn...Who knows what Mangina thinks!

Back to College Football now...Saturday my Fighting Irish open their season with Nevada...I think it will be a good game...But the best thing that could happen for Charlie Weis, is the Irish pounding the hell out of Nevada...A strong start would help the mood of the Irish faithful...

The defense will be lead by their deep and talented secondary, lead by hard hitting safety Kyle McCarthy...

The Offense and the team will be looking for Quarterback Jimmy Clausen to step up this year, be a real leader and live up to the hype that first came with him to South Bend...

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If the Irish are going to actually wake up the echos...It has to start Saturday...I can't wait...

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Later, The Beeze.