Published Tuesday, Aug. 26, 1997
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1997 season preview
Only thing not changed at ND is leprechaun
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1997 schedule Sept. 6 Ga Tech Sept. 13 at Purdue Sept. 20 Mich State Sept. 27 at Michigan Oct. 4 at Stanford Oct. 11 at Pittsburgh Oct. 18 USC Oct. 25 Boston College Nov. 1 Navy Nov. 15 at LSU Nov. 22 W. Virginia Nov. 29 at Hawaii |
``When you have a change, it can go either way. Everybody can hate it or they can be excited,'' said quarterback Ron Powlus, who opted to come back for a fifth year because of the changes. ``People are excited and that's a great sign.''
The biggest change, of course, is that Bob Davie, not Lou Holtz, will be the coach this year. At only 42, Davie lacks the experience expected of most new Notre Dame coaches. Though he's been an assistant for 20 years _ including the past three as Irish defensive coordinator _ his only stint as head coach came when he filled in for a game when Holtz had neck surgery.
But what he lacks in experience, he makes up for with enthusiasm. Fun is as big a priority for Davie as blocking and tackling.
He ended the winter conditioning program with a weeklong Olympics, pitting his players against other Irish athletes in the pool, on the softball field and on the basketball court. A talent show capped the whole thing.
To offset his inexperience, Davie surrounded himself with veteran coaches who have the same philosophy, but aren't afraid to voice their opinions. Offensive coordinator Jim Colletto was Purdue's head coach for six years. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, who came from Michigan, was Davie's line coach at Texas A&M from 1989-91, when the Aggies had one of the best defenses in the country. Most of all, Davie picked coaches who share his enthusiasm.
Fun and feel-good atmosphere aside, the Irish are doing a lot of work _ they have little choice with all that's been thrown at them. The offense is entirely new. Under Holtz, the Irish ran the ball continuously. Quarterbacks were there to hand the ball off and run the option. Passing was usually a last resort.
But what Powlus does best is throw, so Davie and Colletto devised a more open, drop-back offense that better suits him. There will be more play-action and multiple receiver sets. Notre Dame also will throw more on what have traditionally been running downs, like first-and-10s.
Don't expect this to be Fun 'N' Gun II, however. Notre Dame has one of its best tailbacks ever in Autry Denson _ the junior is only the sixth Irish player to have a 1,000-yard season _ and Davie isn't about to waste him.
The Irish will still run the ball, and probably run it a lot. It just won't be on nearly every down like it has been in the past. There will be some option, too, but it will be the nimbler Jarious Jackson, not Powlus, running it.
The key is the offensive line. When Holtz tried to open the offense last year, Powlus didn't get the protection he needed. The Irish line is big and bruising _ three players are 300-plus pounds and guard Jerry Wisne weighs 295 _ but they're used to playing smashmouth football.
The Irish don't have a gamebreaking receiver, but Allen Rossum could change that. The speedy cornerback led the nation in punt returns last year, and Davie is eager to see what he can do on offense.
The Irish can spare Rossum because the secondary is healthy, experienced and deep for the first time in years. The rest of the defense _ 11th-best in the country last year _ is a different story.
From last year's front seven, only end Melvin Dansby and outside linebacker Kory Minor are back.
To give the young front some room to grow up, Mattison will play 8-man fronts and use a lot more blitzes. And what the Irish lack in size they will make up for with speed.
Unlike the past few years, Notre Dame doesn't get a break with its schedule. Ohio State, Texas and Air Force are gone, only to be replaced by games at Michigan, Stanford and LSU, as well as home games with Southern California and West Virginia.
But the formidable Irish homefield advantage is bigger this year _ by nearly 22,000. After a 2-year expansion project, Notre Dame Stadium will seat almost 81,000, with all of the new seats going to Irish fans.
``(It will give us) enthusiasm and energy,'' Davie said. ``But also a responsibility to break it in right.''
