SOUTH BEND, Ind. — No. 17 Notre Dame already lost one home game to a Mid-American Conference opponent.
The 17th-ranked Irish are doing everything possible to avoid a repeat Saturday when they host Miami (Ohio) — and a coach who understands the Notre Dame mystique better than most. “They are insanely talented,” said Miami coach Chuck Martin, who spent four seasons on Notre Dame’s coaching staff before taking his current job after the 2013 season. ”They’ve done a great job recruiting.
They play really hard. They know what they’re doing. They’ve got a great secondary.
” At least that’s what Martin saw on tape when Notre Dame (2-1) rushed for 362 yards and six touchdowns in last week’s 66-7 rout at Purdue . That’s not what Notre Dame fans watched the previous week when Northern Illinois ruined the Irish home opener with a shocking 16-14 upset . It’s not supposed to be like this in South Bend.
The Irish entered this season with a perfect 10-0 mark against MAC foes. But this won’t be easy. The RedHawks are led by quarterback Brett Gabbert, the younger brother of longtime NFL backup Blaine Gabbert, and they were a heavy preseason favorite to win their second straight MAC title.
Plus they’re hungry after losing their first two games — at Northwestern and last week to rival Cincinnati. Notre Dame has another problem: plugging holes on an already inexperienced offensive line that lost one projected starter last month and will be without center Ashton Cr.