SOUTH BEND — No. 17 Notre Dame already lost one home game to a Mid-American Conference opponent. The 17th-ranked Fighting Irish (2-1) 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 Chuck Martin, who spent four seasons on Notre Dame's coaching staff before taking his current job following 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 opened this season with a perfect 10-0 mark against MAC foes.
But this won't be easy. The RedHawks are led by Brett Gabbert, the younger brother of two-time Super Bowl champ 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 also has another problem — plugging holes along an already inexperienced offensive line that lost one projected starter last month and will be without center Ashton Craig (left .