Boston College No Frills Win

First, kudos to Boston College Quarterback Chase Rettig who was as good if not better than advertised and will be playing on Sundays in a couple of years.  A definite improvement on the prior week’s overall performance, but there are still a lot of concerns heading into the home stretch.   As Notre Dame pushed their way up the field and scored early in the game, I was surrounded by Irish fans cheering as if they had just won the Super Bowl and I was thinking to myself (and allowed to those around me) “don’t get too excited; this is what you’re supposed to do against a 2-7 team when you are 9-0. 

Let’s review some points of interest from a less than stellar, underwhelming and unimpressive 21-6 victory over Boston College.

Manti Te’o had a season low five tackles (but did record his sixth interception of the season).

Lost fumbles by both George Atkinson and Theo Riddick.

Eight penalties for 65 yards including one on a long Theo Riddick run, breaking momentum and spirits.

Icing on the cake was having DaVaris Daniels break his clavicle, putting him out of commission for the final two regular season games (although he is expected to be back for a bowl game).

On the bright side, Notre Dame capitalized on all three of its trips to the Red Zone and went an impressive 11-14 on third downs.  Prince Shembo had three sacks (ND had five total), four tackles for a loss (for a total of 29 yards) and a fumble recovery.

Sure, overall the Irish had a solid game statistically - if they weren’t laying a 2-7 team.  This does, however, seem to fit this Irish team very well, just win and they do.  Whether you say they are playing up or down to their opponents’ level or that great teams just find a way (anyway) to win, they are 10-0 and poised for more.