Category: Notre Dame

Watch: Coan find Mayer again as Notre Dame’s lead grows over OSU

Coan to Mayer part 2

The Irish offense had been rolling in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, or should I say the passing offense has been. Quarterback Jack Coan already had thrown for three scores in the first half but wanted more.

Over the course of 11-plays that covered 84-yards, the Irish offense once again showed they were going to be hard to stop for the Oklahoma State defense. The passing of Coan, finding two of his targets, receiver Kevin Austin and tight end Michael Mayer, multiple times set up a second and goal from the seven yard line. Coan would once again find one of his two targets on the drive, Mayer for a score, his second of game, to extend Notre Dame’s lead to 28-7 late in the second quarter.

Watch: Coan finds Mayer as Notre Dame’s lead goes back to 14 vs OSU

Coan to Mayer to gets the lead back to two scores

The Irish needed an answer and they did exactly that after Oklahoma State had cut the lead to 14-7. It wasn’t the immediate possession after the game was one score. Both teams went three-and-out after the Cowboy’s scored their first touchdown of the game.

The Irish would then get the ball and march down the field in 10-plays, spanning 78-yards to find the endzone once again. The third passing score for Jack Coan went to yet another teammate, tight end Michael Mayer. It was the first target for the rising star and it was a huge target as the Irish pushed their lead to two touchdowns in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.

Watch: Coan finds Tyree to extend Notre Dame’s lead over OSU

A great read by Coan

The Irish want to start the Marcus Freeman era off with a bang and that’s exactly what they are doing. The offense scored on their first possession, then didn’t fare as well in their second. The third on the other hand didn’t see like it was starting out so well.

Two penalties on first down put the Irish behind the chains but they battled back, to get to a third-and-seven. The Oklahoma State Cowboy defense then brought the house on a blitz and quarterback Jack Coan made a savvy veteran move. He read the blitz and immediately checked down to running back Chris Tyree, who then streaked 53-yards to the house to extend the Irish lead to 14-0 midway through the first quarter of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.

Watch: Coan finds Styles Jr. as Notre Dame strikes first vs OSU

What a start

The Irish have started the game exactly how they wanted to, getting the ball and marching down the field to put up point. Of the five plays, none of them were run plays, as offensive coordinator Tommy Rees wanted to test the Oklahoma State defense’s secondary. They failed.

Coan completed passes to running back Chris Tyree, wide receiver Kevin Austin, then Tyree again before the scoring strike. Coan found a streaking Lorenzo Styles Jr. over the middle of the field for a 29-yard touchdown score, as the Irish took an early 7-0 lead in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. A very nice start for new head coach Marcus Freeman.

Five keys for Notre Dame to defeat Oklahoma State in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl

The five aspects might decide the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl

The final game of the 2021 season is here and the first game of the Marcus Freeman era as well. The Irish will take on an Oklahoma State Cowboy team that was close to winning the Big XII and potentially making the College Football Playoff. This team won’t just roll over and let the Irish take a win home back to South Bend. They’re scrappy and it’s going to be a battle to come out victorious. Here are five keys for Notre Dame to avoid a an upset and get the all important bowl victory.

Know your foe, Oklahoma State: Which Cowboys could give Notre Dame issues

These Cowboys won’t make life easy for the Irish

The day is finally here, after waiting over a month, the Irish hit the field on New Year’s day to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Big XII runners-up will be a challenge for Notre Dame, who has a current 7-game winning streak. They haven’t faced a ranked team since their only loss of the season, to College Football Playoff participant Cincinnati, so the quality of opponent will be much different. Find out below which Cowboys could give the Irish issues in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.

Rumor: Freeman has found his linebackers coach in another former Buckeye

This would be a home run hire

Marcus Freeman is still putting together his staff and it seems like he has found his next linebackers coach in former Ohio State teammate James Laurinaitis. The “Little Animal” was a two-time defense player of the year in the Big Ten, a three-time consensus All-American, along with winning the Lott Trophy, Butkus Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

His career was definitely decorated, playing in the NFL for 8 season as well before transitioning into the commentator booth. Freeman looks to have lured  his former Buckeye teammate back to the sidelines with him. This, in my estimation, would be another fantastic hire on Freeman’s staff that is looking like they will use their Buckeye ties to try and create what they had in Columbus during their playing tenure together.

The Athletic’s Sampson suggests an All-American transfer on Notre Dame’s radar

This would be a perfect match

The transfer portal has been a predominant way for many schools to fill holes at big positions. For Notre Dame, this past season was the contribution Jack Coan, the graduate transfer from Wisconsin, who was instrumental in the success of this years team.

As for next year, a massive hole will need to be filled, as star safety Kyle Hamilton has already declared early for the NFL. Yes, DJ Brown played fantastic and could return while Houston Griffith has exhausted his eligibility. There is a hole at safety for next year that will need to be filled.

How about an All-American replacing another All-American as The Athletic’s Pete Sampson recently suggested? Northwestern star safety Brandon Joseph has entered the portal and with the need for the Irish at the position, it makes complete sense for Marcus Freeman to purse the soon to be former Wildcat star.

It remains to be seen where Joseph will end up, but he would be welcomed with open arms in South Bend.

Oklahoma State’s band plays tribute to Notre Dame’s at the Zoo

This was great

It was announced earlier this week that the Irish band would not make the trip south to Arizona to perform in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. It is an unfortunate situation, but given the circumstances, the decision was made with the student’s best interest in mind.

The Oklahoma State band on the other hand, did make the trip and performed last night at the Phoenix Zoo during their annual Zoo Lights exhibit. Although the Irish were not physically there, the Cowboy band made sure they were present as they quickly learned Victory March and played it in front the Zoo Lights crowd.

Notre Dame in the mix for California 2023 wide receiver

This would be a big time recruiting win

The Irish seem to always have a very good presence in California and it does not seem like that will change with Marcus Freeman now running the program. In the current recruiting cycle, Notre Dame has signed linebacker Niuafe Tuihalamaka and cornerback Jaden Mickey.

They are once again trying to dip into the talent rich state, this time with wide receiver Rico Flores. Today, Flores dropped his top-10 schools, with the Irish making the cut along with Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, Texas, USC, Georgia and a few others. The six-foot-two-inch and 190-pound receiver is viewed as one of the best in the country and if Freeman can pull this one off, it would be a huge feather in his cap.