We’ve heard for a couple of years now about the great program that is being built in Ames, Iowa and how masterful Matt Campbell is in building it. Plenty made statements that when Brian Kelly and Campbell had their joint press conference on Friday that it was the current and next Notre Dame head coaches holding court together.
I don’t know if Clark Lea was paying attention to any of that chatter or if he was busy tweaking his game plan but the Notre Dame defensive coordinator owned Campbell and Iowa State on Saturday.
Bill Belichick often speaks about in game-planning, the most important thing you can do is figure out a way to not let their best player be responsible for beating you.
It was clear from the first defensive snap of the game that Lea and Notre Dame’s defense focused on taking away second team All-American tight end Charlie Kolar.
Kolar, who averaged four catches and 55 yards a game entering the contest was held to just 22 yards on three receptions all afternoon.
Highly touted Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy then sturggled mightily with his favorite weapon mostly being an afterthought as Notre Dame’s defense kept the Cyclones out of the end zone all afternoon.
2: God Speed, Chase Claypool