Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 17, 2018 13 UNDER THE DOME OF THE WEEK ➤ "It's never a setback, it's a setup …" — Notre Dame sophomore defensive lineman Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (@myraaann) Sept. 2 following his foot injury THEY SAID IT "The progression Wimbush has made as a passer from last season to Saturday night's opener against Michigan is night and day. Wimbush has always been a tremendous runner, but his devel - opment throwing the ball downfield is what should take the Irish's offense to a completely new level. "His numbers [12 of 22, 170 yards, TD, INT] don't do his per - formance justice. His ability to evade Michi- gan's pressure [which was frequent], keep his composure and his eyes downfield, and deliver a more accurate strike was on display. He had help from wideouts courtesy of some spectacular catches, but this was a positive step forward in a 24-17 Irish win." Ben Kercheval of CBS Sports on naming senior quarterback Brandon Wimbush one of the winners from week one of college football Holy Cross Village is a continuing care retirement community, sponsored by the Brothers of Holy Cross, with a tradition of caring, compassion and trust. Holy Cross Village welcomes people of all faiths. 54515 State Rd., 933 North, Notre Dame, IN 46556 www.holycrossvillage.com ... AND ENJOY THE GAME OF LIFE AT HOLY CROSS VILLAGE I magine making new friends and developing new talents, where everything you need to enjoy the game of life is right outside your front door. Nestled among three institutions of higher learning, Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame is a senior living community unlike anything else around. Our warm and inviting community offers: Independent Living Homes and Apartments Assisted Living Apartments Skilled Nursing Memory Care Rehabilitation Services Call (574) 251-2235 today for more information and to schedule a tour. PHOTO COURTESY FIGHTING IRISH DIGITAL MEDIA "Notre Dame's defense has taken even another step. Mike Elko transformed a subpar defense into a solid one in 2017, generating spikes in takeaways and pressures. But Clark Lea, Elko's protégé and a first-time coordinator, could be crafting an elite unit this fall. Notre Dame's aggressiveness up front and sure tackling prevented Michigan from making explosive plays and kept the Wolverines' offense out of the end zone until the final minutes. "Defensive end Khalid Kareem led a ferocious rush as Notre Dame bested Michigan's of- fensive line for most of the game. While Notre Dame's aggressive first-half offense built a quick lead, the defense made sure there would be no Michigan comeback. Despite some question marks in the secondary, the Irish prevented downfield passes and swarmed to the ball. If the defense continues to ascend and Notre Dame gets stable quarterback play, it should be right in the thick of the playoff hunt." — ESPN's Adam Rittenberg following Notre Dame's 24-17 win over Michigan "The win over Michigan was exactly what Notre Dame needed, because the schedule only gets more difficult, and without a conference championship game in which to play, the Irish might be able to afford only one loss. … If the Irish can finish the season undefeated or with one loss, it would be difficult for the committee to leave them out, especially if Michigan can rebound and be a factor in the Big Ten race." — Heath Dinich of ESPN "If Notre Dame is to be a genuine contender for college football's national champion- ship, it must follow a template that is more 1960s or '70s than 21st century: Pound the lines of scrimmage. Dominate on defense. Get crisp quarterback play. Limit errors. That is what the No. 11 Fighting Irish did in an opening 24-17 victory over No. 14 Michigan on Saturday night. That is what they must continue to do." — David Woods of The In- dianapolis Star