Blue and Gold Illustrated

Sept. 16, 2013 Issue

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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murphy's Law dan murphy T Irish Call Loss To Michigan A 'Wake Up Call' he magic is gone. It's been gone, of course. It departed long before Tommy Rees' last pass attempt in Michigan Stadium ricocheted off of a Wolverine defender's thigh pad and into the arms of one of his teammates halfway across the end zone. But if there was any lingering doubt, any possibility that the 2013 Irish team could ride its defense through another season of charmed existence, Devin Gardner put an end to that in a 41-30 win for Michigan at The Big House. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly warned that this season would be different. In August, he said this team had a different identity. It would need to score more points. If the Irish went about their business like they did a year ago, they would end up 8-5 at season's end. It sounded like coach speak at the time, Kelly spouting the never-satisfied mantra to keep his team from slipping into complacency. He was right, though — this year's team really is different. The Irish defense isn't as lethal or sound as it was a season ago. The uncanny ability to dig in its heels in the red zone and hold its opponent at bay didn't make it to Ann Arbor. Michigan scored on all four of its trips inside the 20 — all four of them touchdowns. Mistakes in the Notre Dame secondary provided the extra push the Wolverines needed on two of the scores. The Irish Consistent breakdowns in the Notre Dame secondary allowed Michigan wideout Jeremy Gallon to catch eight passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns (61, 12 and 13 yards). photo by lon horwedel were whistled for pass interference penalties at the goal line on both of those drives. "We've got to be smarter and more disciplined as a defense," Kelly said following the game. And then he said it again and again. He used the words smarter and more disciplined six times during a 10-min-

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