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✦ News & notes They Said It "We know we had a swagger about ourselves last year, and we're getting that back. It's a different team, different people, different guys stepping up on plays. We're getting it back in a different way. You just keep working hard. I go out there and do my job — no melt in this chocolate. Just keep playing." — Notre Dame senior nose guard Louis "Irish Chocolate" Nix "I think you look at Stephon Tuitt, he's bigger than [No.] 7 of South Carolina [Jadeveon Clowney]. He's been even more productive than Clowney has at South Carolina. He's 6-6, he's 327, he's athletic, he's long, he's a tremendous player, and the nose guard's 357 with terrific feet. And you look defensively and you watch the game the other night — and USC had a couple games where they scored a bunch of points in Tempe and at home against Arizona, I think they scored close to 80 points in those games. The other night they scored 10, so it gives you an appreciation of how good they are defensively." — Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun on Notre Dame's defense Junior Troy Niklas has five touchdown receptions through seven games, putting him in position to "I don't think they see that at all. I'm sure become the first Irish tight end to haul in six scorif Michigan wasn't a rivalry … Again, just two ing passes in a season since 1977. photo by bill panzica completely different institutions with quality schools." — Calhoun on if he sees Notre Dame-Air Force as a rivalry game Notre Dame Football tickets 25 years in business Buy ✦ SeLL ✦ TrAde BeST SeLecTioN & priceS www.NotreDametickets.com Call 1-800-925-2500 for friendly, personal service and a Special Discount today! "I made a trip out last year to Air Force to watch one of his games, so I've been there. I know what the environment is like. It's going to be really fun knowing my brother played there, and he did really well. It's a big deal that Notre Dame is coming to town. I'm really excited about it. I think it's going to be a fun game." — Notre Dame junior tight end Troy Niklas, whose brother Austin played linebacker for the Falcons last season "The bar won't be set low this week. Whether he plays or not, [Andrew] Hendrix appears set for more first-team reps. The Irish simply can't afford to go from Rees to pieces." — Brian Hamilton, Chicago Tribune "With one more touchdown reception, Troy Niklas will do something that hasn't been done since 1977 at Notre Dame: Catch six touchdowns in a season as a tight end. Tyler Eifert didn't do it, Kyle Rudolph didn't do it, John Carlson didn't do it, Anthony Fasano didn't do it — and all those guys are playing on Sundays." — JJ Stankevitz, CSNChicago.com Tickets also available for other nationwide events including MLB, NFL, Auto racing, NBA, all sports, concerts ✦ Page 14