Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/373357
IN THE TRENCHES ANDREW OWENS S ix minutes into the second quarter of Notre Dame's season-opening romp of Rice, junior slot receiver C.J. Prosise looked down in disbelief as the ball — launched 56 yards away by senior quarterback Everett Golson — bounced off his hands and onto the newly minted FieldTurf at Notre Dame Stadium. Had he held on, Notre Dame would have held a 21-7 lead courtesy of a magnificent display of patience, scrambling and arm strength by Gol- son. Instead, the Irish punted on the next play. Later, Prosise — who boasts a su- perb combination of size and speed for a slot receiver — redeemed himself by slipping past the Rice secondary for a 53-yard score. "When the opportunity presents it- self, don't mess it up like I did," Pro- sise said with a grin after the win. "Ev- erybody gets a second chance. I got a second chance, and I made the play." Indeed he did, and that could very well be the theme of this 2014 Irish squad. With plenty of underclassmen contributing, and others like Prosise emerging, Notre Dame will be no stranger to the peaks and valleys of a youthful team. Sophomore running back Greg Bry- ant has joined the party a year later than many Irish fans had expected, but he finished with a game-high 71 rush- ing yards and a touchdown. While splitting time with fifth-year cornerback Cody Riggs at punt re- turner, Bryant provided a reminder Talented Youth Should Make For Exciting Season Sophomore running back Greg Bryant demon- strated his athleticism and explosiveness with 71 rushing yards and one touchdown in the season- opening win over Rice. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA