Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: MICHIGAN a good, hard look at it, but athletics director Dave Brandon is fully behind him and realizes the job that he had when he took over for [Rich] Rodri‑ guez." When Hoke became Michigan's man in 2011, the Wolverines carried only eight offensive linemen on the roster. That number climbed to 15 last year, but the results didn't, with Michigan finish‑ ing 103rd nationally with 125.69 rushing yards per contest. The Wolverines even went back‑to‑back weeks with negative rushing yards after doing so just once in their previous 176 games. Enter offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, who recently held the same position at Alabama (2012‑13) and Washington (2009‑11) and is regarded as one of the nation's top offensive minds. "With [fired offensive coordinator Al] Borges, it was almost like, 'Let's throw something against the wall and see what sticks,'" Balas said. "Part of that might have been because of the offensive line and how bad it was. They didn't really have any bread‑ and‑butter plays, and they seemed to try something different every week. I don't think you'll see that with this group. You'll see some read option and maybe some spread principles ev‑ ery now and then, but they want to be able to run the ball." Despite his habit of turning the ball over in 2013, fifth‑year senior Devin Gardner is an ideal dual‑threat quarterback for the system and will be complemented in the backfield by sophomore running back Der‑ rick Green. Hoke named Gardner the starter in August after opening up the competition to sophomore Shane Mor‑ ris, who started in U‑M's 31‑14 loss to Kansas State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl with Gardner out due to injury. Facts & Figures NOTRE DAME VS. MICHIGAN Game Info Date: Sept. 6, 2014 Site: Notre Dame Stadium (80,795) Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET Television: NBC Radio: This broadcast can be heard live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 129). Series Facts: This is the 42nd meeting between Notre Dame and Michigan. The Wolverines hold a 24-16-1 advantage over the Irish. Coaches: Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (38-15, fifth season); Michigan — Brady Hoke (27-13, fourth season). Noting Michigan: The Wolverines have lost four of six meetings versus the Irish in South Bend since 2002, but overall have won four of the past five matchups … Notre Dame assumed the top spot in college football's all-time winning percent- age battle for the first time since 2004 after the Irish won the Pinstripe Bowl and the Wolverines lost the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl Dec. 28 … Gard- ner's 376 total yards and five total touchdowns in the team's 41-30 win over the Irish in 2013 marked the third time in four years that a Michi- gan signal-caller amassed at least 350 total yards and three touchdowns against Notre Dame … The Wolverines return 16 starters (nine on defense and seven on offense) from last season … Michi- gan posted 17 interceptions in 2013 after notching only seven throughout the 2012 campaign … The Wolverines' 26 takeaways in 2013 ranked second in the Big Ten.