Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT OFFER Give A New One-Year Gift Subscription To Blue & Gold Illustrated, SEPT. 12, 2011 • $3.50 VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 1 • EST. 1981 SUN BOWL GAME RECAP SUN-NY DAYS AT NOTRE DAME Irish break open game early in 33-17 victory versus Miami BY DAN MURPHY N otre Dame's regular season may not have gotten off to a quick start, but its bowl season certainly did. The Irish scored a touchdown on their opening drive in the 77th annual Sun Bowl and never looked back on the way to a 33-17 victory over Miami. Notre Dame (8-5) scored the first 27 A WAKE-UP CALL Tight end Tyler Eifert's 38-yard scoring catch helps the Irish to a hard-fought 24-17 victory Notre Dame players celebrate the 33-17 victory against Miami on Dec. 31 by hoisting the Sun Bowl trophy aloft. It was the second straight Irish bowl win after losing an NCAA-record nine in a row. PHOTO BY AARON SUOZZI VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 9 • EST. 1981 WWW.BLUEANDGOLD.COM WWW.BLUEANDGOLD.COM NOV. 14, 2011 • $3.50 points of the game, and its defense held the Hurricanes (7-6) at bay until the game was well in hand. The win, Notre Dame's second consecutive postseason victory and fourth straight overall this season, ended a tumultuous maiden voyage for first-year head coach Brian Kelly on a high note. "We beat some good football teams later in the year as we've come together and found our identity," Kelly said. "It's going to taste a whole better in the offseason talking about a win — and eight wins." Kelly said he knew it would be impor- tant for his team to jump out to a quick start against Miami, and junior wide re- ceiver Michael Floyd gave the Irish the spark they needed. Notre Dame was backed up on a third-and-16 from its 40 on its opening drive when Floyd shook loose on a slant and picked up 36 yards. Three plays later he motioned out of the back- field and caught his first of two touchdown passes to give the Irish an early 7-0 lead. "Whenever they gave us one-on-one coverage, [freshman quarterback] Tommy [Rees] made a good throw, and we got the job done," Floyd said. Rees didn't wait long to find his favorite target once again. On the next drive, the JAN. 1, 2010 pair hooked up again when Floyd beat his defender on a long post route for a 34-yard score. Floyd, who may have been playing his final game in a Notre Dame uniform, had more than 100 yard receiving for the fourth time this season. He finished the game with six catches for 109 yard before a tweaked hamstring sidelined him during the third quarter. He was named the Sun Bowl MVP for his efforts. "We beat some good football teams later in the year as we've come together and found our identity." IRISH HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY "Our offense starts with Michael," Kelly said. "He just allows us to do so many things. When we can get him the football and make sure he gets touches, it opens up so many other things within our offense." The Irish offense racked up 397 total yards while amassing a season-high 196 on the ground against one of the fastest and strongest defenses they have faced all season. Senior Robert Hughes capped off the strong conclusion of his career by picking up 81 yards on 27 carries. Hughes did not have a carry through the first four games, only 17 during Notre Dame's 4-5 start, and then 24 in the month of November, highlighted by 11 carries for 69 yards in the regular-season finale at USC. Sophomore Cierre Wood also had 81 yards while mixing in a handful of big plays to keep the Hurricane defense off Junior linebacker Manti Te'o leads resurgent Irish defense LIKE A ROCK $11.95 3 WWW.BLUEANDGOLD.COM 2011 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ISSUE OFC.Cover.indd 1 FREE For The Gift Donor AND Recipient With Your Paid Gift Order (Regularly $11.95) Mails In July 2012 6/13/11 11:09 AM Blue & Gold Illustrated is the perfect, year-round gift for the Irish fans on your holiday list. Your gift includes 20 issues of Blue & Gold Illustrated, 26 issues of Blue & Gold Report — our online newsletter, online access to Blue & Gold Illustrated, and the BONUS 2012 Football Preview Magazine that mails in July 2012. Plus, we'll send a gift card announcing your present or send a blank gift card to you. Just indicate your preference below. 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You can find it above your name beginning with a "1" on your mailing label on the cover of Blue & Gold Illustrated. And We'll Give You AND The Gift Recipient A FREE Copy Of The 2012 Blue & Gold Illustrated, Full-Color, 160-Page Football Preview Magazine! SEPT. 12, 2011 • $3.50 VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 1 • EST. 1981 UNITED FRONT Irish come together, cruise to 56-14 win over Navy TIME-DATED MATERIAL. PLEASE DELIVER BY NOV. 3 VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 8 • EST. 1981 WWW.BLUEANDGOLD.COM WWW.BLUEANDGOLD.COM NOV. 7, 2011 • $3.50