Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Follow Notre Dame Sports Year-Round in Blue & Gold Illustrated! Blue & Gold Illustrated is the foremost source for information, analysis and opinions on Notre Dame football and football recruiting. Your subscription includes: n 20 print publications (published weekly during football season and monthly the rest of the year – except for June) n 26 online publications (24 during football season including game coverage on Sundays and midweek scouting reports) n Access to online editions of the publication at www.BlueGoldOnline.com 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 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 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 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 OCT. 11, 2010 • $3.50 AUGUST 2010 • $3.50 BUCKING THE BRONCOS Running back Cierre Wood, Irish break free from Western Michigan, 44-20 NOV. 15, 2010 • $3.50 V VOLME 29 • I I UE 19 • OLUUME 30 •SSSUE 5 • EST. 1981 VOLUME 30 • ISSUE 9 • EST. 1981 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 ANTHONY RABASA AND MATT HEGARTY GEORGE ATKINSON III, JOSH ATKINSON, LEFT TO RIGHT: STEPHON TUITT, Notre Dame's 23-man, top-10 recruiting class spans the nation APRIL 2011 • $3.50 ALL-AMERICAN HAUL VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.BLUEANDGOLD.COM 0 7447012040 7 VOLUME 30 • ISSUE 7 • EST. 1981 OCT. 25, 2010 • $3.50 Notre Dame Fan! Only $52.95 Makes a terrific gift for your for one year Sample pages of Blue & Gold Report VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.BLUEANDGOLD.COM VOLUME 30 • ISSUE 15 • EST. 1981 MARCH 2011 • $3.50 01> VOLUME 30 • ISSUE 16 • EST. 1981 Wide receiver TJ Jones among leaders in sophomore class THE SECOND TIME AROUND VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.BLUEANDGOLD.COM VOLUME 30 • ISSUE 18 • EST. 1981 JUNE/JULY 2011 • $3.50 Send to: Blue & Gold Illustrated — Circulation Dept., P.O. Box 2331, Durham, NC 27702 PLEASE SEND THE FOLLOWING SUBSCRIPTIONS: q One-year subscription for me at $52.95, regular delivery. q First-class delivery during football season – $78.95 q First-class delivery for every issue – $93.95 TOTAL $_________________ q My check or money order payable to Blue & Gold Illustrated is enclosed. (Checks/money orders must be drawn on U.S. banks.) q Charge to: q Visa q MasterCard q AmEx q Discover Exp. 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