Blue and Gold Illustrated

FAN FORUM RATING SYSTEM I used to keep track of the QB rating in years past. I dusted off some old spreadsheets and ac- cording to my reckoning, Malik Zaire's QB rating for the Texas game was approximately 250.9 (per an old NCAA formula). This appears to me to be the highest QB rating that I can identify for a Notre Dame quarterback, at least in recent history, in any game. Would you agree? After suffering through the Arizona State game in Tempe last year, I would have to say that this was the most fun I have had at a game in years! Jim Baglini '83 Phoenix Mr. Baglini, Jimmy Clausen had back-to-back games with a higher QB rating than Zaire's. The first was 277.7 in the 2008 Hawaii Bowl win over Ha- waii (49-21) in which he was 22-of-26 passing for 401 yards with five touch- downs and no intercep- tions. The second was the 35-0 win over Nevada in the 2009 opener — an astounding 303.6 — the highest rating we've ever seen in a game by an Irish QB. He completed 15 of 18 throws for 315 yards with four scores and no picks. WHEN IN DOUBT … BLOCK THE PUNT? As I watched Notre Dame's dismantling of Texas, there was one play in particular that puzzled me. Notre Dame had just stopped Texas for a big loss in front of their goal line to force a punt. However instead of attempting to block the punt, it elected to set up a return. Notre Dame did that the other nine times Texas punted as well. As my young children ask me, "Why?" With the talent on the current team, I would hope this aspect of special teams will get incorporated into the game plan. Mike Caruso Scottsdale, Ariz. Mr. Caruso, we turned to our resident football an- alyst Bryan Driskell, who coached in college for more than a decade. Here is his response: FROM THE WEBSITE In our Virginia preview, we stated the Cavaliers are basically the substitute for Purdue on this year's schedule. It's the first time since 1945 the Boilermakers weren't on the Irish schedule. That prompted some responses about the Notre Dame-Purdue series: GroggyGrizzly: I got a case of the "so whats" — kind of like not knowing you had a missing sock until you get down to your last pair and a half. Does anyone really miss this game? FWCoach: Nope. Lose-lose scenario. Plus they are back on the schedule in a couple of years. BGIUser3340: On one hand, yes. Good rivalry with lots of tradition. On the other, a lose-lose. Purdue will always be up for that game … but if we beat them, so what, it's just Purdue. Mr.BigPants: Nah, but I can't wait to play Sparty again next year. CharlestonIrish25: It was a longstanding rivalry, but it just doesn't have the same juice the Michigan or Michigan State games had. ndtarheel7: Makes me remember a sign from a Green Bay fan after Bret Favre left: "We will never forget you, Brent." Stevend01: Rudy might have sucked — but he would have started at Purdue.

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