Blue and Gold Illustrated

FAN FORUM Mr. Polli, all credit must be given to the Irish staff in that era for finding a solution … but the game constantly evolves and changes. The Wishbone of the 1970s does not have the spread elements, angles and other nuances of today's game where there is more much mo‑ tion and variation. That's not to say it can't be stopped, but it's comparing apples and oranges. Notre Dame did give up 426 yards during its 24‑11 win over Texas in the 1971 Cotton Bowl, but what was crucial is it forced six turnovers and lost only two. That Irish defense also started three first‑round picks, another in the second round, one in the third, and two oth‑ ers who were among the top 160 taken. It didn't hurt that those were also bowl games where there was a full month to pre‑ pare. Finally, that was an era when defenses did not have to worry as much about the pass (the 1973 national champion Irish averaged 11 passes per game) from any team. In 1976, even with excellent players like Ross Browner, Willie Fry, Bob Golic, Lu‑ ther Bradley, et al, the Irish traveled to 3‑4‑1 Georgia Tech, which had just lost 31‑7 to Duke. Tech didn't complete a single pass in the game and trailed 14‑3 at halftime. While running the Wishbone, it finished with 368 rushing yards and scored three second‑half touchdowns in a 23‑14 upset (even with Yonto coaching). One can always learn from the past, but not necessarily try to "mirror" it. Each coaching staff must find its own solution for its own specific era with the players it has. ✦ Want to stay up-to-date with all the Irish news? Like Us On Facebook: www.facebook.com/blueandgoldillustrated Follow Us On Twitter: www.twitter.com/BGInews FROM THE WEBSITE The popular theme for the 2015 season at Notre Dame is "Culture Beats Scheme." Georgia Tech was praised for its triple-option scheme … but should Notre Dame's talent and culture be considered superior and not made them the 2.5-point underdog going into the game? Here were some responses: JTET: Notre Dame has the vastly superior recruits. So for Georgia Tech to win, they are going to need a superior culture and scheme. Who wins the culture or scheme battle? Chamgel: I have serious concerns about any game Brian VanGorder is calling against any offense with a pulse. I hope he comes out and quiets all the naysayers, myself included. CharlestonIrish25: I don't know how to quantify culture, but execution of the scheme is huge. Like any good option team, Georgia Tech executes its offense to a tee in most games. Can ND's defense do the same? Also, QB play is a bigger factor in the talent portion than other positions. At this stage, GT has a tal- ent advantage there. SBJ75: How would Georgia Tech do if its starting QB was out for the year and Malik Zaire was healthy? Crazy4ndfb: I'll take injuries for 1000, Alex. KevinPS: It's whether you put your talent in position to maximize itself more than it is about raw talent or scheme.

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