Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/594735
IN THE TRENCHES ANDREW OWENS D uring the week leading up to Notre Dame's top-25 clash with undefeated Temple, sophomore quarterback DeShone Kizer made a proclamation. Entering his sixth start in an Irish uniform, simply managing the game no longer satisfied him. "My biggest adjustment that I've evaluated for myself is having a mind- set of not only being a good quarter- back, but to take it to greatness," he said. "I need to be able to prepare to be the best quarterback in the nation every week. "I was in the position the first half of the year where I was a replacement. I was a guy who was able to manage a game and accomplish a mission in that sense. Now I want to take it into the second half of the year and be the best quarterback in the nation every time I step on the field. I know that after evaluating the first half, that I have the ability to." Kizer lived on the roller coaster of inexperience in Notre Dame's 24-20 win at Temple, which included a pair of red-zone interceptions as well as a 79-yard touchdown run in the first half. After halftime, however, he mostly delivered what he promised during the week, helping to elevate the Irish to a win in difficult circumstances. Just as he did at Virginia Sept. 12 after replacing the injured Malik Zaire mid-game, Kizer engineered a final DeShone Kizer Keys Gritty Win Kizer made a pair of youthful mistakes in the first half, but elevated his play in the final two quarters in an Irish win. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA