Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/598383
GAME PREVIEW: WAKE FOREST Freshman kicker Justin Yoon has been on fire lately — making his last seven kicks and 10 of 12 on the season, including 3 of 4 from 45 yards and out. ADVANTAGE: Notre Dame COACHING Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson has made his career turning around struggling programs. He went 0-11 in his first year at Fordham, but went 19-6 in his final two seasons. He performed a similar turn- around at Richmond, going 3-8 in his first year with the Spiders and 11-3 in his final season. In his first two years at Bowling Green, he led the Falcons to a 9-16 record. In his final season, they finished 10-3. Brian Kelly and his staff are in year six at Notre Dame, which gives the Irish a more established situ- ation from a coaching standpoint. The staff's experi- ence and its production on both sides of the ball give the Irish the advantage. ADVANTAGE: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES Notre Dame is the far more talented football team, it is more experienced and the Irish have a lot to play for. It will be another chance for Notre Dame to build its College Football Playoff résumé and the final game in Notre Dame Stadium for the Irish seniors. ADVANTAGE: Notre Dame Junior cornerback Brad Watson contributed 51 tackles, 10 passes broken up and an interception in Wake's first nine contests, anchoring a pass defense that was ranked 24th nationally (184.2 yards allowed per game). PHOTO BY BRIAN WESTERHOLT/SPORTS ON FILM