Blue and Gold Illustrated

Sept. 11, 2017

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 11, 2017 41 This year, Georgia will join Miami (Ohio) and North Carolina State as first-time visitors to Notre Dame Sta- dium. Unfortunately, Notre Dame has been a way too hospitable host to first-timers in the last decade. Since the opening of Notre Dame Stadium in 1930, 14 out of 74 oppo- nents won on their first visit. Five of them have occurred since 2009: Con- necticut (2009), Tulsa (2010), South Florida (2011), Louisville (2014) and Virginia Tech (2016). Yet another such result might have many Irish faithful seeing red. SOUR MEMORY OF SUGAR Since the turn of the 20th century, Georgia will attempt to become only the sixth team to begin with a 2-0 series record against Notre Dame. The other five were Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin — all before 1940 — while Oregon State and North Caro- lina State have achieved the feat since 2000. The first meeting between the Bull- dogs and Fighting Irish had the na- tional title on the line in the Jan. 1, 1981 Sugar Bowl. Led by freshman sensation running back Herschel Walker, the Bulldogs posted an 11-0 regular season to rank No. 1 and re- ceived the automatic bid to the Sugar Bowl as the SEC champion. Notre Dame was 9-0-1 and No. 2 in the country when it accepted the bid in what was anticipated to be a No. 1 versus No. 2 showdown. However, head coach Dan Devine's final Fight- ing Irish team lost at USC Dec. 6 and fell to No. 7. In the 23 seasons from 1970-92, Notre Dame was an astounding 7-1 in bowl games against No. 1-ranked and/or unbeaten teams — with the lone loss occurring to Georgia, 17-10. Remarkably, Notre Dame out- gained Georgia in total yardage 328 to 127. Walker did rush for a hard- earned 150 yards on 36 carries, but the rest of the team accounted for minus-23 yards. Georgia quarterback Buck Belue was 0-of-11 passing through the first 58 minutes, but his final attempt gained a crucial seven yards to con- vert a third down and help run out the clock. The outcome came down to turn- overs and special teams. Notre Dame had four turnovers to Georgia's zero. One of the turnovers wasn't even included in the 4-0 disparity because it was a "59-yard onside kick" after Georgia had knotted the game at 3-3. The high, soaring kick resulted in a miscommunication between the two Irish return men, the ball landed in between them and Georgia recovered at the 1-yard line. After the Bulldogs scored on that one-yard drive, they recovered an- other Irish fumble at Notre Dame's 22 on the next series, and that short field soon made it 17-3. Meanwhile, Irish kicker Harry Oliver, whose regular season was the greatest ever by a Notre Dame kicker at the time — he converted 18 of 23 field goals, highlighted by the famous 51-yard boot on the game's final play to defeat Rose Bowl champ Michigan — was 1 of 4. C o n s e q u e n t l y, G e o rg i a ' s re - sourcefulness and Notre Dame's snafus won the Bulldogs the na- tional title. ✦ GAME PREVIEW: GEORGIA Notre Dame's 17-10 loss to Georgia in the 1981 Sugar Bowl was one of the most frustrating games in the program's history. The Irish outgained the Bulldogs in total yardage 328-127, but turnovers by Notre Dame at its own 1- and 22-yard lines set up both Georgia touchdowns. PHOTO COURTESY GEORGIA Predictions Corey Bodden: Notre Dame 30, Georgia 28 Georgia's offensive line is shaky, and the Irish will likely force quarterback Jacob Eason to win the game with his arm. Notre Dame's defense makes one more play than the Bulldogs to pull it out. Bryan Driskell: Notre Dame 27, Georgia 20 It might take some time to get going offensively, but in the second half the balanced Irish attack will be able to overcome a Georgia team with a lot of skill talent but a shaky offensive line. David McKinney: Georgia 34, Notre Dame 27 I saw UGA play a lot while covering SEC football, and the biggest thing I've learned about them is that they're unpredictable. I think Jacob Eason is going to become the QB everyone expects him to be this season, and he's got two of the best running backs in the SEC behind him. Lou Somogyi: Georgia 28, Notre Dame 26 A victory might provide the impetus for a second 10-win (or more) season in three years at Notre Dame, while a defeat could prompt more negativity en route to another four-loss (or more) campaign.

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