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✦ TOP STORYLINES: NOTRE DAME VS. STANFORD over to where Eifert was out wide, accord- ing to head coach Brian Kelly. "They were not going to let him go one on one, so we ran the ball 30 times [in a row], and that's a similar situation that Stanford has, and we have to be able to balance that out," Kelly said. Ertz caught a clutch fourth-and-nine The annual series with USC and Stanford both appear safe for years to come due to athletics director Jack Swarbrick's desire for the Irish to maintain a presence on the West Coast. FIVE MAINSTAYS Since 1997, five teams have been on pass in the red zone last week to set up the tying touchdown in regulation against Arizona, and Toilolo's five catches against the Wildcats totaled 141 yards (28.2 yards per reception). Kelly said that is a product of corners needing to play press coverage on the tight ends because the safeties often have to come closer to the line to help slow the potent ground attack led by Taylor. "You can't give them off coverage," PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND Notre Dame's schedule each of the past 15 years: Michigan State, Purdue, Navy, USC and Stanford. Starting in 2014, the Irish will play five Kelly said. "They're going to throw to them, he will run the corner over every time. You have to press him because you're bringing [a safety] down in the run game and you're getting one-on-one press coverage. "So if you're throwing the ball down Atlantic Coast Conference teams each season as part of their deal with the league to fully join in most every other sport. While Michigan will not be on the schedule from 2015‑19, Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick has stated that maintaining a presence on the West Coast, particularly in Califor‑ nia, is essential to the Irish keeping their identity as an independent football school with a national schedule. Thus, the home‑and‑home series with both USC and Stanford appear safe for many more years to come. The plan is to continue visiting the Trojans for the regular‑season finale in even‑numbered years and the Cardinal in odd‑numbered years. the field [vertically], every route gets con- verted when it's pressed, for the most part. It becomes one-on-one, throw the ball up there. Some teams have limited that, some teams have not. We hope to be the team that can limit that." Notre Dame will counter at tight end with Eifert, a 2011 first-team Walter Camp All-American who grabbed four passes for 79 yards against the Cardinal last season and finished with the most catches (63) and receiving yards (803) among all tight ends nationally. Sophomore Troy Niklas, a California native who was recruited by Stanford as a tight end, provides another option, as does classmate Ben Koyack, in Notre Dame's multiple tight end looks. Eifert was held in check in victories — Lou Somogyi against Michigan State (20-3) and Michi- gan (13-6) before catching a crucial third- ✦ PAGE 8 Notre Dame Football Tickets 24 years in business BUY ✦ SELL ✦ TRADE BEST SELECTION & PRICES www.NotreDameTickets.com Call 1-800-925-2500 for friendly, personal service and a Special Discount today! Tickets also available for other nationwide events including MLB, NFL, Auto racing, NBA, all sports, concerts