Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/899989
20 NOV. 20, 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY LOU SOMOGYI A ny national title dreams Notre Dame might have in the future probably should bypass the city of Miami. Almost five years after losing the BCS National Championship Game to Alabama by a 42-14 count in Mi- ami's then-named Sun Life Stadium on Jan 7, 2013, the 8-1 and formerly No. 3-ranked Fighting Irish returned to the same venue — this time re- named Hard Rock Stadium — and were crushed by a 41-8 margin against the Miami Hurricanes (9-0). In both cases, the game was pretty much decided by halftime, trail- ing 28-0 versus Alabama and 27-0 against Miami. Both times the oppo- nent also drove for a touchdown on its opening possession of the second half to salt away the game for good. After not turning over the football in junior quarterback Brandon Wim- bush's last five starts, Notre Dame saw the floodgates open with four turnovers, while Miami had none, resulting in a 24-0 advantage for the Hurricanes off the miscues. The Hurricanes' defense, which rewards turnovers with a gold "blingy" chain necklace, dominated the contest from the outset. Trailing 14-0 after the first quarter, the Irish offense never could stabilize itself and temporarily saw Wimbush benched late in the first half. Notre Dame rushed for only 109 yards af- ter entering the game fifth nationally with an average of 324.8 yards per outing, and a poor passing attack Hard-Rocked & Chained Unbeaten Miami Hurricanes blow away the Irish, 41-8, with a 4-0 turnover advantage