Cavalier Corner Digital

✦ NEWS & NOTES more comfortable with Golson's commu- nication, including checking out of a play at Oklahoma when earlier in the year the line would have false started. Golson, however, still carries the ball too loosely for the staff's taste. "There were five occasions where the ball was out that should have come out and it didn't," Kelly noted of Golson not tucking the ball away. "The passing game still needs to im- prove. We had what we consider four, maybe five, opportunities that we left out there in terms of throwing the ball. So we want to see a higher passing efficiency in that respect." Consistency is the next objective. Gol- son is still looking to put together his first complete home game. Against Purdue (Sept. 8) and Stanford (Oct. 13), junior Tommy Rees was at the helm on late game-tying or game-winning drives after Golson was injured. Versus Michigan (Sept. 22), Golson was yanked midway through the second quarter after throwing his second interception of the contest. He was unable to play against BYU (Oct. 20) while recovering from his concussion suffered against Stanford. "What we need now is to put together a string of games back to back," Kelly said. HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE? One of the great frustrations of the Notre Dame football program for more than a decade has been its inability to hold serve at home. It has lost a minimum of two home games every season since 2007 and posted a 17-16 ledger at Notre Dame Stadium in the five seasons from 2007-11. Against Pitt this weekend and then Wake Forest Nov. 17, Notre Dame has a promising shot at finishing without a loss at home for the first time since 1998 — and only the second time since 1990. The Fighting Irish have a shot to go undefeated at home for the first time since 1998, and only the second time since 1990. It's hardly been a cakewalk, though. In four home games this season, Notre Dame's average margin of victory has been five points, and none by more than seven (including the 20-13 overtime win versus Stanford Oct. 13). In the four road trips, including the Oct. 6 game versus Miami in Chicago, PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA Notre Dame has won by an average of 28 points, none by less than 17 points. When asked about the disparity, Irish head coach Brian Kelly was reflective. "There are a lot of layers to the ques- tion," he said. "I don't want to make more out of it. I think teams that come into Notre Dame Stadium play their very, ✦ PAGE 15 very best. We have to match that inten- sity — and we have to do it each and every weekend." Visiting teams don't have it any differ- ent at Notre Dame than when the Irish go on the road with intense concentration and the ultimate cliché — the us-against-the- world mentality. "We're on the process of understanding how important it is to prepare even for our home games in the same fashion," Kelly said. "Yes, it's at home … but our guys know that they have to play with a lot of energy at home as well." THE FINAL FOUR With Election Day less than a week away, Brian Kelly wants to leave the campaigning strictly to President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney. While it is popular for the media and fans to give their opinion on who should be in positions Nos. 2, 3 and 4, and even beyond, in the BCS standings, Kelly — once a very active supporter and staff member during Gary Hart's presidential bid in 1984 — said going on that cam- paign trail for his team subtracts the focus on the next game. Four undefeated teams in the top 25 fell for the first time last week, leaving Alabama, Kansas State, Notre Dame and Oregon as the remaining quartet of un- beaten teams with the best chance of a BCS championship game invite. While it isn't likely that all four will finish the season unbeaten, a 12-0 Notre Dame team conceivably could wind up as the odd man out. Kelly said he hasn't spent any time studying BCS percentage points and Associated Press poll rankings to decipher all the hypothetical scenarios of his team's bowl fate. "I got out of politics once, and I'm not getting back in," he said. ✦

• Cover