Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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FROM THE LOCKER ROOM Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly … On the game plan against USC: "The entire game was managed how we manage each game. Minimize the big plays — they had the one great completion late in the game. We minimized the big plays, we ran the ball and our quarterback was able to manage the run game for us. "That's how we played the game "It feels great. You're in the business to be around great kids because it's collegiate athletics, and the way it's set up, only two teams can compete [for the crown]. So it feels great that we've got that opportunity to play for a national title." all year. That's how we got to 12-0. Our guys have an incredible resolve, regardless of the circumstances, of coming up and finding ways to win. That's all we talk about. We don't talk about style points or anything else. Just find ways to win." On completing a perfect regular season: "You get this far into it, now you look up and you're 11-0 — you want to finish it off. "I thought our coaches did a great Notre Dame senior running back Theo Riddick … On Notre Dame's effectiveness on the ground: "It was a great feeling to see the offensive linemen doing their job and moving those big guys up front to make great holes for us. "Without them there's no me. We back Everett Golson … On going 12-0: "This feels great. Notre Dame sophomore quarter- job this week of keeping our guys focused on the game and not being No. 1, not playing for an undefeated season, not being in the hunt for a championship. We really focused on the game and what we needed to do." late: "We're calling plays defensively with the thought we'll keep them out of the end zone, and then we're obviously thinking what we need to do offensively. All those things are happening, and that's the way it's been all year." On reaching the BCS title game: On USC getting a first-and-goal I'm still kind of in shock right now. We did a great job running the ball. Our line did a great job in pass pro- tection. They have great pass rushers, but our line did a great job of holding them down." feel a lot more comfortable. I keep going back to the Purdue game, when it was a lot for me. But seeing how I've progressed now with the help of the coaches and the O-line and the receivers and running backs, it instills confidence in me." On his progression this year: "I Notre Dame sophomore kicker Kyle Brindza … started to get the best of them. The of- fensive line did a great job all game."