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With a record of 2-1, Michigan State University must've kept an eye on the scoreboard today to watch with horror Notre Dame take a 21-0 lead in the first quarter against the Wolverines.  While having lost their opener to Cal, MSU has won against pedestrian enemies in Easter Michigan and Florida Atlantic.

The team that showed up today to beat the Wolverines 35-17, was the same team that rallied past San Diego State University in the last quarter a week ago.  Notre Dame started aggressively as they took benefit of two fumbles by Michigan's special teams.  One has to wonder if the work of walkon Mike Anello did not precipitate the work of the Wolverines kick return unit and cause the fumbles.  Annelo did play with the samespark that we saw last week and did cause one fumble later on.

On defense, other than the runs by McGuffie for a total of 131 yards, the Irish did better than last week against a stronger opponent.  While you might think that Rodriguez' team practiced a lof of blitz play with his young quarterbacks, the Irish were not as blitz happy as they were against SDSU, which in itself, might also have taken the Michigan offensive unit off guard.  From an improvement standpoint, 2007 Wolverines 8 sacks against Clausen, 2008 Wolverines 0.  This was a game changing performance.  

I noted on a few plays where Clausen would benefit from at least 7-10 yards buffer zone all around him, giving him the time to throw the ball with much less pressure than he had to last year. Hughes on the run, Tate with receptions, fired up the offense when it was needed.  Again, the offensive line showed significant improvements and the trend, albeit after 2 games is very encouraging.  

Michigan State is the next one on the list.  When I posted that the Irish would have a perfect season, until September 19, I meant it.  I did say that if Notre Dame beat SDSU and Michigan, the momentum might carry into the MSU confrontation.

This Notre Dame is far from mature.  Many mistakes, missed assignments on defense where some players seemed to just watch the game as I did(but they were ON THE FIELD), tell me that this team will just get better.  It is still a 7 wins team, just more fun to watch because of their hunger for the win, and the pleasure they had today in seeing plays work.  On one of the first touchdowns, you saw Clausen try the same pass that was intercepted last week.  A week ago, it failed and was intercepted.  Today, same route, same play and Kamara catches the ball for a touchdown.

Here we are.  Does MSU prepare for a blitzing defensive line?  Tate, the vertical threat, Hughes pounding it on the run with Allen and Aldridge, Clausen that seems to get in his rythm, how do you prepare?  How do you prepare for a team that is so hungry as the Irish can be at this time?  Every win, whether a long pass play, a fumble recovered or better, a Michigan wallop at home, is feeding this team.  You can prepare for the plays on the field.  You can't prepare against a hungry team.  I call the next one for Notre Dame.