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Red storm Nebraska uses early outburst to stop Notre Dame
Updated: Sunday September 09, 2001 8:40 AM
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- All it took was a visit by Notre Dame for the passion to return to Nebraska. Eric Crouch threw for one touchdown and Dahrran Diedrick ran for two more as the fifth-ranked Cornhuskers overwhelmed the 17th-ranked Fighting Irish with a 17-point first quarter en route to a 27-10 victory Saturday night. Playing before a record crowd of 78,118 at Memorial Stadium, the Huskers performed with a desire that was missing in wins against TCU and Troy State. But with the Irish in town for the first time in 53 years and a sea of red Huskers fans packed into the stadium, Nebraska (3-0) made it a long opening night for Notre Dame (0-1). Diedrick, who carried 32 times for 133 yards, capped the opening drive with a 2-yard TD run 4:19 into the game. After tailback Terrance Howard fumbled on Notre Dame's first offensive play of the season, the Huskers went ahead 14-0 a play later on Crouch's 22-yard scoring pass to John Gibson. It was the quarterback's first TD pass of the year. "We felt they were ready and in the opening quarter they showed it very well," Nebraska coach Frank Solich said in gaining the win on his 57th birthday. "I've been around a lot of teams and in terms of what they accomplished early, it was great on both sides of the ball and special teams, too."
The Irish, who ended last season with a disheartening 41-9 loss to Oregon State in the Fiesta Bowl, had hoped to beat a Top 5 team for the first time since 1993 and restore its fading reputation of winning big games. Last season, the Irish came close to upsetting then-No. 1 Nebraska in South Bend, but lost 27-24 in overtime. The rematch wasn't even close. "Obviously, we weren't a very well prepared football team and I take responsibility for that," Irish coach Bob Davie said of his team that managed just 162 total yards. "We had that fear in the headlights look in the first half on offense. We were a little better in the second half but not enough to win at this level of football." The Huskers are now looking at relatively easy games against Rice, Missouri, Iowa State, Baylor and Texas Tech before facing No. 3 Oklahoma on Oct. 27. The Huskers play eight of their 12 regular-season games at home, where they have won 52 of 53. Notre Dame lost two fumbles -- one on a botched snap on a punt -- and Matt LoVecchio threw an interception in the first quarter alone. The Irish finished with four turnovers after matching an NCAA record last year for least turnovers in a season with eight. With Purdue up next week, Davie now has himself a quarterback controversy. Matt LoVecchio, 7-1 last season after replacing the injured Arnaz Battle, was ineffective all night. He was replaced by Carlyle Holiday late in the second period and the sophomore led the Irish to a field goal -- their only points of the half. "I really don't care about that," LoVecchio said. "Whoever can move the team down the field should be in the game." With Nebraska ahead 17-0, Holiday drove Notre Dame 64 yards and Nick Setta kicked a 29-yard field goal with 6:57 left in the half. Holiday played the third period and LoVecchio the fourth. Holiday finished 5-of-8 for 41 yards and ran eight times for 21 yards; LoVecchio was 11-of-24 for 78 yards. Each threw an interception.
Crouch, a Heisman Trophy contender at the start of the season, had another mediocre game going 6-of-9 for 108 yards and running 14 times for 31 yards. Because the Huskers were in control from the start, Solich called just one pass in the second half to limit the risk of turnovers and run time off the clock. "Everyone's emotions were at a high level and I think that's what helped us get down the field," Crouch said. "We were motivated and wanted to get in end zone, and show everyone this is a powerhouse offense. I think the start set the tone for the rest of the game." Nebraska extended its lead to 27-3 by halftime on a 3-yard TD run by Diedrick with 3:57 left, and Sandro DeAngelis' 21-yard field goal with a second left. DeAngelis had a 19-yard field goal in the first quarter. A light rain fell in the third quarter and neither team scored. The Irish scored their only touchdown early in the fourth quarter on Tony Fisher's 1-yard TD run on fourth down. The score was set up when cornerback Shane Walton blocked a punt at the Huskers 4. After Diedrick's opening 2-yard TD, a flurry of flubs followed. Howard fumbled LoVecchio's handoff and linebacker Jamie Burrow recovered at the Irish 22. On the next play, Crouch found a wide-open John Gibson in the end zone and in a span of 22 seconds Nebraska was ahead 14-0 just 4:41 into the game. After Notre Dame punted, Crouch fumbled three plays later when he was hit by defensive end Anthony Weaver and linebacker Rocky Boiman recovered at the Huskers 34. The Irish also a botched snap on a punt that went for minus 45 yards and gave the Huskers the ball at Notre Dame 8 to set up DeAngelis' first field goal. The previous attendance record at Memorial Stadium was 78,096 against Kansas last season.
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