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Tough times in South Bend

Notre Dame faces improved Oklahoma team

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Posted: Friday October 01, 1999 05:27 PM

It would be an understatement to say that Notre Dame football is at a crossroads. The Golden Dome has been tarnished with off-the-field distractions, but even more disconcerting are the on-field blunders. The Irish are 1-3, and face a must-win game Saturday when the Oklahoma Sooners come to town.

They are unbeaten under first-year head coach Bob Stoops and have the 2nd-most potent offense in the nation. Mike Leach, their offensive coordinator told me, "Think about it, we brought the most prolific passing attack in the SEC and combined it with the most potent defense of the SEC, and brought it to the Big 12."

But after a week off, the Irish are like a caged animal. They will attempt to control the line of scrimmage and keep the vaunted Sooner offense on the sideline. I like Notre Dame at home.

Brees blowing in Ann Arbor

In the game of the day, Purdue travels to Michigan. A week after shutting down Ron Dayne, the Wolverines now must stop the best offense in the Big 10. Purdue offensive coordinator Jim Chaney told me the key to the game is their ability to control Michigan nose tackle Rob Renes.

For the Boilermakers to click on offense, Drew Brees must have the time to go through his progressions. The Purdue coaches have told him that if he is patient eventually someone will be open.

The problem still remains for Purdue, the defense hasn't caught up with the offense. I like Michigan at home.

Beasts in the East

Can a team from the Big East get a shot at playing for the National Championship? 8th-ranked Virginia Tech thinks so. But even with six of the teams in front of them playing each other it's unlikely they could get higher than 4th.

Head coach Frank Beamer told me this is the most talented team he has ever had in Blacksburg. But the key to this team is the continued development of Michael Vick. The redshirt freshman quarterback has shown incredible athletic abiltity but continues to be plaqued by mistakes.

They beat Virginia this weekend and sit and hope someone ranked ahead falls.

Trev Alberts is a college football analyst for CNN/SI and appears on CNN's College Football Preview, Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. ET.

 

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