OK, so we've actually gotten e-mails now saying how PlayStation has it out for Notre Dame and is the only thing worse for the Irish this season than the Associated Press media poll. While we don't agree about the AP poll -- we consider some of the voters on the poll friends and know they don't have bias toward or against ND -- we can understand why readers would hate the PlayStation.
But, hey, Notre Dame has UNC coming up so it can't be that bad, can it? Umm....
For the umpteenth straight week, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit selected the Irish to win the game. On the first ND play, it didn't look too promising. Fullback Ashley McConnell fumbled away the ball, which would lead to points and a 13-7 UNC lead in the fourth quarter.
Then Brady Quinn returned to form, completing his final 20 passes of the day and throwing two touchdown passes in the final 1:02 -- a 43-yarder to Jeff Samardzija and a 20-yarder to Rhema McKnight with six seconds left to give the Irish a 22-19 win over the Tar Heels, who are having a better season on the PS2 than in real life. Notre Dame moved to 5-4 with the win.
Statistics
ND -- Passing: Quinn 25-26-0-379, 3 TDs. Rushing: McConnell 2-6; Walker 8-3. Receiving: Samardzija 7-135, 2 TDs; Grimes 5-50; McKnight 4-75, TD; Anastasio 4-58; West 3-38. Defensive: Abiamiri 3 tkl., SK; Wooden 5 tkl.
UNC -- Passing: Dailey 15-22-0-239, 2 TD. Rushing: McGill 14-51. Receiving: Holley 4-107, TD; Foster 4-48; Hamlett 2-18, TD. Defensive: Mapp 5 tkl., SK; Taylor 3 tkl., 2 TFL, SK.
Notre Dame remained unranked.
Polls:
BCS: 1. Oklahoma; 2. West Virginia; 3. California; 4. Virginia Tech; 5. Ohio State
Coaches: 1. Oklahoma; 2. West Virginia; 3. California; 4. Virginia Tech; 5. Ohio State
Media: 1. Oklahoma; 2. West Virginia; 3. California; 4. Virginia Tech; 5. Ohio State
Heisman: 1. Troy Smith, Sr., QB, Ohio State; 2. DeSean Jackson, Soph., WR, California; 3. Thomas Brown, Jr., RB, Georgia; 4. Reggie Ball, Sr., QB, Georgia Tech; 5. Graham Harrell, Soph., QB, Texas Tech.
Award Semifinalists for Notre Dame:
Best Quarterback: Brady Quinn
Biletnikoff: Jeff Samardzija
Best Offensive Lineman: Ryan Harris
Rimington Award: John Sullivan
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette
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