Irish Insights

Another three-and-out

Raeshon McNeil with a big tackle there, forcing another three-and-out and we're feeling like Billy Packer with the North Carolina-Kansas game a few weeks ago.
Our calling of this game was a bit premature.
The defense has taken the lead, 33-32, thanks to the McNeil tackle and the three-and-out. Another Maust punt. Another Allen fair catch.
And Jimmy Clausen's back at quarterback.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Another 3-and-out. Defense Catches Up

The defense is fired up now. It forced another three-and-out, cutting the offense's lead to 32-30.
And with the offense inside its 10-yard line, walk-on quarterback Brian Castello is back in the game, handing off to Robert Hughes for a  2-yard run.
Good news. The rain's held off so far.
As Rittenberg said: "So much for my forecast."
Maybe it does only rain in Gary.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Whoa! A Fight

Jimmy Clausen just threw an interception to Harrison Smith, who returned it 15 yards for the touchdown to cut the offense's lead to 32-26.
Best part of the Spring Game -- A Ten-Yard Fight.
Literally.
The offensive linemen and defensive linemen got into it very quickly. Eric Olsen started going nuts on people and had to be pushed away. The officials actually kicked a player out of the game. That's got to be a Blue-Gold game first. We're trying to figure out who the refs ejected (we're not sure who it was other than we're pretty sure it's a defensive player and it hasn't been confirmed, but that's what it looked like).
Anyway, the fans certainly got some of what they're looking for.

Offense is back on the field now and it leads, 32-27.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Flag

Now both tackles have a false start as Sam Young picked one up. That should have been a negative offensive point every time there was a false start.
Woes for the offense, it uses its second timeout less than four minutes into the running clock.
Offense leads, 32-16.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Second half starts

An incomplete pass by Clausen and a 1-yard James Aldridge run started the second half before a timeout.
More on the Golic interview will be coming later today or tomorrow.
Third-and-nine for the Blue and Clausen throws an incomplete pass to Grimes -- it was dropped.
Three-and-out gets the defense three points and Eric Maust's punt almost got blocked before being downed. Golden Tate was back to receive, meaning we've seen Allen, Grimes and Tate back there.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Halftime Stats

Just a few things of note before the second half starts -- we were busy talking with slimmed-down Bob Golic at halftime.
Clausen was 5 of 11 for 99 yards. Hughes has 16 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown. David Grimes has two catches for 39 yards.
Scott Smith has the most tackles, with five followed by Kyle McCarthy with four, Ray Herring with four and Kevin Washington with four.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Nick Lezynski -- Your Star of the Game

Finally the walk-ons get to throw a pass and Lezynski hit George West on a 10-yard completion off of a slant. Good for the sophomore from Newton, Pa.
And Blue calls a timeout again -- it's last -- as the offense leads 32-10 with 10 seconds left in the first half.
Ouch. Incomplete pass by Lezynski bringing out the field goal unit with 7 seconds left.
Brandon Walker attempting a 46-yarder from the left hash. And it's no good, clanking off the left upright and three points for the defense.
At the half, offense leads, 32-13.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

New QB

Clausen's out and Nick Lezynski is in and Notre Dame's back to running as Hughes just had a 20-yard run and then went up the middle again for 7 yards.
Yes, it's only the spring, but I think you've found your starting running back, folks. He is really, really impressive.
And he's out as Barry Gallup Jr. is the running back -- and immediately gets the ball and goes nowhere.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

More flags

False start moves the offense back to the 25-yard line, a 3rd-and-24 as the offense calls a timeout with 1:49 left in the first half and the offense leading the defense, 25-10.
OK, now for the play -- a pass from Clausen to Golden Tate on an out route for 12 yards. Hey -- Tate did something more than run straight down field. This could be a good sign for the offense.
Fourth-and-12 -- Field-goal attempt for Brandon Walker and Eric Maust holding.
31-yard attempt is good.
Offense leads, 28-10, and now has more points than any game except for two from last season.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Trickeration

Direct snap to Allen as Clausen made it look like the ball went over his head. He had plenty of practice with that last year -- as the ball actually went over his head due to John Sullivan's inability to shotgun snap.
No yards on the play.

And nice play by Clausen, an out route for a touchdown to David Grimes after a scramble. But wait, a holding call negates the touchdown. Rittenberg isn't happy as he feels they should subtract points for that.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette