Notre Dame-Georgia Tech Preview
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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MORTON GROVE, Ill. (AP) -In his first season as coach, Charlie Weis returned Notre Dame to national prominence. In his second, Weis expects the team to be a national title contender.
The second-ranked Fighting Irish begin a season of lofty expectations Saturday when they play at Georgia Tech.
Weis, who was part of four Super Bowl winning squads as an assistant coach in the NFL, aggressively began reshaping Notre Dame in his image after returning to his alma mater last year. The Fighting Irish went 9-3 last year, capped by a 34-20 loss to preseason No. 1 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Weis' biggest reason for optimism is the return of eight linemen, four on each side of the ball. He expects both the offensive and defensive lines to set the tone of games for the Irish.
''Anytime you have an experienced group of linemen on both sides of the ball, that bodes well for your chances. (Bill) Parcells told me a long time ago, it always starts with the big guys,'' Weis said. ''Any time you have two veteran lines you have to think you have a chance.''
It also helps to have a quarterback like Brady Quinn , who is coming off an impressive junior year in which he set single-season school records with 3,919 yards and 32 touchdowns. Weis has been able to turn Quinn - who already holds Notre Dame records for passing yards (8,336) and TDs (58) - into both a Heisman Trophy candidate and his on-field coach.
''You're going to say, 'Nice job. Move the chains.' I will now say to him: 'What's your first read? Was he open? Did you see him? Did you even look at him?'' Weis said of Quinn. ''Now you're taking him to a whole different level of thought process.''
Jeff Samardzija - who tied a school record with 77 receptions and set Notre Dame records with 1,249 yards and 15 touchdowns - returns at wide receiver. Rhema McKnight , who missed all but two games last year with a knee injury, will try to fill the void created by the departed Maurice Stovall .
''It was very heartbreaking at times,'' McKnight said. ''I had to accept the fact that I was injured and couldn't come back and play. I just had to rehab and just try to keep pushing and keep trying to make myself better.''
Running back Darius Walker will try to build off an impressive 2005 season in which he rushed for 1,196 yards and nine touchdowns.
The defense is still a concern for Notre Dame, which allowed more than 5,000 yards and finished 75th in the nation, its lowest since being ranked 82nd after finishing 2-7 in 1962. Defensive back Tom Zbikowski , who returned two of his five interceptions for touchdowns in 2005, is the top player in the secondary.
''Everyone's telling me how bad the defense is. I guess we'll just have to wait until Saturday night to find out,'' Weis said. ''We'll see if we have any speed or not.''
Georgia Tech has proven to be a difficult out for ranked opponents early in the season. The Yellow Jackets , who went 7-5 last season and lost to Utah in the Emerald Bowl, has six wins over ranked opponents the last four years, including a 23-14 upset at No. 16 Auburn to start 2005.
Despite the success, Yellow Jackets coach Chan Gailey is at a loss to explain why his teams start strong.
''I don't know why we have been able to go out and play well early,'' Gailey admitted. ''We've been, for the most part, healthy early in the year. That is always a big part of it. But I can't put my finger on it.''
The Yellow Jackets will rely on the offensive tandem of quarterback Reggie Ball and running back Tashard Choice , who has become a starter with the departure of P.J. Daniels to the NFL. Ball threw for 2,165 yards and 11 touchdowns but also had 12 interceptions.
Choice, who had a team-high six rushing TDs to go with 543 yards, has become more of a leader in taking the starting running back spot.
''I understand I have more responsibility for me, my coaches and my teammates. I was a leader when I came in and off the field, but this year I have to set more of an example, get out there and make plays and this is a dream for me. I'm ready to accept this, and you have to go out and practice that way and understand that you are going to be counted on for 12 games.''
Bell has a standout receiver in Calvin Johnson , who had 54 receptions for 888 yards and six touchdowns despite facing constant double teams. Georgia Tech returns eight offensive starters, including four linemen.
The Fighting Irish lead the all-time series 26-5-1, but the Yellow Jackets posted a 35-28 victory in the last meeting in the 1999 Gator Bowl. This is the first time the teams are playing at Georgia Tech since 1980, when the teams played to a 3-all tie when Notre Dame was the top-ranked team in the country.
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I think Brady Quinn is the real deal. The fightin Irish are lucky to have him. I like the guy a lot.