But before they start clearing out space for another championship trophy in South Bend, there’s plenty of work to do.

The Notre Dame offense was efficient but hardly spectacular against Georgia Tech, a team that ended last season giving up 38 points to Utah in the Emerald Bowl. The Irish managed 384 yards and did a good job controlling the clock, but still put up fewer points than any game during Weis’ first season. Carl Gioia had a troubling debut as the kicker, missing from 42 and 36 yards for a team that might have to win a few close games, especially with games against No. 19 Penn State and No. 14 Michigan coming up the next two weeks.

Quinn struggled against Georgia Tech’s frequent blitzes in the first half. He took a sack, drew a flag for intentional grounding and was bodyslammed to the turf by Joe Anoai, a defensive tackle who hails from a family of professional wrestlers.

“This game would have been a lot more wide open if I had done a better job,” said Quinn, fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting a year ago after breaking nearly all of Notre Dame’s passing records. “I felt like we accomplished what we came to do, but I was little off.”

Still, the senior quarterback came up with just enough big plays. With the first half winding down, he converted one third down with a 14-yard pass and another with a 16-yard run. After the Irish called their final timeout with 16 seconds remaining, Quinn lined up with no one in the backfield, spotted a gap up the middle and took off on a 5-yard touchdown run.

If he had been stopped short, it’s doubtful that Notre Dame would have been able to get off another play.

“If they’re bringing the house, he’s going to throw a pass,” Weis explained. “I said, ’Don’t make me look stupid, but if you get a look, you run the ball.’ He got the look that we were counting on, so he went with the play and got in.”

The Yellow Jackets never expected Quinn to be running in that situation.

“He made a good read,” Anoai said. “He saw a big hole, and he exploited it. He’s a big-time player who made a big-time play.”

With a big hand from the defense, Quinn made enough plays to keep Notre Dame from taking a major stumble in its very first game.

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