Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Riots spread as Greek lawmakers OK debt bill

Irish play all three QBs, but lose big to Ga. Tech

Jones, Sharpley, Clausen all struggle in Notre Dame’s worst-ever opener

Image: ClausenGetty Images
Notre Dame Jimmy Clausen turns to hand off. The hyped freshman played late in the Irish's 33-3 loss to Georgia Tech on Staurday.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Tashard Choice helped Georgia Tech fans forget about the loss of Calvin Johnson. Notre Dame’s three quarterbacks had Fighting Irish fans longing for Brady Quinn.

Choice rushed for a career-high 196 yards and two touchdowns and the Georgia Tech defense had little trouble with Notre Dame’s new passers, forcing two fumbles by Demetrius Jones, sacking Evan Sharpley seven times and keeping Jimmy Clausen from doing any damage in a 33-3 victory Saturday. 

“I did not see this coming,” Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey said. “I thought we would play pretty well defensively. I did not know we would run the ball as well as we ran it today.”

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis didn’t see it coming either. He said one of the biggest problems was the Irish weren’t ready for the speed of the game, and blamed himself for not having the team prepared.

“Who else are you going to blame but yourself? I’m the head coach,” he said. “It’s my responsibility.”

It was just the 15th season-opening loss in Notre Dame history and the most lopsided, surpassing the 31-10 loss to Pittsburgh to start the 1976 season. It’s also the first time the Irish failed to score a touchdown in a season opener since a 20-12 loss at Michigan in 1985.

The three points are the fewest points scored by the Irish under third-year coach Charlie Weis. The previous low was in a 14-10 win in the season-opener against Georgia Tech last season.

Weis said after the game he couldn’t remember the last time an offense he coached had failed to score a touchdown.

“We’ve had some rough games in the past, but it’s been a while,” he said.

Weis kept his choice of starting quarterback secret until game time, hoping that preparing for three quarterbacks would make it tough on Georgia Tech’s defense. It didn’t work. In fact, it almost looked as if Georgia Tech knew what was coming.

Gailey said the Yellow Jackets focused on stopping the run.

“We’re going to blitz you. We don’t care who you are,” he said. “We thought the challenge was to stop the running game to see if they could throw the ball well enough to beat us.”

Choice, the leading rusher in the Atlantic Coast Conference last season with 1,473 yards, rushed for more than 100 yards for an eighth straight game, breaking the school record set by Eddie Lee Ivery in 1978. He scored on a 22-yard run on a direct snap and set up his other 7-yard TD — also on a direct snap — with a 45-yard run.

“We just wanted to make a statement and come here to Notre Dame and let everybody know that Georgia Tech is going to be a team to reckon with this year,” Choice said.


advertisement
More news
Navy v Notre Dame
Getty Images
Gray believes in Kelly

It took a while for the light bulb to go on, but when it did, Jonas Gray finally showed the talent many had expected from the blue-chip prospect from Detroit. In a recent interview, Gray, who is rehabbing an ACL injury to get ready for the NFL Scouting Combine, expressed the confidence and support he has for head coach Brian Kelly.

Slideshow
Tyler Eifert , Nigel Bradham
  Notre Dame's 2011 season
Check out some of the best images from Notre Dame's 2011 season.

NBCSports.com

Timeline
Michigan v Notre Dame
Notre Dame 2011 schedule
See when all the big matchups will take place with Notre Dame's 2011 schedule.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Stanford v Notre Dame
  Meet the 2011 Irish
Take a look at some of the key contributors for Notre Dame this season
Slideshow
Discover Orange Bowl - Stanford v Virginia Tech
  2011 Notre Dame opponents
Take a look at some of the key players the Irish will face this season
Slideshow
Image: Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio - Wisconsin v Oregon
  College cheer
Check out some of the college football cheerleaders from across the country.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos