Nerd Nation remembers.
Nerd Nation remembers when Notre Dame stopped running back Stepfan Taylor ’13 inches short of the goal line to hand Stanford a heartbreaking 20-13 overtime loss in rainy South Bend. Nerd Nation remembers Irish fans rushing the field after the officials announced — in what was one of the most controversial rulings of the 2012 college football season — that the call stood. Outside linebacker Chase Thomas ’12 called it one of the toughest losses of his career, on par with the Fiesta Bowl loss.
This past week, head coach David Shaw and his team made a point of putting the 2012 drama behind them, adamantly stating that seeking revenge doesn’t win football games.
“It’s on Stanford’s football team from last year for not getting it done and Notre Dame for getting it done,” Shaw said.
“Last year is over. It happened,” said junior wide receiver Ty Montgomery.
“Last year’s game doesn’t really have any carryover into this season,” added fifth-year senior outside linebacker Trent Murphy.
Sure, but that doesn’t mean that the players forgot about what happened in South Bend. They remember. Stanford fans remember. Heck, even Lennay Kekua remembers.
No. 8 Stanford (9-2, 7-2 Pac-12) looks to ease those memories when it hosts No. 25 Notre Dame (8-3) tomorrow night in the regular season finale. Though the contest will have no bearing on the Cardinal’s Rose Bowl hopes — Stanford will play Arizona State in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Dec. 7 regardless of tomorrow’s outcome at Stanford Stadium — don’t expect the Cardinal players to treat the rivalry game any differently than they did last year. A 15-game win streak at home is also at stake for Stanford, which has dropped only two home games since the start of the 2009 season.
“I’m treating [Notre Dame] like any another team,” said junior quarterback Kevin Hogan, who will play against the Irish as a starter for the first time and has numerous family members who attended Notre Dame. “You have to prepare as if they’re any other team that you play throughout the year, [like] a Pac-12 opponent.”
The Cardinal found renewed confidence in its passing game in Big Game last weekend, with Hogan throwing for 329 yards and five touchdowns — both career-highs — in less than three quarters and Montgomery tying a school record with five touchdowns on just seven touches. However, the Irish defense should prove to be a much more formidable test than the porous Bears defense, one of the worst units in the nation.
Though the Irish lost star nose guard Louis Nix III to a knee injury last week, it still boasts Stephon Tuitt, the 6-foot-6, 312-pound defensive lineman who has notched a team-leading 7.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks this year.
“Stephon Tuitt is a difference-maker,” Shaw said. “They’re big up front, they’re physical up front. They get off blocks.”
Still, the Notre Dame front seven is not as stout as the Manti Te’o-led squad was last year. The 2013 unit has given up 4.14 yards per carry along with 167.55 rushing yards per game — neither of which rank among the nation’s top 60. Just last weekend against unranked BYU, the Irish gave up 247 yards on the ground.
The Irish secondary has plenty of experience in senior cornerback Bennett Jackson and junior safety Matthias Farley, both of whom intercepted Josh Nunes ’13 in last year’s game. However, opposing quarterbacks have been surprisingly efficient against the Irish, posting an average rating of 124.7. The Cardinal will have the Irish on its heels if Hogan can connect with — and not overthrow — his speedy downfield targets such as Montgomery and sophomore wideout Michael Rector.
On the other side of the ball, where quarterback Tommy Rees goes, the Irish follow. Notre Dame is 7-0 this season when Rees throws fewer than two interceptions, but is 1-3 when Rees is picked off two or more times. The Irish offensive line also lacks experience; three linemen are first-year starters, including Matt Hegarty, who will be making his first career start at center.
“Notre Dame is physical and they’re going come right after us,” Shaw said. “You can look to [Notre Dame head coach Brian] Kelly as a ‘spread offensive coach,’ but you watch them, and they’re physical. They’re going to run three running backs at you at different times in different ways. They’re going to keep attacking you.”
Leading the Irish stable of running backs is Cam McDaniel, who has collected 608 yards on the ground this season this season and rushed for a career-high 117 yards against BYU last Saturday. Meanwhile, George Atkinson III has been Notre Dame’s most efficient tailback, averaging 6.2 yards per carry while also serving as a dependable kick returner.
“[Last year’s game against Notre Dame] was the most physical game we played all year,” Murphy said. “It’s definitely going to be a physical battle.”
On the injury front, Cardinal sophomore cornerback Alex Carter will return to action after sitting out last week’s Big Game due to a concussion. Senior kicker Jordan Williamson will resume all field goal and extra point duties, though sophomore Conrad Ukropina will still handle kickoffs.
Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m., with national television coverage on FOX.
Contact George Chen at gchen15 ‘at’ stanford.edu.