Notre Dame had not played an opponent in nearly nine months. The Irish barely played against themselves in the preseason. Full tilt had been as rare as close quarters. A slow start in week one was logical if not expected.
A bashful beginning in week two would be a bit more foreboding for No. 7 Notre Dame’s Playoff hopes.
“We have to get off to a better start,” Irish head coach Brian Kelly said Thursday. “We talked about four quarters of football, for us it is to get off to a good start, have an attention to detail.