Some other stories.
The Notre Dame Offensive Line is a source of strength and continuity. Unlike Pitt’s.
The Irish’s first-string linemen — center Bob Morton, tackles Ryan Harris and Mark LeVoir, and guards Dan Stevenson and Dan Santucci — combine for nearly 100 games’ worth of experience.
LeVoir has started the past 24 in a row. Morton and Stevenson have started 22 apiece.
John Sullivan, who is listed on the depth chart as the backup center, started all 12 games last season. He is expected to get ample playing time against Pitt as part of a four-player rotation at the guard and center spots.
“We have four guys who can start on the interior,” Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said. “All four will play. The benefit of that (is) you end up keeping them fresh.”
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Pitt’s first-team line consists of tackles Charles Spencer and Mike McGlynn, guards Dom Williams and John Simonitis and center Joe Villani.“They (the Irish) are a good unit, but you can’t really compare us to them,” McGlynn said.
“With us, everything is sort of new, from a personnel standpoint,” Wannstedt said. “Simonitis is really the only one that was in the lineup on Opening Day a year ago.”
Simonitis is a third-year starter. He has played in 22 games, including 19 starts, in his career.
McGlynn, a red-shirt sophomore, became the starting right tackle five games into last season.
Williams redshirted as a freshman last year. He had a solid spring camp, and fills the vacancy created when Spencer was switched from guard to tackle.
Spencer, a fifth-year senior, was a backup defensive tackle in 2002 and ’03. He started every game at left guard last year, and earned All-Big East honors.
For all the talk of ND having a more vertical game, with their O-line and running back Darius Walker, they are going to pound the ball — a lot. Yes, they have a big playbook, but it seems that they should have a focus on running to set up the pass.
Even the in Syracuse where they host WVU to start the season, the student paper knows what is the game of the weekend.
DT Thomas Smith (not Charles as the article says) was back in practice and in pads, but looked stiff and slow. Clint Session was not in pads but on the sidelines doing conditioning exercises and stretching. And if you like glitter.
The ADT national championship trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the BCS title game, will be in Pittsburgh this weekend. The crystal football will be on display from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the U.S. Steel Tower and from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday outside Heinz Field.
The other time the ADT Trophy was at Heinz Field was in 2003, when Pitt upended Virginia Tech. Notre Dame is 1-4 when the trophy is in the house, with the lone victory coming in 1993 against Florida State.
That trophy ways 37 pounds (presumably that includes the pedestal).
Joe Starkey gives love to the way the Irish schedule.
Tyler Palko promises to watch his mouth. To which I say, “F–k that.”
It seems Pitt has been working on recent commit Ricky Gary for some time.
“They’ve been on me ever since I was a sophomore,” Gary said. “Coach Wannstedt, he was recruiting me the hardest. Anytime the head coach recruits you, it shows they really want you.”
Finally, oft-forgotten and lost in the shuffle, Tez Morris the senior free safety gets a well-deserved puff piece from his local paper in Ohio.
Some athletes find it difficult to accept that they’re entering the final year in their college career, but Morris said he couldn’t wait for this season to get started and began thinking about it as soon as spring ball ended.
“This is my last go-around,” Morris said. “This is what it’s all about, and I’ve got to step into that leader role. I have to stop messing up and play perfect all season, but it’s time to stop talking about it and start playing.”
We hope so.
