Watson back for the Irish

Originally Published: September 10, 2003

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By Adam Rittenberg
Special to ESPN.com

Notre Dame senior ILB Courtney Watson, who did not dress for last Saturday's win over Washington State, is listed as a starter for Saturday's game with No. 7 Michigan. Watson, last year's leading tackler, was out for reasons coach Tyrone Willingham wouldn't specify. "There were events that happened outside of Courtney's control, and I want to be very clear they were out of his control, that necessitated us to keep him out of one ball game," Willingham said.

But now, Waston is back."From day one I've always appreciated his leadership," Willingham said Tuesday. "With the questions he asks regarding the game, he has the understanding of what that takes, not just with his position but from an offensive perspective."

With Watson out, junior ILB Brandon Hoyte led the team with 11 tackles. "Hopefully with the two together we've got some very aggressive linebackers that will make some very smart plays," Willingham said. "What's very critical to their success is how the guys up front will play. That allows them the luxury of doing some things and accumulating some numbers."

Sophomore WR Rhema McKnight is no Arnaz Battle, but Willingham doesn't have a problem with that. McKnight had five catches for 33 yards against Washington State, including an 11-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Although Omar Jenkins and Maurice Stovall remain the starters at WR, the McKnight show is just beginning. "He brings a different type of player than Arnaz brought," said Willingham, who likened McKnight's frame to a basketball guard's. "Arnaz went about 218 and Rhema's about 10 pounds less than that. I thought he did an excellent job last year as a freshman, stepping in and making contributions. He understands the things you have to do, how to go through a season mentally and physically."

Gary Godsey, last year's starter at TE, is still recovering from a knee injury, but Willingham isn't worried about the team's depth at the position. Despite Greg Olson's transfer two weeks ago, Willingham believes he can get by with seniors Billy Palmer and Jared Clark. Palmer, who had four receptions last week, starts Saturday against No. 4 Michigan. "The loss of Godsey has more impact than anyone else because he was a starter, he was a senior and an upperclassman," Willingham said. "You miss those qualities but we feel the tight end position is very good."

With Clark and Palmer gone after the season, Willingham plans to gear recruiting efforts toward nabbing another tight end. He also wants to work sophomores Anthony Fasano and Marcus Freeman into the mix. "We haven't got those young guys enough work yet," he said.

Saturday marks the 20th time in 23 games between Notre Dame and Michigan that both teams are ranked. "You have the No. 1 program in the country in terms of winning percentage (Notre Dame) and then you have the No. 1 program in terms of games won (Michigan)," Willingham said. "When you have two teams that have that type of history, it's only natural that the game gains so much interest, not just in this region but around the country."

Troy State
Perhaps it's the competition (Kansas State and Minnesota), but Troy State's offense is still waiting for a jump start. In two games the Trojans have 12 points (none in the second and third quarters), 163.5 yards a game and have converted only 15 percent on third down. Surprisingly, Troy State leads its opponents in time of possession, but has struggled with turnovers.

"We are not very good on offense right now," coach Larry Blakeney said. "You don't have to be a coach or a smart person to figure that out. We have found out a lot about our kids, but the worst thing about these two losses is confidence. We may be good enough to beat UAB but we will have to overcome some of the things we had to deal with in Manhattan (Kan.) and the Twin Cities."

Sophomore LB David Johnson (leg) will miss at least another week, and the Trojans could be without starting QB Hansell Bearden (back), who is questionable for the UAB game. Sophomore DB Adrian Ghent (bruised thigh) will miss practice early this week but is expected to play Saturday, while classmate WR Toris Rutledge, who did not travel to Minnesota because of heat-related health problems, should practice is week and is probable for Alabama-Birmingham.

The Trojans will see a familiar face Saturday against Alabama-Birmingham, whether they like it or not. Wayne Bolt, who spent 12 season's on Blakeney's staff and served the last five as defensive coordinator, is in his first year as UAB's defensive leader. Under Bolt's guise, the Trojans ranked fourth nationally in defense last year, allowing only 276.8 yards a game. Blakeney said Bolt's knowledge of Troy State's schemes should help the Blazers, but only to a point. "I think his knowledge of our people will give him some advantage in planning, but he knows more about our defensive players than our offensive players."

Junior RB Jermaine Richardson returned to the lineup last week after sitting out the season opener for violating team rules. Richardson had five carries for 24 yards in the loss to Minnesota.

Connecticut
Harvard-Yale, Michigan-Ohio State, Alabama-Auburn, Boston College-UConn? Hard to believe, but the Eagles and Huskies are shaping up to be natural rivals -- in football. Connecticut, which recently finished its new stadium, is bound next year for the Big East Conference, a league that hasn't provided the Eagles with a clear-cut rival. Eagles coach Tom O'Brien has even given the game an unflattering nickname -- the "turnpike rivalry."

Boston College prevailed 24-16 last season in Chestnut Hill, but will have to face a fired up Huskies squad Saturday in Rentschler Field. "You're basically 70 miles apart," Connecticut coach Randy Edsall said of the two schools. "I would hope for something to develop. The two teams haven't played, haven't competed in same conference. I hope it would become nice rivalry. It would be great to play them last game in every year. When you think of college football and rivalries it's either instate or border battles."

Sophomore WR Brandon Young (hamstring) and junior LB Maurice Young (knee) are probable for the Boston College game, Edsall said. The news is not as good at TE. The Huskies are without starter Tim Lassen (shoulder surgery) for three weeks. Backup Terry McClowry missed last week's game with a shoulder stinger. "He's 50-50," Edsall said of McClowry. "If you rush him back too soon it could be another two weeks. We've gotten to point where that type of injury is a two-week thing." Third-stringer Dan Murray, a redshirt freshman who started against Army and caught a TD pass, will start Saturday if McClowry can't go.

The one negative in UConn's 48-21 stomping of Army was the special teams. PK Matt Nuzie missed an extra point and struggled with short kickoffs. Army recovered an onside kick in the third quarter and drove for a touchdown to cut the lead to 34-14. In garbage time Army had a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown. "It's something we spend a lot of time on, and something we'll have to correct" Edsall said of the special teams. "Guys that didn't perform, we'll make changes."

Huskies QB Dan Orlovsky threw a school-record five TD passes against Army, but Edsall said the junior has plenty of things to work on this week. "I didn't think Dan was as sharp in that game as he was in the Indiana game," Edsall said. "The statistics show he had lot of production, but two interceptions he had he shouldn't have had. He's getting better."

Navy
Navy dominated the first half against Texas Christian, holding the ball for nearly 21 minutes and allowing only 102 yards and no points. The problem? Despite 170 total yards and 33 snaps within Horned Frogs' territory, the Middies mustered only a field goal. Still, it was the first time Texas Christian trailed at the end of the first half since 2001. "That's real positive," coach Paul Johnson said of his team's first-half play. "That's an improvement. What we have to do is take that and build on it. We held the ball for more than 20 minutes. It was kind of combination of us not giving up any big plays and them turning over ball. But it was disappointing we weren't getting any points out of it."

Much of the credit for Navy's first-half performance goes to senior P John Skaggs, who buried Texas Christian twice inside the 5-yard line and averaged 45 yards a punt for the game. Skaggs, a third-year starter, averaged 41.2 yards last year and a school-record 44.8 yards in 2001, fifth best in the country. "He really did a nice job," Johnson said of Skaggs. "In the first half three of their first five possessions started inside the 3-yard line."

Navy is shorthanded, literally, at CB. The Mids will be without freshman Hunter Reddick (right forearm) and senior Marcus Sanders (left arm) for the Eastern Michigan game Sept. 20. Junior WR Corey Dryden is probable (left ankle sprain) and junior LB Bobby McLarin is questionable (left hand) for the game.

Adam Rittenberg covers college football for the Arlington (Ill.) Daily Herald.