Brian Kelly confident Irish can still grow against FSU

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - With just three games left to complete a perfect regular season, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly wants his team focusing week by week. This game specifically offers a chance to capture a big accomplishment.

“One of our goals this year was to defend our home field. This will be our last opportunity to do that, to protect this stadium.”

That hope should become reality barring an uneven performance against Florida State, but Kelly says they're still learning to bring it every snap - something that has to get fixed.

“It seems like when this team is pushed, they really play well. So I think that's what I've learned about this football team, is when they play with a sense of urgency, it's a really, really fine football team.”

Speaking of energy and urgency, the latest bout with adversity comes at the quarterback position.

Now that Ian Book will miss the home finale due to injury, the Irish turn back to Brandon Wimubsh, who Kelly says, despite the tough news of his benching, has stayed prepared.

“He's practiced really well.  I think that's the biggest thing more than anything else, is it's easy to lose your edge when you're not starting.  He's fought that.  So he's just been a great teammate and he's kept himself prepared.”

If that holds true, the Irish could pick up their 10th win of the season, reaching that mark for the second-straight year.

“We've got nine right now. But I think any time you get to that, it marks a stability in your program that everybody wants to work towards.”