A 59-point win isn't enough for the Irish to forget about NIU

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame talks about facing another MAC opponent in week four after 66-7 win over Purdue.

After a huge win over Purdue, you would think that we would discuss how great the offense looked scoring 59 points. Instead, we’re checking the temperature of this team because this is their first game in front of their fans after the tragic loss to Northern Illinois.

When speaking to players and coaches today, Defensive Coordinator Al Golden is this next home game made it clear that he has moved on from any of the previous games. I even asked if week four was a redo for their team to right the ship after another big win.

"I'm not signing off on that. I think, I think if you feel that way and you want to comment on it, that that's, that's your prerogative, I think, for us, and I'm being serious, like, that thing was over, man, that thing was in the box for me, you know, at 10:30 on Sunday," Golden said.

But is there a possibility of the box reopening? And if so – how do players use the memory of that box as fuel?

"We saw what happened from week one to week two. I personally think that we're going to be better from week two," Linebacker Jack Kiser mentioned.

"In my opinion, it's more of like, why didn't we do that second week? So therefore, it's like, starts to practice. Did we attack? Like, why? Like, the question is, why? Why didn't that happen? NIU, so therefore we hit that in practice," Defensive Lineman Jason Onye added.

The practice field helps to correct the errors seen on film. That process was evident after seeing the Irish against Purdue, but it doesn't make you forget what happened.

"I still have, like, every single notch of each tough loss that I've ever been a part of, right? It's a pit in your stomach that, as a competitor, you can't get rid of, ultimately, you know, sometimes that's why you work a little bit harder, use as fuel, as motivation, and so, yeah, week 10, I don't think we're gonna forget what happened Week two, that's for sure," Kiser said.