Sept. 26, 2001
After putting the quarterback situation to rest on Monday, Irish head coach Bob Davie addressed the media relaxed and focused on Wednesday. Concerns now switch to the offensive line, and who will provide the holes for tailbacks Tony Fisher and Julius Jones.
“Kurt Vollers will be playing guard for his second time,” Davie said. “He has a little more experience in there. Milligan is back healthy again and he did some good things in practice.”
There is still a bit of a void there from Mike Gandy and Jim Jones who were both fifth year guys,” Davie pointed out. “I think the more work they get in there, the more comfortable they will become. Actually they didn’t play badly Saturday, we just had a couple busts at inopportune times.”
With another week of work, you know, I will feel a little bit better about it.”
Xs and Os of A&M
Breaking down the Aggies will be priority number one this week for the Notre Dame coaches. Davie, who worked on the Texas A&M staff with their current coach R.C. Slocum, knows how difficult a job that is.
“They have always had an attacking kind of defense,” Davie said. “This year they have a couple of really good defensive lineman in Ty Warren and Rocky Bernard…A good solid defense.”
“On offense, they try to spread you out and throw it, but it seems like they will go back and try to run it on you…They do a lot of different things on offense by spreading it and than going into a I formation and try to run it on you.”
Familiar face on A&M receiving corp
Jamaar Taylor, currently a wide receiver for the Aggies, was on the Irish roster prior to the start of last season. This will be the first meeting between Taylor and the Irish since his departure.
Davie commented on Taylor and his situation right now.
“We liked him in high school,” Davie said. “It looks to me like he has become A&M’s go to receiver. With Bethel Johnson out, he is the one they have highlighted…He has a lot of catches and he gets his hands on the ball on some screens. He is playing really well.”