greg mattison

Previously: Krushed By Stauskas (Illinois 2014), Introducing #ChaosTeam (Indiana 2009), Revenge is Terrifying (Colorado 1996), Four Games In September I (Boston College 1991), Four Games In September II (Boston College 1994), Four Games In September III (Boston College 1995), Four Games In September IV (Boston College 1996), Pac Ten After Dark Parts One and Two (UCLA 1989), Harbaugh's Grand Return Parts One and Two (Notre Dame 1985), Deceptive Speed Parts One and Two (Purdue 1999)

Week One: 1993 Washington Part One, Part Two, 2002 Washington Twitch stream

This Game: Condensed game, WH highlights, box score, MGoPreview, Denard After Dentist, Offense UFR, Defense UFR, a Notre Dame fan's live blog

Lineup Cards! Brought to you by Seth. Click the images to embiggen.

Michigan offense vs. Notre Dame defense:

Michigan defense vs. Notre Dame offense:

Michigan-Notre Dame is a sight to behold.

Yes, the rivalry has lost its national luster. The Irish's season-opening loss to USF ensures this is the third time in five games both teams enter the contest unranked; that hadn't happened in the history of the rivalry until 2007. Notre Dame is in year two under Brian Kelly after the program bottomed out under Charlie Weis. Michigan is in year one under Brady Hoke (and offensive coordinator Al Borges) after Rich Rodriguez could only field half of a good team.

The rivalry itself is still healthy, however. Despite being, well, not very good, the Wolverines have taken the last two games in the series, both last-minute triumphs featuring star-turning performances by Michigan quarterbacks—Tate Forcier in 2009 and Denard Robinson in 2010. Meanwhile, the two teams are playing in Michigan Stadium's first-ever night game.

As per usual with this game, nobody has a clue what to expect. Notre Dame turned the ball over five times in its season opener but only lost by three points. Michigan looked good against an overmatched Western Michigan squad but didn't even complete three quarters before the game was called due to lightning. How little did we know? This was in Brian's preview:

The only thing we can take from the USF game is that Notre Dame has trouble defending bubble screens. The Bulls consistently racked up 5-10 yards despite the wholesale suck of Daniels. Chalk up some free yards on the outside.

Chalk is easily erased, thankfully.

As you'd expect from a game with a name—Under The Lights—there's a lot of pregame fanfare. Michigan unveils the Legends Jersey program by honoring Desmond Howard.

[After THE JUMP: #FreeDenard]

Khaleke Hudson

Chris Partridge said he’s got blood in his mouth and every day that he wakes up he thinks about it. I’ve been told too that he reminds you guys of that, too. What are they saying to you in practice to remind you of what happened last year at the end of the season in the Ohio State game and with Mattison and Al Washington leaving?

“With them two coaches leaving, they had to make a choice for themselves and for their families so I’ll never knock somebody for making that choice. Since that game and stuff happened we want to win that game. That game’s been stressed. That game is circled on our schedule. We’ve got to win that game. We can’t let the same stuff keep occurring each year, so every day in practice we’re just working our tail off and keeping it in our head that the last two games of the season really haunted us and we don’t want to ever feel that again so we’re going to work every day to not have that happen again.”

So do you feel like you also have blood in your mouth?

“I mean, yeah, I feel like we need to get revenge on them and just [inaudible].”

MGoQuestion: What does it do for you guys on defense as far as communication goes to now be facing an offense in practice that emphasizes tempo?

“Communication is key. Even with an offense that doesn’t do a spread, communication is key. Everybody’s got to be in sync; everybody’s got to know what the play is, everybody’s got to know the adjustments. If everybody doesn’t know that, that’s gonna cause chaos [and] people will be scrambling around.

"By them doing the spread it makes us have our communication even tighter because guys are hurrying up, guys are moving fast and getting to the line faster. We’ve got to be able to match that energy and match their speed and intensity to be able to keep up with them, so I feel like it’s ultimately helping us as a defense helping us. Going against them is going to help us going against other teams.”

[After THE JUMP: Jeter on Mazi (and Mattison), Uche on standout defenders, and Woods on facing a Gattis offense and the speed of this year's defense]

“How we doin’?”

Pretty good, how about you?

“Great. Couldn’t be better.”

Why is that? Why couldn’t you be better?

“Great afternoon. We’re practice 10 in. Guys have been working really hard. It’s just been really good. Environment’s awesome, staff’s awesome. Just think it’s a really good time to be a Wolverine.”

What’s it been like having Mike Sainristil back on punt returns?

“Oh, really good. He’s just a great kid, fun to be around, fun, energy. He’s been doing some really good stuff back there [at] both punt and kick return. I’m excited to see him as he keeps getting better and growing and stuff like that but he’ll be a guy that will challenge for those jobs for sure.”

A guy like Josh Metellus, how has he grown over the years considering how he was when he first got his start in 2016?

“Yep, that’s a great question. I mean, Josh is playing at an elite level right now. His leadership qualities are unbelievable. Really proud of him. He’s grown tremendously just as kids when they grow into men do, but he came in here, he was young for his age. He came in just having shoulder surgery if you remember back in the day so he wasn’t as strong his freshman year but he was so smart he got on the field and then he’s just grown as a player.

“He’s used any challenges that he’s come through, he’s used them as motivation as a positive thing, and I just—sky’s the limit for him. I think he could be one of the best safeties in the country this year. That’s what we’re shooting for.”

You have Moody and Nordin. Where is that right now?

“It’s great. Couldn’t ask for better as a coach. Those guys are coming every day. They’re competing, they’re getting after each other. They’re great teammates for each other. The environment is very competitive and those guys have handled it like A+ student-athletes and they’re there for each other, they’re coaching each other, and they’re competing against each other. It’s exactly what you want.”

How do you think Quinn responded to the end of last season when he really wasn’t the guy?

“Yeah, I think he obviously—it’s not what you want, right? It’s not what anyone asks for, but he’s got an adverse situation, he looked it in the eyes, and he’s come in and he’s competed. He hasn’t backed down from it. He hasn’t went in the tank from it. He’s really matured from it and handled it in a really, really good way.”

[After THE JUMP: more on the kicking competition, a bit about returners, and thoughts about the coaches who left for OSU]