SOUTH BEND Ind. The best part was the triumph from the sound of the obligatory clapping and off key singing surging through the walls. The self described work in progress that is Notre Dame football progressed from two to three victories. Celebration ensued. The next best part might have been that Saturday was over and to be sure there was joy in that.
After a barge load of miscues and grime from both sides the No. 22 Irish survived with a 17 13 victory over Michigan State. If the result is all that matters the story pretty much ends there. Otherwise there is a discussion to be had about a team that won gritty last year too but mingled inelegance with inspiration to seem always like it would amount to something.
What this club amounts to this season virtually no one can say with confidence. A refurbished defense held firm Saturday but there were more penalty yards (86) than rushing yards (82) and the most effective portion of the pass game was an official completing a toss of a flag to signal defensive pass interference.
Related Photos Notre Dame holds on vs. Michigan State 2 minute drill Targeting Robinson Video Martin on Notre Dame's close games 2013 Notre Dame schedule results Maps Notre Dame Stadium University of Notre Dame Notre Dame IN 46556 USAYet here was a 10th victory in the last 11 games under coach Brian Kelly that were decided by a touchdown or less and a 10th straight home victory overall.
Just from looking at the Temple game to tonight you have seen a little bit of progress throughout the year cornerback KeiVarae Russell said. But there's so much more to this. A lot of us haven't even played to our ability yet.
Construe that as blessing or curse as you will as Notre Dame (3 1) has left room for interpretation. Consider the two swing plays Saturday It's arguable that the Irish either had everything or nothing to do with both.
With the game tied 10 10 in the third quarter and his offense building momentum Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio nevertheless felt his team needed a big play.
He needed a second opinion as a preposterous halfback pass turned into an easy interception for Irish safety Matthias Farley.
Then on the ensuing series Notre Dame's third and 10 incompletion became a first and goal after a highly dubious pass interference flag. Two plays later Cam McDaniel ran in for a 7 yard score. That held up against one Michigan State field goal and three fruitless drives afterward courtesy a retooled and revived Irish defense.
The defenses had a lot to do with today's ballgame Kelly said. If you would have asked me last week what kind of game this was going to be it wasn't going to be a beauty contest.
That it wasn't. Quarterback Tommy Rees misfired on 20 of 34 passes and the interference calls (five) outnumbered the catches of each of the Irish's leading receivers (three apiece for Corey Robinson and DaVaris Daniels).
We made some plays when we needed to tackle Zack Martin said but it comes back to consistency and being able to be counted on the entire game.
What Notre Dame counts on has varied week to week. That doesn't mean the Irish are definitively bad or good or merely decent. It does mean imperfection has a different feel this time around. Last year everyone blissfully wondered how long it could last and this year everyone waits to see if the luck runs out.
I do think that progress is showing itself linebacker Jarrett Grace said and I think it has a ways to go.
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