MIAMI NOTES

Martin sees Irish as biggest challenge yet

Also notes chance to shine on 'awesome' stage

By MIKE SMITH
You might say there is a bit of "Rudy" in Miami head coach Chuck Martin. He grew up in a midwest Notre Dame football-loving family. 
From just about as far back as he can remember, Fighting Irish games were a family staple, so he would watch them often -- live if possible and/or highlights (such as Harry Kalas-narrated replays on Sunday mornings) on other occasions.

Rudy Ruettiger got his own Irish moment when he made it onto the field for for three plays in the final home game of his senior season. A sack on the final play put him in the record book. Martin, meanwhile, eventually . . .

---

. . . served as Notre Dame offensive coordinator (2012-2013). 

Martin -- the 2024 version -- got another chance to watch the Irish Saturday. He was impressed, but not in the same way as during his youthful past. 

DIFFERENT VIEW
With his RedHawks facing Notre Dame in South Bend this week, Martin looked at ND as an opposing coach. ""I came home from a tough loss against our bitter rival, and then I watched the first half of the Purdue (vs Notre Dame) game," Martin said."It wasn't Purdue's day and, obviously, Notre Dame coming off a week where they didn't play their best football (played at a much higher level against Purdue)."

A week earlier, then No. 5 Notre Dame had been upset by Mid-American Conference member Northern Illinois. If that setback humbled ND, it didn't show Saturday. What showed, Martin said, was a powerful and talented Irish team that steam-rolled Purdue 66-7. 

"They've got a great secondary (and) they put immense pressure (on the quarterback)," Martin said of the Irish. "By the end of the first half, I felt sorry for the Purdue quarterback, and I didn't even know the kid." 
Over four quarters, the Irish defense recorded four sacks, five TFL and two interceptions.

Notre Dame also stuffed the Boilermaker run game, yielding just 38 yards. Overall, the Irish outgained Purdue 580-162. ​

'PHYSICALLY GIFTED'
"They are insanely physically gifted," said Martin, who maintained ND is even more physical than Miami's first two opponents (one from the Big 10 and another from the Big 12). "They've done a great job of recruiting. They play really hard, and they know what they're doing." 

Offensively, he noted Notre Dame's "tailbacks are amazing (and) their quarterback (Riley Leonard) is like a tailback... He's so athletic and strong. (He) can break tackles... and he's fast." 

Leonard carried 11 times for a total of 100 yards with a long of 34 against Purdue. It was part of a 364-yard ground attack by ND, who also produced 216 yards through the air. Leonard contributed about half of that (11/16 for 112 yards), while Steve Angeli came in to throw for 100 yards and two scores.

Nine different Irish receivers caught passes in the route. "They've got some really high-end receivers," Martin said. 

Notre Dame has lost several people along the offensive line, but Irish depth filled those sports rather well... "They're a little beat up, but the backups ... are pretty good , (too)."

OPPORTUNITY ON GRAND STAGE
Martin knows what to expect, and even as his team recovers from two Power Four opponent battles, he and the staff prepare the RedHawks for the upcoming "opportunity."

"It's an awesome opportunity for us to experience going into (a) venue like that," he said. "You're going to be on national TV, and you get to show the whole world what kind of player you are and what kind of team you are."

YAGER ATMOSPHERE
Martin opened Monday's presser talking about MU's home field atmosphere Saturday. 
"It's been a long time since we had a crowd like that, and (I) thank the students for coming out," Martin said, "They were amazing and loud, (along with) a lot of other fans that came out -- a lot of (them) came from far away."

Noting tailgaters and other activities surrounding the stadium, Martin enjoyed the scene along with his players. 

"Even (with) 30-some years of coaching, it still give you goose bumps when you get in that atmosphere... It was an awsome ... atmosphere for our team."

2017 MEETING
Miami and Notre Dame have met twice previously, with the most recent being 2017.It was Martin's third year with MU, and the program was still rebuilding from the Don Treadwell years. 
Then No. 22 Notre Dame won that meeting 52-17. Gus Ragland, now Miami's quarterbacks coach, completed 19 of 37 attempts totaling 262 yards with two TDs and one interception against the 2017 Irish. That ND team went on to finish 10-3. The Irish defeated No. 17 LSU 21-17 in the Citrus Bowl. Ragland later spent four years as a Notre Dame assistant coach before joining MU.
Miami finished at 5-7 in 2017 and went 6-6 the following year. MU then won a MAC championship, defeating Central Michigan, in the 2019 title game. A 27-17 loss to Louisiana in the Lendingtree Bowl left MU at 8-6.