I don’t know how NBC is going to approach this game. I thought cupcakes were scheduled at the beginning of the season, but I guess this game was a Charlie Weis special. So we have NBC stuck with this game and televising it at the special time of 2:30 p.m. East.
Here’s the press release from NBC Sports.
NOTRE DAME & WESTERN MICHIGAN MEET FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1920 THIS SATURDAY ON NBC
“What you’re seeing is progress under Brian Kelly.” – NBC Sports’ Mike Mayock on Notre Dame at midseason
NEW YORK – October 14, 2010 – Notre Dame, winners of two in a row, and Western Michigan, coming off a 45-16 win at Ball State, meet for the first time since 1920 this Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Tom Hammond (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (analyst) and Alex Flanagan (sideline) anchor NBC Sports’ coverage. Mayock is in his first season with NBC Sports as a Notre Dame game analyst.
NOTRE DAME-WESTERN MICHIGAN: Notre Dame, whose three losses are all to ranked teams, and Western Michigan will meet on the gridiron Saturday for the first time since 1920. The Irish have captured both previous meetings against the Broncos. Notre Dame posted back-to-back shutouts, 53-0 and 41-0, in 1919 and 1920, respectively.MAYOCK ON:
Western Michigan: “Bill Cubit is a well known and respected offensive coach. He got the program turned around quickly there. Quarterback Alex Carder has to be the Notre Dame defense’s No. 1 priority. He’s throwing for a ton of yards and has four rushing TDs, which means he’s a better-than-average athlete.”
Notre Dame at midseason: “They’ve lost to three ranked teams, who have two losses collectively. Two of the three games could have gone either way. They won the three games they should have won. What you’re seeing is progress under Brian Kelly.”
The loss of TE Kyle Rudolph: “It means Tyler Eifert, who is young and talented, has to step up, especially in the passing game.”
LB Manti Te’o: “He’s a top-level linebacker in both production and talent. For a young kid, he’s having a monster year.”
Remaining schedule: “Notre Dame can beat anybody left on their schedule, although the obvious roadblocks look to be Utah and USC.”
We’re done with this post. On to the next college football post.
