**Let’s Remember Some Games: Under The Lights, Part One (2011 Notre Dame)**
*September 9th, 2020 at 3:54 PM*
by Ace

—

The first-half high point was a high point.
![ESPN screencap]

—

**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

—

### 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 truly a sight to behold. Yes, the rivalry has lost some of its national luster. Notre Dame’s season-opening loss to USF ensures this is only the third time in five games both teams enter the contest unranked; something that had never happened in the history of the rivalry until 2007.

Notre Dame was in year two under Brian Kelly after the program bottomed out under Charlie Weis. Michigan was in year one under Brady Hoke (and offensive coordinator Al Borges) after Rich Rodriguez struggled to field a fully effective team. Despite this, the rivalry itself remained healthy.

Despite being, well, not very good, the Wolverines had 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 were playing in Michigan Stadium’s first-ever night game.

As per usual with this game, nobody had a clue what to expect.

Notre Dame had 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, though the game was called early due to lightning before three quarters were completed.

—

#### From Brian’s preview:
The only thing we could take from the USF game was that Notre Dame had trouble defending bubble screens. The Bulls consistently racked up 5-10 yards despite the wholesale struggles of Daniels. Chalk up some free yards on the outside. Chalk that was easily erased, thankfully.

—

As you’d expect from a game named **Under The Lights**, there was a lot of pregame fanfare. Michigan unveiled the Legends Jersey program by honoring Desmond Howard.

Junior Hemingway wore the celebrated #21 uniform. Ann Arbor went from dusk to dark within the first couple minutes of kickoff. The Goodyear blimp captured the scene. It was beautiful.

Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for Michigan’s first half.

—

### First Half Highlights

Notre Dame won the toss and deferred, so we started the game with a taste of Denard-Borges fusion cuisine. It was a mere nibble:

– Robinson gained seven yards on a QB power to open the drive.
– Then, standout ND linebacker Manti Te’o destroyed a QB stretch attempt.
– Lineman Ricky Barnum false started, and Robinson missed a third-and-11 checkdown behind the line of scrimmage.

A suboptimal start, though at least Borges was running Denard out of the shotgun — which struck terror into the heart of every Irish partisan after his record-breaking 2010 season.

—

Notre Dame’s first drive was foreboding, impacting Michigan’s young defense, which was still getting accustomed to Greg Mattison’s new scheme. Still, a brief ND slip-up occurred — a memory worth noting.

– Running back Cierre Wood opened the drive with an 11-yard rush, exploiting a bad angle by freshman linebacker Desmond Morgan.
– QB Tommy Rees hit WR Michael Floyd for a 21-yard gain.
– Wood added 11 more yards up the gut to set up first-and-goal.
– Rees fumbled the next snap but managed to dive on it and save the drive.

Two plays later, Mattison brought a heavy blitz, leaving safety/nickel Thomas Gordon on an island covering slot receiver Theo Riddick, whose versatility and NFL-level receiving ability stood out even nine years later.

ND’s line easily picked up the rushers, as expected. Gordon shaded Riddick sufficiently inside to allow Rees to miss his out route by a yard but still make an easy touchdown throw.

**7-0, Irish.**

—

Michigan went three-and-out on their next possession. They used three running backs in six plays: starter Michael Shaw, power back Stephen Hopkins, and third-down back Vincent Smith. A holding penalty on the punt return at least pinned ND inside their own 20-yard line.

Returning from commercial break, Kirk Herbstreit humorously revealed he’d consumed what he believes was an all-time record four Zingerman’s sandwiches in two days, including one PB&J — proof, he joked, of how much money he makes.

Brian Kelly kept calling perfect counters to Mattison’s blitzes. The combination of runs away from pressure and quick-hitters to Floyd, Riddick, and tight end Tyler Eifert proved difficult to slow down. Michigan simply didn’t have the secondary talent to keep up.

Floyd set up another first-and-goal by beating Michigan corner Courtney Avery on a slant.

Brent Musburger noted that Notre Dame was only 2-for-6 in the red zone the previous week, but after two Wood carries, they were 2-for-2 against Michigan.

—

Alarmingly, the hole on the touchdown run opened by ND’s left side obliterated Michigan’s Mike Martin and Jibreel Black — two of the team’s top defensive linemen. Wood celebrated with the popular “eating” celebration, which felt like salt in the wound despite being trendy among college players.

Borges responded by putting Denard under center in a heavy I-formation and running a play-action waggle, which resulted in Denard being smashed at the line by multiple defenders as no one popped open.

They tried the shotgun on the next play, and Denard cut back against the grain to get the crucial first down. Funny how that works!

Hopkins rushed for two yards on the following snap.

On the last play of the first quarter, disaster struck: Robinson blindly threw a screen pass over Smith’s head, picked off by diving ND defender Gary Gray.

I do not like seeing Denard like this. Please make it stop.

—

The defense stiffened somewhat, forcing ND off the field in three plays. ND even burned their second timeout amid pre-snap confusion prior to the punt.

Before Michigan’s offense took the field, a heartwarming scene played out — a fan experiencing the overwhelming feeling of seeing Charles Woodson in person.

—

This time, Borges started the drive with something that might work. He was learning. Everything was going to be great!

Michigan punted after three failed pass attempts, including an off-target pass to an open Roy Roundtree that revealed Denard’s frustration again.

—

This was my first time watching a non-condensed broadcast of this game. I was enjoying it less than I anticipated.

Floyd proved unstoppable again, beginning the next drive with a 21-yard screen around Gordon.

Both Floyd and Troy Woolfolk — who entered the game nursing an ankle injury — left the field after a sideline collision on another Floyd target. ND burned their last timeout so Floyd could return, while Woolfolk stayed on the bench.

When Rees targeted his favorite receiver once more, Michigan’s Jordan Kovacs was waiting to undercut the throw and intercepted it.

—

Hopkins slammed into the line from I-formation for two yards, which was annoying for only a moment, as Borges used the rushing persistence to set up a play-action bomb to Hemingway. Hemingway high-pointed the ball and stretched to hit the pylon for a highlight-reel score.

—

A long review determined whether the dreaded rule — a touchback when the ball carrier fumbles into the end zone — applied. The call stood, pulling Michigan within seven.

It looked like Notre Dame would strike back.

– Wood cruised 22 yards up the middle when Kelly caught Mattison dropping Martin, Michigan’s best interior run defender, into zone coverage on an edge blitz.
– Floyd drew a defensive pass interference on Avery.
– Even an ND personal foul was a temporary setback.
– Floyd beat J.T. Floyd one-on-one, picking up all but an inch for the first down; then Wood gained more yards.
– Kenny Demens made a nice edge stop — though Musburger hilariously credited the play to “Dewins.”
– With no timeouts left, ND ate a delay of game penalty, eliciting a mini-blowup from Kelly.
– The Irish kept pressing, with Floyd freeing himself for a 10-yard first down.
– However, Rees forced one too many throws to Floyd and was intercepted at the goal line by J.T. Floyd.

—

The next Michigan drive failed due to execution rather than play-calling, keeping the offense fresh:

– A first-down handoff to Shaw from the gun lost a yard.
– Denard overthrew Roundtree on a shot play.
– Hemingway got open against zone coverage but Robinson’s ball was uncatchable.
– Punter Matt Wile hit a weak 33-yard punt, and Irish return man John Goodman fair caught on the midfield stripe.

—

As the half wound down, Michigan’s chances of keeping ND out of the end zone looked bleak.

– Floyd beat Avery for another first down.
– On third-and-five, Jonas Gray went 12 yards off tackle when Martin dropped into a short zone again.
– Kelly had Mattison’s number.

Finally, a couple of Mattison blitzes pressured ND enough to force a field goal. David Ruffer converted from 38 yards.

**17-7, Notre Dame.**

—

Despite two timeouts and Denard Robinson, Hoke and Borges decided to pack it in for halftime with 1:40 on the clock, after a penalty on a short kickoff return put the ball at the six-yard line.

“They’re really not built for inside your own five- or ten-yard line, two timeouts, a minute-and-a-half to go, let’s drive 60 or 70 yards and try to get in field goal range,” Herbstreit noted during the broadcast. “I’m not saying they can’t do it but right now they don’t necessarily have the pieces in place to be able to do that.”

Denard kneeled out the clock.

Kelly must have been peeved that his offense’s lack of cohesion cost the team two timeouts, but the broadcast didn’t highlight this or show his reaction.

—

As we headed into the tunnel, Erin Andrews caught Hoke for a rather blunt interview.

![Erin Andrews Interview]

“WELL, that could’ve gone better.”

—

Stay tuned for the absolutely batshit conclusion on Friday, and don’t forget to join us on Saturday at noon ET for a live Twitch stream (further details forthcoming).

—

**Fan Reactions**

**An Angelo’s Addict — September 9th, 2020 at 4:07 PM:**
_I graduated in 2010 and this was the first game/time I came back to the Big House after graduation. Absolutely best and craziest football experience of my life. I’ll never forget how it felt like the entire stadium was still there screaming/dancing to “Dynamite” and some other songs for like 20 minutes after the game ended. Amazing experience._

**ChiCityWolverine — September 9th, 2020 at 4:08 PM:**
_Looking at the lineup chart, I forgot how many holes that defense had. Mike Martin really solved a lot of problems, as did an abundance of turnover luck._

**Watching From Afar — September 9th, 2020 at 6:28 PM:**
_Mattison and Hoke took a complete disaster of a defense and cobbled together a top 25 unit. They hit a ceiling because of many things, but at least they got it out of the dumpster._

**lilpenny1316 — September 9th, 2020 at 4:16 PM:**
_If that game kicked off at noon or 3:30, I would’ve been pissed by halftime. But because it was ‘Under The Lights’, I was all like, “Yay, night game in the Big House.”_

**Chaco — September 9th, 2020 at 4:27 PM:**
_”He’s a poor thrower….but on the run he is a dangerous man…” and then Denard torches them by throwing them down the field. The schadenfreude never gets old with this clip._
[Watch clip on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK-8PdulPw8)

**BlueinIN — September 9th, 2020 at 4:46 PM:**
_I still remember everybody in the stadium going ‘shhhhhhhhh’ just as the last drive was starting. On paper we were doomed, but everyone just got that tingling feeling that if someone were to make some magic happen, it would be Denard. 28 seconds later I was part of the loudest screaming that I ever heard in the stadium._

**Grampy — September 9th, 2020 at 4:53 PM:**
_I’ve been to a lot of games with last-minute heroics and failures, but nothing compares to the last half of the 4th quarter of this game. I’ve never heard the crowd so emotionally engaged or seen us stick around for 45 minutes after the game sharing the experience, not wanting it to end. Hoke had many flaws as a head coach but he’ll always have this game._

**Blueroller — September 9th, 2020 at 4:55 PM:**
_Blue Seoul had a diary on this game that’s one of my favorite pieces in the history of MGoblog. I’m just going back to it in all its glory. What a blast!_
[Read the diary](https://mgoblog.com/diaries/nd-game-wrap-pics-0)

—

### Closing Thoughts

This 2011 Notre Dame game remains one of the most magical in Michigan football history — a true night under the lights that tested the Wolverines and culminated in a memorable finish.

Stay tuned for Part Two coming Friday.

—

*Tags:* 2011 Notre Dame, Desmond Howard, Denard Robinson, Al Borges, Brady Hoke, Brian Kelly, Greg Mattison, Tommy Rees, Junior Hemingway, Jordan Kovacs, J.T. Floyd

—

*Join the conversation below!*
https://mgoblog.com/content/michigan-21-purdue-16