Notre Dame celebrates win over Wisconsin in troll fashion in the locker room
Notre Dame is soaking up Saturday’s victory. After struggling to put away Toledo and Purdue in recent weeks, the No. 12 Fighting Irish made a statement with its 41-13 win over No. 18 Wisconsin at Soldier Field.
They’re having some fun with the victory celebration, too. Media members could hear Notre Dame blaring “Jump Around” in the locker room after the win, a clear shot at the Badgers. After the third quarter of every game at Camp Randall in Wisconsin, Badgers fans scream and dance to the song.
Notre Dame is now 4-0 overall with the win. And despite losing starting quarterback Jack Coan in the second half, the Fighting Irish looked fine. Redshirt freshman Drew Pyne took over for Coan, finishing 6 of 8 for 81 yards and a touchdown in the win. He put his accuracy and moxie on the national stage Saturday, showing his natural playmaking skills.
A member of the 2020 class, Pyne challenged Coan for the starting job this spring and into the summer. A former four-star prospect out of New Canaan, Connecticut, he was not going to challenge Ian Book as a rookie but he did push Brendon Clark for the backup job.
Notre Dame defense emerges
Notre Dame’s defense hadn’t looked that good this season. Then came Saturday at Soldier Field, and the Irish were absolutely dominant on that side of the ball in blasting Wisconsin 41-13.
The victory was Brian Kelly’s 106th at Notre Dame, making him the winningest coach in school history. The Irish didn’t do much offensively, rushing for just 3 yards and finishing with 242 overall. But they forced five turnovers, had two pick-sixes and got a kickoff return for a touchdown.
The Irish loaded up to stop the run, as most Badgers opponents do, and Notre Dame’s front made it work. The Badgers managed just 74 yards on the ground, and quarterback Graham Mertz isn’t a good enough passer to overcome a struggling rushing attack. Mertz was just 18-of-40 for 240 yards and four picks, and it got to the point that it’s fair to wonder if Badgers fans cringed whenever he dropped back to pass.
The victory was Brian Kelly’s 106th at Notre Dame, making him the winningest coach in school history.