Notre Dame to Stanford: "You Can't Do That"

“You can’t do that,” the crowd overheard angry referee Jack Folliard, his microphone left on after a penalty call, editorialize to a Notre Dame player in the early stages of the 3rd quarter. It was basically the gist of what the Irish defense had been telling Stanford QB Tavita Pritchard during the first 45 minutes of Notre Dame’s 28-21 win on October 4. Drop back on 3rd-and-7 for a conversion in one-score game in the 2nd quarter? You are denied access, noted freshman OLB Darius Fleming as he broke through the line. “He’s a very fast-twitch guy,” head coach Charlie Weis said of Fleming, whose monstrous sack eight yards behind scrimmage led to field position inside Stanford territory and a Michael Floyd 48-yard TD reception. “[His] greatest strength right now when he goes on defense is rushing the passer.” Produce more than three plays after an atrocious punt, a 15-yard coverage penalty, and gift-wrapped field position early in the 3rd ... (link)