Associated PressSOUTH BEND, Ind. ó A busted up knee could hardly put a damper on this day for Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis.
After a season of disappointment and an uninspiring opening-game victory against a heavy underdog, the Fighting Irish have something to truly celebrate ó Notre Dame 35, Michigan 17.
“We definitely showed up against a good opponent and it’s sweet,” said Weis, on crutches most of the game after tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee Saturday when he was hit in the second quarter along the sideline. “This was a big win for our program and our kids.”
Ripping a page out of the playbook that Michigan used for consecutive blowout wins over the Irish the past two seasons, Notre Dame took advantage of mistakes by the Wolverines to jump to a three-touchdown lead. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said his team’s six turnovers too much to overcome.
“I don’t think we’re that far off. We’ve just got to play better,” he said.
Jimmy Clausen, who was sacked eight times by the Wolverines last year, was 10-of-21 passing for 147 yards with two touchdown passes, two interceptions and he wasn’t sacked. Robert Hughes ran for two touchdowns for the Irish.Weis was hurt when Irish defensive end John Ryan, who is 6-5, 264 pounds, was blocked and crashed into Weis in the leg. The coach was looking in the other direction because the ball carrier had run past him.
“Tommy Brady’s got nothing on me,” Weis joked afterward about the injured New England Patriots’ quarterback.
Weis will have surgery on his knee in the next few days.
“I feel like an athlete. First time in my life,” Weis joked.