October, 6, 2010 Oct 67:13PM
By Wes Morgan
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Either all the tough losses since have produced a logjam in Robert Blanton’s mind or the normally yap-happy cornerback was just being coy.
[+] EnlargeScott Boehm/Getty Images
Robert Blanton and the Irish are hoping for redemption against Pitt.“That we lost,” the junior said, when asked about Pittsburgh’s last trip to South Bend in 2008, when coach Dave Wannstedt’s crew beat the Fighting Irish, 36-33, in four overtimes. “That’s really all you remember after the games.”
Everyone else remembers a quartet of bonus periods -- the most in Fighting Irish history -- that flooded Notre Dame Stadium with tension. That, and the actual flooding taking place on the field. With regulation winding down and the Panthers driving for a potentially game-winning score on the opposite end of the field, the sprinkler system mysteriously kicked on and soaked the north end, suspending play for several minutes.
Senior nose guard Ian Williams made some crucial stops that night, including a solid stick on LeSean McCoy on a screen pass in the second OT that nearly went for a touchdown. Instead, Pitt’s Conor Lee kicked a 22-yard field goal, his second of five that evening -- a perfect performance that was the deciding factor. Notre Dame’s Brandon Walker went 4-for-5, missing a 37-yarder in the fourth overtime.
“It was a tough game to go four overtimes and not be able to pull it out,” said Williams, a 6-foot-2, 305-pounder who’s played at a high level this season. “I just did as much as I could to help the team out and it wasn’t enough. Of course, they’ve beat us the last two years, so there’s an element of revenge there.”
Wenger’s future
Fifth-year senior Dan Wenger, who grabbed the starting center spot in fall camp before a pair of concussions took him out of the lineup, underwent tests Wednesday and ND coach Brian Kelly said his future with the team will be announced no later than Thursday.
“He went today to see a specialist at the University of Michigan,” Kelly said. “I have not sat down with him. I got some preliminary reports and I want to talk to him first before we make any announcements.”
Bumps and bruises
The Irish are fairly healthy heading into Saturday’s game. Offensive linemen Taylor Dever, Chris Stewart and Braxston Cave were all dinged up last week at Boston College, but Kelly expects them to be ready against the Panthers.
“Cave took every snap [on Wednesday],” he said. “Dever moved around much better today. He did not contact today. We’ll get him in contact tomorrow. Stewart, we’re spelling him – he’s got just a knee bruise though. He doesn’t have any structural damage.”
