The Anti-Preview: #3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish VS Wake Forest Demon Deacons

If you’re a fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and I’m taking a wild guess that you are, these past six weeks have been incredible. Notre Dame is running all over college football, and changing minds all over the country.

There are so many storylines with the Irish that it’s hard to keep track of it all at times. These include:

• Josh Adams’ Heisman campaign
• Revenge for 2016
• A college football playoff run
• Becoming the greatest rushing team in Notre Dame history
• Continuing its run of 8 games without giving up more than 20 points

More than any of that though... this has been the most fun as an Irish fan as I can ever remember. I was 10 in 1988, and I remember the pure heartbreak all too well of 1993’s last game. 2015 was too mediocre as a whole, and in 2012 I kept waiting for the shoe to drop as we seemingly had luck on our side during the regular season.

This year we are beating the ever living shit out of our opponents, and thinking about it all has me as giddy as a bus full of school girls. We can’t overlook any opponent...

WAKE FOREST

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have had a surprisingly good year so far. Maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise, but most of us generally don’t have a positive outlook for Wake Forest at the beginning of most college football seasons. Add to the fact that the Demon Deacons lost their defensive coordinator and linebackers coach to a small school in the Midwest, and their ceiling for 2017 seemed low.

The Demon Deacons actually were a bit of a bright spot with its play so far, and are primed to make a bowl game this season. However, they will face the Irish without two of its best players in wide receiver Greg Dortch and defensive back (and Fort Wayne native) Jessie Bates III.

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DRINKING?

Something about this week has me thinking about throwbacks and fullbacks. Maybe I’m just getting old, or maybe I’m just in awe of the rushing attack this season. I feel old fashioned, so of course...

The Old Fashioned

• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 to 3 dashes bitters
• 2 ounces bourbon
• Orange and/or cherry, to garnish

Place sugar in an Old Fashioned glass. Douse with bitters and add a few drops of water. Add whiskey and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add several large ice cubes and stir rapidly with a bar spoon to chill. Garnish, if you like, with a slice of orange and/or a cherry.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE EATING?

There is just no logic that I feel like using this week for the eats. I like a good stuffed pepper (well I like just about anything that’s stuffed) so we’ll just go with this.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE WEARING?

A hard week to make a decision for, just got a whole lot easier.

Twitter @33Trucking

Josh Adams’ Heisman campaign is in full swing, and you can finally purchase the hat at noon on Friday. They will be available for purchase ONLINE HERE and on campus. Proceeds from the sale go to a student assistance fund.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS GAME?

You’ll have to forgive me, but I’m having a really hard time finding what’s “the best” thing about this game. I’m falling into a trap - I know. But seriously, as much as I want to respect an opponent that I don’t have any hate for, I guess I just don’t care enough GASP GASP GASP. Of course I care about Notre Dame football, but this is a week I just want to fast-forward through. Let’s just say that the best thing is that Mike Elko and Clark Lea get show how dope they are against their old team.

5 REASONS TO HATE WAKE FOREST

1. Chris Paul
2. More love for Tim Duncan than Marcus Camby
3. Seriously, that was 2 basketball references
4. Small stadium
5. That there are not enough reasons to hate Wake... yet.

SHAMROCK STARS

Josh Adams. I’m not foolish enough to NOT pick Josh Adams to shine with a stadium full of fans wearing a #33trucking hat on their heads. With Quenton Nelson, Mike McGlinchey, Sam Mustipher, Alex Bars, Robert Hainsey, Tommy Kraemer, and all those receivers knocking people all over the field, Adams will most likely have similar stats to last week with less carries.

Julian Squared. I think both Julian Love and Julian Okwara will combine to provide yet another solid defensive outing for the Irish. With a pass rush from Okwara, and Love putting his side of the field on lock, Notre Dame will most likely keep the Demon Deacons under 20 points.

AT THE END OF THE DAY...

This would be the type of game in the past that would cause great distress for the Irish and for the fans. We won’t have to worry about that much this week, as Mike Elko and company will want to show up - and show up with a lot of flair. Look for yet another win in similar fashion to what the Irish have already done this season. IRISH 49, WAKE FOREST 13.