The Anti-Preview: #4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish VS Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 5-0 and sitting atop the ACC standings (with some other team) and are coming off of a road win where they finally found something in the passing game. That “something” was taking some shots deep, and relying on the size of its receivers to out-monster defensive backs — all while using that deceptive speed we have come to love.

Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images

The real story for me is this Notre Dame defense that has only been on the field for 96 plays over the past two games. While it’s terrible for individual tackling stats, it’s fantastic for fresh legs and points allowed per game (9.8). Many people focus on what the offense can or can’t do, but 90% of the time it just doesn’t matter.

The Irish also haven’t lost to an unranked team in almost 4 years, so we have that going for us too. Speaking of unranked, let’s spread out this sweet, sweet honey.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

GT is not a good football team right now, and while I will make many arguments as to why that should, and likely will, change in the future — they are what their record is. The Yellow Jackets were able to get out of Tallahassee with a win over the Florida State Seminoles, and Jeff Sims looks like a solid quarterback — but that 73-7 loss to the Clemson Tigers is why we’re all really here. It was a butt whooping, and it came on a day when the Irish struggled against the Louisville Cardinals. Irish fans want to see how their possible blowout compares because there is a next week...

Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images

And onwards to more honey.

What should I be drinking?

We’re going to do this honey thing — I swear to satan.

Bees Knees

Ingredients

• 1/4 (2 oz.) gin
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a coupe glass.

Enjoy.

What should you be eating?

I don’t typically think of salmon when the city of Atlanta is brought up, but again... honey (and bears).

Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

SALMON

• 4 (6 oz each) salmon filets
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
• 1/4 tsp blackening seasoning (optional)

SAUCE

• 3 Tbsp butter
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 6 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 Tbsp water
• 3 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp sriracha sauce
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice

Pat salmon dry, then season with salt, pepper, paprika and blackening seasoning (if using). Set aside. Adjust oven rack to middle position, then preheat broiler.

Add butter and oil to a large, oven-safe skillet over MED-HIGH heat. Once butter is melted, add garlic, water, soy sauce, sriracha, honey and lemon juice and cook 30 seconds or so, until sauce is heated through.

Add salmon, skin side down (if using salmon with skin), and cook 3 minutes. While salmon cooks, baste frequently with sauce from the pan by spooning it over the top of the salmon.

Broil salmon for 5-6 minutes, basting with sauce once during the broil, until salmon is caramelized and cooked to desired doneness.

Garnish with minced parsley if desired.

What should I be wearing?

Obviously.

Photo by Ahmad Alislam/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

3 reasons to hate Georgia Tech

• Jon Tenuta. Charlie Weis was so enamored by the close game the Irish had with GT in 2006 and the ass pounding from the Yellow Jackets in 2007, that he just HAD to hire Tenuta in 2008. As all things that didn’t work out in the Weis era — I hate it.
• The 1999 Gator Bowl. The 98 team was one of my favorite squads of the Bob Davie era. Aside of anything else, beating the kind-of-defending- champions — the Michigan Wolverines 36-20 — was excellent. The Gator Bowl was not excellent, and choking out in the 4th quarter was a brutal out.
• They are no longer supplied by Russell Athletic... cowards.

At the end of the day...

There is simply no reason that Notre Dame doesn’t take the hive out of the woodshed and kill it with fire. Notre Dame’s defense is as good as any in the country and is the best in the entire Power 5 in terms of points allowed per game. In the final tune-up for “the next game” it will be less about holding things back on offense and more about finding more. I think Notre Dame pours it on GT.

IRISH 52-6