FanHouse Kerry Neal

FanHouse writer John Walters is embedded in South Bend, Ind., during one of the most pivotal seasons in Irish history. Check back for his latest blog post from campus.

Quote of the day, from Notre Dame sophomore Sara Teising, in The Observer, "[Next Saturday's game] will be tough since Michigan's obviously been practicing more than us."

Just Teising.

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If there was anywhere the Irish showed need for improvement on Saturday, it was along the defensive line. Defensive ends Kapron Lewis-Moore (who was making his Irish debut) and Kerry Neal combined for zero tackles and, as Charlie Weis said, "We had another four sacks that we could have had (in addition to the two they recorded) that we missed a few tackles there." Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick is a shifty one, sure, but the Irish front four evoked memories of slack-jawed zombies stumbling after human prey. It was Night of the Living Dead out there sometimes.

Is the 2009 football season BCS or bust for Notre Dame? The Irish aren't saying.

"We are not talking - you don't win games by talking," junior defensive end Kerry Neal said. "Talk is cheap. I think the less said is better."

Amen.

Notre Dame opened preseason practice Saturday and, by all appearances, this is the best team in five years under head coach Charlie Weis. He has experience at just about every position on offense and most on defense. In fact, the team's 18 returning starters are the most at Notre Dame since 2001. The Irish also were ranked No. 23 in Friday's USA Today preseason football coaches' poll, suggesting Notre Dame isn't out of sight, out of mind after its struggles the past two seasons.