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| Wednesday, October 4 LoVecchio gets first start vs. Stanford Associated Press | |||
| SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Matt LoVecchio is about to do something
Paul Hornung, John Huarte, Joe Theismann and Joe Montana never did
at Notre Dame: start at quarterback as a freshman.
Coach Bob Davie made it official after practice Wednesday and
announced that LoVecchio will start Saturday against Stanford,
making him just the fourth Irish quarterback since 1952 to start as
a freshman without a redshirt season.
"If any freshman is prepared to handle this kind of situation,
Matt is prepared as he possibly can be," said Fred Stengel, who
coached LoVecchio at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, N.J.
"He's very even-keeled. He never gets too high, he never gets
too low. He just has the ability to keep his wits about him when
everybody around him is losing their heads."
LoVecchio led Bergen Catholic to a 22-1 record and two state
championships the past two years, amassing 3,400 career passing
yards and 48 touchdowns. He wasn't expected to play this year, but
a broken wrist by Arnaz Battle and ineffectiveness of the offense
under Gary Godsey led to his chance.
Davie said LoVecchio's grasp of the Irish offense put him ahead
of fellow freshman quarterbacks Jared Clark and Carlyle Holiday.
"He's smart and he's on it. And the players know he's on it,"
Davie said. "He has those intangible things that puts him ahead of
those other freshmen right now."
Irish players say they are comfortable with LoVecchio.
"Matt LoVecchio fits better with this scheme and he's more
reminiscent of Arnaz than Gary," tight end Dan O'Leary said.
Battle ran for 157 yards the first two games as the Irish
averaged 217 yards rushing. The past two games with Godsey, the
Irish have averaged 113.5 yards. Godsey ran for 2 yards on nine
carries.
LoVecchio played the second half in the 27-21 loss to Michigan
State and ran for 21 yards on four carries and threw a 43-yard pass
that set up a touchdown.
Davie said the Irish had limited game plans the past two games
because of Godsey's lack of mobility, but said there will be no
limitations against Stanford.
"We're going into this game as if Arnaz Battle is our
quarterback as far as checks and as far as what we do," Davie
said.
LoVecchio said his focus Saturday is to stay confident.
"I have to know my responsibilities and just make sure
everything is smooth," he said.
LoVecchio has statistics on his side. The last three freshman
quarterbacks for the Irish -- Blair Kiel in 1980, Steve Beuerlein in
1983 and Kent Graham in 1987 (before transferring to Ohio State) --
all won their first starts. The Irish also are 11-1 since 1985 with
quarterbacks making their first starts.
LoVecchio said he never thought much about starting as a
freshman. But his boyhood friend, Texas quarterback Chris Simms,
said he saw LoVecchio over the summer and LoVecchio talked of
playing.
"He was working hard and hoping he was going to get his chance.
He wasn't going in predicting anything or expecting anything,"
Simms said. "He was just going to let it play out and do his
deal."
LoVecchio and Simms grew up in Franklin Lakes, N.J., playing
basketball, baseball and football together. They attended different
high schools but never faced each other.
Asked who the better quarterback is, Simms replied: "Hey, he's
starting." | |||
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