Holtz Credits Quarterback, Bo Blames Turnovers as Irish Win

Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz can hardly wait for the next chapter of the Terry Andrysiak story.

“I had a lot of qualms about Andrysiak up until about 13 days ago,” Holtz said Saturday after the senior quarterback led the Irish to a 26-7 victory over ninth-ranked Michigan. “I found out that we weren’t on the same page. We weren’t even in the same book. But I feel comfortable with him now.”

Andrysiak completed 11 of 15 passes for 137 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown toss to All-American flanker Tim Brown, and 16th-ranked Notre Dame turned four of seven Michigan turnovers into scores.

“The story of the game was turnovers,” Michigan Coach Bo Schembechler said. “I can’t recall a Michigan team doing that for me.”

In fact, it was the most turnovers since the Wolverines gave the ball to Minnesota seven times in 1960.

It was the first time Schembechler had lost a home opener since taking over the Wolverines in 1969, breaking a 17-0-1 string. His only other opening defeat was at Wisconsin, 21-14, in 1981.

Schembechler said: “It was a miserable start, but this will surprise you: I believe we’ll have a good football team.”

In addition to Brown’s touchdown catch, Braxton Banks scored on a 1-yard dive, freshman Ricky Watters scored on an 18-yard run and Ted Gradel kicked field goals of 44 and 38 yards as the Irish silenced a partisan crowd of 106,098--sixth largest ever in Michigan Stadium.

Demetrius Brown, starting his first game after the graduation of quarterback Jim Harbaugh, passed 12 yards to Greg McMurtry for Michigan’s only score.

Brown finished with 4 completions in 15 attempts for 54 yards and 3 interceptions, each of which led to Irish scores. Michael Taylor came on midway in the fourth quarter and threw another interception and lost another fumble.

Andrysiak, who was a prep star at nearby Allen Park Cabrini, said: “Everything worked well for us today. We got all the breaks.”

Michigan tailback Jamie Morris gained over 100 yards for the ninth time in his career, finishing with 128 yards in 19 carries. But hefumbled twice, one of which led to a score.

It was the fourth time a Michigan team had been held to seven points at home, the Wolverines’ lowest total in Michigan Stadium under Schembechler.

After the first Michigan turnover--an interception of a Brown pass by outside linebacker Cedric Figaro--the Irish drove 44 yards in 11 plays for Gradel’s 44-yard field goal with 2:39 remaining in the first quarter.

Andrysiak scrambled for seven yards and a first down on a third-and-six situation during the drive. He also completed a 17-yard pass to tight end Andy Heck and tossed a 5-yard completion to tailback Mark Green during the drive.

The Irish needed only three plays to go 34 yards after Morris’ first fumble, which was recovered by Jeff Kunz.

Andrysiak completed a 25-yard pass to split end Ray Sumas on the first play, then Brown lost a yard trying left end on the second play.

On the next play, Andrysiak put the ball up in the left corner of the end zone and Brown went high to pull it down between cornerback Allen Bishop and free safety Erik Campbell to put Notre Dame ahead 10-0 with 1:26 remaining in the first quarter.

In the third quarter, Notre Dame free safety Corny Southall, who had two interceptions, picked off a Brown pass at the Irish 45.

Andrysiak, completing passes of 23, 3 and 24 yards, drove the Irish the 55 yards in 10 plays, with Banks flying over left guard with 5:19 remaining in the third quarter.

Michigan took the ensuing kickoff and drove 76 yards in six plays for its only score as McMurtry raced past Stan Smagala and took Brown’s pass over his shoulder in the right corner of the end zone with three seconds left in the third quarter.

The Irish took the next kickoff and drove 50 yards in 12 plays for Gradel’s 38-yard field goal with 8:59 remaining in the fourth quarter.

After Southall’s second interception, Notre Dame went 38 yards in five plays, capped by Watters’ 18-yard burst up the right sideline with 6:14 remaining.