IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Notre Dame special teams provide too many ‘head scratchers'”- AP

“… [special teams] miscues have played a major role in why the Fighting Irish (3-5) have struggled. A blocked punt was the only touchdown scored in a 10-3 loss at North Carolina State. The Irish were leading 20-0 against Miami … when the Hurricanes recovered a bouncing punt that ricocheted off Tony Pride Jr., igniting a 27-0 run that included an onside kick, a partially blocked punt and a muffed punt that Miami recovered in in the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown …. Another bouncing punt against Michigan State ricocheted off Miles Boykin, sparking a 36-0 run by the Spartans … a game in which a 100-yard return by C.J. Sanders on the opening kickoff was called back because of a holding call. A 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Duke changed the momentum … Then there was a 74-yard punt return by Syracuse in which a player thought a fair catch had been signaled, a 24-yard punt by Tyler Newsome that set up a Texas touchdown and too many men on the field for a punt against Nevada. …”