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The wait felt like 50 years.
Well, 50-and-a-half.
That's the comparison Sergio Brown used Saturday to describe how long he's felt it's been since he arrived at Notre Dame in the summer of 2006 and when he stepped on the field in a meaningful play for the Irish, which happened Saturday.
Brown picked up his first career start because Notre Dame started the game in nickel. He made six tackles, broke up two passes, made a tackle for loss and hurried San Diego State's quarterback once.
He also did another thing, possibly his most important move of the game. Brown blocked a San Diego State punt late in the first half that eventually led to Notre Dame's first touchdown.
"I feel like I'm in the first 11 because even if we don't start the game in nickel, I have enough confidence in my defense that I'll be on the field third down," Brown said.
While Notre Dame started slow, Brown played quick. He made most of his plays in the first half and said the Irish held on "good enough" during the Irish's 21-13 win over San Diego State.
But, as a reporter asked Brown, is good enough good enough?
"Is good enough good enough?" Brown said. "If we're at least one point above our opponent, I'm happy."
SACKLESS
After a year in 2007 where Notre Dame allowed a school-record 58 sacks, the Irish allowed none to San Diego State on Saturday.
Part of it could be attributed to the seven defensive linemen missing from San Diego State's team. Yet, the Irish will take it. Notre Dame also gained yards on the ground -- a change from last year when the Irish didn't reach positive yardage until the third game in the season.
"We have a stepping off point," junior right tackle Sam Young said. "We started something and obviously we need to get better but 120 yards versus last year, yeah."
CALLING THE PLAYS
Charlie Weis smiled at the question, but answered that, yes, offensive coordinator Michael Haywood did call all the plays.
But, he received help.
Weis helped him along during the two-minute offense, saying he didn't call the plays but was "assisting in the process."
And Weis' grade of Haywood?
"Well, if you ask him, he's going to say he did terrible because that's the way he's been bred," Weis said. "He's just going to say it was awful.
"I think right now, you know, the way the game turned out in the end, it's a perfect learning experience for a play caller. Because as miserable as you are with all the things that went poorly, you know, at least you're miserable with a W instead of an L.
"...I think for him, I think he'll evaluate himself very hard on this one right here. But I think as we transition through, I think he was very calm. The 40-second clock didn't come into play. Getting personnel groups in and out, I mean, he didn't turn over the ball himself now. I mean, you don't lay the ball on the ground, throw the interceptions."
The Notre Dame offense committed four turnovers and gained only 342 total yards.
THIS AND THAT
Junior running back James Aldridge, one of the three-headed running back plan Charlie Weis said he'd use, didn't play. Weis said situations didn't dictate his appearance because of the two-minute offense. ... Five freshmen played -- Kyle Rudolph, Michael Floyd, Ethan Johnson, Braxston Cave and Darius Fleming.
