The 16th annual Insight Bowl features two of the nation’s premier offenses as Notre Dame battles Oregon State. The 2004 version of the Insight Bowl is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 28 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Ariz.
“This matchup has a chance to be one of the better games during the bowl season,” Oregon State head coach Mike Riley said.
These two teams have not played each other since the 2001 Fiesta Bowl — a fond memory for
Oregon State fans, whose Beavers shellacked the Fighting Irish 41-9. Several current Oregon State players were redshirt freshmen on that Fiesta Bowl roster, including free safety Mitch Meeuwsen and tailback Dwight Wright.
Fourteen members of this year’s Beaver squad are making their second trip to the Insight Bowl, where two years ago they found themselves on the losing end of a 38-13 game against Pittsburgh. The win was spear-headed by former Panther receiver Antonio Bryant, who now starts for the Cleveland Browns.
“We have enjoyed our two
previous visits to the Phoenix area for a bowl, and we are looking forward to another enjoyable experience,” Oregon State Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis said. “I know our team is excited about playing in a respected bowl and against an opponent with a tremendous reputation.”
The two teams have compiled identical records of 6-5 but need a win in this game to mark 2004 as a winning season in their archives.
The Fighting Irish come into this game in the cross hairs of college football for unfortunate reasons. Notre Dame is reeling in the wake of a 41-10 loss to rival Southern California, who will have its bags packed for the Orange Bowl in January. On top of that, Notre Dame football has received more criticism than praise from the media following the firing of former head coach Tyrone Willingham. Notre Dame will be led by defensive coordinator Kent Baer, who is serving as the interim head coach. That decision came shortly after the Fighting Irish received their invitation to the Insight Bowl following the release of Willingham.
Notre Dame is desperate to revamp its program, and a bowl win could be just what it needs to do so. The year 2004 marks a decade since the Fighting Irish last won a bowl game. In 1994, Notre Dame hoisted the Cotton Bowl Trophy after defeating Texas A&M.
Sophomore Brady Quinn will lead the Fighting Irish at quarterback and hopes to emulate his outing against the Trojans in which he led the offense for an opening-drive of 92 yards en route to a touchdown. Quinn ended the 2004 regular season leading the team in more statistical categories than any other sophomore quarterback in Notre Dame history.
Quinn looked impressive throughout the first half of the game against USC and was aided by a Notre Dame rushing attack that churned out 195 yards. A consistent running game has been the key to every victory this season for the Fighting Irish and will be a necessity against Oregon State. Quinn will have to throw out of the pocket with confidence and keep the offense balanced.
Senior flanker Carlyle Holiday has been one of Quinn’s favorite targets this year and will need to continue hauling deep passes. Most importantly, Notre Dame needs to continue playing
smart football by avoiding turnovers. The Fighting Irish committed zero turnovers against the Trojans, which helped them stay in the game early.
Defensively, the Fighting Irish have remained sturdy throughout the season. Their biggest advantage over the Beavers comes with their ability to defend the run. Notre Dame’s front eight is led by senior linebackers Mike Goolsby and Brandon Hoyte, who lead the team in tackles. Fortunately for Notre Dame, Oregon State does not feature a decent running attack — the strength of its offense is welded by the throwing arm of senior quarterback Derek Anderson.
Anderson leads the Pacific-10 Conference with 3,257 passing yards and will give the Notre Dame secondary all it can handle. Anderson’s favorite receiver has been senior split end Mike Hass, who leads the Pac-10 in receiving yards. Hass played one of his best games two weeks ago against Oregon and was a major threat in last year’s Las Vegas Bowl win against New Mexico. When these two Beaver seniors are at their best, they make the worst of any defense.
The real challenge for Oregon State will be containing Notre Dame’s offense. The Beaver defense is led
by senior defensive end Bill Swancutt, who anchors the front four. Stopping Notre Dame’s rushing attack will
be quite a feat for Swancutt and Meeuwsen, but if they and the rest of the defense play as well as they did late in the regular season, a Beaver win could be nothing less than sealed.

Scott J. Adams is a freelance reporter for the Daily Emerald