Brian Kelly & Host of Irish Take Home National & ACC Weekly Awards
The #2 team in the nation took home the Revel Suits Nation Team of the Week which is handed out by the Football Writers Association of America after upsetting the #1 team in the nation at Notre Dame on Saturday night. Head Coach Brian Kelly and a number of players took home individual weekly awards too. Here they are:
Weekly Awards –
Brian Kelly, Head Coach: Dodd Trophy, which is handed out to the coach of the week. This was Kelly’s first win vs a #1 team ever in his long coaching career.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Linebacker, Senior: Nagurski Trophy and the Bednarik Award, both of which are handed out to the best defensive player of the week. The senior was also named the ACC Linebacker of the Week. Owusu-Koramoah ended the night with 9 total tackles, 7 of which were solo. He also recorded half a sack and 2 1/2 tackles for loss. Owusu-Koramoah made the play of the night in the second quarter, taking a fumble to the house after a botched toss play to Travis Etienne of Clemson.
Ian Book, Quarterback, Senior: Davey O’Brien Great 8 List, this weekly award is given to the 8 best quarterbacks of the week. Book led the Irish over a #1 team for the fist time since 1993. Book went 22 of 39 for 310 yards and 1 large touchdown later in the 4th quarter. He also had 67 yards rushing on 14 attempts. Book bounced back from a costly 3rd quarter fumble as he was trying to score, driving the Irish to a game-tying score late in the 4th quarter to send the game into overtime.
Jonathan Doerer, Kicker, Senior: Lou Groza Star of the Week, handed out to the best kicker. Doerer was a monster on Saturday night – Book got the game ball, but I would have been quick to argue for Doerer. He knocked in 4 of his 5 kicks, the only one he missed was the 57 yarder to end the half, which would have been a school record. He made all 5 of his extra point attempts as well; impressively, he alone accounted for 17 of Notre Dames 47 points.
Kyren Williams, Running Back, Sophomore: Williams was named the ACC running back of the week, after rushing for 140 yards and scoring 3 touchdowns, 2 of which came in the over times. This is the 3rd time this season that Williams has been awarded this honor.
Aaron Banks, Offensive Line, Senior: Banks was named as the ACC offensive lineman of the week, after helping the Irish rush for 518 yards and giving Book enough time to throw for over 300 yards.