Aug. 18, 2004
The Notre Dame football team held a controlled scrimmage on Wednesday (Aug. 19) afternoon, marking the team’s return to Cartier Field for the remainder of preseason workouts and the 2004 season. It was the first full scrimmage of the preseason with a complete staff of referees in attendance. The big play of the day was provided by sophomore safety Tom Zbikowski, who scooped up a fumble (caused by a Nick Borseti hit) and returned it for a long touchdown run. There were several solid hits dished out by the Irish defense at the scrimmage, including two sacks from senior defensive end Justin Tuck and one from Kyle Budinscak. Working with the third team defense against the third team offense, freshman defensive end Justin Brown dominated a series of plays with a sack and a half along with a tackle for loss. Sophomore safety Freddie Parrish, along with linebackers Corey Mays, Derek Curry and Mike Goolsby each posted big plays and/or hits on defense during the workout. Notre Dame’s passing attack provided some highlights, with senior Carlyle Holiday, junior Rhema McKnight and senior Marcus Wilson each catching two passes. Sophomore Chase Anastasio, sophomore John Carlson, junior Maurice Stovall, sophomore Jeff Smardzija and freshman Darius Walker each posted one reception in the scrimmage as well. The completions were thrown by a rotation of Brady Quinn, Pat Dillingham and David Wolke. The running game was manned by a combination of Travis Thomas, Jeff Jenkins, Wilson and Walker. Most of the team’s work on Wednesday afternoon consisted of situations, including one in which the field goal team was given a small amount of time to get a kick off after running in from the sidelines. Not only did the Irish get off each kick on time, but a rotation of kickers drilled all four attempts through the uprights. The Irish will return to the practice field bright and early on Thursday with another two-a-day workout beginning at 8:45 a.m., the second to last day with two practices (the Irish final two-a-day is Saturday, Aug. 21).