Dec. 26, 2004
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Notre Dame football team completed its fourth and final day of full-scale game-week preparations for their Insight Bowl clash with Oregon State with a one hour, 45-minute practice Sunday afternoon at the Indian School Park practice facility in Scottsdale.
The Irish worked in shorts and shoulder pads during the practice, which was held under partly cloudy skies and in comfortable temperatures in the 60’s. The practice opened with offensive and defensive team vs. scout drills before moving into special teams work and closing with goal line offense and defense.
“Our players have really handled themselves well this week and in the weeks leading up to now and our practices have reflected that,” said interim head coach Kent Baer. “I’ve been really pleased with our approach to things. I think the guys are excited to play and have the chance to end this thing with a win.”
Earlier on Sunday, six Notre Dame players (Derek Curry, Mike Goolsby, Ryan Grant, Carlyle Holiday, Greg Pauly and Brady Quinn) participated in an Insight Bowl press conference at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn in Phoenix before starting practice.
After practice, the team had the option of attending the NBA basketball game between the Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors in downtown Phoenix Sunday evening.
UP NEXT – MONDAY, DEC. 27
Interim head coach Kent Baer will join Oregon State head coach Mike Riley for a press conference on Monday morning from 11:30 a.m. to Noon at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn in Phoenix.
The Irish will have a chance to sleep in during the morning before team and unit meetings begin. Monday’s practice will be a walk-through at the Bank One Ballpark from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. That walk-through practice will be closed to the media.
Notre Dame and Oregon State are set to clash in the 16th annual Insight Bowl on Tuesday night, Dec. 28, with kickoff slated for 9:47 p.m. EST (7:47 p.m. MST in Phoenix) at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN with the telecast beginning at 7:45 p.m. EST.
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