No. 5 Notre Dame finds another way to win ugly

By Tom Coyne

Associated Press

Published: Sunday, Oct. 21 2012 3:37 p.m. MDT

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Notre Dame running back Theo Riddick, right, runs past BYU defensive back Joe Sampson during the second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012. Notre Dame defeated BYU 17-14.

Michael Conroy, Associated Press

Summary

Notre Dame is finding ways to win ugly after some ugly losses in coach Brian Kelly's first two seasons.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame is finding ways to win ugly after some ugly losses in coach Brian Kelly's first two seasons.

The fifth-ranked Fighting Irish beat Brigham Young 17-14 Saturday to move to 7-0 for the 25th time in school history and the first time since 2002. That squad won five games by a touchdown or less en route to a 10-3 season.

Notre Dame is 4-0 in games decided by a touchdown or less this season and has won seven straight such regular-season games dating back to last season, after going 2-5 in those type of games after Kelly became coach in 2010.

Backup quarterback Tommy Rees, who started against BYU, believes the Irish are tougher mentally. Kelly agrees. He says the difference is the Irish believe they are going to win.

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