Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman had a plan for bad ...
RALEIGH, N.C. — Stormy weather conditions and a lengthy lightning delay at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday won’t necessarily throw Notre Dame football for a loss.
Play was halted and the stadium cleared with 14:45 remaining in the second quarter of Saturday's game, which kicked off at noon. Notre Dame led 3-0 on Spencer Shrader's career-long 54-yard field goal with 3:18 left in the first quarter.
According to the National Weather Service, a flash flood warning was in effect for the Raleigh area until 4:30 p.m EDT.
More: Top Notre Dame football weather games in recent history
"This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation," the emergency phone alert read. "Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under and evacuation order."
Unlike the infamous Hurricane Matthew game in 2016, when N.C. State outlasted Notre Dame 10-3 in a game that included a 30-minute weather delay, Irish coach Marcus Freeman said his team would be prepared.
“We’ve had a few wet-ball practices where we intentionally went out in the rain during fall camp,” Freeman said Thursday in his weekly media update. “No matter what the elements are, we have to go out there and perform. We have a plan.”
Opening the season in Dublin, Ireland against Navy gave the Irish a dry run at the concept of game-plan adjustment amid a pregame forecast of rain.
More: Lee Corso believes Notre Dame football quarterback Sam Hartman will be a Heisman finalist
Sam Hartman: No need to 'bring up ghosts' as Notre Dame football QB Sam Hartman returns to ACC stage
“We’ve talked about it amongst ourselves as a staff that if it rains during the game, what’s our plan?” Freeman said. “We had to do the same thing for Ireland. The forecast called for rain in Ireland. We have a plan.
“We are always in communication in terms of playing complementary football and what’s necessary. Yeah, we’ll definitely have a plan but also have communication in terms of what’s best for both sides of the ball.”
Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman on Sam Hartman facing N.C. State
Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman downplays the specifics of previous N.C. State defensive plans for Sam Hartman when he was at Wake Forest.
Mike Berardino, ND Insider
Having a sixth-year quarterback in Sam Hartman, who is making his third career trip to face the Wolfpack on the road, should help negotiate center snaps from Zeke Correll.
“Is it under center? Is it in the gun?” Freeman said. “How can we make sure we have a chance to execute and not hurt ourselves because we don’t have a plan for the elements that could be there on Saturday.”
Follow Notre Dame football writer Mike Berardino on social media @MikeBerardino.
Facebook Twitter Email
