Notre Dame Football: Top Storylines vs Boston College

Has Book Turned a Corner?

I hesitate to ask this, given the up and down play he’s shown this year, but over the last two weeks, Ian Book has no doubt been the best player on the field for Notre Dame.

Since the worst outing of his career vs Michigan, Book is 61 of 105 (64 percent) for 806 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s also added a touchdown and another 190 yards on the ground. For better or worse, he has completely squashed the talk calling for Phil Jurkovec to take over the offense.

Book is finally playing how we expected him to from the first snap of the season. Though it might be too little too late, is this the Ian Book Irish fans should expect to see the rest of the season?

I think it is, and for the sake of a 10-win season and possible New Year’s Six Bowl victory, Brian Kelly and the rest of the fan base should hope it is as well.

This week, we should absolutely see this new and improved Book, as he’s facing one of the worst passing defenses in college football in Boston College. As previously mentioned, they are allowing over 300 yards through the air per game and have allowed 300+ passing yards on six separate occasions.

At this point it is hard to tell if Book returns for his senior season, although it seems less likely at the moment given how he’s been playing recently. A Book return would create an interesting dilemma at the quarterback position, with highly-touted quarterback Phil Jurkovec still on the bench waiting to take over the reins.

For now, it seems as if Book has turned that corner, or page in this case. Him playing well is going to be the main difference between an 11-2 season and a sub 10-win, mediocre bowl game appearance.