Irish defense looks to fix mistakes for Purdue

By: ABC57 Staff

Posted: Sep 12, 2013 12:44 AM EDT | Updated: Nov 6, 2014 11:50 AM EDT

NOTRE DAME, Ind.-- Notre Dame is getting ready to take on their in-state rival, Purdue, in West Lafayette this weekend and they are hoping to prove they can bounce back from last week's loss at Michigan.

Players on Notre Dame's defensive side of the ball say last Saturday's loss at Michigan is in the history books and they are using practice this week to learn from their mistakes.

"They were a great team, but I definitely feel like we didn't execute like we pride ourselves on, and that's something that can be used as motivation," Irish cornerback Bennett Jackson said.

And they say win or lose, they can't dwell on the past.

"I see it as coming off a win. You look at it for 24 hours, you evaluate it and you move on, so we're onto the next thing, it's Purdue," Irish inside linebacker Dan Fox said.

Both teams come into this matchup with one win and one loss on the season. The Irish defense will be going up against a few experienced Big Ten performers like quarterback Rob Henry and receiver Akeem Hunt, both playing in a new offense designed by Purdue's new head coach, Darrell Hazell.

They say there's no room this week for the mistakes they made Saturday.

"We've got to be mentally focused and not make mistakes like we did, and just go back to the drawing board and just do what we've been doing all week and preparing, just when we get on the field we've got to perform," Irish defensive lineman Louis Nix III.

After a disappointing loss against Michigan, the defense is still hungry for a win, for a chance to show what they are made of.

"I just want to see our defense shine, play as we've been playing, really show what we're made of," Fox said.

A loss for the Irish this Saturday will snap the five game winning streak they have over Purdue.