NOTRE DAME — Moving forward? Not exactly. Looking more like the 2007 3-9 version, Notre Dame unimpressed until they absolutely had to in their 21-13 season opening victory over San Diego State.

For the first 3 quarters and change, last year looked a lot like this year.

"Everyone in the Notre Dame world, here we go again," said Charlie Weis.

But after a heaven-sent turnover and 14 unanswered 4th quarter points, the Irish can "crank it up" at least for a night.

"Yes you're happy with an ugly win because it's better than an ugly loss. I'll take an ugly win any day of the week," said Weis.

It was Alfred E. Newman ugly -- a milestone 400th game inside ND Stadium deserved a better performance. Against the Aztecs, the Irish nearly buried themselves with four turnovers and inopportune penalties. But for a team still learning how to win, it'll have to suffice.

"We got a victory, that's all I care about," added Jimmy Clausen.

"Last year we would have panicked and worse things would have happened," said Golden Tate.

The Irish optimist says the defense provided the spark, and freshman Michael Floyd has quite the future hauling in TDs. The Irish pessimist can't get past the mistakes and the fact that save for a goal-line fumble, ND would have trailed in the 4th quarter by 13 points to a 3-touchdown underdog.

"The momentum swung and we never looked back," said David Bruton.

"I'd say it was a sigh of relief," added Sergio Brown.

"Obviously utopia would be you come in here, go up and down the field, you win 100 to nothing. Guess what, it didn't play out that way. I think what happens is what do you do with this now?" finished Weis.

We'll see next weekend at home with Michigan.