Enquirer wire services

INDIANA: After a 1-5 start to the season, coach Gerry DiNardo felt it was time for a little soul-searching, man to man.

DiNardo met individually with each of his players over the weekend, urging them not to give up on a season that has generated few highlights for the Hoosiers.

"We talked about being on the same page and understanding that we have a lot of work to do," DiNardo said Tuesday.

Last week's 31-3 loss to Michigan State dropped the Hoosiers to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten. DiNardo said the meetings were necessary to ensure that his players weren't demoralized.

NOTRE DAME: Notre Dame did something last season against Pittsburgh it rarely does: rush for fewer than 100 yards - and win.

Coach Tyrone Willingham has no interest in trying to match that feat Saturday when the Irish (1-3) travel to No. 15 Pittsburgh (3-1). The Irish, who have the nation's 109th-ranked rushing offense, know they need to do a better job of running the ball to have a chance against the Panthers.

"We have to be patient with the run," Willingham said Tuesday.

Willingham believes many of Notre Dame's problems could be solved if the Irish could run the ball more effectively.