Notre Dame Leaving the Rice Era : Football: Ground game will give way to aerial as Rick Mirer gets the call.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. —  Can Notre Dame survive on a Riceless diet?

The question will be answered this season when the Fighting Irish take the field without quarterback Tony Rice. Under Rice’s leadership the past two seasons, Notre Dame won 24 of 25 games, captured one national championship and narrowly missed another.

Now the mantle has been passed to Rick Mirer, a powerful passer who has never started at Notre Dame. With Mirer at the controls, expect the Irish to throw the ball a lot more than they did in the Rice era, which featured a nearly unstoppable ground game.

“Compared to what the fans saw the past few seasons, we’re going to seem like an aerial circus,” Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz said.

Although Mirer is only a sophomore, he is the most experienced quarterback on the team. When second-stringer Jake Kelchner was dismissed from school for academic reasons, a pair of freshmen became the top backups.

But don’t feel sorry for Holtz, who may still have the most talented roster in the country.

Ricky Watters, who rushed for 10 touchdowns last season, will be joined in the backfield by Tony Brooks, returning after a one-year suspension. Brooks was Notre Dame’s second-leading rusher during the 1988 national championship season.

When he decides to pass, Mirer will have two terrific targets in speedy Raghib (Rocket) Ismail and powerful Derek Brown. Ismail, a flanker who is also a fine kick returner and runner, is a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender and the 6-foot-7, 240-pound Brown may be the best tight end in the country.

The success of the ground game may depend on the development of an inexperienced offensive line, where center Mike Heldt and guard Tim Ryan are the only returning starters.

On defense, Notre Dame could be dominating.

Linebacker Michael Stonebreaker, whose name reflects his hard-hitting style, returns after being forced to sit out last season for violating school rules. Also returning after a year off is tackle George Williams, who couldn’t play last season because of academic problems.

All-American Chris Zorich is back at nose guard, while another All-American, Todd Lyght, will spearhead the secondary.

Despite their accomplishments the past two seasons, the Irish enter the season with something to prove.

Holtz was upset that Notre Dame didn’t win the national championship last season after going 12-1 against the toughest schedule in the country. The title went to once-beaten Miami, which handed the Irish their only defeat.

The rematch takes place at South Bend on Oct. 20. It’s the last scheduled meeting between the bitter rivals, and once again it could determine the national champion.