Nevada head coach Brian Polian met with Reno-area reporters Tuesday to discuss his team’s upcoming game against Notre Dame. Some highlights:

• Polian was a Notre Dame assistant under Charlie Weis from 2005-09. He knows a thing or two about the Irish and Notre Dame Stadium.

“In my opinion, it’s one of the great cathedrals in college football,” he said.

• Polian said the Wolf Pack — who opened with a win over Football Championship Subdivision foe Cal Poly in week one — are preparing for both senior Malik Zaire and junior DeShone Kizer. He said the Irish offense is the same with both quarterbacks.

• Polian also had an opinion on the controversial hit on Irish wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr.: “If that’s a minor concussion, I’d hate to see what a major one is. It made me nervous just watching it on TV.”

• The Nevada coach raved about Notre Dame left tackle Mike McGlinchey. Polian said McGlinchey will be a high draft pick.

• Polian also spoke about Notre Dame’s one-two running back punch of sophomore Josh Adams and senior Tarean Folston: “Adams and Folston, the backs, are both big dudes.”

• He also said he expects Notre Dame’s maligned defense to be significantly improved.

“Defensively they’re young, but I expect their defense to be much improved after [the Texas game],” Polian said. “I think there’s part of the fan base that thinks the sky is falling right now, and I can assure them it’s not.

“Apparently every Notre Dame fan in America is a football expert.”

• Polian compared the Notre Dame brand to the New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys and General Electric. “Everybody knows it,” he said.

He added: “Notre Dame was my team from the time I was a small boy.”

Polian made it clear that Nevada is embracing the experience.

“Who wouldn’t want to play in front of Touchdown Jesus?” he asked.

• Despite the fact Nevada is playing at historic Notre Dame Stadium, he won’t have his team practice in South Bend on Friday. “A football field’s a football field,” Polian explained.

His team will leave Nevada on Thursday since it’s a three time zone trip.

“We’re excited to go play at a really cool place,” he said.

----

• Talk about it inside Rockne’s Roundtable

• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes

• Learn more about our print and digital publication, Blue & Gold Illustrated.

• Follow us on Twitter: @BGINews, @BGI_LouSomogyi, @BGI_CoachD, @BGI_MattJones, @BGI_DMcKinney and @BGI_CoreyBodden.

• Like us on Facebook.