The last time I saw an undefeated Notre Dame this late in the season was 1989 and that game (Miami) was a disaster. Saturday, however, was a special day and I enjoyed it enough that some of those demons were exorcised. Some.
But let's not focus on the negative. The day was a celebration of a senior class that fought through some bad times to reach as a high a level as possible. One of the reasons that some very successful coaches do well early in their tenure--Bob Stoops and Urban Meyer winning national titles in year two of their reigns at OU and Florida--is that the inherited players are very hungry and will do what is needed to win. Players like center Braxston Cave, tight end Tyler Eifert, defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore, safety Zeke Motta and, of course, linebacker Manti Te'o, among others, epitomize this for the Irish. Win two more game and these players and the rest of the senior class go out as champions.
As for the game itself the Irish were motivated to make a statement. After three possessions they had a 21-0 lead and the ballgame was just about over. And so all of the Notre Dame fans in attendance enjoyed a three-hour salute to the program, punctuated by Te'o triumphant 4th Q departure.
We all left with a smile. Little did we know that more good news was to come. My friend Tim and I ended up--after many bookstore purchases--in the Legends sports bar located near the stadium. By the end of the evening we were leading the "Beat SC" cheers as both Kansas State and Oregon fell prey to the upset bug. The Irish would return to their rightful place atop the polls for the first time since I was thin and had a decent amount of hair.
There is plenty more football to play and fortunes change dramatically by the week. Saturday was a good day to be a Notre Dame fan. Will we say the same about next Saturday?
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