I was a student at Notre Dame back in 1988 when we last won the national title. I remember back then that there was a general feeling among the student body that the team was good, but not good enough to win it all. By the time we beat Miami, all doubts had been erased. I feel the exact same way now I did then.
I was at ND in '88 also, and I have a much different recollection. After ND beat Michigan in the opener everyone I knew was thinking that ND was a legit contender. We bought into Holtz. And we thought he was on the right trajectory through his first two seasons. We were extremely optimistic. And I went into the Miami game expecting ND to upset the 'Canes.
Another one who was there. I don't think the campus was any more electric than the night before the '88 Canes game. The team was clearly vastly improved in Holtz's third year, but the victory over Miami really galvanized the fan base and convinced everyone that the team was legit. That said, I don't think Saturday's USC game is anywhere near that level of significance. USC is merely a good team with a lousy record, and their coach's seat is not getting cooler.
I graduated in 1986 but was there for a band reunion for the Miami game. Banner on Grace said it all: Jimmy Johnson: Pork Faced Satan. In the days before wokeism.
I'm 59 and I been a notre dame fan since I was 5 years old and now we are finely getting the players as rest fbs and next class is even better so let's go ND and Marcus freeman
It was a big stage with everything on the line for the ND boys. Christian Gray was tested the entire night and though he was far from perfect, he manned up and took the game away from USC. This team is special!
I was there at the USC game on the ND sideline about 12 rows up. Had a blast chirping back and forth with the USC fans. All in good fun. Was hilarious when Love hopped over that guy all the USC fans that were talking trash gave me a high five and were like, "ok that was bad a** that was amazing we can appreciate that" LOL - LETS GO IRISH!!!!🍀
I would like to see Notre Dame win its next four games. If the team buckles down in practice and continuing conditioning and nutition, remains resolute, they should be able to do it.
People want to find reasons this team can’t or won’t win games and people will complain about how the defense looked in the SC game but it’s not like SC is void of big time athletes that can make plays on offense. ND was also missing some key pieces that being said the defense stepped up when they had to and made plays to stop drives and ultimately end the game. Offensively they looked as good as they have all year. It’s a nice thing to have a couple weeks off to get healthy and gear up. This team is as dangerous as any team in the playoff outside of Oregon I believe.
Now, let's not forget, we have one of the best overall coaching staffs in college football. Arguably the best OC/DC/HC trio in college football. Freeman is learning and he has the right staff to learn from. If golden and denbrock stick around a couple more years, he should be set to fully take over this team without many hiccups with coordinators not as experienced as the current ones we've got.
Hopefully Golden can make better adjustments. That zone was getting picked apart with quick throws. The WRs timing needed to be thrown off. Their QB played a good game, to his credit.
11-1 is the best stat you naysayers neglect to talk about. The storyline isn’t the NIU loss, plus think about the injuries to key players, it shows the heart of this team and coach free, College coach of the Year!
I remember when ND played UNC at UNC. Thanksgiving break and Holtz sends two of our best players (can’t recall who just now) and thinking there goes our Natty.
For all the talk about how Christian grey had a mostly bad game, I watched it and he was shut down in the first quarter, and the second quarter was good almost the entire time until right at the end when they started targeting him. And then a couple plays early on in the third quarter.
It reminds of Bill Belicheck's response when Dave Letterman asked him what he does when a fan draws out a play on a piece of paper and hands it to him. Coach didn't say anything but laughingly crumpled up the paper and threw it away.
the last TD on Moore --lets be real ---one handed great pass and great throw --- happens to sauce gardner also...may be he is that good what a recruit we are thin at CB... stay healthy men howard cross and KVA big losses on Saturday congrats to the coaching staff player development has been elite O line U continues and we have more goes here already and coming in the class of 25 watch some other lines on top teams---we can hang with anybody ole miss ? ga? texas ? bama?... that would be the real test and hopefully that challenge emerges
Take our Fumble by Thomas and interception away and we would’ve destroyed them butt on the other hand this proved we can still win a game vs a talented offense that put up a fight. We fought till the end and pulled out a good win. It was ugly on both sides of the ball but we were still able to pull the win out.
One touchdown was junk time and while I wish we had buckle down and prevented it, it was entirely pointless and didn't mean anything. We were playing soft and trying not to get anybody hurt at the end. One touchdown was set up by a terrible fumble by Thomas deep in our own territory. Of course touchdowns against you matter but when you look at the fact that two of their touchdowns were literally because of us doing it to ourselves, coupled with the fact that we had a three touchdown lead with a minute to go in the fourth quarter, I wouldn't say it was in the sense of wire to wire. I think we let it stay close for over a half, but we kicked it into gear in the third quarter and it was over by then truthfully
Our fan base is so cynical people gave him a rough time when he lost that game called for him to be fired so on and so forth but here's the deal right Notre Dame hired him for what he was going to be not for what he was at the present if anybody knows anything about football and if you play the game at a competitive level you know these things happen he bounced back and he showed his worth be glad that you have it like that he has recruited his ass off okay how many teams do you think that could lose as many people as they've lost this year and still be able to suffice it's a testament to Marcus Freeman
Not the best time of year for defense to play that way, The game was close. Two interceptions for tds. Great. But USC intercepted in endzone. They were that close to going in for score. Also, I hope we don't need a field goal to win or tie in playoffs.
Done with all the cake walk teams?? That's not true at all. We could end up playing teams like Arizona state Iowa state unlv or Boise state in the first round or two lol.
@@dbrasco22 Would he be? Playing his first game coming off a year of injury after starting only one game? Is that really an upgrade over the guy who has played all year? I'm skeptical of that, to be honest.
ND never trailed in this game, how could they rally, the defense made the adjustments to crush USC, the garbage time touchdown was make up for LR. Tied but never trailed, wrong game
No. Mostly because I don't see Day going anywhere. Think about it from OSU's standpoint. They freakin' owned Harbaugh for years and people were constantly opining that Harbaugh would get the ax. Then a funny thing happened: Harbaugh figured out how to beat OSU, and the rest is history. OSU is not canning Day. Not now anyway.
Your usage of definitive comments is more than frustrating. You say the Irish won't succeed in the playoffs with dink and dunks. That's false because they can. Saying ND MUST do this, or that, to succeed is too limiting. To have success, you take what the defense gives you and move on to the next play. Any positive play is a success and could lead to bigger and better. Of course, you don't give up on explosive chunk plays, but you don't depend on them either. As the saying goes.. if you live by specific plays, you can die by those same plays. The best option is to be a multifaceted team. As for your early (in the season) lack of faith in the Irish, shame shame on you. In my 61 years of life, I've been an Irish faithful, realistically, for 55 of them. I've seen the best ( Ara, Lou, and Joe), and the worst (Faust, Ty) of ND. I have doubted but never lost the faith. As always, "Erin go bragh." We Are ND.. GO IRISH!
No way Kris Mitchell was suppose to sit on that route.. there was absolutely ZERO safety help.. it was a 1 on 1.. and if Riley hits that deep ball it was a walk in TD. RL is awful at the deep ball.. if he can’t see that safety drop down when he did and then take the top off the defense then we should never run a deep route the rest of the way bc RL can’t see it.. USC showed their hand early on that play and RL missed it.. his worst throws all season have been on the deep ball regardless of route tree. I love how far RL has come but it’s stupid to blame Mitchell on that INT.. he likely had the option to comeback or run the go and the go was wide open that DB had inside leverage all the way no reason for the comeback or to sit.. Biggest problem I had in this game was the 600 yards given up on defense.. that defense had two plays that made a difference outside of that Al Golden and the defense got punked all game long.
I was a student at Notre Dame back in 1988 when we last won the national title. I remember back then that there was a general feeling among the student body that the team was good, but not good enough to win it all. By the time we beat Miami, all doubts had been erased. I feel the exact same way now I did then.
I was at ND in '88 also, and I have a much different recollection. After ND beat Michigan in the opener everyone I knew was thinking that ND was a legit contender. We bought into Holtz. And we thought he was on the right trajectory through his first two seasons. We were extremely optimistic. And I went into the Miami game expecting ND to upset the 'Canes.
Another one who was there. I don't think the campus was any more electric than the night before the '88 Canes game. The team was clearly vastly improved in Holtz's third year, but the victory over Miami really galvanized the fan base and convinced everyone that the team was legit. That said, I don't think Saturday's USC game is anywhere near that level of significance. USC is merely a good team with a lousy record, and their coach's seat is not getting cooler.
I graduated in 1986 but was there for a band reunion for the Miami game. Banner on Grace said it all: Jimmy Johnson: Pork Faced Satan. In the days before wokeism.
I'm 59 and I been a notre dame fan since I was 5 years old and now we are finely getting the players as rest fbs and next class is even better so let's go ND and Marcus freeman
So was I. And I went to the Natty. My friend was a tricaptain! #GoIrish🙏🏻🙏🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸☘️☘️
It was a big stage with everything on the line for the ND boys. Christian Gray was tested the entire night and though he was far from perfect, he manned up and took the game away from USC. This team is special!
I think it is funny that USC's QB threw for more yards to ND players than RL did. (199 - 155)
Good catch! So to speak.
Who remembers Tyler's opening line after the NIU loss was "Well the season is over"??😂😂😂 damn we love this fkn team G🍀
I remember. But I thought so too!
That line is going to go crazy in the next docu-series episode
In fairness, I said the same thing on one of the ND fan forums. I'm thrilled to be proven wrong by this crew.
Add me to that list & I was saying Fire Freeman too couldn’t be happier to be so wrong in both accounts
Games like this is why having a player's coach matters.
Wonder how Jaden Mickey feels about his decision to transfer... Kid would be starting the first home playoff game in the house Rockne built. Rough
I was there at the USC game on the ND sideline about 12 rows up. Had a blast chirping back and forth with the USC fans. All in good fun. Was hilarious when Love hopped over that guy all the USC fans that were talking trash gave me a high five and were like, "ok that was bad a** that was amazing we can appreciate that" LOL - LETS GO IRISH!!!!🍀
"Hats off to Marcus Freeman for getting this team ready" Yessir. Im hard on him for the inexplicable losses...Gotta be fair. Great job CMF.
I think ND has a very good chance of winning it all!!!
For a change, offense stepped up when the defense has off day. Good unexpected balance.
I would like to see Notre Dame win its next four games. If the team buckles down in practice and continuing conditioning and nutition, remains resolute, they should be able to do it.
2023 there were only 2 teams in the top 5 in both scoring offense and scoring defense ! Oregon and Notre Dame
People want to find reasons this team can’t or won’t win games and people will complain about how the defense looked in the SC game but it’s not like SC is void of big time athletes that can make plays on offense. ND was also missing some key pieces that being said the defense stepped up when they had to and made plays to stop drives and ultimately end the game. Offensively they looked as good as they have all year. It’s a nice thing to have a couple weeks off to get healthy and gear up. This team is as dangerous as any team in the playoff outside of Oregon I believe.
Now, let's not forget, we have one of the best overall coaching staffs in college football. Arguably the best OC/DC/HC trio in college football. Freeman is learning and he has the right staff to learn from. If golden and denbrock stick around a couple more years, he should be set to fully take over this team without many hiccups with coordinators not as experienced as the current ones we've got.
Hopefully Golden can make better adjustments. That zone was getting picked apart with quick throws. The WRs timing needed to be thrown off. Their QB played a good game, to his credit.
11-1 is the best stat you naysayers neglect to talk about. The storyline isn’t the NIU loss, plus think about the injuries to key players, it shows the heart of this team and coach free, College coach of the Year!
The notre dame doc-series is going to be so cool after the way this season played out.
For real, almost like they scripted the NIU loss and response lmao😂😭
I'll be curious to see the follow up on Jaden Mickey. He was a huge part of those early episodes ... then ... transfer portal? Should be interesting.
@ I agree, he seems to be close with the players I wonder if he had a disagreement with a coach
This is the greatest sports team ever for me I went to usc game second game ever in person I heard the love hit stick from
Far up in stands
Great win! Hopefully, Howard Cross's absence explains the d-lines performance.
That.. and USC ALWAYS gets away with gratuitous holding home in the Coliseum Vs ND.
ND is extremely fortunate that Mills wasn’t ejected in the first quarter. Combined with Cross’s absence, that would have been a disaster.
@@FrosteeTheNoManNot gonna lie … I didn’t see much holding in the game.
They should have had 4-5 sacks their new qb is literally a copy and paste Caleb Williams.
@@evan1788 USC wishes Maiave is a "copy and paste" of Williams.
Leonard is FAST!!
Leanord is deceptively fast
They were running the ball the way bush was against them in 05
Congratulations
College football is about the GAMES. This was one of the greatest seasons!
I remember when ND played UNC at UNC. Thanksgiving break and Holtz sends two of our best players (can’t recall who just now) and thinking there goes our Natty.
1988 team last 3 games going into bowl game gave up 11,3,and 10 to USC ! GIVING UP 35 is troubling
For all the talk about how Christian grey had a mostly bad game, I watched it and he was shut down in the first quarter, and the second quarter was good almost the entire time until right at the end when they started targeting him. And then a couple plays early on in the third quarter.
I am happy coaches don't listen to fans when it comes to playing players.
100% Always.
It reminds of Bill Belicheck's response when Dave Letterman asked him what he does when a fan draws out a play on a piece of paper and hands it to him. Coach didn't say anything but laughingly crumpled up the paper and threw it away.
Most yards USC has gained all season was vs NDs defense.. despite the defensive PIs and shorter fields.
the last TD on Moore --lets be real ---one handed great pass and great throw --- happens to sauce gardner also...may be he is that good what a recruit we are thin at CB... stay healthy men howard cross and KVA big losses on Saturday congrats to the coaching staff player development has been elite O line U continues and we have more goes here already and coming in the class of 25 watch some other lines on top teams---we can hang with anybody ole miss ? ga? texas ? bama?... that would be the real test and hopefully that challenge emerges
I wonder if jetter still hurt or just lost his his confidence
Take our Fumble by Thomas and interception away and we would’ve destroyed them butt on the other hand this proved we can still win a game vs a talented offense that put up a fight. We fought till the end and pulled out a good win. It was ugly on both sides of the ball but we were still able to pull the win out.
One touchdown was junk time and while I wish we had buckle down and prevented it, it was entirely pointless and didn't mean anything. We were playing soft and trying not to get anybody hurt at the end. One touchdown was set up by a terrible fumble by Thomas deep in our own territory. Of course touchdowns against you matter but when you look at the fact that two of their touchdowns were literally because of us doing it to ourselves, coupled with the fact that we had a three touchdown lead with a minute to go in the fourth quarter, I wouldn't say it was in the sense of wire to wire. I think we let it stay close for over a half, but we kicked it into gear in the third quarter and it was over by then truthfully
Love to get your thoughts on what happened to Christian Gray for two quarters and what it means for his play in the playoffs going forward
He's a teenager and went against some quality athletes. It happens, don't read to much into it
He didn't have his best game, and USC has excellent WRs. I think that is about it.
Our fan base is so cynical people gave him a rough time when he lost that game called for him to be fired so on and so forth but here's the deal right Notre Dame hired him for what he was going to be not for what he was at the present if anybody knows anything about football and if you play the game at a competitive level you know these things happen he bounced back and he showed his worth be glad that you have it like that he has recruited his ass off okay how many teams do you think that could lose as many people as they've lost this year and still be able to suffice it's a testament to Marcus Freeman
Defense has a lot of work to do after that 550+ yards USC Offense. Zero pass coverage or QB pressure.
Now is when all the injuries will add up. Morrison gone for the regular season wasn’t a big deal but now him gone for the playoffs will bite us.
They better tighten up the secondary. #29 got picked on all game. Played terrible, except for the pick 6. Better teams are going to have a field day.
Not the best time of year for defense to play that way,
The game was close. Two interceptions for tds. Great. But USC intercepted in endzone.
They were that close to going in for score.
Also, I hope we don't need a field goal to win or tie in playoffs.
mills hinish rubio .... play their butts off but that is big weakness versus top team
Done with all the cake walk teams?? That's not true at all. We could end up playing teams like Arizona state Iowa state unlv or Boise state in the first round or two lol.
Would jagusah be available for playoffs, he would be like a late season pick up for a playoff run
Where we he play?
Even if he was, why insert a brand new linemen into a group that’s finally starting to click on all cylinders?
@@irishfan1010 he’s still much better than knapp
@@dbrasco22 Would he be? Playing his first game coming off a year of injury after starting only one game? Is that really an upgrade over the guy who has played all year? I'm skeptical of that, to be honest.
Wouldn’t “rallies” indicate that they came back from a deficit ?
ND never trailed in this game, how could they rally, the defense made the adjustments to crush USC, the garbage time touchdown was make up for LR. Tied but never trailed, wrong game
Do you think OSU will come after Marcus Freeman?
No. Mostly because I don't see Day going anywhere. Think about it from OSU's standpoint. They freakin' owned Harbaugh for years and people were constantly opining that Harbaugh would get the ax. Then a funny thing happened: Harbaugh figured out how to beat OSU, and the rest is history. OSU is not canning Day. Not now anyway.
We are very easy to defend put 11 guys in the box
Your usage of definitive comments is more than frustrating. You say the Irish won't succeed in the playoffs with dink and dunks. That's false because they can. Saying ND MUST do this, or that, to succeed is too limiting. To have success, you take what the defense gives you and move on to the next play. Any positive play is a success and could lead to bigger and better. Of course, you don't give up on explosive chunk plays, but you don't depend on them either. As the saying goes.. if you live by specific plays, you can die by those same plays. The best option is to be a multifaceted team. As for your early (in the season) lack of faith in the Irish, shame shame on you. In my 61 years of life, I've been an Irish faithful, realistically, for 55 of them. I've seen the best ( Ara, Lou, and Joe), and the worst (Faust, Ty) of ND. I have doubted but never lost the faith. As always, "Erin go bragh." We Are ND.. GO IRISH!
No extension until we win a championship
That’s a good way to have him go somewhere else….
Trust me lots of other schools would gladly give it to him if we dont.
@@timloftus1034 especially Ohio state if they decide to part ways with day
That is too harsh of a line. Lots of great coaches never win a NC. But lots of great coaches win one with TIME.
@dashx1103 I just think he has to prove himself more
No way Kris Mitchell was suppose to sit on that route.. there was absolutely ZERO safety help.. it was a 1 on 1.. and if Riley hits that deep ball it was a walk in TD. RL is awful at the deep ball.. if he can’t see that safety drop down when he did and then take the top off the defense then we should never run a deep route the rest of the way bc RL can’t see it.. USC showed their hand early on that play and RL missed it.. his worst throws all season have been on the deep ball regardless of route tree. I love how far RL has come but it’s stupid to blame Mitchell on that INT.. he likely had the option to comeback or run the go and the go was wide open that DB had inside leverage all the way no reason for the comeback or to sit..
Biggest problem I had in this game was the 600 yards given up on defense.. that defense had two plays that made a difference outside of that Al Golden and the defense got punked all game long.
"ND Rallys..." don't you have to be BEHIND to rally?
I think we all get what he meant.