Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/102697
fighting words Wes morgan A Bond That Won't Be Broken Team chemistry was a big part of Notre Dame's success this season and was demonstrated even in defeat — after the loss to Alabama, safety Jamoris Slaughter (right) consoled running back Theo Riddick (left). K eiVarae Russell could barely stand as he sobbed in Bennett Jackson's arms after No. 2 Alabama cleaned No. 1 Notre Dame's clock, took it apart and cleaned it again in a 42-14 victory in the BCS National Championship in Miami. Jackson, a junior cornerback, and Russell, a freshman that worked the opposite side of the Fighting Irish secondary, still couldn't wrap their heads around a perfect season that ended in 60 minutes of pure torment. But they grieved together. Minutes later, Jackson fell to pieces, sinking deeper and deeper into his Sun Life Stadium locker stall. With each passing teammate's touch and encour- photo by lon horwedel aging words, he slowly regained composure. "They're my family, to be honest with you," Jackson said. "I spend more time with them than I spend with anybody else. I'd do anything I can for any of the guys around me. I'm an emotional dude, but I love everybody like my brothers — older brothers, younger brothers. We all like each other. There aren't any cliques. Everybody hangs out with everybody. That's what it takes to be a successful team. We're just going to go on with our brotherhood and keep playing." This family shocked the college football world together with a 12‑0 regularseason run that not a single rational