Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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the fifth quarter lou somogyi that, "When you go from 2-7 [in 1963] to 9-1 [in 1964], most people think go‑ ing from 9-1 to 10-0 will be the simple part. No, it's 10 times harder." Likewise, 8-5 to 12-1 was the fun part; 12-1 to 13-0 will be 10 times more challenging. All-American linebacker Ned Bolcar was a captain for both the 1988 na‑ tional champs (12-0) and 1989 runnersup (12-1) … but he noted the 1989 team was better not only because it defeated seven teams that finished in the Asso‑ ciated Press top 18 but had to contend with much more immense expectations while ranked No. 1 and not coming out of nowhere. Following the 1989 campaign, he had people telling him, "Too bad, isn't it?" "Too bad? You've got to be kidding me!" Bolcar would reply. "This year was probably more successful than '88." Notre Dame women's basketball head coach Muffet McGraw prob‑ ably shares that sentiment of her 35‑2 team this year being just as good — if not better — than the 34‑2 national champs of 2001. Timing, timing, tim‑ ing. Head coach Lou Holtz's most tal‑ ented teams at Notre Dame actually were the ones in 1990 and 1992. The 1990 group had four straight No. 1 recruiting classes from 1987-90, but it finished 9-3. Talking to many players from that era, the overwhelming rea‑ son given was "a sense of entitlement" — despite the presence of a powerful motivator such as Holtz. The 1992 team was maybe the best of all, including a backfield with first- round quarterback Rick Mirer, firstround fullback Jerome Bettis, tailback Reggie Brooks (who finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting) and even first-round tight end Irv Smith. They were all gone in 1993, but that team had a better overall season — even with undrafted quarterback Kevin McDougal, undrafted tailback Lee Becton and undrafted tight end Oscar McBride. It's not always about pure talent. Some bounces have to fall your way, and there might not be as many in 2013 as in 2012. The one bounce that didn't fall Notre Dame's way was Kansas State didn't go unbeaten, setting up a No. 1 (KSU) versus No. 2 (Notre Dame) that would have been more favorable for the Irish. That was the "bounce" that fell Alabama's way, not just talent. Oklahoma this year might be at the same place mentally Notre Dame was in 2012. USC and Michigan might re‑ gain an "edge" in their attitude. Fortunately, Notre Dame leaders such as fifth-year senior left tackle Zack Martin are also attempting to in‑ still the right framework in 2013. "For people to think that we've ar‑ rived is a bit ridiculous," Martin said at the tail end of this spring. "We know after that [national championship] game we were far from it." That's always the best way to get better … regardless what the final re‑ cord says. ✦ Senior Editor Lou Somogyi has been at Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 1985. He can be reached at lsomogyi@blueandgold.com