Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1529159
54 NOV. 16, 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED G reat moments are born from great opportunity." — Team USA hockey coach Herb Brooks, from the 2004 movie "Miracle" Fear of failure can be a tremendous motivator. It can also be the greatest constricting force in life. That dichotomy currently exists among followers of the Notre Dame football program when it comes to 2013 bowl prospects. It comes through this question: "Would you rather see Notre Dame return to a BCS game this year and probably absorb an- other 42-14 type of shellacking from a program 'out of its league,' or would you prefer the second- or third-tier bowl where you will be expected to win and then feel better during the offseason?" The easy and safe answer is the second option, although that could create what is known as false confidence or even fool's gold. Still, the path of least resis- tance in anything is generally preferred. Even before last year's BCS National Championship Game massacre at the hands of Alabama, there was popular nationwide opinion that there were five or six SEC programs that would whip the Irish, who were about to be exposed by the Crimson Tide. When the 42-14 debacle occurred, it validated that while Notre Dame val- iantly strives to run with the big dogs, it really should stay on the porch with its own kind. Four times in the BCS era since 1998 Notre Dame was deemed good enough to be invited to run with the BCS big dogs. Four times it was sent back to the porch with its tail firmly en- sconced between its legs, losing by an average of 25.3 points per game. Nevertheless, the "I don't want Notre Dame to be embarrassed again in a big bowl" fear needs to be eradicated, sooner rather than later. Notre Dame faithful often moan about "not getting respect" (including not being ranked in the As- sociated Press Top 25 with a 6-2 re- cord), or too much of an SEC bias. At the same time each National Signing Day in February there often is an attitude of, "Watch out college football, we're back!" If Notre Dame's football program wants credibility and respect, it has to consis- tently earn it on the field against the elite echelon. Vanquishing Cincinnati or Rut- gers in the Pinstripe Bowl won't do it. One hundred years ago this month, Notre Dame dared to venture to take on powerful Army, Penn State and Texas in the same month to make a name. It wasn't going to do it by continuing to play St. Viator, Morris Harvey and Wabash. The Fighting Irish barnstormed the country throughout the 1920s to form an iconic brand, and in 1943 it even had to defeat six teams that finished in the AP poll's top 13. It had to slay the USC, Texas and Al- abama juggernauts in the 1970s, and it had to take down the Miami dragon, among many others, in the 1980s. "We're not ready for a major chal- lenge yet," some Irish fans lament. So, when will you be? There can always be a reason. Next year the Irish might get back quarterback Everett Golson, but nei- ther line will be as strong or experienced (especially if Stephon Tuitt turns pro). Were the 1988 champs ready with completely new offensive and defensive lines, a maligned quarterback and the graduation of a Heisman Trophy winner (Tim Brown) from an 8-4 team? Were the 1973 champs "ready" af- ter losing their previous two games by scores of 45-23 and 40-6? Heck, was the 2012 team "ready" to be 12-0? The last 20 years have cultivated an almost subconscious fear that is con- trary to the name "the Fighting Irish." At some point you have to slay the dragon again, ready or not. Notre Dame used to be known as the greatest underdog school in the country. No more? Last year, Louisville upset Florida in the Sugar Bowl. In 2008, Utah toppled 12-1 Alabama in the Sugar. Now, in both cases the SEC teams came out flat or un- inspired, we get that. But if Notre Dame is purportedly no longer what it used to be — more the caliber of Utah and Lou- isville than Alabama, Oregon or Florida State — then why can't it be "that team" where the nation says in a BCS game, "Wow, we didn't expect that!" Let's no longer try to take on the best because we're the Fading Irish, not the Fighting Irish. Is this what you want Notre Dame to be or become? The Buffalo Bills once lost four straight Super Bowls. Today, those units are now wistfully remembered by their followers as the golden years. One should always strive and even "dare" to be great, even if staying on the porch is more appealing. ✦ BEST OF THE FIFTH QUARTER ✦ LOU SOMOGYI ✦ NOV. 11, 2013 Ready Or Not, Dragons Must Be Slain EDITOR'S NOTE: The late, great Lou Somogyi possessed an unmatched knowledge of Notre Dame football, and it was his mission in life to share it with others. Those of us at Blue & Gold Illustrated would like to continue to provide his wis- dom and unique perspective from his more than 37 years covering the Fighting Irish for this publication. Irish head coach Ara Parseghian (right) and his program had to slay "dragons" such as Bear Bryant's juggernaut Alabama teams in the early 1970s. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS "