Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/181992
Under the Dome Close Encounters Of The Best Kind The Charlie Weis era at Notre Dame ended in 2009 with four consecutive losses, each by seven or fewer points: 23-21 to Navy, 27-22 at Pitt, 33-30 in double overtime to Connecticut and 45-38 at Stanford. Earlier in the season, the Irish also were vanquished in the final seconds by Michigan (38-34), and were in the shadow of USC's goal line before falling 34-27. In other words, Notre Dame had learned how to lose, having gone 5-9 in its last 14 games decided by seven or fewer points. On the opposite end of the spectrum that year was Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly. He finished his career with the Bearcats winning each of his last eight games decided by seven or fewer points in 2008-09. However, his first season and a half at Notre Dame continued the pattern the Irish had developed of losing the close ones, going 2-5 in games decided by seven or fewer points. "When we first got here, I don't believe that we were able to win some of those games," Kelly said. "It was just a matter of time." Although Notre Dame received criticism for not winning by larger margins this Sept. 14 at Purdue (31-24) and then the following week at home versus Michigan State (17-13), it did at least know how to win, something that can never be taken for granted. After going 5-0 last season in games decided by seven or fewer points, the victories against Purdue and Michigan State extended the streak in such games to seven. That tied it for third on Notre Dame's all-time chart with the 1972-74 teams under head coach Ara Parseghian. The longest streak was 12 under Elmer Layden in the late 1930s, while Knute Rockne had 10 in a row prior to his death in 1931. Heading into the Sept. 28 Oklahoma game, Notre Dame was 10-1 in its last 11 games decided by seven or fewer points after going 7-14 the previous 21. "We're four years into our program," Kelly said. "Our kids believe that they will win if they prepare the right way and they take care of the things they're supposed to. They have a belief." Positive reinforcement comes through wins. That is still only the mental aspect. The physical part is actual execution when the game is on the line. "We didn't perform late against Michigan, and we lost the football game," Kelly said. "… I know our guys have confidence that they can win each and every game they play, but they also know that they have to make plays."