Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/204831
the fifth quarter lou somogyi 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 Associated 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 consistently earn it on the field against the elite echelon. Vanquishing Cincin‑ nati or Rutgers 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. It 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 Ala‑ bama juggernauts in the 1970s, and it had to slay the Miami dragon, among many others, in the 1980s. "We're not ready for a major challenge yet," some Irish fans lament. So when will you be? There can al‑ ways be a reason. Next year the Irish might get back quarterback Everett Gol‑ son, but neither line might 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 quarter‑ back 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 contrary 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 upset 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 relaxing. ✦ Senior Editor Lou Somogyi has been at Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 1985. He can be reached at lsomogyi@blueandgold.com