Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/396685
THE FIFTH QUARTER LOU SOMOGYI I f you were a little surprised by slight underdog Notre Dame's 11th-hour 17-14 victory versus Stanford Oct. 4, you shouldn't have been. "This is where you should be going into year five of your program," Notre D a m e h e a d c o a c h B r i a n Kelly said. "… You bring the next batch of g u y s i n a n d they're physi- cally able to compete with arguably one of the more physi- cal teams in col- lege football." In the past five years, Kelly and his staff have been on the threshold of becoming a true "program," not just a "team." Notre Dame had "teams" the past 21 years — or since the 1993 victory versus No. 1 Florida State. It would go 9-2 or 10-2 under Bob Davie, Ty Will- ingham or Charlie Weis one year, but often follow with a losing record the next. There were flashes but no firm infrastructure. "Programs" are defined by the 17- year run from 1964-80 under Ara Par- seghian and Dan Devine that featured three national titles, and the 1988-93 halcyon years with Lou Holtz, which included a 5-1 record in major bowls, a title and two debatable misses. "Programs" move forward without needing to constantly reference set- backs, and the 2014 Irish have displayed such earmarks. The defensive front seven lost Stephon Tuitt, Louis Nix, Kona S c h w e n k e , Prince Shembo, Dan Fox, Carlo Calabrese, Jar- rett Grace, Tony S p r i n g m a n n and Ishaq Wil- liams for vari- ous reasons … yet seems better and more gal- vanized while playing fast — but with discipline, too. Then this August, the defensive back- field lost the two players who Irish de- fensive backs coach Kerry Cooks said in the spring were "light years" ahead of everyone else in the secondary: cor- nerback KeiVarae Russell and safety Austin Collinsworth. Then you lose two top backup safeties in Eilar Hardy and Nick Baratti … and it still excels, especially sophomore Cole Luke. The South Must Fall Again For Irish To Rise When it comes to recent marquee games, people nationally remember Notre Dame mainly for the 42‑14 loss to Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 7, 2013. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA