Blue and Gold Illustrated

THE FIFTH QUARTER LOU SOMOGYI in week three. Because of injuries, the game-winning score came from No. 3 fullback Dave Mitchell. • In 1980 with lame-duck coach Dan Devine, who announced his re- tirement before the season after a 7-4 campaign, the Irish turned to fresh- man QB Blair Kiel for the first time in game two when the Irish were 80 yards away and trailed Michigan 27-26 with 41 seconds left. By December, Notre Dame was a stunning 9-0-1 and No. 2 in the country even though Kiel had completed less than 40 percent of his passes with zero touchdowns. • In 1993, superstar freshman QB Ron Powlus was sidelined a week be- fore the opener with a broken clavicle … so under-the-radar senior Kevin McDougal became the all-time pass efficiency leader, while No. 2 Notre Dame barely missed a national title despite beating No. 1 Florida State (and seeing prime figures Jerome Bet- tis and Tom Carter turn pro a year early, too). • In 2000, starting QB Arnaz Battle suffered a season-ending injury in game two (as did defensive captain Grant Irons) … yet the next week a converted tight end, Gary Godsey, helped the Irish to defeat No. 13 Pur- due, which would go to the Rose Bowl with QB Drew Brees. Then it would finish the regular season in the top 10 with freshman Matt LoVecchio, con- sidered maybe the third-best Irish QB recruit in his class behind Carlyle Hol- iday and Jared Clark, winning his first seven starts to earn a BCS bid. • In 2012, Kelly turned four times to one of the most maligned quarter- backs in school history, Tommy Rees, to help save the day — and each time he delivered during the 12-0 regular season. Like Kizer in 2015 or Kiel in 1980, the first was in game two, when Rees entered to a chorus of boos from his own fans before guiding the game- winning march in an 11th-hour 20-17 victory over a so-so Purdue team. Now, 2015 isn't or won't be merely about unlikely quarterbacks deliver- ing when most needed. A powerful supporting cast around him is man- datory. The 1966, 1980 and 2012 defenses were among the most dominant in school history, and the 2000 special teams work was the greatest in the program's annals. Yes, the current situation has "Brian Kelly is destined to be an 8-4 coach at Notre Dame" written all over it. The smart money likely says the attri- tion that has hit the team over the past month will eventually take its toll. Quite often, though, this is when teams galvanize and develop a palpa- ble spirit of will when most doubted. The script is still there to have a special season, one that Notre Dame faithful might be able to look back on generations later and say, "Remember when they lost the nose guard, the running back, the tight end, the quar- terback and still …" That's what being the "Fighting Irish" means. ✦ Senior Editor Lou Somogyi has been at Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 1985. He can be reached at lsomogyi@blueandgold.com

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