Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/616353
FAN FORUM I have been a fan of the Irish since 1946 when the Sisters Of Notre Dame at St. Mary's Academy in Norfolk, Va., had us pray for the team every Friday during football season. This year 's team made me so proud with their fight, even when they were los- ing players. I think this is a good omen for the future. Noel Hall Del Mar, Calif. Mr. Hall, you have a sentiment shared by many, but in reality the players look FROM THE WEBSITE Notre Dame fans are eager to win a major bowl for the first time in 22 years, but many on BlueandGold.com are haunted by past ghosts in which the Irish have lost their last four major bowls by an average of 25.3 points. Blame1: Buckeye fans think that OSU will mop the field with ND. They legitimately think they are the best team in the country and all they have to do is basically show up to win the game. I haven't wanted a victory this bad since the 2012 national title game. Texadelphian: They are scary, or at least have the potential to be. It is a classic case of the sum not being as great as the whole of the parts. Based on what OSU did last year, they have been tremendously disappointing, and all season everyone kept waiting for them to turn it on. They never did, except for the second half of the Michigan game. Which Buckeyes team shows up on Jan. 1? Futuredomer: Why shouldn't they think this? Taking the last 20 years into consideration, Notre Dame has had its butt handed to it in every bowl game that meant anything (and no, beating a five-loss LSU team with a horrible QB was not a significant win)! The last 20 years mean nothing for this game, but Brian VanGorder and his inept D certainly does. If we hold them to under 40 it will be a miracle. Their D is littered with NFL players and has played great all year. I hope they're wrong, but until ND shows up and finishes a game off and actually wins a game like this, this kind of perception will not change! Tommy1380: When we stop getting embarrassed in big bowl games is when people will start respecting us in big bowl games. Clarkr5: Half of Ohio State's team is thinking of the draft and won't be ready! I think we'll be better prepared. BGIUser2232: The easiest thing in the world is to anticipate a beat down because that gives you cover if it happens. If it doesn't, you can say what a great win it was, and so what if I was wrong. Twins1967: The worst possible matchup we could have gotten short of Alabama. Irishfantr: Live in Columbus, so when we beat them it will be so very sweet. OSU hasn't played anyone this year that offensively is worth a damn. I think DeShone Kizer and the passing game works early and often, and the O-line flexes its muscles late. Ezekiel Elliot gets a couple of big runs, but J.T. Barnett throws a pick or two and we pull it out. Johnmichie: The ND passing attack and Kizer's mobility is a huge factor the Bucks have not seen. They cannot just load up on run D in this game. Also Durham Smythe returning could be an interesting X-factor that Bucks have not seen. This should be an exciting game!