Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/621849
IN THE TRENCHES ANDREW OWENS T hree years ago, Notre Dame looked like it didn't belong — but that was not the case this year at the Fiesta Bowl, despite a 44‑28 loss to Ohio State. Following a 12‑0 regular season, the Irish were shellacked 42‑14 by Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game. Notre Dame lacked the depth, talent and athleticism needed to com‑ pete with the top dog in college football that year. This season, however, that gap had shrunk considerably. Head coach Brian Kelly's team lost by two points at Clem‑ son, which remained undefeated after blowing out Oklahoma 37‑17 in the na‑ tional semifinals Dec. 31. At Stanford, it took a game‑winning field goal for the Cardinal to survive the Irish. On Jan. 1, Stanford obliterated Iowa 45‑16 in the Rose Bowl. At the Fiesta Bowl, Notre Dame's de‑ fense failed to contain Ohio State quar‑ terback J.T. Barrett and running back Ezekiel Elliott, but the feeling that after‑ noon was Notre Dame has made great strides — not that it didn't belong. "Completely different," Irish direc‑ tor of athletics Jack Swarbrick said. "We talked about that, that there was a Program Progressing, But Is Not Quite There Yet Despite a 16-point loss to Ohio State, head coach Brian Kelly's Irish looked like they belonged in the Fiesta Bowl — unlike the blowout loss at the hands of Alabama three years ago in the BCS National Championship Game. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA