Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/89723
✦ NEWS & NOTES LOU SOMOGYI DEVELOPING A WINNING MENTALITY Notre Dame is 4-0 this season in games decided by seven points or less. That al- ready is tied for the fourth most in a single season in school history. The 1939 team had six such victories, while the 1937 team was 5-1-1 and the 2002 unit was 5-1. That might serve them well if the game at Oklahoma is another white-knuckle affair, especially considering the Soon- ers the past three weeks have obliterated their foes by scores of 41-20 (Texas Tech), 63-21 (Texas) and 52-7 (Kansas). "When we get into these close games, the mentality now is we are going to do whatever it takes to win," senior All- American linebacker Manti Te'o said. "It's no longer just crossing our fingers and going, 'Please, please, please,' waiting for the next shoe to drop. We are always just trying to be that person — making things happen." Following the 17-14 victory over Brigham Young last week, one of the main stories after the game was how the Notre Dame players were a little disgruntled with their performance. Even fifth-year se- nior center Braxston Cave, who had seen the Irish go a pedestrian 29-22 his first four seasons, was not moved to revel too much in a 7-0 start. With the Irish clinging to the 17-14 lead, they took possession at their 20 with 6:10 left. The plan was to run out the clock from there. They almost did but had to punt the ball with 22 seconds left when a third-and-three was not converted. "A lot of guys were just disappointed in the way they played," Cave said after the game. "Everybody has high expectations for themselves, and when you don't meet those expectations you kind of get down on yourself. We won and that's great, but I think guys hold themselves to a higher The Irish lamented what they deemed a lackluster performance against BYU, but at head coach Brian Kelly's urging they are enjoying their 7-0 start. ✦ PAGE 13 PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA