Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME WHAT IS THE BIGGEST BREAK THE IRISH HAVE HAD SO FAR THIS YEAR? Point ✦ Counterpoint: Eye-Popping Oversight calls that could have gone either way, particularly when it comes to pass interference and congested runs near the goal line. Notre Dame has ben- efited from some of those decisions, as well as been improperly penalized. But when it comes to the missed infraction in the second overtime against Pittsburgh Nov. 3, well, that was a gift from the football gods. Notre Dame's defense featured Chris Brown and Bennett Jackson on the "desperado" team trying to prevent the Panthers from connecting on what would have been a game- winning 33-yard field goal. Brown and Jackson were both wearing the same No. 2 when Pitt's Kevin Harper sliced the kick wide right. Had officials noticed the Every game of every season includes officiating By Wes Morgan Catching On beaten season without a few close calls and a cou- ple bounces that fall the right way. Referees have made big decisions in a few Notre Dame games that went down to the wire, but those weren't as season shaping as the late intercep- tion against No. 8 Oklahoma on the road. The Irish had just re- No team in the country gets through an un- By Dan Murphy penalty, the Panthers would have started over, first down on the Irish 11-yard line. Harper — who con- verted field goals of 39, 21, 41 and 44 yards in the contest — probably would have made good on a second chance from point- blank range on the drive, sending Notre Dame to 8-1 and a crushing 26-23 defeat. This wasn't a judgment call that fans can argue one way or another; it was a blatant oversight on the part of the Big East officiating crew. The Irish were the beneficiary of a missed pass interference call on senior inside linebacker Manti Te'o's clutch, fourth- quarter interception in the 30-13 victory at Oklahoma. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA claimed a 20-13 lead over the Sooners in the fourth quarter, but the game was far from over. Oklahoma had covered 52 yards for a score on the previous drive and was moving the ball well when a slant pass ricocheted away from Jalen Saunders and into the arms of Manti Te'o. They play was reviewed, the catch was made, but the hit that popped the ball loose ap- peared to arrive a second or two early from linebacker Dan Fox. From there, Notre Dame biggest résumé-building win of the season. The pick broke the Sooners' spirit in a game that easily could have gone down to the last play. Other breaks this season may have been more rolled. The Irish racked up 10 more points to post its blatant, but none came on a bigger stage and more directly affected a play, a game and a season than Te'o's interception.