Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/98978
E By Dan Murphy ach college football season pivots on a handful of plays, splitsecond decisions or wayward bounces of the ball. For No.�� 1 Notre Dame this autumn, the ball continued to roll in one direction from start to finish. There were many times when the first Irish undefeated run in nearly a quarter century could have been derailed. Attrition marred the preseason. Notre Dame lost a trio of talented prospects before they were even able to strap on a golden helmet. The defense took more hits when Freshman All-American defensive end Aaron Lynch left town and projected starting cornerback Lo Wood finished training camp with a season-ending injury. Expectations on the outside were low for a group that was supposed to be a year away from competing for a spot in the Bowl Championship Series, especially in the light of what looked in August like a treacherous schedule. Head coach Brian Kelly and his team managed to keep their season headed in a constant upward direction and land in the national championship game with some gutsy performances, unexpected contributors and a sprinkling of luck. Here, in chronological order, are the eight biggest moments that got them there. Crystal Vision At Diamond Lake Aug. 11 Every head coach is an optimist in August. Every roster is deeper, faster and stronger at media day than it was in December. Every team is closer than it���s ever been. Notre Dame preached the same message when it opened camp this season. The Irish defense talked about the brotherhood they had formed that summer and the top-to-bottom leadership they had developed. Maybe, though, it wasn���t purely rhetoric this time around. Kelly kept it tucked beneath his cap this year, but his first glimpse at the elements of a special season came far away from the football field. Notre Dame took its annual trip to Diamond Lake one week after its first practice of the fall. The retreat 45 minutes north and east of campus gives players a chance to relax. They play cards, golf, swim and, if all goes according to design, build camaraderie. ���Generally, that thing turns into the swimmers and the non-swimmers. This was a team that you could tell enjoyed being around each other,��� Kelly said shortly after accepting a bid to the BCS title game. ���You just sensed it was a group of guys that really enjoyed being around each other, and I���ve always said when your guys care about each other in the locker room, you���ve got a really good chance.��� That feeling survived all year in South Bend and separated the Irish from teams with more talent on their bench. USC head coach Lane Kiffin noticed it in the final game of the season when seniors Manti Te���o and Kapron Lewis-Moore ran on to the field in the fourth quarter to help fellow captain Zack Martin hobble off after an injury. ���They���ve got a bunch of really good