Last night was a bitter pill for the Irish faithful, and a night’s rest and some prayerful meditation has not made it taste any better. But it has allowed me to find the silver lining.
As I (because I lack a better word for it) stormed home from the gamewatch last night, I fumed about terrible officiating. I raged at the bad guys escaping unpunished. I wondered if Will Fuller and Bob Meeker will ever sit down over a beer and commiserate. And I concluded the last time I’d been this angry was January 2nd, 1994, when I stalked the streets of Naples, Florida, raging at a universe that would completely ignore the rules it had applied four years earlier and give a Lifetime Ach … er, National Championship, to Florida State.
I figured my fellow Irish fans would be with me in my anger, and unlike the officials in last night’s game, they did not disappoint me. From the boards to the blogs, the universal reaction is disbelief, sorrow, and lotsa lotsa rage. I see comparisons to trips to Southern Cal in 64, 78, and 82. Friends who haven’t talked about ND football in years are up in arms.
I like the anger. I like the passion. Because it’s been gone for so long, I wasn’t sure it would ever come back.
I know a lot of people whose ND fandom has taken a hell of a beating these last 20 years. Not only had they stopped going to games, games were no longer a priority to them. They’d DVR them, and then watch later. Most of them told me they couldn’t justify the emotional toll anymore. It just wasn’t worth the return on investment for them, and I can’t say I blamed them one bit.
But yesterday, it was all there. They watched, they cheered, and now they seethe. The passion that seemed to have crusted over has broken free. Granted, they all didn’t come back, but enough of them did to leave me heartened. Momentum is such an easy thing to lose sometimes, and a new generation of ND fans must be cultivated if this thing we all love is going to keep going. Without the older crowd having hope, that’s going to be a problem.
Joe Theismann once said if you could bottle the spirit of Notre Dame, you could light up the universe. The light’s been a little dim lately, but seems to be burning well now. Let’s keep it up.
DJ says:
Oh, you got a night’s sleep? Rage prevents me from being so lucky.
GraceHallChapel86 says:
Seriously. I didn’t sleep all night. What pisses me off the most (well, up there, anyway) is that all these wins will be vacated in the end by the NCAA because of Winston’s crimes (and yes, that is the appropriate word). So after it’s all done FSU will lose the win on the record boards, but what will it matter?
About as much as USC vacating the “Bush Push” victory mattered to anyone who bleeds the Blue and the Gold…
topgome says:
We’ve had to endure Davie’s nostalgia for the tradition at TAMU. We’ve had to endure The Molder who imposed a death penalty on the program. We’ve had to listen to the bombastic Weis opine about his decided schematic advantage. I had almost come to the conclusion that we should abandon football. But now I’m mad as hell and it feels good. Officials have to screw us again for us to lose. Oh yeah, football is back at ND and we won’t be just winning games, we’ll be kicking ass again.
Ellen says:
Bad call. All people r talking about it and how the bums from FSU won. And Jimbo Fisher ‘s bad assessment of his QB , being a man of character. Is he crazy? Get your head out of the sand coach. Go Irish. I’m so proud of them. Hope they go the rest of way unbeaten and are in the playoff.
BacTien says:
I think you got your point Across. I think the nation sees the Irish as back and in this case screwed.
Nate says:
There are moments that you can tell a program has turned a corner, emotionally, physically and mentally. Even in a loss the one thing you can tell is that Notre Dame is back. You can also see that Brian Kelly has arrived as a coach. He has hit his stride as an elite coach.
dan says:
this year is similar to 1964 when ara took over and went 9-1. now that the ship has righted lets hope the best recruits come to n.d. not much we can do about the officiating but kelly can coach his kids to not do stupid things that lead to penalties. last night the refs were from the acc. duh!!!!!! not going to get any breaks that way.
Sam Gerardi says:
Mike – I have not officiated since the ’50’s and rules change (facemask, hands to the face, horse collar etc
but still study the ND games..I played & replayed the TD and it is interesting that the offended never moved and was
encountered within the 5 yd legal area – the dude threw up his right arm and looked to his left at the official. It was a
pop play with no reads, Golson caught the ball and threw – hard to believe that a well schooled official decided his winner
2014 says:
Agree. Ticked at university too. Suspending guys every damn year while the other teams get away with breaking laws consistently. The reward goes to those of less character. Oh well, #1 in academic honesty is what really matters in the ol’ game of life.
Avon Domer says:
I couldn’t be prouder that Our Lady’s University stands for honesty, honor and academic integrity above winning football games. If the day ever comes (God forbid) when that changes, I’ll find something else to do on fall Saturdays.
Mark says:
Gotta agree with you there. Part of the appeal of Notre Damn is they are simply a better program with better priorities; doing the right thing even when it’s the hardest.
GraceHallChapel86 says:
Notre Dame is #1 in four year graduation rate for national universities according to US News and World Report. She is in the top 3 for student athlete graduation rates. She has a billion+$ endowment. She has these things and is great because she stands on principle.
FSU has the Winstons and the Jimbos. ‘Nuff said.
Tony D'Ambra says:
It is hard to believe that an ACC officiating crew would be allowed to do the game. There are millions of dollars earmarked to the league if an ACC team is in the playoffs. Can they really be unbiased? Is seems like the Fox guarding the hen house!
ProV1x says:
Right on Mike. Reminds me of a bedsheet sign I saw hanging on one of the campus halls after defeating Oklahoma in ’57. FORTY MINUTES OF FIGHT BEATS SOONERS MIGHT. The Irish beat FSU on the field last night with forty minutes of fight. Stay behind them because they’ll need it the remainder of this season and many to come.
make more noise yet says:
Mike,
Good on you. I had never lost faith but yes, it was getting a little lonely out there on point. And of all fans everywhere, you especially would know the feeling. So thanks for expressing so well what it feels like to have so many of us so mad… and what that means.
And yes, we have to turn this into permanent advantage. And we will!
PS As a bonus, if it all plays out the way we hope, your rage roaming the streets of Naples FL could be revenged. I remember the day after our 31-24 victory, pundits like Mike Wilbon, who had been desperate to have the Irish lose and have Bobby B finally win a national title, were spinning like mad to give FSU a shot at a rematch — Wilbon wrote a crap column to the effect of “Charlie Ward threw the ball with such exceptional velocity [on the lucky TD that brought FSU to within 7] that it yielded a well-deserved score blah blah”) . Well, now we have a shot to turn the table.
thehawk65 says:
Hate to say it, but this is an example of the downside of affiliating with the ACC. We have to deal with mostly southern ACC officials who still may harbor a bias against the papist. Several bad calls in the Carolina game as well. No question though that Jamies the Rapies is a good qb.
david says:
I would like to raise the stsakes of this conversation……given the complete lack of any ethics, sportsmanship or morality in today’s college football, does it serve any purpose, other than financial, for ND to remain a participant in it? What does deprivation at the hand of systemic corruption achieve ? Does ND’s participation in fact provide the NCAA and its “cheater’s culture” with crucial credibility and support of its corruption?
John Meany says:
As a partial member of the ACC Notre Dame will encounter ACC refs in all their away games (we were the visiting team in Tallahasee, so they were “our” refs) and in any games in South Bend against ACC teams.
I recall after the robbery at the LA Coliseum in 1978 that Dan Devine’s only comment was that if the QB was throwing a pass (a fumble was called an incomplete pass)why wasn’t a penalty called for intentional grounding as the USC QB’s back was to the line of scrimmage.
ken fischer '89 says:
Kelly outcoached Fisher.
A better team outplayed the Seminoles, only to see a poor call reverse the victory.
We are back and for real.
I am more joyful now than in 2012 going into Miami.
DC Irish says:
ND getting jobbed by conference officials again.
What would it take for ND to hire & train our own officials, or team with with other independents? It would be nice to have a game called by a crew without an obvious pecuniary interest, but failing that, perhaps it’s time to truly level the playing field.
BTW, my favorite moment of the ABC broadcast was when the color announcer kvelled at the “bravery” of the official for throwing that flag. Hilarious.
Rockbrig97 says:
The light never dimmed. It was just blocked by the ineptitude of the last 15-20 years and the cautiousness of those recovering from those years.
Dickster says:
Notre Dame = Integrity, Dignity, Class, Perseverance, in victory and defeat.
PC says:
Does anyones mind black out after Robinson’s GW catch? I think my brain is trying to forget there was ever a whistle. Although it was a penalty the catch would’ve happened either way. Very similar to Rockets return in the Orange Bowl which cost us the game and had no effect on the play. Let’s just pray that they can run the table and we finally get the media and committees favor in breaking a tie and getting a crack at a potential rematch. Go Irish!
canuck75 says:
My passion has burned as brightly as ever all these years (although dimmed a bit with the boob)
I am angry of course, yet strangely satisfied about how great we played, and how great we looked. We were the better team on so many levels. And now it is us who are simply reloading year after year. We have great coaching. Clearly, coaching makes a huge difference. How about this for an irony-now we have Charlie’s schematic advantage!
I am proud and confident going forward. Go Irish.
Terry says:
I hope and pray we see FSU in the playoffs. They will suffer the wrath of the Irish!
Ralph says:
Sadly I was down the road in Gainesville at UF where my son is a senior watching that debacle. When they flashed the score ND 14-FSU 7 the swamp went nuts. And yes I waved my ND hat proudly. My son and I watch the end of the game/robbery at his apartment in disbelief. The next day I wore a ND football shirt and while out shopping was approached by an older gentleman who he said that he was at the game and that ND was robbed and that there was holding by FSU on the previous play that was not called.
Both and my son and I are proud ND fans. And today he is taking his GRE’s with hopes attending Notre Dame. Good Luck, Son.
ND1999 says:
After the 4th and 18 completion to Robinson, you can hear us loudly screaming “let’s go irish” on the tape. . . well done my fellow fans, if not for the b.s. ending, would’ve been legend
TNT65 says:
I thought I was still “bringing my best game” each Saturday for the last 20 years, as I had in the late 60s through most of the 90s, but now I realize I had fallen off, just like a player can with no confidence.
Now I am rejuvenated at the age of 70 and was still roaring and standing all through the game!
Thank you, Irish of 2014! Your talent and dedication has brought me hope and purpose for the future of ND football after a period of uncertainty.
JACK says:
BEEN WATCHING AND ROOTING FOR ND SINCE THE “50’S. I HAVE ENDURED THE HORRID OFFICIATING AT USC AND ALL THOSE “FINE” SOUTHERN BASTIONS OF EDUCATION. ALL ND FANS MUST FACE THE REALIZATION THAT JEALOUSY IS RAMPANT BY THE MEDIA, THE ANNOUNCERS AND OTHER PROGRAMS. IF THE PLAY ON SATURDAY NIGHT WAS WITH FSU ON OFFENSE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HAILED AS THE GREATEST PLAY EVER. JUST REMEMBER ONE THING, THAT WHEN IT COMES TO BOWL TIME, ND IS ALWAYS AT THE VERY TOP OF THE COMMITTEE CHOICE’S. THE MOST IMPORTANT NUMBER ONE IS THE GSR THAT IS PUBLISHED EVERY YEAR. A FOOTBALL PLAY IS FOR THE MOMENT, EDUCATION IS FOR LIFE.
Kalamazoo Irish says:
Usually an Irish loss hits me as hard as a death in the family.
However for as much as the bad call hurt I went to bed satisfied Saturday
Everett was the best QB on the field, Jaylon Smith was the best defensive player on the field and Brian Kelly was the best coach.
Kelly was the best coach on the field. This was against the defending National Champion on their field.
The Irish as they say passed the eye test.
No more ND is too slow, ND doesn’t have play makers, and on and on.
Win out and I am certain the final 4 awaits, Go Irish!!!!!
IRISHHAWK50 says:
Has anyone figured out what the cost would be to the ACC if Florida States loses and all hopes of an ACC team in the college playoff are gone? I suspect it would be in the millions. A reason for a ACC ref to throw a flag?
Fitz says:
FSU rematch in the playoffs! Seeing as we’re the last ranked team on their schedule, they shouldn’t have a problem getting there. Even with suspensions that will never come. The ACC refs, “our refs,” certainly looked like they were there to make sure that Notre Dame lost. Refs that’d make you think you took a wrong turn on a desegregated bus down a dirt road in Rural 1950’s Alabama. ACC owes us one!
Jimbo says:
Win out and we just might sneak into the final 4. Let’s do it.
Kevin O'Leary says:
Amen to that… seeing my 3 year old jumping, screaming and clapping with his Dad, brother, uncles and Pop Pop at 10:00 at night to the Notre Dame game was priceless. I take my hat, I mean my helmet (#26 from FSU), to the officials. Reminds me of the late 80’s early 90’s when I carry this bitterness of one loss in my stomach each week hoping the 6 teams above the Irish fall one by one. We will gain salvation in the first ever College Football Playoffs… Go Irish!
Kevin McNamara says:
Herbstreit and the ESPN panels were all in on the penalty–‘brave call’. Then Keyshawn Johnson talking about ND teaching ‘cheating. Every bit as
sickening as Jimbo’s post game, classless comments. That being said, Irish did themselves proud in a tough environment.
canuck75 says:
Great comments by all. We are all truly united. References above to 70 yr olds and 3 yr olds. That says it all. Go Irish .
Bill Read says:
This one ranks with usc “64. I’m older tho, so I’ll recover before 2030 ! GO IRISH. Fuller for Pres.
PanDomer73 says:
I agree with you on that. I was at the FSU game and 3 days later I’m still not over it. Can’t remember how long it took in ’64 but I was just 13 then. Hope this just makes us tougher and ready to make a statement on the way out.