Reflecting on the season...when were you most scared?

[clashmore_jon]

A few instances come to mind:

(1)When tommy came in at the end of the Purdue game
(2)Right before the MSU game
(3)Stanford overtime
(4)The entire BYU Game
(5)Pitt about to kick a FG to win
(6)Pre U$C
(7)Pre 'ship (i.e. right now)
edit: (8) Pre-Oklahoma
For me, the top three are MSU, Pitt, and Stanford, in that order. Somehow, I believed that we would win Pitt.

I think this would be a cool poll, but i don't know how that's done

 

[ulukinatme]

#5...I was sitting in the 5th row behind the Pitt bench, watching them already run onto the field in celebration...then in disbelief I noticed the kick missed. I was in shock.

 

[Irish#1]

#5

My wife and I are renovating an old Victorian home about 70 miles from our home. We were there working so I caught the first half before it was time to head home. I was listening on the radio and was sure we would lose. I had to stop at the rest area for a little relief when we were still down by two scores and Pitt had the ball. I couldn't have been in and out in more than a minute or two and we had scored! My hopes were way up. Then they went way down when Cierre fumbled. I was positive we would lose when Pitt lined up for the FG and then he misses and my hopes were way up again. Then we finally won.

That was the biggest emtional ride since the UCLA game where Samardzija weaved his way to the winning score.

 

[mick2]

5, the whole dang game was a nightmare, i thought we lost it numerous times. I was ready to go kick something if that field goal went through. Thankfully it didn't!

wasn't very comfortable during the byu game either, and the week leading up to the Oklahoma game was nerve wracking, i thought that was going to be the end of the undefeated streak. once again i was pleasantly surprised!

 

[ThePiombino]

5. Not even close.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Pitt, Michigan, and Purdue were the only unpleasant games for me this season.

I thought we blew it at Pitt.

I was just waiting for DR to do something crazy.

I thought coach was ignoring my consistent advice and going back to Rees at the end of the Purdue game.

 

[GoIrish41]

The Pitt game was insane. I was depressed almost all the way through until the very end. I thought it was over multiple times and was sure of it when they lined up for the last FG. After they missed that FG and we went on to win that game by some miracle, I haven't been nervous again this year. No way we should have won that game, but somehow we pulled it out. The way I see it, we are playing on borrowed time and going to the national championship! Everything from here is gravy. This has been an incredible season.

 

[notredomer23]

pre USC

 

[twig21]

Before the Pitt (missed) field goal for sure, having said that, for 30 years I have been a nervous wreck before every game, but this year I was strangely calm. Maybe its having a defense that can dominate, I don't know but it was different watching this year. Particularily before the Oklahoma game, a sort of quiet confindence that I have never experienced.

 

[phgreek]

5. (Pitt)

My TV is mounted above the fireplace...As they lined up to kick I was standing so close to the TV I could smell that...oh **** someone is sittng to close to the fire smell...it was me!

My daughter came in the room w/one of her friends...her friend says what the heck is wrong with your dad...all I heard was Shhhhh (raised 'em right so far) ...we all stood there watching...

when they missed...I kinda stumbled about three steps back into my recliner and exhaled...my daughter went back to talking normally...her friend says...is he always like that...my daughter's voice trailing away says...on the Good Days!

 

[Kingbish01]

Right now.....I mean #5

 

[Riddickulous]

Pitt, easily.

Although after the Purdue game, I thought we were headed for another 8 win season.

 

[dublinirish]

Funnily enough i didnt the best the night before the Navy game..too damn excited after the longest offseason in history it felt like!!
The Pitt game has to be the worst, then again most ND home games make me sick to death, i dont know what it is! I was never really nervous in any of the away games

 

[ickythump1225]

Definitely the Pitt game. That whole game I thought we were just destined to lose...that we could do nothing to win. Then that kick sailed wide right and I was like "okay not only are we not destined to lose there's literally nothing we can do to lose this game." And the whole weeks leading up to Oklahoma and USC were nerve racking for me.

 

[Emcee77]

#5, Pitt, for sure.

My second most scared moment is probably not on your list though ... against OU, when Blake Bell ran over Jackson to score that TD against us and tie the game. It was the first rushing TD scored against us in weeks, they had the momentum and they were playing at home. I was pretty worried.

But then Golson --> Cbreezy for 50, and I was feeling optimistic again.

 

[ohara831]

#5 Pitt getting ready to kick that FG, I saw our first loss coming. Divine intervention, or maybe just nerves. The kick was missed, and the rest is sweet history.

 

[Mr. Larson]

#5 Pitt pre field goal was the closest I've ever been to being afraid of anything in my life.

 

[Black Irish]

Pitt. Unlike everything else, our boys had a chance to make something happen. But in that situation, all I could do was hope for the improbable (block or miss). I feel like we used up a whole season's worth of luck in that finale.

 

[ND NYC]

good question

had to be the pitt game

 

[mick2]

while pitt was lining up for that field goal, all i could think about was the bs i'd hear all week about "same old ND", Irrelevant, "i told you so" bla bla bla!!!!

So happy to have won that game. Now the worst i hear is, "you got lucky against pitt!"

 

[Buster Bluth]

How can it not be #5?

 

[clashmore_jon]

#5 Pitt pre field goal was the closest I've ever been to being afraid of anything in my life.

not sure if you lead a sheltered life or are a badass mofo

 

[Mr. Larson]

not sure if you lead a sheltered life or are a badass mofo

I don't lead a sheltered life haha.

 

[pumpdog20]

5, I probably should have taken blood pressure medicine during that game.

 

[arahop]

#1 easily for me. When #5 happened, I had already braced myself for the loss after Cierre fumbled at the goal line

 

[HawaiianIrish]

#5

When Pitt's kicker trotted out i was like faaaaaaaaaawk....

 

[IrishLax]

#5. After he missed that field goal, I thought we were going to win every other game.

Before Oklahoma I wasn't "scared"... but I thought there was a high probability of loss. Very, very high probability of loss. I thought their passing offense was a horrible matchup for us.

When EG completed that 50 yard BOMB to Brown and then Manti made the game sealing pick.... wow. #mentaltoughness

 

[twig21]

For my incredible father it must have been the epic goal line stand against USC! He passed away Tuesday due to a heart attack. He was 87, tough old farmer from Indiana. He was the sweetest, but toughest dude ever. He got to leave us with ND #1. My mom said he could hardly watch the end he was so nervous. He will be smiling on the Irish on January 7th!

 

[HawaiianIrish]

How can it not be #5?

Its always Number HEI5MAN

 

[SanDiegoIrishFan]

I'm generally a lurker but have to answer this

#5 Pre- Pitt fg attempt, by a mile. I was convinced at that moment, our season was over. I had flash backs of '93, 10 years old, crying like a little girl in my parents living room after the BC game!

Most excited: Post Pitt fg attempt. I took off running out the house screaming nonsense for celebratory tackle of my roomate