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

[scUM Hater]

Pitt game. The quietest and loudest I've ever heard the stadium. From my angle the stadium I thought the field goal was good. Oh the emotions. Also I was hoping tne players wouldn't blow a shoulder out mopping the floor last night.

 

[DANsanity15]

Both 5 and 6.. I had a stomach ache the whole day leading up to the game... Never actually felt that about a game I had absolutely nothing to do with.

 

[ND101]

My ten year old son looking at me after Pitt intercepted tommy Rees and preceded to score a touchdown. He says to me with almost tears in his eyes it's happening again dad were going to lose a game we should win. I said come on dude are d won't give up nothing after this. When we pulled it out we both had to tears in are eyes. So many good times this year.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Oklahoma. Easy. Once that was over, it was clear this team knew how to win.

 

[IrishCat]

Obviously, the Pitt game... was watching with the3 wife and the local Notre Dame Club at a sports bar. I felt sick most of 2nd half and OT. Then when ND won I was absolutely drained emotionally.

The Stanford game was another heart stopper... just knowing Stepfan Taylor was going to break our heart and then waiting... waiting... waiting for the final decision for the refs call/review on the goal line stand... then a barbaric yawp!

I was actully at the BYU game, so it was draining big time... 2TDS scored by BYU in front of me in our endzone... this was after the ND multiple quarters of not giving up a TD.

Nerves frazzled before Sooner game. I knew this was the turning point on what kind of season the Irish would have. I just keep waiting for Oklahoma to get things going and start racking up points... then suddenly the game was ours.

Then ya, the USC game... with over 5 minutes in the 4th qtr. I just got thru saying that all we gotta do is not let'em score quickly... and then bam, bam... Trojans at the 2 yard line... I was thinking uh oh...then the incredible /time consuming goal line stand.

 

[ACamp1900]

When Golson threw the INT in the end zone against Pitt with only five or so minutes to play....


That, and just before the Navy and Pklahoma games for different reasons

 

[fortwayne_nd]

#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.

ND's response to the Bell TD was their best football of the year. Need four quarters of that in the NCG.

 

[NCND]

During the MSU game.. I think that game really was a program changer plus made the fans and team believe this year could be special.

 

[GoldenChild]

Pitt was the scariest thing ever ..Stanford 4th and goal was scary too.

 

[Junkhead]

I expected us to lose a few games, so I wasn't worried at all until the U$C game until, when expectations were through the roof.

 

[rocket66]

#1. I thought it was gonna be a qb controversy from then on out. Not what I wanted.
#5 definitely next but Pitt has always played us tough. I never like playing them no matter how good they are.

That being said reading these comments, if there is one thing I have learned through this year, is that our team has faced a ton of adversity this year and overcame all. I dont think Alabama or Georgia have even come close to facing the situations we have this year.

Alabama had a come back win late against LSU.....ok and the one time someone came out and smacked them in the mouth, they never recovered and lost.

UGA totally got f'ed up by USC and could not do a thing to stop it... The florida game was basically an example of how to do your very best to lose a football game and still win. They recovered but still struggled with UT and UK.

I think we roll. I have tons of confidence in this team and our coaches. Time after time through out the year we made the stops. We made the catches. We made the 3rd down conversions. The coaches made the right decisions. And we had a few lucky bounces of the ball. Tha can be said every year. AND we have Tommy Rees in case Everett's helmet comes off.

Bring'em on.

I love this.

 

[NDGirlzRock]

Before each game!!!!

 

[We_Are_ND]

Easily the Pitt game. I had been to the scUM and Stanford game before that. So I have had nail biters to every game I went to. I was there with a fellow IE poster and good friend and it was awful. He kept begging us to leave when it was 20-6 and go to brothers because he was convinced we were bad luck. (last home game we went to together was USF) I kept refusing.

Throughout the game when it was getting close I thought I was going to be sick or my heart was going to explode. I held out my hand and showed my buddy and I was shaking uncontrollably. Before the FG and as the Pitt kicker was trotting on the field I felt the whole season flash before my eyes. Everything we have worked for would be ruined and it would be the worst drive home of our lives.

I said a little prayer and watched the kick. We were sitting right behind the band at that end of the endzone so we had no clear view. Then we started to hear the roar of the fans behind the posts, and we all cheered and exhaled. From then on I knew this season would be ours.

Also the game tying kicks that Brindza has made for us. Knowing that if he missed and we would lose, I almost couldn't handle.

 

[Irish To The Core]

#5. But I don't know if scared captures my emotional state at that moment. Stunned perhaps...dejected definitely.

 

[phgreek]

Awesome story. Of course, there is no way in hell my daughter (if I had one) would even be allowed in the house with a friend on gameday.

I've had a unique situation all season with Notre Dame games. I work Saturday nights starting at 7pm. I took the night off for Oklahoma and USC, and I left work at 10pm for the Michigan State game (watched the first half on NBC Sports Live app). I also watched the ENTIRE Michigan game on my phone (barely worked that night lol).

Anyway, college games run so freaking long that I've missed the end of almost all the home games. My dad had to call me and tell me that Rees came in and drove down for the winning FG against Purdue.

But the Pitt game was the worst. I walked out of my house literally right after Golson threw in the INT in the end zone. I had tears in my eyes as I was driving to work. I could not ****ing believe the whole season was ruined; typical Irish. Then my phone starting BLOWING UP. My dad was calling, my friends were texting me... so I got on ESPN on my phone and was following the PBP. Then the Cierre fumble happened. I was seriously about to cry while talking to customers. Some-****ing-how their kicker missed, and we won. Absolute shock.

hehehe...yea, my productivity isn't the greatest on Saturdays.

As for daughters...problem is if you send them away, it always costs money...so they just stare at me and shake their heads...but they already think I'm nuts, so no biggie...and its free for them to watch me...

 

[irishmarine]

I've been terrified every week for every opponent. I literally developed an ulcer this year hahaha

 

[EifertPower]

Definitely the Pitt game. I thought when we were down 20-6 it was over and I was especially annoyed because i thought bringing in Tommy was what was going to cost us the game. Then once we tied it 20-20 i felt confident we'd win but when Cierre Wood fumbled i was certain it was over. I don't see how anyone before that Pitt fg didn't think we were going to lose. Even before that fg, in the first OT, i was scared stiff when Brindza was lining up for a fg and if he missed our season was over (keep in mind his previous kick he had missed an extra point).

The best moment of the season was the video of the stadium security guard jumping up and down in the endzone after the Pitt kicker missed that fg. I got goosebumps and started crying and finally felt like i could maybe move on from BC '93, the Bush Push, the Michigan State loss in '05, the Michigan State fake fg in '10, the Tulsa loss, the etc.

Next after the Pitt game, i would say when Tommy came in the Purdue game i was scared. Goodman made an incredible catch to bail him out. My gut is if that game were to have to OT we would've lost.

After that BYU had pretty nervous, even on that 3rd down call to Atkinson by the goalline I thought he wouldn't be able to get in.

The USC game i strangely wasn't as worried although looking back, I think if USC were to have gotten in the endzone on that drive, we would have lost unless we were able to run out the clock. We would've done 3 straight runs and if USC stopped us, they'd get the ball back with 2-3 minutes left needing just a fg to win and they'd throw bombs to Lee and Woods and probably get a pass interference call. I felt confidence our defense could prevent USC from a TD but if USC just needed a fg with a good kicker, we very well could have lost.

 

[Irishman77]

I almost stroked out when Golson through the int with 4 minutes left in the Pitt game.

 

[Seanthornton]

When Golson threw the INT in the end zone against Pitt with only five or so minutes to play....


I left my Dads house pissed ! i got home and its all tied up !

 

[Irishman77]

When Golson threw the INT in the end zone against Pitt with only five or so minutes to play....


I left my Dads house pissed ! i got home and its all tied up !

I put on my running shoes and almost left the house!

 

[arrowryan]

1. Pre Navy game
2. First quarter of MSU game
3. Entire UM game
4. Enitre Pitt game. I thought championship hopes were over.
5. Pre OU
6. Stanford OT

 

[Woneone]

When I get scared, I drink, so..

For me, the question would be when was I the most intoxicated.

When Wood fumbled in OT. Their kicker is pretty good, thought it was automatic at that point.

The tequila bottle took a substantial hit after the review.

 

[Butchie]

In order that they happened:

a) Purdue. Enter Turnover Tommy Reese. I was at the game with a straight shot of TD Jesus and I remember asking him "Pleas God. Please"

b) First two plays of MSU game. We looked lost.

c) All of scUM game esp. the end watching Denard drive into the red zone in the 4th quarter.

d) Miami drop two sure TD's one the opening drive.

e) Stanford Pre-game

f) Stanford OT

g) BYU. Whole game didn't feel right esp. with the Reese start and the D surrendering their first TD's in like 12 or 14 quarters.

h) OU giving up that first rushing TD to tie the game.

i) PITT. Cierre Wood goal line fumble in 2nd OT. My wife got the paddles out to revive me. CLEAR!

j) PITT. Having to watch the improbable FG miss after the CW fumble. Wife got the paddles a second time. Said she would not do it a third. So for that I thank them for saving my life . . . or at least extending it for now.

k) THE ENTIRE WEEK OF USC BUILD UP. ALL THE TALK ABOUT WITTEK. EVERYTHING WAS JUST KILLING ME. I WANTED THAT OVER SO BAD.

l) every time we got into the red zone against USC and left with 3 pts leaving the door cracked for them to creep back in.

m) Lee catches 52 yard bomb putting the ball on the 2.

n) USC- Russell's 1st pass interference in the end zone

o) USC- Russell's 2nd pass interference in the end zone

p) USC- 1st & goal from the 1/2 inch.

q) USC- 2nd & goal from the 1/2 inch

r) USC- 3rd & goal from the the 1/2 inch

s) USC- 4th & goal from the 1/2 inch

t) Kelly refusing roughing the kicker ini our own end zone to get the ball back from USC and end the game. WTF!

But with out a doubt my number one most nervous/point of melt down/ teary eyed moment of defeat was:

1. Cierre wood fumbling going over the goal line on the second OT with a close No. 2 being having to watch the ensuing FG attempt.

Great year boys lets blow them out in the Natty Champ cause the wife ain't getting the paddles out again . . . she's made that very clear.

 

[mrmiller8]

When Tommy came in against purdue only because I was thinking in my head if we couldn't get past purdue.....this would have been a really, really, really, long season....as it turns out, It was the best season that I can remember in my lifetime....win or lose in the Ship.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

As I was sitting in the stands for most of the Purdue game. Couldn't help but think a split with the Michigan teams would be best case scenario. Boy was I wrong.

 

[DSully1995]

I wasnt scared at Pitt because when they were lining up i was sure we had lost, Stanford for me