2012 or 2018 which season did you enjoy more as a fan?

[Rudy89]

In this decade our team has had an undefeated regular season twice. Each season had its own hills and valleys on the road to a chance to be called the best in the country. Both seasons unfortunately ended with such a thud that every swinging dick outside of his fan base claimed we didn’t belong but we Irish fans knew better.For a fun offseason discussion which of the two rides did you guys enjoy better? This last year’s or 2012?

For me I have to say 2012. Mainly it was for personal reasons. At that time my family was going through a lot and I took on a lot of that stress to try and help them. At times it felt like there was no end in sight. However, for the first time since I had been going to school the Irish has an undefeated regular season. Even though some Saturdays those games added more stress to the pile for 12 weeks I had one thing to smile about. By December things personally had lightened up a bit. My mother had recovered fully from neck surgery and got a new job taking that off of my plate. I had a lead to a new career which would help shape my life going forward. The Irish lost this first game after things in life got better for me. I sometimes joke about this season thinking it was Devine intervention during the regular season and that God didn’t want to hurt me too much so he allowed Notre Dame to win until things got better. That’s why as much as I enjoyed the ride this year 2012 will always be more special for me.

That’s my story would love to hear which season was more special to you.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

In this decade our team has had an undefeated regular season twice. Each season had its own hills and valleys on the road to a chance to be called the best in the country. Both seasons unfortunately ended with such a thud that every swinging dick outside of his fan base claimed we didn’t belong but we Irish fans knew better.For a fun offseason discussion which of the two rides did you guys enjoy better? This last year’s or 2012?

For me I have to say 2012. Mainly it was for personal reasons. At that time my family was going through a lot and I took on a lot of that stress to try and help them. At times it felt like there was no end in sight. However, for the first time since I had been going to school the Irish has an undefeated regular season. Even though some Saturdays those games added more stress to the pile for 12 weeks I had one thing to smile about. By December things personally had lightened up a bit. My mother had recovered fully from neck surgery and got a new job taking that off of my plate. I had a lead to a new career which would help shape my life going forward. The Irish lost this first game after things in life got better for me. I sometimes joke about this season thinking it was Devine intervention during the regular season and that God didn’t want to hurt me too much so he allowed Notre Dame to win until things got better. That’s why as much as I enjoyed the ride this year 2012 will always be more special for me.

That’s my story would love to hear which season was more special to you.

A fortunate typo!

For me it was 2012 because I thought it was the beginning of big things. The 2018 team was one where I knew ND had a lot of good fortune to be in that position and I'm kind of skeptical that this great season will herald bigger or better things.

 

[NDRock]

2012. This year was fun but I always felt the ending of a big loss to Clemson/Bama was inevitable. I also think I was a little more bullish on ND's future that year. Was still a very fun year.

 

[ACamp1900]

12,... so much magic that year... and I actually saw a road to a natty that year. This season was great but never once did I realistically think they’d win it all.

 

[PANDFAN]

2012 was magical, seemed destined until reality hit...as acamp said, i didn't picture us winning the title this year

 

[RDU Irish]

Definitely 2018 - This looks and feels more sustainable. We have depth to fill in and lots of high ceilings I am looking forward to seeing develop. Top to bottom best team in 25 years. We got pasted but so did Bama - easy to see a different game if that BS overturned fumble recovery goes our way and Love isn't out for half the game.

Still think Manti's fake girlfriend thing threw a wet blanket on the championship defensive performance. He was heart and soul of that team, IMO. We were vulnerable and shit got out of hand fast. Clemson was nothing like that. Miss a break and they exploited a weakness fast and furiously when Love went down.

 

[notredomer23]

2018 was more fun just for the fact so many Kelly haters had to eat crow.

 

[Rudy89]

A fortunate typo!

For me it was 2012 because I thought it was the beginning of big things. The 2018 team was one where I knew ND had a lot of good fortune to be in that position and I'm kind of skeptical that this great season will herald bigger or better things.

Autocorrect is an Irish fan!

 

[irishtrooper]

2012 was fun but it felt like it was a little smoke and mirrors to me sometimes. 2018 shows that 2012 wasn’t some kind of fluke that won’t happen again. Take the $hitshow of 2016 out and this program is trending the right way since. I’d take 2018 because it doesn’t feel nearly impossible now.

 

[fightingirish26]

Like others said, during 2012 I thought we had a real chance of winning it all. This year, the whole year, you knew a playoff appearance was likely the ceiling. So, while the 2012 season was happening, that was better.

In hindsight, 2018 feels better. The success feels sustainable for starters. I think the 2018 team would beat 2012 handily. I also agree that the Manti thing spoiled 2012 a little bit.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

2012 was too positive. Everyone was having a good time.

2018 was better because I was able to tell the Kelly haters to eat shit.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Old Man Mike]

Except for the fantastic absurdity of the imaginary girlfriend, 2012 was more "peaceful" for this old ND alum (who loved watching Nix et al.) 2018 was continuously plagued (for me) by having to listen to incessant bitching about the coaching staff, at least until it was no longer reasonable to do so.

So, in short, I enjoyed both TEAMS immensely and equally. It was the "irrelevant" sidelines which ruined some of it. And ... by the way ... I've enjoyed some of the intermediate years also just as much --- especially the great line play we've often had.

 

[RDU Irish]

Except for the fantastic absurdity of the imaginary girlfriend, 2012 was more "peaceful" for this old ND alum (who loved watching Nix et al.) 2018 was continuously plagued (for me) by having to listen to incessant bitching about the coaching staff, at least until it was no longer reasonable to do so.

So, in short, I enjoyed both TEAMS immensely and equally. It was the "irrelevant" sidelines which ruined some of it. And ... by the way ... I've enjoyed some of the intermediate years also just as much --- especially the great line play we've often had.

33 Trucking was a ton of fun. Josh was first in line to give that credit to the OL. Quentin Nelson really might have been the best college football player in the country and deserving of the Heisman, let alone Outland he was snubbed for.

Hope we can have more undefeated regular seasons to compare!

 

[wizards8507]

2018 and it's not even close. I agreed with the "haters" in 2012... we were an above-average team that made our way to undefeated through a series of flukes, luck, good bounces, and happy fortune. The 2018 team was legit and I'm firmly convinced we were one of the top 4 teams in the country.

 

[condoms SUCk]

Honestly I enjoyed 2012 more.
It was so unexpected, so many twists and turns, ups and downs. This year I was way more level headed and knew that we would end the season with a loss (most likely to either Bama or Clemson) so that tampered my expectations.

 

[TDHeysus]

2018 was more fun just for the fact so many Kelly haters had to eat crow.

^This makes 2018 sweeter for sure.....

If pressed I would say that I like 2018 better, however 2012 was more special for me.

As a fan since 1985 I had seen hills and valleys with ND Football over the years; and pre-2012 there had been ALOT of valleys, alot. So for them to go undefeated in 2012 (out of nowhere) it was something special. However that year, I was thinking the talent level was thin, better than it was in previous years, but thin nonetheless. Basically ND had a few elite players on the starting roster, and some really good starting players. But if a starter needed to come out of the game, the talent dropped considerably. (to put it nicely)

2018 was different in that I feel that the talent now extends beyond the starting group in all/most areas of the team (especially the Defensive front 7). Going undefeated in 2018 was still unexpected, however the talent level made me feel the winning streak was more warranted and felt more a reflection of where the team is now, rather than a perfect storm of good luck (in 2012).

Even getting whacked 30-3 by Clemson, didnt feel so bad after they put it on Alabama in the same fashion.

2018 has left me excited about the future (shayne simon, ian book, Phil Jurkovec, etc), moreso than 2012 did. Now, ND has talent in the wings ready to be released, rather than relying on some incoming recruits to save the day.

As I told a USC-fan co-worker, "ND is ALREADY reloaded for next year, bring it on chumps!"

 

[tko]

2012 for sure. We had fake girlfriends, awesome ICON halftime speeches(MSU and OU), goal line stands, Stanford and USC, missed Pitt field goal and the Golson superman dive for TD on that scramble, along with many other things i'm forgetting. I went to the Michigan game that year, OU game where I met johnnycando by the port o potties lol and finally to the National Championship game. What a fun ride that was.

2018 was just steady. I went to the Michigan game and VT games, had a blast, but I felt 2012 was different.

 

[IrishinTN]

Would definitely have to be 2012 because I got to go to the Senior game that year and me and the kids got to watch Teo's last game. .

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Hard for me to pick one over the other.

2012 is so iconic to me becuase it was the first "elite" level team in my ND Fandom. I didn't start watching until the latter half of Lou Holtz' career, so I didn't get the late 80s/early 90s teams. I also remember reading Rick Reily's asinine article trying to "demote" ND down a grade and talking about how we were irrelevant, and then reading him rebuke his own article with another one in December prior to the big game.

However, as many have pointed out...I, like every other ND fan, idolized Manti that year and was so invested in his story and heartbreak, only to find out that half of it wasn't even real, and it cost us any slim chance we even had going into that game, fake girlfriend withstanding. That team was just flat out distracted and it showed. (BK didn't help matters either with his Philly flirtation). This whole thing kind of tarnished it for me.

If I HAD to pick, I'd go with '18. I feel like as a whole, this team was more balanced and well equipped to hang with any team int he country. I'm not saying we would have beat Clemson, but that game would have been a lot closer and a whole lot different if Love doesn't go down and they don't go off in the 2nd quarter, exploiting his absence. Lawrence's numbers with Love on the field vs. his absence speaks for itself.

I would throw an honorable mention for '15. Despite not going undefeated and making the BCS champ/postseason, that team was damn fun to watch and only a few pts and a bounce or two away from making it themselves. From the Folston and Zaire injuries, to the emergence of Kizer, Procise, and oh my God, Will Fuller, that offense was something special.

2018 is my favorite of the BK era, though. Slim margin.

EDIT: Here is the Reily article. This guy is a such an ass hat for writing this. Talk about eating crow. Him and the BK haterz are dining together lol

http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/8264769/notre-dame-irish-relegated-insignificance

 

[Irish#1]

For me I give slight nod to the 2012 season.

1. It was the first time in a long time the team was in the spotlight all season.

2. It seemed to mark that ND was back.

3. Excitement with so many close games with missed FG's and goal line stands that seemed to say this team was predestined to go undefeated. Remember when Stanford was trying to punch it in and you were sitting on the edge of your seats watching the TV and after each stop you were thinking "come on guys, one more time".

 

[EddytoNow]

If you're talking during each of the seasons, I would have to give the edge to 2012. The Weiss led failure seasons were still in the rearview mirror, so each game leading to the 12-0 regular season had its own drama. Add in the game where everyone wore leis in support of Manti, the dying girlfriend, the last second wins, the breaks going our way, etc. and it was one hell of a ride. However, it all came tumbling down with the embarrassing loss to Alabama and revelations that someone had been catfishing Manti all season. That season left me feeling unsure about where we were headed.

If your talking nostalgically looking back upon the season, I would give the edge to 2018. The opening victory over Michigan, the switch to Ian Book, the improved defense, the feeling that Kelly had finally figured it out, etc. Even the loss to Clemson wasn't devastating, because Clemson's crushing defeat of Alabama the following week left me thinking we're not that far away.

Saban and Dabo have their teams in a different atmosphere right now, but we are finally winning the games we should and we are competitive with everyone but Alabama and Clemson.

 

[Wingman Ray]

2012 for me. 2018 just seemed so artificial and by that, I think we all didnt think ND as really being 1 of the 4 best teams in the country despite being undefeated. The playoffs just kind of proved that (even though ND lost by less than Bama did).

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

2012 for me. 2018 just seemed so artificial and by that, I think we all didnt think ND as really being 1 of the 4 best teams in the country despite being undefeated. The playoffs just kind of proved that (even though ND lost by less than Bama did).

I 100% disagree. I think 2012 was way more fool's gold than 2018.

Both good teams. But it took some really fluky, fortunate bounces to go undefeated in '12.

 

[stlnd01]

2012 was more fun/magical/dramatic. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the night K State and Oregon lost and we were suddenly #1. Or screaming in the rain at the end of the Stamford game.
2018 feels more sustainable and like we have a better football team. Good enough that I rarely thought we’d lose all regular season. That’s fun, too, but different.

 

[phork]

2012 for me. Had things gone NDs way, like certain teams not shitting the bed at the end of the year, we would have played and beat just about anyone else that year in the Natty.

 

[fightingirish26]

Tbh, up until the Miami game, I might have enjoyed 2017 more than 2012/2018. Yeah, I understand we had an early loss, but it was by 1 to an absolutely elite team and during that USC-NC St stretch after dominating all our lesser opponents, I thought we might have been as good or better than everyone in the country. That's not something I felt in 2012/2018 tbh.

 

[Old Man Mike]

This is apparently a very minority opinion, but given what Clemson did to Alabama I see no reason not to believe that our defense did in fact make us one of the best four teams in the country and maybe only Clemson was better.

 

[ShawneeIrish]

Easily 2012. That was such a fun season. I was at Notre Dame that year so attended nearly every home game and a couple road games as well. Manti was a guy that was really fun to root for and it had been such an unexpected season. This year was fun, but after the nightmare season of 2016 I have not been nearly as invested, which honestly is a good thing. I have a wife and baby now and have my own pursuits that keep me occupied and energized. Notre Dame sports are still a fun diversion for me, but I no longer really get disappointed with losses or conversely get super crazy excited over wins.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

2012 or 2018 which season did you enjoy more as a fan?

Both years did not provide any closure at the end IMO, which was the worst part in both cases.

Double digit underdogs in both Bowl games, boat raced in both bowl games. Everyone wanted a victory, but nobody expected it.

Would have been nice to see how those teams stacked up against ANYONE that wasnt the premier, head and shoulders above everyone else, best team.

2012 vs Oregon, and 2018 vs Ohio State both could have been fun, and gave us a much better idea where the program is.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Irish YJ]

2012 was more of a fluke and took a lot of luck. So it was probably more exciting. 2018 was more enjoyable and real to me. I'm much happier after the loss this year, and much more optimistic about direction, than I was after the 2012.