Change heartbreaking losses from 10 games from our past with a small catch.

[Rudy89]

Posted this in the ND subreddit thought I’d post it here too….
Since it’s the offseason here’s a discussion to occupy our time in the interim. I’m sure many of you have sat through some heartbreaking & disappointment in our time as Irish fans. If we had the power to go back and change 10 games that led us to heartbreak to wins which 10 would you choose? There is one small catch…you can only change games that we lost by 8 points or less. So no changing the last two national championship games we played in, no changing the playoff games from 2020 or 2018, no changing a bunch of our games from our down years like 2007.

Here’s my list.

1. 1991 Orange Bowl. Holding isn’t called on Rocket’s punt return & we win the Orange Bowl in classic fashion.

2. 1993 Boston College. We hold them off and we have 12 National titles

3. 1996 Orange Bowl. Another Bowl win for Lou & our years without a bowl win doesn’t go as embarrassingly long.

4. 1996 USC. Lou’s tenure with the team doesn’t end in a loss to the condoms

5. 2005 USC. We either don’t let them convert the 4th down or they call USC for aiding the runner. Either way we win & more than likely get the nod to play on the National Championship that year if they don’t give the bid to Penn State.

6. 2011 Michigan. We don’t let them get that Hail Mary and a disappointing season isn’t quite as disappointing.

7. 2011 Champs Sports Bowl. We finish with a bowl win, & after a year that didn’t live up to expectations we at least end the season with a good taste in our mouths

8-10. 2016 Stanford, Navy, & Virginia Tech. This gets us a winning season & into a bowl game and turns an ungodly awful season into a disappointing season. At the very least it could turn into an 8 win season depending on the matchup we got in our bowl game.

Those are mine, what are yours?

 

[NDRock]

2015 Clemson and Stanford were brutal. 2017 Georgia and Miami. 2023 Ohio state was a gut punch.

 

[Rudy89]

2015 Clemson and Stanford were brutal. 2017 Georgia and Miami. 2023 Ohio state was a gut punch.

Can’t do Miami as they beat our ass and it wasn’t close UGA in 2017 sucked though. Still as much as that game sucked it made the Sugar Bowl that much sweeter this year.

 

[NDRock]

Can’t do Miami as they beat our ass and it wasn’t close UGA in 2017 sucked though. Still as much as that game sucked it made the Sugar Bowl that much sweeter this year.

Forgot about the blowout rule. I’ll throw in 2008 Pitt, 2010 Tulsa, and 2014 Northwestern. All tough losses that were worse because I drove 10 hours to watch them.

 

[AKRowdy]

One of the OSU games, I feel more inclined to say last year as we had that game in the bag until it wasn’t. Living in Ohio… I needed that one.

Then… UM 2011, Clemson 2015, and FSU 2014.

 

[notredomer23]

2024: NIU
2023: OSU
2022: Stanford
2021: Oklahoma State
2020: null
2019: UGA
2018: null
2017: UGA
2016: lol
2015: Clemson
2014: FSU

If ND beats UGA both times and Clemson, who knows how that changes the trajectory of those programs

 

[Rudy89]

Forgot about the blowout rule. I’ll throw in 2008 Pitt, 2010 Tulsa, and 2014 Northwestern. All tough losses that were worse because I drove 10 hours to watch them.

That’s why I’m afraid to go to a game. Don’t wanna jinx them with my presence there.

 

[Rudy89]

2024: NIU
2023: OSU
2022: Stanford
2021: Oklahoma State
2020: null
2019: UGA
2018: null
2017: UGA
2016: lol
2015: Clemson
2014: FSU

If ND beats UGA both times and Clemson, who knows how that changes the trajectory of those programs

If we beat NIU is this season as special as it was? If we beat NIU we get the 5 seed. We then play Clemson, then ASU before facing off with OSU in the semis. I think we can still beat ASU but just given what happened IRL we would be eliminated in the final four. By losing to NIU we got the Route to beat the SEC champion Georgia team in the Sugar Bowl, then had a matchup with our old rivals State Penn in the semis. As much as I hated that loss it helped make the path we had this season more special. Still it’s your list and I respect it.

 

[Hautian Domer]

2023 Ohio State broke me. That’s the worst. I never want to see that beautiful all green and gold helmet combo again. And I’m being serious.

After that was 2005 USC and then, 2000 Nebraska. Surprisingly, the 2000 Nebraska game isn’t mentioned too often. As a student, that was tough…especially given that our stadium was 60%+ red.

 

[goldandblue]

2005 USC broke me and my tv…..

 

[TracyGraham]

2005 might have been a blessing in disguise as we might have hung on to Weis longer.

 

[1rishftw]

 

[Rudy89]

2005 might have been a blessing in disguise as we might have hung on to Weis longer.

The butterfly effects that could happen are always huge. I still think Weis is gone by 09 if his final three years play out the same way that they did. Even if we beat USC I don’t think we get past Texas if we get the nod for the national title. Then after that if Charlie goes 19-21 in his last three seasons & loses to UM, USC, & the Sugar Bowl in 06…he still gone IMO

 

[T-Boone]

Yeah I would say for sure OSU 2023 is number one. It killed something innocent in me. I don’t trust sport at all anymore. 🤣
I’d throw Texas 2016 into the mix. If ND wins that it probably means we go on to win most of our games and Kiser wins the Hman.

 

[Hautian Domer]

Yeah I would say for sure OSU 2023 is number one. It killed something innocent in me. I don’t trust sport at all anymore. 🤣
I’d throw Texas 2016 into the mix. If ND wins that it probably means we go on to win most of our games and Kiser wins the Hman.

I sold my tickets to that one and had such regret. Watching Gameday was tough.

I remember the angst while trying to kill time by watching Alabama vs Ole Miss and FSU vs Clemson in a blankless stare.

Then the game came on and it was filled with highs, lows, good mistakes, bad mistakes….and then, we know. Both sides, offense and defense. Hartman, DIVE! Stretch your arm out! Do SOMETHING! That last series of play calling after Estime’s 11 yard run should have cost Porker to be tarred and feathered. Then the defense...the 4th and 7...the 3rd and freaking 19... and the 10th man on two consecutive plays…well I won’t say it….

The money I made on the tickets didn’t soothe the pain

 

[Kingbish01]

Posted this in the ND subreddit thought I’d post it here too….
Since it’s the offseason here’s a discussion to occupy our time in the interim. I’m sure many of you have sat through some heartbreaking & disappointment in our time as Irish fans. If we had the power to go back and change 10 games that led us to heartbreak to wins which 10 would you choose? There is one small catch…you can only change games that we lost by 8 points or less. So no changing the last two national championship games we played in, no changing the playoff games from 2020 or 2018, no changing a bunch of our games from our down years like 2007.

Here’s my list.

1. 1991 Orange Bowl. Holding isn’t called on Rocket’s punt return & we win the Orange Bowl in classic fashion.

2. 1993 Boston College. We hold them off and we have 12 National titles

3. 1996 Orange Bowl. Another Bowl win for Lou & our years without a bowl win doesn’t go as embarrassingly long.

4. 1996 USC. Lou’s tenure with the team doesn’t end in a loss to the condoms

5. 2005 USC. We either don’t let them convert the 4th down or they call USC for aiding the runner. Either way we win & more than likely get the nod to play on the National Championship that year if they don’t give the bid to Penn State.

6. 2011 Michigan. We don’t let them get that Hail Mary and a disappointing season isn’t quite as disappointing.

7. 2011 Champs Sports Bowl. We finish with a bowl win, & after a year that didn’t live up to expectations we at least end the season with a good taste in our mouths

8-10. 2016 Stanford, Navy, & Virginia Tech. This gets us a winning season & into a bowl game and turns an ungodly awful season into a disappointing season. At the very least it could turn into an 8 win season depending on the matchup we got in our bowl game.

Those are mine, what are yours?

As a child, I've only cried myself to sleep a few times because of sports. The clip against ND bringing back Rockets (Still my all time favorite player) TD was the first time. I think the 2nd was a year later when Sid Bream scored from 2nd against the Pirates in the NLCS and cost them a shot at the WS.

 

[fightingirish26]

11 Michigan. Fuck that game.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

In no specific order…

1. 1964 @ SC. Before I was born but learning the history about that game is painful enough. Ara plays for natty in year one if the calls go ND’s way.

2. 2014 @ FSU. If the call goes ND’s way, who knows how that season ends. Injuries also derailed it but the season went in the ditch after this loss.

3. 1991 Orange Bowl. Erase the holding call on Rocket & it’s one of the greatest bowl wins in NCAA history.

4. 1993 BC. No explanation needed.

5. 1996 Orange Bowl. 1995 was better season than realized. Powlus was injured for bowl game vs FSU but backup Thomas Krug (Dickie V’s son-in-law) played well enough to win yet Danny Kanell & the Creminoles won with a late comeback.

6. 2000 Nebraska. That was on Boob Davie & his inability to manage the clock. Another example of ND celebrating a “close loss”

7. 2005 SC. No explanation needed. Boob Davie ended up being only ND coach to defeat the Poodle.

8. 2015 @ Clemson. ND beat themselves that game w/ all their turnovers but still could’ve got the W in the end.

9. 2022 Fiesta Bowl. After BK’s last season immediately after he bails, MF should’ve had his 1st win. Is it fair to blame Mike Elston on that loss?! Jack Coan played his best game in an Irish uniform. Elston failed his DC tryout when ND choked away that big lead.

10. 2023 Ohio State. Still can’t believe they lost that game.

Honorable Mention: 1986: 5/6 losses in Lou’s first year were of the very close variety. Imagine if he wins those & finishes 10–1. Close losses that year were to scUM by 1, MSU by 5, Pitt by 1, PSU by 5, & LSU by 3. That was a tough schedule for year one as most of the opponents were ranked.

 

[Hautian Domer]

In no specific order…

1. 1964 @ SC. Before I was born but learning the history about that game is painful enough. Ara plays for natty in year one if the calls go ND’s way.

2. 2014 @ FSU. If the call goes ND’s way, who knows how that season ends. Injuries also derailed it but the season went in the ditch after this loss.

3. 1991 Orange Bowl. Erase the holding call on Rocket & it’s one of the greatest bowl wins in NCAA history.

4. 1993 BC. No explanation needed.

5. 1996 Orange Bowl. 1995 was better season than realized. Powlus was injured for bowl game vs FSU but backup Thomas Krug (Dickie V’s son-in-law) played well enough to win yet Danny Kanell & the Creminoles won with a late comeback.

6. 2000 Nebraska. That was on Boob Davie & his inability to manage the clock. Another example of ND celebrating a “close loss”

7. 2005 SC. No explanation needed. Boob Davie ended up being only ND coach to defeat the Poodle.

8. 2015 @ Clemson. ND beat themselves that game w/ all their turnovers but still could’ve got the W in the end.

9. 2022 Fiesta Bowl. After BK’s last season immediately after he bails, MF should’ve had his 1st win. Is it fair to blame Mike Elston on that loss?! Jack Coan played his best game in an Irish uniform. Elston failed his DC tryout when ND choked away that big lead.

10. 2023 Ohio State. Still can’t believe they lost that game.

Honorable Mention: 1986: 5/6 losses in Lou’s first year were of the very close variety. Imagine if he wins those & finishes 10–1. Close losses that year were to scUM by 1, MSU by 5, Pitt by 1, PSU by 5, & LSU by 3. That was a tough schedule for year one as most of the opponents were ranked.

I don't know. We were 2 td dogs...we were down 21-7 in the 4th and thanks to Julius Jones and Joey Getherall on special teams, we were able to bring that one into OT.

Rocky Boiman played his tail off going toe to toe with Nebraska's fullbacks and running backs, which resembled linebackers and DTs more so than ball carriers.

 

[nkyirish]

1. 1993 Boston College (by some distance)...The highs of FSU to the low of knowing they were going to give Bowden a title, as long as they won their bowl game.

2. 2005 USC
3. 2014 FSU
4. 2023 Ohio St.
5. 2011 Michigan
6. 1990 Stanford (#1 at the time, D. Brown's drop in the end zone as time expired)
7. 2015 Clemson
8. 2002 Boston College
9. Not a close score, but 1989 Miami...Lou's best team, but no one was beating Miami in the Orange Bowl that night.
10. 2007 Navy for just the ultimate "what has happened to this program" moment.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

1. 1993 Boston College (by some distance)...The highs of FSU to the low of knowing they were going to give Bowden a title, as long as they won their bowl game.

2. 2005 USC
3. 2014 FSU
4. 2023 Ohio St.
5. 2011 Michigan
6. 1990 Stanford (#1 at the time, D. Brown's drop in the end zone as time expired)
7. 2015 Clemson
8. 2002 Boston College
9. Not a close score, but 1989 Miami...Lou's best team, but no one was beating Miami in the Orange Bowl that night.
10. 2007 Navy for just the ultimate "what has happened to this program" moment.

Wait, DJ Brown played in ‘90 and ‘23?

 

[nkyirish]

Derek Brown...played TE on late 80's early 90's teams.

 

[MacIrish75]

One I haven’t seen mentioned that killed me inside was that “Little Giants” bullshit vs Sparty in 2010. Cemented my hate for those assholes.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I don't know. We were 2 td dogs...we were down 21-7 in the 4th and thanks to Julius Jones and Joey Getherall on special teams, we were able to bring that one into OT.

Rocky Boiman played his tail off going toe to toe with Nebraska's fullbacks and running backs, which resembled linebackers and DTs more so than ball carriers.

Right but they had a legitimate shot at winning in the end but Davie bungled the clock management & they settled for a tie to take it to OT.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

One I haven’t seen mentioned that killed me inside was that “Little Giants” bullshit vs Sparty in 2010. Cemented my hate for those assholes.

The fact it was blatantly an illegal play made it even more infuriating


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