What a roller coaster of emotions that game was. I thought it was over when the refs inexplicably picked up the PI flag when the DB ran through Skowronek's back and then he dropped the next pass, but the defense made enough plays to keep us in it late.
Books last drive was pure magic, and he deserves a personal apology from every naysayer on this board, IMO.
Kyren Williams....cannot say enough about that young man. His blitz pickups were SO on point on Saturday, he is just an unbelievably talented, well rounded back.
Von has really stepped up this past month and looks like a bona fide #1 WR.
I really don't buy into anyone saying there is an asterisk next to this win; ND executed a perfect game plan: Stop Etienne and make their offense one dimensional. It wasn't perfect defensively but it got the job done. Does anyone really believe that Lawrence would have put up a better stat line than DJ U did? 436 yards, 3 total TDs and no TOs? Hard to top that performance. And they aren't the only ones battling injuries and CV absences. We are down our top to WRs arguably and have had to operate with guys who otherwise wouldn't be playing as much, but they have really stepped up and are improving every week. Credit the coaches for said development and Book for continuing to build that rapport with those boys.
If we get another shot, I agree with other posters I like our chances simply because we shot ourselves in the foot throughout the game and still pulled it out. Mayer made two critical mistakes early with the false start penalty on the goal line and the ensuing drop at the goal line that would have been a TD. He made up for it in a big way late in the game (as we all figured he would, he's a baller), but man I thought we were doomed after settling for so many FGs.
I love this squad. They aren't in any way perfect, but they are a gritty, hard playing bunch with no quit in them. The coaching staff proved a lot of people wrong, myself included.
I *ucking love ND and am so happy they finally pulled of a big one in my lifetime. 20 years of fandom, I finally got to see them conquer a giant. Finally. I'm still on cloud 9.
That's all gents. Rant over. So unbelievably hype after Saturday.