Jan 20 | National Championship

[china423]

 

[Irish#1]

Time to tell my Ohio State story (really my Dad's.) My Dad grew up in Chicago and he and four friends went to Notre Dame together. The picture is of him and his buddies. The two guys on the ends were ND athletes (maybe the little guy too.) My Dad (second on the left) walked on Football, Wrestling, and Baseball (he was a very good pitcher.) It's the guy on the right who is the story. That is Andy Pilney, an All-American RB who is considered the hero of Notre Dame's victory over Ohio State in 1936 (I think that's the right year.) Dad roomed with Pilney and their other roommate was Moose Krause. Dad used to stay after practice with Pilney to help him with his kicking (he was a drop-kicker, who could hit from 50 yards.)



My dad's main part of the OSU story was that as a senior he traveled to Columbus (just as a student; the coach cut him) to see our guys play. He walked the streets and heard a loud bar. Inside the OSU fans were joking it up about beating ND and playing the OSU song. Dad went in. Sized up the main OSU fan leading the singing. Went over to him. Introduced himself as an ND fan. AND STIRRED THE GUY'S DRINK WITH HIS CIGAR while suggesting: don't you think we should play the Notre Dame Fight Song?

I don't know how he got away with that (he WAS pretty intimidating when he wanted to be), but the big OSU guy looked at him and said: yes. Let's play the Notre Dame song.



Andy Pilney, Bill Shakespeare, and Wayne Milner won that Columbus game, and all of them received AA mentions.
I envision Dad looking something like the following when he remembered that bar later in life.



May it be so again.

OMM, I think you have about 10 on me, but I do appreciate these stories and some insight into years past. To me, the more one digs into ND's past, the more you can appreciate where we are today and what a win Monday night will mean.

 

[Irish#1]

I've already said I'm naming my first son Marcus. Beat that.

Our youngest and wife have a couple of twins coming around late July or early August. Currently working on one to be named Marcus and the other one Freeman. Top that!

 

[NDFAN2008]

Just spitballling but do we use Love or Faison at PR and or KR?
May make the difference!

Not love I'd use Faison maybe even WIlliams or Price. The walk on is good at securing the ball but we need to get go field position.

 

[JolietJack305]

Just spitballling but do we use Love or Faison at PR and or KR?
May make the difference!

not a bad thought, but I'd only consider this if we get down by 14-20 points. Harrison obviously has potential and experience. Hurleman doesn't have the big play threat but he's been solid/safe and does look like he's been close to breaking a couple punt returns. Love is too banged up to try it. That said, I loved the reverse kick off vs Indiana to Faison and they should absolutely be ready with a similar play early on in this one.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Lou never talked badly about any opponent he was coaching against. Rice was the 85 Bears.
I don’t mind the chatter, but he wouldn’t be doing it if he was on the sideline.

 

[NDPhilly]

Just realized OSU is probably going to set the record for guys drafted in a single year...and this doesnt even include their 2 biggest talents Smith & Downs.

Ohio State Buckeyes NFL DRAFT 2026 Prospects

Ohio State Buckeyes Prospect rankings and projections for the NFL Draft

www.nfldraftbuzz.com

 

[rtrn2glory]

This really has a Tressel/Clarett Ohio State vs The U Fiesta Bowl feel to it.

Nobody gave tOSU a chance against that loaded Miami team. They were gritty and midwestern. Ohio State is now playing the role of The U and Notre Dame is the gritty underdog that runs the ball and plays defense.

I don't recall Krenzel being able to run a lick, though.

I had that exact conversation with my brother last night. An Ohio St fan BTW

 

[Irish#1]

Just realized OSU is probably going to set the record for guys drafted in a single year...and this doesnt even include their 2 biggest talents Smith & Downs.

Ohio State Buckeyes NFL DRAFT 2026 Prospects

Ohio State Buckeyes Prospect rankings and projections for the NFL Draft

www.nfldraftbuzz.com

Just going to make it that much sweeter when our lads end up victorious.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I've read numerous breakdowns and reports of OSU, woof.

They have stellar defensive line play, they have good-great LB play, they have a really good secondary with excellent safeties. Their D-Coordinator does a good job at disrupting and taking away what a team wants to do.

Their offense is explosive from every position maybe barring TE but 2 RBs that can hurt you, 3 WRs that can hurt you and the QB can run but doesn't often.

We need to force penalties with hard counts, fighting up to and slightly past the whistle to get under their skin. Any time there is an opportunity to hammer them, we need to take the shot.

This is the final boss battle for the most resilient team in CFB.

 

[GATTACA!]

Our youngest and wife have a couple of twins coming around late July or early August. Currently working on one to be named Marcus and the other one Freeman. Top that!

You might be able to get away with Riley and Leonard.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Not crowning OSU yet. Two teams DID beat them after all.

 

[Edge]

Saban says Day/Kelly script first 15-20 plays…basically said if you can survive those they’re f$&ked
Texas proved that
Tenn and Oregon proved it true as well really

 

[Irish2155]

Our youngest and wife have a couple of twins coming around late July or early August. Currently working on one to be named Marcus and the other one Freeman. Top that!

Congrats

 

[IrishWayDomer]

It really does suck balls that we always run into (at least on paper) once every ~5 year juggernauts when we get to the title. This 2024 OSU team might have the most impressive draft roster (both in number and where drafted). Not much different than 2012 Alabama, or 2018 Trevor Lawrence.

Meanwhile, Michigan cheats and get Washington.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

The “expect a bloodbath” narrative has ramped up in a few articles I came across. Have no fear:

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[IrishLax]

The “expect a bloodbath” narrative has ramped up in a few articles I came across. Have no fear:

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The cockiest shit I have ever seen before a game. They think they’re a team of destiny when really they’ve 1) underachieved their talent 2) paid enormous sums of money to have all these players return 3) are lucky as hell Benjamin Morrison and Rylie Mills are out.

 

[Free Manera]

Prister wrote an awesome article today about the game. To summarize, ND needs to play well but so does OSU, and this ND team carries its balls in a wheelbarrow so OSU better not fuck around because if they do they're gonna find out.

 

[Huntr]

It hasn't really picked at me since the day after the OB win, but y'all are gassing me up real good, now. I'm gonna lose my mind before Monday night gets here.

 

[MPClinton22]

The cockiest shit I have ever seen before a game. They think they’re a team of destiny when really they’ve 1) underachieved their talent 2) paid enormous sums of money to have all these players return 3) are lucky as hell Benjamin Morrison and Rylie Mills are out.

Ol’ beard dye hasn’t proven he can keep his team from taking the poison pill, and I pray it happens again. That was honestly Saban’s superpower - he never let his team get high on their own supply.

 

[dublinirish]

I remember he was telling us about how, after one of our losses to The Team Up North

lol dude lost so many rivalry games he can't even recall them individually

 

[SWirishfan]

But Sark had no creativity in his plays. 1st & goal at the 2 (IIRC), I run an RPO or fake the handoff and hit the WR like we did against UGA. Or fake the handoff up the middle and roll out. Pull those LB's up to open up the EZ. Give them something to think about if your first play doesn't get it in.

DTDB
Dive the Damn Ball

 

[Free Manera]

If ND can "drag them into deep water" like Brady Quinn proposed, then I really like ND's chances late in the game. If it comes down to a one score game in the fourth quarter, we have Freeman vs. Day and that is a mismatch. Day will inexplicably do some clown shit when the pressure is on, and Freeman will be ready for it.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

It really does suck balls that we always run into (at least on paper) once every ~5 year juggernauts when we get to the title. This 2024 OSU team might have the most impressive draft roster (both in number and where drafted). Not much different than 2012 Alabama, or 2018 Trevor Lawrence.

Meanwhile, Michigan cheats and get Washington.

This ND team would absolutely murder 2023 Washington.

 

[IrishTusker]

It really does suck balls that we always run into (at least on paper) once every ~5 year juggernauts when we get to the title. This 2024 OSU team might have the most impressive draft roster (both in number and where drafted). Not much different than 2012 Alabama, or 2018 Trevor Lawrence.

Meanwhile, Michigan cheats and get Washington.

Michigan lost twice in the CFP before winning. OSU had to play the 2020 Bama team and the 2022 Georgia team, which were both juggernauts. Etc. If you keep getting to the playoffs the odds are you eventually win.

 

[IrishAttorney]

Post away

I agree 100% and will add that I always forward to reading all of your posts.

 

[thekid33]

They are beatable.

To paraphrase Steve Prefontaine, in the end I hope it comes down to a pure guts game. If it is, we'll win it.

 

[MPClinton22]

Glad they're officially trying to make this happen, unlike for the Penn State game

Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Instagram: "Make sure you have green in those suitcases as you head to Atlanta for the @cfbplayoff! Let’s paint Atlanta green in support of our @ndfootball squad 💚 #GoIrish"

32K likes, 164 comments - thefightingirish on January 16, 2025: "Make sure you have green in those suitcases as you head to Atlanta for the @cfbplayoff! Let’s paint Atlanta green in support of our @ndfootball squad 💚 #GoIrish".

www.instagram.com

 

[Madmasher67]

Glad they're officially trying to make this happen, unlike for the Penn State game

Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Instagram: "Make sure you have green in those suitcases as you head to Atlanta for the @cfbplayoff! Let’s paint Atlanta green in support of our @ndfootball squad 💚 #GoIrish"

32K likes, 164 comments - thefightingirish on January 16, 2025: "Make sure you have green in those suitcases as you head to Atlanta for the @cfbplayoff! Let’s paint Atlanta green in support of our @ndfootball squad 💚 #GoIrish".

www.instagram.com

Not white not blue not gold. Green people. You spent the money to go whats another 40-50 to green out Atlanta. DO IT.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

I have been extremely calm all week. I am a firm believer in this team and they have not let me down in 13 straight games.
This is the third time in 3 years we will have faced them. There are no surprises. We know them. They know us.
This team has shown me they can win in a multitude of ways and we have guys ready to step up. The only thing left to do is be the ND team they have been all year and do it just one more time.