wakeuptheechoes
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I have read the recent threads, I have read a lot of comments. Some of them sound like the following; They had better athletes blah blah blah, or they had better coaches blah blah blah. I don't buy any of it. We saw one game, where one team obviously at least for a half kicked our ***, making us easy fodder for the haters and casting doubts in the hearts of many Irish supporters. I am sorry but I am a little more die hard s.o.b. as the Irish have been my team for more than 40 years. I would just like to point out a little college football history.
1972 Orange Bowl : #1 Nebraska 38 #2 Alabama 6 (Nebraska) defending NC
1973 Orange Bowl: #9 Nebraska 40 #12 Notre Dame 6
1973 Rose Bowl #1 USC 42 #3 Ohio State 17
1978 Cotton Bowl: #5 Notre Dame 38 #1 Texas 10
1977 Sugar Bowl #1 Pittsburgh 27 #4 Georgia 3
1978 Orange Bowl #6 Arkansas 31 #2 Oklahoma 6
1998 Orange Bowl #2 Nebraska 42 #3 Tennessee 17
2005 Orange Bowl #1 USC 55 #2 Oklahoma 19
I point this out because in 1972 Alabama's coach was "Bear" Bryant in 1973 Notre Dame's coach was Ara and Ohio State's was Woody Hayes, In 1978 Oklahoma had Barry Switzer. These teams had college football icons as their head coach. Hard to be better than these men, yet they all lost and they lost badly. When Texas lost the Cotton Bowl they had Earl Campbell and when Tennessee lost to Nebraska they had Peyton Manning. Hard to get better than these players. Let's not over analyse our defeat and throw the baby out with the bath water nor should we throw in the towel. We should note,that after Alabama and Notre Dame were embarrassed in subsequent Orange Bowls by Nebraska they played each other for the National Championship in the 73 Sugar Bowl.
We lost. Most great programs have an embarrassing defeat or two somewhere along the line. The mark of a Champion is what is done after the loss. Do they learn from it? Do they use it as motivation? Do they address areas of concern? Although, the rankings of the teams listed above were pretty close the winning team made the other look foolish and weak, as if they didn't belong on the same field. At least for that particular day. We were on the wrong side of it Monday or sure. Alabama out played us as a team and were obviously better prepared.
I unlike many that watch a game believe that many times a game hinges on 2-3 plays a possession or two and how they come out. Many pros will tell you the same thing. We had 3 opportunities that did not go are way that in my mind is not a stretch to think they could have resulted in points. Give Alabama all the credit in the world for stopping us on two of those occasions that is part of the game.
1. A fumbled punt on the 25 Called a penalty instead
2. An interception at the Alabama 5
3. Turning the ball over on downs after a pretty good drive.
People We Got Beat Up. I love Notre Dame and while I wish the game had gone different I am still very proud of the team and school. We have accomplished much and still have much to accomplish. GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!
1972 Orange Bowl : #1 Nebraska 38 #2 Alabama 6 (Nebraska) defending NC
1973 Orange Bowl: #9 Nebraska 40 #12 Notre Dame 6
1973 Rose Bowl #1 USC 42 #3 Ohio State 17
1978 Cotton Bowl: #5 Notre Dame 38 #1 Texas 10
1977 Sugar Bowl #1 Pittsburgh 27 #4 Georgia 3
1978 Orange Bowl #6 Arkansas 31 #2 Oklahoma 6
1998 Orange Bowl #2 Nebraska 42 #3 Tennessee 17
2005 Orange Bowl #1 USC 55 #2 Oklahoma 19
I point this out because in 1972 Alabama's coach was "Bear" Bryant in 1973 Notre Dame's coach was Ara and Ohio State's was Woody Hayes, In 1978 Oklahoma had Barry Switzer. These teams had college football icons as their head coach. Hard to be better than these men, yet they all lost and they lost badly. When Texas lost the Cotton Bowl they had Earl Campbell and when Tennessee lost to Nebraska they had Peyton Manning. Hard to get better than these players. Let's not over analyse our defeat and throw the baby out with the bath water nor should we throw in the towel. We should note,that after Alabama and Notre Dame were embarrassed in subsequent Orange Bowls by Nebraska they played each other for the National Championship in the 73 Sugar Bowl.
We lost. Most great programs have an embarrassing defeat or two somewhere along the line. The mark of a Champion is what is done after the loss. Do they learn from it? Do they use it as motivation? Do they address areas of concern? Although, the rankings of the teams listed above were pretty close the winning team made the other look foolish and weak, as if they didn't belong on the same field. At least for that particular day. We were on the wrong side of it Monday or sure. Alabama out played us as a team and were obviously better prepared.
I unlike many that watch a game believe that many times a game hinges on 2-3 plays a possession or two and how they come out. Many pros will tell you the same thing. We had 3 opportunities that did not go are way that in my mind is not a stretch to think they could have resulted in points. Give Alabama all the credit in the world for stopping us on two of those occasions that is part of the game.
1. A fumbled punt on the 25 Called a penalty instead
2. An interception at the Alabama 5
3. Turning the ball over on downs after a pretty good drive.
People We Got Beat Up. I love Notre Dame and while I wish the game had gone different I am still very proud of the team and school. We have accomplished much and still have much to accomplish. GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!
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