Xavier Watts (Photo Joseph Weiser)
The ’69 Mets, The Prodigal Son, The Apostle Peter, Tiger Woods and Ebenezer Scrooge.
Everyone loves a good redemption story.
In 1977 Dan Devine’s Irish were loaded, Ross Browner, Luther Bradley, Ken McAfee, Bob Golic and Joe Montana. But that team stumbled badly in week 2 at unranked Mississippi, 20-13. Fan reaction, even before the internet, was loud and it was not pleasant. ND nation had just about had it with Devine, who was in his third season. Anyone remember “Dump Devine” bumper stickers? I do, I might have even had one. The 1977 defense actually looked solid, but a quarterback controversy ranged as Montana battled it out with Rusty Lisch and the offense could not find an identity.
Perhaps you have detected some similarities to 2024?
In 1977 after that early upset loss the Irish kept at it. Progress was not always obvious but they won. They got a one score win the week after the upset loss, to Purdue. Then, a slugfest 16-6 win over Michigan State and an underwhelming win over Army followed. Wins for certain, but not one thing seemed to come easy through five games for the ’77 Irish.
Then on October 22, 1977 5th ranked USC came to South Bend. The students rolled in a replica “Trojan Horse” pregame and the Irish came out of the locker room in kelly green jerseys for the first time since the ’50’s. ND dominated the Trojans that day 49-19. More importantly they found an identity.
The ’77 Irish stomped the rest of their regular season opponents by a combined score of 230-51. They rolled to 10-1 and closed out their redemption story by taking a wrath out on #1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl, 38-10.
A day later they were awarded the National Championship.
Green jersey parallel aside, ND’s victory yesterday over Louisville this past Saturday clearly was no where as dominant as ND’s win over USC in 1977. But beating Louisville is a win over very good football team and can provide a spark for the rest of 2024. And next week’s bye comes at the perfect time to regroup and war game the remainder of the regular season.
With the Louisville win and the season opening triumph over Texas A&M, ND now own wins over two top 25 teams. That’s good, and that will work in favor of the Irish when playoff bids are handed out. The margin for error is all but gone, but a berth in the post season and a shot at redemption is now plausible.
ND played far from a complete game Saturday. Louisville dominated the game statistically, and their defense stymied ND for most of the last three quarters. The Cardinals gashed the ND defense for 395 yards. ND managed a paltry, 280. The downfield passing game that had showed promising progress against Miami (OH) a week ago, only managed two pass plays in excess of 15 yards. One of those came on a screen pass.
Yet, some tantalizing outcomes are still alive for the 2024 Irish. Win out, and they will get a shot at winning a playoff game that would likely be played at home. Make the final eight in the College Football Playoff, and anything is possible.
Cue the redemption theme.
It is almost always said that “the bye week is coming at the right time”. This year that really does appear to be the case. Injuries have bit the Irish in 2024 and a rash of ’em impacted the Irish Saturday. Bubacar Traore, Jordan Faison, Jack Kiser, and Benjamin Morrison all missed time Saturday. Sophomore cornerback phenom Christian Gray so no action at all after being ruled out in a game time decision.
Riley Leonard, who played his best football of the season in the first quarter also missed time. That happened after being trampolined by a 305 pound defensive lineman in the second quarter. He returned to the game after missing just one play, but was not nearly as effective the rest of the day.
Postgame Leonard downplayed that injury by saying he “just got the wind knocked out”. But he did acknowledged some overall issues and how a bye week should benefit him, “I gotta get my body right. I’m definitely gonna be feeling today’s game tomorrow.” Oh and he is also looking forward to some, “golf” and to, “hopefully catch a bass or two”.
Leonard is probably on to something here. Rest and relaxation will be beneficial, but especially if it is combined with time spent retooling this team’s 2024 masterplan.
The regular season schedule ahead is manageable, but to win out, Notre Dame needs to fix some things, maybe a lot of things.
But it is not too late, and not too far fetched, to think that 2024 can turn into a blue and gold redemption story, to remember.