Have you seen a grown man cry? If not, go visit the home of thousands of die hard college football fans in the next few weeks, as their dreams and hopes for a perfect college football season are dashed once again.
As the season approaches, Blogging the Suburbs reflects on the five personal biggest disappointments in Notre Dame football in the past ten years. Perhaps this negative perspective will be the best way to look forward to a season full of hope.
5.) Notre Dame at North Carolina, Oct. 11, 2008, 24-29. Notre Dame reached the North Carolina 7 in the final seconds before officials ruled—after a review—that receiver Michael Floyd fumbled the ball in what appeared to be a frantic attempted lateral. Trimane Goddard recovered, giving the ball back to North Carolina for a joyous kneel-down with 3 seconds left.
Highlights: taking my son to his first Notre Dame game, geeting free food, green jello shots, and drinks from at PT’s off Franklin Street, photos with the leprachaun. Lowlights: realizing how scared by son was of fireworks, since they were shot off every time the Tarheels scored, getting texts from so-called friends/UNC alums all night long.
4.) The 2007 Season. Lost nine of their first ten games to Georgia Tech, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Boston College, Southern Cal, Navy, and Air Force. Jimmy Clausen’s freshman year was a nightmare of catastrophic proportions. Good luck trying to get through this “highlight reel” that was just a microcosm of the season.
3.) The Willingham Southern Cal losses, 2002 44-13; 2003 45-14; 2004 41-10. In 2002, a capacity crowd and a national television audience saw USC quarterback Carson Palmer throw for 425 yards and four touchdowns—then Notre Dame opponent records.Palmer led the Trojan offense to 610 total yards, the most yards ever against the Irish. Two more 31 point losses and a winning streak until 2009 led to a decade of dominance by the Men of Troy.
2.) Notre Dame at Michigan State, September 18, 31-34 OT. With Notre Dame up three points in overtime and MSU backed up with a 46 yard field goal to tie the game, we’ll late ABC take it from here:
1.) Notre Dame vs. either South Florida/Wake Forest/Navy/Maryland/Walden University’s online degree programs and/or Air Force, 2011 Season. With the recent memory of losses to underdogs Syracuse (2008), UConn (2009), Navy (2007, 2009, 2010), or Tulsa (2010), there’s sure to be a few nights I cry myself to sleep this fall.
Go Irish
Update: Yep, we lost that one to South Florida, a few hours after this was originally published. Let’s hope Navy doesn’t seal the same fate for the Irish in Dublin.
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