Turbulence and Triumph; Thy name is Notre Dame Part 1
Sports Illustrated described it best on their November 26th cover.
"MIRACULUM DOMINAE NOSTRAE".
That is Latin for "The Notre Dame Miracle".
It has been a season of surprises, guile, toughness, and sometimes luck. Notre Dame is one win away from winning their first National Championship in 24 years. But luck is rather fitting when the nickname of your team is 'Irish'.
Or maybe luck can be switched to blessings. If you look at the cover of SI, the image reflected on the shiny gold helmet is "touchdown Jesus", the awe-inspiring and mythic image of the son of God that hovers over the south end of Notre Dame Stadium every day. It is a powerful image that could burn in the mind of opponents who play in the cathedral of college football.
Although in years past, the mosaic, the golden dome, the classic scoreboard, and the aura in Notre Dame Stadium, had lacked the same shock it had when Lou Holtz stalked the sidelines in the late 80's to mid 90's. It was no longer the place where you so much as walked onto the field, you were in awe of the granger that surrounded you. It turned into a museum that reeked of the past and not the present.
The program was turned upside down after Lou Holtz stepped down as head coach in 1996. From then to 2009, the Fighting Irish went from a rejuvenated juggernaut under Holtz, to a team that had its fan-base longing for the past. At times, considered the joke of college football. How could a program that built its reputation on dominance on the gridiron, be turned into the butt end of every overrated joke known to sports?
When Bob Davie was hired as the successor to Holtz in 1997, he could not meet the incredibly high standards that came with the job in South Bend. Davie was Holtz's defensive coordinator from 1994-1996, years that were certainly not up to par with Holtz's previous teams (combined 23-11-1 in those years).
In five years as head coach, Davie had 1-4, 0-3, 3-1, 2-2, and 1-3 starts in that span. He also had strings of three, and four-game losing streaks in three of those years (including both a three, and four-game skid in the 1999 season). Although he had two 9-3 campaigns in 1998 and 2000, he lost all three bowl games in his tenure, including a 41-9 drubbing to Oregon State in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl.
When Davie was dismissed as head coach, off-the-field problems put the Irish on NCAA probation for the first time in their history from the actions of a booster. Notre Dame lost two scholarships and began the slow and painful descent to college football purgatory.
Notre Dame originally hired George O'Leary to succeed Davie. Mere days after the hiring, it was revealed that O'Leary had discrepancies on his resume'. He lied about having a master's degree from a fictional university, and having three-letters for football at the University of New Hampshire although he never played a game there.
The Irish then hired former Stanford head coach Tyrone Willingham, who achieved moderate success with the Cardinal in his seven years in northern California. After a stunning 10-3 record in his first season, he was fired in 2004 after producing 5-7 and 6-5 records the next two seasons. Willingham was hired and then fired at Washington after four seasons, capped by the dubious honor of having an 0-11 season in 2008.
Then Charlie Weis took over the weathered reigns of South Bend in 2005. Weis, a Notre Dame, was considered to be the savior to a quickly fading legacy at his alma mater. His pro-style offense led by quarterback Brady Quinn, brought the Irish back into relevance. With a 9-3 record his first season, Weis took the Irish to the 2006 Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State, losing 34-20. Weis the next year continued his success with a 10-3 record, unfortunately getting blown out by LSU 41-12 in the 2007 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Then in 2007, Notre Dame ultimately fell from grace. After losing Quinn, wide receiver Jeff Samardzija, running back Darius Walker, along with a depleted offensive line, the Irish finished 2007 at 3-9, their worst season in over 44 years.
Even though Notre Dame won its first bowl game since 1993 the following year, Weis went 13-12 his last two seasons and was promptly fired in 2009.
At that point, it looked like nothing could save this program from turning into college football cannon fodder. Anyone remember the Irish losing to 2-8 Syracuse at home on senior day? How about Tulsa? Connecticut? Michigan State sticking their flag at the 50-yard line? Losing to Navy for the first time in almost half a century? All at home, the hallowed ground of Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish could not have sunk any lower.
And then, Brian Kelly came to South Bend, looking to right the sinking ship known as the Fighting Irish.
Part two comes out Friday! "The road to salvation."
"MIRACULUM DOMINAE NOSTRAE".
That is Latin for "The Notre Dame Miracle".
It has been a season of surprises, guile, toughness, and sometimes luck. Notre Dame is one win away from winning their first National Championship in 24 years. But luck is rather fitting when the nickname of your team is 'Irish'.
Or maybe luck can be switched to blessings. If you look at the cover of SI, the image reflected on the shiny gold helmet is "touchdown Jesus", the awe-inspiring and mythic image of the son of God that hovers over the south end of Notre Dame Stadium every day. It is a powerful image that could burn in the mind of opponents who play in the cathedral of college football.
Although in years past, the mosaic, the golden dome, the classic scoreboard, and the aura in Notre Dame Stadium, had lacked the same shock it had when Lou Holtz stalked the sidelines in the late 80's to mid 90's. It was no longer the place where you so much as walked onto the field, you were in awe of the granger that surrounded you. It turned into a museum that reeked of the past and not the present.
The program was turned upside down after Lou Holtz stepped down as head coach in 1996. From then to 2009, the Fighting Irish went from a rejuvenated juggernaut under Holtz, to a team that had its fan-base longing for the past. At times, considered the joke of college football. How could a program that built its reputation on dominance on the gridiron, be turned into the butt end of every overrated joke known to sports?
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| Davie (above) was 38-28 in his four years at Notre Dame |
In five years as head coach, Davie had 1-4, 0-3, 3-1, 2-2, and 1-3 starts in that span. He also had strings of three, and four-game losing streaks in three of those years (including both a three, and four-game skid in the 1999 season). Although he had two 9-3 campaigns in 1998 and 2000, he lost all three bowl games in his tenure, including a 41-9 drubbing to Oregon State in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl.
When Davie was dismissed as head coach, off-the-field problems put the Irish on NCAA probation for the first time in their history from the actions of a booster. Notre Dame lost two scholarships and began the slow and painful descent to college football purgatory.
Notre Dame originally hired George O'Leary to succeed Davie. Mere days after the hiring, it was revealed that O'Leary had discrepancies on his resume'. He lied about having a master's degree from a fictional university, and having three-letters for football at the University of New Hampshire although he never played a game there.
Then in 2007, Notre Dame ultimately fell from grace. After losing Quinn, wide receiver Jeff Samardzija, running back Darius Walker, along with a depleted offensive line, the Irish finished 2007 at 3-9, their worst season in over 44 years.
Even though Notre Dame won its first bowl game since 1993 the following year, Weis went 13-12 his last two seasons and was promptly fired in 2009.
At that point, it looked like nothing could save this program from turning into college football cannon fodder. Anyone remember the Irish losing to 2-8 Syracuse at home on senior day? How about Tulsa? Connecticut? Michigan State sticking their flag at the 50-yard line? Losing to Navy for the first time in almost half a century? All at home, the hallowed ground of Notre Dame Stadium. The Irish could not have sunk any lower.
And then, Brian Kelly came to South Bend, looking to right the sinking ship known as the Fighting Irish.
Part two comes out Friday! "The road to salvation."
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