The Journey

"Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity." 

Lou Holtz.

 The 2012 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, a team that symbolized Rudy in its purest form, a team faced with challenges, and overwhelming adversity. 

 If anyone has ever watched Rudy, this year’s Irish are him in a team form. Notre Dame started this season unranked in the AP Poll, lacking recognition and respect that the university truly desired to gain back.

 A program laughed at, made fun of, and ultimately kicked to the curb for 15 years, much like Mr. Ruettiger, would have its chance.

 The Irish responded by thumping Navy 50-10 to open the season at Aviva Stadium in Ireland.

 The week after, the Irish survived a 20-17 scare against the Purdue Boilermakers, needing a Kyle Brindza field goal at the end to go 2-0.

 After a week off, Notre Dame (2-0) entered East Lansing to face the #10 ranked Michigan State Spartans (2-0). #20 Notre Dame slapped the Spartans 20-3. It was Notre Dame's first victory against a top-10 team since 2005. The Irish held the Spartans to only 237 total yards, and held star running Le'Veon Bell to only 77 yards rushing.

Te'o pointing to the sky towards his late
grandmother and girlfriend following a 20-3 win. 

It was also senior linebacker Manti Te’o’s finest hour. 

 Within days after losing both his grandmother and his girlfriend to leukemia, Te’o had 12 tackles and two deflected passes. Launching himself to Heisman nominee status. 

 Notre Dame propelled to #11 in the BCS standings. The Irish went back to South Bend to face Denard Robinson and the #17 Michigan Wolverines. 

 Notre Dame bludgeoned Michigan 13-6 to the tune of five interceptions and a fumble on defense.

Enjoying their first 4-0 start since 2002, #9 Notre Dame rolled the 4-1 Miami Hurricanes 41-7 in Chicago in a “Catholics vs Convicts” rematch. The Irish combined for 376 yards rushing, the most yards gained by a Notre Dame team since 2000.

 The #7 Irish would return to South Bend the next week for a showdown with the #17 ranked Stanford Cardinal. In a rain-soaked Notre Dame Stadium, the Irish and Cardinal went into overtime tied 13-13.

 Junior quarterback Tommy Rees in place of freshman Everett Golson put the Irish up 20-13 after a seven-yard strike to TJ Jones on their first possession.

 Stanford had 4th-and-goal at the Notre Dame 1, but were stopped at the goal-line on a failed plunge by running back Stepfan Taylor. The Irish were 6-0 and halfway home.

 After squeaking by BYU 17-14, the #5 ranked Irish went into Norman to play the #8 Oklahoma Sooners. Various football pundits across the U.S predicted an Oklahoma blowout against an offensively challenged Irish club. 

 The Irish however persevered and stomped the Sooners 30-13. The Irish were the only team all season to keep Oklahoma senior quarterback Landry Jones off the scoresheet. 

Oklahoma was held to 0.6 yards-per-rush.

The Sooners although snapped Notre Dame's seven game streak without giving up a rushing touchdown as back quarterback Blake Bell scored a one-yard touchdown in the 4th quarter. 

 Now ranked #4 and the hopes of a National Championship game still intact, Notre Dame almost had their title hopes crushed down 20-6 to Pitt in the 4th quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. 

 Golson threw for two touchdowns in the 4th and ran for the game-tying two-point-conversion to force the game into overtime.

After trading field goals in overtime,  senior running back Cierre Wood fumbled at the Pitt 2 and all the Panthers needed was a Kevin Harper field goal to win.

 But with a little bit of luck, Harper missed his 33-yard attempt by inches and the game went to a third overtime. Notre Dame eventually scored the game winner on an Everett Golson sneak from the 1. 

 Notre Dame then breezed through lowly Boston College and blasted Wake Forest 38-0 on senior day. Notre Dame was 11-0 for the first time since 1988. 

 And with both #1 Kansas State and #2 Oregon losing the same night to Baylor and Stanford, Notre Dame stood alone as the only undefeated team in the BCS.

 There was only one obstacle separating the Irish from the promise land, the USC Trojans. 

 Notre Dame, shrouded in adversity and doubt from everyone else, soundly defeated the Matt Barkley-less Trojans 22-13. 

 So after being mercilessly blasted by ESPN columnist Rick Reilly, doubted by ESPN’s Mark May, and shunned by the AP, Notre Dame was the last program standing at the end of the night. 

 They are 12-0, #1 in the country, and have a date with defending champion #2 Alabama in Miami, Florida for the National Championship.

 24 titles combined, 8 Heisman’s, 152 Consensus All-Americans, 1691 wins between these two titans of this sport.

 We have now reached the final scene, of the final act. Will the Tide’ roll on to their second straight and unprecedented 15th title? Or will Irish eyes be smiling at the end of their arduous and almost storybook journey?

 Win, or lose, it’s a great day to be Irish.

P.S Happy Birthday Lou!