With the end of November came the end of Notre Dame's regular season, one which will be remembered for what it could have been as much as for anything else. It was a season of loss, both on the field and off. Injuries plagued what should have been virtuouso, farewell performances by Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix, III, and hobbled the Irish in the finale against Stanford. But it was the sudden preseason loss of Everett Golson to academic impropriety that likely deprived Notre Dame of any chance at ...
Snap Judgment
Snap Judgment: BYU
Notre Dame is as much concept as it is construct. It is an idea and a place that we each seek to relive on Saturdays in precise, ritualized detail. It is a place where tradition matters, and where a not insignificant number of the fans are at least as concerned with the players singing the alma mater as they are with the players actually winning. And so it is that Senior Day has come to matter so much, for in that final jog from tunnel to family and friends, we get to say a personal thank you to ...
Snap Judgment: Navy
Notre Dame defeated Navy 38-34 in messy fashion on a messy field and kept their BCS hopes alive for one more week. It was a win that Coach Brian Kelly refused to qualify in his post-game comments, noting how tough it is to overcome a flawlessly executed triple option. It was a win, too, in which freshman running back Tarean Folston exploded out of the backfield stable in the second half and established himself as a needed threat in the season's home-stretch. http://youtu.be/7vtjxVSV6VI The ...
Snap Judgment: USC
Notre Dame defeated Southern Cal last night, 14-10, to notch its first home victory over the Trojans since 2001. It was a defensive showcase for the Irish, with Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix, III, giving the USC offensive line fits all night. After giving up a touchdown in Southern Cal's opening drive, which went for ninety-six yards, ND's defense locked down and surrendered just three more points in the game. While serious questions remain about the Irish offense, the defense answered the ...