Louie
IBG Staff
I have to be honest here. I had already put down a loss for Notre Dame when UCLA got the back late in the fourth quarter. The website files, on my laptop, had a 5-2 record for the Irish.
Then it happened. Notre Dame got the ball back with under a minute left, with no time-outs. There was nothing up to that point that suggested Notre Dame would score a touchdown.
Nothing except Brady Quinn’s toughness and Jeff Samardzija. Notre Dame 20, UCLA 17. It was a drive that did more than stun UCLA and bring the home crowd to sudden elation. It saved Notre Dame’s national championship dreams.
Forget the obvious points of concern.The UCLA defense controlled the Irish offense for most of the game. Notre Dame didn’t run the ball, at all. Quinn was sacked five times and hit all game.
Those will be addressed in the coming weeks.
Remember this. For a team to play for the title or in a BCS game, it must overcome close calls. Several times.
