9.25 - The Exorcism

Down by 17 points, it seemed even mother nature was conspiring to make Irish fans wait another year to end Michigan State's inexplicable spell over the Blue and Gold. The rain, already coming down in sheets, changed directions at the end of the third quarter driving the storm directly into the path of the Irish comeback. But fueled by big plays and Heisman throws from Brady Quinn, the Irish did the improbable and in the process changed pre-penned newspaper headlines and articles across the country. The morning Chicago Tribune even featured the "Dewey beats Trumanesque" headline, "Irish Are Own Worst Enemy."

Blame the wet field. Blame the driving rain. Blame the swirling winds. Blame the screaming Michigan State fans. And blame Notre Dame. Yes, mostly, blame the Irish. Exposed by the Spartans as slow defensively and erratic offensively, Notre Dame proved unable, for the second week in a row, to claim any traction on the football field. As the third quarter came to a soaked end, the Irish were well on their way to a second straight drubbing, trailing the Spartans 37-21. As the minutes ticked off, Notre Dame was eding what little footing it had in the national-title race. - Chicago Tribune

Then of course, everything changed.

In every successful coaching career there is a statement game, when a team rises above the Xs, Os and circumstance and wins on heart and determination. Weis may have found his defining moment on Saturday night. The often emotionless leader coaxed his team out of a two game funk and helped engineer a remarkable comeback that, unlike last year, did not fall short.


The win and the post game celebration made all the more sweet by Smith's juvenile attempt to "protect the S" as if it were a battle between the neighborhood toughies on The East Side Kids. Smith actually had three players stand at the 50 yard line for at least 20 minutes after the game ended, thinking Notre Dame players would even care to plant a flag at midfield. It's hard to imagine a leader of college age men directing such an innappropriate and immature act, but such is the character of John L. Smith.

Many Irish watchers have already compared Saturday's win to Lou Holtz's come from behind win over USC in 1986. Time, of course will tell the true importance of the game, but the facts point to this being a very good Irish team.

Notre Dame football, according to Sagarin, has played the hardest schedule in the country so far and not a word of whining from the man at the top. In fact only two teams in the top 20 are in the top ten in schedule strength and four of the top are in the top 20 in SOS... which means 16 teams have a had a fairly easy go of it.

The comparisons to Willingham are absurd as omahadomer points out:

Here are the aggregate point differentials for coaches through 16 games. Their record is noted parenthetically.

Weis: +151 (12-4)
Holtz: +137 (9-7)
Willingham: +32 (11-5)
Davie: +12 (9-7)

Not quite the same is it? Weis deserved this sweet victory. This team has problems, as we'll cover later in the week, but the important thing is that Notre Dame faced adversity in hostile territory and exorcised the Davie curse that's been hanging over this program since Lou left.

~ The Rock