WIFE: Notre Dame’s playing Syracuse? That shouldn’t be a problem.
ME: Nah, it’s the games that look easy that you’ve got to worry about.
Something of a disheveled specter washed over the Irish Saturday night as they faced the Syracuse Orange at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. In their first three meetings of the season, the Irish have appeared to be rattled in the first quarter or two before finding their ultimate groove. In the primetime game on ABC, the Irish were rattled from start to finish.
Disheveled Irish whip Syracuse
Jekyll and Hyde is what it reminded me of, and you don’t have to limit the dissociative identity disorder metaphor the just the overall season for Notre Dame, it also was a perfect fit to last night’s game.
Heisman-touted quarterback Everett Golson displayed exactly why he’s popping up on a lot of those short lists, capping the game against the ‘Cuse by going 32-39 overall. Golson’s precise throwing ability allowed him to connect with receivers Will Fuller twice, as well as Corey Robinson and Torri Hunter, Jr. Connections would be one of the high notes for the offence as Golson was on the cusp of making NCAA history by breaking the record for consecutive completions in a single game. Although a dropped pass in the fourth quarter snapped any chance of a record, Golson’s 25 successive completions became a new Notre Dame school record in the end.
Speaking of the end, the final score of 31-15 tied a haughty Irish record. The last time a Notre Dame Football squad accrued 30+ points in four consecutive matchups was 1943, the year Quarterback Angelo Bertelli won the Heisman and the Irish won their fourth national championship.
Not to be outdone, the Notre Dame defense showed why they are not to be taken lightly. Forcing Syracuse to punt on five consecutive drives, the defense were able to hold The Orange to just one field goal midway through the second quarter, and one touchdown late in the third. They also accounted for an interception nabbed by Matthias Farley, which added to Notre Dame’s four touchdowns in the game.
While it’s always good to celebrate the good in everything, you cease to improve when you don’t study the bad.
Everett Golson came into the night’s meeting not having thrown a single interception in the first three games. That lauded statistic easily came to an end as Golson would throw not one, but two picks. To make matters worse, the rest of the offense struggled to hang on to the ball, adding three fumbles to the five turnover count, including the most bewildering fumble I’ve ever seen as Golson attempted to spike the ball to stop the clock before the waning seconds of the first half dripped down. Golson lost possession of the ball before his knee came down and Syracuse slyly recovered.
On an evening in which a few on the Notre Dame team caused this Irish fan to stomp and grunt with aggravation, it is important to highlight the good, but also make lessons out of the bad as the Irish trudge through a difficult bad-loaded schedule that begins with Stanford at home next week. With USC and Florida State to follow, here’s hoping Syracuse aided in one thing: smoothing the edges of a playoff-worthy team.
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