Notre Dame Football: One Thought, One Take for Michigan State-Soul Crushing Edition

Feel free to Press Play-get yourself even more sad before we get going!

Thought

In last weeks segment we celebrated the highest of victories after a defeat.....and then the Notre Dame Fighting Irish went out an beat the Boston College Eagles by 29 points....and rushed for 515 yards. Yet....fans are universally feeling pretty blah. I am here today to tell you how much better it is to feel blah after a win, then it is to feel the utter crushing gut check of a not just a loss.....but a true SOUL CRUSHING loss. I will help define soul crushing with a couple of requirements below:

1. It is a “big game”- you thought about it every second of the week, you woke up giddy and fell asleep contemplating why the universe is so cruel.

2. At one point, you thought to yourself, “we could actually pull this one out!”

3. There was a defining play that led to our demise.

4. You remember EXACTLY where you were when said play happened.

5. It physically hurts to see, talk about, or even think about that play. I know you are thinking about certain plays in your heads already (sorry).....But I am bearing the cross of writing about it (humbly).

With that said, I present to you, Philly G’s list of Soul Crushing losses. Please vote for and comment with stories about where you were during these moments or share other games that have truly left you feeling empty. I will spare the videos of the game until the end, watch at your own risk.

1. USC 2005....I was at this game. Ambrose Wooden was in perfect position when Matt Leinart hit Dwayne Jarrett for the 4th down completion....Fumble out of bounds....Bush Push...RIP my youth...hello bitterness
2. BC 1993: Perfect Season gone.....My dad’s quote, “I will never get over this loss”
3. FSU 2014: Weird that Hunter Renfrow won the National Championship on the same play last year. I celebrated a win....then that win was taken from me. Im not upset about it though.
4. MSU 2005: This one sticks with me because I literally came from a funeral....only to have MSU dance on my own grave by planting the flag at midfield.

Takes

HOT TAKE: Brandon Wimbush will complete 60+ Percent of his passes

Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images

After statistically having the best rushing game for a Quarterback in Notre Dame history, Brandon Wimbush will shine in the passing game this week. Chip Long and the coaching staff will prepare him for short and intermediate routes to get his confidence rolling (hopefully this doesn’t include him rolling to his left on third down....) The strong rushing attack of Notre Dame will also open up play action passes downfield.....I am hoping we see our first deep ball completion of the year. The longest completion may even come on a screen in which Josh Adams or Dexter Williams (probs not Dex tbh) takes a short screen the distance. Despite having a historically miserable week passing vs. BC, look for Brandon Wimbush to settle in as a passer against the Spartans.

COLD TAKE: Daelin Hayes and Julian Okwara will combine for 5+ Sacks

Michigan State has faced 2 of the statistically worst defenses in their opening contests. Hopefully this bodes well for our defense as we have shown significant growth at every level over the past 3 weeks. This week we will see more plays out of Julian Okwara and Daelin Hayes. Okwara has begun established himself as a force-both forcing fumbles and recording TFLs. Hayes has been very solid thus far, but hasn’t broken out-we will see him do that this game by testing the Michigan State Spartans O line. In regards to the O-line, I used to consistently beat their starting center, Brian Allen, and his reserve guard brother, Matt Allen, in Elementary School Wrestling (go Red Devils). Granted I may have been 13 and they may have been 5 and 8.....(they were BIG little kids). If my experience holding my own against smaller, underdeveloped kindergarten and second graders is any tell, our D-line should be jusssssts fine.

-Ps they have all gotten a lot bigger, with the oldest brother, Jack Allen, currently on IR for the Saints. Also I would be remiss to not give a shout out to MSU fan/co-worker (not friend) Joe Buth-go kick rocks Joe.

Soul Crushing Videos

-USC 2005 final drive

-BC 1993 Go ahead score and Field Goal

-FSU 2014 play.....Still not over it

-MSU 2005 flag planting