Notre Dame football silenced the most outdated and misguided narrative in their victory against the Georgia Bulldogs
Notre Dame football have needed to get the monkey off their back for a long, long time. For the most part, they have beaten everyone they should over the last 10 years or so, but they have consistently struggled in the biggest games on their schedule. That changed with their 23-10 Sugar Bowl victory over […]
Notre Dame football have needed to get the monkey off their back for a long, long time. For the most part, they have beaten everyone they should over the last 10 years or so, but they have consistently struggled in the biggest games on their schedule. That changed with their 23-10 Sugar Bowl victory over the Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday.
There have been several reasons why the Fighting Irish have come up short so often, and for a long time, it was a lack of team speed. All you have to do is think back to the 2020 playoff game against Alabama, and watch the Irish cornerbacks try to make plays in space against players like Najee Harris and DeVonta Smith.
That issue hasn't been much of one since head coach Marcus Freeman came to South Bend prior to the 2021 college football season. His abilities as a recruiter, both from the high school level and the transfer portal, have helped to create one of the fastest Notre Dame teams in the last 20 years. That misnomer has been overstated for multiple seasons now, yet a lot of SEC homers continue spouting them any chance they get.
When you really size up this football game, it wasn’t a victory from dominating in the trenches. It wasn’t won simply by the big uglies, and the typical Notre Dame monikers. This game was won with speed, against what is traditionally one of the faster teams in the country.
Think back to the biggest keys to the game, Riley Leonard and his ability to use his legs, and his speed. It was a kickoff return from former Marshall wide receiver transfer Jayden Harrison, seeing him race down the sidelines by a sea of Georgia special teamers. And it was a Notre Dame defense that swarmed the Georgia run game, and made them one-dimensional.
The Notre Dame haters will continue to hold firm to that dated stance, and SEC homers will instead blame the loss of quarterback Carson Beck a couple of weeks ago. Those who watched the game and were honest about it, however, saw that speed from the Irish. The SEC’s only hope now lies on the Texas Longhorns, who funny enough are in their first season in the conference.
Let the cliches and misnomers die. This Notre Dame team is fast, and they are here to compete with everyone.
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