It’s time to forget the cliches and the overanalyzing, and finally focus on the one key for Notre Dame against Georgia
We are just a couple of days away from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish battle against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl. This is round two of the college football playoffs, and the winner has a pretty advantageous course toward a national title game berth. As a part of the preparation, analysts all across […]
We are just a couple of days away from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish battle against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl. This is round two of the college football playoffs, and the winner has a pretty advantageous course toward a national title game berth. As a part of the preparation, analysts all across the country are busy talking keys to victory, breakout stars, and major storylines for the contest.
Can Notre Dame take advantage of quarterback Gunner Stockton in his first start? Can the Irish make up for the loss of star defensive tackle Rylie Mills, and find legitimate answers inside? And most of all, can Notre Dame finally get the monkey off their back and come out with a huge victory against Georgia?
Those questions have now been discussed for well over a week, and at this point, the fans are just ready for the game to finally happen. While the Irish staff has been putting together intricate gameplans, and trying their best to understand all the strengths and deficiencies for the Bulldogs, this game is going to come down to one singular thing. Notre Dame has to be themselves.
After the Irish loss to Northern Illinois in game two of the college football season, most people were calling for some massive changes for this Notre Dame team. People questioned if head coach Marcus Freeman was the man for the job, and there was some skepticism about the overall offensive identity. To the staff and the team’s credit, they blocked out all of the noise.
Did offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock completely alter the offensive structure during the 11-game winning streak? Did defensive coordinator Al Golden abandon his unit’s identity? Did Coach Freeman change his ideologies for how to run a program?
No, they changed one thing from that moment. Coach Freeman and this Irish team adopted the pain and anger through that loss, and have become the aggressor down the stretch of the season. This team’s body language is different, and it matches Freeman’s. They clearly are carrying themselves like their head coach, and are harnessing that pain.
That can’t change against Georgia. Some will argue it isn’t a winning formula, with this Notre Dame personality matching the Bulldogs persona too closely. Can they beat the Bulldogs at their own game?
It is, however, the best chance the Irish have on Wednesday night. They have the talent, and the angst to beat Georgia at their own game.
Believe in your identity, and come out the only way you know how. Wake up the echoes, get the monkey off of your back, and change the narrative finally. While some may not believe this is a must-win game but at some point, it needs to be. Coach Freeman and Notre Dame have every opportunity in front of them, and leaning into their identity is the only way they can get over that hump.
4 most important players that Notre Dame football needs to step up to pull off the Sugar Bowl upset against Georgia
Notre Dame needs four players to step up against Georgia.
