By Lauren Woode
Follow her on Twitter: @LaurenIsLive
*Continuation from the previous column by Lauren Woode*
My mission to watch 3 college football games back to back to back last Saturday continued after OSU/Michigan.
Next up, Florida vs. Florida State. I would have something intelligent and entertaining to say here, but I fell asleep at the wheel. Literally, I took a nap and when I woke up it was 13-10 Florida in the 3rd Quarter. Feeling guilty, I couldn’t bring myself to pay attention to the rest of the game. And it was a good one from the highlights I saw. Tough win for Florida 37-26.
I ate leftover Thanksgiving dinner and dialed in to the Main Event.
USC vs. Notre Dame at the Coliseum
As soon as I found out USC’s starting quarterback Matt Barkley was out, I thought that’s it. Write down Notre Dame in black Sharpie for the National Championship game for the first time since 1988. The Trojans gave it more than a good ole’ college try. They had a good chance of winning if they could have scored 1 touchdown in addition to a field goal in the 2nd half. But shoulda, coulda, woulda, right?
Ok, 3 things I noticed during the game:
1) What the heck is going on with Notre Dame and throwing touchdowns in the red zone? Yes, USC had an exceptional goal line defense throughout the game, but what do you think Notre Dame’s offense will do against Alabama? Them boys are big too down South.
2) Theo Riddick’s quickness and the Everett Golson’s mid range passes were the keys to Notre Dame’s 22-13 win, despite all those field goals.
3) Heads up for the future, USC fans. Backup quarterback Max Wittek has one hell of an arm and accuracy to boot. The kid had a couple of strong throws that ended up being incomplete passes. Catches could have changed the outcome of the game in USC’s favor.
This Notre Dame team going undefeated is a great story. The way they rallied around Manti Te’o after the deaths of his grandmother and girlfriend was heart wrenching. There are angels watching over this team. Believe it.
On a lighter note, I will reveal to you my true reason for writing this post. I have been a Notre Dame football fan since Rudy. (Yes, Rudy. Stop snickering.) I had the movie on practically every Saturday morning during high school for motivation while studying. I could not play football, for obvious reasons, nor was I Catholic, but a part of me wanted to go to Notre Dame to be in the band. (Now you can laugh!)
And I loved Notre Dame football even though they lost horribly almost every single fricking year. All this stopped once Brian Kelly became their coach. Why? Because I am from Cincinnati and he walked out on our Bearcats after the senior dinner in 2009.
He rode down the escalator and answered no questions. After all the hoopla, promises and paternalistic bullcrap he laid on the players, he walked out on them before they played in the Sugar Bowl that year.
The players were shocked, betrayed and devastated. They lost the game to Florida and Tim Tebow, of course. He turned the best Bearcat Football moment ever into shit. Ever since then, I have not been able to cheer for Notre Dame or that evil leprechaun Brian Kelly. It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it. But shoulda, coulda, woulda, right?
He should thank his team dearly if they win the National Championship. He would have been kicked out, tail between his legs if it hadn’t been for this team’s accomplishments. College football should be about the kids on the field.
On January 7th I will do what I haven’t been able to do for 3 years. I will cheer for old Notre Dame.
Categories: college football
L. Boogie sounds just like me!!!! The only movies I can remember being on basic cable growing up are Coming to America, Three Ninjas, and Rudy ( Rudy, Rudy, Rudy…..). I will say, I started getting over ND during the Brady Quinn years and Kelly was definitely the straw that broke the camels back. I would love to see them choke in the national championship (no offense to Mike Golic) and it helps that my Dawgs still have a shot at getting in the big game.
That’s right Georgia Girl! Georgia vs. Alabama will be an interesting game on Saturday. I’m going to really try and pull for the Golden Domers again. I put so much into watching them back in the day. 3 Ninja’s was the sh*t! They still play Coming to America all the time!
Good stuff.
Thank you!