Now that we are down to the last several weeks of the 2nd decade of the 21st century looking back on the last 20 years what were your favorite moments as a fan? Here are mine.
Nebraska(1) over ND(23) 2000
This game was played early in the year where the off-season hype of Nebraska/Eric Crouch was still fresh and Nebraska was the AP Poll #1 team in the country. The game was tense, Notre Dame holding Nebraska's offense in check, but there was this feeling that Eric Crouch would break free at any moment (spoiler he did). This game ranks up there as one of the best ever in the last 20 years just given how intense it was from drive to drive and topping out in overtime.
ND(6) over FSU(11) 2002
Notre Dame was undefeated at the time and FSU was a huge favorite. If this game was played 1,000 times, FSU wins 999 times. But that day the luck of the Irish catapulted ND into the national championship discussion with only 4 games left on the schedule.
Charlie Weis hired December 13 2004 https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=1943710
Charlie Weis was constantly swirling around the head-coaching rumor mill in both the college and pro ranks at the time. Having coached positions and offenses under Bill Parcells and Bill Bellichick, he was credited with the development of Tom Brady, Curtis Martin, Ben Coates, and Terry Glenn. He came to Notre Dame with a ton of cache as a QB and offensive guru similar to what you hear said about guys like Lincoln Riley or Kliff Kingsbury. The fact that he was a Notre Dame alum only added to the hype of this hire, and as a fan really made you want to get behind the guy.
USC(1) over ND(9) 2005
This game is still probably fresh on many's minds almost like it happened yesterday. I envy anybody who was actually able to be at this game live as it has a reputation for one of the best stadium atmospheres at Notre Dame maybe ever. That last USC drive starts at the USC 15 yard line with 1 minute and 34 seconds and to this day probably one of the most tense drives I ever witnessed as a fan.
Manti Te'o commits to Notre Dame National Signing Day February 6 2009
The hype of Manti's commitment was like nothing before or after it since. I don't know if it was because it was a heated battle for his commitment vs a big rival (USC). Or if it was the sick 9 minute high school highlight video he released with hundreds of thousands of views. Or if it was the fact that ND desperately needed a savior on defense after struggling on that side of the ball during much of the Weis era. But ND was in a massive dogfight for his commitment, with stories of Brian Polian flying 9 hours to hawaii weekly to be at every one of Manti's games. Te'o was the #4 composite player in the country overall and was being hyped for his maturity/character almost as much for his exclusivity as a football prospect. His recruitment lasted almost 2 years with ND fans posting any info and tidbits they could possibly find in this 266 page mega-thread over at Irish Envy.
All of this anticipation lead to the glorious three minutes in this video on National Signing Day 2009. And the fact that that commitment ultimately lead to one of the best seasons in the 21st century at Notre Dame (2012) I'd say the anticipation of that moment and proceeding jubilation was worth every second.
Brian Kelly hired December 10 2009
Brian Kelly, an irish catholic from Boston, was tied to Notre Dame during the entire 2009 season. When Weis was finally fired, and Kelly was hired in his place, the move surprised nobody.
He was one of the coaches on the forefront of the no huddle hurry up offense and had the reputation as an offensive innovator and a program builder having maximized the potential of the three previous programs he coached. At the time, fans were equally excited about the possibility of him bringing over some of his current and old staff who had big time reputations: Chuck Martin, Jeff Quinn, and Paul Longo.
ND(7) over Stanford(17) 2012
Stanford during the late Weis/early Brian Kelly era, having dominated the rivalry in 3 of the past 4 games, was a constant reminder on the schedule of just how far away NDs fronts were.
When this game came around in 2012 everybody was looking to see just how good NDs front 7 was, which started to make a reputation for itself as one of the best in college football early in the season.
In a moment of great vindication ND was able to hold two Stanford power running plays to no yards, and preserve a 7 point lead at their own one yard line. In a game since dubbed "The Stand"
ND(5) over OU(8) 2012
Everybody including Notre Dame fans themselves had Oklahoma winning this game. When ND stopped Oklahoma on their first possession, and then Cierre Wood ran the ball up the middle for a 60+ yard TD on the very next possession it was like the world stopped for a brief moment, and in that moment you knew something was different this time, Notre Dame was building a program that could beat anybody anywhere on any night. ND eventually went on to beat OU in a stadium the sooners never lose in and were big favorites in their remaining 4 games on their way to the BCS national championship game.
The 2017 Season 8-1 (Week 1-Week 10)
Outside of a one point loss to a team that eventually finished #2 in F/+ that year (Georgia), Notre Dame was steamrolling everybody on their schedule during the first 10 weeks of the season.
ND was putting teams away by the 3rd quarter. They were in the top 5 in all the advanced ranking systems/computer polls. For a 10 week period, ND fans got to experience what it must feel like to be an Alabama fan. One of those programs that run the other team off the field in embarrassing fashion week in and week out.
Then Miami happened and it was all downhill from that point on.
Nebraska(1) over ND(23) 2000
This game was played early in the year where the off-season hype of Nebraska/Eric Crouch was still fresh and Nebraska was the AP Poll #1 team in the country. The game was tense, Notre Dame holding Nebraska's offense in check, but there was this feeling that Eric Crouch would break free at any moment (spoiler he did). This game ranks up there as one of the best ever in the last 20 years just given how intense it was from drive to drive and topping out in overtime.
ND(6) over FSU(11) 2002
Notre Dame was undefeated at the time and FSU was a huge favorite. If this game was played 1,000 times, FSU wins 999 times. But that day the luck of the Irish catapulted ND into the national championship discussion with only 4 games left on the schedule.
Charlie Weis hired December 13 2004 https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=1943710
Charlie Weis was constantly swirling around the head-coaching rumor mill in both the college and pro ranks at the time. Having coached positions and offenses under Bill Parcells and Bill Bellichick, he was credited with the development of Tom Brady, Curtis Martin, Ben Coates, and Terry Glenn. He came to Notre Dame with a ton of cache as a QB and offensive guru similar to what you hear said about guys like Lincoln Riley or Kliff Kingsbury. The fact that he was a Notre Dame alum only added to the hype of this hire, and as a fan really made you want to get behind the guy.
USC(1) over ND(9) 2005
This game is still probably fresh on many's minds almost like it happened yesterday. I envy anybody who was actually able to be at this game live as it has a reputation for one of the best stadium atmospheres at Notre Dame maybe ever. That last USC drive starts at the USC 15 yard line with 1 minute and 34 seconds and to this day probably one of the most tense drives I ever witnessed as a fan.
Manti Te'o commits to Notre Dame National Signing Day February 6 2009
The hype of Manti's commitment was like nothing before or after it since. I don't know if it was because it was a heated battle for his commitment vs a big rival (USC). Or if it was the sick 9 minute high school highlight video he released with hundreds of thousands of views. Or if it was the fact that ND desperately needed a savior on defense after struggling on that side of the ball during much of the Weis era. But ND was in a massive dogfight for his commitment, with stories of Brian Polian flying 9 hours to hawaii weekly to be at every one of Manti's games. Te'o was the #4 composite player in the country overall and was being hyped for his maturity/character almost as much for his exclusivity as a football prospect. His recruitment lasted almost 2 years with ND fans posting any info and tidbits they could possibly find in this 266 page mega-thread over at Irish Envy.
All of this anticipation lead to the glorious three minutes in this video on National Signing Day 2009. And the fact that that commitment ultimately lead to one of the best seasons in the 21st century at Notre Dame (2012) I'd say the anticipation of that moment and proceeding jubilation was worth every second.
Brian Kelly hired December 10 2009
Brian Kelly, an irish catholic from Boston, was tied to Notre Dame during the entire 2009 season. When Weis was finally fired, and Kelly was hired in his place, the move surprised nobody.
He was one of the coaches on the forefront of the no huddle hurry up offense and had the reputation as an offensive innovator and a program builder having maximized the potential of the three previous programs he coached. At the time, fans were equally excited about the possibility of him bringing over some of his current and old staff who had big time reputations: Chuck Martin, Jeff Quinn, and Paul Longo.
ND(7) over Stanford(17) 2012
Stanford during the late Weis/early Brian Kelly era, having dominated the rivalry in 3 of the past 4 games, was a constant reminder on the schedule of just how far away NDs fronts were.
When this game came around in 2012 everybody was looking to see just how good NDs front 7 was, which started to make a reputation for itself as one of the best in college football early in the season.
In a moment of great vindication ND was able to hold two Stanford power running plays to no yards, and preserve a 7 point lead at their own one yard line. In a game since dubbed "The Stand"
ND(5) over OU(8) 2012
Everybody including Notre Dame fans themselves had Oklahoma winning this game. When ND stopped Oklahoma on their first possession, and then Cierre Wood ran the ball up the middle for a 60+ yard TD on the very next possession it was like the world stopped for a brief moment, and in that moment you knew something was different this time, Notre Dame was building a program that could beat anybody anywhere on any night. ND eventually went on to beat OU in a stadium the sooners never lose in and were big favorites in their remaining 4 games on their way to the BCS national championship game.
The 2017 Season 8-1 (Week 1-Week 10)
Outside of a one point loss to a team that eventually finished #2 in F/+ that year (Georgia), Notre Dame was steamrolling everybody on their schedule during the first 10 weeks of the season.
ND was putting teams away by the 3rd quarter. They were in the top 5 in all the advanced ranking systems/computer polls. For a 10 week period, ND fans got to experience what it must feel like to be an Alabama fan. One of those programs that run the other team off the field in embarrassing fashion week in and week out.
Then Miami happened and it was all downhill from that point on.
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