Frank Commentary

We all knew what the game plan would be.  We all probably realized it would be difficult to watch, and it was.  Any time Notre Dame can beat their rival, USC, it’s a great day to be an Irish fan.  That’s the bottom line.  

The defensive game plan was what it was because it almost had to be…if ND wanted to win.

With starting nickel, Shaun Crawford out, and the smaller corner, TaRiq Bracy, not being a good match-up with the much bigger outside receivers from USC, there really wasn’t much more the Irish defense could do but play the way they did.  

Jalen Elliott had to play Amon-Ra St. Brown, which isn’t a great match-up, and Notre Dame had to defend the deep pass.  The bottom line is: USC matched up extremely well against ND’s banged up secondary, and ND had to protect them, which made a normally very aggressive defense play a way they don’t usually play, and also made for a very frustrating game to watch. 

I suppose it’s debatable if they needed to play that way as much as they did, and I wondered this allowed many times as well, but in the end, the object is to find a way to win these rival games, and mission accomplished.  

The Trojans played their best game of the year.  They’ve recruited very well.  They had an extra week to prepare.  They didn’t shoot themselves in the foot with penalties as they had all year.  They didn’t turn the ball over once, and yet the Irish still beat them and led the entire game.    USC had zero turnovers and just two penalties.  That’s as clean as you can possibly play.  

I think what made it hard to watch was Notre Dame’s best asset on defense (their pass rush and swarming front seven) had to almost concede that they couldn’t win their battle enough to win the game, and that’s why some are so angry.  

But, as we saw, it only took a few big plays and USC was right back in the game.  That’s what elite talent does for you.  That’s why you’re never out of a game if you have elite talent.  That’s why Notre Dame needs to get more of it, and that’s why winning this game was extremely important and will certainly help them do just that.  

So, yes, it was frustrating.  Yes, I’m sure we all yelled a little more at the TV than we wanted to.  Affirmative, it exposed some weaknesses in Notre Dame’s defense, but people need to realize that USC is a much better team than they are giving credit for.  Their QB was outstanding.  They had an elite running back who “Played Like a Champion.”  They had elite receivers everywhere, a much better offensive and defensive line than in previous years.  This was a good USC team, and ND took their best shot and won.  I bet USC doesn’t lose another game all year in the regular season.  

Do you know what I liked best about this win on Saturday?  The way they won is exactly what many of us have been waiting for for decades.  They won it because they have built a great culture of mental and physical toughness.

In my prediction before the game I said:   “However, I think Notre Dame wins this one because they have the better culture in their football program.  They’ll be mentally tougher.  They’ll make the least mistakes.”

There were so many examples of that from Saturday’s game, and I’m going to point some of them out.  

Down 3-0 to USC after a few failed drives, ND uses 9 plays to drive 97 yards to put their team up top, 7-3.  That was a huge drive in this game!  

A solid defensive effort stops USC and ND gets the ball back again.  Tony Jones for 11 yards.  Tony Jones for 4 more.  Braden Lenzy for 51 and the touchdown, now 14-3.  

Another impressive defensive 3-and-out and ND is left with 3:04 left in the first half.

Tony Jones for 14.  Finke rush for 7 yards.  Tony Jones for another 10 yards.  ND kicks a 45-yard field goal to end the half up 17-3.  

But more important, was how they responded when USC had all the momentum to close the gap to 23-20.

14 plays.  75 yards.  

Tony Jones for 3 yards.  

Book to Kmet for 9 yards.  

Tony Jones for 9 yards.  

Tony Jones for 1 yard.  

Jahmir Smith for 13 yards.  

Jahmir Smith for 3 yards.  

Jahmir Smith for 7 yards.  

Ian Book rush for 4 yards.  

Ian Book to Kmet for 12 yards.  

Ian Book rush for 17 yards.  

Tony Jones for 5 yards.

Ian Book for 8 yards to seal the game.  

308 rushing yards took the life out of USC, and the Irish offense, finally, won a game for this Notre Dame team.  

The way ND won this game is what I’ve been preaching for decades—culture.  Good culture can beat elite athletes.  

The way USC lost is proof of that as well.  Elite athletes don’t mean you’re going to win the game, even if you play almost a perfect game.  

Brian Kelly and the Irish have built a culture of mental and physical toughness.  Now, can you imagine what that culture will do when even more elite athletes show up?  I think that is already starting to happen.  

Game Balls

There are so many who are deserving this week, and I’m going to point them out.  

Kicker John Doerer.  Fact:  ND loses without John Doerer.  Talk about mental toughness!  What he’s gone through, and overcome, is remarkable.  He was simply outstanding on Saturday.  

Tony Jones, Jr.  Wow!  Heart of a lion.  Determination of a champion.  Notre Dame would’ve lost multiple games by now had he not stepped up in such a huge way.  How can you not cheer for this guy?  

Notre Dame’s offensive line.  I have not always been so complimentary of this unit, but they won this game on Saturday.  Notre Dame really needed this unit to play well and they delivered huge all game long.  

Final Thoughts

The Irish are a darn good football team, but they’re not playoff team.  I think most of us knew that.  However, I can assure you, none of those teams want to play Notre Dame because the Irish have built a great culture.  They play disciplined.  They play clean.  They play tough, and that makes them a very difficult out…just like Wisconsin is playing.  That’s the way Notre Dame has to build this to really be a contender.  Great culture and dominant O-line and defensive play.  The pieces are starting to come together.  A big win in Ann Arbor will be yet another building block to get back to where ND once was.  

Everyone should be excited about what is being built.  It’s being done the right way.  True, there are still holes.  Yes, they could coach better at times, too, but you can say that about every team in the country.  

A week off to heal.  A week to come up with a great game plan for the Wolverines, and the next big challenge for this Irish team.  

Notre Dame has shown they can win big games at home.  Can they do it on the road?  That’s the next step in building this the right way.  

We will see what happens….