By Jeffery Green | @Jeffery_AGreen
Sports Capital Journalism Program
ATLANTA – There was frustration throughout the dressing room. There was anger and sadness in their eyes. For the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, there had been a month with an unprecedented series of celebrations from their campus to the Sugar Bowl to the Orange Bowl.
Now there was just the sudden reality that this unforgettable journey was over for the Irish – the 13-game winning streak, the possibility of the school’s first national title since 1988, the chance to take their place among the finest teams in a proud history.
And there were questions coming through that door.
At the end of the longest Notre Dame football season, confronted with requests to explain the 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship, some players silently removed their equipment and headed for the shower, eager to get out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium as quickly as they could. Others pointed out that the questions were not welcome.
“It’s an emotional locker room,” said Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock at the end of his 11th season over three stints at Notre Dame.
“The team’s been through a lot,” he said.
The last time the Irish had played, after the dramatic victory over Penn State in the Capital One Orange Bowl semifinal, Christian Gray smiled in the interview room as he described his decisive late interception that set up Mitch Jeter’s game-winning field goal. On Monday night, when there were attempts to ask him about his role in Jeremiah Smith’s game-sealing 56-yard reception for the Buckeyes, several teammates felt it was foolish to ask a young player about the situation.
Not far away, senior tight end Mitchell Evans sat motionless, his head lowered, his hands covering his face. As teammates headed toward the shower, Evans took his time.
Evans had thrown his helmet in anger during the final seconds. After talking during the previous week about emptying the tank in pursuit of a championship, now he understood the commitment had not been enough to finish the job.
Throughout the room, teammates were speaking quietly. Freshman left tackle Anthonie Knapp, who missed the game after suffering an ankle sprain against Penn State in the semifinal, walked around the room trying to console everyone who had fought alongside him throughout his first college season. Teammates were sharing their emotions in quiet conversations that ended with hugs, comforting one another after a grueling season.
They had responded to a 31-7 deficit by fighting back to a 31-23 game with 4:15 to go. “The kids kept fighting, it’s in their DNA,” said defensive coordinator Al Golden. “…You always feel like you have a chance.”
On another day there would be talk of all the achievements and growth, and the promise the future holds. Sophomore linebacker Drayk Bowen showed the kind of player he can be, leading the defense with eight total tackles, seven of which were solo, and a key forced fumble on Emeka Egbuka inside the redzone in the fourth quarter. “You saw a guy heavy handed all game, just a warrior,” Golden said of Bowen.
In today’s world of the transfer portal and potential financial gains on another campus, Bowen said he does not want to play anywhere else. “I wouldn’t want to play for any other coach,” he said at the end of Marcus Freeman’s third season.
A short walk away, in the media interview area, senior linebacker Jack Kiser, after his 70th and final game with the Irish, was still in his uniform. “To have Coach Freeman – yeah, it’s about the people,” Kiser said. “It’s the people that’s made this place different. It just shows where this program is heading. The people in this building are the best, absolute best.”
