By Jeffery Green | @Jeffery_Agreen
Sports Capital Journalism Program
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – As soon as the football was somehow extended beyond the goal line, the unforgettable two yards of Jeremiyah Love — relentless, determined and inspired – immediately came to represent the resolve that would eventually carry the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Love’s 2-yard touchdown 4:14 into the third quarter, tying the Capital One Orange Bowl that had seemed to be slipping away, happened only after he pushed past, around and through Nittany Lion defenders Zion Tracy, Zakee Wheatley and Abdul Carter and across the goal line.
And after Mitch Jeter’s game-winning 41-yard field goal with seven seconds to play gave the Irish their thrilling 27-24 semifinal victory, Love’s words captured a Notre Dame season that could very soon take its place among the greatest in school history.
“This team wouldn’t be where it’s at without the tribulations,” Love explained. “I love my brothers.”
Those tribulations, which began with the 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois in the second game of the season, an upset that appeared to end any rational talk of championship hopes, suddenly intensified at Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday night. With 90 seconds to play in the first half and the Irish already behind 10-0, starting center Rocco Spindler and quarterback Riley Leonard left the field with injuries, with Leonard placed in concussion protocol. Left tackle Anthonie Knapp had already been forced out of the game.
Notre Dame’s signature running game was failing. Penn State’s shifting offense appeared to be creating uncertainty in the Irish defense. Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden saw a team in the first half that just needed to settle down. “Guys weren’t where they needed to be,” Golden said.
In the quiet of the dressing room at halftime, senior tight end Mitchell Evans remembered, few players were trying to be vocal. Everyone, he said, understood what needed to be done.
“We weren’t executing as we should, obviously,” Evans said. “But you know, that shows the toughness, physical and the mentality that we have, it’s all insane…
“As you can see, I didn’t even doubt for a second that I knew our teams had to come together to find a way to win this game.”
In its first 14 games, Notre Dame had averaged 217.5 rushing yards. In the first half, the Irish gained 15 yards on 13 carries.
With senior Tosh Baker stepping in for Knapp at left tackle, sophomore Charles Jagusah replacing Spindler at center, and Leonard back at quarterback, the Irish went in search of stability.
“We had to try and calm some things down,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. “The running attack… truly helped us open some things in the passing game in that second half.” Freeman continued, “You know what? Riley just executed, the wide-outs executed, the O-line did their job, tight ends played well, and you find a way to win it in a game-winning field goal.”
The coach made it sound so simple. A week earlier in the Allstate Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia, Leonard passed for just 90 yards, but the Irish succeeded with strong defensive plays, special teams, and Leonard’s running ability.
Against Penn State, Leonard threw for 160 of his team’s total 267 passing yards in the second half. The Irish were successful on six of nine third-down conversions in the half, and 11 of 17 for the game. “What he did today embodies the football team,” Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said of Leonard’s second half.
The intense, collective effort had extended Notre Dame’s season to a 16th game on a championship night in Atlanta. “This is a special group of guys being in Indiana, knowing Notre Dame football, knowing the program,” said senior linebacker Jack Kiser, who remembered the response to the loss to Northern Illinois. “Seeing how far we came this year, especially after the hiccup early on,” he said. “A lot of people wrote us off and just know that we got one last one guaranteed (game) is so exciting.”
With one game to go, Evans knows what the team needs to do.
“Empty the tank,” he said.
