ND ‘Spirit’ Vs. USC’s ‘Ghost’

Lou,

As I sit here this Thanksgiving morn with the aroma of turkey already
beginning to fill the house, I read your article and found peace. Peace
because you express the exact sentiments I am feeling. I also believe many
another Irish soul is feeling the exact same way. I fondly remember your articles in
the BG Illustrated paper in the '80s as you, with memory eteched deep, stated "something strange always happens in the Coliseum."

Indeed, as I wrote on another post, 1964 was the worst since I, having no
access to the game, actually read an early Sunday edition of the New York Times which stated that we had won the 1964 national championship since we were leading USC at halftime, 17-0.

So, so many ghosts. But, as HamOnWry22 posted elsewhere, the ghosts are
not playing Saturday, real living kids not born when many of these games were played will take the field.

So, it goes. One thing is for sure-----I find it far better to grind my teeth in anticipation of a Notre Dame-USC showndown for all the marbles than to
wallow in the dispair of yet one more pedestrian season of 7-4 or 8-5. For
us, this year and for the immediate future, the miracle has already happened.

Great article, Lou.

And hemy, great post.

I like your last paragraph, because I think that is where I have settled. Win or lose, It has been great. Only getting better with each win adding to the undefeated season.
Sure beats another 5-loss season.

I posted at the start of the season that a8-5 or a 7-4 season was unacceptable, a 10-3 or 11-2 should be very possible. That was before any of us truly got to know this team, with its desire,heart ,and find a way to win attitude. NOW I am greedy like many others, I want it all, as I believe the players do. This TEAM is truly great
they have brought ND out of the dungeon into the light, and they like it. I feel this team is very focused on one game at a time,and winning. I don't believe USC is as good as OU overall. I do believe Stanford is much better than USC, and I really don't think USC is much better than Miami. That being said if the Irish don't beat themselves they should fare well in the coliseum, with all the Ghosts watching.

Fear not. We will get them. Remember that most of those heartbreaks occurred before replay. No phantom td's without the ball this time. No PAC 12 officials. They can still twist it around, but not the outright thefts like those old days. If nd plays its game, they will win comfortably. I put it 38-13

Playing SC under these circumstances will ALWAYS try the collective spirit of ND fans - there's a long history which can't be ignored EVEN if we believe that ND WILL win there's that troubling nagging thought of '64 or '74. I'm allowing myself to believe that last years loss especially in the trenches has this squad simmering to correct in a BIG way that humiliating loss. This game isn't about whose starting at qb for SC - it's ALL about ND. There's never a guarantee of a win BUT ND starting out flat ain't in the cards - this ND team IS ON A MISSION! GO IRISH

notredame123,

Yeah, that was the Buffalo Springfield "There's something happening here" column. The difference is now "what it is is exactly clear."

I actually first felt it on the last drive against Purdue when it seemed like the whole stadium was about to turn on Brian Kelly and Tommy Rees. When they came through, that's when I sensed this program might be crossing the river Jordan. The way they performed the next week at MSU was when the epiphany was forming that this was not going to be a status quo season.