Photo Credit: Rick Kimball, ISD
By: Liam Abayasinghe
One week ago, Notre Dame lost to a then-unranked Northern Illinois team at home. This week, however, Notre Dame beat Big Ten Purdue by FIFTY-NINE points. The team that took the field last week was not the team that showed up in West Lafayette. Why was that? The answer: mental toughness
Mental Toughness
To play like a champion, a team must be mentally strong and resilient. Against Northern Illinois, the team did not demonstrate this toughness. The team came out strong to start the game. Riley Leonard led the Irish down the field on the first drive and cashed in six on a QB power call from Denbrock. The kickoff team pinned NIU at the 9-yard line. The Irish had them on a third down with all the momentum on the Irish’s side. However, one blown coverage assignment allowed superstar running back, Antario Brown, to house a pass from Ethan Hampton. That play shook the Irish players and even the coaches. Riley Leonard was off-point after that play, throwing two interceptions. Besides Jaiden Ausberry, the defense was slow to the ball and unenergetic. They seemed deflated as a team. Even Freeman seemed off. All these factors led to the upset of the then No.5 team in the country.
Sticking With It
This week, Notre Dame had a tough challenge. Go on the road and beat a team while the whole country is calling you overrated. Every significant sports show in the country talked about how this ND team is no different from teams past: Disappointing. Hell, Fighting Irish nation was calling for Notre Dame to bench Riley Leonard and fire Coach Freeman. Those fans are what you call fair-weathered people. There for your success, but ditch you once things get rough. While everyone was giving up on the Irish, the coaching staff gave players a choice. Give in to the rumblings and play into the narrative, or put on your big boy pants and play your hearts out and prove all the naysayers wrong. The team chose the latter. They showed up in all aspects and played the game like it was the playoffs. To be honest, this is the playoffs. Lose, and your season is over. This team needs to continue bringing this intensity if they expect to go anywhere. As Freeman said, “Respect your opponents.” Go Irish.
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