Notre Dame is certainly moving in the right direction as we turn the calendar to 2024. Marcus Freeman is finding his footing as leader, the assistant staff inspires confidence on both sides of the ball and the roster has a good mix of veterans and young talents. The Irish intend to make a real run in the first CFP expanded to 12 teams.
With that framework in mind, I’m starting to think seriously about the obstacles Notre Dame might face as it tries to really make some noise next season. One of those challenges is how the Irish performed in real 23-minute road competitions. Not good. Slow start. Slow game. Not able to match the emotion of the home team. This trend directly led to two losses and almost a third, ruining the season’s high-end prospects.
Let’s look at the evidence for this problem and what may be causing it.
The proof
Notre Dame gets the best shot of each team. Every stadium the Irish visit is filled with noisy opposing fans who want to see Notre Dame lose. This is nothing new and should be expected and mentally prepared for it. The Irish need to be able to withstand hostilities and calm the crowd down with good play. That hasn’t happened enough in 2023.
Notre Dame started slowly against NC State, Duke, Louisville, Clemson and Stanford. There seemed to be a clear difference in the quality of Irish play between the home and away games. Especially early in games. It’s dangerous. Some of these games ended in lopsided wins, which is great but doesn’t make me comfortable with the slow starts, two of which ultimately ruined Notre Dame’s season.
Mentality
One of the things I love most about college football is the emotional intensity of the games and the moments that take place. College football is very unique in this regard. Emotions matter. Many weeks, teams with less talent beat teams with more talent based on their “enthusiasm” to attack the game.
This year, Notre Dame clearly failed to match the intensity of Louisville and Clemson and paid dearly for it. This simply cannot happen. The Irish didn’t lose those games because they didn’t have the talent to keep up. They lost them because they weren’t as mentally ready for battle as the opposition.
Coach Freeman needs to do a better job of getting his team “ready” enough for these moments to overcome them and emerge victorious. I realize there is fatigue from previous matches, stress from traveling, etc. These factors are real but must be overcome. Notre Dame gets the best from everyone. They must be mentally prepared for it.
Physical
When I see a trend over a year, I start asking more general questions. Is there anything Notre Dame can do to adjust its travel schedule to start road games fresher and with a “pop” instead of a “thud”?
What about the last few days of training in South Bend before the trip? Are there any adjustments that can be made to the schedule or what is happening to get the Irish ready to start games with more bounce? I’m not sure, but it needs to be looked into.
Conclusion
Notre Dame will always be in a vulnerable position regarding this subject. They constitute a weekly target. Everyone wants to overthrow Notre Dame. They’ll get the best shot from every team and the loudest cheers and boos from every fan. The Irish must accept it.
These are not opportunities to be shy. These are opportunities to ruin the night of 80,000 people who came to see you lose. I don’t have all the answers to such a nuanced topic, but I do see a problem. How Marcus Freeman answers it may determine whether 2024 is a great year or one that falls just short of goals and dreams.
For more Irish news and notes, follow John on Twitter @alwaysirishINC, Still Irish on Youtube and/or your favorite audio podcast provider.
