Immediately after Notre Dame's three-point loss to Southern California in one of the best games of college football's regular season, coach Charlie Weis told his Fighting Irish, "You have lost your last regular-season game of the year."
But there were five games left. It could have been a tipping point for a 4-2 team, according to defensive end Victor Abiamiri.
"A lot of people counted on us to kind of cash it in after such an emotional loss," Abiamiri said. "We battled back to go 5-0 to end the season. It's kind of a testament to our team and our coaching staff."
Now, Notre Dame has a bonus game in its revival season, Monday's Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. Both prestigious powerhouses from the Midwest are 9-2. The Buckeyes are ranked fourth, the Irish fifth.
Brady Quinn, the Notre Dame quarterback, said the Irish felt more pressure than the Buckeyes because "I definitely think there are people who still doubt" that Notre Dame has restored itself to elite status.
"We want to prove everyone wrong," Quinn said. "With everything we've done this season, it doesn't mean anything unless we finish with a win against a quality team like Ohio State."
The skeptics may have reason to defer judgment about the Irish, who have not won a postseason game since defeating Texas A&M, 24-21, in the Cotton Bowl after the 1993 season.
Another Notre Dame revival seemed in progress in 2002 when the Irish went 8-0 at the start of Tyrone Willingham's tenure as coach. But they went 13-16 after that until Willingham departed for the University of Washington last winter.
Weis, a Notre Dame graduate, seems to project that air of self-esteem that flourishes beneath the Golden Dome on the South Bend, Indiana, campus during successful football seasons.
Darius Walker, the tailback, was asked what Weis meant when he said he wanted a nasty attitude on his team.
"Having a swagger about yourself, the way you walk, the way you talk," Walker said. "Maybe it's a little bit of a New Jersey-type deal, coach Weis being from New Jersey. I think it's just a level of confidence."
Weis, a burly man with a crew cut, certainly projects self-assuredness. As he took the stage in Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe for a news conference late last week, he quipped, "I feel like a rock star."
When asked which rock star he would be, Weis named two other "Jersey guys," Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi. "No one else really matters," Weis said.
Weis acknowledged Notre Dame's recruiting advantages from its national television contract and its nationwide schedule independent of any conference. Weis said the university would be foolish not to use these edges.
Regarding competition in recruiting, Weis said: "I'm not a cheater. Other people do that. I try to live by the letter of the law."
"There's a lot of people I'd say maybe get jealous," Weis said. This brought a tight smile to the face of Anthony Schlegel, a senior for Ohio State, one of three long-haired linebackers thought to be the strength of the Buckeyes.
"Comparing themselves to the Yankees, that's a pretty big statement," Schlegel said. "The Yankees have won how many World Series titles? How many national championships has Notre Dame won?"
The Yankees have won the World Series 26 times while Notre Dame claims 11 national championships.
Schlegel said film study taught him that Notre Dame's top receivers -- Jeff Samardzija, Maurice Stovall and Anthony Fasano -- often run pass patterns without hindrance.
"You can't let that happen," Schlegel said. "They're tall, big guys. You've got to be physical."
Tom Zbikowski, a Notre Dame safety, said a victory in the Fiesta would put Notre Dame "back on top of college football where it belongs."
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and