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There was a strange atmosphere in Northwestern before this game. A program faithful to the cliché "go 1-0 this week" was a kind of thought: let's move to 1-1 over the next two weeks.
Make no mistake: the Wildcats wanted to defeat Notre Dame for the first victory of the program against a top-five team since 1959.
But the big goal is to win the Big Ten. Destroying Notre Dame's unbeaten season could provide a life of bragging rights, but that would not take them to Indianapolis for the title game of the conference in four weeks.
UN coach Pat Fitzgerald called for a "nothing to lose" mentality and in the end, the Wildcats lost, 31-21. Notre Dame, ranked fourth in the initial PCP rankings, improved to 9-0 with Florida State (home), Syracuse (Yankee Stadium) and USC (L.A. Memorial Coliseum).
Ian Book made another hard and effective effort, scoring 22 of 34 shots for 343 yards. His perfect 47-yard shot at Michael Young gave Notre Dame a 21-7 lead. After Northwestern curtails him valiantly to 24-21, Book performs the game's most important game: he opted for an intercepted transfer and ran on the short side, winning it in the 23rd minute.
Meanwhile, the Irish harassed Clayton Thorson all night. He finished 16 of 29 out of 29 for just 141 yards. He has been fired five times, calling the Irish front threatening "special".
Northwestern dropped to 5-4, but was better able to win the Big Ten. Purdue beat Iowa in a placement in the final second, placing the Hawkeyes in a third conference loss.
"It's really disappointing because we had such a crowd; It's the best atmosphere I've played at Ryan Field, "said offensive lineman Tommy Doles. "But all our goals are ahead of us. We left this year to go west and that is what we plan to do. We will put this loss aside very quickly because we have a big one next week. "
Northwestern (5-1 Big Ten) has already beaten Purdue (4-2) and Wisconsin (4-2), so all the Wildcats have to do to reach Indy is to go 2-1 in the last straight . After traveling to Iowa, they travel to Minnesota and host Illinois. This double is a 3-9 combined in the league game.
If you had questioned the UN players this week and asked if they would rather beat Notre Dame or Iowa, only a few would have screamed at it: Hawkeyes.
One possible exception: offensive lineman J.B. Butler. His father, Tom, grew up in South Bend and had visions of his son preparing for the Irish. Notre Dame has not offered scholarship. No school, as told Butler this week with a chuckle. So he walked to the northwest and developed himself into a starter.
"I grew up as a fan of Notre Dame," Butler said, "but I have nothing in their hearts for them anymore." I like very much the choice I made. Even though I had had a purse offer from Notre Dame – or anyone – I would have chosen here. "
Why?
"All," he replied. "Boys, the culture we have in the locker room, and the transparency of the coaches – it's really unique."
Northwestern defeated Notre Dame in 2014, but the Wildcats have not won the Big Ten title since the three-game draw in 2000. And the Wildcats have never been to Indy for the title game of the championship.
Schools met Saturday for the second time only since the shock of 1995 in South Bend. But this coaching staff is well aware, to the point that Fitzgerald has asked his team to move from the east-west touchline to the match.
Why? He feared two of his former assistants would steal placards: Irish quarterback coach Tommy Rees and Clay Bignell, the assistant defense graduate. They were posted in the press stand Saturday night.
Our Lady struck first. Book kept the reader alive by hitting Chris Finke on a 2/2 angle, and Dexter Williams propelled him home from 1.
The problematic situation of kicking Northwestern appeared early. Charlie Kuhbander, a substitute for injured Drew Luckenbaugh, brought his cleats to the stadium this week. But he missed a 39-yard pass, which prompted Fitzgerald to adopt the hyper free mode.
This mentality ended up benefiting Northwestern in the second quarter. If Kuhbander had made the first goal, Fitzgerald would probably have tried another one – from fourth to fifth out of 21. Instead, Thorson shot Ben Skowronek and he made the catch of the season – a catch at a hand that would have made Odell Beckham Jr. proud.
Isaiah Bowser scored 1 meter to tie.
Bowser is the freshman who said last week about the Irish: "Someone has to beat them. Could as well be us. "
It was not them, but Northwestern came out with only two apparent injuries to safety Jared McGee and Trae Williams.
The fact that it was not worse was in itself a victory.
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein
Photos: Notre Dame 31, Northwestern 21 »
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