Were you nervous? It’s okay if you were, because I was throwing crowbars out of frustration. Notre Dame’s defensive backfield is thin- like The Subway Domer high school freshman thin ( I weighed 95 pounds). Coming into the game, the Irish were already lacking KeiVarae Russell, Eilar Hardy, and Austin Collinsworth. The first two to some type of ancient form waiting, weeks after an investigation is concluded, and the last to an injury.
So, when Max Redfield got ejected for targeting against Purdue (obviously Max is dealing with some anger issues that stem from being denied Skittles on the ride to Indy) and his replacement, Nicky Barrati, ends his season with another shoulder injury on the very next play… things looked bleak. Add that to Cole Luke getting injured and OH THE LORD HATES OUR SECONDARY.
It’s amazing really. Just a few short years ago, something like this would have been catastrophic. Now, it just amplifies Brian Kelly’s “next man in” philosophy to that of the hardcore stuff cults are created with. It is also a tip of the cap to the way this staff has recruited and developed players over the years to build this unit up to the point that a super volcano is the only way to completely destroy it via vaporizing.
The bye week comes at just the right time, and it should give enough time for some to heal, and others to know what their fate may be via Irish Inquisition. At any rate, it would only help if you just walk the campus and heal everyone by playing the bagpipes at the top of the hour- every hour. Well, that’s my advise.
