Posted on 11/03/2012 5:16:54 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Notre Dames national championship hopes are alive, barely, resuscitated by Everett Golson in a frantic fourth-quarter comeback.
After being benched for the start of the second half, Golson led two touchdown drives even diving into the end zone for the tying two-point conversion after Kyle Brindza missed the extra point on the first score and the Irish beat Pittsburgh in three overtimes 29-26 on Golsons one-yard dive.
Both teams traded field goals in the first overtime, and neither scored in the second. Kevin Harper put the Panthers ahead in the third with a 44-yard field goal before Golson won it.
Trailing 20-6 in the fourth quarter, Golson after being replaced by Tommy Rees for the last series of the first half and the first two series of the second half led the Irish on a 64-yard touchdown drive, capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Jones after a questionable pass-interference call on fourth down gave the Irish new life.
Notre Dames defense then forced a punt, and Golson marched the Irish down the field in impressive fashion, ripping off three first-down scrambles and converting on three consecutive third downs to set up first-and-goal at the Pitt 10. But Golson was picked off in the end zone by Kwaun Williams on a pass intended for Troy Niklas.
But the Notre Dame defense off its game all day got a huge three-and-out, keyed by a sack of Tino Sunseri by Stephon Tuitt and Manti Teo, setting the stage for Golsons heroics.
(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...
There shouldn’t be triple overtime in college football. Sometimes a tie is just a tie. This ain’t baseball.
Notre Dame's season of remarkable comebacks continued Saturday, as the Irish stayed perfect by beating Pitt in triple overtime
With 4 unbeaten teams, having to go 3 OT to beat an unranked team is not going to help ND’s cause that it should be ranked higher than at least 2 of the other 3.
“There shouldnt be triple overtime in college football. Sometimes a tie is just a tie...”
Yup, Pittsburg lost to Youngstown State, Cincinnati, Syracuse and Louisville. And Notre Dame couldn’t beat them til the third OT. ND no longer deserves any consideration for anything significant in BCS.
I’m in trouble now. Wife and I were having dinner with some friends this evening. The game was on flat screen TV in the wall over my buddy’s shoulder and I got caught sneaking looks ever couple of seconds. Wife let me know that I wasn’t fooling anybody. Got home in time to see the Irish pull it out. Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame!
I’m in trouble now. Wife and I were having dinner with some friends this evening. The game was on flat screen TV in the wall over my buddy’s shoulder and I got caught sneaking looks ever couple of seconds. Wife let me know that I wasn’t fooling anybody. Got home in time to see the Irish pull it out. Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame!
Practicing my Troll Lessons:
Does anyone actually believe that Notre Dame could beat Oregon? I mean really, 3 overtimes to beat Pitt?
Just wondering.
Hail to Pitt!
As a Pitt fan, I can only say it must have been Divine Intercession late in the 4th period that allowed ND to tie the game. The official saw a miraculus vision of pass interference on an incomplete 4th down pass when not another soul in the stadium or on TV could see it.
Miracles do happen at South Bend ... regularly. < /s>
I don’t care about either team, but that was a BS call.
Thank that official who threw the flag for a phantom pass interference penalty on Pitt when it was fourth down for the Irish. It allowed the Irish to score the touchdown that brought them within one score late in the fourth quarter.
What a joke!
Why? Because some stupid computer says so? BCS stands for Big Crock of Shiite. I am a football junkie. I watch it all, college and the NFL. The one thing I have learned over my 47 years on this earth is anyone can be beaten on any given day. That is why the game is played. Pitt played a damn good game today, and the Domers came out flat. In the end ND found a way to win. I think ND shouldn’t fall in the polls.
I spend 6-10 hrs every Saturday watching college football. I love the game. This was one of the most fun and exciting games I’ve seen in a long, long time. Irish deserved the win. And watched my beloved Buckeyes go 10-0, too. Saturday well spent. Did I mention I love college football?
True. Another loss for Pitt is not a big deal for me... they are going nowhere this year, but I would have loved to see them stuff the Irish again.
Even though I'm Irish and Catholic (nominally) I have hated Notre Dame football for 50+ years since I went to my first Pitt v ND game as a kid. (Seriously, back when Mike Ditka played for Pitt.)
The Pitt fans were fun. The ND fans were obnoxious.
It's deplorable.
Alabama (or Oregon) DESTROYS this fraud of a team.
I think the bigger miracle for the Irish was the missed game-winning field goal at the end of overtime #2. Bottom line, Pitt controlled their own destiny, had huge breaks fall into their lap (missed FG at half, missed extra point that forced a desperation 2 point conversion attempt, not one but TWO ND end zone turnovers...need I go on?) and couldn’t convert that into the upset. I give the Pitt kids credit - they played a hell of a game - but, as usually happens, the better team pulled it together when they had to.
Go Irish!
They should have a points system
4 points for a regulation win
3 points for an overtime win
1 point for an overtime loss
0 points for a regulation loss
By that criteria, Notre Dame wouldn’t have a perfect record, an overtime win should not be rewarded the same as a regulation win. Personally, I’d get rid of overtime and go back to ties.
Did anyone watch the TCU-WVU game? Looked to me like on TCU’s last regulation TD that went for 94 yards, the receiver was out of bounds and came back in before catching it. Shouldn’t that catch been disallowed?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.