Sept. 5, 2001
The countdown continues for Saturday’s showdown between Nebraska and Notre Dame.
With players like Matt LoVecchio and Eric Crouch dominating headlines in South Bend and Lincoln, Notre Dame head coach Bob Davie took time out to recognize the players who spend just as much time on the practice field.
“Sometimes the games in the hands of guys like Matt Sarb,” Davie said. “You look at Adam Tibble and John Crowley, Chad Debolt…they are certainly a group of walk on’s that have made significant contributions for us.
“They will play significant roles.”
The Mystique of Notre Dame
Davie was asked if this team knows the role it plays in the line of football teams that have preceded them.
“They know what the challenges are and that is what they came here to be a part of,” Davie said. “Every player that came here knew what that schedule was going to be. They knew what kind of games they were going to play and that is what appealed to them.”
Tradition plays a major role in many of the football player’s decision to attend Notre Dame. Many doubters believe that the mystique of Notre Dame has vanished. While Davie does not believe it, he feels the critics could be silenced with a win on Saturday.
Davie is quick to point out that the tradition not only lies on the practice field, but in the classrooms as well.
“We talked about going to class and getting that GPA where it needs to be, having players graduate…there isn’t a day that goes by that that message isn’t talked about,” Davie said. “Now we need to go win and get over the hump.”
Tough Opening Game
Davie was asked if the Nebraska game this Saturday was the toughest he could remember.
“I think it has been a while since Notre Dame has opened the season with a game like this,” Davie said. “I think everyone also realizes the challenges ahead as well.”
The head coach is referring to the 10 other games that lie ahead for the Irish after this Saturday’s contest.