Champs Sports Bowl

A Notre Dame win secures a third straight Bowl game win after a nine bowl game losing streak.   It would also ensure one more win overall and one less loss than last year’s 8-5 record after beating the Miami Hurricanes.   The match up against the Seminoles may not be the traditional rivalry game as last year’s game against the Hurricanes was, but it’s about as good as we could get for not going to a BCS Bowl.  The Florida State tradition and lore does not match on any level to that of the Irish, but during the mid-80’s to the mid-90’s, the Seminoles were considered the gold standard of college football, and in a state with programs such as the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Gators, that is impressive.  Perhaps the greatest and most memorable game against Florida State occurred in the fall of 1993 when the Seminoles came into South Bend as the #1 ranked team in the nation and although the Irish were ranked #2, Florida State was a huge favorite and were considered head and shoulders above every other team in the country, even to be able to beat some NFL teams.   Stories were being written how the Notre Dame grounds crew was letting the grass grow long to help slow down the Seminoles’ speed.  As we know, the Irish pulled off the upset and subsequently lost the next week to Boston College.   Overall, the two have played six times (Florida State leads series 4-2), once in a bowl (Florida State 31 Notre Dame 26 in the Orange Bowl 1996) and Florida State won the last game in 2003, 37-0 in South Bend.

This matchup (at least on paper) sets up well with subplots and storylines.  Both teams have a strong tradition and have had their share of past glory and championships.  Both teams are 8-4, had high preseason expectations and both teams disappointed.  Both teams finished the season stronger than they started, with the Seminoles winning six of their last seven.  Both teams could really use a win in this game as a springboard for next season as well as a wrap up in recruiting influence.  Neither team had a signature win (maybe Notre Dame’s win over Michigan State) to their credit.  Both teams, however, had several close losses that could have put their records into a more elite crowd.

In addition to the benefit of playing an additional game and recruiting charm, the additional practices may be the best benefit to teams.  The challenge and concern is the time between the final game and the bowl game.  Classes are not in session, and traveling to see family and friends for the holidays can be trouble for young men.  Florida State has had several student-athletes experiencing run-ins with the law, resulting in their suspension from the bowl game.

At a quick glance, it will be the Notre Dame offense will have to outperform the Florida State defense (6^th in the nation in total defense).  Rees and Hendrix will both have to play well - not one or the other, but both.  It’s not a BCS Bowl; it may not even be the marquee matchup that either team expected before the season started; but it is what it is.  Let’s sit back, enjoy, cheer for a win and move on.

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