Category: 2021 ND Football

Former Notre Dame kicker welcomes Doerer to Game Winner Club

What Notre Dame game winning field is your favorite of all-time?

Right before Jonathan Doerer stepped up and nailed the game-winning field for Notre Dame at Florida State I received a text from Fighting Irish Wire contributor/football observer/friend Jeff Feyerer, asking which kicker in Notre Dame history I’d want to have right now to make this kick.

My mind immediately went to Nick Setta since he fired off a game winner against Purdue in 2000 while Jeff went with Justin Yoon, the program’s all-time leader in scoring.

It turns out Doerer would have been an acceptable answer as well as he split the uprights and moved Notre Dame to 1-0.

Doerer’s kick moved gave him entry into an exclusive club in Notre Dame football history, the Game Winners Club.

On Monday morning, Setta welcomed Doerer to it via Twitter:

That comes from former Notre Dame kicker Nick Setta who hit the walk-off winner against Purdue in 2000:

Dare I ask which was better?

Setta’s was do-or-die against a team led by Drew Brees who would go onto win the Big Ten and play in the Rose Bowl that year.

Doerer’s was longer and in front of a hostile road crowd.

Too tough for me to choose after being up late, I’ll just say I’m happy both went through the uprights.

[polldaddy poll=10914082]

Related:

Best photos from Notre Dame-Florida State

5 instant takeaways from Notre Dame’s win over FSU

5 stars: good and bad of Notre Dame’s 41-38 win at FSU

 

Watch: Kyle Hamilton’s insane interception from end zone camera

He did what?!?!

Kyle Hamilton put on a show Sunday night as the reigning All-American’s two interceptions helped guide the Irish to a season opening victory over Florida State.

His second interception was incredible as he covered an insane amount of ground to get Notre Dame an extra possession.

But how incredible was the play?  The camera angles on the TV coverage don’t do justice to just how remarkable it was.  Check this out from Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network:

Anyone think he’s not going to be a top-10 pick next year at this point?

Related:

Best photos from Notre Dame-Florida State

5 instant takeaways from Notre Dame’s win over FSU

5 stars: good and bad of Notre Dame’s 41-38 win at FSU

Game balls for Notre Dame’s win over Florida State

Who was the player of the game for you Sunday night?

Notre Dame started incredibly fast with a touchdown on their first possession in Sunday’s opener against Florida State.  They struggled offensively through the majority of the rest of the first half before a late spurt gave them a 17-14 halftime lead at Florida State.

Notre Dame ran off 21-straight in the third quarter to lead 38-20 headed to the final frame but a Florida State onslaught meant for overtime as Jonathan Doerer bailed the Irish out with his game-winning field goal.

Who were the biggest stars?

This is who the Fighting Irish Wire staff pegged as their offensive and defensive game balls:

Related:

5 Instant Takeaways from Notre Dame’s 41-38 win at FSU

5 stars: best and worst of Notre Dame’s win at FSU

Notre Dame survives scare at Florida State: 5 instant takeaways

What was your biggest takeaway from the season opening win?

No. 9 Notre Dame looked like they had it on cruise control entering the fourth quarter as they held a 38-20 advantage at Doak Campbell Stadium against Florida State.

And then the host Seminoles ran off 18-straight points to force overtime as the Irish held off the upset bid after holding Florida State to a field goal attempt that they missed on their possession before Jonathan Doerer nailed his kick to end the game.

Here are five instant takeaways from Notre Dame’s thrilling, yet angering 41-38 victory over Florida State on Sunday night:

No. 9 Notre Dame survives Florida State surge, wins 41-38 in OT

Whew!

No. 9 Notre Dame opened the 2021 season with a 41-38 win in overtime over Florida State on Sunday night as the Irish nearly gave away a game they led by 18 points entering the fourth quarter.

Graduate transfer quarterback Jack Coan set a program record by throwing for 366 yards in a season opener on a night he set a career high by airing out four touchdown passes.

Florida State rallied for 18-straight fourth quarter points to force overtime but missed a field goal on their first possession in the extra period.

Then given the opportunity graduate-senior Jonathan Doerer nailed a 41-yard field goal as the Irish escaped Tallahassee with a victory.

Plenty more to come on Fighting Irish Wire so be sure to keep it right here!

How Notre Dame’s 2021 opponents fared in Week One

What is your biggest takeaway from a Notre Dame opponent after week one?

Notre Dame doesn’t get their season underway until Sunday night which means Fighting Irish (and Florida State) fans had to sit around and watch everyone else have fun this weekend before getting to take the field in front of a national audience.

Related: Notre Dame’s 2021 Football Schedule

There was a big-time upset that got things started Friday night as one Notre Dame opponent knocked off another, who happened to have a preseason top-10 ranking.

Here is how each Notre Dame opponent for 2021 fared in Week One:

Watch: Notre Dame releases hype tape for Florida State game

Is it 7:30 Sunday night yet?

Notre Dame football finally gets to take the field for the 2021 season Sunday night as they’ll be in Tallahassee for a date with the Florida State Seminoles.

It will be the first game either blueblood has played in front of a full stadium in nearly two years as a nearly full house is expected in Florida’s capital.

Those words above alone should be enough to get you pumped but in case you’re not there yet, check out the hype video the Notre Dame media teams released on Saturday afternoon, voiced by senior linebacker Drew White:

Let’s freaking go!!!

And if you’re not ready for kickoff yet then go take a quick watch of this classic from the 1993 Game of the Century between the two schools.

Related:

FIW staff predictions for Notre Dame-Florida State

Notre Dame depth chart for opener at FSU

 

 

Report: Notre Dame and BYU headed to Vegas in 2022

Notre Dame and BYU walk into Vegas. This isn’t the start of a joke, it’s actually happening next year.

According to a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Notre Dame and BYU will square off in 2022 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the current home of the NFL’s Raiders.

This has long been speculated although the opponent the Irish would play was anything but certain as Notre Dame still owes BYU a game in Provo, Utah.

The report states that the exact date of the game is not yet known but does not that both teams share current open Saturdays on both Oct. 8 and Oct. 29 of next year.

Related:  Notre Dame football future schedules and opponents

BYU is set to take on Arizona at Allegiant Stadium in their opener Saturday night while it was also recently announced the stadium will play host when LSU and USC knock heads to start the 2024 season.

Notre Dame and BYU have played eight times all-time with the Irish holding a 6-2 edge, including the last three, the most recent of which was a 23-13 Irish decision in 2013.

As I always state in regards to the Shamrock Series, college football is best played on college campuses.

That said, this will be a unique trip to one of the NFL’s new gems for the Irish who are yet to play there.

Related:

Two Bradys argue over Notre Dame-BYU game from 17 years ago

Notre Dame-Florida State Game Predictions

What is your score prediction for Sunday night’s opener?

Notre Dame starts their 2021 campaign Sunday night in Tallahassee.  It’s been a long off-season of change for the Fighting Irish but the good news is there is just one more day to wait.

Earlier we made our predictions as to what the 2021 season will look like for Notre Dame.  Now it’s time for the first game predictions.

Here’s how the Fighting Irish Wire staff sees things going Sunday night between Notre Dame and Florida State:

Does it finally come together for Kevin Austin at Notre Dame in 2021?

What are your expectations for Kevin Austin this fall?

Perhaps no receiver with six career receptions in the history of college football has been discussed as much as Kevin Austin has now for years at Notre Dame.

At 6-2 and 215-pounds, the former four-star prospect enters his senior year (still has three years of eligibility remaining) as Notre Dame’s starting boundary receiver.

Austin debuted in 2018, compiling five receptions while appearing in 11 games and recording five receptions.  Unfortunately, he’s only recorded one since.

Austin was unofficially suspended for the 2019 season before returning to the team in 2020 where a broken foot in fall camp sidelined him until early October where he played against Louisville and Florida State before re-injuring his foot the following week and missing the remainder of the year.

It’s got to be tough to deal with missing the time Austin has but earlier this week he was quick to thank his support system for helping get him through things.

“…my teammates, my coaches, my family. They’ve always told me that I have a chance to be here and I have the opportunity to be here, said Austin, “So, just taking that every single day and always being able to compete, it’s always been the way to be.”

Austin then shared his excitement about returning to game action this Sunday night.

“Oh, I’m very hungry and excited to get after it, for sure. I’ve been waiting a long time and it’s a great opportunity to finally be here and be in the moment. I just got to take it by the rails and just keep going with it.”

As for what we can expect for just his second game with the Irish since 2018?

“A lot of explosive plays. Believe that. A lot of explosive plays.”

Austin and the Irish open 2021 at Florida State Sunday night in a game that can be seen on ABC.

Related:

Notre Dame depth chart for Florida State game

FIW staff predictions for Notre Dame in 2021

The 40 former Notre Dame players on NFL rosters entering 2021