Watch: My Three Favorite Alohi Gilman Moments at Notre Dame

What’s hard to account for is who takes over that leadership roll?

When things hit the fan and the wheels appear to be coming off, who steps up and demands the respect of the room and begins to stop the bleeding?

Gilman was fantastic at exactly that and No. 11 will be missed next season.

2018 was about as fun of season as you’ve had if you’re a Notre Dame fan my age (33).  It wasn’t always dominating but it was a lot of wins and a lot of big plays that turned the entire tide of games and the season as a result.

We just looked back at one of those that Alohi Gilman provided but here is another.

The regular season finale against USC didn’t start according to plan as Notre Dame fell behind by 10 before Chris Finke put together a drive of a lifetime to get the Irish on the scoreboard.

Still traling 10-7 just before halftime however, Notre Dame could not get USC off the field and the Trojans appeared to be growing their lead just before the intermission. Setting up show inside the Notre Dame 30 with just over a minute before half, quarterback JT Daniels found Amon-Ra St. Brown for a big gain and what would have been a first down had Gilman not stepped up and done his thing.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6XiEDcpJ5k?start=63&w=560&h=315]

The Irish would come alive and eventually score 24-straight before the Trojans finally found the scoreboard again with just 48 seconds remaining.

Had it the forced fumble not happened who knows what happens the rest of that USC drive or the rest of that game?

Finally – A Memorable Halftime Speech (Moments after this play)