After benching, Golson makes most of 2nd chance

QB leads Irish to victory with two TD passes, a run for game-tying 2-point conversion and 1-yard game-winning plunge in OT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The field-goal try that would have dashed Notre Dame's national championship dreams sailed wide right, prompting Irish quarterback Everett Golson to work his way down the bench encouraging teammates by saying, "We just got another shot."

It was a game of second chances for Golson, who was yanked during the second quarter before returning in the second half to help keep Notre Dame undefeated with a scintillating 29-26 comeback victory over Pittsburgh in three overtimes Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.

Notre Dame comes back to win 29-26

Irish and Golson dig themselves out of mess of own making against Pitt to up record to 9-0

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Everett Golson dove underneath the pile, and the pile swallowed him whole. Even as noise then rolled through the place like an unending thunderclap, even as spine-starching evening air crackled with a cocktail of disbelief and glee, even as the pile lurched back and forth, the Notre Dame quarterback stayed disappeared.

Somewhere in the thicket of bodies, Golson encountered center Braxston Cave. Moments earlier, the line pushed and the quarterback crossed the end zone plane and crossed over into delirium, and now Golson had another request.

We did it, the quarterback told Cave. Now get me out of here.

Notre Dame football

Notre Dame football

Did Irish forget who they are?

November 03, 2012|Al Lesar | Commentary

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Eight weeks of an evolution process allowed the Notre Dame offense to forge an identity.

Run the ball. Smashmouth. Rely on the line and enjoy the view. Full-speed ahead.

When push came to shove — and it did an awful lot Saturday — the Irish football team put on a different face.

And nearly paid the price.