Irish Eyes on Chicago: My Unforgettable Notre Dame–Miami Weekend in 2012

From a Friday night with Irish legends to a 41–3 victory at Soldier Field, this was one Notre Dame weekend I’ll never forget.

Yes, I know. It’s Navy week.

And normally, that would mean another trip down memory lane to revisit one of Notre Dame’s many memorable games against the Midshipmen. But seeing as I’ve already written 13 stories about Navy, I figured I’d give Miami a little extra love this week.

And by love, of course, I mean hate.

Just kidding. Sort of.

Besides, this particular game holds a special place in my Notre Dame memories because I was there. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that sometimes the experience surrounding a football game is just as memorable as the game itself.

So for this bonus edition of Throwback Thursday, we’re heading back to October 6, 2012, when the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish traveled to Chicago to take on the Miami Hurricanes at Soldier Field in the fourth installment of the Shamrock Series.

And what a weekend it was.

A Friday Night Full of Notre Dame Memories

The festivities actually began the night before the game, with an outdoor pep rally at Millennium Park in downtown Chicago.

There’s just something about gathering with thousands of Notre Dame fans in the middle of a major city that makes a football weekend feel a little more special. The excitement was building, the Irish were undefeated, and everyone was looking forward to another chapter in the Notre Dame–Miami rivalry.

But the pep rally wasn’t the end of the evening.

Afterward, I attended a party at the House of Blues hosted by former Notre Dame wide receiver Bobby Brown through his entertainment company, Excessive Celebration.

And this wasn’t just any party.

Among the Notre Dame greats there were Bobby Brown, Tony Rice, Chris Zorich, Lee Becton, and Jerome Bettis.

For someone who grew up loving Notre Dame football, having so many familiar faces from different eras of Irish football in one place was pretty incredible.

It was one of those evenings that reminded me how much the Notre Dame experience extends beyond the football field. The friendships, the shared memories, the familiar faces, and the stories that connect generations of Irish fans are a big part of what makes these weekends so special.

And we hadn’t even gotten to the game yet.

A Cold Day in Chicago

Saturday brought the kind of weather you might expect from Chicago in October.

Cold.

But when you’re surrounded by Notre Dame fans, tailgating outside Soldier Field, a little chilly weather isn’t going to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm.

The atmosphere was fantastic. Bagpipers, cheerleaders, and the Notre Dame marching band made their way through the festivities, adding to the excitement as everyone prepared for kickoff.

There was music, laughter, plenty of Irish spirit, and that wonderful feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself.

And while Soldier Field wasn’t Notre Dame Stadium, you certainly wouldn’t have known it from the crowd.

More than 62,000 fans filled the stadium that evening, and the energy was unmistakable. The Irish were playing in Chicago, a city with deep Notre Dame connections, and it felt very much like a home game.

Of course, there was also the small matter of the opponent.

Miami.

For those of us who remember the battles between Notre Dame and the Hurricanes in the late 1980s and early 1990s, that name alone was enough to get the competitive juices flowing.

This wasn’t quite the same rivalry that produced the legendary 1988 Catholics vs. Convicts game, but seeing those two programs on the same field still carried a little extra electricity.

The Irish Were Rolling, but Questions Remained

Notre Dame entered the game ranked ninth in the country with a 4–0 record. The Irish had already defeated Navy, Purdue, Michigan State, and Michigan, and their defense was quickly developing a reputation as one of the nation’s toughest.

But there were still questions about the offense, particularly at quarterback.

Sophomore Everett Golson had shown flashes of tremendous potential, but he was still learning. Junior Tommy Rees, meanwhile, had the experience that comes from having already started plenty of games for the Irish.

Against Miami, Rees actually took the opening offensive series because Golson had been late to a team meeting after meeting with a professor.

Not exactly the way you want to begin one of the biggest games of your young career.

But once Golson entered the game, he gave Notre Dame fans plenty of reasons to be excited about the future.

He completed 17 of 22 passes for 186 yards and added 51 yards rushing. More importantly, he looked increasingly comfortable directing the offense, making smart decisions, and using his athleticism to keep Miami’s defense guessing.

It was the kind of performance that suggested Notre Dame’s offense might finally be catching up with its defense.

And as the night went on, that became increasingly obvious.

A Slow Start, Then an Irish Avalanche

The game didn’t begin quite as smoothly as Notre Dame fans might have hoped.

On Miami’s first offensive play, quarterback Stephen Morris found receiver Phillip Dorsett behind the Irish secondary. The pass was there, but Dorsett couldn’t hang on.

It was an early reminder that the Hurricanes had plenty of speed and the ability to make big plays.

Fortunately for Notre Dame, Miami struggled to capitalize on its opportunities.

The Irish struck first when Theo Riddick scored on a one-yard touchdown run, giving Notre Dame a 7–0 lead.

Miami answered with a field goal, but that would be the Hurricanes’ only scoring of the evening.

Kyle Brindza added two field goals in the second quarter, and Notre Dame headed to the locker room leading 13–3.

A ten-point lead was nice, but it certainly wasn’t the kind of commanding performance everyone had hoped to see.

Then came the second half.

And suddenly, Miami had a very big problem.

Run the Ball. Then Run It Again.

Whatever adjustments Brian Kelly and his coaching staff made at halftime, they worked.

Notre Dame came out determined to establish the running game, and the Hurricanes had absolutely no answer.

The Irish ran the ball on 19 of their 21 offensive plays in the third quarter.

Nineteen!

Sometimes football doesn’t have to be complicated.

Behind an outstanding offensive line anchored by senior captain Zack Martin and Chris Watt, Notre Dame began opening enormous holes for its running backs.

Cierre Wood scored twice in the third quarter, first on a two-yard run and then on a three-yard run.

And then George Atkinson III decided to put on a show.

Late in the quarter, Atkinson broke free for a 55-yard touchdown run that sent the Irish faithful into another celebration.

By the end of the third quarter, Notre Dame’s modest 13–3 halftime lead had become a 34–3 advantage.

Atkinson finished the evening with 123 yards on just 10 carries, an astonishing average of 12.3 yards per attempt. That was the highest average by a Notre Dame running back with at least 10 carries since Reggie Brooks averaged 13.7 against Purdue in 1992.

Wood added 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns, giving the Irish two 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time in a decade.

And while the running backs were getting the headlines, the offensive line deserved plenty of credit.

Martin was named Player of the Game by The Observer, a fitting recognition for a unit that had its best performance of the season.

Notre Dame finished with 376 rushing yards and 587 yards of total offense.

Those are some pretty impressive numbers, no matter who you’re playing.

Cam McDaniel added a one-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to complete the 41–3 victory.

A Defense That Refused to Budge

As impressive as Notre Dame’s offense was that evening, the defense deserves just as much attention.

Led by Manti Te’o, the Irish held Miami to 285 total yards and just three points.

Think about that for a moment.

The Hurricanes entered the game averaging more than 35 points per contest.

Notre Dame held them to three.

And it wasn’t just the points. The Irish controlled the football for an incredible 39 minutes and 8 seconds, leaving Miami’s offense standing on the sideline for much of the evening.

When the Hurricanes did get the ball, they struggled to sustain drives.

By the time the fourth quarter arrived, there wasn’t much doubt about how this one was going to end.

The Irish were 5–0.

And something special was beginning to happen.

Five Games, Zero Deficits

One of the most remarkable statistics from that night had nothing to do with rushing yards or touchdowns.

Through five games, Notre Dame had not trailed once.

Not for a single second.

According to The Observer, the Irish were the only FBS team at that point in the season that could make that claim.

The last Notre Dame team to accomplish the same feat through five games?

The 1947 national champions.

Now, I’m not suggesting that everyone in Soldier Field was ready to start comparing the 2012 Irish to Frank Leahy’s legendary teams.

But you could feel the excitement building.

Notre Dame had won its first five games for the first time since 2002. The defense was dominating. The running game was finding its rhythm. And the Irish were beginning to look like a team that could make some serious noise.

Of course, we know now that the 2012 team would finish the regular season undefeated and earn a trip to the national championship game.

But on that October night in Chicago, all of that was still ahead of us.

For the moment, we were simply enjoying one heck of a football game.

Fireworks and a Weekend to Remember

And what better way to celebrate a 41–3 victory over Miami than with fireworks?

After the game, the fireworks provided a fitting finale to a wonderful weekend in Chicago.

From Friday night’s pep rally at Millennium Park to the House of Blues party with Notre Dame legends, from the chilly tailgating and the sounds of bagpipes to the marching band, cheerleaders, and a stadium full of Irish fans, it had been everything I love about a Notre Dame football weekend.

And the football team certainly did its part.

I’ve attended plenty of Notre Dame games over the years, and each one has its own story. Some are remembered for dramatic finishes. Some are remembered for heartbreak. And some are remembered because everything just seemed to come together.

This was one of those weekends.

The Irish dominated Miami, improved to 5–0, and gave us another reason to believe that 2012 might be a season to remember.

Fourteen years later, I still remember the fun, the friendships, the cold Chicago air, and the excitement of watching Notre Dame take care of business at Soldier Field.

So yes, I know it’s Navy week.

And yes, I’ll always have tremendous respect for the Midshipmen and the special relationship between Notre Dame and the Naval Academy.

But every once in a while, it’s fun to revisit a game against Miami.

Especially when the Irish win 41–3.

Cheers & GO IRISH!

(Research gathered from the October 8, 2012 IRISH INSIDER.)

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And for anyone wondering whether I’ve neglected Navy this week, don’t worry. I’ve already given the Midshipmen plenty of attention over the years! Here are my previous Notre Dame–Navy stories, for anyone who wants to take another trip down memory lane.