Fighting Irish pummeled with injuries but still going strong

It often takes much more than a tough football team to win a game.  Sometimes even the most organized football coach cannot control every factor.  And sometimes tough teams fall when ill fortune comes their way.  But Notre Dame has more than a tough football team.  Notre Dame has a football team fueled by inspiration.  After six devastating injuries, the boys in blue and gold remain undefeated.

As far as injuries are concerned, the odds have been against the Irish since before day one.  During practice in August, defensive tackle Jarron Jones tore his medial collateral ligament (MCL) and cornerback Shaun Crawford tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).  Jones and Crawford were the first two Irish regulars out for the season, going down before the season even started. Unfortunately, they would not be the last.

On September 5 against Texas, running back Tarean Folston tore his ACL: out for the season.

On September 12, Notre Dame played at the University of Virginia.  Late in the third quarter, quarterback Malik Zaire broke his ankle: out for the season.  In the fourth quarter, tight end Durham Smythe tore his MCL: out for the season.

On September 19, as the Irish faced a tough Georgia Tech team, the last thing the Irish faithful wanted to hear was another report with the words: out for the season.  But in the most unlikely fashion, that dreaded report came anyway.


Irish safety Drue Tranquill tore his ACL on Saturday while celebrating with teammate Joe Schmidt in the endzone.  Tranquill had just knocked away a ball intended for Georgia Tech wideout TaQuon Marshall, and moments later Tranquill was rolling on the ground in pain.  It did not take long for the report to surface, but somehow Irish fans knew before Tranquill was taken to the locker room that he had given up everything this year for Notre Dame.  And in fact he had.

After his injury, Tranquill posted the following on his Twitter page: “In no way am I giving up.  I’ve had too many people believe in me to this point.  I’m fueled by passion, purpose, and the Spirit.  I’m praying my story will impact lives.  Sometimes life puts you through the fire and you have to walk through fearlessly.  My team will carry out the mission this year, and I will be back with the same energy and passion in 2016…I promise you that.”

Joining the ranks of the injured Jones, Crawford, Folston, Zaire, and Smythe, Tranquill is even now showing his healthy teammates what it means to be among the Fighting Irish.  It takes more than a tough kid to play Notre Dame football.  It takes a man strong of body, mind, and heart.

Although these six key players can no longer be the hands and feet of the team on the field, they can still be the heart, contributing with their words, attitude, and spirit.

Every time an Irish player has sacrificed himself for the sake of the team, this heart has grown bigger.  Drue Tranquill’s spirit is still very much alive, as is that of the entire Notre Dame football team.

After all, where did second string quarterback DeShone Kizer’s last minute touchdown pass to Will Fuller against Virginia come from?  Or C.J. Prosise’s record-setting 91-yard touchdown run against Georgia Tech?  Or the stunning performance of the Irish defense, holding the nation’s No. 2 offense to just one touchdown for the first 58 minutes of the game?

The boys in blue and gold are playing as men with undying spirit, inspired by the example of their injured starters.

It takes more than a tough team to win a football game.  It takes a team fueled by inspiration, and that’s what Notre Dame has been in the first three games.

Game four is on the way.  Massachusetts is a team easy to take for granted, especially with the Irish coming off an impressive win against No. 14 Georgia Tech last week.  However, if the Irish continue to play with heart, giving it all to the very last minute, Massachusetts will not stand a chance.  Sure, the Irish have been pummeled with injuries, but they have proven that nothing will stop them; Notre Dame will fight on—onward to victory.
James Pratt is a junior majoring in political science and Spanish.  Peanut Butter Burgers from Reckers are among his most unique food choices.  Contact him at James.A.Pratt.34@nd.edu.