BYU’s Brandon Ogletree, high, and teammate Ezekial Ansah gang up on Notre Dame’s Theo Riddick as BYU and Notre Dame play Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in South Bend. Notre Dame received 17-14. The groups meet once more Saturday. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
BYU coach LaVell Edwards and Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz discuss at midfield following recreation Oct. 15, 1994. Mark Philbrick, BYU Photograph
LAS VEGAS — BYU’s soccer program has a big nationwide following, thanks partly to the varsity being sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
There are members of the church in every single place, and tens of millions of them religiously comply with Cougar sports activities, significantly soccer. It isn't unusual to see 10,000 or extra BYU followers at venues 1000's of miles away from Provo, resembling final month when BYU walloped South Florida 50-21 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Nonetheless, BYU’s following pales compared to that of the College of Notre Dame, the personal Catholic college in South Bend, Indiana. Not solely does Notre Dame have an enormous, worldwide following, it additionally has dozens, if not tons of, of reporters that cowl the soccer program’s each transfer.
“I feel for many Irish followers, the Cougars are the epitome of a succesful, harmful, veteran workforce that ought to not beat Notre Dame.” — Tim O’Malley of Irish Illustrated on BYU
Within the week main as much as Saturday’s showdown between the No. 16 Cougars and the unranked Combating Irish at Allegiant Stadium (5:30 p.m. MDT, NBC), the Deseret Information reached out to a few these reporters to get their perspective on the sequence, and whether or not or not the sport pitting two of the biggest personal faculties within the nation means as a lot to Notre Dame because it does to also-independent BYU.
Todd Burlage has coated Notre Dame soccer the previous 23 years, most not too long ago as a contributor to Blue and Gold Illustrated and BlueandGold.com and as co-host of “The Gold Normal” podcast.
Tim O’Malley is a author for Irish Illustrated, 247sports.com and Fox Sports activities, amongst different shops and publications.
Listed here are their solutions to varied questions posed by the Deseret Information; some responses have been edited for readability and brevity:
Burlage on the notion of BYU amongst Notre Dame gamers, coaches and followers:
“Truthfully, BYU doesn’t a lot transfer the ND needle, although it'd after this weekend. It’s a extremely good and well-coached Cougar workforce. The 1994 BYU/ND recreation to me holds essentially the most significance aside from 2012.
“BYU got here to ND and received 21-14. It was ND’s second-straight loss (at Boston School every week earlier) and third of the season.
“That loss to BYU knocked Lou Holtz and his beforehand No. 17 Irish out of the Prime 25 for the primary time because the 1987 preseason ballot to begin Holtz second season at ND.
“It was like a nine-year stretch of being ranked for ND. That ’94 BYU loss very a lot modified perceptions and accelerated the departure of Lou Holtz.”
BYU coach LaVell Edwards and Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz discuss at midfield following recreation Oct. 15, 1994.
Mark Philbrick, BYU Photograph
O’Malley on notion of BYU amongst Notre Dame gamers, coaches and followers:
“I feel for many Irish followers, the Cougars are the epitome of a succesful, harmful, veteran workforce that ought to not beat Notre Dame. As an example, BYU’s finest groups over the previous few years — 2020, 2021, 2022 — have coincided with Notre Dame additionally going 25-6 with a playoff look in that span.
“This recreation was earmarked within the preseason as Notre Dame’s “entice” however that assumed a 3-1, top-10-ranked Irish workforce vs. 4-1 BYU on account of a break up in opposition to Baylor/Oregon. Solely the latter pertains at the moment.
“Physicality and good quarterback play can be the generic description of the Cougars program from most Irish followers. They actually grabbed each fan’s consideration in 2020 for the quickly-scheduled contest with fellow undefeated Coastal Carolina, so in that respect, they earned respect and have continued a robust run since.”
Burlage on whether or not Notre Dame feels a hyperlink of commonality with BYU on account of being a school soccer impartial and a faith-based establishment:
“Once more, not attempting to be disrespectful or dismissive, (however) these two have performed solely eight video games, with little or no on the road, traditionally talking. This isn't a frequent sufficient assembly to elicit emotions prefer it does with Boston School (a personal, Jesuit analysis establishment in Massachusetts).
“BYU and ND had the impartial connection, however I don’t suppose that amounted to a lot optically. There aren’t many recruiting battles, regionally or mission-based. I personally suppose ND and BYU ought to have performed yearly. I like the BYU program.
“I don’t know the way good BYU was in 1993, however No. 3 ND performed on the market and received large in a prime-time recreation. That’s the 11-1 season with the (No. 1 vs. No. 2) matchup with Florida State, every week earlier than the epic loss to BC.”
O’Malley on the connection between BYU and Notre Dame:
“In the event that they did (have a connection), the attract of the playoff greenback has tremendously mitigated, if not eradicated it. Couple that with the uncertainty of convention alignment and I don’t suppose Brigham Younger is seen as a accomplice in that regard. They might’ve been one of many companions, had different applications able to independence — Texas, for example — chosen that route.”
O’Malley on whether or not that is simply one other Shamrock Collection recreation for the Irish, or greater than that:
“The timing of this query is pertinent as a result of most of those Shamrock video games are set as much as be a walk-in-the-park for the Irish. A blowout of No. 12 Syracuse in 2018 and final yr’s 41-13 blowout upset of six-point favourite Wisconsin stand out amongst two handfuls of mismatches within the Shamrock Collection.
“Nobody feels that approach about Brigham Younger, although Irish followers have once more talked themselves right into a win by advantage of Notre Dame’s resurgent offense and the Cougars’ nationally televised sleep-walk affair in opposition to Utah State.
“Las Vegas plus a ranked foe — and one revered for its consistency if not playoff-level menace — makes this the second-most anticipated Shamrock recreation behind final yr’s Wisconsin matchup at Soldier Subject.
“We dwell in a week-to-week sport, and as such, I feel 90% of Notre Dame followers anticipate a victory, however most really feel it is going to be a fourth-quarter end.”
Burlage on previous BYU-Notre Dame recreation, or video games, that stand out:
“In 2012, it felt like Notre Dame was type of dwelling a lie heading into the BYU recreation. And when the Cougars went up 14-7 second quarter, it felt just like the Irish smoke and mirror present was over, particularly with Tommy Rees beginning rather than an injured Everett Golson within the recreation.
“This recreation stays memorable as a result of it actually appeared like this was a part of the three-game stretch that was going to derail a fragile undefeated run for Notre Dame and spoil what ended up with a spot within the BCS nationwide championship.
“Earlier than BYU, No. 5 ND was coming off a 20-13 time beyond regulation win vs. No. 17 Stanford. Then, one week post-BYU, ND performed at No. 8 Oklahoma as a ten.5-point underdog. Given all it took to beat BYU, no one gave ND an opportunity in opposition to OK. In some way the Irish received in Norman in what is going to ceaselessly stay Brian Kelly’s grandest second teaching right here.
“No BYU participant to me stood out in that recreation. The Cougars did little or no offensively and ND ran for a bunch of yards, if I keep in mind appropriately.
“In 2013, it was kinda of the identical factor. ND already had three losses earlier than that nondescript assembly. It was actually a meaningless recreation for each groups. I feel it was snowing. In some way BYU tragically let Cam McDaniel rush for 100-plus yards, I imagine. (BYU quarterback) Taysom Hill had an excellent all-around recreation, nothing legendary.
O’Malley on previous Notre Dame-BYU recreation, or video games, that stand out:
“Most ardent Notre Dame followers keep in mind the 2004 and 2005 video games extra, I feel, as a result of the primary was such a harsh dose of actuality for this system, and the start of the top of the Tyrone Willingham period.
“I feel the 2012-13 BYU groups are remembered by Irish followers as strong, oddly favorited within the 2013 rematch, and for having Taysom Hill.
“BYU in 2012 had an opportunity at a fourth-quarter win over undefeated Notre Dame and fill-in quarterback Tommy Rees, however that recreation was sandwiched on the schedule by Notre Dame’s two most memorable contests — a goal-line stand win vs. Stanford in time beyond regulation and a blowout of closely favored Oklahoma in Norman.”
Cougars on the air
No. 16 BYU (4-1)
vs. Notre Dame (2-2)
Saturday, 5:30 p.m. MDT
Allegiant Stadium
Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: NBC
Radio: KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM