After the NIU loss, I wrote an article explaining that Notre Dame needed a mentality change. Now that we are only one week away from Notre Dame playing in the National Championship, the question has to be asked: What exactly has changed?

Photo by The Irish Tribune
My original assessment of Notre Dame playing down to their opponents was correct, and it had plagued Notre Dame for decades. Looking back at it now, it really feels that the loss to NIU was a blessing in disguise. It was the gut punch that woke this team up and motivated them never to feel that humiliation of losing to an inferior team again. Not only did it wake the team up, but it also made Marcus Freeman a better leader and helped him turn the corner to great success.
It lit a fire in Marcus Freeman that Notre Dame fans had been craving for decades. After the NIU game, the Irish went on a tear and destroyed teams in front of them with a no mercy mentality that Irish fans could have once only dreamed of. Marcus Freeman lit a fire under this team, as they are currently on a 14-game winning streak and scoring an average of nearly 40 points a game. He has instilled in them a never give up, next man up, no excuses attitude that has landed this team in the National Championship game. He took full responsibility for the loss, and brought this team together, helping them form a bond like we haven't seen in decades. They play for each other and not for themselves while totally buying into and believing Freeman's system. It is absolutely amazing what Freeman has done to get this team to believe in him and each other after that painful loss.

One of my gripes for as long as I can remember was the lack of a "hostile environment" from the home crowd at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame fans impressed me when they packed Notre Dame stadium for their first ever home playoff game against Indiana. It was a packed house, and Irish fans made as much noise in that game as I can remember for a very long time. For the first time in a long time, I saw a crowd come together and back this team like the old days when I was a child. It is refreshing to see that stadium rocking, and getting back the true "home field advantage."
Another thing I pointed out in my previous article was that Irish fans over the years had been selling their tickets for a money grab, and allowing opposing fans to takeover Notre Dame stadium and neutralize the home field advantage as in years past, the greatest example being the Georgia game a few years ago. This was something that Notre Dame fans did not allow to happen for the Indiana game, and it was exciting to see all the green and very little red. This in part was a huge factor in Notre Dame restoring the "hostile crowd" effect for the opposing team.
But my biggest complaint of all was the University not taking it seriously about truly wanting to win another National Championship. This is something that was very evident since Lou Holtz left town back in the 90's. But this all changed when new AD Pete Bevacqua and newly appointed President Rev. Robert Dowd burst onto the scene. They finally opened the checkbook and put the funds behind the program that it needed to be successful.
As with anything you buy in life, you get what you pay for. The new administration had no hesitation to pay for what they feel will lead this football program back to it's former glory. This was evident when they recently extended Head Coach Marcus Freeman to a new 4 year deal which is rumored to be worth around $10.7 million per season. Regardless of the contract extension, it's quite obvious that Bevacqua and Rev. Dowd are fully on board to do what it takes to get Notre Dame back to where it once was. They even said this much on several occasions when asked about what they envision for the future of Notre Dame Football.
"In closing, everyone associated with Notre Dame, whether it be the fans or the coaching staff, need to be held accountable for these mentioned failures. When the two come together, Notre Dame will win a National Championship again."
That quote was my final conclusion for the article I wrote after the NIU game calling for a mentality change at Notre Dame. I truly believed it at the time, and it seems the two have finally come together after many decades, and Irish fans are enjoying the fruits of the two. Marcus Freeman, the administration, and the fanbase made a lot of changes to get to this point and they all deserve a ton of credit. After watching many decades of dysfunction plaguing this program, it's a breath of fresh air and a great joy to watch this all unfold before our eyes.
Regardless of the outcome of this game, (obviously everyone wants Notre Dame to win it all) Notre Dame has turned a corner toward getting this program back to it's former glory that Irish fans have been begging for for decades. Not only are they currently playing in a National Championship a week from today, they also finally broke the curse of winning a New Year's game since the 1990's. Doing so by beating Georgia (SEC Champions) and one of the best football programs at the collegiate level this past decade.
With all being said, I tip my hat to Marcus Freeman, the administration, and the fanbase as a whole for all they've done to get here. So rejoice Irish fans, and welcome to the new era of Notre Dame Football.

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