Wow, what a surprise! Will wonders never cease?
Notre Dame actually put it together and played its first solid football game since who knows when. The 49-21 mashing of Hawaii proved, if nothing else, that the Irish hadn't packed it in.
Of course, it was way too little. And most certainly, it was way too late. But it was also something else. A bona fide shot in the arm.
The Domers were in dire need of a confidence boost. Their collective ego had been flattened but good. Five losses in the final seven games had basically ruined their season and left the Irish groping for answers as to how such a collapse could have befallen them.
To say the least, their mindset couldn't have been all that positive. Their psyche had been reduced to rubble. Frankly, many expected the Irish to continue their freefall in Honolulu.
The prevailing thought was that the Big Island would provide too many distractions and that ND couldn't possibly regroup and get focused on the task at hand. This looked like a trap game if ever there was one. Plus, the Irish had been anything but energized as of late.
That's why few members of the media bought into the company line being espoused by players like senior safety David Bruton that the Domers would be primed and ready for the Rainbow Warriors. This seemed like so much whistling-in-the dark.
Notre Dame hadn't been prepared for weeks so why would the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl show a different side of this underachieving and uninspired squad? Sure, the Irish were talking a good game but we've learned that in almost every instance, the Domers fail to back up their words. Much of what has come out of their mouths this year proved to be hollow and empty.
So truthfully, expectations were exceedingly low. You could count on one hand those that believed Charlie Weis could roust his troops into a solid effort.
But, instead of a distraction, Hawaii with its natural charms turned out to be an elixir for the sagging Irish. Who would have ever thought ND would find its balm in such an exotic locale?
Yes, the Irish certainly took advantage of the fun and diversions that a trip to Hawaii had to offer. But when it came time to bear down, the visitors from South Bend were all business. They practiced with a purpose and seemed driven. Moreover, they looked passionate about what they were doing.
No one could argue that the Irish didn't know how to properly prioritize. Their mixture of work and play was exquisite and spot-on.
Though making mincemeat of the Rainbow Warriors didn't provide absolution for a season gone bad, it nonetheless offered a touch of redemption for a beleaguered and ridiculed team. At least, the final memory of this disappointing year would be as sweet as the pineapples that grew not too far from Aloha Stadium.
As far as the Irish were concerned, it was as if they found themselves in the midst of a mounting swell and rode those waves to the max. To the Domers, it seemed like surf was up and they were effortlessly hanging ten. There would be no wipeouts on this day.
But let's not get carried away either as some, both in the press and those inhabiting the blogesphere, have done. No doubt this was a welcomed victory but to make more of it than that would be delusional.
After all, Hawaii is merely a mediocre squad with glaring weaknesses on both sides of the ball. Beating down an iffy opponent can provide some satisfaction but to magnify its importance is folly. Stomping on Hawaii doesn't make up for what went on before. Regardless of their sparkling effort in Honolulu, Notre Dame remains an average football team.
Yet, it would be just as shortsighted to undervalue this win as it would be to exaggerate it. Plenty of positives emerged from ND's final game of 2008.
To begin with, the Irish shook off the habit of losing bowl games. Their NCAA record streak of postseason setbacks had reached an embarrassing nine and because of that, ND had been dissed and mocked to the extreme.
This was an anchor around the program's neck that was weighing it down. Bowl futility had become not merely a monkey but a full fledged gorilla on the backs of the Irish. Getting rid of this albatross should have a cleansing effect and enable ND to move on from here without carrying such annoying baggage.
It was more than fitting that dedicated and committed veterans like the aforementioned Bruton, linebacker Maurice Crum, defensive lineman Pat Kuntz and offensive tackle Mike Turkovich walked away with their heads held high. In a perfect world, what they gave would have merited being on better teams. These were young men who never gave up and made it their mantra to compete hard. They deserved to go winners.
A heretofore lost Jimmy Clausen rediscovered himself. Benefiting from an offensive line that suddenly came alive and provided stellar pass protection, Clausen shredded the Hawaii defenders. He carved them up like you would a stuffed pig at a luau.
The blond bomber hit on 22 of 26 passes for 401 yards and five scores. Shaking off a horrendous mid-to-late season slump, Clausen showed definite signs of rebounding. Granted, Hawaii was no great challenge but this was perhaps the kind of performance that Clausen can build on.
The shine that Golden Tate emits is, at times, blinding. Without question, the sophomore flash is ND's most exciting player since the deified "Rocket" Ismail.
Tate was flat out spectacular in Honolulu. He gathered in six catches that translated into 177 yards and three scores. He was as elusive as a trade wind to the Hawaii kids who tried to cover him. Golden simply torched them. Tate used his notable speed to establish separation from his helpless foes and the rest was easy.
Couple his quicks with more disciplined route running and Tate has become danger personified. Tate has taken a quantum leap in maturation since his freshman year. If he continues his dramatic improvement, he could become one of college football's premier game-breakers if he isn't one already.
When he acts decisively and doesn't hesitate, Armando Allen needs just a sliver of space to make things happen. Such was the case on his two touchdown jaunts versus Hawaii. His first score came on a nifty 18-yard catch and run. His second tally was the result of an electrifying 96-yard kickoff return.
On both, all he needed was just a bit of a crease and he was gone. Going into next year, Weis must make it a high priority to get the ball to Allen when he's got some room. If the coach can do that, the Irish offense will have another legitimate weapon.
Frosh tight end Kyle Rudolph is quickly coming of age. Not only does he provide an inviting target but the kid knows how to find the seams and get downfield. These facts were very evident when Rudolph latched onto four Clausen bullets against Hawaii.
Blessed with good hands and more than ample athleticism, Rudolph could become an ND standout. Something, incidentally, Weis has already predicted for this up-and-coming youngster.
And let's not forget the defense. They did some earth-shaking of their own. Getting eight sacks, even against a leaking line like Hawaii's, was nothing to dismiss.
Though plenty on the defensive side distinguished themselves, it was some underclassmen who really warranted attention. Frosh defensive end Ethan Johnson played beyond his years and registered two sacks. Agile for his size ( 6-4, 275 lbs. ), Johnson is very active and could be a force on the "D" line, an area where ND can use all the help it can get.
Junior safety Sergio Brown, who has shown some flashes in the past, looks like he might finally be ready for prime time. Brown had a coming out party in Hawaii with six solo tackles, a pass broken up and a blocked punt. Brown's confident persona is a commodity ND can put to good use.
And then there were linebackers Kerry Neal ( sophomore ) and Darius Fleming ( freshman ). Clearly getting more integrated within the defense, these two have the potential to be solid contributors. Each collected a nifty sack versus Hawaii.
So yes, it was nice for the Irish to finally have something over which to rejoice. Their pounding of Hawaii helped put a tolerable face on a very forgettable season.
And perhaps this desperately needed win can set a tone for what will happen in '09 although no one really knows about the carryover effect from a bowl game.
But it can be argued that if the Irish should resurrect themselves nine months for now, the genesis of that renewal began in the most unlikely of places. For ND, Hawaii may very well have been an island of both redemption and rebirth.