With such a long break at the end of the season, it is easy to forget there is still another game to play. Well, maybe not too easy. The Fighting Irish touched down in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida yesterday escorted by some of the committee members of the Orange Bowl.
Notre Dame sealed their BCS National Championship Game seat by completing their season in late November with a strong win over USC. 2012 is the team’s first undefeated season since 1988 when they also went 12-0 and won the Fiesta Bowl against West Virginia Mountaineers. But this year, the stakes are higher and the competition stiffer.
“I think getting on the plane, you finally realize, that, in fact, we are going to play a football game,” said Brian Kelly, coach of the Fighting Irish. “It’s such a long time that I think everybody was just anxious to get here.
“I know a lot of them tweeted and sent out pictures that they were happy just to get on the bus. That doesn’t happen very often.”
Kelly said everything fell into place easily, no one had any delays or situations that would conflict with the team traveling. He also mentioned that DaVaris Daniels would be ready to play for the upcoming Orange Bowl saying, “He’ll play a role and we hope it’s a significant role in what we do.”
It’s going to be a tough game for the #1 ranked team in the nation, as many experts believe that there are a few teams that can knock the Irish out of the top spot, including Alabama. It’s showing up in the betting odds too, as ‘Bama is currently a 10-point favorite.
Kelly doesn’t want the team to worry about those sort of things. While they’re here for business, he is keeping his boys relaxed and telling them to enjoy the ride.