AHHH...Sweet Redemption
Tony Ughetti
October 16, 1999

South Bend, Ind - In the driving wind and rain at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, many heroic efforts and big plays were made with the game on the line. With 14 minutes left in the third quarter, and the rain just starting, I cried out loudly from my seat in Section 123, "Come on Irish, who wants this game more?!!?" My pleas were answered, and two players who have been in the doghouse recently figured prominently in turning this game around.

All week long, I was thinking about Jabari Holloway and Jim Sanson. I wondered about the mental state of two seniors who had been stripped of playing time, one for non-production, and one for missing key practice time due to a conflicting academic lab. It would be so easy for these two to give up hope and mail it in. Especially Sanson, who had to be at the low ebb of his Irish football career. Yet, when it mattered most, these two came up and made key plays to ensure Irish victory.

All season long, I have been earning the ire of my fellow fans by incessantly yelling "THROW IT TO JABAR’I!!" I have long admired his hard work on every play, and the way he always gets himself in position to make a play. Dan O’Leary is certainly doing a fine job as well, and the Irish should thank the Lord for two excellent tight ends. On a key third down in the driving rain of the fourth quarter, I saw Jabar’i lumber over the middle of the field and deftly catch a low ball, keeping the drive alive. They threw it to Jabar’i!!

That was nothing compared to the final play of the final Irish touchdown drive. As Jarious Jackson madly scampered towards the end zone, the ball came loose on the one yard line and trickled into the end zone. A melee ensured, and it got very quiet in the stands. But one man wanted it more than USC did. Despite having his playing time cut, and his role diminished, when the ball was lying in the end zone, Jabar’i went and got it! Touchdown Irish!

Now, for the first time on this often frustrating day, Notre Dame finally had the lead. Jim Sanson came out to tee up the ball and kick it to SC.

I am sure he saw the same press I did last week, writers vilifying him for his comments after being yanked last week. I wanted to somehow call him or talk to him last week, see how he was feeling, see if his faith in life had somehow been shaken by this turn of events. How embarrassed was he to miss that field goal last week in front of visiting family and friends? How did he feel, reading all week how his miss at USC had cost the Irish millions of dollars in post-season money? He was the scapegoat for a season of kicking failure, indeed several such seasons. How could he go out and make a difference in this game?

With the wind at his back, he had kicked his last two kickoffs after Irish scores deep into the endzone. R. Jay Soward had no chance to display his game-breaking speed on kick returns, wisely taking a knee both times. As Jim ran up to the ball to kick with less than three minutes left, I prayed for one more touchback.

R. Jay gathered the ball in at about the two yard line, and quickly found a seam, accelerating up field. To the ten..twenty..thirty...forty...only two Irish to beat, and at the least USC would have excellent field position for their drive to a game-winning field goal.

FUMBLE!!!

The ball lay upon the wet grass. One Irish player had a shot at recovering, and preserving victory. How must Jim Sanson have felt as his wet hands gathered in the pigskin? A young man whose leg had caused us fans consternation all year had now snatched the ball away from USC with confident and inspired hands. With the turnover went the field position and momentum of a big return for USC. A few more ticks of the clock, and victory was ours!

Two seniors. One big game. If fans ever want to see the definition of "heart," look no further than these two young men who played a big part in yesterdays’ victory. The boors of last week have turned into cheers for Jim Sanson. Jabari has proven once again that hard work and desire, coupled with the magic of Notre Dame, can make miracles happen. Thank you guys for not giving up, and teaching us fans true fortitude and poise in the clutch. Jim and Jabari, you are "loyal sons, marching Onwards to Victory!"