Notre Dame QB Ian Book Sounding Very Confident Heading Into Clemson Rematch
Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book is sounding very confident heading into this weekend’s rematch with Clemson for the ACC Championship Game. ESPN tweeted out the following quote from Book via Kirk Herbstreit earlier tonight.
Book seems to be referencing all of the starters that Clemson was missing on November 7 that will be on the field on Saturday. Most notably, Clemson was missing star quarterback Trevor Lawrence in addition to several defensive starters.
It sounds like Book and Notre Dame might be getting tired of hearing about their double overtime win over the Tigers not meaning much – according to some in the media – because of who was not on the field for then #1 ranked Clemson that November night inside Notre Dame Stadium.
There are some who will be upset that Book gave Clemson some “bulletin board material” but on the flip side, you have to love the confidence that Book is showing in both himself and his team. Notre Dame enters this rematch a 10+ underdog according to some sportsbooks even though they won the first matchup between the two last month. It would only make sense that Book and his teammates could be feeling disrespected to be double-digit underdogs to a team they beat once while being ranked as the #2 team in the country.
I wondered if Notre Dame would try to play the disrespect card this week and it appears that they are. And guess what? I love it. This team knows that they can beat Clemson because they have once already this year yet the national media and most people outside of the program not only doubt they can do it again, but think they will lose handily.
We’re still about two days away from what will hopefully be another epic contest between the Irish and Tigers. Book threw a bit of additional fuel on the fire tonight that should only make Saturday even more fun.
4:00 on Saturday simply cannot get here soon enough.
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
How’d that turn out for y’all?
The reason Ohio State plays nobody but still is raked is because they pay off the dead beat sports wrters, the same can be said of Alabama, USC !
At least “ND” graduates it’s players ! More than you can say of the conference football
Thank you, this is a very well informed take.
Do you happen to have a blog or website where we can get more of this inside information?