About Andy Roberts

A lifelong subway alum, Andy specializes in instant reactions to Notre Dame games.

And Now We Wait: Stanford Instant Reaction

The game was almost beside the point Saturday as Notre Dame dominated Stanford 45-14 to move into the clubhouse at 11-1 in a season that against all odds will end as very much part of the College Football Playoff story. Coach Brian Kelly abandoned any pretense of being gentlemanly at the end of the game, [...]

By |2021-11-28T00:58:22-05:00November 28th, 2021|18S Reads, Football|33 Comments

Business Trip: Virginia Instant Reaction

Notre Dame did what you're supposed to do to a team missing its best player Saturday, pounding Virginia 28-3 on the road. Much of the game was perfunctory due to how hopeless the Cavaliers looked offensively, which was certainly because of the absence of Brennan Armstrong, out with a rib injury. However, it's worth crediting [...]

By |2021-11-14T00:04:02-05:00November 14th, 2021|18S Reads, Football|22 Comments

Winning Is Hard: North Carolina Instant Reaction

Late in Notre Dame's 44-34 win over North Carolina, the NBC broadcast team discussed that the Irish aren't winning pretty or in dominating fashion - they're just winning. It's something of an 18 Stripes motto that, well, winning is hard. Week after week, doing enough to fight off your opponents, especially on nights you don't [...]

By |2021-10-31T00:14:00-04:00October 31st, 2021|18S Reads, Football|19 Comments

No Explanation: Virginia Tech Instant Reaction

Sometimes you just have no explanation for anything. Notre Dame pulled off a seemingly miraculous 32-29 win over Virginia Tech Saturday night in a game they frankly had no business winning for a million reasons. But somehow, someway, ND survived and will enter a much-needed off week at 5-1 with a chance to reset before [...]

By |2021-10-10T00:17:18-04:00October 10th, 2021|18S Reads, Football|25 Comments

Jumping Ahead: Wisconsin Instant Reaction

Imagine any Notre Dame team from 1997-2014 winning a game in which its third-string quarterback was taking whacks behind a line anchored by its third and fourth-string left tackle while the starting defensive tackle was out too. The Irish have reached that level as a program and they proved it with a satisfying 31-point fourth-quarter [...]

By |2021-09-25T16:47:51-04:00September 25th, 2021|18S Reads|27 Comments

Almost Got Peacocked: Toledo Instant Reaction

There are so many questions that Notre Dame fans will be impatient to get answered after Saturday's 32-29 Houdini act over Toledo. MICHAEL. MAYER. NUFF. SAID. No. 8 @NDFootball 32 - Toledo 29 📺 @peacockTV #GoIrish #BeatRockets pic.twitter.com/1Z4m3l7xZQ — The Fighting Irish (@FightingIrish) September 11, 2021 First of all, let's not sugarcoat this: While Toledo [...]

By |2021-09-11T19:06:42-04:00September 11th, 2021|18S Reads|29 Comments

No More Sundays, Please: Florida State Instant Reaction

Well, I've seen enough of the Sunday night opening games to last my entire life. Five years ago was the Texas disaster, and this one came darn close to being just as soul-crushing. Notre Dame did somehow survive the opener tonight to defeat Florida State and its overwhelming karma boost from McKenzie Milton, 41-38, in [...]

By |2021-09-06T00:33:18-04:00September 6th, 2021|18S Reads, Football|35 Comments

Notre Dame Hires Marcus Freeman as DC, and Brian Kelly Sends a Message

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly sent a shot across the bow of college football Friday evening when the school announced the hiring of former Cincinnati defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman as Clark Lea's replacement at the same position. Please welcome Bob Hinton Defensive Coordinator/LB coach, @Marcus_Freeman1. ☘️ 📰 https://t.co/ZMIEQvRhun#GoIrish x #Rally pic.twitter.com/Ovy89FyBBb — Notre Dame [...]

By |2021-01-08T23:24:54-05:00January 8th, 2021|18S Reads, Football|12 Comments

Missed Opportunities: ACC Championship Game Instant Reaction

When it comes down to it, Saturday's 34-10 loss to Clemson will mark a missed opportunity for Notre Dame. A missed opportunity to shove it in the face of anyone who talked about conference affiliation like it actually matters. A missed opportunity to put to bed any talk of an asterisk from the Nov. 7 [...]

By |2020-12-19T19:27:45-05:00December 19th, 2020|18S Reads|15 Comments
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