When the Notre Dame football team takes on the Georgia Bulldogs, defensive lineman Howard Cross III knows that he’s got a tough task ahead of him. But rather than being intimidated, the star defender is excited about the challenge and focusing on having fun.
“I used to be watching this cartoon and this guy is trying to fight this like overwhelmingly massive dude that nobody can beat and he’s shaking, and the dude’s like, “Damn, so you’re scared?'” Cross told the media last week. “He’s like, ‘I’m not scared. I’m excited.’ That’s kind of the mentality I have right now. I’m so excited to have this opportunity.”
That is the mentality of everyone on the Notre Dame football team right now. The 12-1 Irish know some people didn’t think they should make the playoffs thanks to that loss to Northern Illinois. Then they went out and stomped on Indiana in the first round of the College Football Playoffs.
Notre Dame football star is ready for big challenge
Indiana wasn’t small up front, Cross explained, but their blockers tried to hold the line against Notre Dame while the running backs did the work. Georgia is different. The Bulldogs move people off the ball. It’s up to Cross, as well as junior Donovan Hinish and senior Gabriel Rubio, to stop them.
“It’s extremely important,” Cross said. “Damn near the whole game, right? A thing that says teams look to go up the middle to get extra yards, so that’s like the most important part of any game. But especially this game, they have one of the best interiors in the nation.
“For one, I’m excited for the challenge. I think we got it.” It’s a level of confidence that could go a long way towards helping the Notre Dame football team get a big win in the Sugar Bowl. And then just keep going.