Boos rain down as Notre Dame football misfires in every aspect of the first half

Notre Dame football came into this week's game against Northern Illinois saying all the right things. The Irish talked about how they knew they needed to be prepared for the MAC team. They talked about how they weren't going to let the emotions of the win over Texas A&M affect them.

And then they played one of the worst halves of football in recent memory. It wasn't just that Riley Leonard once again looked uncomfortable in the pocket. It wasn't that the Irish receivers continue to look like they're having problems getting seperation (or catching passes when it hits them in the hands).

It's not even that the defense looked about as bad as it has under Al Golden. Ever. It's everything. Inlcuding a blocked field goal at the end of the first half. A blocked field goal that for some reason, the Notre Dame football settled for despite looking like they were finally finding a way to run the ball with the backs.

And after the Blue and Gold played a terrible half of football, the boos rained down from Notre Dame stadium. And you could hardly blame the fans who had to sit through ... whatever that was. However, it's still interesting to hear those boos after the Golden Domers got the big win over Texas A&M.

Fans on social media were not remotely happy about what they saw either.

Notre Dame football fans let the boos rain down after the first half against NIU

More than a few Notre Dame fans thought the coaches needed to let the players hear some yelling

Some thought the fanbase itself played a part

Settling for the field goal was not loved

The Marcus Freeman doubt has resurfaced

It's hard to blame anyone for being upset over the way the Notre Dame football team played in the first half. It was indeed completely unacceptable. The Irish are going to need to lock in and play much, much better in the second half.

The one positive is that despite an ugly half, they are only down by six points. Hardly an insurmountable deficit.