Notre Dame trailing South Carolina in Gator Bowl had fans in their feelings

Notre Dame fans were ready to fire head coach Marcus Freeman and blow up the roster after falling behind South Carolina in the Gator Bowl.

The 2022 season was a mixed bag for Notre Dame fans. It couldn’t have started worse with Marcus Freeman losing his first two games. It stayed shaky as Cal nearly knocked off the Irish and Stanford actually did. Then it got pretty good, with five straight wins suggesting the team had turned a corner.

However, a loss to USC to end the regular season took some shine off things. A loss to South Carolina in the Gator Bowl would clear away all the good feelings of a few weeks ago.

That’s probably why Fighting Irish fans reacted so viscerally while watching Notre Dame fall behind against the Gamecocks 21-7 early.

Notre Dame fans melted down while losing in Gator Bowl

Notre Dame got used to a certain level of success under Brian Kelly. His departure to LSU prompted Freeman’s promotion. However, the jury remains out on whether that was the right move.

A slow start to the bowl game didn’t do much to inspire confidence from Notre Dame fans. There was a whole lot for ND to play for, but pride does matter for fans around bowl season. So does the feeling that their program is heading in the right direction. It’s not certain that’s the case for those in South Bend.

The Irish caught up to South Carolina eventually. Two touchdowns in the second quarter and another score to start the third tied things up at 24.

After the Gamecocks promptly restored a seven-point lead with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Spencer Rattler to Xavier Legette, Tyler Buchner and company made things even again with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Braden Lenzy just before the fourth quarter.

The two teams went into the final frame tied at 31.

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