Stanford’s players left the field. Their bitterness did not.
The ire remained out there near the 50-yard line of Notre Dame Stadium, festering and bubbling. And in the moments after Notre Dame’s 23-15 victory Saturday, as members of both teams made their way toward the exit tunnel, Stanford offensive tackle Ismail Simpson could no longer contain himself.
“It [stinks] to lose to a team you’re better than!” Simpson blurted to Notre Dame running back Ryan Grant. “You better get some good recruits for next year!”
Grant shouted back, and the words briefly escalated. Then Grant wisely and coolly moved away from the confrontation, as a Stanford staff member restrained Simpson and led him up the tunnel to the locker room.
This was the third game between Stanford and Notre Dame since Tyrone Willingham quit his job with the Cardinal to become head coach in college football’s unofficial world capital. And in those three meetings, Willingham is 3-0. The first two were blowouts, including last year’s mortifying 57-7 decision, the worst home loss in Stanford history.
“Last year’s game was disappointing and embarrassing, an abomination,” Cardinal linebacker Kevin Schimmelmann said. “This game was frustrating and disappointing.”
More Top Picks Best Truck Bed Racks For Overlanding
Saturday’s breeze in South Bend, Ind., never carried away the lingering stench of that rout from a year ago, when Notre Dame ran a fake punt while leading 57-7. The explanation from Notre Dame was that punter D.J. Fitzpatrick had been instructed all season to run a fake punt if he saw a certain defensive formation and was simply reacting when Stanford lined up that way with a few minutes left in the game.
Stanford never bought that explanation–and Simpson, the outspoken offensive lineman, made no bones about his non-love of Notre Dame.
“This is my most hated team,” Simpson said. “Put the Willingham thing aside. All of America likes them, they’re on national television every week. It just stinks to lose to them.”