Notre Dame at Hawaii (12/24/2008)

Irishmen Bomb Pearl Harbor
Vince Massi TQIT Sports News Network

Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen dropped his bombs on Hawaii last night, and Irish eyes were smiling, as Hurricane Charlie plastered a puny pack of pineapple pickers with points--lots and lots of points.

Clausen set Notre Dame bowl records with 401 yards passing and five touchdowns to lead a stunning ND team to their first postseason victory in 15 years, 49-21.

“I told the team that’s the only thing I wanted (for Christmas). I just wanted to win a bowl game,” Irish coach Charlie Weis said.

“I heard it a hundred times in the locker room after the game and they wanted to know what I was giving them for Christmas. I told them: ‘a flight home.”’

Golden Tate had six catches for 177 yards and three touchdowns, also Notre Dame bowl records, including a 69-yarder.

Experts may have figured out the key to ND's success: Coach Charlie Weis was unable to go onto the field because of knee problems that require him to walk with crutches.

The offense scored at will. The blitzing defense shutdown Hawaii’s run-and-shoot. And the special teams weren’t too shabby, either.

The Irish also avoided consecutive losing seasons.

With Notre Dame up 14-7, Clausen broke open the game by connecting with Tate on a 69-yard TD play, the Irish’s longest play from scrimmage of the season.

Clausen and Tate shared the MVP award.

Hawaii couldn’t get much going. Quarterback Greg Alexander was kept off balance and on the run by the Irish defense, which had eight sacks and forced two turnovers.

The Warriors were held to 32 yards rushing.

One of the biggest roars came when the Notre Dame leprechaun’s flagstick snapped in half as he charged out to the field. Unfortunately for Hawaii, that was the highlight of their game.