Reliving Ian Book’s three favorite Notre Dame football games of his career

Put yourself in Ian Book’s shoes.

There has not been a quarterback in Notre Dame program history who can look back on as many wins as a starter as Book. Johnny Lujack, Paul Hornung, Joe Theismann, Joe Montana, Tony Rice, Brady Quinn. The list goes on. None of them can say they’ve won as many games (30) in a Notre Dame uniform as Book.

Naturally, Book has fond memories of many of those victories. The New Orleans Saints quarterback recently joined the Inside The Garage podcast hosts — Kyle Hamilton, Cam Hart, Conor Ratigan and KJ Wallace — to touch on a plethora of topics, South Bend to New Orleans. Book mentioned his favorite three games during his time with the Fighting Irish.

Here they are.

Jan. 1, 2018: Citrus Bowl vs. LSU

The 2017 season was quite a turnaround for the Irish. Just one season removed from going 4-8, the program’s worst record since 2007, running back Josh Adams and quarterback Brandon Wimbush brought some life to the Notre Dame offense. Linebackers Te’von Coney and Drue Tranquill provided a spark for the Notre Dame defense. The Irish put together a 9-3 season heading into the Citrus Bowl against LSU, who was also 9-3.

Wimbush got the start, but Book came in as the Irish closer.

LSU took a late lead, 17-14, on a field goal with 2:03 left. It was now or never for Book and company. Book chose now. The Irish needed just three plays to go 73 yards thanks to a dazzling connection between Book and wide receiver Miles Boykin on a 55-yard touchdown toss. Boykin leapt and snagged the ball with one hand. When he reached the end-zone after a mad dash, Book leapt into the arms of one of his offensive linemen.

The Irish won 21-17.

Book finished with 200 total yards and two touchdown passes in the defensive, slow-moving slugfest. But all he or anyone else who bleeds blue and gold will remember from that game were his late heroics and Notre Dame’s first win in a New Year’s Day bowl game since 1994.

“That was like a dream come true,” Book said.

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Nov. 2, 2019: Vs. Virginia Tech

By his own admission, Book had a “moody week” leading up to this one. He probably wasn’t alone.

Notre Dame had just lost to Michigan 45-14. It was the Fighting Irish’s second loss in a season that was clearly not going to match the run to the College Football Playoff Notre Dame made just a year prior. The Irish weren’t bad by any means, though. They weren’t the team that just got shellacked by the Wolverines in the pouring rain. Notre Dame’s only other loss was a closely-contested defeat at No. 3 Georgia.

“We were winning but it still felt like we were losing in a way,” Book said. “Does that make sense? At Notre Dame when you win, sometimes it still feels like you lose.”

Yet, there Notre Dame was a week later trailing a so-so Virginia Tech team by a touchdown, 20-14, late in the fourth quarter. At Notre Dame Stadium, too. The Irish needed an iconic drive from Book yet again, and they got one. Eighteen plays, 87 yards capped by a seven-yard touchdown rush by the man himself. He put his pointer finger to his face mask to quiet the critics.

Notre Dame held on to win 21-20.

“I got to hit this just to get everybody to chill out,” Book recalled thinking. “We’re going to be fine. We’re Notre Dame. We’re going to be good. And we were fine.”

Notre Dame finished the 2019 season 11-2 with 33-9 victory over Iowa State in the Camping World Bowl.

Nov. 7, 2020: Vs. No. 1 Clemson

Those two were nice. But this is the one Book will be remembered for.

There wasn’t a full crowd (or anything close to it) on hand to watch Notre Dame upset No. 1 Clemson, but that didn’t matter to Book. He just wanted one more chance to play the game he loves in a blue and gold uniform, and he got it amid a global pandemic. He was surely going to make the most of it.

“I just did football all day,” Book said. “You can ask Coach Rees, I was in his office all the time that fifth year. Always up there, all day.”

Future No. 1 NFL Draft pick Trevor Lawrence didn’t play. A lot of people might think of that first when they look back on this game. But Clemson’s stout defense was still on the field, and Book and the boys put up some numbers on that unit. Book finished with 377 total yards. As was the case in his other two favorite games, he needed many of those to come late accompanied by a touchdown of some sort just to force overtime.

Eight plays, 91 yards in a minute and 23 seconds. Notre Dame tied the game, 33-33, with 22 seconds left on a four-yard pass from Book to wide receiver Avery Davis. Running back Kyren Williams had a pair of three-yard rushing scores in the overtime periods to seal one of Notre Dame’s most memorable victories of Book’s career and the Brian Kelly era, a 47-40 double-overtime thriller against the top team in the country.