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Newsstand: What former Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn said about upset loss to NIU

Kyle Kellyby:Kyle Kelly•09/13/24•

ByKyleKelly

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Former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn.(Getty Images)

One of Notre Dame football’s most recognizable alums still questions how the Fighting Irish lost to NIU last Saturday.

On Tuesday, former quarterback Brady Quinn spoke about Notre Dame’s devastating defeat on the 2 Pros and a Cup of Joe show. Quinn was just as confused and disappointed as most Irish fans.

“When you lose like that, everybody’s involved,” Quinn said. “I said it yesterday, and I’ll reiterate it. It’s one of the worst losses in Notre Dame history. Show me another time when there’s been a top 10 Notre Dame team that’s lost to a Group of Five team when they’re a four-touchdown favorite.

“On top of that, being a four-touchdown favorite, but as your home opener. … It’s tough not having the juice for your home opener.”

Quinn also commented on the concern that there was not much change in the players’ mentality as the game unfolded. 

“That’s incumbent on the players that are there and player leadership,” Quinn said. “That’s one of the dynamics that is difficult to deal with when you do have portal players. When you do have guys coming in that you’re looking for leadership out of. They’ve already got a number of things they’re dealing with the transition to a new campus, new place. They are still learning their daily life, classes, etc. They’re dealing with a new offense. They’re dealing with all these things.

“So, there’s a lot of newness that makes it difficult to be able to make it all come together in one year’s time.”

The Irish will have a chance to get the season back on track against Purdue on Saturday. They have won their last eight games against the Boilermakers. 

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