DURHAM, N.C. — The airhorn blew at 11:58 p.m., the universal signal to head to the buses parked behind Duke’s indoor practice facility. The caravans had been idling for nearly a half hour, ready to let Notre Dame flee one of the program’s all-time escapes, a 21-14 season preservation against Duke. The Irish, who felt like they had everything going for them until the final gun last week, still had everything to play for after this.
Sam Hartman’s 17-yard scramble on fourth down, Audric Estime’s 30-yard game-winning touchdown and Howard Cross’ clinching strip sack all let Notre Dame soldier on with pulses racing, far better than a flat line.
When that horn blew, it gave audible directions for Notre Dame to go home.
But it wanted to stay here.
The families of players and coaches had gathered outside the locker room, waiting to mix and marvel. Offensive coordinator Gerad Parker found his wife and embraced her. Jack Kiser stood by his father, trying to make sense of what just happened. Blake Fisher and Rocco Spindler reconnected with family. They grabbed one another, fully aware of what almost had gotten away from Notre Dame on Saturday night. Everybody had seen a ghost. It was going to take a few more minutes to go over the details.
“That’s a sweet victory,” head…
