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SOUTH BEND – Notre Dame was searching for its first November win Saturday, and after a 33-30 double-overtime loss to Connecticut on Senior Day, the Irish are likely starting a search for the program’s next coach.
“Today is not the day for me to reflect on things like that,” coach Charlie Weis said of his future with the program. “Today is a day for me to worry about those 33 (fourth- and fifth-year seniors). I really feel absolutely miserable.”
The Huskies (5-5) handed the Irish (6-5) a third straight loss when Andre Dixon waltzed into the end zone from four yards out in the second overtime after Notre Dame had settled for a 36-yard David Ruffer field goal.
It was the first victory for Connecticut since the stabbing death of cornerback Jasper Howard on Oct. 18.
“There’s no doubt this is the biggest and best win we’ve had so far in the short time we’ve been a (Football Bowl Subdivision) school,” said Huskies coach Randy Edsell, who plans to send a game ball to Howard’s family in Miami.
For Notre Dame it might be the worst loss of what has become a trying season.
The Irish entered November with hopes of reaching a BCS game only to lose 23-21 to Navy to begin the month and then fall to Pittsburgh 27-22 last week.
Notre Dame’s five losses have all come by a touchdown or less, and this one came after the Irish took a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
“I would’ve laughed in your face if you had told me this is what would happen,” Irish safety Kyle McCarthy said about the season.
Notre Dame receiver Golden Tate had nine catches for 123 yards, and Michael Floyd had eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Jimmy Clausen threw for 329 yards on 30-of-45 passing with two touchdowns, but the junior was sacked twice.
“It hurts to lose when you know you have so much talent on your team, and the guys on the field are coached great,” said Tate, who set school single-season receiving records in catches (83) and yards (1,295) in the loss.
Connecticut’s Jordan Todman tormented Notre Dame the most.
Todman ran around four Irish defenders for a 43-yard touchdown in the second quarter to cut Notre Dame’s lead to 14-7, and he returned a kickoff 96 yards to tie the game at 17 with 9:17 to play in the third quarter.
Todman ran for 130 yards, and quarterback Zach Frazer, who left Notre Dame in 2007, threw for 141 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
The teams traded field goals in the fourth quarter with Ruffer, kicking in place of Nick Tausch for the second straight game after the freshman couldn’t go after warmups, making a 23-yarder.
The Huskies’ Dave Teggart, who made a 29-yarder in the fourth, missed a chance to win the game in regulation when his 37-yard attempt was wide left as time ran out.
Notre Dame and Connecticut traded touchdowns in the first overtime, but Ruffer’s third field goal of the game wasn’t enough in the second overtime for the Irish.
Notre Dame closes the season on the road against No. 14 Stanford this week. The Cardinal, who played California on Saturday, defeated Oregon and USC in the last two weeks.
“You can’t hang your head,” Irish center Eric Olsen said. “Look at what Stanford has done the last few weeks. If we go into that game hanging our heads, they are going to kick the (expletive) out of us.”
