Confidence boost

Irish Insights

Irish reach Big East baseball tourney semifinals

Notre Dame earned a spot in the Big East tournament semifinals and a day of rest with a 5-3 victory over Pittsburgh (41-16) on Thursday in Clearwater, Fla.Thursday

Video: Mike Elston on playing ACC opponents

Notre Dame defensive line coach Mike Elston talks about the new challenges the team will face by playing five Atlantic Coast Conference teams every year, starting in 2014.Wednesday

Video: Mike Elston on Tony Springmann

Notre Dame defensive line coach Mike Elston talks about former Bishop Dwenger standout and current Irish defensive lineman Tony Springmann, and the value Springmann has by being a versatile lineman.Tuesday

Notre Dame safety Zeke Motta started to see the BCS championship game as a possibility late in the season.

Motta said the 30-13 win at Oklahoma on Oct. 27 convinced him that the No. 1 Irish (12-0) could get to where they are now, getting ready to face No. 2 Alabama (12-1) in the BCS championship game Jan. 7 in Miami.

"When we went to their place and beat Oklahoma, it was like we've come this far, and our preparation hasn't changed," Motta said during Notre Dame's BCS media day Monday. "We were able to beat a great team at Oklahoma. For us to be able to that, and do it the way we did and execute the way we did, gave us a lot of confidence."

"I knew that our preparation in the offseason and our preparation from week to week was going to be the thing that sets us apart. I think we recoginized that we are doing this and it is getting the job done, so we need to keep doing this and see where it takes us."