Rocket Ismail knows from insane pep talks -- he learned, after all, from the undisputed master of the unhinged hype-up. But the ex-Irish great's inspired performance before Notre Dame's season-defining clash with USC belongs right alongside any motivational salvo ever delivered by Lou Holtz or Knute Rockne:

Yes, technically the Irish lost while allowing 380 yards passing to a true freshman quarterback. But what might it have looked like had ND gone forward under the mistaken belief that it was a game? Chalk this moral victory up to the Rocket.

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Hat tip: Derek. More on Notre Dame's effort in the loss is in the works.