Two Notre Dame Players in Spotlight

Jeremy Akers and Robert Farmer of Notre Dame figured they’d be headed to a major bowl game about now. Spending Christmas at the Blue-Gray game in Montgomery, Ala., never crossed their minds.

But in a fitting close to a season in which nothing went as expected for the Irish, the players, members of the first Notre Dame team in 10 years to miss the postseason, will be in Montgomery today, closing their collegiate careers on the Blue squad in the annual all-star game at the Cramton Bowl.

“Everyone knows we set goals for ourselves and one of them was that we wanted to go to an alliance bowl,” said Akers, an offensive lineman. “Really, we wouldn’t want it to happen any other way because it would be a lowering of our standards. . . . But we’re dealing with it and I’m trying to make the best of it. I’m just looking at this as a great opportunity to help myself out.”

There will be approximately 200 pro scouts on hand for the game.

That makes it especially important to Farmer, a tailback. A high school All-American, Farmer was injured through much of his college career and got only one start for the Irish.

“When you go to Notre Dame,” Farmer said, “the coaches promise you a national championship. . . . Leaving without a ring, it really hurts.”