With Syracuse up six points over Virginia and only seconds remaining, Harlan loaded up his one-liner and fired it over the TBS broadcast.
“Jim Boeheim and Syracuse have done it. Back from the dead on Easter Sunday!”
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Syracuse trailed by 15 with 9:20 left in the game before going on an incredible run to advance to the Final Four. Obviously that’s not nearly the same as someone coming back to life after death, so there were predictably some strong responses.
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Many viewers clearly felt comparing the Resurrection to a ‘Cuse comeback was way over the top. Of course it was over the top. When Al Michaels said “Do you believe in miracles?” after Team USA beat the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics, it wasn’t a work of divine intervention. It was an incredible achievement and an exciting game.
You could argue Harlan shouldn’t be so cavalier about religion during something as trivial as a sporting event. But that’s the point. Sports are supposed to be fun. You can ask the head coach at a Catholic university.
Following Notre Dame’s win over Wisconsin, Mike Brey said “The Irish don’t lose on Good Friday or Easter Sunday.”
Notre Dame players laughed and applauded. Should we be upset with Brey’s squad? No. And we shouldn’t be calling for a Harlan apology now.
Harlan’s call may have been a bit excessive, but it’s nothing we haven’t heard at a game before.
