Irish catch two breaks on Pitt's missed field goal

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After Kevin Harper missed what would've been a game-winning 33-yard field goal in overtime, Bennett Jackson and Chris Brown raced back to the sidelines as Notre Dame's title hopes remained alive. Normally, that detail isn't close to noteworthy.

But Jackson and Brown both wear No. 2, and because they were on the field at the same time, the Irish should've been penalized, and Pittsburgh should've had a fresh set of downs (kudos to Irish Illustrated's Pete Sampson for first noticing this).

"No exception to it. It was a coaching mistake," coach Brian Kelly said Sunday. "We had put our Desperado team on there, and Chris Brown is part of Desperado. Just we've got to do a better job. An oversight that can't happen."

Notre Dame's title hopes cheated death with the missed kick, but the missed call was just as important. At the least, it would've given Pittsburgh another shot at a field goal -- Harper hit his try in the third overtime period -- not to mention a chance to emphatically score six points to secure a win.

"We have an easy way for us to make sure this doesn't happen again, and they won't be on the field again (at the same time)," Kelly said. "It's on me now. So I'm going to make sure it doesn't happen."

Whether that means a chance in Brown's number or extra attention being paid to make sure the pair aren't on the field together remains to be seen.

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