Jonathan Doerer didn’t actually see his game-winning kick go through the uprights Sunday night at Florida State. He didn’t need to. The fifth-year Notre Dame kicker knew it was good as soon as he kicked it.
Once the Seminoles kicker missed his second overtime attempt — after his successful first boot was nullified by his own head coach’s timeout — Doerer knew what was next: The Irish would protect the ball and, barring a broken run, set him up for a chance to win the game. So he started visualizing the moment.
“On first and second down, just getting myself ready to go,” Doerer said Tuesday evening.