From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother
William Shakespeare: Henry V
It was Nov. 14, 2009 and Notre Dame had lost at Pittsburgh. Charlie Weis, then the Fighting Irish coach, hobbled to the interview room at Heinz Field, knowing his days as head coach at his alma mater were numbered.
“I’ll tell you one thing I’m certain of,’’ Weis said. “There are some great kids in that locker room. They’re going to do big things. With or without me. Great things.’’
Those kids make up the heart and soul of the undefeated 2012 Fighting Irish football team, a team that has ascended to the No. 1 ranking for the first time since 1989.
There are 29 seniors on this team — a staggering number.
There are 29 players who have been through a coaching change; the death of student manager Declan Sullivan, who was killed when a tower from which he was filming practice was blown down; home losses to Syracuse before Doug Marrone righted the ship, and to Navy, possessor of the finest ships and sailors the world over.
The Irish (11-0) will awaken this morning in the City of Angels with a chance to fly with the eagles. If they beat USC (7-4), these seniors will play for Notre Dame’s 14th national championship.
It would be an insult to say the outcome of that game is irrelevant in terms of how far this program has come. No team gets to crest of college football’s Mt. Everest and says, “Great job, let’s turn back.’’
But regardless of what happens in the BCS title game, these 29 seniors will have a place in Notre Dame lore — if they beat the Trojans tonight (8 p.m., ABC).
They will be remembered as the ones who brought the Irish back from irrelevance.
They are the ones who proved Notre Dame can continue to recruit elite athletes despite the university’s strong academic requirements.
They are the ones who made subway alums from Manhattan to Manhattan Beach proud to once again hang that flag with the pugnacious leprechaun from their windows.
“You see how the seniors act and you know that’s the way you have to act,’’ sophomore defensive end Ishaq Williams of Brooklyn told The Post.
“They’ve been through everything. They know you have to focus on that day, on what you need to do to become better. They give you confidence.’’
That confidence, that leadership, that work ethic — forged in lost games and lost blood — has been Notre Dame’s greatest advantage this season.
It is why the Irish were able to rally against Pittsburgh and win in tripleovertime. It is why they were able to go facemask-to-facemask and beat a physical Stanford team that later bloodied Oregon. It is why they went into Norman, Okla., and handed the Sooners just their fifth home loss in the Bob Stoops era.
Manti Te’o, the star linebacker, Heisman Trophy candidate and emotional godfather of this team, has been the ultimate senior. But he has had 28 lieutenants.
“I got a wonderful note from Charlie last week,’’ Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said. “It was heartfelt and talked about the seniors, wishing them the best. It was really a terrific note from Charlie. Very classy.’’
That’s what this season has been about — restoring the class at Notre Dame. Those golden helmets sparkle a little brighter in the mid-day sun. That interlocking ND is one of the great logos in college sports.
With one more win, these seniors, this band of brothers, shall be remembered. Forever.