ATLANTA – The last time Pat Coogan was at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, he was on the brink of dream. A Chicago-born, Irish-Catholic diehard Notre Dame fan from a diehard Notre Dame family, Coogan was the emotional starting center for the Irish in the 2024 national championship game against Ohio State. He was four quarters from bringing a national title to the school he’d rooted for and eventually bled for. After the 34-23 loss to the Buckeyes, Peacock cameras caught Coogan listening to coach Marcus Freeman in the locker room, despondent. He had one year of eligibility remaining, but there was a chance his starting spot would not be there for him once the Irish line got fully healthy for...
