Tonight in Florida, Notre Dame take to the field for the final time in a season that started in Dublin in August and has led the team unbeaten to the edge of a first national title in 24 years.
That the NFL should now be down to a final eight teams is swept off the back pages of US media this morning as the focus rests on the mass of legend, history and spirit which the ‘fightin’ Irish’ have resurrected in a season that looked before it started as it was likely to be another one of underachievement.
It’s all relative of course and the fact that 80,000 people have always filled the college grounds in South Bend, Indiana on game day will have given some comfort in the lean days.  This 16 game run though has re-energised one of the most iconic brands in US sport and has also boosted the esteem of Ireland in no small way.
[ismember] The team are underdogs tonight against an Alabama side bidding for a third title in four years.  Bookmakers make it a nine point game but experts across the media are suggesting that a strong defence and an iron will to win could see Notre Dame through.
Thoughts of a rapid return to Dublin for the team and the 35,000 fans they brought last summer are already taking shape and could happen as early as 2016, possibly even before that.
The amount of Irish-US Business which took place, or was at least nudged in the right direction by that visit is currently being analysed but cannot be overestimated.  Most of the media reports on the season have carried images of that opening weekend at the Aviva Stadium, of a confident Irish sporting nation that could after all be a good place to do business.
At the time, the end result of a massive cash boost to the Dublin economy was deemed a good enough return on its own.  The fact that it sparked what could tonight be crowned as a season of historic importance for one of the best supported teams in the US could yet have an even longer lasting benefit for irish business.
Key take away for Sport: Sport is a universal language that unites people across different regions and systems.  Placing it at the centre of business relationship building has a value that should not be underestimated.
Key Take away for Business: Bringing people together in an environment that creates a memorable lasting impression is the key to a successful long term loyalty to your brand.  Sport delivers that in a way that few other activities can.[/ismember]
———-  ADDITIONAL MEMBER ONLY CONTENT  ———- 
[nonmember]If you have read about how experts see tonight’s game as one for the underdogs; learnt how the team could be returning sooner than expected; and seen the key take-aways for sport and business from what happened in Dublin in August, thank you for your membership.
If you have not you must be logged in as a member in order to do so.
[loginform][/nonmember]
[nonmember]You can sign up for membership straight away and join the many leaders in business and sport that are already part of our community. From PwC, Accenture, KPMG, Microsoft and Ulster Bank in Business to the GAA, Horse Racing Ireland, Paralympics Ireland, Sailing Ireland and the Irish Sports Council in sport.
After all a key finding of the 2012 IBM poll of CMO’s was the need to discover relevant digital information sources. Welcome to Sport for Business.[/nonmember]