NFL Divisional Round weekend fed the football sphere , but hope you kept space for dessert. The focus of the country quickly pivots to the College Football National Championship. Ohio State takes on Notre Dame down in the A. The seatbelts are off for this race to the finish. Speaking of seatbelts, Fighting Irish safety Jordan Clark is standing on the precipice of something special. 

Jordan is the son of former NFL safety Ryan Clark, who now frequents ESPN’s First Take. Now, Ryan Clark had an admirable career. Two AFC Championships, as many Super Bowl appearances and a Lombardi with the Steelers in ‘13. That said, the intrinsic bond between father and son reigns supreme over all hardware. Ryan reckons “the Lombardi Trophy won’t even register with the feelings” he’ll have if Jordan Clark wins the Natty. How did he come to this conclusion? Through an unprecedented emotion he went through after the Orange Bowl, akin to having an epiphany.

In an interview with TMZ Sports, Ryan Clark was asked what Monday night shall entail for him. “I think it’ll be, from a football standpoint, the most important night in my family’s lives,” he remarked. Ryan has been in his fair share of high-stakes scenarios, but he acknowledges “It’ll be a night of anxiousness [and] nervousness, for however long that game lasts. But more than anything, pride. I’m just proud of what [Jordan] has been able to accomplish and what he and his teammates have been able to do this year.” Amidst this concoction of emotions for Clark will potentially be another, more overpowering one.

Ryan Clark spoke about how he “never shed a tear” throughout every achievement in his career. Including when he won the Super Bowl. “More than anything, I was just dang relieved it was over,” he said. Now that the proverbial shoe is on the other foot, Ryan finally caved into his emotions. “When I hugged [Jordan] after the Sugar Bowl…I couldn’t fight back the tears. Just to see him so excited and so happy for the journey that he was going on,” said Clark. He proceeded to sum up the relationship he shares with Jordan Clark, something all parents can attest to.

“Anything you get to see your kids do, is basically multiplying double any accomplishment you have had,” said Ryan. As he spoke about the Natty, he also kept Jordan Clark’s traversal and everything that has led to this moment in perspective. He was particularly grateful for one figurehead in the journey to Atlanta. One who’s captured the reverence of the entire country through this run.

Jordan Clark ironically found similar guidance to Ryan Clark during his own career

Jordan Clark came to South Bend just this season after spending 5 years with the ASU Sun Devils. It’s safe to say this has been his most successful season throughout his collegiate career. This may not reflect in the box score, but being a key cog in 2nd best pass defense in the country is evidence enough. Ryan certainly understands that via his own escapades in the secondary of a defensive juggernaut Steelers team under Mike Tomlin. 

“[I’m] grateful that [Jordan] got to play for a man and a coach like Marcus Freeman, who has done so much for this team’s players. Both as players and as men,” said Ryan Clark. In some ways, Jordan Clark has found a coach who is very similar to the one his father won a Super Bowl with. Relatively young, perceived as inexperienced. Defensive-minded too. Most of all, thwarting partisan racist undertones about African American coaches. Marcus Freeman is the first African American coach ever to be in the National Championship game. Befittingly, the game is being played on MLK Day.

By all accords, Notre Dame has exceeded expectations. However, they’re not satisfied. The likes of Jordan Clark, playing his last ever collegiate game, will want to end on a high. Ryan did explicitly say that nobody believes Notre Dame can win. He’ll hope that’s not how reality transpires. Notre Dame have squashed the consensus wisdom enough times already this year.