Jerome Bettis Jr. etched his name into Notre Dame history, scoring his first collegiate touchdown for the Fighting Irish last Saturday, and his Hall of Fame father, Jerome Bettis Sr., is still riding the high, calling it “one of the proudest moments I’ve had as a dad.” Seriously, if you didn’t see “The Bus” beaming, you missed something special.
A Legacy Continues, But This Time, It’s Different
For those who know football, Jerome Bettis Sr. is a certified legend. The man tore it up at Notre Dame, racking up 20 total touchdowns in the 1991 season and averaging a ridiculous 5.7 yards per carry. Then he went to the NFL, becoming a Pittsburgh Steelers icon, ranking second all-time in both rushing yards and rushing TDs for the franchise. But forget all that for a second, because “The Bus” is now 100% all-in on his son’s journey. It’s been almost 33 years since Bettis Sr. punched in his final TD for the Irish, and now his son, Jerome Bettis Jr., is doing the same for the storied program. Bettis Sr. himself told ESPN’s Jess Sims on College GameDay how incredible it was, admitting, “People ask me, ‘what about your first touchdown?’ I don’t even remember my first touchdown. It was so much about him and his opportunity. And to go out and see him score a touchdown with that helmet on, it was one of the proudest moments I’ve had as a dad.” That’s pure, unadulterated fatherly pride, and you just love to see it.
Bettis Jr.’s Breakout Moment: Miami Up Next
So, what did Bettis Jr. do? The 19-year-old wide receiver left his man in the dust and connected with Heisman Trophy candidate CJ Carr for a sweet 31-yard score in Notre Dame’s dominant 35-13 win over Navy. This wasn’t just some garbage-time stat either. Bettis Jr. came into that game with only four receptions on the entire season, but he blew past that in one afternoon. He snatched six catches for 78 yards and that huge touchdown. While the lopsided scoreboard probably helped him get more snaps, you gotta give the kid credit: he absolutely seized his chance. He played so well, in fact, that head coach Marcus Freeman definitely took notice. Now the big question: will he get a serious look in the upcoming showdown against No. 1 Miami? A 6-foot-2 target in the red zone could be absolutely massive.
Jerome Bettis Sr. is already on cloud nine after this first score. Can you imagine the fireworks if his son helps Notre Dame firmly establish itself as a College Football Playoff team and a legitimate championship contender? You won’t want to miss it. The Fighting Irish are set for their season-defining showdown with Miami tonight, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET inside Notre Dame Stadium. Get ready.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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