For a moment, let that sink in. Thirty-four! Thirty-four! Mississippi State? None. Nada. Notre Dame is a NCAA blue blood. State, on the other hand, has been a bleeder. Vic Schaefer’s MSU Bulldogs have the challenge of changing that, winning Sunday’s NCAA women’s basketball championship game. They will have to defeat Notre Dame, which many consider the best college sports school: Touchdown Jesus, Notre Dame, Joe Montana and Digger Phelps. Schaefer attempted to summarize the situation Saturday morning: “It would have been the first time we’ve won in any sport.” That’s all I have to say. It is so difficult to make it to the top, to compete against the best. Tomorrow, we will be taking on one of the most storied and tradition-rich programs in the history sport. In the past, not just women’s basketball but also sport” State was close to the top. These same women were part of the 2012 national championship team that lost to South Carolina 67-55. John Cohen, Athletic director of baseball 2013, led the team to the College World Series championship series before being swept away by UCLA. Cohen stated Saturday morning, “It still haunts my.” Richard Williams’ basketball Bulldogs reached the men’s Final Four 22 year ago. The 1940 State football team was 10-0-1, and won the Orange Bowl. The national championship was won by Minnesota. Mark Keenum, MSU president, said that while there have been many individual national champions in the past, it has never had a team championship. “…Winning a national championship for women’s basketball is huge! It won’t be easy. McGraw is to Notre Dame women’s basketball what Rockne is to Irish football. McGraw’s teams won almost 900 games and played in eight Final Fours. Already, she has been inducted into international basketball (Naismith), hall of fame. Vic Schaefer: “What Muffet has done, it is incredible. It’s so hard to do every year. … She is one of the top 10 programs every year. They are not down there at 11-20 to be found. They’re in the Top 10. They’re somewhere in the Top 10. Schaefer’s Bulldogs are known for their toughness. The Irish are no different. They have had to overcome four season-ending ACL surgeries in order to reach the Final Four. It seemed that UConn was finally able to defeat the Irish several times Friday night. The Irish have always fought back. These Irish are 34-3. They lost by eight points to UConn in December. They also lost twice to Louisville in overtime, which they beat in the semifinals on Friday. Louisville smoked Notre Dame 100-67 on Jan. 11. On Jan. 11, Louisville defeated Notre Dame 100-67. McGraw said Saturday that Mississippi State is most like Louisville because of its relentless pressure defense. Again, the difference is that State has Teaira Mccowan and Louisville does not. Notre Dame is also exempted. No one else does. McGraw stated, “I don’t know what we’ll do (about McCowan),” McGraw added. McGraw said, “We have a few plans. McCowan is the main reason I believe State should be considered the best choice to win the first ever national championship. Vic Schaefer: “Why not? We are good enough. We are tough enough. Our skill set is sufficient, I believe. “So why not us?”