NASHVILLE — Three years ago, Rose Alviti's eyes bounced between the television and her son, Matt.
On the screen, Notre Dame was playing LSU in the 2014 Music City Bowl. It could've been any game on the TV, but this one had a little more meaning. In an alternate universe, Matt, just finished with his redshirt freshman year, might’ve been in that game, she thought.
Notre Dame had recruited Matt, a four-star dual-threat quarterback, but Malik Zaire, the quarterback starting that game for Notre Dame, committed first, eliminating the Irish from Alviti's list. Instead, he committed to Northwestern, hoping to be the Wildcats’ quarterback of the future.