Look: Notre Dame football players hug Steve Angeli after Syracuse win

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Notre Dame football thrashed Syracuse 70-7 on Saturday, Nov. 22, but it was all love after the game with former quarterback Steve Angeli.

Angeli, who transferred to Syracuse in the offseason, opened the year as the Orange‘s starting quarterback before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in the fourth game of the season. He led the country in passing yards before he went down.

REQUIRED READING: Notre Dame football ties school record in first quarter vs Syracuse

Fans cheered for Angeli as he left the field, with one fan yelling, “We love you, Steve.” A large contingent of Notre Dame players also huddled around Angeli and gave the former Fighting Irish signal caller a big hug after the game.

Coach Marcus Freeman said he was excited to see Angeli earlier in the week, should Angeli travel to South Bend due to injury.

“If he makes the trip, I would love to see him,” Freeman told reporters. “… I know we’re evaluated on wins and losses, but for me, in my position, it’s about people. It’s about helping young people ultimately have success, on and off the field.

“Steve is a guy that gave everything he (had) to this place when he was here. … The relationship between a coach and a player doesn’t stop once you’re gone. I’m always supporting him. I was so happy when I found out he was named starter. Watched him do some successful things, and I reached out to him when he got hurt. Would love to see him and just hug him because you care about him.”

Angeli passed for 772 yards with 10 touchdowns to an interception at Notre Dame, filling in as a backup in 2023 and 2024. Angeli led the Fighting Irish to a 40-8 win over Oregon State in the 2023 Sun Bowl, passing for 232 yards with three scores.

Angeli also stepped in for the injured Riley Leonard in last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal win over Penn State, completed 6 of 7 passes for 44 yards before Leonard returned to action.

It’s clear Angeli still means a lot to Notre Dame despite transferring schools, which seems to be a rarity in the current age of college football.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Watch Notre Dame football players hug Steve Angeli after Syracuse win

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos