That the National Broadcasting Company used the name Peacock for its foray into the expanding world of streaming is no surprise.

Way back when color television was new and fascinating and groundbreaking, the PR folks at Rockefeller Plaza chose a peacock with rainbow colors to herald its programming entry into that world.

They didn’t exactly go full Roy G Biv, but close.

It was Green Day in South Bend.

Green for Irish.

31-24 Notre Dame.

No gold in that peacock’s feathers, but ND’s helmets shone as bright as that dome and all those glorious statues in the City of Lights.

That first Cardinal TD was fool’s gold. They soon fell behind, and frankly, after the first it seemed like their’s would be a futile chase the whole drizzly afternoon.

 * * * * *

During Game Day, Nick Saban, who like me incorrectly — thought in his case, hoped in mine — the Cards would win, was asked in the context of the Alabama/ Georgia megamatchup, what is most important for preparation?.

Along with line play, he stated that turnovers must be avoided.

Louisville lost because of turnovers.

Literally.

Figuratively.

On the field.

On the sideline.

The Cards fumbled the kickoff after Notre Dame’s tying touchdown. But recovered.

Then an a brilliantly called play, non-running QB Tyler Shough loped 46 yards essentially untouched. Until he was touched and dropped the pigskin, for the Cards first giveaway of the season. ND gave him a birthday gift. He dropped and broke it.

The Irish scored on a 34 yard Riley Leonard toss, a beneficiary of yet another defensive secondary breakdown by U of L. A figurative if not literal turnover.

Then came a bad snap on a Card punt, resulting in another giveaway. And ND points off of.

My apologies in advance, I’m supposed to report on all the proceedings, but I’m not going to detail the litany of other miscues, minor and major, which resulted in the final result.

Shough’s first pick of the year on a bobble by Ja’Corey Brooks. Another secondary snafu allowing a huge Green gain at a critical moment.

Some truly lower level clock management gaffes. Slow and late substitutions at key moments. Which meant Jeff Brohm morphed Dana Kirk, using up all his timeouts way before he could have really used them late.

 * * * * *

All of which is a shame . . .

. . . because Shough made some truly transcendent throws. Brooks some nifty grabs. Isaac Brown some sturdy rambles. Brock Travelstead nailed a 56 yard triple to foster a hint o’ hope late.

And we got a sense why Caullin Lacy has been so heralded. The dude’s a player.

But details did Louisville dirty in a winnable game in South Bend.

The Cards’ color of the Day: Blue.

— c d kaplan