tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155612882024-03-13T13:45:51.474-04:00Domer Law BlogNotre Dame football fanblog. Contains detailed analysis and opinions on the present, past, and future of the Fighting Irish. Includes game previews, coach profiles, player highlights, and articles.Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.comBlogger405125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-61427482596923423252012-11-29T15:26:00.002-05:002012-11-29T15:45:05.980-05:00And your 2012 winner of the Heisman Trophy is...[Quick plug: Check out my new weekly podcast, <a href="http://www.eclecnet.com/SportsBeard" target="_blank">Sportsbeard</a>, on eclecnet.com. Thursday nights at 6 p.m. Also available for download on iTunes or at eclecnet.com]<br />
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The biggest reason that a pure defender has never won the Heisman trophy is simply that, as one player on an 11-person defense that the offense is trying to attack, there simply aren't enough highlight reel moments to catch the nation's attention to garner the highest award in college football.<br />
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I would argue that the Heisman Trophy, in this day of media hype and the lightning fast media cycle, has come to represent not the mission as laid out in the Heisman Trust, but has instead become an offensive MVP award - generally given to the most impressive offensive performer on one of the elite teams in college football.<br />
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The tragedy that touched our hearts put Manti Te'o on the Heisman map, and a 4 turnover performance against Michigan cemented him as a legitimate contender - a legitimate Heisman moment.<br />
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But as the best player on the best defense in the country, all subsequent teams have tried desperately to find a way to take him out of the game. Despite this, he has continued to perform on a week-in, week-out basis.<br />
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The list of Heisman "frontrunners" this year has been comical.<br />
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Preseason, senior Matt Barkley was poised to win the Heisman trophy - the 5th year QB on the preseason #1 team in the country clearly had the inside lane. A loss in week 3 to Stanford started a downward spiral for the Trojans, and effectively ended Barkley's Heisman hopes.<br />
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Luckily, Geno Smith burst onto the scene with video-game-like numbers at the beginning of the season. But then he got crushed by Texas Tech 49-14, looking terrible in the process, and a new candidate needed to be found.<br />
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Enter Optimus Klein, the senior QB beast from Kansas State. Impressive offensive numbers and an improving ranking put him into contention. Kenjon Barner's performance for Oregon also got him into the mix as well. Even A.J. McCarron was briefly mentioned before being laughed away.<br />
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Then down went 'Bama. A punky little freshman with a catchy nickname - "Johnny Football" - Johnny Manziel stepped into a crowded race with an amazing Heisman moment in Tuscaloosa. He benefits, however, from already having lost two home games in which he was largely ineffective. In those two home losses, he scored no points in the second half against Florida, and threw a whopping THREE interceptions to choke away the game against LSU. Had he been in the spotlight sooner, either of those losses would have knocked him down a few wrungs, and the two combined would have put him out altogether.<br />
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But, as they say, timing is everything.<br />
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Once the dust settled from a crazy week 12, where Kansas State got destroyed by Baylor and Stanford knocked off the fancy Oregon offense by grinding it out on defense, the Heisman race suddenly got very scary for Notre Dame haters.<br />
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All of the traditional options for the Heisman trophy were effectively gone. Braxton Miller didn't show enough against a weak schedule on a bowl-ineligible team to get into the mix. Klein is still impressive looking, but was non-competitive against Baylor. And now they're left with Johnny Manziel as the only alternative.<br />
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Let's compare the two according to the Heisman's own standards:<br />
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<i>Outstanding college football player? </i> Both, check.<br />
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<i>Performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity?</i> Hmm... <br />
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Johnny Football was more like Johnny Fisticuffs this offseason, getting busted for a drunken brawl and charged with a pair of misdemeanors (including having not one, but two fake IDs).<br />
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Te'os faith and commitment to service are unimpeacheable. Lest you think that's all just media bias remember this - Te'o is up for (and arguably leading) the OTHER Heisman this year as well - the academic one called the <i>William V. Campbell Trophy</i>, given to the outstanding scholar-athlete in football.<br />
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Edge? Clearly, Te'o.<br />
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What else did they say about the Heisman? Oh, right.<br />
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"Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work." <br />
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Perseverence? There's a reason no freshman has ever won the Heisman Trophy. This is an award that is given to the greatest player in college football. If Johnny Football is really that good, he'll have three more chances to prove that he can withstand ALL of the trials of a college football season - not just being in the right place at the right time when the other offensive weapons choked away their shot. Is it inconceivable that a freshman could win it? No. But Manziel hasn't even showed he can hold together for a full season, much less a career.<br />
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Simply put, one upset of a really good Alabama team and some gaudy offensive numbers should not be enough to vault Johnny Football over the one player who has shown up, week in and week out, for his entire college career and took that game to another level this season. Te'o passed on the NFL money to come back to Notre Dame because his faith told him he wasn't finished yet.<br />
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Standing at #1 in the country and headed to the National Championship - built on the back of HIS defense - to me, this shouldn't even be an argument. How many times has Notre Dame's defense, and often Manti Te'o in particular, risen to the occasion against quality opponents?<br />
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Pick a "Heisman Moment":<br />
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Michigan State (the week two of his loved ones passed away):<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Bij34pztFEE" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Michigan (the day of his girlfriend's funeral):<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wa7E9X-1nN0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Stanford (the goal-line stand that saved the season):<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q6fNZK2WwFY" width="560"></iframe><br />
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at Oklahoma (the game-clinching interception and posterized sack of Jones):<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/st_ovWtEsCs" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Southern Cal (two goal-line stands to secure a spot in the title game):<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bc5MPrEC_2g" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<br />
If the Heisman voters have any respect left for what has long been the most prestigious award in sports, they will give it to the one man who has earned it.<br />
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Manti Te'o.<br />
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Below are the particulars:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Heisman Memorial Trust Criteria:</b></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work."<br /></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/teo_manti00.html">Manti Te'o</a></span></b></b></div>
<b></b><br />
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<a href="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nd/sports/m-footbl/auto_headshot/7974423.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nd/sports/m-footbl/auto_headshot/7974423.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<b>Senior</b></div>
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<b>Inside Linebacker</b></div>
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<b>University of Notre Dame (12-0) </b></div>
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<b>BCS: #1 AP: #1 Coaches: #1 </b></div>
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6' 2", 255 lbs.</div>
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Laie, HI • Punahou HS</div>
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<b>Individual Statistics:</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>2012:</b></div>
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103 Total Tackles (leads team), 5.5 Tackles for loss, 7 interceptions (leads team, #2 FBS, #1 FBS by LB, T-#4 Notre Dame All-time, #1 Notre Dame All-time by LB), 2 fumbles recovered (leads team), 11 total passes defensed (leads team), 1.5 sacks</div>
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<b>Career:</b></div>
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427 Total Tackles (#3 Notre Dame All-time), 34 Tackles for loss, 7 interceptions (#1 by LB Notre Dame All-time), 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered, 17 total passes defensed, 8.5 sacks</div>
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SINGLE-GAME HIGHS:<br />
All-purpose yards: 28, Michigan, Sep 22, 2012<br />
Interceptions: 2, Michigan, Sep 22, 2012<br />
Long interception return: 28, Michigan, Sep 22, 2012<br />
Tackles: 21, Stanford, Sep 25, 2010 (8-13) <i>#6 All-time at Notre Dame</i><br />
Sacks: 2.0, at Purdue, Oct. 1, 2011 (2-0)<br />
Tackles for loss: 3.0, at Purdue, Oct. 1, 2011 (3-0)<br />
Fumbles forced: 1, vs Florida State, Dec 29, 2011 ; Michigan, Sep 11, 2010<br />
Fumbles recovered: 1, vs Navy, Sep 01, 2012 ; at Michigan State, Sep 15, 2012<br />
Pass breakups: 2, at Michigan State, Sep 15, 2012</div>
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<b>Team Statistics (2012):</b></div>
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Scoring Defense: 10.33 points/game (2nd in FBS)</div>
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Total Defense: 287.25 yards/game (6th in FBS)</div>
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Rushing Defense: 1109 yds, 92.42 yds/gm (5th in FBS)</div>
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Passing Defense: 2338 yds, 194.83 yds/gm (22nd in FBS)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Red Zone Defense: 0.67 Opponent Red Zone Percentage (5th in FBS)</div>
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Rushing Touchdowns Allowed: 2 (1st in FBS)</div>
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First Downs Defense: 16.08 FD/game (7th in FBS)</div>
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Third Down Defense: 34.55% 3rd down percentage (26th in FBS)</div>
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Fourth Down Defense: 31.25% 4th down percentage (T-12th in FBS)</div>
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<b>Individual Awards and Achievements:</b></div>
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<b>2012: </b></div>
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Finalist, <i><a href="http://www.ncfaa.org/maxwell/index.html">Maxwell Award</a>,</i> College Player of the Year</div>
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Finalist, <i><a href="http://www.ncfaa.org/bednarik/index.html">Chuck Bednarik Award presented by Cracker Barrel</a>, </i>College Defensive Player of the Year</div>
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Finalist, <i><a href="http://www.ncfaa.org/nagurski/index.html">Bronco Nagurski Trophy</a></i>, Top NCAA Defensive Football Player</div>
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Finalist, <i><a href="http://www.ncfaa.org/butkus/index.html">The Collegiate Butkus Award</a>, </i>Top Collegiate Linebacker</div>
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Finalist, <i><a href="http://www.ncfaa.org/lombardi/index.html">Rotary Lombardi Award</a>, </i>Top Collegiate Lineman</div>
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Finalist, <i><a href="http://www.ncfaa.org/campbell/index.html">The William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth</a>, </i>Premier Football Scholar-athlete<br />
Semi-finalist, <i><a href="http://www.lottimpacttrophy.com/news/article/-lott-impact-trophy-names-eight-semi-finalists">The Lott IMPACT Trophy</a></i>, Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year</div>
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Winner, <i><a href="http://waltercamp.org/index.php/teams_and_awards/player_of_the_week/">Walter Camp Football Foundation Defensive Player of the Week</a></i>, week ending 9/16/12</div>
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Winner, <a href="http://www.lottimpacttrophy.com/news/article/-notre-dame-s-manti-te-o-named-lott-impact-player-of-the-week"><i>Lott IMPACT Player of the Week</i></a>, Week Three (at Michigan State)</div>
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Winner, <a href="http://www.lottimpacttrophy.com/news/article/-notre-dame-s-manti-te-o-named-lott-impact-player-of-the-week-second-straight-time"><i>Lott IMPACT Player of the Week</i></a>, Week Four (vs. Michigan)</div>
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Winner, <a href="http://www.lottimpacttrophy.com/news/article/-notre-dame-s-manti-te-o-does-it-again-named-lott-impact-player-of-the-week"><i>Lott IMPACT Player of the Week</i></a>, Week Eight (vs. Stanford)</div>
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- Only 2nd player in history of Lott Award to win three times in one season (J.J. Watt, Wisconsin, 2010)</div>
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<u>Consensus Preseason First Team All-American</u></div>
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First Team, <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/ncaa/08/09/preseason-all-america-team/index.html"><i>2012 Sports Illustrated (SI.com) Preseason All-American</i></a></div>
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First Team, <i><a href="http://blog.philsteele.com/2012/05/28/2012-preseason-all-american-team/">2012 Phil Steele Preseason All-American</a></i></div>
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First Team, <i><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/19655336">2012 CBS Sports Preseason All-American</a></i></div>
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First Team, <i><a href="http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2012-07-31/college-football-preseason-all-americans-defense-sporting-news/slide/6">2012 Sporting News Preseason All-American</a></i></div>
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First Team, <i><a href="http://espn.go.com/ncf/feature/video/_/page/preseasonallamerica2012/2012-all-america-team">2012 ESPN Preseason All-American</a></i></div>
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<b>2011: </b></div>
Winner, Notre Dame's Rockne Student-Athlete of the Year</div>
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Finalist, <i>The Collegiate Butkus Award</i>, Top Collegiate Lineman</div>
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Semifinalist, <i>Chuck Bednarik Award</i>, College Defensive Player of the Year</div>
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Semifinalist, <i>Rotary Liombardi Award</i>, Top Collegiate Lineman</div>
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Quarterfinalist, <i>Lott IMPACY Trophy, </i>Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year</div>
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<u>Consensus Second-Team All-American</u></div>
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Second Team, <i><a href="http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2011-12-14/associated-press-all-american-teams">2011 Associated Press All-American Team</a></i></div>
Second Team, 2011 Walter Camp Football Foundation All-American Team<br />
Second Team, 2011 SI.com All-American Team<br />
Second Team, 2011 Rivals.com All-American Team<br />
Second Team, 2011 Phil Steele All-American Team</div>
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<b>Season Highlights:</b></div>
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<u>Game 1: vs. Navy (Dublin, Ireland)</u></div>
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Te'o had 8 total tackles (4 solo) 1 fumble recovery, and 1 interception in a 50-10 blowout win for the preseason NR/#24 Irish over unranked Navy in the opener. </div>
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<u>Game 2: vs. Purdue (Notre Dame, IN)</u></div>
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Te'o had 10 total tackles (2 solo), and 1 quarterback hurry in the home opener for the Irish, a 20-17 win over Purdue.</div>
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<u>Game 3: at #10 Michigan State (East Lansing, MI)</u></div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
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Early this week, Te'o found out that his girlfriend and grandmother had both passed away within hours of each other. Keeping a promise he made to his girlfriend, he stayed with his team throughout this tragedy.</div>
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Te'o had 12 total tackles (7 solo, 1 tackle for loss), a fumble recovery and 2 pass breakups in the first true road game against a top 10 team, a convincing and emotional 20-3 win for the Irish that garnered Te'o Defensive Player of the Week honors by both the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Lott IMPACT Trophy committee.</div>
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<u>Game 4: vs. #18/#17 Michigan (Notre Dame, IN)</u></div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
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Te'o had 8 total tackles (3 solo, 1 tackle for loss), 2 interceptions and 2 quarterback hurries (both of which led to Denard Robinson interceptions) in a 13-7 win over #18/#17 Michigan at home. This 4 turnover performance (which led to 10 of Notre Dame's 13 points) earned Te'o his second straight Lott IMPACT Defensive Player of the Week Award.</div>
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The win propelled the Irish into the AP top ten for the first time since </div>
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<u>Game 5: vs. Miami (FL) (Chicago, IL)</u></div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
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Te'o had 10 total tackles (8 solo) and a pass breakup in a 41-3 blowout of Miami at Soldier Field in Chicago. </div>
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<u>Game 6: vs. #17 Stanford (Notre Dame, IN)</u></div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
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College Gameday was on campus for this matchup in primetime between two ranked opponents. Te'o had 11 total tackles (3 solo) and orchestrated a game-winning goal-line stand to beat #17 Stanford (currently ranked #8 in BCS) 17-13 in overtime. The win pushes the Irish into the top 5 in the first set of BCS rankings announced this season. </div>
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<u>Game 7: vs. BYU (Notre Dame, IN)</u></div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
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Te'o had 10 total tackles (6 solo), a quarterback hurry and a key early interception in beating BYU 17-14 to remain perfect on the season.</div>
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<u>Game 8: at #8 Oklahoma (Norman, OK)</u></div>
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Te'o had 11 total tackles (6 solo),, a big sack of Landry Jones and a game-clinching interception late in the game as the #5 Fighting Irish knock off #8 Oklahoma in Norman, the first time that Bob Stoops had lost twice at home in the same season. </div>
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<u>Game 9: vs. Pitt (Notre Dame, IN)</u></div>
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The defense struggled to contain a rushing attack for the first time all season, giving up their second (and final) rushing touchdown of the season to Ray Graham. Te'o had 7 total tackles (3 solo, 1 tackle for loss) a pass breakup and split a sack with Stephon Tuitt late in the 4th quarter to help push the game into overtime. </div>
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<u>Game 10: at Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA)</u></div>
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Te'o had 5 total tackles (4 solo) and an interception in the 4th quarter as the Irish cruise past Boston College 20-6 to get to 10-0 for the first time since 1993.</div>
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<u>Game 11: vs. Wake Forest (Notre Dame, IN)</u></div>
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Arguably his quietest game, Te'o had 6 total tackles (3 solo) as he led the defense to their first and only shutout of the season, a 38-0 drubbing of the overmatched Demon Deacons. </div>
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<u>Game 12: at Southern Cal (Los Angeles, CA)</u></div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
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Te'o closed out his Heisman bid in typical fashion, tallying 5 total tackles (3 solo), an interception early in the third quarter that set the tone for the second half and leading not one, but TWO goal line stands in the 4th quarter under the lights in the Coliseum. Te'o and the defense overcame an anemic red zone offense and sent Notre Dame to their first BCS National Championship game. </div>
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<b>Media:</b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/h3FeQ5YuiHY" width="560"></iframe></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j_P1rcOAwEA" width="560"></iframe></div>
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<b><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QdAmbTzt7rE" width="560"></iframe></b><b><br /></b>
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Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-58853417868222515692012-11-14T13:59:00.001-05:002012-11-14T14:01:28.550-05:00Manti Te'o: A True Notre Dame ManI have been a Notre Dame fan my entire life. I have attended the University, and have my own stories about how the Notre Dame family can impact your life. There are countless amazing people that have come and gone through the University and the football program.<br />
<br />
Other than Father Hesburgh, there is one person who I feel has embodied the Notre Dame spirit more than any other. And he is still enrolled in classes.<br />
<br />
Manti Te'o is the unlikeliest of heroes for Notre Dame. Te'o is a devout Mormon from Laie, Hawaii who attended Punahao school in Manoa, Honolulu and a lifelong USC fan. Notre Dame had no business being in his final four along with BYU, USC and UCLA at the end of his recruitment. His campus visit came during the most embarassing loss in Notre Dame history against Syracuse in the bitter cold and snow.<br />
<br />
But as he prepared to don a USC cap to finish his recruitment, Te'o decided to say a little prayer that morning. And that prayer changed everything for not only Manti Te'o, but arguably for the entire trajectory of the University of Notre Dame and college football itself.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DhXgur1Nlog" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Te'o came to Notre Dame and met expectations, despite being the #1 overall defensive prospect and #2 overall player according to many recruiting services. He was a freshman All-American under Weis his first year before the embattled coach was finally let go.<br />
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But Te'o didn't let that derail his career at Notre Dame. It would have been easy to jump ship, complete his Mormon mission, then head to USC, and finish out his career. But he held course with the hiring of new coach Brian Kelly and defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, decided to delay his mission, and returned to campus. He led the team in tackles and finished as a second-team All-American by CNNSI his sophomore year.<br />
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As a junior, he continued to impress, again leading in tackles and finishing the season a near-consensus second team All-American and the FBS Independent Defensive Player of the Year.<br />
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Entering his senior season, he was a pre-season favorite to do more of the same for his senior season, possibly contending for the yearly positional and defensive awards like Butkus, Nagurski, etc. But his team's schedule was too daunting to expect anything more than MAYBE a BCS bowl for his senior season.<br />
<br />
But this is why I believe he embodies the Notre Dame Spirit.<br />
<br />
Organizations of all types tend to take on the characteristics of their leaders. Te'o was the unquestioned leader of this defense, and they took on his personality. Selflessness, discipline, dedication, work ethic, faith, passion and quiet confidence in ability. And this defense embraced their leader heading into battle.<br />
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And then a funny thing happened on the way to another typical Notre Dame season. The team's leader was beset by not one, but two heart-wrenching tragedies only hours apart.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j_P1rcOAwEA" width="560"></iframe><br />
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The resultant media hype that catapulted Te'o into the Heisman watch has subsided somewhat in the media as the ESPN media machine sought out more exciting offensive players to hype. First Geno Smith, then Colin Klein, then Kenjon Barner, then Johnny Manziel. And all the while, Te'o has kept the faith. <br />
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And lest you believe all of the ESPN talking heads, Te'o appears to be heading for at least one first-place vote for the Heisman Trophy - the Nissan fan vote. Te'o (last I checked) has accounted for nearly 30% of <a href="http://promo.espn.go.com/espn/contests/nissan/heisman/2012/ballot/leaderboard">all votes cast</a>.<br />
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And now the Irish program is sitting on the cusp of history. Te'o has impressed so much, even despite the well-publicized adversity facing him personally off the field, and plenty of adversity on the field as well - needing a goal-line stand against Stanford and some luck of the Irish in triple overtime versus Pitt. But despite the odds, he has led this team to perfection through 10 games. And, quietly, Te'o still lives his faith on a day-to-day basis. <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/manti-teo-notre-dame-comforts-parents-of-dying-girl-with-letter-grief-cancer-102512">A story on FOX Sports</a> tells of how Te'o reached out to a family in the midst of their own grief to share with them his faith and support them as he struggled with his own pain and suffering. And no, that was not some trumped up media hype dying cancer kid story by ND's media machine - Te'o told nobody about it, and it was a friend of the family that tipped the writer, not ND or Te'o.<br />
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This interview was released today, and I couldn't help but be struck by how articulate, humble and genuine Te'o is. His character and maturity are incredible, and he has become an excellent spokesperson for the University of Notre Dame.<br />
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And as we prepare for the final home game in Notre Dame Stadium for this magical season, it is also Senior Day for Manti Te'o. Considering how much this young man has meant for this team, this season, this University and the many thousands of people he has touched by his daily actions living his faith, this will be an emotional moment for Notre Dame Nation. I know I won't be the only person in the stands choking back emotion as he leaves Notre Dame Stadium for the final time.<br />
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I am proud to call Manti Te'o a true Notre Dame Man. Thank you, Manti, for all of your hard work and sacrifice for Notre Dame. It will never be forgotten.<br />
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*****<br />
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"If I am on God's team, then I can't be beat."<br />
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-Manti Te'oWackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-12470057442339548882012-11-01T01:32:00.000-04:002012-11-01T01:32:04.588-04:00We're Back!Bless me faithful reader, for I have sinned. It has been over a year since my last posting. I have to confess that I have been a fair-weather blogger, allowing my career and social life to get in the way. More importantly, I had lost the desire to blog anymore. I was frustrated by yet another team that appeared to be talented, but making critical mental mistakes that were costing us football games. I had tired of writing, week-in, week-out, about the Irish once again clutching defeat from the jaws of victory.<br />
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But this was a deeper malaise that I had stumbled upon. A waning of my passion about Notre Dame football was a symptom of a deeper, more personal issue. I eventually realized that I, like the team I care so much about, had forgotten how to believe. I was going through the motions, doing all the right things, but the passion was gone.<br />
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I have been a Notre Dame fan since long before I was born. It's in my blood. I grew up an Irish fan, and I still vividly recall the jubilation as a 9-year-old child when my childhood heroes - Tony Rice, Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, Michael Stonebreaker and Chris Zorich - led the upstart Irish to a National Championship. I rode high on the glory years of Coach Holtz. Even my father's death in 1992, just days after he watched the Irish beat Penn State in the game now affectionately known as the Snow Bowl, only fueled my passion for the Blue and Gold. <br />
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I felt personally responsible for the loss to Boston College in 1993 as a freshman in high school, when the "friend" I had taken to the game with my extra ticket strong-armed me into leaving the stadium just before the dirty Jesuits from Boston ruined our perfect season. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0mqWvGjLEY/UJHlWXLDI8I/AAAAAAAAAWY/xkiqksxC_Uw/s1600/charlie_brown_lucy_football.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t0mqWvGjLEY/UJHlWXLDI8I/AAAAAAAAAWY/xkiqksxC_Uw/s200/charlie_brown_lucy_football.jpg" width="200" /></a>I suffered through the jubilation and subsequent dejection of the 2005 USC game from the student section with my brother when I was in law school - getting kicked off the field only to watch the Trojans push over my dreams.<br />
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I lived and died with each and every snap. Losses ruined my week. But over time, I had become increasingly jaded when it came to my Irish. By the time Kelly was hired, my passion for Notre Dame was on life support. I truly felt like Charlie Brown every time Lucy held the ball for him to kick.<br />
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I had conjured up belief in the Return to Glory too many times. Notre Dame had become The Boy Who Cried Wolf. It came to a head last year. Off the field, all of the negativity surrounding the Declan Sullivan tragedy and the handling of the Lizzy Seeberg case shook my faith. On the field, the last-second loss to Michigan had knocked me to the mat, and another all-too-familiar loss to USC last year was the knockout blow.<br />
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So I broke up with the Irish football team. I had been hurt to much. Of course we would stay friends - they are far too large a part of my life not to be. And I have a very expensive piece of paper from there that I'm still paying for. But I just couldn't let myself believe in them anymore. It just hurts too much.<br />
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Thus, I entered this season with a more subdued approach. I was going to tailgate, attend the games, and then go about my business. The days of living and dying with the fortunes of Notre Dame football were behind me. I decided against the long-planned trip to Dublin to open the season. I was just going to approach Notre Dame games in the same way I do any other diversion - concert, film, baseball game, whatever.<br />
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I was of course happy to see Notre Dame stomp on Navy. But a close game against Purdue simply justified my new approach. Don't get too involved, I kept telling myself - they will only break your heart. A big win over Michigan State (then ranked #10) was a great achievement, but I had been through big wins before. They are usually followed not too long after by a soul-crushing loss. And Michigan was coming to town. Surely we would find a way to lose to the much-hyped Skunkbears. Again. And probably in epic last minute fashion, right? <br />
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But the Irish held on for a victory and woke up some echoes inside of me. The ugly win was cathartic - nothing tastes as bad as losing to the scum from Ann Arbor. But even though I flirted with belief, I kept my distance. 13-6? Yeah, the defense certainly looked like it might be pretty good. But the offense? <br />
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Despite not having planned ahead, I stumbled into an opportunity to go to the Miami game. An improving ground game against a weak Miami defense rolled to a win. Winning still felt good, but I wasn't ready to commit.<br />
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Stanford came to town. This was the moment I had been waiting for - the moment where the Irish would surely disappoint me again. This was a very good team coming to town, and I was certain that we would create some overly dramatic ending but fall short and talk about "what if." But it was the Cardinal that left the game asking "what if." The goal line stand reminded me of that Snow Bowl in 1992 - but I dared not believe we could be even close to as good as those teams were under Holtz. However, we certainly shook down some thunder.<br />
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At the end of the game, I let myself get caught up in the moment and danced in the rain as I flirted with belief.<br />
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Been here before, though. I settled back down and remembered that we still had the two best teams on the schedule, and we were only going to get as far as Norman before we settled back into a surprisingly good, but typically Notre Dame-esque undeserved BCS bowl season - doomed to end in an embarassing loss. <br />
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I knew we would lose when we looked positively pedestrian against the mighty Cougars of BYU - an unranked opponent in our own house. Also, it appeared we may have a full-blown quarterback controversy threatening to derail the season.<br />
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So I had already made my peace with losing to the Sooners. Outwardly, I played the role of the always optimistic Notre Dame fan. But inside I knew better than to really believe. I mean, the Sooners are a perpetual BCS team, an elite program with an elite coach that had recruited elite players and have proven themselves time and time again. And they DON'T lose at home. Indeed, they had already coughed one up to K-State at home - Stoops had never lost at home twice in one season.<br />
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I made plans to stay at a friend's house out in the boonies to watch the game, knowing that I wouldn't disturb the neighbors with my off-color commentary shouted at the failures on the field, and I would have a safe place to drink away my sorrows after the game.No crazy last-second road trip to Norman for me - I was going to take my beating in private.<br />
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And then they kicked off in Norman. At first, as Landry Jones started chucking the ball all over the field, I felt justified in not getting too emotionally attached to this team. But then we stiffened and forced a punt. The offense was lackluster and went 3 and out. Again, Landry started taking apart the secondary, marching 71 yards before holding them to a field goal.<br />
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Wait, what? Did you just see that? Cierre Wood just burst through for a 62 yard touchdown!<br />
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I'd been watching the Irish all year, and every game sort of played out the same. So when we firmed up in the 2nd quarter, trading field goals, something started to feel right. Notre Dame was playing THEIR game. They were controlling the game, not trying to "keep up" with the Sooners.<br />
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In the third quarter, Oklahoma barely got on the field. The Irish had started pounding the Sooners inside, missing a field goal and scoring a field goal, holding the ball for nearly 2/3 of the quarter.<br />
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But these were the Sooners. And they had a touchdown pulled off the board once already this game. They confidently came back and scored a touchdown to tie the game at 13.<br />
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In past seasons, this would have been the turning point of the game. The Irish had used a ball-control offense to keep the Sooner scoring down, but the Sooners were weathering the storm, and now simply needed to escape with a win. So the Irish offense would sputter, the Sooners would pad with a couple late scores, and Notre Dame football could be put right back where they belonged with the rest of the also-rans. I'd read this script before.<br />
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But then something shifted. The offense that had been so conservative all year with the redshirt freshman quarterback at the helm woke up. I had never seen a prettier pass in my life as Golson - not Landry - had the offensive highlight of the game, dropping a 50-yard bomb gently into the hands of freshman Chris Brown. A few plays later, and Golson punched in a rushing touchdown. <br />
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Wow. But this game isn't over. I mean, the Sooners had just woken up their vaunted offense. It wouldn't take them long to respond with a touchdown of their own, right?<br />
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Perhaps, but then something magical happened. A moment for the ages.<br />
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Brent Musberger called it a Heisman moment for Manti Te'o. But that understated it immensely. Certainly, the Heisman voters are going to seriously consider the senior linebacker for the award, and he's already all but locked up an invitation to the Downtown Athletic Club. But this moment was so much more than an individual moment. Against all odds, Te'o had appeared out of nowhere and snatched the football up just before hitting the ground. And with it, he had snatched the Notre Dame football program from the dump heap of history.<br />
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And as I leaped from my seat screaming at the top of my lungs in jubilation, something else happened:<br />
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I fell in love with Notre Dame football all over again. Belief burst forth in my soul, and I knew this was a true Notre Dame team. <br />
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I was instantly transported back to 1988, and reminded of the moment when Pat Terrell batted down the final pass and it started to sink in. I recalled the final moment of Notre Dame football my father enjoyed, when Reggie Brooks snagged the two point conversion in the Snow Bowl. I remembered the feel of rushing the field after beating USC in 2005. It came rushing back and all was forgiven once again.<br />
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What tho' the odds be great or small, old Notre Dame will win over all.<br />
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Return to Glory. Relevant. Championship caliber. BCS quality. Call it what you will, but whatever "it" is we've got it. <br />
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The season isn't over. We have three games to focus on before traveling to the Coliseum for an end-of-year battle for what could be a spot in the National Title game. Heck, we theoretically could win out and still not make the championship game. We could lose to anyone remaining on our schedule if we lose focus. But it would take a phenomenal effort on their part to beat us.<br />
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This team is GOOD.<br />
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More importantly, old wounds are being healed. The Notre Dame faithful, tested by it's longest stretch of mediocrity in history, can now rest easy knowing that we truly are Notre Dame again. This isn't smoke and mirrors, like the 2000-2001 Davie weak schedule team, the 2002-2003 Willingham winning without an offense team and the 2005 Weis winning without a defense team. This is a team that imposes its will upon opponents, and muscles their way to victory by simply beating their opponents into submission. Strong running game, excellent defense, and occasional explosiveness vertically down the field in the passing game.<br />
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The Echoes have been woken. The Thunder has been shaken down. Her Loyal Sons are marching onward.<br />
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Anybody else want a showdown with Alabama in Miami for the crystal football?<br />
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So now the blog is back. With it, I will be joining a sports podcast called SportsBeards as well on the newly created Eclecnet.com coming very soon. Stay tuned!Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-58666326335692887692011-10-21T12:52:00.001-04:002011-10-21T12:54:17.515-04:00Irish Blogger Gathering: BEAT SC Edition<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">I've been on a hiatus from blogging for the past few weeks, as I've been focusing on my practice. However, as I have the hosting duties for the USC Irish Blogger Gathering, I've managed to muster up the time to put a little something together for you guys. Maybe a "little" something is misleading, as my fellow bloggers seemed daunted by the task laid before them. But it's SC week. You gotta give a little extra.</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white;">1. I'm taking an old friend of mine to the USC game. They were born and raised in South Bend near Notre Dame, and developed a dislike for the University at a young age from dealing with the frustrations and messes that come from Notre Dame home football weekends. She's never been to a Notre Dame game before (she's an Ohio State fan). We're going to go tailgate and do all the usual tailgating stuff. Any suggestions on what I could do to help her let go of her animosity towards Notre Dame?</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Since I'm the one hosting the IBG this week, I'm going to hold off on answering this one myself, and see what my fellow bloggers have to say on the subject. I'll repost my favorite answers here.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://irish.nbcsports.com/2011/10/21/ibg-burning-the-midnight-oil/">Keith at NBC Sports:</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">You’re not in the business of converting somebody. Leave that to Brian Kelly. Let the game and environment speak for itself. If she doesn’t like Notre Dame any better after Saturday, save your next USC ticket for someone else next time!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://wenevergraduate.blogspot.com/2011/10/irish-blogger-gathering-converting.html">Matt at We Never Graduate:</a> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I hate to be the one who breaks this to you, but she’s a Buckeye fan. She’s not salvageable.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_147126894">Steve at Gameday 40</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.gameday40.com/ibg-kiffykins-edition/">:</a> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2e1a10; line-height: 20px;">Now as to your friend, since its a night game you should have plenty of time on your hands to see all the sights and you might be able to charm her with a few of our traditions... </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2e1a10; line-height: 20px;">Most non-domers I’ve given the tour to really are impressed by the tradition and remark how it really is different than most other college-football environments. (Steve, your objections have been noted. And overruled.)</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2e1a10; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://subwaydomer.com/2011-articles/october/irish-blogger-gathering-when-in-doubt-go-seinfeld.html">Subway Domer:</a> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #101010; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Haters gonna hate.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2e1a10; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2e1a10;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.uhnd.com/articles/football/ibg-primetime-rivalry-edition-9219/">Frank at UHND: </a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Walk around campus on Thursday or Friday and hit up all of the sites before a lot of people arrive on campus. Go to the Grotto and light a candle. Listen to the trumpets in the Dome on Friday. Rub Rock’s nose. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Go to the Midnight Drummer’s Circle on Friday night. Ever since I stopped attending pep rallies, I’ve gone to the drummer’s circle instead and I still love it. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">On gameday, make sure to tailgate early so you have time to hit up the player’s walk to the stadium and the band’s concert. Lastly, make sure to make at least one trip to the Backer during the weekend.</span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;">2. On a related note, do you have any suggestions for improving the Notre Dame game weekend experience generally? Are there traditions lost that you'd like to see restored, or new ideas that you'd like to see implemented to improve the gameday experience?</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">There is nothing on earth quite like a Notre Dame football weekend in my eyes. Everything about it, from the tailgating, the walk, the concert on the steps, step-off and the traditions that come with the game itself are amazing. The only thing I would change is to try and work with the ushers to foster a more fervent crowd. I've actually been asked to calm down by an usher for simply cheering for my team. I wasn't being disrespectful or rude, just really loud and passionate about the game on the field. I'd like to see the stadium expand and offer some luxury suites where the old fogeys could go sit and enjoy the game and get out of the good seats where we need louder younger fans who aren't afraid to get up and yell with the Irish.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">I also think that they need to change the pep rallys. Put it back in the Stepan Center, with student-only admittance. Put up a big screen and some speakers on the Irish Green for everyone that wants to hear the speeches. But the purpose of a pep rally is to fire up the team - not to put on a song-and-dance for the fans visiting town.</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;">3. (a) USC is (and always will be) our biggest rival. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? And if you agree, why do you feel that this is such an important rivalry? (b) Rank your top 10 college football rivalries and provide justifications for each. </b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">USC is our biggest rival, and one of the greatest rivalries in all of college football. I think it is such an important rivalry because these two teams, throughout history, have had something to say about each year's national title and Heisman Trophy. Here are my top 10:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">1. Army/Navy</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">No game inspires more fervency than this one. Relevant? Not so much. But there is no better tradition anywhere in sport than when these two teams face off. It's not just football - it's patriotism.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">2. Michigan/Ohio State "The Game"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Surprisingly, I rank this ahead of the Notre Dame / USC rivalry. It's always played at the end of the season in two of the best stadiums in the country. It often has an impact on the national title, and there is a special kind of hatred between the two teams.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">3. Notre Dame/USC</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">There is so much that makes this rivalry great. There is a great mutual respect between the schools, but also plenty of hate when it comes to the football programs. Notre Dame represents the midwest blue collar conservative persona, and Southern Cal is the glitz and glamour of Hollywood with all of it's excesses. They're 2,000 miles apart. It's spanned most of the history of the sport. And there is no other rivalry that has had such a huge impact on the National Title and Heisman Trophy over the years.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">4. Oklahoma/Texas "Red River Rivalry"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">This one is awesome because it's always played at the neutral Cotton Bowl midway between the two schools, and the stadium is split down the midddle between Crimson and Burnt Orange. Two historically powerful programs that often have national title implications on the line.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">5. Alabama/Auburn "The Iron Bowl"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">An in-state rivalry that inspires some of the most intense hatred of any of the rivalries. Alabama in many ways is the crown jewel of the SEC, and this is their most hated rival. And Auburn isn't exactly a pushover, either.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">6. Florida/Georgia fka "Greatest Outdoor Cocktail Party"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">A rivalry that (until recently) touted the tailgating as the primary focus of the rivalry gets big-time bonus points. Two powerful SEC schools that inspire some intense feelings, and two great stadiums. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">7. Lafayette/LeHigh "The Rivalry"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">This one's called the rivalry because no matter what division they play in, these two schools have been going at it longer than anyone else. It's the most-played and longest uninterrupted rivalry in football. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">8. Harvard/Yale "The Game"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Two of the best teams from the very early days of football have been doing this longer than almost anyone, and was often the game that decided the national title. They are two of the most prestigious and historic universities in the country. Also, bonus points because MIT students like to set up elaborate pranks during the game.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">9. Cal/Stanford "Big Game"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">This one makes this list almost entirely because they get bonus points for "The Play." Inarguably one of the most dramatic ways to end a game in one of the most historic rivalries in the country.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0fZCCAqoSwY" width="420"></iframe></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">10. Missouri/Kansas "The Border War"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">I didn't want to put any team on the list twice, as I believe that you're really only entitled to one truly great rivalry per school. And this rivalry goes back to the days before football - heck, before the Civil War. Read your history books.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;">4. Southern Cal is 5-1, with their only loss on the road at Arizona State. They are unranked, sitting right behind us in the "also receiving votes" category. How good is Southern Cal this year? How do you see this game playing out?</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">I'm cautiously optimistic. The team seems to have worked out most of its turnover issues, and Tommy Rees' numbers look good. But I still shudder at some of the passes he throws. He's actually becoming a gunslinger, which is a ticking time bomb for this team. But as long as we keep our turnovers to a minimum, I don't think Southern Cal can keep up with the Irish firepower. SC's defense will struggle to slow down the Notre Dame offense, and Notre Dame's defense will find ways to slow down SC's offense (although they are a potent offense and will get plenty of points.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Notre Dame 37, Southern Cal 31</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;">5. It appears that with a win over USC, we'll re-enter the Top 25 rankings. Now that we're halfway through the season and have some actual evidence available to us from real games, how do you see the rest of the season playing out? Predict:</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">(a) Notre Dame's final record (indicating where we will lose if at all): 10-2</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">(b) Notre Dame's bowl destination, opponent and outcome: Sugar Bowl versus Alabama. Notre Dame wins an ugly defensive struggle, 17-14.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">(c) The BCS Championship game and result: LSU loses to Wisconsin.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">(d) Notre Dame's final AP ranking: #6 </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">(e) The winners of the major awards, including:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="ecxApple-tab-span" style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre;"> </span>(i) Heisman Trophy: Trent Richardson</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="ecxApple-tab-span" style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre;"> </span>(ii) Home Depot Coach of the Year: Bret Bielema</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="ecxApple-tab-span" style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre;"> </span>(iii) Davey O'Brien Award (best QB): Andrew Luck</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="ecxApple-tab-span" style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre;"> </span>(iv) Doak Walker Award (best RB): Trent Richardson</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="ecxApple-tab-span" style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre;"> </span>(v) Fred Biletnikoff Award (best WR): Michael Floyd</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="ecxApple-tab-span" style="line-height: 17px; white-space: pre;"> </span>(vi) Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player): Luke Kuechly, Boston College</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Go Irish! Beat SC!</span></div>
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<br /></div>Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-68693665261036097992011-09-16T18:11:00.000-04:002011-09-16T18:11:13.202-04:00Irish Blogger Gathering: Chicken Little Edition<b>1. Let's go ahead and talk about the big pink elephant in the room. After two absolutely horrid, heart-breaking, and downright mind-boggling performances, how do you feel about this team moving forward? Are we simply a bad team or a team that just hasn't put it together yet? This is your chance to talk Irish fans of the ledge...or push them over.</b><br />
<br />
This is really the question, isn't it? There's the camp of pessimists, who wail and gnash and rend their clothes and declare the end of the Kelly era. And there are also those that BELIEVE! We will overcome, because HERECOME THE IRISH!!!!>?! lol<br />
<br />
But the real truth is that this is a talented team in transition. While we were completely capable of winning either of the last two games, Irish fans have tasted the bitter pill of defeat once again. Gone, our national title hopes. Gone even, our hopes for a BCS win. Disappointed? Hell yes. But the reason I'm not a knee-jerk "FIRE KELLY!?!!>!!" fan is that I watched these games...<br />
<br />
This team is good. REAL good.<br />
<br />
<b><i>4.5 turnovers per game.</i></b> Let's talk about the big pink elephant in the room, okay? Averaging over 500 yards of offense per game (13th in the NCAA, far ahead of any of the opponents on our entire schedule). And our total defense is 52nd in the country, not too shabby...<br />
<br />
But we have one glaring issue. <b>-9</b> - our turnover ratio. We have controlled the majority of the game, but then our offense has this bad habit of turning the ball over. Especially in the red zone. Until we correct this, we are a terrible team that can't beat anybody. Give a freshman a shot at QB at this point. Find somebody who will take care of the ball.<br />
<br />
And don't get me started on the stupid penalties by upperclassmen.<br />
<br />
So, for right now, let's just let our legs dangle over the cliff. If we win tomorrow, we can back away from the edge. We lose again? I'll be the first lemming over. This is where we separate the men from the boys.<br />
<br />
<b>2. It's time to put on the headset and step into the shoes of Brian Kelly. In the first quarter, it seemed like your message and plan to recover from the USF disaster worked, and then the rest of the game happened. How do approach this week? What message do you give your players?</b><br />
<br />
Just hammer it into their heads that they would be 2-0 if they could hold onto the damn bowl. They are already a disappointment in the eyes of the Irish faithful. How do you want to be remembered? As a team that played like the Keystone Cops and bumbled away an entire season? Or as a team that has learned how to win, running off 11 straight victories en route to a number 1 preseason ranking next year?<br />
<br />
Both of these options are still on the table. It's time to step up and remember that you are Notre Dame. WE are Notre Dame. What tho' the odds be great or small, ol' Notre Dame WILL win over all. Get it done, boys.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Keep that headset on, you are still playing Kelly. Based upon what you've seen these last two games, do you see players that need to start riding the pine or are you still confident in your depth chart?</b><br />
<br />
I have no confidence whatsoever in the quarterback depth chart. Run full live scrimmages in practice this week, with full contact on the QBs, 1s-vs-1s. Give each quarterback five series to start from their 20 yard line. Best stat line wins the starting job on Saturday. <br />
<br />
<b>4. Overall, how do you feel about Rees' performance against Michigan?</b><br />
<br />
4th Quarter drives: 3 and out. Rees fumble at Michigan 7 yard line. 3 and out. Rees 29 yard pass for a touchdown. Not a bad finish to the game, put us in the lead with 30 seconds left. But the dismal performance in the 4th quarter prior to that last drive cost us the game.<br />
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<b>5. Let's talk about something happy: the Irish running game. After a 198 yard performance by the Irish do you feel that this rushing attack led by Cierre Wood (134 yards) is for real or have we not run into a tough enough defensive test yet?</b><br />
<br />
It's for real. And I would do nothing but run the ball in the red zone. I'd rather come out with a field goal than nothing. If we'd gotten field goals instead of each of the redzone turnovers this year, we'd be 2-0. When you're in range, run the ball down their throats.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Looking ahead to Michigan State, how do you gauge them? Is this the best team that we've faced off against yet or is this just an untested team that beat up on two cupcakes in Youngstown State and Florida Atlantic?</b><br />
<br />
Both. They will be a good football team, but they don't know that yet. They know that they were beating up on cupcakes. They know they're going to get some stiff competition this week. But we are far more battle tested that MSU.<br />
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<b>7. Is the key to winning simply not turning the ball over or do you see other crucial keys to beating Sparty?</b><br />
<br />
Just hold onto the ball. We can do exactly what we did the last two games, just don't turn the ball over. We fix that, this team will roll over people.<br />
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<b>8. Obviously every week should be a must win, but I think there is definitely more of an urgency this week. How crucial is this game for the rest of our season?</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
Critical. This game makes or breaks the season. Win, and we can be this year's Virginia Tech. Lose, and everybody starts to lose faith. <br />
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We'll see if this team has what it takes tomorrow. All the chips are on the table. Don't know about you, but I'm betting on the Irish.Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-19621726022620025942011-09-09T14:34:00.002-04:002011-09-09T18:22:12.979-04:00Irish Blogger Gathering: Michigan Sucks Edition<b>1) Well that result really sucked. Please describe how you feel about the loss using lyrics from a pop diva (eg Brittany Spears, Rihanna, etc) song. Bonus points for video or pictures. (something good has to come out of last week)</b><br />
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<iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sEhy-RXkNo0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
"I know it wasn't right<br />
I can't even sleep at night<br />
Can't get it off my mind<br />
I need to get out of sight"<br />
<br />
"What started out as a simple altercation<br />
Turned into a real sticky situation"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thepeoples411.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/rihanna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="256" width="320" src="http://thepeoples411.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/rihanna.jpg" /></a></div>Rihanna believes that Michigan sucks...<br />
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<b>2) While we all want to move on, last week's game can teach us many things about the '11 Irish. After seeing what Week 1 brought us, do you find yourself more confident, less confident, or still confused as hell about our chances vs the Skunkbears? Why?</b><br />
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More confident, provided we can protect the football. I'm willing to chalk up some of the sloppiness with the ball to first game jitters. But we doubled up SFU in yardage, and despite shooting ourselves in the foot repeatedly, we still only lost by 3. Clean things up, and the team I saw on Saturday is capable of competing with anybody in the country. And Michigan sucks, so we should be able to win easily.<br />
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<b>3) Other than QB, which position group pleasantly surprised you this past week? Which disappointed? What player absolutely MUST see more time in Week 2? Again, no QBs.</b><br />
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Running back pleasantly surprised me. Although we got in the whole too early to really utilize our running game, Cierre Wood averaged almost 5 yards per carry. If that continues, and we can avoid the blunders that put us into an early hole, we will roll over some teams on the ground this year.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure I would identify a particular player that must see more time in Week 2. I like the rotation we have, and I'm not sure that giving any individual player more time will help anything. I like what I saw from Louis Nix, so I guess if forced, I'd pick him. <br />
<br />
Michigan sucks. (I'm trying to put this in every answer, which is hard when you ask about our team...)<br />
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<b>4) Tommy Rees will lead the Irish Offense this week. Do you agree with Coach's call? Either way, what part of Crist's game will the Irish O miss the most, if any?</b><br />
<br />
I was a big supporter of Dayne Crist. But at this point, it appears that all Tommy Rees does is win. He may not have the measurables that Dayne has, but every time he's been in the ball game, he's beaten the opponent. And that includes Tulsa and South Florida - he was trailing both times when he went in, and while he was QB, we scored more points than the opponent. Until such time as that changes, I say we go with the hot hand.<br />
<br />
We'll miss Crist's athleticism. He may not be the truly mobile quarterback that Hendrix or Golson is, but he does have a stronger arm and better escapability. Without Crist, the receivers and O-line need to step up their game a bit. But Michigan sucks, so even if they don't, we should win.<br />
<br />
<b>5) What's the key to beating the Wolverines this week? Just 1 thing. Not 2. 1.</b><br />
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Protect the ball. Michigan sucks when they don't get turnovers, and would have lost badly to Western Northeastern Southerly Michigan last week if they'd protected the ball.<br />
<br />
<b>6) Make your Over-Under Picks:</b><br />
<br />
<i>Over-under on Floyd's receiving total for this coming weekend: 154</i> Under. The Wolverines have more talent on defense than USF, and they will be looking to shut down Floyd. Whatever was bothering Riddick needs to disappear, because he can have a very big game as a result.<br />
<br />
<i>Over-under on Robinson's rushing total: 100</i> Under. I think that the defensive goal will be to contain Denard Robinson and force Michigan to beat us through the air. We struggled last year against him, but I think that the switch to the pro-style offense and the improvement of our defense since last year means that we will contain Robinson on the ground. Plus, Michigan sucks, and Denard Robinson plays for Michigan. So he sucks.<br />
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<i>Over-under on ND Number of Turnovers: 2</i> Under. The offense is going to be so focused on protecting the ball this week, I'll be amazed if we turn the ball over. It may hinder production a little bit, but I know these guys will be completely focused on playing mistake-free football, rather than going out there with guns blazing.<br />
<br />
<i>Over-under on Number of Times Kelly is caught Purple Monstering Out: 2</i> Under. Coach Kelly has heard the criticism, and will adjust his behavior accordingly. I think this is BS, as all great coaches yell at their players. I don't understand why people are freaking out about this. I like the fire and passion from the head coach, and I think it rubs off on the team.<br />
<br />
<i>Over-under on ND Total Yards: 425</i> Under. To complete the sweep of under predictions, I think the Notre Dame offense will be productive, but conservative. I'm tempted to take the over on this one, but I think Notre Dame will be focused on protecting the ball and controlling the game, rather than airing it out for big yards.<br />
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<b>7) Michigan: Just Another Opponent, Enemy, or Rival? Explain. 1 Bonus point for each use of the word 'suck'.</b><br />
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Michigan sucks. Your Rival doesn't suck - they've earned your respect. Just Another Opponent may or may not suck, but usually you don't care enough to say that they suck, regardless of how much they actually suck. Your Enemy sucks. They suck big time. And you want the entire world to know exactly how much the suck. And as enemies go, Michigan pretty much puts the suck in sucktitude. They suck so badly, that the wind reverses every quarter when they switch sides. They are the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked, and I can't wait to see them suck on Saturday.<br />
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<b>8) It's Michigan week. Name 1 thing in the world that sucks as much as Michigan, if you can.</b><br />
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I got nothin'. Next to suck in the dictionary, there's a picture of that big block M.<br />
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<b>9) RichRod is back, announcing for CBS. Can't wait to see how that goes. Bet he's horrible. </b><br />
<br />
Yeah. I bet he is too. He was a coach at Michigan. So he sucks. Just like Michigan sucks. And you can't wash that kind of suck off.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6anK7OyujZc/TmqRiRTHwCI/AAAAAAAAATI/0GSyXLYvOPs/s1600/MichiganSucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6anK7OyujZc/TmqRiRTHwCI/AAAAAAAAATI/0GSyXLYvOPs/s400/MichiganSucks.jpg" /></a></div>Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-48931886014194626532011-09-01T11:15:00.000-04:002011-09-01T11:15:19.102-04:00Video Update: New Notre Dame MusicThere's some new music floating around the internets related to Notre Dame, and the blogosphere is trying to get it out there for people. Enjoy!<br />
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<object width="160" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://widget.tunecore.com/swf/tc_run_v_v2.swf?widget_id=72733"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://widget.tunecore.com/swf/tc_run_v_v2.swf?widget_id=72733" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="160" height="400"></embed></object>Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-31836430197429048572011-08-31T10:49:00.002-04:002011-08-31T10:57:47.268-04:00Irish Blogger Gathering: Holtz walks the sidelines again...<b>1. The big news of last week was Dayne Crist winning the starting QB spot. Are you happy with the outcome and how comfortable are you with Crist as the starting quarterback for the 2011 season?</b><br />
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I'm extremely comfortable with the outcome. Dayne has the most playing experience, was a 5-star quarterback prospect out of high school, and by all accounts has the best leadership and grasp of the playbook. If not for the questions surrounding his recovery from the knee injury, this would be a no-brainer. Since he appears to have answered those questions, this is the right choice.<br />
<br />
I expect Dayne Crist to embrace the opportunity, stay healthy all year, and etch his name among the great players to play quarterback at Notre Dame.<br />
<br />
<b>2. A lot of people say you see the biggest improvement between year 1 and 2 after a coaching change. What area do you hope to see the biggest improvement in 2011?</b><br />
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Consistency. Towards the end of the year in 2010, the offense started to consistently move the ball, and the defense was shutting people down. This team had its up and downs last year, and quite frankly has since the last time Lou Holtz roamed the sidelines. This season, beginning with this game, is an opportunity for Brian Kelly to defeat the ghost of Lou Holtz. By defeating not only another Holtz, but also the idea that Notre Dame will find a way to let you down in the end. If this team performs consistently, week-to-week, as well as they performed against Miami the last time they took the field - this team will be in the national title talk. Whether this team can find that consistency of intensity remains to be seen. If they do - watch out.<br />
<br />
<b>3. I think we've all covered this year's highly touted freshman class quite a bit this off-season already so instead, who do you see as this year's Corey Mays? Mays played primarly special teams for 3 seasons before a breakout season as a 5th year senior in 2005. Who on the Irish roster can pull off a similar performance this season?</b><br />
<br />
Steve Filer. He's slotted in as the backup at outside linebacker behind Darius Fleming, tied with incoming freshman Ishaq Williams. That's some stiff competition. But what Steve Filer has at this point is nothing to lose. He's been leading the team in tackles on special teams for a while now. That's heart. He's giving everything at every opportunity. He may just surprise some people this year.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Theo Riddick is a player I've been touting all off-season and think the is ready to become a big name in college football. What player on Notre Dame's roster who hasn't yet broken out are you expecting to put up big numbers in 2011?</b><br />
<br />
Dayne Crist. I know, I know. He's technically the incumbent starter. But he did not play his first year before backing up Jimmy Clausen as a sophomore. One knee injury later, and Crist had to rehab to become the heir apparent to JC. Another knee injury, and he had to rehab and retake his spot against an undefeated quarterback after his junior year. This just feels like the year that he puts it all together and avoids injury. And if he performs to his potential, he will put up Heisman-like numbers with his supporting cast.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Notre Dame plays a legit opponent in South Florida unlike a lot of teams around the country. How do you see this game playing out and does it help or hurt Notre Dame that they play a BCS conference opponent this weekend while Michigan plays Western Michigan?</b><br />
<br />
I see Notre Dame winning this game comfortably in the 2nd half. The first half, Notre Dame will play well, but so will South Florida. The game will be close, with the Irish having a slight edge. In the second half, however, we will see the difference in talent between the two teams. They both are very well-coached, but the Irish simply have bigger guns. A couple of athletic plays by the Irish, and what was a close one gets away from the Bulls.<br />
<br />
Assuming that's how this plays out, this helps the Irish immensely. The Irish have gone toe-to-toe with a fairly highly rated team picked by many to win a BCS conference. The Wolverines played a MAC team - halfway decent at best. The Irish will already be playing at full-game speed and intensity when they roll through the Skunkbears.<br />
<br />
This is why I'd look out for the winner of the Oregon-LSU game. Coming out of that, their next 5 or 6 opponents are going to feel like child's play. I'd always prefer to test the team early and have them come out victorious than warm-up against a squad less talented than my scout team...<br />
<br />
<b>6. Stealing this one from my IBG pre-season questions from last year - who is the Notre Dame player the Irish can least afford to lose this season? For the sake of getting some different response, you can't use Michael Floyd or Manti Te'o here.</b><br />
<br />
Cierre Wood. The depth at almost every other position means that losing our starter does not mean a drop-off in talent. This is no knock on Jonas Gray - I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see Jonas as the feature back by season's end. But every team in the country these days runs two backs - you simply can't overwork your workhorse, or risk injury or fatigue at the most important part of the season - year's end. You need to have a legit #2. If we lose Cierre, that puts Jonas Gray on an island. The freshman will see some time, but you can't expect them to read the zone blitzes against a seasoned team like Southern Cal or Stanford. Cierre Wood needs to stay healthy for us this year, and deliver the kind of performance he's capable of.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Obligatory pre-season prediction question:</b><br />
<b><i>Notre Dame's final record (noting the losses):</b></i> 13-0<br />
<b><i>Notre Dame's bowl game and opponent:</b></i> Allstate BCS National Championship Game, New Orleans, LA vs. University of Alabama Crimson Tide <br />
<b><i>Final ranking for Notre Dame:</b></i> #1<br />
<b><i>Best opposing offensive and defensive player ND will face in '11:</b></i> Offense: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford Cardinal; Defense: Luke Kuechly, Backup College Eagles<br />
<b><i>Best opposing coach ND will face:</b></i> Nick Saban, Alabama<br />
<b><i>Notre Dame game you won't miss for anything:</b></i> The Championship, duh! Regular season: Southern Cal v. Notre Dame. I'll be hosting the IBG for this one! The stars are slowly aligning for this matchup to be epic...<br />
<b><i>Notre Dame game you could watch on DVR:</b></i> Sacrilege! I'm going to re-read this question as "A catastrpohe on par with: (1) very close relative has just died and you must attend the funeral; (2) freak lightning strike puts you in the hospital; or (3) a tornado hits and takes you to Oz, where the game is only broadcast on Versus (not available in Munchkin Land); has somehow caused you to miss some small part of the game. As you were forced by God himself to miss part of a Notre Dame game, which game would you choose to have to miss even a single moment of:" at Wake Forest. If we are trembling about visiting BB&T Field (yes, I had to look that up) at this point in the season, we're in all kinds of trouble...<br />
<b><i>National Champion:</b></i> Notre Dame<br />
<b><i>Heisman Trophy Winner:</b></i> Michael Floyd<br />
<br />
Word. Let's drink the Kool-Aid...Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-25530644913479171662011-08-22T14:23:00.000-04:002011-08-22T14:23:46.888-04:00Irish Blogger Gathering: Preseason Multimedia Extravaganza<b>1. Go to youtube, pick a song that a) applies to your life in some way and b) will serve as the unofficial 2011 Fighting Irish Football Anthem. Extra points if you entirely avoid any band with members born in Ireland. Disqualification for any use of Freekbass. Embed the video for that song in your answers and explain why it’s so fitting under both qualifications A and B.</b><br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mrn-WEmPNWg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
I picked this song for a bunch of reasons. First, I was there on Sunday at Lollapalooza, braving the scorching heat and pouring rain to see the Foo Fighters live in concert. Second, I feel like this song embodies the kind of transformation that this football team and myself have been going through.<br />
<br />
<i>I think I lost my way<br />
Getting good at starting over<br />
Every time that I return<br />
<br />
I'm learning to walk again<br />
I believe I've waited long enough<br />
Where do I begin?<br />
I'm learning to talk again<br />
Can't you see I've waited long enough<br />
Where do I begin?</i><br />
<br />
I left the security of an established firm at the end of January to start my own practice. While I was confident in my skills as an attorney, I was completely unprepared for many of the trials and tribulations that come with running a business. I knew how to handle the cases, but I felt like a child learning to walk again when it came to things like trust accounts, marketing, pricing, etc. But I was willing to take the risk and start over because I had waited long enough at my previous firm for some kind of recognition from the partnership of my achievements at that firm. And starting on day one, I've asked myself many times when I walk in my office door in the morning - "Where do I begin?" But as time has passed, I've slowly gotten the hang of it - just like learning to talk or walk again.<br />
<br />
The Notre Dame football team is in that position now as well. They've walked the walk in the past - 11 national championships, 7 Heisman Trophy winners, the most consensus All-Americans. But since we lost Lou, we've lost our way. We've turned time and again to coaches with glaring holes (sometimes literally) in their coaching pedigree. Davie had never coached before, and was unprepared for the spotlight of the Notre Dame stage. O'Leary lied on his resume. Willingham was fast-tracked through his coaching career, rather than patiently learning the ropes and practicing the dedication to be a coach at this level. Weis' brash arrogance in his own intellect hamstrung the team, and his lack of head coaching experience meant that he didn't know how to put together a defense.<br />
<br />
But they are learning to walk again. We've finally hired a coach with enough head coaching experience at progressively higher levels of competition who has developed a system of coaching which has led to success after success. But the program had forgotten how to walk the walk. So they're learning to walk again. Learning what it means to represent the University with the greatest tradition of winning football in all the land.<br />
<br />
We've waited long enough.<br />
<br />
<i>I think I found my place<br />
Can't you feel it growing stronger<br />
Little conqueror</i><br />
<br />
As I've grown into this exciting new phase of my life, I've started to see how well the life of a solo attorney fits my demeanor and lifestyle. I have the flexibility to work a schedule that suits me, to work on the kind of cases I want to work on. I can focus on helping the client, rather than simply focusing on the bottom line as my previous partners cared about. And as the practice develops, I can feel it growing stronger. I'm developing better relationships within the legal community, rather than being insulated by the firm. I feel like I'm ready to conquer the legal world, one step at a time.<br />
<br />
Likewise, there is a quiet confidence among not only Notre Dame fans, but also the media and people knowledgeable about college football, that Notre Dame has found it's coach, and is ready to retake its place at the pinnacle of college football. Even the haters aren't so quick to dismiss the Irish. Those who follow the program can feel it growing stronger. Many even believe that the Irish are poised to conquer the football world this year.<br />
<br />
<i>Forever, whenever<br />
I never wanna die<br />
I never wanna die<br />
I never wanna die<br />
I'm on my knees<br />
I never wanna die<br />
I'm dancing on my grave<br />
I'm Running through the fire<br />
Forever, whatever<br />
I Never wanna die<br />
I Never wanna leave<br />
I'll Never say goodbye<br />
Forever, whatever<br />
Forever, Whatever</i><br />
<br />
As I'm completing my detailed business plan for my new business, my confidence in this practice as a lifetime commitment is growing. The more I grow into it, the more I realize that this is what I want to do forever. I'm getting ambitious about the future and starting to plan for not only sustainability, but also growth. I'm willing to take the extra risks necessary to run through the fire and never let this die.<br />
<br />
And that's the fire and intensity that's starting to grow within the football team. Floyd coming back for his senior year, and ResLife trusting the new coach to discipline him appropriately. Te'o bypassing his mission to pursue football as his calling from God to represent his religion and his family. Eifert stepping up to replace All-everything Kyle Rudolph. Young kids (4 of the top 10 defensive ends in this year's class) seeing the potential and jumping on the bandwagon. The passion and intensity that the Irish played with towards the end of last season has carried through.<br />
<br />
<i>Can't you see I've waited long enough?</i><br />
<br />
We may not be there quite yet. The pieces are coming together, and there are big things on the horizon. But all that stands between us and our dreams is our own talent and dedication. And with an all in mentality, we will get there.<br />
<br />
BONUS videos:<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rvbRRpfrtZY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<i>And I wonder <br />
If everything could ever feel this real forever <br />
If anything could ever be this good again</i><br />
<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5E7eO2apTt0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>2. Now that you’ve got your unofficial anthem rocking the home office, predict the single biggest play, positive or negative for the Irish, that will occur this season in a Notre Dame football game. Color this prediction with situation, players involved, opposing team, and even weather conditions. It’s the pre-season. Let’s see what your imaginations are doing.</b><br />
<br />
Michigan stadium. Night. The stadium is absolutely rocking with 100,000+ drunken Michigan fans. The Irish have been struggling with the noise all night, and have had a few really questionable calls on big plays that have allowed Michigan to stay in what otherwise should have been a lopsided ball game. <br />
It's 4th and goal, from the Irish 1 yard line. There are 3 seconds on the clock at the end of the game, and the Irish are trailing 24-20. Notre Dame lines up in their jumbo set. They snap the ball, and Dayne Crist hands off to Cierre Wood. Cierre dives over the line of scrimmage, being met in mid-air by a Michigan defender right at the goal line. But wait! Cierre didn't have the ball. Crist rolls out to the right. Michael Floyd is triple covered in the middle of the end zone. But Eifert is standing all alone at the back corner! Crist rifles a perfect spiral right into his waiting hands. Touchdown Irish as time expires! The Irish team rushes the field, as the Michigan faithful fall dead silent. Final Score: Notre Dame 26 Michigan 20<br />
<br />
<b>3. I’m a fan of the cinematic hit, “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113537/" style="color: #00a500; text-decoration: none;">Kicking and Screaming.</a>” I know, it’s a film you all love too. So naturally we’d all like to re-live that moment when they’re playing “Would You Rather.” So let’s do so: Would you rather suffer a humiliating loss to Michigan this year, or a humiliating loss to Southern Cal? Why? And stop eyeing that chicken across the street, perv.</b><br />
<br />
I threw up a little in my mouth when reading this question. It's sort of like asking whether you'd rather be tortured by the rack or Chinese water torture. Forced to pick between the two, however, I'd pick Southern Cal. I think SC is a better team, talent-wise, than the Skunkbears, and we just beat them last year. Losing to Michigan as they are adjusting to a new coach and new scheme as we're supposed to be hitting our stride, especially that early in the season, is more than I can stomach at this point.<br />
<br />
That said, for the first time in far too long, I'm not anticipating any humiliating losses of any kind this year. The defense is too strong, and the offense will score plenty of points. We may lose a game or three, but not in blow-out fashion.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Great teams require leadership, and with Notre Dame being the only truly national college football program in the country, a great Notre Dame football team requires national leaders. So pick one. Name a player on the Irish roster in 2011 who will lead the nation in a particular, official NCAA category. Also specify how much he’ll lead the nation by indicating his national rank in that category. Note: You must be predicting this leader to finish at least as high as 10th in the nation in your chosen category. Bonus Points: Don’t pick David Ruffer – the best player on the Irish Roster.</b><br />
<br />
Michael Floyd. National rank: #4<br />
<br />
Michael Floyd is a special talent at wide receiver. There will be a lot of people rolling coverages to him, but the talent at the other receiver positions will mean that will be short-lived. I expect that at the end of the year, Michael will be a legit Heisman contender, and go over 1,500 yards on the year. <br />
<br />
<b>5. You’ve already done more parsing of Brian Kelly’s words than is healthy since he first took a podium in this pre-season. What’s the single most surprising thing he’s said in that time?</b><br />
<br />
<i>Q. Are you happy with where you are one year into turning a corner and making this an elite college program?<br />
<br />
COACH KELLY: That to me is more about your message and it's more about what your players need to believe when they come here. Our recruiting has changed in that we're recruiting young men that you're coming to Notre Dame to play for our Lady. Your not coming here to hang your hat because you're going to the league. If you want to do that, there are other schools for you. We may not get some of those guys that have that attitude. They could be eight star, nine star players, whatever is the highest star is out. If they fit that mentality, we won't recruit those guys.<br />
<br />
We're starting by recruiting guys that want to be at Notre Dame, get their degree, play for Notre Dame. That's when it started. It didn't start because we changed the locker room or we did more collegiate things. It was really about that paradigm shift in terms of attitude.</i><br />
<br />
We are a Catholic University. It is integral to who we are and what we do. And for the first time that I can remember since Lou Holtz, we have a coach that isn't afraid to talk about recruiting kids to play for Our Lady. He's not making the Catholic nature of our school a turn-off for players from other religions - there's a renaissance of Mormon players on our roster. But he gets it. He gets who we are and what we do. And he is building the program around the three pronged character of this university - a commitment to our Catholic heritage, dedication to academic excellence, and the pursuit of championship level athletic performance.<br />
<br />
His message, in many ways, hearkens back to the messages of Holtz, Parseghian and Leahy. He knows what it takes, and he's embracing it wholeheartedly. No fancy chains as a gimmick. No jersey color changes to pump the team up. Just a consistent, day-to-day approach to demanding excellence from our student athletes.Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-24833049745691262872011-08-11T18:13:00.000-04:002011-08-11T18:13:43.906-04:00Irish Blogger Gathering Episode IV: A New HopeSo, the offseason has been filled with all of the minutiae that comes with starting your own law practice, meaning that my blogging hobby has been on indefinite hiatus. However, as one of the founding members of the Irish Blogger Gathering, I couldn't let my comrades in arms down, so I'm signed up for another season of blogging with the best of the Notre Dame blogs in the entire blogosphere.<br />
<br />
This year's IBG lineup has changed somewhat. We still have some of the hardened veterans returning to their starting positions, but there is also some talented youth pushing for some significant playing time. Here's the list of this year's IBG blogs:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fafbfc; color: #101010; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<ul style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Subway Domer </li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Her Loyal Sons </li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">One Foot Down </li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">UHND </li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Irish Round Table </li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Inside The Irish w/ Keith Arnold </li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Domer Law </li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We Never Graduate </li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ND Tex</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ND Football 2011 </li>
</ul><div>I'll be hosting the USC IBG this year, which I expect to be the biggest game of the season. Each week, the IBG will have a different host blog that will pose 4-6 thought provoking questions which the rest of the blogs will put their two cents in on. All of the answers will be collected at the host blog for your reading pleasure.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Tomorrow, Her Loyal Sons will weigh in with the first set of preseason questions, so stay tuned for another exciting season of Irish football in the blogosphere. Go Irish!</div>Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-42998431787313690082011-03-04T14:06:00.000-05:002011-03-04T14:06:17.611-05:00Notre Dame Draft: 20 years of Notre Dame FootballOne of the projects currently underway in this, the slow season for college football, is the Notre Dame Draft - there are 6 blogs from across the Notre Dame blogosphere that are participating in a draft of the best Notre Dame players of the last 20 years. Once we each draft our teams, we'll post the teams and argue about who has the best team.<br />
<br />
The blogs participating are:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://domerlaw.blogspot.com/">Domer Law</a> (me!)<br />
<a href="http://www.herloyalsons.com/">Her Loyal Sons</a><br />
<a href="http://notredame.rivals.com/">Irish Illustrated</a><br />
<a href="http://www.subwaydomer.com/">Subway Domer</a><br />
<a href="http://www.uhnd.com/">UHND</a><br />
<a href="http://wenevergraduate.blogspot.com/">We Never Graduate</a><br />
<br />
Because the draft is ongoing via telecommunication technology (e-mail, text, etc.), it may take us a while to complete the full 28 rounds. However, I'm going to try to update this posting after each round to keep you up to date on where we are.<br />
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<table class="tableizer-table"><tbody>
<tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>Round</th><th>Overall Selection</th><th>Player</th><th>Position</th><th>Selector</th></tr>
<tr><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>Rocket Ismail</td><td>WR</td><td>UHND</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>2</td><td>Brady Quinn</td><td>QB</td><td>Domer Law</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>3</td><td>Ricky Watters</td><td>RB</td><td>Her Loyal Sons</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>4</td><td>Bryant Young</td><td>DT</td><td>We Never Graduate</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>5</td><td>Jimmy Clausen</td><td>QB</td><td>Subway Domer</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>6</td><td>Chris Zorich</td><td>NT</td><td>Irish Illustrated</td></tr>
<tr><td>2</td><td>7</td><td>Manti Te'o</td><td>ILB</td><td>Irish Illustrated</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>8</td><td>Jeff Burris</td><td>S</td><td>Subway Domer</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>9</td><td>Aaron Taylor</td><td>OT</td><td>We Never Graduate</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>10</td><td>Justin Tuck</td><td>DE</td><td>Her Loyal Sons</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>11</td><td>Jeff Samardzija</td><td>WR</td><td>Domer Law</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>12</td><td>Todd Lyght</td><td>CB</td><td>UHND</td></tr>
<tr><td>3</td><td>13</td><td>Jerome Bettis</td><td>RB</td><td>UHND</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>14</td><td>Ryan Harris</td><td>OT</td><td>Domer Law</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>15</td><td>Jeff Faine</td><td>OC</td><td>Her Loyal Sons</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>16</td><td>Michael Floyd</td><td>WR</td><td>We Never Graduate</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>17</td><td>Bobby Taylor</td><td>CB</td><td>Subway Domer</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>18</td><td>Golden Tate</td><td>WR</td><td>Irish Illustrated</td></tr>
<tr><td>4</td><td>19</td><td>Tom Carter</td><td>CB</td><td>Irish Illustrated</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>20</td><td>Luke Petitgout </td><td>OT</td><td>Subway Domer</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>21</td><td>Michael Stonebreaker</td><td>LB</td><td>We Never Graduate</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>22</td><td>Shane Walton</td><td>CB</td><td>Her Loyal Sons</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>23</td><td>Mirko Jurkovic</td><td>OG</td><td>Domer Law</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>24</td><td>Anthony Weaver</td><td>DE</td><td>UHND</td></tr>
<tr><td>5</td><td>25</td><td>Bert Berry</td><td>OLB</td><td>UHND</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>26</td><td>Demetrius DuBose</td><td>LB</td><td>Domer Law</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>27</td><td>Ron Powlus</td><td>QB</td><td>Her Loyal Sons</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>28</td><td>Renadlo Wynn</td><td>DE</td><td>We Never Graduate</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>29</td><td>Grant Irons</td><td>DE</td><td>Subway Domer</td></tr>
<tr><td> </td><td>30</td><td>Rick Mirer</td><td>QB</td><td>Irish Illustrated</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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</span></div>Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-41208206397957471392011-02-14T16:49:00.001-05:002011-02-14T16:52:32.229-05:00Elite Notre Dame Basketball?So, I'm primarily a Notre Dame football fan. And when it comes to basketball, I'm a Hoosier at heart, having briefly started an IU basketball blog before I realized that maintaining two blogs is too much work.<br />
<br />
That said, I couldn't let this season pass without posting about the Notre Dame basketball team.<br />
<br />
I've been a Notre Dame basketball fan for a long time. I grew up cheering for Georgetown, and my undergraduate experience made me into a die-hard IU basketball fan. However, my grandmother (God rest her soul) used to take me to Notre Dame basketball games growing up. She was a season ticket holder to Notre Dame football and men's and women's basketball. I always enjoyed attending games and rooting for the Irish, but they were always a good team, never great.<br />
<br />
Apparently, all of that is beginning to change.<br />
<br />
This year's Irish are currently ranked 7th in the nation, and from what I've seen, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see this Irish make a deep run into the tournament. Indeed, with a couple of breaks, they could win it all.<br />
<br />
I've attended several games at Purcell Pavilion, and I've watched almost every game since mid-season. This team is a veteran team that doesn't make many mistakes. They don't turn the ball over much, are superb at moving the ball around, and will outhustle opponents.<br />
<br />
Ben Hansbrough has grown into a legitimate Player of the Year candidate, but he's not a solo star. What makes Ben impressive is his unselfish style of play, which elevates the rest of his team. When he needs to, he can put the team on his back and will them to victory. However, he doesn't often need to.<br />
<br />
The Irish are a team that can't afford injuries to their key players. They've been developing some additional depth, particularly inside with the recent development of Jack Cooley and outside with the growth of Scott Martin. However, what makes this Irish team dangerous is the combination of Hansbrough, Abromaitis, Scott and Nash.<br />
<br />
Those four players all have their particular strengths, but the combination of all four of them on the court creates match-up nightmares for opponents. Tyrone Nash is a 6'8" forward that plays strong in the post, but has the ball-handling skills to run the point when needed. Carleton Scott is a 6'8" forward that plays with great length and is a defensive force that will hurt you inside or out on offense. Abromaitis is another 6'8" forward that is a great pure shooter. Put Hansbrough's versatility to shoot the ball or drive the basket, and that foursome is fearsome. With freshman Eric Atkins emerging as a superb ball handler and passer as a true freshman, and you have a complete team concept that is tough to beat.<br />
<br />
Indeed, when Carleton Scott went down, the Irish struggled on the road, losing to Syracuse, Marquette and St. John's during that stretch. This is the kind of team that, with Scott in the lineup, probably wins every one of those games.<br />
<br />
The Irish can play at whatever speed they choose, from the slow-it-down burn offense they choose to employ against teams that want to run up and down the court to the high-flying offense they can employ when they have a clear advantage in athleticism.<br />
<br />
What that means is that this year's Irish is not a team I'd want to meet come tournament time. Experience is huge come tournament time, and in the era of one-and-dones, the Irish lineup is practically ancient. They know each other well, and they run the offensive and defensive schemes with an efficiency that makes it tough to overcome.<br />
<br />
There is still quite a bit of basketball to be played, but don't be surprised if this year's Irish do something special.<br />
<br />
Regardless of how the season ends, I know that it will be difficult for any future Irish teams to supplant their place in my heart. To me, they exemplify everything that Notre Dame stands for - doing things the right way, and doing them better than anyone else.Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-55218018091873238882011-02-10T17:02:00.001-05:002011-02-11T10:10:24.879-05:00Here Come the Irish: 2011 recruiting and previewOkay, so I've been a little MIA lately. Quitting your job to start your own law practice will do that to you. But now that the dust has settled somewhat, I thought I'd put in my two cents on the much-ballyhooed recruiting class that Kelly and Co. just inked on Feb. 2.<br />
<br />
I've spent the last week absorbing a lot of what's out there about this year's class, and my general impression is that this will in fact be the class that brings about the oft-mentioned "Return to Glory." I've tried my best to find fault with the class, and there are some misses, including an elite running back.<br />
<br />
But it's what this staff did at the top of the class that has everyone excited.<br />
<br />
If you've followed Irish recruiting for any amount of time, you will remember miss after miss on elite recruits on the defensive line. Elite defensive line recruits like Justin Trattou, Omar Hunter and Gerald McCoy haunt Irish memories. And those misses have led to year after year of mediocre performance by the defensive line. There were bright spots - Victor Abiamiri and Trevor Laws come to mind - but we didn't have the talent and depth we needed to control the line of scrimmage on defense.<br />
<br />
Which is what makes the recruiting haul this year so impressive. We didn't just land one or two elite recruits up front. We landed arguable the strongest pass-rushing class anywhere in at least a decade. Perhaps longer. Maybe ever.<br />
<br />
<b>Aaron Lynch</b> - Scout: #10 overall, #2 DE, Rivals: #28 overall, #3 strongside DE<br />
<b>Ishaq Williams</b> - Scout: #20 overall, #4 DE, Rivals: #16 overall, #2 weakside DE<br />
<b>Stephon Tuitt</b> - Scout: #44 overall, #10 DE, Rivals: #22 overall, #2 strongside DE<br />
<b>Ben Councell</b> - Scout: Not ranked overall, #32 OLB, Rivals: #91 overall, #5 weakside DE<br />
Plus, three other talented defensive end prospects in Carrico, Rabasa and Springmann. <br />
<br />
That's a great recruiting haul over a 4-year period, much less a single year. Depending on how these guys develop, one or more could move outside to the linebacker or inside to the nose. Regardless, we have significantly upgraded the pass-rushing talent, and that will make it difficult for teams to pass against us with that much depth coming off the corners. <br />
<br />
With the way that Manti Te'o plays, and what we've seen from 2010 defense towards the end of the year, there is certainly plenty of reason to get excited.<br />
<br />
This recruiting class suddenly makes next year's team a legit contender as long as one of the quarterbacks step up. This recruiting class conjures up memories of 1973, when Notre Dame signed bookends at defensive end in Browner and Fry. They won a title as freshmen.<br />
<br />
Indeed, it's not out of the realm of possibility for this team to win them all next year. I'm not going to go so far as to actually predict such a finish, but a quick look at the schedule makes it look like a definite possibility:<br />
<br />
<b>South Florida</b> - I wouldn't take Skip Holtz and the Bulls for granted - this team beat Clemson in a bowl game last season. But, the talent differential and being unlucky enough to be the first opponent of the season means this should be a W for the Irish.<br />
<b>Michigan</b> - The Rich Rodriguez era crashed and burned, and the Wolverines were repeatedly spurned by their anointed Michigan men Jim Harbaugh and Les Miles. The stumbled onto some unproven potential in Brady Hoke, but there are still too many holes in recruiting, particularly at the skill positions, to expect that the Irish will lose this one.<br />
<b>Michigan State</b> - It took them a trick play in overtime after the play clock had expired to beat us at the beginning of the season, before we hit our stride. Michigan State is a stable program and will certainly challenge us, but an improved team should be able to win over Sparty.<br />
<b>Pittsburgh</b> - The Pitt team we beat last year took a beating this offseason when they hired and fired Mike Haywood then turned at the last second to Todd Graham, of the prolific Tulsa offense. That confusion, however, has killed their recruiting class, dropping them out of the top 50 classes. That high flying offense is dangerous, but I have trouble believing that we'll lose this game.<br />
<b>Purdue</b> - It's Purdue - count it as a win. They couldn't even beat my Hoosiers last year. Their recruiting class was disappointing at best, and none of their classes have ranked in the top 50. Win.<br />
<b>Air Force</b> - How much hype have you heard about the 2011 Falcons? Bueller? Bueller? We should be able to handle this team, as long as we don't get caught looking ahead to USC.<br />
<b>Southern Cal</b> - We took care of the USC monkey this year, and they are on probation. They will still be talented, but I don't think they'll be better next year (most likely worse), and I'm positive we will be better. Should win.<br />
<b>Navy</b> - Navy has had our number lately, and they destroyed us last season. However, the loss of Ricky Dobbs, a healthy Michael Floyd and the defensive upgrade should lead to a return to form next year with the Irish beating the Middies.<br />
<b>Wake Forest</b> - 3-9 last year. And coach Grobe has already said he wants to redshirt his whole freshman class if possible. Win.<br />
<b>Maryland</b> - Maryland won a bowl game in impressive fashion, but they will be yet another team trotting out a new coach in Randy Edsall. Coach Edsall has shown that he can build a program, but it should take some time. Some big losses on both sides of the ball, and a recruiting class in the bottom half of the ACC.<br />
<b>Boston College</b> - A young team that will improve each year, but we beat them soundly last year, and they are coming to Notre Dame stadium. New offensive coordinator could mean some struggles on that side of the ball. I'm always worried about BC, especially when we could be very highly rated and they thrive on being the spoiler. But we should win this game.<br />
<b>Stanford</b> - Stanford was great last year, and kicked the crap out of us. Most of the team will be back, including Andrew Luck. But, they have a new head coach in promoted offensive coordinator David Shaw. They should still be a very good team, but come the end of the season, I'm betting that Notre Dame will have more to play for, and will be clickiing on all cylinders.<br />
<br />
A lot can happen between this early in the spring and the season - young players will step up and become household names and there are plenty of examples of new head coaches having immediate success. However, it's hard to look at the schedule right now and believe that we won't have a chance to win every game.<br />
<br />
Other recruits to watch:<br />
<br />
<b>Everett Golson, QB</b> A true dual threat quarterback who fits Kelly's system perfectly.<br />
<b>George Atkinson III, WR</b> A great athlete being recruited as a wide receiver, it will be hard to keep his speed and athleticism off of the field.<br />
<b>Matt Hegarty, OL</b> Consensus top 10 offensive tackle recruit - won't play early as he needs to bulk up, but has a great frame and technique.<br />
<b>Troy Niklas, OL/DL</b> Not sure where he'll end up, but he has the frame to play tackle or nose. If he plays on defense, could be the middle of an epic defensive line. Snatched him from the clutches of USC on signing day,Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-85606171717935161302010-12-30T15:12:00.002-05:002010-12-30T15:13:46.157-05:002010 Sun Bowl Preview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wszbSeelW6A/TRyjWr5q3lI/AAAAAAAAASI/b-pv0UplqZI/s1600/hyundai_sun_bowl_color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"> <img border="0" height="325" width="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wszbSeelW6A/TRyjWr5q3lI/AAAAAAAAASI/b-pv0UplqZI/s400/hyundai_sun_bowl_color.jpg" /> </a> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>77th annual Sun Bowl</b><br />
<u>Date:</u> December 31, 2010<br />
<u>Time:</u> 12pm MST (2pm EST)<br />
<u>Location:</u> Sun Bowl Stadium</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wszbSeelW6A/TRyphSC9GmI/AAAAAAAAASQ/FWNUIZJ8hmw/s1600/SunBowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="133" width="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wszbSeelW6A/TRyphSC9GmI/AAAAAAAAASQ/FWNUIZJ8hmw/s200/SunBowl.jpg" /></a><br />
El Paso, Texas</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wszbSeelW6A/TRyq5BSBCzI/AAAAAAAAASY/mWwelVXtzD0/s1600/CBSsports.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="102" width="197" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wszbSeelW6A/TRyq5BSBCzI/AAAAAAAAASY/mWwelVXtzD0/s200/CBSsports.gif" /></a><br />
Broadcast on CBS</div><br />
<u>Matchup:</u><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wszbSeelW6A/TRyrqozdaXI/AAAAAAAAASg/mS1FmfrBSrg/s1600/notre-dame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="311" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wszbSeelW6A/TRyrqozdaXI/AAAAAAAAASg/mS1FmfrBSrg/s320/notre-dame.jpg" /></a></div><b>School:</b><br />
University of Notre Dame<br />
<b>Nickname:</b><br />
Fightin' Irish<br />
<b>Mascot:</b><br />
The Leprechaun<br />
<b>Record <br />
(2010):</b><br />
7-5<br />
<b>Record<br />
(all-time):</b> <br />
844-296-41<br />
<b>Record <br />
(vs. Miami):</b> <br />
15-7-1<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
v.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wszbSeelW6A/TRyv17rkriI/AAAAAAAAASo/7DYrdnDgcl0/s1600/miami.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="304" width="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wszbSeelW6A/TRyv17rkriI/AAAAAAAAASo/7DYrdnDgcl0/s320/miami.jpg" /></a></div><b>School:</b><br />
University of Miami<br />
<b>Nickname:</b><br />
Hurricanes<br />
<b>Mascot:</b><br />
Sebastian the Ibis<br />
<b>Record <br />
(2010):</b><br />
7-5 <br />
(5-3 ACC)<br />
<b>Record <br />
(all-time):</b><br />
560-319-19<br />
<b>Record <br />
(vs. Notre Dame):</b><br />
7-15-1<br />
<br />
<br />
One of history's great rivalries, lain dormant for 20 years, will be rekindled on New Year's Eve. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, this rivalry should take you back to the 1980's. So put on some Ray-Ban sunglasses, tease out that hair, and lets take that Miami-Vice jacket and pastel T-shirt into the way-back machine...<br />
<br />
The Notre Dame Fightin' Irish under Lou Holtz were a perennial powerhouse and proud representatives of history's greatest team, the pinnacle of amateur sport. 10 national titles, 6 Heisman trophy winners, more All-Americans than any other school, and a decades long history of being able to balance excellence on the athletic fields with excellence in the classroom and a commitment to religion and faith that never wavered. The Irish under Holtz would add another Heisman and another National Title before he left the school. Indeed, they could have added 3 of each.<br />
<br />
However, "Da U," as they like to call themselves (likely due in part due to their inability to spell the word University), was the nouveau riche of the college football world. Having spent most of their existence as a doormat in college football, they actually considered dropping the sport. But then Howard Schnellenberger came along and changed the course of history. Unable to recruit with the Notre Dames, Michigans and Texases of the world, Schnellenberger decided to try and attract a new element to his team: the thug. Turning to the Florida ghettoes, the results were instantaneous and powerful. In his final year at Miami, they won their first national title in '83. Then, Jimmy Johnson showed up. Otherwise known as pig-faced Satan, Jimmy Johnson added fuel to the fire of the thug culture in South Beach, embracing it wholeheartedly. The hip-hop culture, racial tensions in Miami at the time, culture of criminality and unbridled success led to an intimidating swagger that da U brought with them wherever they went.<br />
<br />
And it was under those circumstances that this bitter rivalry was born. During the late 80s, the Notre Dame - Miami game decided the national championship on a yearly basis. More than that, though, it was the quintessential matchup between good and evil. Catholics vs. Convicts South Beach arrogance, swagger, criminality, blatant disregard for recruiting rules, and a downright mean streak exemplified the Hurricanes. Class, honor, integrity, and winning the right way exemplified the Irish.<br />
<br />
And now, nearly a quarter century after that rivalry burnt out in spectacular fashion, these two old bitter enemies square off again. This time, there are no National Titles on the line. Both programs are struggling to pull themselves out of an extended period of mediocrity, and the U is also trying to dig out from their inglorious reputation as college football's bad guys. (Thankfully, they now have USC, Florida and Ohio State fighting for the honors in that battle)<br />
<br />
But both programs are on the verge of a new start. <br />
<br />
The Irish, in their first year under new head Coach Brian Kelly, have fought through an extreme amount of adversity this season, but emerged in November as a stronger team for it, thoroughly dominating their final three opponents behind a vicious defense, a strengthening running game, and the slow development of a true freshman quarterback.<br />
<br />
The 'Canes, having fired head coach Randy Shannon, are preparing for this bowl game under interim coach Jeff Stoutland. New head coach Al Golden is busy putting together a staff to build for next season. Miami has a lot of talent, and have been excellent pass defenders. However, they've struggled against the run. On offense, they are actually a little more run-heavy than Miami teams of the past, rushing for an average of 190 yards per game, while throwing for about 232 yds/gm. The lost a close game to Ohio State early in the season, and got blown out by Florida State and Virginia Tech. However, it was the loss at Virginia and at home against South Florida that cost Randy Shannon his job.<br />
<br />
So here we are, two 7-5 football teams preparing to do battle in what should be a very emotional game for both teams. The needle appears to be pointing up for the Irish, who have been playing their best football in years down the stretch, while the Canes appear to have been backing their way into the bowl season.<br />
<br />
On paper, I think Miami is better than Notre Dame. The Irish are without the services of their #1 QB, #1 TE, and #1 RB. They have a true freshman under center. Miami is relatively healthy, with Junior Jacory Harris leading the offense.<br />
<br />
However, all of the intangibles point to the Irish. They are on a hot streak, and Kelly's system of conditioning and up-tempo practices have this team performing better than they have all season. The Canes are in a coaching transition, so the schemes they will be practicing will have limited value to them next season.<br />
<br />
This game means more to the Irish. The Canes can lose, blame it on the transition, and then move forward with their new coach. If the Irish lose, a bitter taste is left in the mouths of the Notre Dame faithful, who still feel the sting of being demolished by Navy and losing an inexplicable game to Tulsa in the wake of the Sullivan tragedy.<br />
<br />
Ultimately, I think the Irish get the edge here, as Coach Kelly's consistent approach to preparing his team, along with the weeks of preparation, make the Irish as well prepared for a football game as they've been in years. This team has steadily improved all season, and I expect them to come out and give a dominating performance. Miami's defense will keep them in the game, and Jacory Harris is plenty dangerous. But ultimately I don't think that Miami will have an answer for this defense, particularly on the ground. Standout sophomore Manti Te'o will be the player of the game in a contest marked by strong defenses.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Final Prediction</b></u><br />
<br />
Notre Dame 24<br />
Miami 17Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-32969669779206466572010-12-18T13:07:00.000-05:002010-12-18T13:07:37.825-05:00Domer Law's Bowl SpecialIt's the most wonderful time of the year - bowl season! Before the first bowl game kicks off at 2:00 pm EST today, I thought I'd get my bowl picks out into the ether. Here they are, in all their glory.<br />
<br />
<b>New Mexico Bowl</b><br />
Albuquerque, NM<br />
December 18, 2010 2:00 pm ET<br />
<br />
Brigham Young University Cougars (6-6, 5-3 MWC)<br />
v.<br />
University of Texas at El Paso Miners (6-6, 3-5 C-USA)<br />
<br />
<u>My pick:</u> BYU<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>uDrove Humanitarian Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Boise, ID</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 18, 2010 5:30 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Northern Illinois Huskies (10-3, 8-0 MAC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Fresno State Bulldogs (8-4, 5-3 WAC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Northern Illinois</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New Orleans, LA</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 18, 2010 9:00 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Ohio University Bobcats (8-4, 6-2 MAC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Troy University Trojans (7-5, 6-2 Sun Belt)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Ohio</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Beef O'Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">St. Petersburg, FL</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 21, 2010 8:00 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (8-4, 5-3 C-USA)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Louisville Cardinals (6-6, 3-4 Big East)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Southern Miss</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>MAACO Bowl Las Vegas</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Las Vegas, NV</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 22, 2010 8:00 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Utah Utes (10-2, 7-1 MWC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Boise State University Broncos (11-1, 7-1 WAC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Boise State</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">San Diego, CA</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 23, 2010 8:00 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">United States Naval Academy Midshipmen (8-3)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">San Diego State University Aztecs (8-4, 5-3 MWC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> SDSU</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Sheraton Hawaii Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Honolulu, HI</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 24, 2010 8:00 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Hawai'i Warriors (10-3, 7-1 WAC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane (9-3, 6-2 C-USA)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Hawaii</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Little Caesars Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Detroit, MI</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 26, 2010 8:30 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Florida International University Golden Panthers (6-6, 6-2 Sun Belt)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Toledo Rockets (8-4, 7-1 MAC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> FIU</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Advocare V100 Independence Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Shreveport, LA</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 27, 2010 5:00 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Air Force Academy Falcons (8-4, 5-3 MWC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Georgia Institute of Technology Yellow Jackets (6-6, 4-4 ACC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Air Force</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Champs Sports Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Orlando, FL</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 28, 2010 6:30 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">West Virginia University Mountaineers (9-3, 5-2 Big East)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">North Carolina State University Wolfpack (8-4, 5-3 ACC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> WVU</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Insight Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Tempe, AZ</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 28, 2010 10:00 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Missouri Tigers (10-2, 6-2 Big XII)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5, 4-4 Big Ten)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Missouri</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Military Bowl pres. by Northrupp-Grumman</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Washington, D.C.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 29, 2010 2:30 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">East Carolina University Pirates (6-6, 5-3 C-USA)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Maryland Terrapins (8-4, 5-3 ACC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Maryland</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Texas Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Houston, TX</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 29, 2010 6:00 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Illinois Fighting Illini (6-6, 4-4 Big Ten)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Baylor University Bears (7-5, 4-4 Big XII)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Illinois</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Valero Alamo Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">San Antonio, TX</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 29, 2010 9:15 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Oklahoma State University Cowboys (10-2, 6-2 Big XII)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Arizona Wildcats (7-5, 4-5 Pac-10)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Oklahoma State</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dallas, TX</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 30, 2010 12:00 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">United States Military Academy Black Knights (6-5)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Southern Methodist University Mustangs (7-6, 6-2 C-USA)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Army</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>New Era Pinstripe Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Bronx, NY</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 30, 2010 3:20 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Kansas State University Wildcats (7-5, 3-5 Big XII)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Syracuse University Orange (7-5, 4-3 Big East)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> K-State</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Nashville, TN</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 30, 2010, 6:40 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of North Carolina Tarheels (7-5, 4-4 ACC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Tennessee Volunteers (6-6, 3-5 SEC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Tennessee</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">San Diego, CA</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 30, 2010, 10:00 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-3, 6-2 Big XII)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Washington Huskies (6-6, 5-4 Pac-10)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Nebraska</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Meineke Car Care Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Charlotte, NC</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 31, 2010 12:00 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">South Florida University Bulls (7-5, 3-4 Big East)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Clemson Tigers (6-6, 4-4 ACC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Clemson</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>AutoZone Liberty Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Memphis, TN</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 31, 2010 3:30 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Georgia Bulldogs (6-6, 3-5 SEC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Central Florida Knights (10-3, 7-1 C-USA)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> UCF</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Chick-fil-A Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Atlanta, GA</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 31, 2010 7:30 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of South Carolina Gamecocks (9-4, 5-3 SEC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Florida State University Seminoles (9-4, 6-2 ACC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> FSU</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>TicketCity Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Dallas, TX</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January 1, 2011, 12:00 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Northwestern University Wildcats (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Texas Tech University Red Raiders (7-5, 3-5 Big XII)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Texas Tech</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Outback Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Tampa, FL</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January 1, 2011 1:00 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Florida Gators (7-5, 4-4 SEC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions (7-5, 4-4 Big Ten)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Florida</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Capital One Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Orlando, FL</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January 1, 2011 1:00 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Alabama Crimson Tide</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Michigan State University Spartans</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> 'Bama</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Progressive Gator Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Jacksonville, FL</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January 1, 2011 1:30 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Mississippi State University Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4 SEC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Michigan Skunkbears (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> MSU</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Rose Bowl game presented by VIZIO</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Pasadena, CA</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January 1, 2011 5:00 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Wisconsin Badgers (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Texas Christian University Horned Frogs (12-0, 8-0 MWC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> TCU</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Tostitos Fiesta Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Glendale, AZ</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January 1, 2011 8:30 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Connecticut Huskies (8-4, 5-2 Big East)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Oklahoma Sooners (11-2, 6-2 Big XII)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Oklahoma</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Discover Orange Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Miami, FL</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January 1, 2011 8:30 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Leland Stanford Junior University Cardinal (11-1, 8-1 Pac-10)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Hokies (11-2, 8-0 ACC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Stanford</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Allstate Sugar Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">New Orleans, LA</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January 4, 2011 8:30 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Ohio State University Buckeyes (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Arkansas Razorbacks (10-2, 6-2 SEC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> OSU</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>GoDaddy.com Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Mobile, AL</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January 6, 2011 8:00 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders (6-6, 5-3 Sun Belt)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Miami University RedHawks (9-4, 7-1 MAC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> MTSU</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>AT&T Cotton Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Arlington, TX</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January 7, 2011 8:00 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College Tigers (10-2, 6-2 SEC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Texas A&M University Aggies (9-3, 6-2 Big XII)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Texas A&M</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>BBVA Compass Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Birmingham, AL</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January 8, 2011 12:00 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Pittsburgh Panthers (7-5, 5-2 Big East)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Kentucky Wildcats (6-6, 2-6 SEC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Pitt</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">San Francisco, CA</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January 9, 2011 9:00 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Nevada, Reno Wolf Pack</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Boston College Eagles</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Nevada</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Tostitos BCS National Championship Game</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Glendale, AZ</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">January 10, 2011 8:30 p.m. ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Oregon Ducks (12-0, 9-0 Pac-10)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Auburn University Tigers (13-0, 8-0 SEC)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Oregon</div><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">*****</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And last, but certainly not least, my pick for the most important bowl game of the season:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Hyundai Sun Bowl</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">El Paso, TX</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">December 31, 2010 2:00 pm ET</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Notre Dame Fightin' Irish</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">v.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">University of Miami Hurricanes</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><u>My pick:</u> Notre Dame</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">GO IRISH! BEAT CONVICTS!</div>Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-89902788471716950312010-11-24T15:33:00.000-05:002010-11-24T15:33:12.951-05:00Irish Blogger Gathering: BEAT S.C.<b>1. Notre Dame played perhaps its best game of the year in a win over the Utah Utes two weeks ago. Utah remains ranked at #23 in the Associated Press poll. Notre Dame likewise took Michigan State (AP #11) to overtime before losing on a fake field goal. Therefore the Irish should have no trouble with this unranked Trojan squad. Agree or disagree? Show your work.</b><br />
<br />
Agree. And since you asked me to show my work, I'm going to engage in one of my favorite activities when it comes to Notre Dame football - being a Notre Dame homer and apologetic.<br />
<br />
This is a good football team, that is getting better as time passes. Indeed, if we were even remotely healthy, this team would be extremely dangerous right now, and capable of beating damn near anybody. Here's why:<br />
<br />
First game of the season, we were still clearly trying to figure out the new systems on offense and defense. Thankfully, we were playing a decidedly mediocre Purdue squad, who will get destroyed this weekend by my Hoosiers. (shameless alma mater plug, sorry)<br />
<br />
Second game of the season we outplayed Michigan, but it was asking too much for this offense to be effective for half the game this early in the season with a walk-on or true freshman.<br />
<br />
Third game of the season, we appeared to be starting to figure this thing out, and if not for an overtime fake field goal that took place after the play clock expired (and therefore should have been flagged), we win that game.<br />
<br />
Fourth game of the season we were outmatched by an excellent Stanford team whose only loss is to an elite Oregon team that is ranked #1 in the country.<br />
<br />
We then rolled through BC, Pitt and Western Michigan, with a steadily improving offense and what is starting to look like a very good defense. Against Western Michigan, we lost one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the country in Kyle Rudolph, widely regarded as the best tight end in the country, for the season. We also lost our #2 wide receiver in Theo Riddick for all but the last game against USE. Oh, and our #1 offensive weapon in Michael Floyd for the week after as well.<br />
<br />
Then, what had been an excellent defense had no answer for the nation's #5 rushing offense, who employs a triple option attack that is extremely difficult to prepare for. And early on, we lost Ian Williams, our nose tackle, for the year. And, our #1 running back as well in Armando Allen. Our offense struggled to find it's groove without it's top receiving and rushing targets, and we lose badly. Injuries happen, but when you lose that much firepower all at once, you are going to struggle.<br />
<br />
Then, the bottom dropped out. Declan Sullivan's tragic death shook this team, and then while trying to muster the focus needed for Tulsa, we lose our #1 QB for the year in the first quarter. These kids had just watched one of their friends die a grisly death right in front of their eyes only days prior. And then they saw their team leader head to the locker room with a season-ending injury. That we were able to continue the game and keep it close under such adversity speaks volumes about the character of this football team.<br />
<br />
And after that game, this team came together, stopped feeling sorry for themselves, and decided to remember that they are called the Fighting Irish for a reason. We fight.<br />
<br />
And so, a bruised and battered team welcomed the vaunted Utah Utes, ranked in the top 5 only the week before. Nobody for nobody believed the Irish would win. Except for those guys that put on the gold helmets that morning. The result: a complete dismantling of the Utes.<br />
<br />
Follow that up with a workmanlike destruction of Army, and you can see what this team is supposed to be.<br />
<br />
And now you ask me whether this team will be able to beat a 7-4 USC team that has nothing to play for, when we are playing for a good bowl game and the chance to end the USC dominance over us for the past decade? You think any of the upperclassmen on this team have forgotten the 38-3 drubbing in 2008? This team is hungry, feeling disrespected, and they've learned to embrace Coach Kelly's vision. Rudolph out? Next man in. Riddick out? Next man in. Floyd out? Next man in. Williams out? Next man in. Allen out? Next man in. Crist out? Next man in.<br />
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We live as a team, we die as a team. But one thing has become clear - Kelly has transformed this talented bunch or primadonnas left over from the Weis era into a team. And this team will win on Saturday. Come hell or high water.<br />
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<b>2. It is almost time for the OC Domer Player of the Year to be named. This award is intended to recognize the Notre Dame football player or players who played the best when it mattered the most. Suffice it to say that the primary criterion is a consistently high level of play, with significant bonus points awarded for exceeding expectations. Injuries have taken many of the pre-season favorites for this prestigious award out of the running. Who is your nominee for this award, and why?</b><br />
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David Ruffer, and this isn't even close. He's quite literally perfect this season, and his kicks have made the difference between winning and losing multiple games this year. He's set to run away with the Lou Groza Award this year. Oh, and did I mention that this kid is a walk-on?<br />
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<b>3. With a delicate flavor similar to beef, though slightly sweeter than other meats, horse meat can be used to replace beef, pork, mutton, and any other meat in virtually any recipe, though most aficionados prefer it in marinated or spicy dishes. Nutritionally, horse meat has around 40 percent fewer calories than the leanest beef, while supplying 50 percent more protein and as much as 30 percent more iron; and horse fat is considered an excellent health-conscious deep-frying alternative, especially for delicately-flavored foods that are easily overpowered by heavier oils. What is your favorite horse meat recipe?</b><br />
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I call this dish "Irish Traveler"<br />
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As shown, will serve 6. One mascot will feed approximately 100 people. <br />
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21/4 pounds ground horse meat <br />
1 Tbsp. olive oil <br />
2-1/2 ounces ground cured lard (or pancetta) <br />
2 onions, minced <br />
1 glass dry white wine (though some Italian chefs prefer broth) <br />
6 ripe tomatoes, blanched, peeled, seeded, chopped, and drained <br />
2 bell peppers, ribbed and seeded, then diced <br />
2 Tbsp. minced fresh herbs (basil, sage, and rosemary in proportions to taste) <br />
1 clove garlic, minced <br />
salt and freshly ground pepper<br />
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Heat the oil, lard, and onion in a skillet. Sauté until the onion has become golden but don’t let it get really brown. Add the horse meat and brown it, stirring frequently. When it has browned, sprinkle in the glass of wine and reduce the heat to a bare simmer. Cover it, and let it cook for at least an hour. Mix in the chopped tomatoes and diced peppers, and continue cooking for another half hour.<br />
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Ten minutes before removing the dish from the stove, sprinkle the minced herbs over everything. Serve it hot with salt and pepper to taste.<br />
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<b>4. Do you miss Pat Haden, who left the Notre Dame television broadcasts to become athletic director at USC?</b><br />
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No, as his replacement is a far better broadcaster. Also, I have hope that Pat Haden will bring back some modicum of respect to this rivalry. His predecessor let cheating run rampant through the football and basketball programs, which damaged what was once a rivalry based in mutual respect. There isn't much respect for this program right now, who just had to forfeit a championship, return a Heisman trophy, and who is on a multi-year probation.<br />
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<b>5. USC is the Notre Dame rival I love to hate. What Notre Dame rival do you most despise, and why?</b><br />
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Michigan. While they are an excellent school, the past and present of the football program consistently demonstrates everything that is wrong with college football. It goes way back to the days of Fielding Yost, and has continued through Bo Schembechler, Llloyd Carr and into the current regime under Rich Rodriguez. Their graduation rate for African-American football players is abysmal, most of their fans are the scum of the earth, and they have an arrogant history of wanting things their way, or else they'll take their ball and go home.<br />
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USC is a rival.<br />
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Michigan is a nemesis.<br />
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<b>6. Reggie Bush got a car, his parents a house. Cam Newton's Dad was looking for $180,000 in straight cash homey. Can Notre Dame compete for athletic recruits in this environment? Or do you believe these incidents are the exceptions to an otherwise clean recruiting landscape?</b><br />
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I think that there are rampant recruiting violations that fly under the radar at programs all across the country. However, at the end of the day the most elite recruits know that the best way to fulfill their dream of the NFL is to go to a program that wins. And Notre Dame's recruiting hasn't exactly suffered since Weis started getting some of the elite athletes to believe. If we can get the program back to its rightful position among the elite by winning football games on Saturdays, the recruits will be kicking down our door.<br />
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I have never, and will never, espouse any movement towards reducing the standards of this University for a football player or anyone else. We are who we are because we don't just believe, but we KNOW, we can be the best football program in the land - while still standing as a beacon of all that is right and good in the world of amateur sport.<br />
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*****<br />
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Go Irish!<br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Beat S.C.</span></i></b>Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-11837054200124333552010-11-23T09:47:00.000-05:002010-11-23T09:47:50.061-05:00Beat S.C.IBG should hopefully be forthcoming, but it's game week, and the greatest intersectional rivalry in all of college football kicks off this weekend.<br />
<br />
Those evil bastards at Southern Cal have earned their way onto probation, and don't have anything to play for.<br />
<br />
We're coming off of back-to-back dominant wins, and appear to have righted the ship.<br />
<br />
A win, and we get into the Champs Sports bowl to play a quality ACC team (Florida State, perhaps?) in preparation for next year.<br />
<br />
We've lost 8 straight to the damn Trojans, and now that they've been knocked off their cheater's perch, it's time to use them as a stepping stone to greatness.<br />
<br />
Bruised, battered and bloodied (quite literally in some cases - check Manti's nose if you don't believe it), we've managed to persevere through injury, heartache, a tragic death in the family, negativity, suspicion, and downright embarassment. Yet still we rise.<br />
<br />
And this weekend, we have the chance to show that this team is ready to take the next step.<br />
<br />
So enjoy your turkey and trimmings, and watching the Cowboys get their Thanksgiving day beatdown. Rest up on Friday - no need to wade into the holiday shopping frenzy. We need to maintain our focus. Forget all of the holiday distractions.<br />
<br />
Because come Saturday, everyone in ND Nation needs to come together with one singular focus:<br />
<br />
<b><i>BEAT S.C.</i></b>Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-57598689238735902982010-11-15T14:50:00.000-05:002010-11-15T14:50:48.961-05:00Irish Blogger Gathering: The ReturnI've been on hiatus for a little while, feeling unmotivated to blog about what has been a very disappointing season prior to Saturday. Also, I've been working an insane amount lately. I apologize for the lack of posting, but as things settle back down at work, I should be able to get back on track. Here are this week's IBG questions and answers:<br />
<br />
<b>1) Saturday’s result against Utah was a very pleasant surprise, but an unexpected one, to say the least. What was the biggest positive you took from the win over the Utes, and what concerns you most as the Irish head into their final two games of the regular season?</b><br />
<br />
I think that this Notre Dame team got up off the mat and came out swinging. The loss to Tulsa was a low point for our program. With the Declan Sullivan tragedy, the kids weren't emotionally prepared to play a football game. With the loss, the prospects of a bowl game and a winning season were on life support. Our All-American tight end was out for the season, along with our 3-year starting running back, one of our most dynamic wide receivers and our only seasoned quarterback. And, we had the #14 team in the country coming to town.<br />
<br />
It is times like these when you learn about the character of a team.<br />
<br />
They could have come out flat, let Utah roll over them and limped their way into the offseason to lick their wounds. But instead, they showed their pride and came out and destroyed Utah. This gives them some momentum with a very winnable game against Army before we travel out to Southern Cal to take on an underachieving Trojan squad. A win in the Coliseum would make this, in my eyes, a successful season.<br />
<br />
There is always the chance for a let-down, however, and a loss to Army would put us right back down in the dumps. If we can maintain the focus and intensity we had against Utah, we will be a very dangerous team.<br />
<br />
<b>2) The Irish will have to take a completely different approach against the Army option than they did against the Navy attack a few weeks ago. Who do you see playing the biggest role in slowing down the Black Knight attack? Who will be the big performer on offense?</b><br />
<br />
We need someone on the defensive front to get pressure up the middle and take away the dive. If we can do that, the team speed to the outside should do much better against Army than we did against Navy.<br />
<br />
I'm expecting Michael Floyd to do the heavy lifting for this offense for the remainder of the season, so look for Tommy Rees to have a very big day.<br />
<br />
<b>3) Should Notre Dame win one of their final two games, they’ll likely be going bowling. There are a lot of tie-ins that may or may not be fulfilled from other conferences that will likely end up deciding their postseason fate, but what bowl do you see the Irish playing in?</b><br />
<br />
If we win out, the last game against USC should give us enough momentum, along with our innate popularity, to put us in the Champs Sports Bowl.<br />
<br />
<b>4) This isn’t a question any of us thought would be an issue at the start of the season, but who do you see as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback against South Florida next year?</b><br />
<br />
I think we'll see Dayne Crist. He'll have his hands full with the way Tommy Rees is playing, and Andrew Hendrix has arguably more potential than either of them. But, I think that Dayne's physical and mental maturity will put him under center come opening day next year.<br />
<br />
<b>5) We’re all very excited for Saturday night at Yankee Stadium, which is a nice turn towards some pretty exciting neutral site games (Miami at Soldier Field, Arizona State at Cowboys Stadium) after a rather lackluster start (Washington State in San Antonio). What are three neutral site games you’d like to see down the road?</b><br />
<br />
Alabama in Nashville<br />
<br />
Texas in St. Louis<br />
<br />
Indiana in IndianapolisWackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-23664016763402938032010-10-28T10:52:00.000-04:002010-10-28T10:52:08.897-04:00Declan Sullivan: Rest in PeaceI was getting ready to post my weekly Irish blogger Gathering post this morning when I read the horribly tragic news about Declan Sullivan, a 20-year old student at Notre Dame, whose life was cut short when the scissor lift that he was in fell over, causing mortal injuries. He died later at Memorial Hospital. Declan was filming football practice.<br />
<br />
I am deeply saddened by this tragedy, and as a member of the Notre Dame and South Bend community, my heart goes out to the friends and family of Declan Sullivan. There will be a mass on campus tonight at 10 o'clock p.m. at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.<br />
<br />
There will be no IBG post this week, as now football has taken a back seat to this tragedy. Indeed, I no longer care whether we win or lose against Tulsa, or even if we play the game.<br />
<br />
Also, I am infuriated that this young man was even up in the lift yesterday. As I was walking down the street in South Bend yesterday, I literally had to lean into the wind to stay upright myself. It was the worst wind storm I've ever seen in my time living here. The person who was responsible for asking that young man to take a mobile scissor lift 60 feet into the air under such conditions should be held accountable for their gross negligence. This is an inexcusable tragedy that could have been prevented by a little application of common sense.<br />
<br />
I cannot imagine the pain and suffering his family is going through right now. Please say a prayer for them in their time of need.<br />
<br />
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of Declan Sullivan and all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-28800699339074228342010-10-12T15:16:00.004-04:002010-10-12T15:41:09.117-04:00Irish Blogger Gathering: Tailgating Hall of Fame Edition<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 17px;"><br />
Matt over at <a href="http://wenevergraduate.blogspot.com/">We Never Graduate</a> is hosting this week's Irish Blogger Gathering, and with a MAC team on their way to town, we're going to examine some bigger picture issues surrounding the program. Like whose friends are the most awesomest tailgating companions ever. (Answer: mine)<br />
<br />
<b>1. The Irish have posted back-to-back victories over teams that have given us fits the past decade to pull back to .500, but when you head to the message boards on ND Nation, Rivals, etc. all you see is unrelenting negativity. Some cry Kelly's in over his head and doomed to fail, others bitch and moan about the run-to-pass ratio, and many more say that even though we've won the last two there's no improvement over last year's team. What's your take on the negativity that's swirling around the program on the internet? What message would you like to convey to ND Nation?</b><br />
<br />
I think that the negativity of many of these posters stems from the roller-coaster ride we've had with our last few coaches. Almost every true Notre Dame fan has drunk the Kool-Aid with at least one of the last three coaches, and gotten burned as a result. This time around, many people wanted us to hire a proven winner, like Bob Stoops or Urban Meyer, to ensure that we wouldn't have to go down this road again. However, luring one of those coaches away from their top-tier job is easier said than done, while still holding true to our ideals.<br />
<br />
What I would like to convey to NDNation is to take a deep breath, relax, and let the season play out. We're not winning it all this year, so sit back and enjoy the ride. Coach may make a few mistakes, and we may not be as good as we're capable of being. That said, a firestorm of negativity won't be good for the psyche of this program. Give them some leash, and let them go out there an play. Support your team for once and let these kids have some fun. We should see improvement throughout the year, and next year this team should be clicking along on all cylinders.<br />
<br />
And believe me, whether you like the spread or not, it will score enough points to win every game on the schedule.</div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><b>2. When Western Michigan and Tulsa were announced as 2010 opponents last fall there was a full-throttle meltdown among ND fans that was surpassed only by </b><a href="http://wenevergraduate.blogspot.com/2010/04/creators-of-this-video-anathema-sit.html" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><b>The F-Word Incident</b></a><b> in April in terms of sheer outrage. Well, if the opinions expressed then are the same now the apocalypse has finally arrived and a MAC squad is about to forever sully our field by stepping foot on it. Have your thoughts on the Western Michigan/Tulsa games changed since they were announced? Would you rather ND Stadium sell out and continue the streak that extends back almost 40 years or see the streak broken so that the powers-that-be know just how disrespected you feel by the audacity they showed in scheduling such inferior opponents?</b><br />
<br />
Honestly, I want the stadium to sell out, beat the ever-living crap out of these teams, and use it to build confidence moving forward. I'm not a big fan of watering down the schedule, but picture the difference between the team this year sitting at 5-3 heading into Utah versus 3-5 had we scheduled Oklahoma and Miami for those two games. <br />
<br />
And for those people that are so pissed at the scheduling, Western Michigan was only added because the deal with TCU fell through - think anybody would be complaining if the #4/5 team in the country were on it's way to town? Scheduling is difficult as an independent, and the transition at athletics director left us with a couple of holes to fill. At least we didn't slot in any FCS teams.<br />
<br />
Swarbrick has done some really good things to improve the schedule going forward, but ultimately this season sets up well for a young and developing team. These will be confidence games where the team can hopefully find a rhythm on offense, do some spectacular things on defense, and build up the psyche of the team heading into the showdown with Utah.</div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><b>3. Most people painted AD Jack Swarbrick as the villain when the Western Michigan/Tulsa games were made public. Since then he's made drastic moves in locking down opponents on future schedules, went through the process of firing Weis and hiring Kelly, and navigated ND through the murky waters of conference realignment. Has your personal opinion on Swarbrick been altered over the past year?</b><br />
<br />
I was high on Swarbrick when he was hired. Too many people were quick to lay the blame on him for trying to fill the holes left by his predecessor. Indeed, most of the people that didn't like Swarbrick didn't like him because he talks like a lawyer. He's never going to say that conference membership won't happen, because things could change drastically. He's not going to throw his predecessor and colleague under the bus, because he may need Kevin White at some point in the future if we wanted to try and schedule a basketball game with Duke. He's quietly dismantled the 7-4-1 model while not throwing it in Kevin White's face. He made the best possible decision regarding the coaching hire. He has shown a commitment to creating a schedule worthy of Notre Dame. He's a big-time player with the clout to lead this athletics program through the often rough waters of college football independence. Do you really think that BYU would have gone independent without the support of Swarbrick and Notre Dame?<br />
<br />
This guy is a Notre Dame man who understands far better than any of us the position we occupy in the college football landscape. He has the connections and the leadership ability to put this program back at the top of college football. But Rome wasn't built in a day. Give him time, and he'll right the ship.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><b>4. We're at the halfway point so it's a perfect time to step back real quick and evaluate what's happened thus far. What have been your two biggest surprises at this juncture of the season? Choose one positive and one negative.</b><br />
<br />
<u>Positive:</u> We can kick a field goal. I talked about this last week, but it's amazing what a decent field goal unit can do for your ability to win games. Just look at the Pitt game - we went 3-3, they want 1-2. They make that chip shot they missed, and we miss the 50 yarder, and all of a sudden we're looking at an overtime game. Ruffer is perfect on field goals this year - 11/11. For the record, that puts him tied for second among kickers that are still perfect, with only the Southern Miss kicker having kicked more field goals without a miss (he's tied with the kicker from Oklahoma State).<br />
<br />
<u>Negative:</u> This offense is still horribly inconsistent. We turn the ball over too often, stagnate for long stretches of the game, and aren't as efficient as we ought to be at this point. This offense is loaded with weapons, but they still haven't gotten to that unconscious competence point yet. You'll notice that the faster the offense plays, the better they do. That's because we aren't giving them time to think. Once this team can settle in and stop thinking about it, we can be a very explosive offense. But thus far, I've been very disappointed. </div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><b>5. Which player that hasn't contributed much to this point in the season do you see emerging as a contributor down the stretch?</b></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><br />
Michael Floyd. This may seem a bit disingenuous for a guy that is our leading receiver (in yards), but we all know that Michael Floyd is capable of being one of the dominant receivers in the country. He simply hasn't been that player yet, and I'm expecting for him to start getting it in the second half of the season, especially as Theo Riddick continues to develop his reputation as a playmaker, <s>and hopefully as Kyle Rudolph gets back to 100%.</s> [Note: Breaking news from South Bend - Kelly says Kyle Rudolph shutting it down for the season]<br />
<br />
As far as players that really haven't contributed much, I'm going to go with Prince Shembo. The kid has shown a play-making ability, as he has 2.5 sacks already in limited playing time. He'll see a lot more minutes and show his disruptive ability as the season wears on.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><b>6. Scholarships are running thin and some tough decisions are going to have to be made this spring when it comes to offering 5th years to current seniors. If you're Coach Kelly who do you offer and who is left out in the cold to make room for the incoming freshman class? Here's </b><a href="http://notredame.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=961&CID=1127218" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><b>a link to the 2011 scholarship chart</b></a><b> for a list of potential 5th years.</b><br />
<br />
Offered (in order of preference):<br />
<br />
Harrison Smith, Safety<br />
Safety depth is a huge problem for this team, and bringing Harrison Smith back for his 5th year would be a great move. He seems to finally be settling in at the position, and he's really stepped up as a leader for this team. I fully expect to see him on the field next year for the Irish.<br />
<br />
Gary Gray, Cornerback<br />
Gary has shown himself to be a very coachable player with a lot of speed and natural athletic ability. While there is plenty of talent coming up behind him, I'd be very happy to see him suiting up at corner again next year.<br />
<br />
Taylor Dever, Matt Romine, and Andrew Nuss, Offensive line<br />
There is no way you let a 5th year eligible player with significant playing experience go on the offensive line. Playing time is by far the best single indicator of future performance here, so I think you bring all of them back to compete. Especially Dever.<br />
<br />
Mike Ragone, Tight End<br />
Talented kid who is doing some pretty solid work in Kyle Rudolph's shadow. He hasn't put himself in the position to be a NFL prospect yet, but he has the athletic ability to cause some pretty big matchup problems next year if he continues to develop towards his potential.<br />
<br />
Passed on:<br />
<br />
Steve Paskorz & Emeka Nwankwo<br />
Both of these players have essentially been buried on the depth chart, and there is plenty of young talent behind them that can push for starting time in their stead. Thanks guys, but we do have scholarship limits to deal with here. At least you'll have that Notre Dame degree to fall back on.</div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><br style="line-height: 17px;" /></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><b>7. *****BONUS***** You've been challenged to a Tailgate Olympiad by some chaunce from Southern Cal and you need to assemble a dream team of your fellow Irish fans to compete in the following events: </b><br />
<b>Full Beer Flip Cup (four-man team), Beer Pong, Hamburger Eating Contest (two-man team), Cornhole/Bags/Whatever You Call It, Individual Case Race, and Thunderdome (one shotgun per minute until someone can't answer the bell). Your captaincy role on this team is Ryder Cup style so you'll be monitoring the proceedings rather than actually partaking. Throw some internet love out to your fellow tailgate All-Stars that have delivered through the years and let us know who you'd put in each slot to make sure Troy fell in the parking lot as well as on the field...and while you're at it, tell us what three songs you'd be blasting as you rolled to victory.</b><br />
<br />
<u>Full Beer Flip Cup (four-man team)</u><br />
Lacey - 30th Birthday flip-cup champion<br />
Nivas<br />
Shaggy<br />
Libbie (that's right, Wes, I picked your wife over you. Deal.)<br />
<br />
<u>Beer Pong</u><br />
1. Laura Waechter<br />
2. Chris Waechter<br />
First alternate: Lisa Waechter<br />
Shout-out to my family, who have proven time and again their ability to focus even after many rounds of beer pong. The Waechters are unstoppable at beer pong, my friends. Don't even try...<br />
<br />
<u>Hamburger Eating Contest (two-man team)</u><br />
1. George Kalber<br />
2. Len Kalber<br />
First alternate: Dave Grimm<br />
Second alternate: Tim Kelly (if he can eat hamburgers even remotely like he can eat spaghetti, this wouldn't even be close)<br />
Believe me, if you saw these guys, you would just forfeit on the spot.<br />
<br />
<u>Cornhole/Bags/Whatever You Call It</u><br />
Briege Gish, Good Guys, Team Captain<br />
Brad 'Hoss' Jordan - Oldest and best tailgating partner in crime<br />
<br />
<u>Individual Case Race</u><br />
Any one of the crazy Canadians Hoss and I tailgated with that one time. They got out of the car, and there were 3 of them. There were 7 cases of beer. They invited us to join (we had one case of our own), and there was nary a drop left by gametime. Anything involving cases of beer, I'm going to draft those guys. Bonus points for also sporting the ND tats.<br />
<br />
<u>Thunderdome (one shotgun per minute until someone can't answer the bell)</u><br />
Andrew LaBreche<br />
First alternate: Jason Weaver<br />
<br />
<u>Three songs</u><br />
Notre Dame Victory March - Can never get enough of this on gameday, so this will always be on heavy rotation. That said, I'm not taking away one spot of the precious three for so obvious an answer.<br />
<br />
1. Dropkick Murphys - Shipping Up To Boston<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x-64CaD8GXw?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x-64CaD8GXw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
2. Guns 'N Roses - Welcome to the Jungle<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/o1tj2zJ2Wvg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/o1tj2zJ2Wvg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
3. AC/DC - Thunderstruck (Live)<br />
<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k7Phj_FTugY?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k7Phj_FTugY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
</div>Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-66412509477990649262010-10-08T23:51:00.000-04:002010-10-08T23:51:11.228-04:00Irish Blogger Gathering: Teaching the Wannestache a Thing or Two...<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=15561288&postID=6641250947799064926">Irish Round Table</a> is hosting this week's Irish Blogger Gathering, and he's making me into a fortune-telling teacher this week.<br />
<br />
<b>1)Grade Brian Kelly's performance to date. We're not interested in how you think he will perform going forward. How has he done through the first five games? Grade scale is A+ to F-.</b><br />
<br />
I'd give Coach Kelly a <b>B-</b>. He's clearly upgraded the fundamentals of this team, especially on defense. It's a sound football team that is capable of competing with anybody except for the elite teams in the country.<br />
<br />
Of course, we still have a losing record. And what really matters is winning and losing on Saturday. We turn the ball over too often, which is one of the few fundamentals that we are not sound in. Clearly, we've practiced form tackling and tip drill on defense, and we are blocking better overall and running better routes. But we need to work on ball security.<br />
<br />
<b>2)Much has been made of Brian Kelly's sideline rants. Some fans like the excitement and energy others are worried that they are excessive and will wear thin on the players. Where do you stand?</b><br />
<br />
He's a football coach. He's been a football coach for 20 years. He knows when to teach, he knows when to coddle, and he knows when to dress somebody down. Now, would his approach work in a boardroom? No. But this isn't a boardroom, it's a football field. And these kids are going from moment to moment in a high stakes, high adrenaline, high emotion fast-paced high pressure environment. Taking 10 minutes to calmly critique the mechanics of a kick or a catch is not really an option on gameday. Telling a kid that if he doesn't get his act together, there are three kids sitting on the bench waiting to take his spot is often appropriate.<br />
<br />
I don't believe for one second that Kelly will lose his team by yelling at them. He's a fiery guy in the heat of battle, and he wants his team to have that same mentality. You're also going to see him get just as animated when a player makes a great play, and he'll be effusive in his praise at those times as well.<br />
<br />
<b>3)What is the best storyline for Notre Dame football this year? The best storyline in college football?</b><br />
<br />
Notre Dame: David Ruffer becoming a clutch kicker. I can't remember the last time I didn't have to hold my breath on every single field goal attempt. Plus, you add in the Rudy-esque background story, making the team after kicking for the Siegfried Hall inter-hall team, and this is my favorite story-line this season.<br />
<br />
College Football: I'm not really sold on any of the storylines developing this year in college football. Right now, I think that Oregon's juggernaught of an offense may be the best thing going.<br />
<br />
<b>4)We are going to test your prognostication skills with a little IBG prediction contest. Predict the following for this week's Pitt game:</b><br />
<br />
<u>Kyle Rudolf receptions:</u> 6<br />
<u>Points scored by Notre Dame's defense:</u> 0<br />
<u>Carries by Robert Hughes:</u> 3<br />
<u>Points Notre Dame wins by:</u> 9<br />
<u>Tackles Manti T'eo registers:</u> 12<br />
<u>Pass attempts by Tommy Rees:</u> 0<br />
<u>Taylor Swift in Attendance(for 2 points at 5:1 odds; a correct "Yes" equals 10 points a correct "No" equals two):</u> Yes (of course I'm gonna go for the 10 spot here)<br />
<br />
Winner will receive a prominent post on the Irish Round Table extolling their website and awesomeness. <br />
<br />
<b>5)What would you like to see in place of the yellow mums on the Notre Dame sidelines?</b><br />
<br />
Why would I ever want to change the yellow mums? They are as much a part of this stadium as anything. Maybe we could add in some blue flowers for the blue/gold combo. But really, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-21545525002264917992010-09-28T11:07:00.005-04:002010-10-01T10:47:38.117-04:00Irish Blogger Gathering: Backing into Backup College<b>1. After 3 straight losses, there appear to be two camps of fans: A. The sky is falling. Coach Kelly is not a good coach, not a good fit, probably won't ever win a game and should be fired today. B. Coach Kelly is still totally awesome, and you had to expect some bumps and bruises as he builds the team - remember Holtz's first year?<br />
Which camp do you fall into, and why?</b><br />
<br />
I'm still firmly in the "Kelly is still awesome" camp, but that position took a huge blow this week. I thought we were the better team each of the first three weeks (despite the two losses), but last week I never really felt that way. Of course, there's a reason Stanford is ranked in the top 10, but it hurts that we're simply not in that class right now. I'd say that this team is fully capable of being a top 20 team this season, but their inexperience in the system is going to cost us a good year. Also, I think that if we can get wins in the next two weeks, the ship will be righted and the fan-base will become reunited in their support of Coach Kelly.<br />
<br />
<b>2. With the current state of the program, put yourself in a recruit's shoes. If you had offers from all 12 schools on our schedule and Notre Dame, which would you pick right now and why? Who would your top 3 be?</b><br />
<br />
I'd pick Notre Dame, but then I'm an alum and a total homer. So I'm going to discount my personal bias and pick from the rest.<br />
<br />
And I'm going to spend my football career at: the University of Utah. <br />
They are an up and coming program that's poised to enter the Pac-10 and really make some waves. I like Coach Wittingham and I like that the program is 86-30 since 2000 and has a 12-3 record in bowl games, tops in the nation among teams that have played 10 or more bowl games - and that includes their two wins in BCS games (both years where they should have had a shot at the title.<br />
<br />
I wanted to go to Stanford, but then I met Coach Harbaugh, and got physically ill at the thought of spending four years around him.<br />
<br />
And to round out the top three, I spent some time seriously considering the Naval Academy. But then, I'm not really a morning person.<br />
<br />
<b>3. What's the trajectory of this season? Is this going to spiral downward into a 2007-esque kind of year, or will the team rally and start winning some game against quality opponents?</b><br />
<br />
I know I've picked the Irish to win every game this year, and they're sitting here with a 1-3 record. I've watched enough of this Irish football team to know that they're good, but not great. We will win the games against Western Michigan, Tulsa and Army. We will lose to USC, Utah and probably Pitt. We should beat BC and Navy, but there's no guarantees there, as we still continually shoot ourselves in the foot. Which means a 6-6 record.<br />
<br />
That said, if this team gets better as the season progresses (which they have somewhat, until they regressed this week) - this could still be a solid season. This team is capable of winning out. But until I see some evidence that they've learned that killer instinct, I'm going to withhold judgment. <br />
<br />
<b>4. Give me your top 5 reasons why you'd rather go to Notre Dame than Backup College.</b><br />
<br />
5. <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=college%20sucks">Boston College sucks.</a><br />
<br />
4. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wiBmH_GtzPI/RxOJm2m_W3I/AAAAAAAAADk/YtsNQf6qTZ4/s1600-h/rudy.jpg">BC people are assholes.</a><br />
<br />
3. <a href="http://cdn.faniq.com/images/blog/94641909baf3013f434e01849e010edf.jpg">Academics.</a><br />
<br />
2. <a href="http://www.bluegraysky.com/images/tn1_BC_turf.jpg">No respect for how difficult it is to maintain a real grass field.</a><br />
<br />
1. <a href="http://www.ces.clemson.edu/~akapadi/photos/BC_Stadium.jpg">I like football.</a><br />
<br />
<b>5. I'm depressed after our third straight loss. Do your best to cheer me up and convince me that I should still be excited about this weekend's game.</b><br />
<br />
Since I hosted this week, I feel I should be exempted from answering. However, I will post my favorite answers as they roll in...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://onefootdown.fantake.com/2010/09/28/irish-blogger-gathering-backing-into-backup-college-2/">One Foot Down weighs in (via Michael Collins, Irish revolutionary leader), telling me it's my job to get myself excited about the game this weekend - he'll have nothing to do with it.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://wenevergraduate.blogspot.com/2010/09/irish-blogger-gathering-backing-into.html">Matt at We Never Graduate submits that if I can't get fired up for Notre Dame football, there's something wrong with me.</a> And this is the correct answer. I don't care if we're 0-11 and playing a D-II school, I'd still be fired up come gameday.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.subwaydomer.com/2010-articles/september/irish-blogger-gathering-i-would-have-made-a-great-safety.html">Subway Domer, Safety, 6'1" 210 lbs, commits to the IBG.</a> "Drink up, and fire that shit up." Well said, my friend.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://irish.nbcsports.com/2010/09/ibg-holy-war-edition.html.php">Keith Arnold from NBC Sports gets a little testy.</a> Apparently, Backup College is offensive to those people who couldn't get into ND. (I kid, Brian!) He does a pretty good job of trying to get me fired up, but Matt and Subway had pretty much already fixed that.<br />
<br />
<b>6. If you could ask Coach Kelly any one question, what would it be?</b><br />
<br />
I'm also going to hold out on this one, as I'm working on actually having Coach Kelly answer the questions posed during the bye week. So tune in then to find out...Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-24531370266796627752010-09-21T18:31:00.000-04:002010-09-21T18:31:06.341-04:00Irish Blogger Gathering: Fear the Cardinal?1. After suffering through back to back heart breaking losses how have your expectations for this season changed? Has the rough start affected your expectations for the Brian Kelly era?<br />
<br />
Expectations for the season have changed somewhat. I still believe this is a pretty darn good football team, but they haven't quite developed that killer instinct necessary to close out an opponent when they get the chance. There's still a sense that the team waits for the other shoe to drop, as it has so many times in the past couple of years. I'm hoping that eventually these kids will get sick of losing close, last-second games and finally come out and beat the ever-living shit out of someone.<br />
<br />
Until they do, though, the quality BCS teams on the schedule will continue to give us fits. Does anybody else wish we could swap the Western Michigan and Stanford games right now?<br />
<br />
As far as the Brian Kelly era, my expectations haven't changed. We haven't gotten blown out of any games, and the fundamentals of this team continue to be strong. I am concerned about the number of turnovers we've had, but that's exactly the kind of thing you'd expect from a young inexperienced offense. Once we start taking care of the ball, these games should start to take care of themselves.<br />
<br />
2. Our defense has given up 28 points in both of our last two games. But our defense has also forced a few three and outs and has looked fairly stout out times. So on D, are we Jekyll or Hyde? Or are we just a work in progress?<br />
<br />
The biggest issue I have with the Brian Kelly system is that by de-emphasizing time of possession, the defense is on the field a lot. There are going to be more possessions in a game, and more opportunities for the opponent to score, thus resulting in more total points (on both sides). The biggest issue I've seen on defense is that we still occasionally make boneheaded plays that cost us the game.<br />
<br />
3. I've heard that Bill Walsh believed that if he saw a player make one great play, he and his staff could coach that player to consistently make great plays. The Irish offense clearly made some great plays against State. Our Offense also unfortunately disappeared at critical times. Are we just witnessing the process of Kelly and his staff teaching the lads to consistently make great plays?<br />
<br />
This question pretty much hits the nail on the head. This is a work in progress, and we're still crafting some of the pieces we need for this machine to run smoothly. For example, Theo Riddick finally learned how to play receiver, and that's another piece of the puzzle that we have put into place. We need the quarterback to do a better job of reading coverages and progressions. We need our #1 receiver to stop fumbling the ball in the end zone. We need to develop some depth at safety so we don't get beat by the occasional big play. We need to learn how to limit turnovers generally.<br />
<br />
4. Where would you rank Stanford among the Irish opponents? Would a defeat of the Cardinal be the biggest win of the last six years?<br />
<br />
I don't know if it would be the biggest win, but it would certainly be a big confidence booster for this program - especially if we find a way to do so convincingly. The problem with so many of the wins the last several years is that they have been close wins over what turned out to be over-rated opponents. If we can go out on the field and beat a top 15 Stanford team by two touchdowns, then it will be the biggest win in the last 6 years. It will inject some confidence into the team heading into two other big games against BC and Pitt. I think Stanford is the third best opponent on the schedule, behind Pitt and Utah, and slightly ahead of USC. A win would be very very good for this program.<br />
<br />
5. While many outsiders and a contingent of fans have cited ND's academic standards as a hindrance to football success, many Irish supporters consider Notre Dame's unique combination of strong academics and big-time football (and faith) as an advantageous niche in the college football world. With stricter admission standards and far-less football notoriety, Harbaugh's Cardinal have burst onto the national recruiting scene to again prove that plenty of really good football players welcome academic challenges as long as they come with a chance to compete at the highest level. Could you foresee sustained excellence by Stanford Football and would you perceive a perennially strong Cardinal program as any kind of a threat to Notre Dame's niche?<br />
<br />
I think that Stanford is capable of building a very strong perennial program, but I don't see them getting to the elite status of Notre Dame of years past, or the Florida, <br />
Texas, Southern Cal and Ohio State teams of the past decade. Sure, they can compete for the Pac-10 crown year-in and year-out, but I don't see them as perennial national title contenders. Notre Dame's uniqueness comes from a history of overcoming the challenges presented by maintaining your academic integrity while fielding an elite football team. Stanford does have some ancient history of elite football success, but they aren't built to sustain it, due to the unique nature of the college football beast compared to the Olympic sports programs.<br />
<br />
If the Cardinal find a way to compete at that elite level, they will certainly present a challenge to Notre Dame's niche, but the Irish also have the Catholic identity, which comes with the infamous "parietals" governing student behavior. Stanford is a good academic institution, but they hardly have the restrictions on student life. Parents love Notre Dame not only because of it's football tradition and strong academics, they also know that their sons will become Notre Dame Men.<br />
<br />
6. Let’s talk statistics. Will they matter this weekend?<br />
<br />
a. Coming into the game, Stanford has the #3 ranked Scoring Offense nationally (51.67 pts/gm) with the 14th ranked Rushing Offense (242.33 yds/gm). Notre Dame's Scoring Offense ranks 73rd (26.00 pts) with the 99th ranked Rushing Defense (197 yds/gm). <br />
<br />
Will the Irish be able to contain Stanford's rushing attack? <br />
<br />
This is really the key question to this weekend's matchup. Last year, Toby Gerhart mowed us down en route to nearly winning the Heisman trophy. This year, sans Gerhart, the Cardinal are still rolling. We let Denard Robinson make us look like fools, and Michigan State ran for over 200 yards against us.<br />
<br />
However, there are signs of improvement. In the fourth quarter, Michigan State only ran for 11 yards. And in OT, they were -4 yards. So, our defense got stronger as the game progressed. If we can avoid giving up the big play, we may be able to stop this Stanford rushing attack.<br />
<br />
b. Notre Dame's Passing Offense is 8th nationally (318 yds/gm) and Stanford's Passing Efficiency Defense is 3rd nationally (74 yds/gm). <br />
<br />
Will Stanford be able to contain the Irish passing attack? <br />
<br />
No. This offense is growing every week, and Stanford hasn't seen anything like the talent that Notre Dame has at their disposal. With Riddick starting to play like a complete receiver, Floyd will get more touches, TJ Jones will sneak out some good plays, and you know that Kyle Rudolph can be counted on in a pinch. This should be a high scoring game for the Irish, as long as we don't turn the ball over. <br />
<br />
c. Stanford gave up 170 yds rushing to UCLA and 265 yds rushing to Wake Forest. Notre Dame has averaged 133 yds/gm so far. <br />
<br />
Do you expect Kelly to utilize the Irish rushing attack more? <br />
<br />
I do. With the tape Kelly has on Stanford, I expect to see a lot of Armando Allen until they bring a safety down in the box. I expect to see some explosive pass plays as a result if the Irish can move the ball on the ground.<br />
<br />
d. Stanford is ranked 4th in Red Zone Defense (50%) while the Irish have the 65th ranked Red Zone Offense (82%). Stanford's Red Zone Offense is tied for 1st (100%) in conversions and the Irish Defense's Red Zone conversions allowed is 36th (75%). <br />
<br />
Will the Irish be able to stop Stanford's RZ conversions and improve theirs? How would you do that? <br />
<br />
Notre Dame will stop Stanford in the red zone on Saturday. And the Irish don't need to worry about their red zone offense, they need to worry about ball security.<br />
<br />
7. 1-2 is pretty tough to deal with for a football team still trying to find its identity. Meanwhile, Stanford is looking like a well-oiled machine thus far. Do you think this Irish squad can really bounce back from another heart-breaking loss against the Cardinal? What if it's not all that close?<br />
<br />
I tell you what, if this game gets out of hand and the Irish get spanked by the Cardinal, my confidence in Kelly will be badly shaken. I still think that the Irish are better than MSU and Michigan, but their own mistakes (blown coverages and turnovers, specifically) kept them from winning the game. If Stanford beats us soundly, then that means that we will have regressed as a team, as I think we are fully capable of going toe-to-toe with Stanford.<br />
<br />
Will we win the game? I don't know. The Cardinal offense has put up some pretty sick numbers so far. And I thought we'd be able to contain Denard Robinson, so I'm not exactly perfect here.<br />
<br />
In the end, though, I think that this team is frustrated because they know they are better than their record says. And they want to get out there and prove it.<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
Notre Dame 45<br />
Stanford 42Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-73941222621551546212010-09-15T17:17:00.000-04:002010-09-15T17:17:44.935-04:00Irish Blogger Gathering: Bring on SpartyAfter not even finishing last week's posting (I posted it only partially completed late Friday night from the bar on my friend's iPhone), I'm hoping to get this week's post done with plenty of time to spare.<br />
<br />
<b>1) Status check: How deflating was the loss to Michigan? I could argue that Crist's injury makes this loss both easier to swallow and even more maddening for Irish fans.</b><br />
<br />
For the first time in years, I wasn't exactly heartbroken after the loss. Michigan has a ridiculous talent in Denard Robinson, and we played without our starting quarterback for half the game. And we still had a chance to win at the end.<br />
<br />
In fact, this Irish time is almost exactly what I expected coming into the season - a very good football team with some depth issues, especially at quarterback. I said in the preseason that if we lose Crist, this season could get ugly, and everyone saw a glimpse of that on Saturday, as Michigan outscored us 21-0 with Crist out of the game.<br />
<br />
But with Crist at the helm, we beat Michigan 28-7.<br />
<br />
Injuries are part of the game, and I'm not trying to take anything away from Michigan's win - Denard Robinson did torch us for over 500 yards of offense. But I don't think there was anyone in the stands or watching at home that day that felt that Michigan was the better team when both are at full strength.<br />
<br />
This season is playing out exactly as I expected, except for the injury to Dayne Crist which knocked him out for most of the first half.<br />
<br />
<b>2) How critical is this Saturday's game? Walk away 2-1 and the Irish can feel good about taking on a very able Stanford squad at home next weekend. Walk out of East Lansing with a loss..?</b><br />
<br />
Every game is important in the college football season, but I said before the season that this game would be a barometer for the new regime. Michigan is not a great football team, and while they may have a good record this year behind Robinson, they are deficient in several other areas. Michigan State is a good football team, very solid across the board. Win against MSU, and that will bode well for the rest of the season.<br />
<br />
Lose, especially in the wake of losing to Michigan, and suddenly you have a top 20 team coming to town that becomes a must-win game for a 1-2 football team. Suddenly what looked like a brilliant hire starts to look like another possible mistake, and the fanbase has to resign themselves to another sub-par campaign practically before it begins.<br />
<br />
<b>3) Why does the rivalry with Michigan State seem to get so little respect?</b><br />
<br />
Simply because Notre Dame is everybody's rivalry. On just this year's schedule, the following teams consider this game a rivalry:<br />
<br />
Purdue - played for Shillelagh Trophy<br />
Michigan (no trophy, but considered a rivalry game)<br />
Michigan State - played for Megaphone Trophy<br />
Stanford - played for Legends Trophy<br />
Boston College - "Holy War" played for Frank Leahy Memorial Bowl and Ireland Trophy<br />
Navy - the longest uninterrupted intersectional series in college football<br />
Pittsburgh<br />
Army<br />
Southern Cal - played for Jeweled Shillelagh<br />
<br />
Listen to Coach D'Antonio's press conference this week, and all he can talk about is how important this rivalry is to the school and the players. He talks about the history and the tradition and how playing Notre Dame legitimized MSU so they could get into the Big Ten. Blah. Blah. Blah.<br />
<br />
Now, let me put together the list of schools that Notre Dame considers a rivalry game:<br />
<br />
Southern Cal<br />
Navy<br />
<br />
Funny how one of those lists is shorter than the other. You might be able to add Michigan, but that's more of a grudge match than a rivalry. Fact is, we don't really consider Michigan State a true rivalry. But they do. And that's why it doesn't get much respect.<br />
<br />
<b>4) It's hard to draw too many conclusions from victories over Western Michigan and Florida Atlantic, but what do you expect this Saturday night in Spartan Stadium?</b><br />
<br />
I expect to see another classic Notre Dame - Michigan State matchup. I think that it will be a relatively close game for much of the game, but I do expect the Irish to pull away late. Of course, we get another injury to Dayne Crist, and all bets are off. But I'm hoping that will be our only injury scare of the season, and that we'll be at full strength the whole game.<br />
<br />
Michigan State will come out trying to establish the run, but they don't have a weapon on par with Denard Robinson. Our defense should be able to contain their offense for the most part, although their grind-it-out style will score them some points.<br />
<br />
On offense, we should be able to move the ball effectively. Greg Jones is a beast in the middle of the defense, so our running game may not be the most effective. But if we attack the perimiter, we should be able to score early an often.<br />
<br />
<b>5) Best case, worst case, most likely: The Irish's record after the first six games.</b><br />
<br />
<u>Best case:</u> 5-1<br />
We should be able to compete with everyone on the schedule, especially if we continue to improve and grow in our offensive and defensive systems.<br />
<br />
<u>Worst case:</u> 1-5<br />
Injuries and mistakes could kill us, and all 4 of the teams we face in the next four weeks are fully capable of beating us if we aren't ready.<br />
<br />
<u>Most likely:</u> 4-2<br />
I think that we can beat MSU and BC and split the games against Stanford and Pitt.<br />
<br />
<b>6) Let's leave Michael Floyd out of this for a second. What Irish player needs to step up and play better football?</b><br />
<br />
Theo Riddick. Michael Floyd needs Theo to start catching balls and making plays so that the opposing defense has to respect his abilities. If they can roll the coverage to Floyd, and Riddick still only catches 2 balls a game, we're not going to become the explosive offense we are capable of becoming. If he can't get the job done, find someone who can. Next man in.Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15561288.post-38861460826727909332010-09-10T22:17:00.000-04:002010-09-10T22:17:09.368-04:00Irish Blogger Gathering Episode II: Attack of the SkunkbearsFor no good reason, I'm feeling a Star Wars themed IBG coming on this week. Probably because whenever we play Michigan, I feel like we are the Jedi Knights to their evil Sith. "<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>You've now seen Notre Dame Football: The Kelly Edition, Volume 1, Episode 1. Was it everything you thought it would be? Were characters missing from this episode that you were expecting to see featured? DiPd it strike you as a carbon-copy of Kelly's Cincinnati teams, or is there something discernible between the 2 programs beyond the colors of the uniforms?</b><br />
<br />
"Great, kid. Don't get cocky." (Han Solo, Episode IV)<br />
<br />
<u>Brian Kelly's Recipe for success at prior stops</u><br />
Start with one mediocre to poor team. Beat soundly at a very rapid pace until smooth fundamentals appear. Pray for a shot to coach a team which can compete for championships when it wins all of their games.<br />
<br />
<u>Brian Kelly's Recipe for success at Notre Dame</u><br />
Start with one mediocre to poor team. Add a healthy heaping helping of top quality talent. Beat soundly at a very rapid pace until smooth fundamentals appear. Win championships.<br />
<br />
Look, you had to know that this team would closely resemble Kelly's Cincinnati team. You don't coach for 20+ years without developing some kind of identity. But there is one major distinction between Kelly's Cincinnati teams and Kelly's Notre Dame teams. That system that managed to eke out an undefeated season at Cincinatti is now playing with some much more high octane fuel. Once this thing is running on all cylinders, look out.<br />
<br />
<b>2) Pick one positive play, offense or defense, by the Irish from last Saturday that you feel serves as a bit of metaphorical foreshadowing for the 2010 Irish. Extra points if you can stretch the metaphor to fit Kelly's entire tenure at Notre Dame.</b><br />
<br />
"I think my eyes are getting better. Instead of a big dark blur, I see a big light blur." (Han Solo, Episode V)<br />
<br />
Let's take a look at Armando Allen's touchdown run - 22 yards to paydirt. It was quick, it was flashy, but it was possible because of the solid fundamentals of every player on the field. Also, that play (as the culmination of that entire series) illustrates why I believe Kelly will win at Notre Dame.<br />
<br />
Kelly's teams play solid fundamental assignment football across the board, and this play demonstrates it. Excellent blocking at the point of attack, creating a running seam, then a good downfield block by receiver Michael Floyd, and a fired up Armando Allen runs to paydirt. Why was Allen so fired up? Because the three previous plays chewed up half the field behind the excellent runnning of his backup, Cierre Wood. Next man in? You better believe Armando can feel the heat from the talented redshirt freshman. Also, despite all of the concern about Kelly's pass-happy spread offense, it shows that he knows the strength of his team and will coach to the strengths - that drive started at the 16, and consisted of 2 passes for 21 yards and 5 runs for 73 yards. No square peg in a round hole here.<br />
<br />
It also shows the trajectory of Notre Dame football I expect to see under Coach Kelly - while we may not get off to the fastest start (first two drives covered 26 and 21 yards respectively), once the cylinders start clicking, we will be tough to stop (84 yds, TD; 50 yds, FG; 45 yds FG; 30 yds, TD; 53 yds, fumble on the 3, nearly a TD). Here's hoping, however, that we can continue to find a way to win, despite not hitting on all cylinders just yet.<br />
<br />
<b>3) Pick another play, offense or defense, by the Irish from last Saturday again, but this time, make it a negative play. Tell us how that play serves as a bit of metaphorical foreshadowing for the 2010<br />
Irish. And again, bonus points for stretching it over Kelly's tenure. </b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium;"><b><br />
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"Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." (Yoda, Episode I)<br />
<br />
Funny thing about this game is that I left without any complaints. Sure, there were a few things we could do better. But on the whole, I felt like we played a largely error-free game where we executed just like we wanted to on offense and defense. Now, we're not exactly top tier material yet, but this coaching staff did an excellent job of putting our kids in the position to win. And for the first time in a long while, I wasn't afraid of anyone on our schedule.<br />
<br />
If you force my hand, though, I'll pick Michael Floyd fumble on the 3-yard line. For 2010, I think that (similar to 2005), we'll show some serious promise for the future, but find a way to shoot ourselves in the foot with our inexperience, costing us what could potentially be an incredible season.<br />
<br />
However, I'm going to pass on the bonus points, as I see truly great things for the future of the Irish program under Kelly.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b></b><b>4) You know us, we're stat geeks. Give us a stat that we should be </b><b>watching this season that will A) Tell us something enlightening about </b><b>the 2010 Irish and/or B) Tell us something enlightening about the </b><b>average Top-5 teams at the end of the 2010 season.</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
"Do or do not, there is no try." (Yoda, Episode V)<br />
<br />
Because I'm worried about the youth of this team, I'm going to look at the stat that Brian Kelly mentioned in his press conference this week - striving to be less than 12% critical mistakes. This team is talented enough to beat anyone in the country, as long as they do what they are capable of doing. As long as we can continue to install more and more of the offense, while maintaining our discipline and limiting errors, the sky is the limit.<br />
<br />
Because that stat is not readily available, however, I'm going to say take a look at average yards per carry on the ground. Not number of yards, but average yards per carry. Good teams run the ball effectively when they choose to do so.<br />
<br />
2009 [Notre Dame 3.84 ypc]<br />
1. Alabama (5.01 ypc)<br />
2. Texas (4.03 ypc)<br />
3. Florida (5.59 ypc)<br />
4. Boise State (5.13 ypc)<br />
5. Ohio State (4.51 ypc)<br />
<br />
2008 [Notre Dame 3.27 ypc]<br />
1. Florida (5.94 ypc)<br />
2. Utah (4.08 ypc)<br />
3. USC (5.04 ypc)<br />
4. Texas (4.29 ypc)<br />
5. Oklahoma (4.72 ypc)<br />
<br />
Nobody makes it to the elite level without being able to run the ball. An average ypc of over 4 means that you are effective on the ground, and can count on your running game to keep the defense honest. Notre Dame's yards per carry against Purdue? 4.25 ypc<br />
<br />
<b>5) Notre Dame is currently a 4 point favorite in the coming Michigan game. You get 3 points for being at home. The AP poll actually ranks Michigan higher than ND. ND is 1-4-1 in the last 6 games with Michigan in which the Irish were favored and 9 and 6 in the last 15 games in which Michigan was favored. Does any of this worry you? Why or why not?</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-size: medium;"><br />
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"The fear of loss is a path to the Dark Side." (Yoda, Episode III)<br />
<br />
Honestly, I haven't been worried about Michigan all week. I've watched the tape for both teams, and I just think UConn's defense was undisciplined and lacked fundamentals. The Irish defense I saw on Saturday, assuming they show up and do what they do, will make Michigan's offense look pedestrian. I saw so many missed tackles and blown assignments by the UConn defense, that I think that Robinson's stats are more about their opponent than his abilities.<br />
<br />
That said, Michigan will score some points. And we'll probably let Robinson slip out of our grasp and gash us a couple of times. But ultimately, we just won't make that many mistakes.<br />
<br />
And on offense, Michigan's secondary is ripe for the picking. If we can come out and establish any semblance of a running game, this one could get out of hand. Michigan simply does not have enough bodies in the secondary to cover us if we go 5 wide.<br />
<br />
Also, this ain't your Charlie Willingham Irish anymore - we have a new coach in town, one that's actually got experience coaching football. <br />
<br />
"I sense something. A presence I haven't felt since..." (Darth Vader, Episode IV)<br />
<br />
<b>6) Last week, Frank at UHND put the Gathering on the spot with our </b><b>predictions for the season. After week 1, are there any of those </b><b>predictions that you'd like to alter? Any upon which you'd double </b><b>down?</b><br />
<br />
"Always in motion is the future." (Yoda, Episode V)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Actually, based upon what I saw this week, I'm even more confident in<br />
<br />
<b>7) Describe in no fewer than 30 words why you hate Michigan.</b><br />
<br />
"[Ann Arbor]. You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy." (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Episode IV)<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<a href="http://domerlaw.blogspot.com/2010/09/michigan-sucks.html">Michigan sucks.</a><br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
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"YAHOOOO!! You're all clear kid, now let's blow this thing and go home." (Han Solo, Episode IV)Wackohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11573984468865704789noreply@blogger.com2