Keep Orson away from the MBA tailgaters, at least with a camera in his hand! Make sure he gets over to see step-off and grabs a KofC steak sandwich! Go Irish! Beat UCLA!!!!!!!!

Oh--and what the heck happened with Hornung's pants at the pep rally????
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 7:27 am | #

WE R ND! goooooooooo IRISH!!! GONA LEAVE THE BRUINS IN RUINS!
irish23 | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 7:37 am | #

Is there a way to get the All Access stadium cam to work with Firefox, or do I have to use IE-6 (dread)??
onehipdad | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 10:49 am | #

This is the type of game we used to lose under Willingham. We're at home, heavily favored, but playing a wounded, but quality opponent. Should be interesting.

Go Irish!
Bernie P. | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 1:50 pm | #

Finally some Irish football! GO IRISH!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 2:13 pm | #

37-10. We need that type of win, and most importantly, we need to look sharp.
BTW: when did we buy Gameday?
Go Irish
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 2:17 pm | #

ok boys, here is the question....

Tressel ball has T. Smith passing for touchdowns twice inside he 4 yard line against INDIANA... not only that but T. Smith is still in the game at 35-3.

Would Charlie do such a thing for Heisman inflation stats... this Tressel ball is pissing me off. Its Indiana. This is demoralizing a completely inferior opponent.

any thoughts?
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 2:25 pm | #

Maybe Tressel's got Smith in there for extra credit in his "Football 101" course (I'm not making that up - Tressel really teaches such a course attended by his players for actual credit).
Bernie P. | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 2:29 pm | #

The Dolphins! The Dolphins!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 2:43 pm | #

Play Like A Champion Today, boys! Let's go Irish!!!

(Oh, and go Huskers! TD to pull within 3 of UT)
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 2:48 pm | #

Damnit Darius!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 2:50 pm | #

Fumble, Penalty...bye-week hangover?
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 2:53 pm | #

The penalty could be bye-week hangover, but the turnover was just a good hit.

Nice shank!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 2:56 pm | #

that was just a nice hit by the defender, not completely darius's fault
Tim | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 2:56 pm | #

Okay, thanks--Don Criqui is great, but radio only tells you so much. Morning from Tokyo, by the way!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 2:58 pm | #

Good coverage downfield. Nothing for Brady to go to there.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:01 pm | #

It's 0-0...why do I feel like we're down a score?
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:06 pm | #

Because we've had two possessions and haven't shown anything yet. Not to mention we can't seem to stop the slant or the inside running game.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:07 pm | #

Great stop! Now let's see Brady and company do something
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:09 pm | #

There we go D!!!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:10 pm | #

overthrew an easy touchdown
Tim | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:11 pm | #

Touchdown HUSKERS!!!!!!!!!!! Halfback passes work against teams other than us!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:11 pm | #

Why can we never just come out SWINGING?
AlumniHall99 | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:14 pm | #

Carlson = Man Crush
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:15 pm | #

Shark! Hands! Go Irish!
JJ | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:16 pm | #

HUGE man-crush.

Nice pass to Shark. Touchdown IRISH!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:16 pm | #

Lambert is becoming a stud.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:20 pm | #

Nice job of Darius standing up for himself there. About the only good thing about that drive.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:25 pm | #

Nebraska is going to lose. Bummer.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:32 pm | #

UT's missed 3 fg's, and put in the 2nd string kicker...here it goes...
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:34 pm | #

Why does the secondary have to get beat every friggin game?????
LeftCoaster | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:38 pm | #

there was some comments about Zibby being out of place.... exhibit A... 54 yard td..... dude creeps up way to close...too often.
Brian Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:39 pm | #

i also dont care that it was a play action pass, in case anyone wants to make that argument... his nose for the ball often leaves him way out of position... head hunting is not a good 'safety' for the defense.
Brian Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:41 pm | #

The problem the defense has is that it can only stop one thing at a time. The way their RB has been going, Zibby and Ndukwe have no choice but to come up and stop the run. Any competent OC has the gameplan to score against ND. Run, run, run until you have success and then toss one down the field.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:45 pm | #

another difference between brady last year and this year.... dude doesnt want to throw it away, lets his happy feet takeover....end result is more sacks.
Brian Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:49 pm | #

If the Irish lose this game, I will be more disappointed that ND allowed itself to be associated with Howard Stern.
Homey Dogg | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:53 pm | #

Don't you love it when you flip away from ND to see some team like, say Nebraska hold on to a late lead. Except you see Texas put up a field goal, and flip right back to see UCLA setting up a PTA.

It's hard to fight the superstition.
obediah | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:53 pm | #

How predictable is the playcalling today. Pass, run, third and long over and over.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:55 pm | #

This team is not that good. My God, our offensive line is pathetic.
scott | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:55 pm | #

First our Heisman hopeful looks horrible on that drive, then our first half MVP shanks the punt. This doesn't look good.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:57 pm | #

On the bright side, Duke has come back against Miami, only down 5 now. Hmm.

So...do we have to wait for halftime adjustments for anything good to happen?????!?!?!?
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:57 pm | #

my god. brady looks like a sophomore again. that's two one-hops already on teh day
domer03inbmore | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:57 pm | #

DAMMIT.
Darius Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:58 pm | #

TACKLE THE FREAKIN' GUY ALREADY!!!!!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 3:58 pm | #

4th string TE gets a TD against us...great. Just great.

MINTER!!!!!!!!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:00 pm | #

JohnWA, as i write this Snead just went in for a TD.

but the offense predictability is right on the money. I want to see some of Aldridge today. I am really weary of Darius and his lack of commitment towards attacking the line and slow knees. I know there is some criticism on here that hasnt been warmly receieved. But we do need some new life in the backfield as exhibited today.

on the snead touchdown, more miss tackles in the secondary. pathetic.

bottom line, even if we win this game... we just are not top 10 competition yet. I think CAL would smoke us out.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:01 pm | #

not giving up yet. i just wish last years team had this years schedule. that couldve been something...
schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:04 pm | #

I really do think Darius is a good back, but he does have a lack of speed. As for his inability to attack the line, he's not that big of guy, so I can kind of see it. I was shocked when I met him at his lack of size. We definitely need to get Prince and Aldridge some reps to give UCLA a different type of threat.

And yes, the way we've been playing, Cal would kill us.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:06 pm | #

Okay, Darius needs to be put on the bench. He's just too slow. And our secondary still is weak. C'mon guys, it's UCLA. Aren't we favored by 14 pts...??
brian89 | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:06 pm | #

what happened to brady 05? he used to sit tight in the pocket and throw the ball. now he runs the moment he feels someone within 5 yards

and that's one-hop number 3 on the day
domer03inbmore | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:06 pm | #

Well, at least we're varying the playcalling. Now it's pass, run, run, QB sneak.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:08 pm | #

We have to go for it on 4th down WAY too much...
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:09 pm | #

john... the real variety is running two different QB sneaks in succession. one straight ahead, one over the left guard
domer03inbmore | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:09 pm | #

Did I mention my man crush on Carlson?
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:11 pm | #

I am a huge Darius fan, dont get me wrong. But what sold me on him was his debut against Mich. in '04. He was speedy on the outside pitch as a wee lad. I am just wondering what happened to that? As I write he just got stuffed shuffling his feet on the 10 yard line... didnt make it to the line cause he was dancin.

There is a huge difference between giving up a touchdown and teams scoring..... and Teams are scoring on us.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:12 pm | #

How can our O-line be that big and that experienced, especially on the left side, and STILL not get a push against UCLA's D-line?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:12 pm | #

QB sneak time again. Over the center or the left side?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:13 pm | #

Sam Young is showing some 'cajones. I like the kid.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:14 pm | #

we are the kings of the QB sneak. BCS bowl here we come!
schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:15 pm | #

He's a big boy, that's for sure. Like the fact that he's standing up for his QB, especially since he's only a frosh.

OK, seriously, get Aldridge on the field.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:16 pm | #

change of subject.... Pat Hayden should be relieved of his duties. I know we have a contract, but he is way to much of a homer. Plus, his resume is mostly ice skating.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:16 pm | #

?????
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:18 pm | #

What the heck was that? I know we're having success with the QB sneak, but geez!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:21 pm | #

Fake?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:21 pm | #

@#$#$%@#
Darius Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:22 pm | #

audible on the recognized blitz, ala Georgia Tech qb sneak. UCLA was ready for it.

Aldridge, Aldridge.....
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:24 pm | #

Bruin LB's are wreaking havoc... they have speed (like us), with size (not like us). their LB's can knock heads with anyone on the field. Our LB's get swallowed by any O-lineman coming off the line.

Here's to Chris Donald and other 5 star H.S. backers hopefully coming.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:25 pm | #

Why did we stop the no-huddle on that last drive?
Bernie P. | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:28 pm | #

Charlie probably wanted to run the clock out is the only thing I can think of for stopping the no huddle.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:31 pm | #

We need to no huddle the entire game. It's the only way we move the ball. Plus, our running game has been pathetic all year.
brian89 | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:44 pm | #

Why can't we run the ball? Is it Darius's slow feet or lack of holes from our experienced O-line? Or a combination of both?

I'm tired of seeing 3rd and 8.
brian89 | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:46 pm | #

maybe we should start saying that since we only recruit student athletes its harder to have a good running game. haha.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:49 pm | #

call me crazy, but a change of speed with thomas last year was REALLY effective.... i.e. USC game.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:49 pm | #

Another thrilling matchup of SEC offensive juggernauts on CBS. 3-3 late in the 2nd between 'Bama and Tenn.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:50 pm | #

shark returning punts? zibby still banged up?
schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:52 pm | #

Can we run a 5 yard sneak?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:54 pm | #

Bruin #33 is a gamer... been throwing his facemask in our mouth all game.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:54 pm | #

changing channels from NBC to ABC and seeing Henne throw lighting 10 yard outs makes me sick... we know Brady is better than this. He is lacking confidence and it shows.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:56 pm | #

Too many "3rd and long". We are not getting any yards on 1st & 2nd downs. God, we need a running game.
brian89 | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:57 pm | #

t laws baby.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 4:59 pm | #

here is a D-Coordinators plan for Darius Walker.... run straight at him.

People are waiting to see what he does anymore, ala Pitt '05. You run straight at Darius and you can take him down.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:01 pm | #

"people are not..."
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:01 pm | #

Why didn't we just go for it there? We all know that Gioia can't hit a 48 yarder.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:02 pm | #

we should have price kick FGs. if he can punt 80 yards, im assuming he can connect from 48 on a FG.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:04 pm | #

UCLA certainly is earning that national respect they were looking for. Or .. are we losing ours?

Walker certainly is looking like he won't get a shot to play on Sundays. That dropped pass was the last straw from me.

How about Brockington? He's playing well!


By the way, these Howard Stern commercials are really annoying.
bhatta | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:05 pm | #

Looks like we found a third linebacker at least. Then again, it's not saying much when it takes you six games to get a start behind a converted RB.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:07 pm | #

Come on, Irish. Run defense sounds much better, but the offense is anemic. Can we get an INT or Fumble for a TD or something?
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:08 pm | #

I blame this all on Orson.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:10 pm | #

the comments on this weekly post and the during game comments on NDNation are hilarious. what a bunch of turncoat, complaining, sadsack irish fans. ive never seen the rediculous amount of whining about every single aspect of football as on these internet message boards. providing useful insight about plays or pointing out things that most people didnt see can be helpful. but blaming minter every time a DB blows a tackle, or saying walker is a failure for dropping a 4 yard gain pass on a 3rd and 12 is not helpful to anyone. watch the game, maybe say a few constructive things, and support your team. jesus.
go irish.
mike | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:10 pm | #

So, apparently support means saying "ND is great" when they are playing like garbage, huh? I don't see anyone hoping we lose, mike. But I'm glad you're satisfied with the way things are going...
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:14 pm | #

Thanks, Nate. I was going to say about the same thing. No amount of "rah, rah, go team!" is going to change the fact that the team doesn't look good. If I were at the stadium, I'd be cheering as loud as anyone, but I'm not. Personally, I find this much more constructive than yelling and cursing at the tv and throwing things in my apartment.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:18 pm | #

mike,

what is more ridiculous?
the minter buildup is fully justified because.... this is not the first time... its about the billionth.

we are all rooting, but its safe to say we are rooting for a team that is underperforming and then some. at this point, should they win, there should be no saitisfaction. we do not belong in the top 10.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:18 pm | #

Darius! Thanks for being half the O!
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:22 pm | #

Yup, John--my shouting here in my house in Japan is only going to wake my neighbors--I don't think they'd quite appreciate it at 6 AM. I don't read ND Nation so I don't know what's going on there, but I don't think it's out of place to be upset. We're down by 4, late in the 3rd quarter...and playing like garbage against an unranked team.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:22 pm | #

Darius! Imagine if you were at a I-A team with a line!
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:23 pm | #

living on the edge on these 4th down calls...one bright spot is that grimes looks like hes finally getting involved in the offense. we need him to emerge as a reliable #3.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:23 pm | #

Great O line .... Darius, you should have 100 yrd every week!
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:24 pm | #

Good grief. They've got good DE's, but this is ridiculous.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:24 pm | #

hmmm, how about a shovel pass to prince right under that DE's nose?

nah, we will just sit brady back by himself with no max protection on every long down from here on out.
Brian Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:27 pm | #

Everyone take a sniff of oxygen. Now, has anyone thought of the word Heisman, or the acronym NC in the last hour?

The ship is turning around (though loads slower than we believed just 7 weeks ago).

I hate to see what would be happening, though, if we were facing an offense like Cal's today .. even with this QB.
Go Irish
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:27 pm | #

we have given no reason for them to call off a DE bull rush at brady on any down.... where is the creativity? lets misdirect towards him! come on!
Brian Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:28 pm | #

yeah cal looks awesome, trailing 10-3 at home to the washington willinghams. they would KILL us.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:28 pm | #

their RT is blatantly holding Victor... anyone else catch that?
Brian Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:31 pm | #

schultz - that's the sad part - Cal WOULD kill us. And that UW team ... starter or scrub in at QB?
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:31 pm | #

Any way we can arrange some sort of trade for the UCLA cheerleading squad?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:32 pm | #

I actually rewound that play where they clearly showed the lines. No doubt they got away with a few holds there.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:33 pm | #

Can their cheerleaders get to the QB or cover a WR?
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:33 pm | #

they have got their backup in and they're still winning. im willing to say ohio state would kill us. but sorry bill, cal losing at home 10-3 in the 3rd quarter to a team who has their backup QB starting and who is led by tyrone willingham doesn't really convince me that they would "kill" ND as you say.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:35 pm | #

hello Crum... is that the first time they called your name today?
Brian Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:35 pm | #

schultz - the underlying point (inside reference to qb's) is that UW with a replacement qb is nailing Cal. We have our starter in there, and a rookie is doing a darn good job on us. Looks like today, even at home, all three teams would be deating on us.
Gpo Irish
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:38 pm | #

Who cares if they can get to the QB or cover a WR. They just need to stand there and look good and it would improve watching this game immeasurably.

As for Cal, I guess Tedford decided to play the team that showed up against Tennessee instead of the one that has been lighting up everyone else.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:38 pm | #

deating? supposed to be feasting
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:40 pm | #

memo to darius:

when you stop your feet. they keep running at you.
when you stop your feet, our offense stops going foward.

please keep running forward. do not stop, and then go sideways.
Brian Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:40 pm | #

A three man rush? Are you kidding me?!?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:42 pm | #

this offensive line has been ridiculously disappointing.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:43 pm | #

The center cannot be solely responsible to block the DE on a three man rush.

Someone screwed the pooch on that one.
Homey Dogg | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:43 pm | #

here is a stat, you can draw your own conclusion...

ASU 31
Stanford 0

3rd qtr.
Brian Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:44 pm | #

We just need to get in field goal range, and then Brady Quinn can kick it in for us! 16-14, Irish victory!
Darius Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:45 pm | #

You had to point that out, didn't you Brian? Thanks....
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:46 pm | #

*ahem* Minter.....

Zibby blitz.... 23 yard pass to taylor... no safety to take away the inside slant.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:46 pm | #

That's a BS call.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:48 pm | #

Interference!!! Are you fucking kidding me???
Darius Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:49 pm | #

uhhh yeah... pretty bad call given the force out on Jeff S. in the end zone.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:49 pm | #

ok here is the thing... we might squeek this out, they just called their last TO.

But no doubt, we will take a hit in the polls from ND bias. Oregon and sad to say TY, walked all over the Bruins.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:52 pm | #

What conference are these refs from, out of curiosity?
Darius Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:52 pm | #

pac 10....

i would rather have 3rd and 3, than 3rd and 8 with our pass defense.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:54 pm | #

They're Pac-10 refs, right? I thought I heard that earlier.

Text message of the day from my friend after the last drive.

"I wouldn't piss on our O-line if they were on fire."
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:54 pm | #

our d has been on the field too long....
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:55 pm | #

victor held again.....
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:56 pm | #

Nice hit by Ndukwe!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:56 pm | #

Time for the O to step up and make one of those patented, clock-eating drives down the field for the TD.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:57 pm | #

Good job by Brockington slowing Marquis down for Duke to finish the job. Defense holds them to a field goal.

Its just the offense that has been stagnant. Get the ball to Shark and take it out of Walker's hands.



And these Howard Stern commercials are still annoying.
bhatta | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 5:57 pm | #

i think everyone will agree with me on this....
we haven't done a screen pass all game. We should run one right past that monster DE abusing Sam Young. Get that DE off his bullrush.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:00 pm | #

Criqui on the radio isn't sugar coating his opinion of the Pac-10 refs--they're calling out the blatant disregard of the holding on Abiamiri every play.

We can deal with the drop in the polls (and it'll be deserved), but let's just win this darn thing!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:05 pm | #

Um, has McKnight caught ANYTHING today?
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:05 pm | #

walker needs to pick it up and run
dammit

we need a freakin back who can pound it in there
dammit | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:07 pm | #

Welcome to the 2006 ND offense. The QB sneak!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:07 pm | #

uhhh yeah, Victor has been wearing Bruin handcuffs all day. Pretty bad officiating.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:07 pm | #

we are done for the season
dammit | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:09 pm | #

yep, that's the game. 4th down too many times.
brian89 | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:09 pm | #

what the F(*&(* happened to that fake qb sneak and the pitch to the back on the outside?
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:11 pm | #

One good defensive stand and we can still win. If they get a first down, then it's done.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:11 pm | #

Loss to UCLA. That's the season.
brian89 | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:11 pm | #

I blame the soul-stealing Howard Stern.

(and the offensive line)
Homey Dogg | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:12 pm | #

I had hopes. I wanted to believe we had a running game. I wanted to believe that we had linebackers. That our secondary would be better than last year. But, alas, hope dies last. It died today. Thanks UCLA.
brian89 | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:13 pm | #

What the heck is Shark doing smiling and laughing on the sideline? This ain't funny at all.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:13 pm | #

pathetic
domer03inbmore | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:14 pm | #

genius robot's status as an offensive calling brainiac might be over. that was a mix of piss poor calling and execution.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:15 pm | #

All right. Let's go Irish!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:15 pm | #

I thought this was a football game, not dance dance revolution. What kind of return was that?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:17 pm | #

hmmm, a holding call!

oh wait, its on us.... ridiculous.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:18 pm | #

radio guys really giving it to the refs.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:19 pm | #

HAHAHAHAAH!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! SHARK!!!!!
schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:20 pm | #

Howard Stern is God!!!!!!!
Homey Dogg | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:20 pm | #

wow!!!!

we suck!!! but that was amazing
domer03inbmore | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:21 pm | #

what was that about a "heisman moment??"
kj | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:21 pm | #

Holy freaking crap!
Andrew | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:21 pm | #

I will say my Hail Mary's and Our Father's after going to confession for doubting my beloved Irish. I'm sorry troops. Mea culpa.

Thank you sweet mother of Jesus...!!!
brian89 | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:22 pm | #

shnikes.... Jeff over the middle is lethal execution.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:22 pm | #

THANK GOD I PRAYED BEFORE THIS SERIES!!!
Tim | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:22 pm | #

HOLY CRAP!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:22 pm | #

i have to change my pants again, just like the michigan state game.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:22 pm | #

Yeah, Derek Landri!
Andrew | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:23 pm | #

wow. absolutley unbelievable.

Shark 4 Heisman!
jeremy52 | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:24 pm | #

What's the best way to stop a hail mary? Don't let the QB throw it.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:24 pm | #

OH MY GOD!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:25 pm | #

F-F-F-F-F-F-frauds.
Jim | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:27 pm | #

LOVE THEE NOTRE DAME!!!!!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:27 pm | #

Dang these internet radio delays!!! I saw the score at the bottom of the UT-Bama game just before the radio had Shark go in...

wow.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:27 pm | #

dammmm. . . . . wow go IRISH

last thing i have to say, thank god for Weis

we would never have won with Ty. at any point ND teams have the ability to come back and win it.
dammit | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:28 pm | #

UN-REAL.

We totally didn't play like we deserved to win until the last minute of the game, but great last drive (at least it sounded great on the radio).
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:29 pm | #

my insides are shaking.....
we got alot of work to do....
but just like MSU, I will enjoy this for 7 days.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:29 pm | #

i swear to god, my daughter and i watched this espn classic show called "ND's greatest games" or something like that this morning and i swear at the end of this game i was chanting, "here's another one for the tv show. here's another..." and by god thye did it. and i'm telling ya, quinn just made the heisman a race, finally!
kj | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:29 pm | #

Finishes like this are killin' me. I'm gonna get thrown out of my neighborhood for too much noise... not to mention my hair is almost entirely gray now!!!!!
Ken | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:30 pm | #

You got hair?

Lucky bastard.
Homey Dogg | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:31 pm | #

I really am going to die at the end of one of these games. I'll be 75 or something and the Irish will finally do me in.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:34 pm | #

NICE!!!
Boomer | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:34 pm | #

Oh I'm sure I'll be bald by USC!!
Ken | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:34 pm | #

How many Hail Marys got said in the last minute? She picked Jeff up when he was headed to ground.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:35 pm | #

I think Criqui almost had a heart-attack on-air.

Samardzija for Pope.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:39 pm | #

3-3 80 yds, TD to win the game in the final moment. Try and discount Quinn's heisman hopes now media.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:40 pm | #

3-3 80 yds, TD to win the game in the final moment. Try and discount Quinn's heisman hopes now media.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:40 pm | #

I'll own up to it; I got up and walked away cursing during UCLA's last drive. And promptly returned to the middle of the living room to commence the freak out over those last 3 offensive plays.

holy crap.
Jaisn | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:42 pm | #

im not sure about the heisman... Troy Smith had 4 td's against Indiana.

HAHAHAHA... Tressell ball is disgusting.

Troy Smith really hasnt faced a legitimate secondary yet... Texas was missing 3 starters. Looking forward for the MI man-beasts on defense to expose him and rattle the cage.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:44 pm | #

I'm going to get kicked out of my condo building. I was yelling at the top of my lungs for about five straight minutes after that last series. I was calm and hoping when we started that last drive, but no way I saw that coming. Go Irish!
JJ | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:47 pm | #

Troy Smith didn't look great against PSU either. I think he's going to look mediocre against UM.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:50 pm | #

Brian q, I totally disagree. Being stuck in Columbus, I've seen enough of TS that I think he's probably the ONLY QB in the country who won't be rattled by scUM's D. But enough about talking about Big ?? teams I can't stand. God, I need an aspirin after the last 3.5 hours! A win is a win... but damn, we look like a sub top-25 team a good percentage of the time this year.
scott | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:53 pm | #

UW and Cal are in OT.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 6:53 pm | #

Scott, I agree about how we look like.

But looking at what MI just did to Iowa in comparison to O$U, Smith is in for a long day.

MI holds Iowa to 43 yards rushing.
MI didnt let Iowa in the endzone.

MI might have a day in Columbus if they control the clock.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 7:03 pm | #

I love the Shark, Apparently he never gets rattled...smiling on the sideline like he knew something we didn't. Still love that he said "nice pass" to the MSU QB after the last miracle win. How about the T.O.Esque Pose after the touchdown?
NUG | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 7:08 pm | #

how about this for the coaching call of the game? (which i didnt agree with when it happened) :

Weis calling timeout to prevent the clock from starting after the chains showed that Brady got stuffed.

That is a helluva job on clock management.

Robot Genius retains the nickname.... now lets get rid of the QB sneak.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 7:20 pm | #

A classic, Montana-like "Firehouse Finish." The thing with this one was, the joy was for the moment. Incredible joy and emotional surge and rah-rah madness, but I've gotta stay with the reality of what happened Saturday. Ergo, I journey back 5 hours:


37-10. We need that type of win, and most importantly, we need to look sharp.
BTW: when did we buy Gameday?
Go Irish
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 2:17 pm | #

-------------------------------------

Great comeback. The laddies didn't give up! The thing is, for 58:58, I didn't see a BCS team (let's all be gentlemen here, and as a courtesy to all associated with the team, ban any 'NC' mention for the remainder of this year).

Thank God for UCLA playing into our hands on their final possession (or, better to perhaps thank His Mom!). MSU-2 was what we saw, and this was supposed to be a game-in-hand from early on.

Thanks to the laddies and the coaching staff for all the hard work required to become a pretty decent team. As another courtesy, we'd all like you fellows to focus on, 9 weeks from now, getting to the town that General Sherman made famous while marching (wish we had his O-line!).
Superb Drama!
Superb Winning Drive!
How 'bout them Irish!
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 7:24 pm | #

let's get rid of the NEED for QB sneaks...

Go YellowJackets! Beat the Chicago Bears....I mean Clemson..
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 7:25 pm | #

speaking of the bears:

"they WERE, what we THOUGHT THEY were!! and we LET EM OFF THE HOOK!!"

--UCLA Coach :-)

Yes. Questions have been answered about this team during this game. If we ever played OSU, our ground game would immediately collapse, tressel would send his troops to kill brady and throw him off. in addition to offensive collapse it's very, very possible to run a balanced game against us--run a bunch, then pass it long over the middle. i agree with above: never talk national championship wtih ND until 2008.

that said we ARE good. good enough to come from behind bad positions we put ourselves in. we're a BCS bowl team who should beat somebody come january--SEC champ? Texas?
Tommy O | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 7:54 pm | #

Bet we get WVU.
onehipdad | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 8:18 pm | #

After seeing what WSU did to Oregon today and Wash and Cal, I think the computers may be right about the Pac 10 being the best conference. Sure as hell isn't the big 10. With the exception of UW, TOSU, and UM u have 3 marginal teams and 5 pisspoor teams. The Gophers by one over NDSU, got to be kidding me. Point is, the win was ugly and lucky but a good win. And about the NC, who the hell knows. TOSU in their last NC title year got lucky quite a number of times.
just like GT, time may prove that UCLA is pretty good, hopefuly and 8-4 team.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 8:50 pm | #

waiting for my heart rate to return to normal ...

ok, so i'm a student and i was there and here are my thoughts on the game:
1. wasnt rhema supposed to make up for us losing mo sto? so far this year, i think he's kinda been ... crap. i mean last year, there was the dangerous duo of mo sto and the shark, racking up point after point, and this year, when rhema gets it he ... drops it
2. 2nd and long. what to do? run darius up the middle.
3. i would be happier if quinn's feet weren't so happy.
4. i'm not a bad ND student or anything, but we dont deserve the heisman or (NC). bringing the team back from a deficit that shouldn't exist in the first place would be heisman-esque, but he'd need to do that, say, ALL GAME and not the last freaking 2 minutes of the game
irishlass | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 9:01 pm | #

aw, hell, can we quit bitchin'? after a bye against a TOUGH defense, we should be happy with the win. and guess what minter's second half adjustments strike again! haha!

remember, and i think this a point that hasn't been mentioned enough, charlie comes from N.E. and the NFL which is all about winning. not style points or how ya win; just win.

N.E. won 2 super bowls by a grand total of 6 points. but they knew how to win when everything was on the line. just like ND is showing. UNFORTUNATELY, CFB is decided by wins and style points. i still don't know whether charlie has or even will, adjust to that.

but the least we can do as fans is enjoy the win tonight before WE start complaining about our style points.
kj | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 10:31 pm | #

Is UCLA's defensive line really that good, or is our offensive line that bad? Sadly, I think we all know the answer to that one.

I'm all for more creative play calling and seeing less happy feet from Brady, but it's kinda hard when your offensive line is like a g-damn sieve. Once upon a time, I thought the 47-21 UM debaucle was just a comedy of errors as opposed to a true reflection of the disparity between the two teams. Now I stand corrected. I really think a UM or tOSU type of team would dominate us 9 times out of 10.
scott | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 10:47 pm | #

Will somebody please:

Tell Darius to try to move downfield, preferably with sufficient force to violently collide with a member of the opposing defense? From watching other teams, this sometimes seems like an effective way to gain yards in foot-ball.

Tell Zibby that we sometimes have to wrap things up we don't want to see celebrating in our end zone.

Tell the Big Ten officiating team which will accompany us to Los Angeles that if they don't do a better job than we have a right to expect from watching the first half of the season, we reserve the right to hold them indefinitely as enemy combatants.

Tell Fabio, Yanni and Crystal Gayle to lay off the Nivea for men and get an effing haircut.

That is all.
iNDy | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 11:24 pm | #

All right, so being at the game was a little too draining. We had 5 UCLA guys sitting behind us the whole time, and actually we had some pretty good conversations. They even shook hands and congratulated us on the win in the end. Can't say it was the same with the USC game last year. I have to say, I like the powder blue fans much more than that other team in LA.

Overall, we played sloppy. We tried to establish the run the entire game and it just was not working. Anyone else notice that when we go into no huddle mode, we always put points on the board. I think we need to keep that pace a lot more often. Also, UCLA's defense was fast. They were flying to the ball every play it seemed and their d-line just ate our offensive line alive. I guess they are the #9 defense in the country for a reason. But I will say, in the second half our defense played very well. We held their run game in check and pretty much stuffed them to 3 and outs. So that was good to see.

Overall, the feeling in the stadium was that we would win. The whole time I was sitting there, I just kept saying "We're still in this". Even when we failed that 4th and 1 sneak with 2 minutes left. I still just said, we have 2 timeouts. 3 and out and we'll get the ball back to win it. The UCLA fans behind me kept saying that as well, comparing Karl Dorrell to Denny Green, playing too conservative. In the end, our offense showed poise under the gun and pulled out the big win. Great game to watch. Actually, it was a great last 3 minutes of the game to watch, other than that it was rather frustrating to watch. We have a lot to work on before USC in November. But hey, we're still 6-1! Go Irish!
ND101 | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 11:55 pm | #

Scott -- we'd probably beat UM 2/3 times out of 10. Versus OSU, we lose all, with probably 8 Fiesta-like (or worse)blowouts. The reality that's beginning to settle in is that we have not improved from last year; it can now be said that we have discernibly regressed. OSU loses 9 defensive starters - their crew this year makes their '05 'D' look porous. Not only is our 'D' a step back, we are now setting records for homerun passes allowed (you've read the numbers on every media story posted after today's game).

What's really beginning to prove worrisome is the offense. It's a very good PR offense; it just isn't a very good real offense. The 'o' in our offensive line isn't pronounced 'oh;' that's right, it's "zero." The pathetic knocks on Darius Walker show how little some people know about this game. If one other player on our offense could match his heart, we'd be a true BCS team.

Who here can say that this team has improved anywhere (exclude individual pos., i.e., punter) from last year? I'm writing this because I'm a grad and a big, big fan .. but I'm old enough to have become a realist. This team is quite disappointing. This team is clearly not in the class of OSU, or UM, and we are going to have to learn how 'close' we are to USC (start praying for an earthquake). [Of course, as far as real 'class,' those guys combined will never come close to us.] But as a football team, objectively, we may be BCS only because this is a year when CFB has 3 or 4 Tier-1 teams, and a bunch of mongrels .. like us. WVU is no better than we are, but then, UConn scared them for way too long Friday night. Wasn't UCLA a team that we "breezed through" on the way to LA?

Army and UNC look fairly solid as to our being able to project wins. No one else, though. With their #1 QB still playing, Navy would've had a solid shot at ending the streak. As things stand, we're gonna have to step it up to beat them next week.

We have turned the corner, but we have a long way to go. Does anyone think we could hang very long against a team like, say, Cal if we were forced to play with a second team QB?

Reality time.

Go Irish!
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 10.21.06 - 11:58 pm | #

Bill,
I will say in ND's defense that I don't think anyone is in the same league as tOSU and Mich this year. They are the best programs in football right now. Everyone else is just trying to maintain a good season.
ND101 | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 12:07 am | #

god you guys are pessimists! We won, this is what good teams do for christ's sake. They win when the chips are stacked against them. Let's stop being a bunch of bi##ches and sack up. We gutted this out, now onward to USC where we go on the road and take our business approach to LA. E-mail me when we are 10-1 going against 11-0 USC. Bring it!
PM | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 12:29 am | #

So the big thing ND players are lacking is heart according to Bill. Their lack of heart - save for Darius whose heart makes up for his inability to run for over 3 yards at a time - is what has put the Navy game into the tossup column.

Gimme a break.
clashmore | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 12:37 am | #

Sam Young is a joke. I can't believe how many times he got smoked by that DE. Thank God he got some help blocking on the last play. I know he will probably develop into a great tackle down the road, but right now he and Morton on the same side of the line is killing our offense. I guess it's good those two aren't on Quinn's blind side though...
Mike | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 12:50 am | #

ND101 - I think you may consider adding UF to that list --- maybe not quite at OSU's level, but getting there quickly.

clash -- we all feel sorry for your having missed seeing any ND football games this year, as well as your obviously never having had participated in sports. Seriously, sorry.

But, here's more than a 'gimme-break,' call it a huge tip: invest the farm in the financial sector over the next 3 quarters. [And remember that I like islands ...Caribbean islands]

Go Irish
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 1:01 am | #

I don't know what you were watching! Young is not the problem, Morton is! The frosh held his own, when he picked up his man or the blitz he stayed between the dD and the QB. Morton just chucked them with bull fighter blocks all day.
Domer Dan | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 1:35 am | #

I was out driving during the 2nd half and listening to Criqui and Pinkett on the radio but was so fed up with our play late in the 4th that I turned it off. Man, do I now I wish I'd kept it on.

After I got home and my wife told me we'd won, I was ecstatic. But here's something almost as great as the win:

My wife was born and raised in the South and has cheered for SEC teams her whole life. However, when we started dating, she got interested in Notre Dame and has become an Irish fan over the past 2 years. For instance, we were in South Bend visiting my folks over Labor Day weekend and she wanted to make sure we dropped by the bookstore to buy her more ND T-shirts.

It wasn't until today, though, that I realized the level of fan she'd become. When I got home and we talked about the win, as she sat in her gray-and-green "Irish" shirt, she told me that "it's because of the way we played at the end of the game that makes me proud to wear this shirt." I could've cried. It was pretty sweet.

At any rate, it was ugly, but we won. Thank you Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

And iNDy, are you also a John Hodgman fan?

That is all.
PK | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 2:07 am | #

I just want to say that I agree we aren't as good as we hoped we would be before the season. The O-Line looked terrible today, but the much maligned defense probably won us the game. They played solid all game long, TD's aside. And for how bad our O looked, our D is really the ONLY reason we won, otherwise UCLA would have easilly put us away.

Also, don't look for a too big rankings hit, as much as we might deserve it, a lot of ranked teams barely beat unranked teams this week, and I don't think we'll stand out enough to get dropped much. So many almost upsets and while our standing has dropped in my eyes, it just might not is the polls.
Kyle | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 2:51 am | #

PM--good teams win when the chips are stacked against them, true. But good teams don't stack the chips against themselves. ND wasn't the team out there with a backup QB. We're an average, 10-20th ranked team, on any given day. For all the whining about West Virginia and their schedule, they do what they are supposed to do--win the game, convincingly. We don't do that, ever. I don't know if it's playing down to the level of our competition, or we're just simply not that good--but whatever it is, you simply cannot say we're one of the elite teams with any sense of reality. WVU would beat us by 2 TD's--call me a pessimist if you want, but we've got 1 LB worth mentioning. How in the world would we stop their rushing game?

Let's get to a bowl, be it BCS or not, and win the thing...then we can assess how good we are or not in the off-season. But right now...we're lucky.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 4:04 am | #

Well put, Nate and Bill H. To all the polyannas saying in effect to "get over it, we won", I'd be much more receptive to your arguments if this type of pathetic performance was an anomaly for this team. It's not. I still think chances are good that we will roll into LA 10-1 with a decent shot to beat USC (they're the only other team that's as overrated as we were and still are), but conversely I would not be completely shocked if they blow us out or if we come close to losing to Navy or AF.
scott | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 7:08 am | #

scott, I just watched the game--taped the AFN delayed replay while out with the wife. The most frustrating thing is to see the FLASHES of brilliance, like that last drive (JUST AMAZING. The wife and I were imagining what it was like to have been there...). We know what's POSSIBLE. Though the stats are similiar to last year, the consistency isn't there at all. We get brilliance in spurts, surrounded by...crappy blocking, dropped passes, and Quinn throwing at Darius's feet.

The last 3 minutes were beautiful, though--and it's okay for us to bask in that for a little while. I'll give the D some credit as well--2 plays went badly, and the rest of the game they played well. UCLA couldn't run at all. One day, hopefully, we'll realize that allowing 2 big plays may be one or 2 too many.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 8:54 am | #

Didn't see the game due to flying all day (and forgot to Tivo, duh?), but the comments from 6:11 to 6:22 on this thread are, like the MSU game, hysterical. JohnWa and brian q in particular.

Questions: is Darius tenative because of our OL or because he is Darius?

Is Brady suddenly Mr. Happy Feet again because of our OL or because he is redux Brady?

35-41 will not get it done rushing wise. The saving grace is our coaches have to be equally as pissed as the faithful posters.

The saving grace is that our best game is still ahead of us. Let's hope it peaks Nov. 25.

Go Irish!!
Mike | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 9:05 am | #

you know almost as much about me as you do college football Bill.
clashmore | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 9:19 am | #

OK, I know there's been an on-going debate about Minter. Let's looks at the facts.

This is the second game won by Minter's defense -- MSU and UCLA. It is the third game where ND's offense was absolutely abissmal.

We can argue about which won the PSU game, but let's just leave it.

Robot genius? Certinly very good at clock management. Certainly handicapped by only one legit running back. However, Minter's defense has risen to the occasion each and every time -- even Michigan. They held Mike Hart to 2.9 a carry. Charlie's offense? They gave Michigan the game.

9 and 3 not good enough? Looks like 10-3 might be the answer to that. But 2007 - with essentially the same schedule, looks like 6-6 at this point.

Here's to 2008.
schwappy | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 9:36 am | #

Bill, I apologize about the smart arse post last night. I was in a mood.

However, that doesnt change the fact that ND has the 21st worst rushing game in the Nation. Surely DW shoulders some responsibility for that no?

DW is the poor man's Barry Sanders. He makes his first cut 4 yards behind the line, only he isn't quick enough to make it work.
clashmore | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 9:46 am | #

Some of these comments are the most ridiculous things Ive ever read. Yeah the comeback was inprobable, but I thought part of the deal that went along with being a true Irish fan was staying with the team until the last moment. Comments like "Loss to UCLA. Season's over" and the like is defeatist BS. Season's over?! Are you shi**ing me? Two losses would not mean the season over. Yeah, BCS might be tough to come by and no NC, but a 11-2 season with a bowl win would not be bad by any means. Fair weather fans like you piss me right off. Dont give me any of the "striving for excellence, we have higher standards". It's pathetic and your quick turn around of "Brady Quinn has happy feet" to "That drive was what heisman winners are made of" is ridiculous. Here's to all those fans who saved the bad mouthing until the game was actually over, and understand that a loss to UCLA here would not equate to a failure of a season. Is UCLA's defense that good? Yes, it's likely the second best defense we will face all year (Ranked 9th overall in the nation). I don't expect no one to criticize the team, because there is plenty to criticize, but what disappoints me is the downright giving up on the team that is so uncharacteristic of Irish fans. Everyone whines about D walk, who is on pace for 1,000 yard season, when UCLA gives up an average of 78 yards rushing a game. Don't be pissed off that everyone underestimated a decent UCLA team. You knew our o-line sucked, and our D was mediocre most of the time (although looked brilliant at points)...quit the whining and moaning.

Sorry for the long post... Im getting ready to shoulder the backlash of how much of an idiot I am.
Chris | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 9:47 am | #

I hope no one is really upset at Minter for the D's play today. The scheme was fine and they let up 3 points in the second half. If the D could hold everyone under 20, we would be undefeated.

The playcalling sucked because the run game was absent. Coach Weis showed a total lack of confidence in DW by going for all those sneaks. Those were TT carries last year. I thought DW was hitting the line hard at the beginning of the game but started dancing when he was getting stuck by a pretty aggressive defense.

Hopefully, we can't get Aldridge in game shape because we are going to need to pick up the short 3d downs with power running (like TT did last year, his TD was sweeeet!) if we are going to beat the Poodle.
Bill | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 10:51 am | #

Chris,
I 100% agree with you! Nothing pisses me off more then our fairweather fans. As a student I watch the games as a true fan, sober and cheering as loud as possible. It annoys me to NO end when all the drunk ass students around me say F*ck BQ or this or that and the Fat F*ck can't coach. These guys play the game to the max of their ability 7 days a week. What do we do? THe team is improving and has much to improve upon. The next few years will be interesting since next year the team will basically be all soph's and frosh's. But NEVER EVER give up cheering for your team. I am at every basketball game and the fans at this school sicken me. What are we cheering for? I am cheering for the guys on the field that they have a good season and represent ND as the best team on and off the field. But if they mess up on the field oh well its a game. Off the field is another matter...think Miami, FSU, et. al. I have no use for fairweather fans that are at the games only to bask in the victories of the team so they can go drink some beers and talk shit at bars. ND is better then that and deserves our respect. I am not saying that ND is not accountable, but at the same time sports are games...entertainment if you will. If you think we suck so bad, don't get entertained. Another thing that pisses me off is the fickle support you fans have. One moment its BQ sucks and another its Heisman Brady. Make up your Flippin minds. I have been a consistent fan of Brady, but do not think he is heisman or the best QB out there. Honestly, I picked the GT score perfectly, predicted the UM loss, and thankfully was wrong on my pick for UCLA to beat us. Still watch out for navy. But I never EVER bad mouth the team or don't support them. One can be a critical fan, and indeed we all should be lest TY still be here, but a critical fan is still a fan as the word critical merely describes that Fanatical person. So if you are a student reading this, put down that extra beer or two and come a little more sober and prepared to cheer. If you are an alumni or visitor watch the games and cheer but if you are going to be negative about it save it for after the game and BE CONSISTENT in your beliefs...otherwise you are merely babbling fools.
James | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 11:10 am | #

Minter needs to live and die by the blitz for the rest of the season, no matter how many guys we drop back in coverage we still get burned on the pass...

I love Darius' heart just like everybody else, but I don't know if he could break 5.0 in a 40. The combo of him and our O line is a wretched vision...
Johnny Fever | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 11:10 am | #

Okay, this team is in trouble against USC, if they played like they did yesterday. Some points sprang to my mind:

1) Why do we have such "nail biter" games against Michigan State and UCLA? Are they are equals..?? I don't mind close games against good teams, but close games against weak teams makes me wonder how good is ND really? Are we over rated at #8?

2) Our big win was against Georgia Tech. Tech didn't look to good against Clemson last night. Is this such a good win?

3) At this point in the season, I think our team has taken a step back compared to last year. I just don't see the improvement.

4) Our O-line is less than impressive in run blocking or pass blocking.

5) DW looks abysmally slow in getting to and through the holes.

6) We miss Stoval a lot, and Grimes and McKnight are not picking up the slack. Thank god we still have Samardzija. Without him, and his 2 catches out of 3 on the final drive, I don't think ND wins this game.

7) Our D-line still gets no pressure. This has been on-going for the last 2 years.

I know there are "homers" on this sight, who state we should just blindy cheer for ND, and not post any critiques or comments. Please. I did my time at ND, I made the long freezing walks to pick up the "SMiCk Chicks", and no, I didn't go to the games sober. It's called tailgating, and I did it heavily.

Go Irish....beat Navy.
brian89 | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 12:04 pm | #

My feelings about yesterday as observed from the South end zone:

*Darius Walker is at best, an average back. He simply lacks speed. Great heart, great desire, truly a fine young man, but....he's just not that fast, and definitely not NFL material.
*Having said that, his success is further limited by an offensive line that simply never plays up to its potential. Yesterday, they looked absolutely awful, whether it be in pass blocking or run blocking.
*Samardzjia is a real clutch performer. He scored the final TD right in front of us, and you just had to watch his eyes on that run. He was obsessed. It was something to see.
*Aside from 2 long TD passes, the defense performed pretty well. They did get pressure on the UCLA QB and effectively stopped the run.
*Brady Quinn is, well, Brady Quinn. I wish he could stay another three years and maybe go to Law School or something.
*The UCLA fans are really classy. I can't believe these folks come from the same city as the cave dwelling USC people.
*On balance, ND is not a Top 10 team; good, yes, but out of their class with people like OSU, Mich., and others.

Still, it was a great game and I loved it. Having suffered through the Kuharich years as a student, and never having seen a winning season, this is heaven.
gwzimm | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 12:14 pm | #

just for the record, while I am generally in agreement that whining and handwringing are contemptible, if you can't stand these things said in relation to our beloved team then you may want to just skip the gameday thread. This seems to be a thread to share the moment by moment agony and ecstasy of a saturday afternoon - not always pretty, loyal, or frankly, manly. If you are the stout of heart who trudges loyally forward in his faith we're doing our best until the final win or loss is had, I commend you and encourage you to look away.

I never gave up on the team and seen both comebacks to the joyous end, but I did mutter under my breath that we had just lost the game after the missed 4th down conversion inside of 2 minutes. As much as I love this team, I think part of the fun is the drama, the agony, and the chagrin I feel at the end when the lads find a way to win and put the lie to my faithless heart. I don't think Charlie ever gave up; but check out the look in his eyes after that last touchdown. There's the passion. Those are the eyes of a cynic, redeemed. That's our culture, man, whether you're from Tenton or County Clare. GO IRISH!

So,
iNDy | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 12:22 pm | #

I dont support being a homer or blindy cheering for ND when they are playing awfully. It's just the inconsistency of singing a players praise one moment, calling them worthless the next, writing of the season one second, heralding an NC run the next...its frustrating and pointless.
Chris | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 12:30 pm | #

you heard it here first: Aldridge will see significant time with the first team and will get 8+ carries next week.
jeremy52 | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 12:46 pm | #

clash - if it was me who you meant to apologize to, no need. I agree that DW will never be mistaken for a guy named LaDanian, but my point is that his effort is always laudable. It just seems to me that when DW must carry into the line this year, it looks like he's landing at Omaha Beach. And while his accuracy hasn't seemed up to last year, isn't BQ a lot more hurried (and hurting) than what we saw in '05? What probably gets to me most is knowing how many games these guys (OL) have played together.

When the subject is Notre Dame, my emotions aren't easy for me to contain. Ergo, I'll post with that feeling, et al, seeping through. So while my intent is to never offend Domers and our fans, my fingers are often faster than my internal editor.

Here's hoping for a solid game versus the Middies.

Go Irish
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 1:11 pm | #

This was a game that we would have lost, if either Davie or Willingham was coach. Although the O-Line looked pitiful, you have to remember that on the talent scale, we have been handicapped by Ty. I take nothing away from guys on the field. Love them all. But, Weis is not coaching the talent that Holtz had in his tenure. Next year may be bad, but once we get the caliber of the average recruit that we believe should be at ND, we will start dominating other teams.
I am not happy that we are matching up even with the likes of MSU, UCLA, etc... , but things are changing. There are definitely some outstanding players on the field, but truly no superstars. Hey, I'll take the WIN!
Nuff said.
Big Tobacco | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 1:19 pm | #

A few things:

UCLA, as mentioned, has a very good defense. I don't think anyone expected our offense to put up 100+ yards rushing or 400+ total offense, even if we'd put Aldridge or Joe Montana in there.

While BQ one-hopping passes to open receivers really bugs me, I have to defend quite a few of his yesterday. The receivers weren't open. He was under pressure and instead of throwing it away out of bounds, he threw it away at a guy wearing dark blue and gold. Many of his one-hops were never intended to be caught, albeit not all of them (especially earlier in the season).

What really makes me nervous is this team's inability to "get up" for anything that's not a real pressure situation. I saw it with the Detroit Pistons last year, and they finally put themselves in a pressure situation that became too little too late. The next time they play a complete 60 minute game will be one of the first.

Shark needs to lay off his own ego. He was shut down for most of the game and while his game-winning TD was a thing of beauty I'm left wondering "where was that the rest of the game?" Too many of BQ's sacks, hits, and hurries were "coverage" sacks. Guys need to get open.

Brockington played well but we don't have a single dominant linebacker.

McKnight ran a gorgeous route on that fake end-around, faking a block and then blowing by his corner. BQ over threw him.

Hopefully Navy's offense will be one-dimensional enough that we can bring the safeties up to lay on some big hits. It will be up to our corners not to get burned by the play action.

Lambert is a machine.

That's all I got for now.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 1:24 pm | #

Im with Erik. the thing that frustrasts me the most about this team is the inconsistency. I love when we get fired up and you can see it on the field. But we are rarely, if ever, fired up from the get-go. I'd love to see us play on defense the way we did in the second half, and on offense playing the way we did on that last drive. I just dont know what it will take for that to happen (I thought a beat down at the hands of Michigan was it...but I guess not...). I keep hope alive, and against these next 4 opponents we will see if we can come out with intensity.
Chris | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 2:32 pm | #

There has not been a lot mention in relation to coaching (specifically postion coaches) and the general lack of improvement by particular areas of the team.

Many mention talent but when I see a trend where other teams (generally with less talent) are performing better against common foes in certain phases of the game I speculate about our position coaching. When Ill holds MSU to 20 (vs our 37); WI holds PU to 3 points (vs our 21); and Oregon runs for 256 yds against UCLA (vs our 41) it begs the question. Sure it happens once in a while but it seems to be more than occasional this year.

Will CW invest another year in the same postion coaching staff or will he be making changes?
PZ | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 2:51 pm | #

PK, great story. That's what saturdays are all about to me. I'm not familiar with Hodgman except through McSweeney's which to me is variously the most hilarious thing I've ever read, and other times a bit tedious. Overall a pleasure to have in the universe though.

Most importantly, what name to we give to that final play/drive? Clearly, it was a classic deserving a 'handle.'

As far as you UM and tOSU fans go, I think there's alot of football left to be played. The UM game in my opinion might have been different with better officiating and had we realized how much their defense has improved under english - and as far as OSU, we'll see howc composed Smith is facing pressure during a whole game, and whether their misdirection and reverse gimmicks hold up against a good team well coached. I bet Ginn gets picked off on that little hadoff gimmick they run at the worse possible time. go irish.
iNDy | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 3:27 pm | #

I could have give a damn about "fired up" - it's like Bobby Knight imitating the game face. Execution, baby, execution.

All props to the UCLA defense. The boys here at BGS forecast their D-line to be, I think, right up there with UM and USC - so there you have it. BUT, 35-41 on the ground and 4-19 on 3rd - we can do better. We have to. And we will.
Mike | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 3:49 pm | #

I part of why we gave up so many sacks yesterday can be attributed to the fact that we had only one holding call. Instead of holding the d-linemen, we just let them run right by!

On the other hand, did anyone notice that play when Zibby blitzed and got horsecollared as he ran by the UCLA guy (defensive end?)? I have no idea how that wasn't called.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 4:12 pm | #

*I think part of why*
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 4:13 pm | #

Also how BS was the PI call on the 3rd and 9 that gave UCLA that opp to kick their last FG. Our team definitely is not top 5 quality right now but I think we have to be pretty stoked about a team that has the resilience to come back and win. A week ago I was one of those fans saying how we could make to the NC game. Now I don't think that nor want that. We are #11 in the AP and rightfully so. I still think we will beat USC as it is our guys' last game and our business like approach on the road suits us well. a 11-1 reg season and hopefully a bowl game will make me pretty dam happy come Jan 2nd. Not since 95-96 have we put together back to back good seasons.
PM | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 4:50 pm | #

Erik - Glad to see I wasn't the only who saw that horse collar. Of course, Bad Daddy's response to it required me to spend the next ten minutes calming my two year old who wandered into the room at that moment. Oh for the days of bachelor hood when I could scream and swear at will.......
GRNDFan | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 4:55 pm | #

regarding the horse collar on Zibby....
well, forget that. What was even worse was seeing Victor being bear hugged on every passing play. THAT my friends was alot of B.S. all day long. He was ripping through the tackle and was not awarded for it.
brian q | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 5:45 pm | #

There were a lot of bad calls yesterday.
Darius Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 6:34 pm | #

Anybody notice how the week a particular player starts to get heisman hype they sh*t the bed. Wolfe gets stuffed, Leak plays bad, and Calvin Johnson (who some had @ #2) gets no catches. Really curious who Ivan Meisel will find to round out his Top 5 since he will not put Quinn in there. Did the guy lose a ton of $$ on the UM ND game? Geez.
PM | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 7:14 pm | #

...which brings us back to a widely discussed topic earlier this season...when the F is Kevin White (and/or whoever else may be responsible) going to stop using opponent conference refs? It can't continue after this year, it's absolutely ridiculous and drives me nucking futs...
Johnny Fever | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 7:17 pm | #

Comment # 242:

Notre Dame, our Mother
Tender, strong and true
Proudly in the heavens,
Gleams thy gold and blue.

Glory's mantle cloaks thee
Golden is thy fame,
And our hearts forever,
Praise thee, Notre Dame.

And our hearts forever,
Love thee, Notre Dame.
Jim '72 | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 7:52 pm | #

I'm happy with the outcome, but not too enthused.
UncleSmokeyStank | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 7:58 pm | #

I love ND, but I am also aware that I usually hate teams that repeatedly scrape by their opponents, even those they should easily beat.
Darius Quinn | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 8:03 pm | #

iNDy,

what about the "holy trinity drive?" that's the only thing i can think of for 80 yards in just THREE plays. you can only use something like that at Notre Dame!
matt | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 10:13 pm | #

I like that. How about packing in another pun and calling the last 62 seconds the Holy Minity? I love it.
iNDy | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 11:22 pm | #

File under the "if if's & buts were candy & nuts, every day would be Xmas" category: if Dorrell doesn't tell his P to take a delay penalty on 4th & 9, ND loses that game (ensuing punt: holding penalty on ND, 4th & 4, punt again).

Tom Hammond gets the Keith Jackson premature ejaculation award by spewing, "here's your ballgame" prior to Quinn's failed 4th-down sneak. Meanwhile, Pat Haden plays Nostradamus to Poof Boy's schleprock by castigating UCLA for not taking any shots downfield--or even any type of pass--when ND stacked the box on their successful last defensive series. Plus Haden pointed out after the failed 4th down that ND still had all three TOs.

Lastly, Karl Dorrell's stoicism makes Ty Willingham look like a quivering emotional rescuee.
c-stone | Email | Homepage | 10.22.06 - 11:39 pm | #

actually the delay of game wasnt a savior.
without it, the punt would have been a completely different play, under different circumstances, at a different point in time. only the exact variables leading up to the actual punt caused the holding penalty. a different set of variables is completely independent. theres no way to tell if there would have been the same hold, a PR for a touchdown, or maybe a blocked punt. theres no way to know.
mike | Email | Homepage | 10.23.06 - 12:52 am | #

I doubt I'm alone in this, but c-stone's phrase "Keith Jackson premature ejaculation" is one combination of words I don't ever want to see again.
PK | Email | Homepage | 10.23.06 - 1:11 am | #

In defense of Rhema, he's caught some incredible TD passes this year and I think he's a complete asset to the team. I was wondering if he did less (and was targeted less) against UCLA because Dorrell and Co. chose to key on him (I was at the game, and have a hard time watching the guys who AREN'T getting the ball, so that's a legit question. I just didn't see how covered he was, and by whom, and why, etc.)

As for Darius, he has always frustrated me a little bit with his horizontal running -- I feel like this is the same "patient running" thing for which he gets totally lauded most of the time. To me, "patient runner" often means "waits too long to turn the corner," or "pauses midstride rather than propelling himself forward." Sometimes a juke is great, but sometimes, it makes your engine sputter, and I feel like Darius's feet aren't quite quick enough for the former to outweigh the latter.

And I love me some DW -- left the stadium late and ran into his parents, which was sort of fabulous; I wanted to say something but couldn't come up with anything that wasn't hopelessly nerdy -- so it pains me to say all that. But I wonder if our general lack of running game has both to do with the o-line and his occasional lack of propulsion/forward momentum.

Disclaimer: I haven't looked at any running stats. They might tell a different story; I'm just going by what it FEELS like, and it feels like we are struggling in that arena.
Heather | Email | Homepage | 10.23.06 - 3:22 am | #

Will somebody please tell the starters that if they don't know the words to the alma mater, it's OK to just stand there quietly looking valiant? Mumbling 'abbradabble muddlebum' beacuse you have no idea what to sing is completely silly. Don't force them to memorize it fer crying out loud, just offer to let one of the incoming freshmen recite it during spring practice as a way to get out of windsprints. You'll have the choir in top form in no time!
iNDy | Email | Homepage | 10.23.06 - 1:36 pm | #

Just returned from eyewitnessing what I shall henceforth and forever call the "Holy Trinity Drive" (thanks, matt). Fun to read all these comments in retrospect,knowing we won. It's like someone was typing a transcript of the roiling inner debate I was experiencing the entire afternoon. When the last sneak failed, I too thought we were done, though I refrained from saying so aloud to avoid giving the Ucla fan behind me any satisfaction. The bottom line is that we'd all like to be dominant every week, but to see that you need to insert your 1988-'89 vhs tapes in the good ol' vcr. Let's enjoy this team for what it is -- a never say die, nearly juniorless concoction of really good players built around a few great ones - Brady, Shark, Carlson, DWalk (remember reciving counts, too) and Zibby (especially when we let him return punts) led by a certified robot genius. By the way, the Ucla fan overpaid for his tickets (230 apiece, upper deck in the north endzone) and then left before the best part -- i.e, the singing of the alma mater. Hope he's stuck in traffic today on a smog-choked freeway!
seymour 85 | Email | Homepage | 10.23.06 - 2:07 pm | #

Sorry if this has been mentioned before but did anybody else notice that on the first play of the last minute touchdown drive (Holy Trinity Drive) that Jeff Samardzija steped out of bounds at the 38 or 39 yard line but the ball was placed at the 41. Both the TV and radio announcers state where he went out.
If I was the UCLA coaches or players (thank God I'm not)I certainly would have spoke up. In the end it didn't matter anyway, Jeff Samardzija would have had a 47 yard TD Run instead of 45.
I've watched the drive over and over and this always sticks out.

Go Irish!
Tim | Email | Homepage | 10.25.06 - 5:00 pm | #