Man, I'm so glad the game's here. With the work holidays I've got the playoff beard going, I've eaten the Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner, I'm sportin' my Irish gear, and I've got a full bottle of Chimay Red to dive into.

Go Irish! Beat SC!
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:12 pm | #

lets go boys. i dont care about the national championship hopes or breaking their home win streak or cementing quinn's legacy. all i care about is proving everyone wrong.

lets go.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:15 pm | #

Go Irish. Beat USC.
dd | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:15 pm | #

LET'S GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:18 pm | #

Who thought we'd ever hear Desmond Howard calling the Irish over the Trojans? That being said, God I hate Lee Corso.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:19 pm | #

We're golden for tonight. Mark May and Lee Corso are picking against us. When is the last time both of them were right?

GO IRISH!!!!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:24 pm | #

Here we go. How fitting would it be to score on a 4th and 9 on our first series?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:26 pm | #

4th an 9...argh!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:26 pm | #

dang it
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:28 pm | #

Good job Frome!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:29 pm | #

FU##!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:34 pm | #

yuck
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:34 pm | #

Minter needs to make those 2nd half adjustments now. At least they didn't kill us with a big play though. BQQB, time to step up!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:35 pm | #

sick to my stomach
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:35 pm | #

should i drink now?
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:36 pm | #

I noticed Samardzija having problems with his footing on the last drive. Y'think the Trojans grew the grass long to slow him down?
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:36 pm | #

Nah, they just painted the dirt. There is no grass.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:38 pm | #

two 20+ yard plays on that drive for SC. that just cant happen.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:39 pm | #

Rhema needs to catch the damn ball! Dunno why Shark is slipping.

How many holds were there on that return?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:40 pm | #

This is not so good.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:40 pm | #

Jeez. NOW it's time to start f'ing drinking. HARD!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:40 pm | #

Wow. Um .. damn.
bhatta | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:42 pm | #

ok, we say it every game. But can we fire Rick Minter now please?
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:42 pm | #

We need something big to happen, right about now.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:42 pm | #

The wife called it--the false start was the best thing they could have done, to give themselves more room.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:44 pm | #

Sure enough Nate. Gave them room to run the jump ball play.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:45 pm | #

Run one back here Zibby!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:46 pm | #

Wow, I thought the 7% alc/vol of Chimay Red would've been enough for this game. I may have to supplement that with my 6-pack of Sam Adams Winter Lager, or - God forbid - my Johnnie Walker Red.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:46 pm | #

Wow, I thought the 7% alc/vol of Chimay Red would've been enough for this game. I may have to supplement that with my 6-pack of Sam Adams Winter Lager, or - God forbid - my Johnnie Walker Red.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:46 pm | #

2 catches for jarrett, 2 scores.

i feel like im getting punched in the stomach repeatedly by zibby.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:46 pm | #

yowzer
HMFIC | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:47 pm | #

The bright side is, if they keep on kicking to Zibby he will eventually return one.
HMFIC | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:47 pm | #

Exactly HMFIC. As for the drinking, I'm doing a shot of Jameson every series, with Guiness to follow it. Eventually that will become a shot of Jameson followed by Meyers and Coke. If we get down by 21 that will probably become shots of Jameson followed by 18 year Jameson on the rocks. My girlfriend REALLY doesn't want it to come to that.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:50 pm | #

good get freeman involved.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:52 pm | #

3rd down conversion time
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:52 pm | #

Thankfully, my wife (not a big drinker) has just started her second beer, so I may get a free pass to the 6-pack and Johnnie Walker tonight. Of course, if she joins me, we may be in real trouble.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:52 pm | #

Darius really does seem to be running better since Aldridge is starting to look more and more like a legitimate optioin.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:53 pm | #

Good to see we aren't getting away from the run just yet.
Paul | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:53 pm | #

Damn. Would have been a tough catch. Great job Shark!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:54 pm | #

awesome!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:54 pm | #

What's Rhema's problem? Not enough tack on the gloves? That's two passes he should've held on to . . .
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:56 pm | #

Can't blame Rhema entirely for that long pass. He couldn't adjust with the CB where he was.

How is that not interference on that last pass? Looked like Freeman got hit early.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:57 pm | #

3 down, 11 to go.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:57 pm | #

Onside kick? You know Weis is going to try it at some point.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:58 pm | #

JohnWA, that's true. It was in his hands, though.

Granted, I couldn't have caught it. But he's paid to. Oh wait, he plays for Notre Dame - not USC - so he's not.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:58 pm | #

gotta take the points i guess.

first 7 plays of that drive: 4 runs, 3 pass.
last 6 plays of that drive: 6 pass, 1 completion.

gotta mix it up chuck.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 8:59 pm | #

same old secondary.
mike b | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:01 pm | #

Definitely in his hands PK, but that's why Rhema will go late in the first day/early in the 2nd whereas Calvin Johnson and Shark will go in the first or second rounds.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:03 pm | #

if SC is able to run effectively, this game will be over real quick.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:04 pm | #

I want to smack that f'ing smile off Jarrett's f'ing fat f'ing mug.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:04 pm | #

JohnWA - very true, very true.

I sure wish Johnson had caught everything thrown his way today. He missed a few huge plays that would've put Tech back on top. Oh well - my wife, the Georgia fan in the house, was happy with the 'Dawg win, so I can't be too disappointed.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:06 pm | #

We just need to keep the game within 10 pts by half time imo. Our coaching staff has proven they can make half time adjustments. We just need the offense to get us a TD or two and make some stops on special teams/D. Easier said than done though. :(
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:07 pm | #

this sucks
I'm sick of this shit. every friggin year.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:07 pm | #

i dont think id blame calvin johnson. when your quarterback is named reggie ball and he completes 6 of 22 passes and he turns the ball over three times, you usually don't get a chance to fully showcase your talents.
schultz | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:07 pm | #

This is getting ugly. Come on guys, let's see some pride.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:12 pm | #

True schultz, but there were a few passes that you would think CJ would have made. As someone pointed out earlier, CJ would have some of the top receiving numbers of all time with a competent QB.

And I'm getting really sick of this year after year too. Well, at least we know we have poodle worried sice he went for it on 4th down within FG range.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:12 pm | #

damnit, is it just me or are we not getting the holding calls
aaron ru | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:12 pm | #

PK you have enough johnnie walker for me?
schultz | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:13 pm | #

We haven't gotten holding calls all year. EVERY single return by the Trojans has had at least two blatant ones and on one of the earlier running plays, one of the Trojan guards had Laws outside of both of his shoulder pads and tackled him and there was no call. Like we can trust Big 1? refs with Pac-10 booth officials...
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:14 pm | #

aaron ru - no holding calls yet at all. On either team.
Brian | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:15 pm | #

do something!
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:15 pm | #

OK, who's going to be our next defensive coordinator?

Minter has got to go. I'll shocked and disappointed if Charlie doesn't replace him this off-season. His defenses the past two seasons have been practically helpless against good offenses. It's getting old.
lofistew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:16 pm | #

our longest run of the year -- thanks Brady?
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:17 pm | #

whoooooo!!
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:17 pm | #

was that our longest run of the season?
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:17 pm | #

Have I mentioned how much I love Brady?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:17 pm | #

Did the Defense make the trip?
zibby6 | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:17 pm | #

Schultz, I might. If not, I'm sure I can drive out to . . . Er, maybe not. We'll have to hit my Maker's Mark, then Grey Goose, and then Bombay first. If we're in the middle of the 4th by then, we'll open up the Kahlua and Peach Schnapps.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:17 pm | #

Wow! Brady Quinn, or Carl Lewis? Who was that with the #10 jersey on? Based on his look of exhaustion after the play, my wife thought he was going to call a timeout.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:19 pm | #

Good draw. Come Irish, punch it in.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:19 pm | #

Good run Darius!!!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:19 pm | #

beautiful
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:20 pm | #

kill me now
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:20 pm | #

wow darius wow
aaron ru | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:20 pm | #

pathetic
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:21 pm | #

sigh this is just another one of those games for us. Thought we were done with that.
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:21 pm | #

Charlie isn't going out there to check on DArius, he's going to ask the officials if they take Visa or Mastercard.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:21 pm | #

we've made all the mistakes we're allowed to make. Either we play a perfect game from here on out, or we lose big. Come on Irish, you've got it in you--let's get it going.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:22 pm | #

Wow...Charlie Weis is totally outcoaching Pete Carroll
TB | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:23 pm | #

GO IRISH!!!!

By the way, is the turf too long? Looked like Booty got caught in it there;.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:26 pm | #

There we go!!! Nice job Steve QUINN!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:26 pm | #

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:26 pm | #

Eh - what heavy air blew Booty over at the 1-yard line? That sure was bizarre . . .

Man, I hope Charlie puts in some Munir Prince. Gimme some "Whoosh!" . . .
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:26 pm | #

'... and then... you TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF'
loud noises | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:26 pm | #

YES
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:26 pm | #

YES!!!!!
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:26 pm | #

bout damn time
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:27 pm | #

Freeman! WOOHOOOOOO!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:27 pm | #

my wife says this is the only way i can watch the game with the "guys" (on the "internets").
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:27 pm | #

I'm not making any more negative comments in case we turn it around and the comments are rehashed like they were vs michigan state :P
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:28 pm | #

Go Irish!!
zibby6 | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:28 pm | #

Steve Quinn is my favorite Irish player of all time. At least at this moment....

Beautiful pass by Quinn to thread it in there to Freeman.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:28 pm | #

nice job of freeman getting behind the defense
aaron ru | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:28 pm | #

my apologies to George Bush. I love the internets.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:29 pm | #

Good kick coverage. Let's get fired up now IRISH!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:29 pm | #

I've gotta admit, in addition to the adidas Gazelle II Notre Dame sneaks and the dark green sweater I've been wearing all afternoon, I finally threw on my adidas "Notre Dame Football" hat before we blocked that punt. I think it was the hat that yielded the block and the subsequent touchdown. Yes. I think it was.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:30 pm | #

YES!!!!!!!!!
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:30 pm | #

YEAH!!!!! GO RICHARDSON!!!!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:31 pm | #

WOOHOO!!!!!! What an interception! I think they could hear me out on the street, I yelled so loud . . .
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:31 pm | #

keep the damn hat on. wear two.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:31 pm | #

RICHARDSON!!!! YESS!!!!!!!!

Shouldn't you be thanking Gore? After all, didn't he invent the internets?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:31 pm | #

And the Irish, in their continuing quest to give me a heart condition...
Stomer | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:33 pm | #

Dammit.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:33 pm | #

Ha ha. Mushmouth just called them Southern Cal. Love it.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:34 pm | #

that's his, what, third drop?
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:34 pm | #

Dammit Rhema! He HAS to catch that freakin' thing.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:34 pm | #

With all apologies to George Bush, it was actually Ted Stevens, the Republican senator from Washington state - and, inconceivably, the chairman of the Commerce committe (that is, until the midterm elections) - who was clueless about the operation of the "tubes" that constitute "the internets."

I sure am glad *my* senator didn't introduce the "Bridge to Nowhere" legislation . . .
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:35 pm | #

McKnight!!!
ugggh | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:35 pm | #

wear three hats dude.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:36 pm | #

Laws is now my favorite Irish player of all time.....Maybe he can take over for Rhema at WR?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:36 pm | #

Woohoo!!!

Another interception!

"Look at these two quarterbacks' statistics - which one do you think is the Heisman candidate?"

Suck it, Brent Musburger.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:37 pm | #

my wife hates draw plays.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:37 pm | #

Go Trevor Laws!!
zibby6 | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:37 pm | #

I hate having to watch Brady run for his life.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:38 pm | #

why is he still on TV? Can't they find anyone better than that fossil?
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:38 pm | #

gawd. can't we look sharp at all tonight? Let the defense catch the ball.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:38 pm | #

If we know that we're goig to go for it on 4th, why doesn't CW run a play to just get some yardage and make the 4th down play easier? Run a little hook under the first down yardage or a draw/screen and get some yards and then go for the 4th down.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:39 pm | #

come on ND
aaron ru | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:40 pm | #

why go for gold? why not a first down?
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:40 pm | #

Overthrew it. We've got to capitalize on these turnovers.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:41 pm | #

just stupid.
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:41 pm | #

jerry - I'd love to, but my wife might start calling me Bartholomew Cubbins.

You know things aren't going well in the game when I'd rather make jokes about children's books than comment on our offense's inability to score.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:42 pm | #

two turnovers. zero points.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:42 pm | #

I'm liking our chances. Even though we're down by 11, the pace of this game is back in our favor. I'm looking forward to the half time adjustments. Just keep it close fellas.
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:43 pm | #

PK - I feel stupid. I had to google Bartholomew Cubbins.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:44 pm | #

If we get a FG before half time it's a one possession game. Let's do it.
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:45 pm | #

I'd be a lot happier about our chances if we would have gotten points on at least one of those turnovers. You just can't count on those kind of things all night.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:46 pm | #

jerry, we're both guilty. Since I remembered a book from my childhood with a character who wore a stack of hats, I actually had to Google "children books character hats" before I constructed my comment.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:49 pm | #

your a fraud! you probably know where the WMDs are!!!
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:50 pm | #

Thank you. Nice to see some props for our front seven.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:55 pm | #

4th and 8 from roughly the 40 and we go to the endzone?

Jesus come on Charlie! We gotta crawl before we walk!

We cannot WASTE this Chances! It should be 21-17 ND! COME ON!
DayBreakBoys | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:55 pm | #

Once again, if you know we're going on 4th down, why not get some yards and make the 4th easier?

And I'm really sick of this commercial. I thought the admissions letter one last year captured the University perfectly.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:58 pm | #

WMD's? Hell, if I knew where Notre Dame's ability to score touchdowns was I'd let you all know . . .

Maybe it was lost in LAX baggage handling . . .
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 9:59 pm | #

ND 41-SC 28. We're coming back to win this in a big way. Have faith.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:07 pm | #

We've got to stop them on this upcoming opening drive.
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:08 pm | #

I've got faith in the team to come back. It would be foolish not to with the way they've played this year. Just wish they'd show a little more of it early.

GO IRISH!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:09 pm | #

oh man, our special teams have been horrible tonight with exception of that block. You can't give up field position on the opening half kick like that.
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:10 pm | #

now we can't kick?
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:10 pm | #

TURNOVER TURNOVER TURNOVER TURNOVER
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:12 pm | #

Did anyone else see how bad Landri was held there?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:13 pm | #

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:13 pm | #

Great job Lambert!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:13 pm | #

My wife says CW looks like humpty dumpty and pete carroll is good looking. pass the scotch neat please.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:15 pm | #

Agh - why can't we stop 'em on 4th? Come on, defense . . .
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:15 pm | #

Landri did get held big-time!!
zibby6 | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:15 pm | #

shit
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:15 pm | #

God I hate Pete Carroll, with his wee beady eyes...
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:16 pm | #

holy shit. nice catch
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:16 pm | #

You know I've had too much to drink if I start saying that Pete Carroll looks like Humpty Dumpty and Charlie Weis is handsome . . .
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:17 pm | #

those missed opportunities are starting to loom big
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:17 pm | #

Jerry, I'm divorced. I've got the name of a good divorce lawyer if you need it.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:17 pm | #

Yay! All is right in the world - John Mellencamp is singing and reminding me of where I live and how Chevy trucks are what Washington and Jefferson (not to mention Rosa Parks) would've driven . . .
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:18 pm | #

i am a divorce laywer.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:19 pm | #

knock his ass out next time Zibby
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:20 pm | #

Dammit! Come on Zibby - two big red zone penalties. Not good.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:20 pm | #

Ah, then you'll come out of it fine then.

I'll take that PI anyday.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:20 pm | #

these guys are rolling over us now. We need a big play now or the game is over.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:21 pm | #

Ooooh, look at me, look at me....I'm a U$C fan, loook, look

F u James Caan.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:21 pm | #

Have faith.
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:22 pm | #

Die John Mellencamp. Die USC.
Ryan | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:23 pm | #

who is the thug in the blue?
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:23 pm | #

What kind of gay shit was that from $C?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:24 pm | #

Zibby, Zibby, Zibby......it's time to show up. Late for everything.
Mike S | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:24 pm | #

Zibby needs to kick it into gear. He is not reaching his top speed. He's thinking too much.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:24 pm | #

bout damn time someone steps up.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:25 pm | #

Darius really has been looking better. I'm looking forward to him next year combined with Aldridge and Prince.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:25 pm | #

were so friggin slow!!!!!!!!!!!
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:26 pm | #

fucking Michigan game all over again
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:26 pm | #

Brady dodged the wrong way. Crap.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:27 pm | #

We need to stuff USC here badly. Please, Minter, let's stop with the corner blitzes they haven't worked once yet this year.
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:28 pm | #

Can't blame Minter too much for this one. It's the offense who hasn't been able to move the ball with the chances they've had.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:29 pm | #

Well boys, looks like the blowout is on and Stewie Mandel was right (excuse me while I gag on own vomit...). My only comfort is that Tressel and company will lay an unholy beatdown on them in January.
scott | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:30 pm | #

JohnWa^

Normally I'd agree. But out defense has been the only thing dragging us down for 2 years now. FIRE RICK MINTER.
DayBreakBoys | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:31 pm | #

suck it up BQ
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:31 pm | #

Good tackle on that one. The game ain't over yet Scott. And I think $C could whoop tOSU.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:31 pm | #

nice HIT
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:31 pm | #

Brady looks a little hurting and a little P.O.'d:

"F*** me. Throw the ball!"

as he loosened up on the sidelines.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:32 pm | #

Rub some dirt on it Quinn.
DayBreakBoys | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:32 pm | #

oooooooooooooo yeah
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:33 pm | #

need the seven bad.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:34 pm | #

Rhema - haulin' it in. Keep it up for the next 2 quarters and we'll be in good shape . . .
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:35 pm | #

Come on BQQB. You've taken worse hits. LET'S GO IRISH!

Daybreak, I agree that the D has been the weak link, but you can't argue that the offense isn't the one that hasn't shown up in this game. Maybe Minter needs to go, but I'm sure CW will make that decision if he thinks it is so. Besides, Minter's working with almost all offensive players. Now if we don't get better and more talented on D in the next year or two, I'll think CW is making the wrong decision in keeping him around.

GREAT CATCH RHEMA!! Finally!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:35 pm | #

no flag?
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:35 pm | #

Do we go for it?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:36 pm | #

McKnight has apparently decided he'll catch the ball if its got a 2 second hang time.

QB sneak has to be coming up on 4th and 1/2.
Pantsb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:36 pm | #

these calls are starting to piss me off.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:36 pm | #

QB sneak time. GO BRADY!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:36 pm | #

COME ON
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:37 pm | #

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. He fell down before he got to the line.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:37 pm | #

WHAT THE FUCK IS WITH THAT SPOT!?!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:37 pm | #

Hold Shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:38 pm | #

oh my god
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:38 pm | #

Got it, but that spot was fucking horrible.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:38 pm | #

I credit my hat with that 1st down.

Damn, I have an awesome hat.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:38 pm | #

Barely got it... I can't see how they can change the spot on the replay.
Pantsb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:38 pm | #

Good, waste the freakin' time out Poodle. We'll gain yards on this one.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:39 pm | #

Love your hat PK.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:39 pm | #

how can you challege a spot. The refs are right there. (Shut up mushmouth). You can't tell ........ aaaah, aaaaah, I hate this crap. Somebody get me a Xanex.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:39 pm | #

Woohoo!

My hat also tells Poodle to suck it. Hard.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:40 pm | #

hahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahaha hahahahahaha
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:40 pm | #

If they score... fake the PAT with Shark?
Pantsb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:40 pm | #

IF IF IF IF IF!!!
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:41 pm | #

Can they possible cover our guys THAT long?
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:42 pm | #

thank god!
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:43 pm | #

11 point game... still winnable.
Pantsb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:44 pm | #

McKnight! Holding on again! Woohoo!!!
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:44 pm | #

JohnWA, I hereby stand corrected (about the game being over that is-- I still think tOSU would destroy SC). My God, nothing comes easy for this team. Those last 4 plays alone gave me a peptic ulcer.
scott | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:45 pm | #

Finally a TD. Keep 'em comming...we need the style points.
wyndycity | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:47 pm | #

we. can't. stop. them.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:47 pm | #

Have we gotten a sack yet?
Matthew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:47 pm | #

I'm going to have a heart attack myself if we don't stop Southern Cal here.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:47 pm | #

While the D has been much better this half... I just can't stand Mintner's scheme. He gives a ~10 yard cushion every play. The USC receivers just run 10 yards downfield and turn around or cut to the middle and the DB is way out of position.
Pantsb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:48 pm | #

It's not impossible to stop the receivers. IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE. We just don't do it.
Nate Loucks | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:48 pm | #

I'm not worried about sacks as long as we get to him and get hits/hands in his face.

Nice drop Smith. Thanks.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:48 pm | #

Y'think Steve Smith traded gloves with Rhema at halftime?
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:48 pm | #

Minter,

Six men on the line feigning WHAT??????? Cripes, adios Rick....
Mike S | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:48 pm | #

Wow. Thank you Steve Smith.
Ryan | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:48 pm | #

Our defensive coaching staff is outclassed. Pure and simple. They're picking us apart.
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:49 pm | #

Where is Ndukwe?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:49 pm | #

Another hunch - the footbaw coach paid ABC to keep playing late 90's Dave Matthews at the breaks to remind Irish fans of his tenure as head coach . . .

Discuss amongst yourselves . . .
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:50 pm | #

Ndukwe has been out since the beginning or middle of the 2nd quarter. My guess is he is injured, but you never know.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:51 pm | #

im having bad visions of the game coming down to a goia kick
aaron ru | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:52 pm | #

Anyone know why Bruton and Ferrine are in the game?

And for all the crap I've given Minter this year, I'm not going to call for his head for this game. It's when UNC and other nobodies torch us that upsets me.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:52 pm | #

????????
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:52 pm | #

Have they punted yet?
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:52 pm | #

Dropped it.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:52 pm | #

Musburger just pointed out that Duke is out due to a knee injury . . .
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:53 pm | #

good job Brock
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:53 pm | #

Good sack Brockington!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:53 pm | #

yea.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:53 pm | #

just means it will take them longer to score.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:54 pm | #

3d and long -- can u say touchdown?
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:54 pm | #

SHIT!!!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:54 pm | #

didn't the right end move????
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:54 pm | #

Not enough D :(
zibby6 | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:54 pm | #

has there been a single holding call yet today?
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:54 pm | #

Pssttt.... double Jarrett.
Pantsb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:55 pm | #

Minter came w/ the corner blitz on 3rd and long AGAIN. IT HAS NEVER WORKED ONCE THIS SEASON. Surprise, they convert. Don't bother coming back to South Bend.
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:55 pm | #

I could catch too if no one covered me!!!
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:55 pm | #

We need to hold them to a FG
zibby6 | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:55 pm | #

Come on, hold them to 3.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:55 pm | #

about time.
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:56 pm | #

Wow...mark it down, a holding call!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:56 pm | #

A holding call!!
zibby6 | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:56 pm | #

TURNOVER TURNOVER WE NEED A TURNOVER TURNOVER TURNOVER TURNOVER TURNOVER WE NEED A TURNOVER
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:56 pm | #

Finally. That's the 3rd or 4th time Laws has been tackled.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:56 pm | #

Down to 1 TO now Poodle. It's Brady time if we hold them here.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:57 pm | #

no -- they're all out of TOs
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:57 pm | #

Stop. Them. Now.
Ryan | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:57 pm | #

90 yard pick 6 would be nice...
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:59 pm | #

TURNOVER because we can't stop them. TURNOVER!!!
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 10:59 pm | #

Well, 3 points suck, but it's Brady-time.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:01 pm | #

MISS IT!!!!!
Nate Loucks | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:01 pm | #

Still a two score game. Still a little hope.
Ryan | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:02 pm | #

Good job Landri. We're in stgriking distance. Let's GO!!!!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:02 pm | #

DAMMIT. Almost broke one.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:04 pm | #

Any day that I can see Ty in a stupid DiGiorno ad is a day that I thank God we hired Charlie Weis.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:04 pm | #

Zibby's seems so slow but he always seems to get the return yardage we need.
T | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:04 pm | #

Does this feel a little bit like the MSU game? Except ND is playing USC!!! USC is a little better than MSU. Do we have a comeback left in us?
zibby6 | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:04 pm | #

No come back. You can't have penalties and you have to stop $C.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:05 pm | #

oooooooooo, close.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:06 pm | #

Those damn false starts kill the rythym of this hurry up.
Ryan | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:06 pm | #

damn
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:07 pm | #

SC will march down the field now eating up a lot of clock.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:07 pm | #

Delay of game on a punt??? A punt????
T | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:07 pm | #

How bout a roughing the kicker? lol.
Ryan | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:08 pm | #

Fumble the punt!
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:08 pm | #

We're definitely not doing ourselves any favors this game.
Nate Loucks | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:08 pm | #

darn it. And they've got it in great field position.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:08 pm | #

I still have faith. But if I see one more corner blitz I'm going to puke
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:09 pm | #

After watching ND games all year on NBC (and a few on ABC) I think the most important thing to learn from this season is that John Mellencamp needs to die. Seriously. I can't even watch pro football games without that damn Chevy commercial messing up my tv watching.
T | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:10 pm | #

If we've got a stop in us, we'd better get it here. Keep it within 14 and then stop getting the stupid false start penalties.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:10 pm | #

they can't get a score of any kind. A fg and it's over at this point.
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:11 pm | #

Somebody tell CJ Gable that they won't run time off the clock if he keeps getting 14 yard gains...
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:11 pm | #

We are done. Put a fork in us.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:11 pm | #

Wow, we had 3 players run into each other on that play. What a horrible end to our season.
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:12 pm | #

Did he just say the road is paved with Trojans?????
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:12 pm | #

Game.

Rose Bowl, Sugar, or non-BCS?
Pantsb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:12 pm | #

10-2.

Why does that depress me so much?
Nate Loucks | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:13 pm | #

Until we get a defense,we are pretenders, not contenders.
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:13 pm | #

Congratulations, SC. Now, beat the shit out of those prima donnas at tOSU (man, I feel dirty rooting for a poodle).
Irish Right | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:13 pm | #

Honestly I don't think we deserve a BCS bid. Although if we really admit how it works, everything but the national championsip game is based on money and not rankings.
T | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:13 pm | #

He did. But Mushmouth is probably drunker than I am at this point.

Missed the PAT. Come on Irish. Make them pay for that. Somehow? Please?

HATE U$C!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:13 pm | #

Dwwwaaaaaaaaayyyynnnneeeee Jaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrettttttt


Jus' sayin'.
matthew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:13 pm | #

Stick a fork in it - and thanks again Rick Minter.
Mike S | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:13 pm | #

You have got to be kidding me.

Where is our ability to tackle?

Side note: the world has been spared JohnWA doing shots of Jameson followed by 18 year Jameson on the rocks. If they'd scored that extra point, we'd be in for a world of pain.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:13 pm | #

I really hope we don't go to a BCS bowl. I'm sick of broadcasters debating whether or not we deserve to get in every year and then getting blown out.
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:13 pm | #

if we dont somehow come up with a miraculous win....i really hope ohio state absolutely kills SC....I hate them soooooo much...im gonna puke if they win another NC
irishguy | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:14 pm | #

Pssst.... I wasn't kidding when I said double Jarrett.
Pantsb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:15 pm | #

I agree. If the NC game comes down to SC and OSU, I'm scarlet and grey all the way. I hate SC.
T | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:15 pm | #

Keep talking about that NC game for the Trojans Mushmouth. That will make it so much better if we can win this rfreakin' thing.

No more false starts Ryan!!!

I started on the Jameson after the last touchdown, so too late for that. At least my girlfriend went and got us dinner during halftime.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:17 pm | #

I would also like to point out that having to type out my frustrations is doing wonders for me. I'm not quite as pissed as I thought I would be.

Or maybe I'm just too drunk.

Then again, as someone wrote earlier, why does 10-2 feel so bad?
T | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:17 pm | #

That wasn't a penalty, but its academic I think.

tOSU is scummy as hell. I'd root for USC.
Pantsb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:18 pm | #

"Let me give you one more stat to tell you how great SC is"

Thanks Brent
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:18 pm | #

Am I watching USC-TV?
Nate Loucks | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:19 pm | #

What a bizarre metaphor, Brent: "the road to Glendale is paved with Trojans."

Other than sounding like the title for some Lothario's personal odyssey, it could be something that I hoped to hear about the Irish on their way to the BCS NC game. How is that line meant to be something positive about U$C?
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:20 pm | #

ESPN IS U$C TV.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:20 pm | #

yes
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:20 pm | #

Thank you Boob. First thingI've heard him say that makes since in awhile.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:22 pm | #

So it took us four quarters to find our all-american receiver?
Nate Loucks | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:22 pm | #

The thing that kills me most about this is Pete Carroll actually thinks he has everything to do with this.
Ken | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:22 pm | #

What kind of call was that?
T | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:24 pm | #

I understand mixing it up, but why give the ball to Darius on that play?
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:24 pm | #

What the hell play call was that? Even I saw that draw developing.

And it was "sense" not "since" in my last post. Whooops.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:25 pm | #

Wasn't that an illegal substitution by the defense?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:26 pm | #

It's all good JohnWA - I read phonetically, so I understood what you meant.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:26 pm | #

nice blocking
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:28 pm | #

bootleg
Ken | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:28 pm | #

Face mask!

It's all about the first and last letters being in the right place, right PK?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:28 pm | #

Guys, can't really complain about them talking up USC. They're beating us by 20 pts :
suave andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:28 pm | #

Carroll has quite simply outcoached Charlie in the redzone. Hate to say it, but it's been true. We've had our opportunities, for sure, but simply can't get the ball in.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:29 pm | #

AHHHH!!!!! DANG IT!
Nate Loucks | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:29 pm | #

another drop.
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:29 pm | #

JohnWA - that's right. Homonyms are my friend.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:29 pm | #

and when it's a good call, we drop it.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:29 pm | #

This game would be closer if Carlson wasn't hurt.
Pantsb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:29 pm | #

different game if we didn't let them jump on us for 14
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:30 pm | #

Quinn has put them right in their chest and they haven't caught them.
Nate Loucks | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:30 pm | #

Did he say "John Samardzija"? Brent, you're a genius.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:30 pm | #

Finally!

My wife gave birth to our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd child during that drive.

(Cigars all around.)
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:30 pm | #

You know what? USC beat us, fair and square. Nice season guys. I'm out.

Nice job Szmarkjajkada on the TD, but too little too late.

Looking forward to the bowl game,
T
T | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:31 pm | #

Drive took too much time. We score with 5:00 minutes left, we've got a good chance. Now we have to pray for a fumble by the Trojan RB's.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:31 pm | #

ND is not top 10. We're very close, maybe 11-15. I'll be happy with a BCS bowl, but I don't necessarily know if we deserve it. I'll take a 2nd tier bowl along with a bowl victory. I bleed blue and gold, but I don't know if we should be in a BCS bowl.
zibby6 | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:32 pm | #

Onside time, right?
Pantsb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:32 pm | #

Ugh.
Pantsb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:32 pm | #

Are

you

kidding

me?
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:32 pm | #

nice td Samardzija!
zibby6 | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:32 pm | #

If we can't even pull off an onside kick correctly, we deserve to lose.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:32 pm | #

garbage
Ken | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:33 pm | #

We've been out-coached and out-played.
Nate Loucks | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:33 pm | #

Gioia can't kick a fucking field goal. What makes anyone think he can kick an onside kick correctly?
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:33 pm | #

Oops. TD USC. That's one way to get the ball back quickly. Just give up a quick onside kick score.
zibby6 | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:33 pm | #

i'm going to bed...
jerry | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:34 pm | #

I don't care what bowl we play in, I just want a win. I can't handle another loss in a bowl game.
Nate Loucks | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:34 pm | #

Considering 3 teams behind ND in the Top 10 lost to lesser opponents than USC, I don't see how one could say ND isn't top 10.
Pantsb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:34 pm | #

I waited a whole year for it to come to this? Ugh...
wyndycity | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:36 pm | #

Morton please graduate
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:37 pm | #

We need a bowl win. For recruiting, for legacy, for prestige, for everything.

C'mon Charlie - let's beat Urban (or Rich, or Houston, or whomever . . .).
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:37 pm | #

I freakin' hate U$C. I hope they lose to UCLA next week so I can actually watch the NC game. If it comes down to Southern Cal versus the Buckeyes I won't watch since I'd have to root for a meteor to strike the stadium.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:42 pm | #

It's going to be a long, quiet flight back to South Bend.
Nate Loucks | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:42 pm | #

:(
obediah | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:43 pm | #

did Carol and Charlie shake hands?
Jake | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:44 pm | #

If a loss to USC isn't the worst way to end the regular season, how 'bout having tOSU, Michigan, and USC ranked ahead of us? After everything I've had to drink, it's amazing I don't kill myself.

Thankfully, my wife and our three new kids (Charlie, Brady, and PK Jr.) provide me with reasons enough to live.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:44 pm | #

Is it wrong to cheer for our opponents to run the score up on us if it means we FIRE GOD DAMN ROCK MINTER?!
DayBreakBoys | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:45 pm | #

er...RICK*
DayBreakBoys | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:46 pm | #

wow... that sucks

we just look comical out there.

in how many games this year have two of our pass-defenders run into one another?

an onside returned for a touchdown?

pathetic

i'm ready to burn my zibby jersey
domer03inbmore | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:51 pm | #

fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuck
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:51 pm | #

"9-3 isn't good enough?"

Rick Minter isn't good enough.

I'm not saying we should pay him hundreds of thousands of dollars to leave the team like some other teams (cough . . . FSU . . . cough), but can't we find a better defensive coordinator somewhere? Anywhere?
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:52 pm | #

Fellas. Quiet. Shhh.

We don't have the athletes. Period. Great guys, but not the athletes.

Minter's not the problem. We had a completely one-dimensional offense tonight. No fullback. No t-end. Fourth receiver is a punt blocker at best.

We have lost 5 games in 2 years to the Number 2, 3, 2 and 2 teams in America.

Shi-, we used to suck really, really bad. Now, we need to recruit, recruit, recruit....and not just of fricking offense.
Correction | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:54 pm | #

That being said, I've gotta admit that we had 2 interceptions that we were unable to do anything with. Rick handed those to Charlie and Charlie couldn't get the touchdowns we needed.

However, we wouldn't have needed them so badly if we weren't down by 14 at the time.
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:54 pm | #

Well look at it this way: 20 < 31

But look guys, our defense is just atrocious. No sugar coating it. Its BAD. we didn't stop anything over the middle. Our corners have sucked for roughly 4 years now. Our linebackers can't do much (too small).

We are gonna be DESTROYED in a bowl game if we play Michigan again. So get ready for it.

I know there's one game left, but after the humilation dealt to us by the only 2 REAL teams we played this year....I'm already thinking "There's always next year"
DayBreakBoys | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:55 pm | #

do you think with this big of a loss we will still get picked by the bcs?
aaron ru | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:56 pm | #

look, I fully understand taht Minter does not have wonderful atheletes at his disposal riight now, but it seems to me that over his career he has only been shut down opponents when he had 9 NFL-calliber players on the field (92 & 93). That is just not good enough
domer03inbmore | Email | Homepage | 11.25.06 - 11:58 pm | #

"9-3 is just about riiiiiiight"
matthew | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:00 am | #

Where in the hell was the no-huddle offense? We should have been pure no-huddle, attacking the sidelines, after we got the ball back at the 7:00 minute mark in the 4th. We played those last couple of drives like we wanted to score 1 touchdown, not the three that we needed. I was completely flabbergasted! I can't believe nobody else has commented on it yet. Am I missing something?
AlumniHall99 | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:02 am | #

Aaron,

Sadly, we'll still get picked for a BCS game. Probably don't deserve it.

Its both the blessing and the curse of Notre Dame football.

We'll make so much money for whoever chooses us it doesn't matter if we had 3 or 4 losses.
DayBreakBoys | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:02 am | #

I am disappointed with the outcome, mostly because it points to bad coaching on the offensive, defensive and special team sides of the ball.

I am not certain if this is just bad coaching or a bad combination of a mediocre team, poor coaching against a well coached and highly talented team.

Sigh.
Sean Fitzgerald | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:03 am | #

Sean F - I think SC is that good of a team. People say ND isn't in a conference? They're in a conference every year. Each ND opponent treats their game like a conference game. ND is short in the stables.
WNYIrishFan | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:06 am | #

By stables, I meant - ND is not a deep team, by any means. strangely enough, I think ND '06 is better than ND '05.
WNYIrishFan | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:07 am | #

I am dreading this alleged "rematch" against Mich in the Rose Bowl. If we go bowling i'd only feel remotely confident against UF. any other BCS game and I'm worried we get exposed... again

frankly, if we don't go BCS bowling i'd like to Charlie return to the days of yore and turn down the invitation. I don't fucking want to see us play in the gator bowl.

i konw that's just wishful thinking. too much money on the line
domer03inbmore | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:07 am | #

Random thougts:

I think Travis Thomas at linebacker has proven to be a mistake. I don't recall his name on a tackle tonight. Charlie's ego is partly at fault on this.

The problem I had with Willingham's staff was that there was no player
playing to gain experience for the next year. I saw this in 2006 with our safetys. Bruton and Herring should have gotten more time playing this year.

The offensive line has not developed at all this year. Is Latina the answer? I have doubts.

CW's play calling was sometimes telegraphed. Putting TT into run down near the goal line was a mistake. Of course, the benefit of the doubt was a ton of drops by receivers and tight end undermined the play calling.

BQ is a warrior.

Are the defensive coaches partly the problem we have with recruiting defensive recruits on the DL and LB? Do recruits feel they will be developed? I doubt it.

Is Randy Shannon, the Miami coordinator an answer to Defensive Coordinator and more credible defensive recruiting?

If Weis does not make any coaching changes I will have doubts on his ability to be ruthless for the betterment of the program.
Oracle | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:09 am | #

Note that my previous post in reference to Willingham was meant to say his lack of player development. Inadvertent omission.
Oracle | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:13 am | #

WNYIrishFan,

Maybe they are that good, but can't we cover an on-sides kick? Maybe this is what happens when USC is playing its best football - No matter what you do they just have more talent and its depressing.

Do you support a change at defensive coordinator? I think I am on board, finally.
Sean Fitzgerald | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:22 am | #

Sean F - if you were on the fence before, tonight surely has swayed you. One game does not make a season, but in this case a career. Minter's defensive plan wasn't great. But, BUT, the offense (how many dropped balls?) did not help that def plan. I'm done for the day.

Question - does this loss hurt more or less than the Syracuse loss?
WNYIrishFan | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:27 am | #

Well, I want to append my previous statement: we need to win our bowl game - BCS or not - for the fans. I'm sick of ending our season (regular and post-) with a loss and lots of discussions about what the upsides of said loss might be.

At any rate, it's been a pleasure. After lots of food, drink, and emotional highs and lows I'm out.

And though we stunk tonight, Go Irish!
PK | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:35 am | #

WNYIrishFan,

Offense didn't give up 37 points today, though they didn't capitalize on turnovers and coughed up the ball at the goal line. What I noticed is that Bruton went in for Ndukwe and the results seemed about the same.

Syracuse was worse. Inferior opponent and the team quitting. This was a superior team just physically beating us up.

Thought to ponder: This is no knock on Quinn, but we have become a sort of finesse passing team and I wonder if that may lead to a bit of softness in the O-line, defense.
Sean Fitzgerald | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:36 am | #

My Thoughts: Brady Quinn is the heart and soul of this team without him notre dame finishes bout 7-5 this year at best.....say what u want about his completion percentage tonight but the kid is all heart and he can't catch the ball as well as throw it.....Rhema and Jeff r both great players but the fact is Rhema dropped some balls tonight he shouldnt have dropped and shark was blanketed for most of the game....kudos to the USC DB's they played well...Freeman is what he is a career reserve....and the line clearly showed that experience =/= being a great line much as i like a lot of the o-line i wont be sad to see morton and santucci gone they r long on effort but short on athletic ability imo.....the defensive front four is vastly underrated thought they played real well all night kudos to jappy on what he's done with big vic landri laws and frome....the linebackers r what the recruiting services said theyd be: mediocre 2 many of these kids we got playing LB didnt play the position in High school and r having to play catch up (not to mention they have minter as a coach who i'm beginning to sour on along with the rest of NDnation)the secondary well i don't think they r as bad as everyone says i think a lot of times the coverages we put them in suck which goes back to minter one thing though is that there tackling is pretty poor at the corners and both our safeties r glorified linebackers (albeit really good glorifed linebackers) that said though i love Zibby and Nedu and i still have faith that lambert wooden walls and mcneil can play....anyways though I love coach weis and i think he's got the program headed in the right direction although i'm having doubts that minter is the man for the DC position. Look at it this way ND is on the way up out of the valley of davieham mediocrity. We didnt become bad in one day and this just goes to show we wont become national title level in one day either....coaching can only do so much....regardless I love this team. "theres only one team we watch in this house" - Ned Beatty in Rudy CHEER CHEER FOR OLD NOTRE DAME and lets go out and win that bowl game seniors! I for one appreciate what this group of kids has done to bring the program back from the brink of irrelevance, thanks to all the players GO IRISH!
IrishnGA | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:39 am | #

more. By that point I had become imune to the ways of Davieham. The problem is cw seemed to be taking us out. I was believing it. And while I"m not trying to compare him to those two loser, we are still not entirely out of the doldrums. We still ahven't had a big win, and we are still getting outclassed by top 5 teams.

I thought it was interesting that BQ's 60 yard run (a beauty btw) was out longest run of the season. That is so indicative of his 4 years here. He plays his heart out and is clearly the best (most focused) athlete on the field for us. Unfortunately, he gets very little support when it matters most (here's looking at you rhema for the dropped passes and you dw for the blown block when bq got rattled).

Sadly, the man who most embodies what ND football is all about never got to cream the trojans. That is why this loss hurts MUCH more than Syracuse
domer03inbmore | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:39 am | #

Everytime I hear or read the word Willingham, I get the urge to kick the nearest thing to me. Ty's final class - if 7 players constitue a class - will be seniors next year and then his grimey paw prints will be gone forever.

I for one hope ND doesn't get a BCS bid. I can't even imagine the frustration at hearing JACKOFFS like Mark May bitching and moaning that they are undeserving.

As for USC playing in the BCS title game...was I dreaming or did they lose to OREGON STATE? Doesn't that count for anything?
clashmore | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:41 am | #

A truly disgraceful performance. Quinn deserved a better fate than to lose three in a row to USC, but there aren't too many other people on the sideline we can say the same about.

Atrocious special teams tonight. Two of USC's first three scores came from shortened fields due to a kick out of bounds or poor coverage. And just when the coverage gets better later in the game, Gioia makes the worst onside kick in football history.

If Minter is history, he ought not to be the only one leaving.

Charlie better have some thick skin, because he is about to really get roasted in the press, and some of it will be deserved.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:43 am | #

@Sean F -- in re the onside kick, we got killed by the lack of a high hop. Number 10 for SC took it about six yds in (way before we can handle it); I guess the only argument you could make is that we need to get a player in there to put a body on him, only I'm not sure if anybody had gotten that far advanced at the point where he grabbed the ball.

Anyway, the biggest issue on that play was the execution by Gioia.

As for the play of the defense... the biggest concern for me is that I don't recall a single pass broken up on Jarrett and Smith (although the one-handed catch, I thought Bruton and the corner played it perfectly).
Craig | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:43 am | #

Domer03, the reason Quinn's run was the longest of the season is that Darius just isn't that fast. He can move the chains for you, but he's not going to run away from people in the open field.
Craig | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:47 am | #

the other thing that is disturbing to me is that other football programs with supposedly less talent seem to compete better against several of the teams we had in common. For example, only Arkansas gave up more points to USC than we did and that includes Stanford. To me that is coaching and a combination of a lack of player development, scheme, motivation, etc.
Oracle | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:49 am | #

Ted Ginn = Mario Manningham = Dwayne Jarrett. Honestly, this team simply can't stop the big play receiver. We can't find any corner that won't bite on double moves and as a result we gashed every time we go up against star WR's. Some people might look at the loss of seniors in the secondary as a huge minus but I think that we have to get fresh bodies in the game and a fresh play caller. The d-line is the best unit on this defense and losing every single player on this line will be huge and I'm not quite sure how we can replace them without getting overly gashed. But, as Charlie Weis brings in good recruits Notre Dame will creep towards greatness and finally begin gathering those signature wins that coach weis and the players need.
Paul | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 1:11 am | #

Two words:

Fucking Humiliating
Fuck | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 1:15 am | #

Two words:

Fucking Humiliating

If anyone knows Charlie personally, that ought to be all that's said.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 1:24 am | #

Would you people get ahold of yourselves? For crying out loud, we're 10-2. Should we be happy about the game? Heck no, but let's be realistic--we've got 2 losses this season, to the #2 and #3 (reverse them, perhaps) teams in the country. You people are acting like we just got blown out by Ball State to finish 5-7. It was a 13 point loss--that last TD on the onside was garbage and shouldn't be counted when looking at this game.

We had our chances in this game, and didn't make the most of them--we all knew we needed to be perfect, and we weren't. How, exactly, does this mean that Weis = Davieham? Are you people NUTS? Does anyone seriously believe that a Ty Willy team would have been within 60 points?

The defense had breakdowns, but came up with some great stops and turnovers--not their fault the offense didn't take advantage. Nor is it Quinn's or Weis's fault that Rhema drops 3 of every 7 passes thrown his way, or that Freeman isn't the receiver Carlson is. We lost. Stew about it, get upset, drink, whatever you need to do--but get over it. If you're going to cry and whine over this game, what are you going to do next year when we have no senior class, a weak junior class, no depth (thanks Ty), and a freshman (redshirt or true) at QB? We'll likely not win 10 games next year--will you pansies be calling for Weis to be fired? Criminy--no wonder the rest of the country thinks we're insane. You all should be disappointed for the loss, but happy that you can even feel disappointed--under Willingham, we'd have just been happy we kept it under 31.

The only thing that's "f'ing humiliating" is the attitude of some of the commenters here. I'm no pollyanna--I'd be thrilled to see Minter gone, and yeah, we should have been a lot better today. But this ain't the end of the world. USC has their pick of talent from around the country--truly a "reloading" school. We're only starting to get there--and it's amazing we're getting there as quickly as we are.

Go Irish--win the bowl game, against whoever it is. Thanks, BQ--you did everything you could, including a Michael Vick impression, to beat SC--too bad it didn't work out.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 2:24 am | #

We just don't have the horses. Everyone looks like an All-American against Army and Navy, but deep down... we all knew this would happen. We tried to kid ourselves and pretend that we could hang with the big boys and the seniors would raise up, but we got rolled just like we did against Michigan.

9-3 at best next year. Count on losses to Michigan, Penn State and USC. They will all be better than us. We'll be more talented (but younger) than any of the other teams we play (thanks to Shithead Willingham's 7-man class). We'll probably blow a couple games we should win next year due to inexperience and finish 7-5. Gotta' wait 'til 2008 to be great again. However, with our awful performance in marquee games it will be tougher to draw recruits. Can we not get our heads kicked in by top ten teams please? If Oregon State can beat SC why can't we even be competitive? On the other hand, OSU crushed in two bowl games...

It would have been nice if someone in the secondary could have learned how to tackle this year. Those guys are a motherfucking train wreck and absurdly slow.
Anger | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 2:28 am | #

I was at the game.

(1) Missed opportunities, as every other post has already mentioned.

(2) Charlie should be recruiting kickers immediately for all three kicking phases: kickoffs, punts and field goals (and on-sides, too).

(3) There is no excuse for our offensive line to be so horrible at run blocking.

(4) We need Aldridge to develop....fast....or recruit like heck a five star running back.
Andy | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 2:34 am | #

(4) We need Aldridge to develop....fast....or recruit like heck a five star running back.

Charlie has been looking for his new Corey Dillon for some time (the all-around RB who can power run, catch passes, and block). It isn't Walker. It might be Aldridge (but having never seen him as a pass target, I can't say one way or the other). Without that, you have the offense you see, with a stellar QB trying to light people up.

Does anyone seriously believe that a Ty Willy team would have been within 60 points?

IIRC, wasn't Willingham's current team 25 yards away from BEATING USC? If it wasn't for his usual lack of clock management skills....
DJ | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 2:43 am | #

lmao
Son of Jorel | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 2:53 am | #

Wow you guys got waxed hellacious in LA. At least Brady can go big pimpin out in Venice Beach or Newport. I got some questions.

1. So will you guys blame Ty Willingham 3 years after he left for this loss???
2. You have a veteran team leaving this year. What do you seriousily anticipate next years record being with Charles in his 3rd season?????
3. Was the grass too short??????
4. If Weiss gets fired for shortcomings. How much of his remaining 30 million dollar contract is ND responsible for???????????
5. How does a part time defensive end return a kick back for a touchdown?????
Son of Jorel | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 3:00 am | #

OSU vs USC Jan 8th.......Dam I see OSU's are the only schools that know how to beat USC....


Go Bucks....
Son of Jorel | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 3:04 am | #

1. So will you guys blame Ty Willingham 3 years after he left for this loss???

Well, he did recruit poorly -- not one senior will be on the offensive line next year. So if Notre Dame struggles to establish an offense next year, think about that. If you can remember.

2. You have a veteran team leaving this year. What do you seriousily anticipate next years record being with Charles in his 3rd season?????

9-3 (at best) is the general consensus (losses to USC, Michigan, and Penn State are most likely).

3. Was the grass too short??????

Irrelevant. Then and now.

4. If Weiss (sic)gets fired for shortcomings. How much of his remaining 30 million dollar contract is ND responsible for???????????

Inane.

5. How does a part time defensive end return a kick back for a touchdown?????
When it's a poorly taken onside kick.

Now here's a question for you -- are you this stupid naturally, or do you have to work at it?
DJ | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 3:10 am | #

Ah, son of Jorel is an Ohio State fan. This explains a lot...
DJ | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 3:11 am | #

maybe you guys will finally realize that you never deserved to part of any national conversation this year.

play 2 real teams, receive 2 royal beatings. here's to abolishing all your traditional rivals and stocking up on the coast guard, the citadel and boy scouts troop 219.
DW | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 3:28 am | #

It's 3:28 EST, and the stupids have come out....does "DW" stand for "dumb wanker"?
DJ | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 3:32 am | #

Now I know why ND doesn't join conference. So you can go 9-3/10-2 every year and lose to the "REAL" teams while sandbagging the rest of the year with service academies and powerhouses like Duke and Stanford. Meanwhile, you sneak into the BCS games where you get embarassed again but swallow up your BC$ booty and make off like a bandit while a more deserving team gets left out.

I am putting a CURSE on you entire team for the next four years. Trust me on this, u will NOT win a BCS bowl game in the next 4 years. You might get there because of your idiotic fanbase that travels well, but as a result, you will be embarassed for the years to come!
woofdog | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 5:57 am | #

Oh wow. Woofdog has put a "curse" on us. That's it -- let's just disband the football program.

Imbecile.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 6:02 am | #

yes you moron. you heard it here. let's see if u actually win a bowl game before 2010...ASSWIPE.
woofdog | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 6:19 am | #

yes you moron. you heard it here. let's see if u actually win a bowl game before 2010...ASSWIPE.
woofdog | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 6:19 am | #

Yawn. Don't you have anything better to do than troll a fan site for a team you obviously can't stand?

And BTW, anyone who types a post that fails the rudiments of English grammar
has no business calling anyone else a moron.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 6:27 am | #

Wow DJ. You must be an Einstein going for the most overused "You-can't-write-proper-grammar" comeback. Very original there.
Just like your playcalling tonight.

If I just got my ass humiliated on TV, I wouldn't be the one seeking solace on an internet message board. The spoils of victory is for folks like me to own your ass for the next 11 months. The sooner you deal with it now, the better your mental state will be.

44-24. Your team got owned. Deal with it. And in about 5 more weeks or so, your team will get owned AGAIN in a bowl game. Like Yogi Berra said, it will be deja vu all over again!
woofdog | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 7:00 am | #

Just like your playcalling tonight.

My name isn't Charlie Weis, fool. It wasn't my playcalling.

The spoils of victory is for folks like me to own your ass for the next 11 months.

Are you a member of the USC football team? If not, you don't "own" anybody's ass, much as you might want to.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 7:10 am | #

Any Questions??
Paragon SC | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 8:43 am | #

WOOFDOG,
NICE TO SEE YOUR TRIBUTE TO YOUR MOTHER BY USING HER NICKNAME AS YOUR MESSAGE BOARD HANDLE. GO BACK TO DRIVING YOUR TRUCK YOU HILLJACK O$U JIZZBALL.
MAURICE CLARETT | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 8:43 am | #

Cut out the stupid guys.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 10:08 am | #

I know you guys don't want to hear this, but OVERRATED. That has been the mantra of Notre Dame the past two years. You do not have the defense to remain competitive and if you are relying on Quinn to help you win, you can't expect him to do it when he is running for his life each play. Now this I'm sure you all know. You did at least finish 10-2 and might make a BCS bowl. Maybe you'll play West Virginia, that would be a good game and your offense would kill them, or Louisville, I do hope for your sake, Corso wasn't right and it's not Michigan.

You might be decent next year, look at how many cupcakes you guys schedule, you had them this year and it might be good chance to get confidence for Clausen and co. I think it helped OSU, and look how we did OK, and ok needs to be said cause Michigan proved were not much better on defense, but you guys could reload a little, but if I may be completely honest, I feel you guys are a good three or four years away from greatness. You need to find someway to either get the right players for your defense or find a credible coaching staff. The defense is clearly not your strongsuit and if it's not fixed soon, you may have more of the same. You might want to install some packages against the spread, it was obvious that both you and USC were not well prepared for those plays. Either was Michigan, but we also have decent receivers. If it's any consolation, USC will have their hands full on defense if they play us, you guys might not like us, but where you guys had Smardjiza and McKnight, we have Ginn, Gonzalez, Roy Hall, Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline and two decent tight-ends and Smith, I still am not sure how decent USC is against mobile qbs, they couldn't stop Quinn and he's not even mobile. Good luck in your bowl and hopefully you can end the season with a win and move on towards better things.
Bob | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 10:36 am | #

Thanks for the patronizing post, Bob. Drop dead.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 10:52 am | #

Zibby is just pathetic. I don't see how any NFL team would ever draft him; he's fast, but he has the tackling skills of a middle-schooler. Nice face mask after you blew that fourth down play.

Wooden and Lambert are pathetic, I realize, but Zibby as the captain HAS to step up and deliver, something he hasn't done all season. And now he's trying to come back for a 5th year I hear?!?!? Please, get his sorry ass off the field; it's time to break in young talent like McNeil. Zibby is terrible and he should stick to boxing.
John | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 11:38 am | #

all domer fans,

please get over it especially with the Mark May digs. You should have lost to MSU and UCLA. You SHOULD be 8-4. You are overrated and you DO NOT belong anywhere near the BCS. More like the Sun Bowl or something closer to X-Mas. Weis will recruit and you'll be killing everyone in four years anyway. You guys whine like no other fan.
byron murrill | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 11:46 am | #

We are what we are, Byron. 10-2. No woulda, coulda, shoulda's. Clearly we have some issues, especially on defense, and O-line, RB depth (young). Besides our O-line, what really hurt us and was underappreciated was the loss of our starting FB and TE. The poor recruiting in Ty's last two years is an impact that won't be fully felt until next year. It did impact this year however. No excuses, just reality.
Dave G | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:01 pm | #

i have to say, between the all caps, the mother dig, and the word "jizzball", i almost spit milk on my computer after mo clarrett's post. good stuff.
mike | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:28 pm | #

I've got some beef.

Byron: perhaps, according to our anemic defense, we SHOULD have lost those games, but Charlie and Brady decided otherwise; in both those games the two engineered great comeback drive(s) to win the game.

Other flamers: This is a website dedicated to the intelligent presentation of all things Notre Dame football. These comment boards are where thoughtful and (usually) benign debates occur. Also, following games like USC and Michigan, it's a place where we come to vent. Leave your acrimony for the regular message boards and other godless pits of the Internet. Let us stew in peace, and enjoy your schadenfreude by yourself.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 12:56 pm | #

cheers to ND not being preseason #1 next year!
DW | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 1:56 pm | #

Well said, anon. I'm amazed that people come here who like other teams to rag on Notre Dame. I don't care if Ohio State, Michigan or USC go 13-0 or 0-13. I'm concerned with Notre Dame getting better. No other team matters to me. Why fans of other schools have antipathy towards the Irish was always beyond me. We make no apologies for having a large fan base, national television contract or being an attraction for big bowl games. It's called capitalism and it's what made this country great.
Orchard Park | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 2:04 pm | #

hey anon, lay off Bob.

I'd much rather have OSU fan come in and present the truth to us (which we all already know anyway) than come in and be an obnoxious flamer.

There was nothing incindiary about his post. He was respectful, and said things that we all know, or perhaps are in denial about. If that post had been made by a domer you may have even thought it insightful.

as for the real asshole... go away. bob, as long as you keep things respectful, stick around and we'll talk shop
domer03inbmore | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 2:07 pm | #

The Big Ten was a joke this year. The idea that ND's schedule would have been harder by moving into a conference is just nonsense.
Will | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 6:33 pm | #

domer03inbmore - I'm tired of the condescending bullshit that Ohio State fans always lay into with us. I love the "cupcake" schedule routine, too. So Bob can go fuck himself along with Cheaty McSweatervest as he trolls juvenile detention centers around the nation looking for the next felon with 4.3 speed.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 6:36 pm | #

number fucking 12. That is crap. We have lost to the number 2 and number 3 teams in the country, better than Arkansas (8), Oklahoma (10), Auburn (11) and LSU (5). Also, there is no way in hell that LSU, a team that won't even compete for their conference title, is better than Wisconsin and Louisville.
Pete M | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 6:42 pm | #

Pete - we also beat absolutely nobody. SEC is loaded this year (and most years) - it's ludicrously deep.

I don't get why we are behind Oklahoma. Or Louisville. Or Wisconsin - since they are in the same exact boat just they only played one tough team all year. But the SEC teams - definitely.
Tom | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 8:31 pm | #

As for the game itself. USC's talent was not 20 points better Saturday. THere was what? five yards difference at the end of the game. We played poorly - and it wasn't entirely the defense either. Although I've been in the Fire Minter camp since the day he was hired.

1) Our special teams put us in a hole which we were never climbing out. That Charlie can't rely on his kicker to hit a 45 yd FG with any sort of regularity forces him to go on 4th more than he would like. Is it that damned hard to get a kicker? We started the games giving them two short fields because of the loust kicking game. Not to mention 37-24 looks a little better. Thanks Carl.

2) No power running game. This also hampers Charlie's play calling, especially inside the 20 yard line because he is scared he can't get one yard on a simple HB plunge when he needs to. It's also why we run so many QB sneaks. I hope it's also the reason he gets too cute with some play calls (like that toss on third and 1?).
Tom | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 8:37 pm | #

Quinn=Brokeback
SCTROJAN | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 9:56 pm | #

Quinn = Medicine Woman
CONQUEScT | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 10:03 pm | #

Tom, please, stop it.

Any ND fans not recognizing that game for what it was (and it was a beating) is just fooling themselves.

I bought into the the "we were a play away from getting the ball back against tOSU" mentality.

I bought into the "Michigan kicked our A$$, but we DID have a bad day" mentality.

I'm not going to do it here. The last 3 times we've lined up with elite, Top 5 caliber teams, we've gotten our ass kicked. I don't want to hear anymore woulda/shoulda/coulda. The stark reality that we are just not top-tier caliber hit me like a ton of bricks this morning.

This WILL change with Weis and the recruits he has coming to ND. BobTy Davingham would have been 6-6 or 7-5 this year; Weis DOES make a difference. The talent he's bringing in WILL make a difference- in 2008.

Right now, I'd rather see the BGS guys (and everyone) focus on what we need to do to win a bowl game and how we're looking for recruiting rather than wasting time dissecting the wouldas etc. from this game.

It's over, we got crushed, let's move on and keep getting better.
Irish Rat | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 10:05 pm | #

"are" not "is"
Irish Rat | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 10:07 pm | #

Yeah, we got beaten, but what I'm sick of are the people who think this makes Weis a failure. I'm sorry, but a 10-2 record, no matter what, should not be a blemish -- especially when it's the only time we've had back to back winning records since Holtz. Obviously, he's having an effect, whether or not it's always working. And he's human, so he's going to make some mistakes, as with the play-calling in this last game (or so I think, anyway). And although we have a long way to go, I think Weis deserves a lot of credit for what he made out of a hodge-podge of players he inherited and some he recruited. Half the reason we're all so attached to this team is because Weis has been instrumental in developing its character and in orchestrating its success. And while I don't think he deserves to be canonized, I also think it's a shame he'll be flagellated.
Heather | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 10:47 pm | #

"Obviously, he's having an effect, whether or not it's always working."

Yeah, that sentence didn't make sense. I guess what I meant was, he's clearly steering things in the right direction, even if we're still seeing inconsistencies in the team's play. I desperately want us to get better but I hope Weis doesn't get eviscerated too enormously for this; yes, we got outcoached, but that doesn't happen to us anywhere near as often as it used to and really, Weis is just getting started. That's all I meant.
Heather | Email | Homepage | 11.26.06 - 10:53 pm | #

Tangent: Has it occurred to anyone else that Pete Carroll strongly resembles a Timothy Leary gone football-crazy?

"Time in, game on, drop back."

Or am I crazy? Say what you want about Pete, but you have to admire the excellence of 33 straight wins at home.

Wouldn't that be nice at Notre Dame Stadium, say, from '08-'12. Make it so, Mr. Charlie.
Joe | Email | Homepage | 11.27.06 - 9:28 am | #

Rat - sorry - the underlying thought was that the scoreline flattered USC a bit - I think 37-24 should have been about right. In no way do I think that ND would ever win that game nor do I think they have nearly the talent of those top teams.
Tom Fina | Email | Homepage | 11.27.06 - 10:22 am | #

well said, rat. While it is obvious that we can't hang with the top dogs this year (UM, tOSU and USC), I have never felt there was a credible argument against an Irish ranking in the top 10. Cal, Arkansas, and Florida have looked as mortal as we have during the season, and no one can reasonably say teams like Texas, Clemson and West Virginia are more deserving.

I for one hope we have a chance to go to the Sugar bowl and silence the critics who think we are overrated at 6. Don't get me wrong - I don't think beating the Gators or Razorbacks would be a cakewalkby - it would be a great game and a chance to prove we deserve a respectable ranking despite getting shellacked by 2 of the top 3 teams in football this year. I'll take Charlie Weis and a top ten finish over an NCAA investigation and a tool fer skipper any day.
indy | Email | Homepage | 11.27.06 - 2:13 pm | #

That's cool. I'll take that "tool", his 3 national championships, and a bogus investigation(as it relates to the program, not individual) any other day.

You keep patting that coach of yours on the back. You started out #2. What happened? You won't be in the top 10 in any poll after your bowl game.
the other guy | Email | Homepage | 11.27.06 - 6:14 pm | #

We can agree to disagree on our captains. All the USC fans I know think Carroll is the coolest. I just think he's the toolest. And if you admit Bush is guilty, last time I checked, fielding ineligible players = forfeit. Look, props to USC. You kicked our butts. But you can't act like having at least one player in the locker room taking major payoffs didn't help recruiting. Do you know any football players? Carroll turned a blind eye and he and the program reaped the rewards. Now have your heapin' helpin' of opprobrium.

As for our bowl game, time will tell.
indy | Email | Homepage | 11.27.06 - 8:00 pm | #

guys give it a rest on the d. yes, they played like crap this year, but they also played extremely well for stretches. i.e. we don't win the msu or ucla games w/out some stout d. they played some 2nd halves giving up lees than 100 yds, and well less on at least one occasion. and that included woeful tackling by the db's.

by far the biggest problem, all year, has been the o-line. bq spent most of his time avoiding sacks. they can't seem to open holes, except to let pass rushers thru. and i think it's fair to say it will get worse before it gets better (although maybe noy much). it says tons when the best lineman all year, consistently, was a true freshman. people say we shouldn't be raggin on ty willie, but that's the hand he dealt us.
yz | Email | Homepage | 11.27.06 - 11:08 pm | #

"You might be decent next year, look at how many cupcakes you guys schedule, you had them this year and it might be good chance to get confidence for Clausen and co."

Bob, check out ND's schedule next year and compare it to OSU's. Trust me, there are no MAC games on the schedule, and Indiana and Northwestern were all booked up. This year's schedule ended up with some duds, but when they were scheduled, most of them were good teams (i.e., not Bowling Green).
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 11.28.06 - 6:03 pm | #

fd1696 170f5103eb
Vincent | Email | Homepage | 12.15.06 - 2:56 pm | #