I'd like to see any one of David Grimes' Touchdowns make the top ten. Maybe the Navy one since it was a win. They were spectacular catches and shwo a preveiw of next years team. Also, Carlson's 4th down grabs are definitely top ten.
Jake | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 8:06 am | #

Just heard this on Mike & Mike in the morning.

We just got a commitment from another Golic!!! Mike's son, who is a junior in high school. This is something really exciting to me. It'll be great to see him and Brian Smith out there in a few years.



Now if only Zorich and Rocket can send in some younglings...
Brad | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 8:42 am | #

Loved the plays....how'd we ever lose a game?
gwzimm | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 8:52 am | #

gwzimm,
Maybe because the only defensive play up here at the moment is fromt he first game? Granted the defense did have some other good plays this season (MSU anyone?), the offense produced 90% of the highlights this season with the special teams coming up with maybe another 5 to 9% and the D coming up with the rest. I suspect that we could find it closer to 50-50 next year.
OITLinebacker | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 8:57 am | #

Zorich and Rocket are mating? Holy...260 noseguard with 4.28 speed.
Yago | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 9:02 am | #

If number one and two are not Lambert's INT's, I quit...
schwap | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 9:03 am | #

What about Quinn to Samardzija for the win against UCLA?
Michael | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 9:10 am | #

I think Ndukwe's hit on Johnson should be elevated from honorable mention into the Top 10.
Lawnmower8 | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 9:13 am | #

I agree with Michael. Has gotta be Quinn to Shark vs. UCLA.
jeremy52 | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 9:34 am | #

Let's face it, Shark's TD catch against UCLA has to be number 1. (But Terrail Lambert's interception for a TD against MSU should be a close number 2).
Joe | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 9:39 am | #

Will Brady Quinn's 61-yard run vs. USC be in the top three?
Loved that play, even though it came in a losing effort.

I'd also like to see Brady barking at the guys upstairs over the phone in the same game.

"Shucks, guys, gimme a breather!"
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 9:42 am | #

Yago. Or maybe a 165 lb. noseguard with 5.28 speed?
Don E. Brook | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 9:48 am | #

Ummm...


Let's go with the first one.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 10:02 am | #

Great picks. Can't wait to see the top 10.
subwaydomer26 | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 10:25 am | #

Shouldn't West's TD technically be an "end-around," instead of a reverse, as the direction of the football never reversed course?
Matt | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 10:32 am | #

Good plays. I never realized that Ndukwe's hit was the result of a bad pass. Johnson actually adjusts INTO the hit by coming back left. He was running more toward the corner and came back into the middle of the field. If it's thrown over his right shoulder it's a TD.

I missed the beginning of the Air Force game so I never saw how wide open Shark was on that TD. Sheesh.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 10:36 am | #

Matt, try and teach an announcer the difference between end-arounds, reverses, and double reverses, and you'll go crazy. One handoff = end-around; two handoffs = reverse; three handoffs = double reverse. All these are a generalization, but it's annoying how often you'll hear announcers call double reverses.
Scott | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 10:50 am | #

Nice catch, Matt.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 10:56 am | #

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/ ne...e=ESPNHeadlines
esquire | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 12:43 pm | #

Hard to believe those were just the runners ups.

Can't wait to see the top plays of the year.

I'd say Lambert's interception TD was #1 and Shark #2. ND was down 17 against MSU, and only 4 against UCLA. Although, the play against UCLA was a brilliant last second winner.

Will there be a tie? Both were game winners.

And yes, Quinn's 60 yard run against USC was brilliant. If only he had Rocket/Julius Jones speed or Bettis power to take it all the way to the house.

Should be great stuff. Can't wait.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 12:58 pm | #

Get stuff guys!

Off topic question here - when do the alumni ticket apps come in the mail? As the 06 suggests, I'm pretty new at the whole app process.
Brian 06 | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 1:34 pm | #

West looked great on that TD, didn't he? Nice move there at the end.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 1:40 pm | #

Interesting to note that of the nine plays shown here, only one is a defensive play. I'm hard pressed to think of even one or two that might creep into the Top 10.

Having said that, Ndukwe's hit was a great play. He absolutely leveled Johnson.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 1:40 pm | #

Weis Mistrial?

Jez, this is a freaking LA Law episode.
schwap | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 2:05 pm | #

Lambert's two picks are the defensive plays of the year. I thought Richardson's interception was outstanding as well -- about as well played as can be. Maybe N-duke's strip of Stanton?

Hey Brian '06 -- Ticket apps come about middle of May I believe. If you're not Sorin Society, which I trust you are not yet, put your ticket money in a three-month CD and buy your way into the stadium. Or try Mega Millions lottery, the odds are slightly better.
Yago | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 2:10 pm | #

Brad- either way, they got to call the kid - Zorrocket.
Yago | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 2:11 pm | #

Check out the nifty blocking on the TT fake field goal. JJ goes man up against the nose guard who just shifted away from the play. Cullen at right guard blows through and takes out the linebacker (who also shifted away from the play), now returning from the far side. Carlson, at left guard, pulls right and contains while Zibby takes out the db coming from the right corner. Chase is burning in from the right sideline just looking for someone to hit. And Marcus Freeman, at right tackle, out-jukes an official and proceeds to outrun Travis 35 yards down the field to level a safety who wisely decides to take a slide. The whole damn team is there when Travis gets up a second later! Just like they drew it up in the dirt.
Don E. Brook | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 2:20 pm | #

Yago. Of course they do. Rockich sounds too much like jock itch.
Don E. Brook | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 2:31 pm | #

West looked really fast on that end-around, but then also really small once his teammates came over to celebrate.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 2:34 pm | #

Nice fake punt with 6:30 to go and a 24 point lead. Don't think PSU fans will forget that anytime soon. Can't wait for September.
Mike from Black Shoe Diaries | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 3:19 pm | #

That would be 21:30 to go. Spare us the manufactured indignation.
Mike | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 3:21 pm | #

Jay,

As usual, awesome collection of clips. If you make this a yearly tribute, may I suggest displaying the post in the last week of January/first week of February. That way, we'll have the truth to set our recruits free from the last ditch desperation efforts of ____________ [insert name of smarmy coach here] prior to signing day.
Andy | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 3:41 pm | #

schwap, saw that. Hope if there is a retrial it doesn't cut into football.

As for the fake punt against PSU, please. It was the 2nd quarter.
Gabe | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 3:42 pm | #

Actually, if you look at the clip the bottom right corner clearly shows it is the 3rd quarter, so I guess we're both wrong. Still, it didn't sit well with PSU fans. Don't blame the messenger.
Mike from Black Shoe Diaries | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 3:49 pm | #

So, when does the season start up again? Watching those clips made me way too excited about college football during the month of February. I think we should wait until 1 month before the season to post these (just kidding.)

As always, great job.

As for the Penn State fake punt... If I were a PSU fan, I would be mildly irritated, but not terribly upset. I don't think it was rubbing salt into a wound. If it were the 2nd half of the 4th quarter, I would understand it. I don't think Weis was trying to run up the score.
rbingham'97 | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 4:04 pm | #

Mike,

Are you saying Penn State was incapable of mounting a comeback at that point in the game, so the fake FG amounts to rubbing it in?

I'm not baiting you here. Genuinely curious. In my eyes, the game was not truly out of reach.
Hal | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 4:33 pm | #

My recollection is that after the game Joe Pa said he felt they were still in it until the successful fake punt. On that basis, it's hard to argue ND was rubbing it in - although as an Irish fan, I can admit there were games later in the season when I felt Charlie should have called off the dogs.

But I think this may be the wrong place to complain. In my heart of hearts, I cannot bring myself to fear Penn State and I hope I have many more opportunities to criticise the Irish for running up the score.

Ní bhéarfaidh sibh bua ar na Gaeil choíche.
indy | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 4:42 pm | #

One Ring to rule them all.
indy | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 4:45 pm | #

Mike - Weis likely knew that with ND's defense, no lead was safe. 24 points in 21 minutes isn't all that out of reach. Just two weeks later ND was down by 16 with 8 minutes left and still won.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 5:00 pm | #

@Hal:

I'm just saying it is the perception of PSU fans that Charlie was running up the score on us. We had only managed three points in 2.5 quarters. Penn State fans realized we weren't going to win and pretty much gave up after the Zibby fumble return.

Going for it on fourth down inside the redzone in the fourth quarter didn't help either.

@indy: Not complaining. Just giving some insight into the PSU psyche.
Mike @ Black Shoe Diaries | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 5:03 pm | #

Mike- The Irish were on both sides of routs last season so I can certainly appreciate where you are coming from. That said, the issue of calling off the dogs was brought up Lou Holtz's latest book. Holtz and Bobby Bowden were good friends. As Holtz told it, I believe Florida State ran up the score in a decided game against Arkansas where Holtz was then head coach. After the game, Holtz asked Bobby why he ran the score up to which Bowden answered, "keeping us from scoring is your job, not mine."

Of course there are extremes like when Woody Hayes ran up 50 points against Michigan by going for two with seconds remaining. When asked why he went for two in a decided game, Hayes responded, "because they wouldn't let us go for three."

Two points: (1) Charlie is not Woody Hayes; and (2) the Penn State players, like the Notre Dame players, do not need any additional motivation when they meet next year or in years to come. The kids know that the game is against two great historic programs and both play to win. Fake punts and the like are more for guys like us to get fired up about.

I had a great time with some Penn State fans tailgating before and after last year's game and am interested to see how we are recieved in Happy Valley. I heard it can be a tough place for visiting fans.
Don E. Brook | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 5:46 pm | #

I liked the crushing hit Ndukwe put on Derrick Williams when Morelli passed to him in the flat for a trick play...the downfield receiver looked open and the hit by Nedu was perfect---saved a TD.
Kevin | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 6:56 pm | #

Don E. Brook,

Actually it was when Holtz was at William and Mary and Bowden was at WVU. Holtz said why did you run the score up on us and Bowden told him that it wasnt his job to keep the score down. By the way Mike, Weis called of the dogs, the way our offense was playing that game we could have scored 70. I dont think Charlie has that in him and I believe he needs to get that. In the NFL they dont run the score up because many times you will have to face that team again in the same year. No one wants to have that additional motivation. There are times when he has called off the dogs when I think he should add a little insult to injury. Teams will do it to us if they have the chance. JoePa knows the score, he still has a good grasp of the game, he knows when someone is trying to embarrass him.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 9:12 pm | #

Thanks Doug. I got the coach right but the schools wrong. Good story anyway.
Don E. Brook | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 10:27 pm | #

Enjoyed the clips ..probably Carlson's the most.

Go Irish
Bill H | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 11:30 pm | #

Damn, I'm gonna miss some of those guys.

Re: fake punt. If your team stops playing to win, ours will too.

Re: ND ring. It's ND College in Cleveburg, not ND.
c-stone | Email | Homepage | 02.20.07 - 11:53 pm | #

We'll have to rehash all this again during PSU week, but the stupid fake punt was an audible--it was a "do it if it's there" play. Penn State wasn't ready for it, and we took advantage of it. The Nitts need to stop whining.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 02.21.07 - 2:09 am | #

The fake punt against PSU was great, but the ensuing 1-yd TD run by Travis Thomas to close the drive was chest-bumpingly good.
Lo-fi | Email | Homepage | 02.21.07 - 9:40 am | #

In that video Carlson showed why his 5th year is such a big deal for us. I'll never tire of seeing a TE in gold running step for step with 2 corners in the backfield. Like Charlie says, he's a 3rd level threat. Have him mentor Dever and look out.
indy | Email | Homepage | 02.21.07 - 9:59 am | #

The play of the year has to be the UCLA touchdown.
robert | Email | Homepage | 02.21.07 - 10:33 am | #

"I liked the crushing hit Ndukwe put on Derrick Williams when Morelli passed to him in the flat for a trick play...the downfield receiver looked open and the hit by Nedu was perfect---saved a TD."
Yeah Kevin I was gonna suggest that for a defensive play too. Ndukwe was without a doubt my pick for defensive most improved player. He had several great picks, improved his speed, almost took one to the house vs. michigan, and had some amazing hits on guys. He also almost picked that WR screen and returned it to the house against LSU too. That was a great reaction and instinct. Too bad he didn't intercept that, man we would've had some momentum and I would've gone craazy.
Sean | Email | Homepage | 02.21.07 - 3:46 pm | #

Can Hammond be any less excited about West's TD?
Pete | Email | Homepage | 02.21.07 - 4:30 pm | #