Not to be an ass but Turkovich is still a sophomore, a junior next season. Olsen and Carufel are freshmen now, will be sophomores. Seeing him around campus, Chris Stewart is tremendously trimmed down. This is the same guy that when he showed up on campus last year looked liked he needed two chairs in SDH to seat himself. Also, Sam Young has definitely packed on some weight and is even more physically imposing than last semester.


Saw James Aldridge the other day in Keenan with his shirt off...guy is an absolute tank. He at least looks like he will be a force. Good feelings about him.


Right anon, I was thinking that Turkovich will be a junior during the season, but that doesn't make sense when I list the other guys as freshmen. I guess I'll go with the "rising sophomore" and "rising junior" convention just to be consistent.


Why not just make ten higher expectations and make ten be the top number?


I sometimes worry about all the comments "I saw so-and-so with his shirt off"...I've seen it too many times..


Dan,

But....this one goes to eleven? It's one louder.


Aldridge is a beast. It'll be a change seeing someone with power and speed actually run the ball.
I'm not even sure that Armando Allen needs to be impressing anyone. The duo of Thomas and Aldridge will be spectacular. Either one could probably start, so does Allen really need to be impressing anyone? Plus, we've got two all star FBs.


Are we actually getting some depth? Wow, it's been so long.


Although the shirtless, post-parietal wrestling matches in Keenan study halls are legendary.


Yes, Yes! I can feel the strength returning to my limbs, the warm optimistic glow, the fire returning to my belly as the Kool-Aid does its happy work. Is it possible we'll have a power running game this year? I see our right tackle holding his edge. Reminds me of running the county demolition derbies in '74 when we used to fill our trunks with cement block before the flag dropped. Sure it was against the rules, but it took a little creativity to punch a hole in the side of a four door malibu. Build you some tanks, Reuben, and run 'em down.


I'm still nervous about the fact that we only have one guy with the body type to play nose tackle--and he's coming over from the offense . . .


But Dan, ours [the BGS Expectation Meter] goes to eleven.


Apologies Brad! I didn't read any further comments after Dan's because I am helpless in resisting any Spinal Tap reference or analogy! That, and The Godfather.


NT is a concern, but if Stewart can make the transition, wow he could be a beast. With Laws in the DE spot, those two could soak up some blockers. Doesn't Charlie also have one or two guys that are OL/DL candidates with potential NT size coming in for the fall?

If CW can put together a power running game with TT and Allen to keep the defense off the field for chunks at a time, a lack of depth at NT might not be a complete killer either.


I have visions of Aldridge and Thomas getting their guaranteed 7.3 yards per carry by running directly at (and through) opposing linebackers, only to be dragged down by a cornerback. Then, after several series of that and much wailing and gnashing of teeth, we'll use Armando Allen on our new "guaranteed 50 yard run" play, just to make the other team feel bad about themselves.

It's like Jeff Faine said. It was something like: "Sometimes, I just want to make the other guy think about giving up football for a while."


Who else can play NT if Stewert "looks like an offensive guard playing nose tackle?" Is Laws a possibility or is he definitely a DE?


If you read the Irish Insights blog that was helpfully linked in the article, you'll see that the first-team NT has been Kuntz, with Stewart practicing with the second team.


Does that necessarily mean that Kuntz would be the starter if Stewert doesn't pan out? Just fishing for some opinions I guess.


Peck-

Not sure what you mean, but ok.

Anyways, this next year might not be a the BEST year, but it sure as hell could be exciting.


Chris, have to agree with that last comment. We are perhaps two years away from being back on the "perpetual-title-track" of historic Irish teams.

This year will probably mirror the '87 team in many ways - you can see them coming on, but too much retooling is needed to quite do it now.

This will be the type of year when the Jays and the Brads can point out the minutiae that is fomenting into becoming the long-time hoped for colossus.

We're getting close to being able to gaze into the Promised Land.

Go Irish


WOW

Anybody seen this?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17865491/

Pete Carroll might be leaving in a year.

I wouldn't mind him not being on the opposing sideline if ND makes a title run in two years.


Are you kidding? That's the one guy I WANT to go through. Probably SoCal recruiting gamesmanship.


indy - I agree. Its no fun winning a championship unless we beat really good USC and Michigan teams and ruin their season. In fact that is why the '88 and '89 ND teams hold a really special place for me - wow did we beat some really good teams.


exactly. Maybe the guy is scary as a recruiter - they say he's cooler than Jeff Spicoli (although to me he always seemed more like brad hamilton). But I look forward to the day when we play - and beat - the best. Otherwise, what's the point?


Yeah Dan, when you need that extra boost, then you can turn it up to eleven.

Damnit...now I have to go watch it. Thanks a lot.


Pat,

When you say a "Mac-friendly" page, what do you mean? None of the videos are in Quicktime, which is what I interpret as Mac-friendly.....


I mean that people with Mac's can access the page, unlike the All-Access page which requires a PC running internet explorer. Maybe "Mac-friendly" is a bit of an overstatement. How about "Mac-compatible".


Why can't we just ignore complaints from the mid-majors like everybody else?


On the subject of Pete Carroll, here's somethng I've always wondered. Just before Lionheart snuck the ball into the end zone (The Bush Push) on October 15th, 2005, glorious game that the Irish lost, Pete could be seen making the internationally recognized sign for 'spike the ball'.

Was this a ploy by a brilliant coach to fool the Irish, or did he really want Matt to spike the ball and have a huddle?

Also, can anyone tell me if I really saw Matt L. make the sign of the cross on the Trojan sidelines in the second half, or was he just adjusting his shoulder pads.

Lastly, do I spend too much time thinking about October 15th, 2005?

I'm not looking for an honest answer to that last question. I'm probably seeking validation from a place I'm fairly certain will give it to me.

October 15th, 2005, if only, if only.

Thanks for the website, go Irish, and have a great day.


if I recall correctly, after the game Carroll said his signals were a decoy to confuse the Irish defense; for what it's worth, I think he also said that Leinart called the play at the line.


I may be looking a bit far ahead, but I think this will be the first year in a long time where we don't cry out in pain when losing our graduating seniors. They all have tremendous depth coming up behind them, it seems. Carlson, Zibby, TT. Perhaps Laws on DL will be vacating a spot not readily replaced. I'm really excited for the next few years.


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