Crazy…or masochistic
Yago | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 12:20 pm | #

Crazy...like a fox.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 12:21 pm | #

You're not crazy, you're just committed.

But hey, the entire Notre Dame marching band is going to the Coliseum, too, so at the very least you can count on us to drown out the Trojan band and the only two songs they know.
Irishbandgirl | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 12:21 pm | #

What's the largest spread going into a game for ND?
PKC | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 12:22 pm | #

You're CRAZY!!!
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 12:23 pm | #

I have tickets to that football game.
Dylan | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 12:25 pm | #

Oh Peter King's column and remarks for SI this morning.
They are rebuked by the people at Kissing Suzy Kolbert. KSK.
It must be impossible to recruit for Notre Dame anymore. If Charlie Weis, with his Super Bowl rings, can’t walk into the homes of the best offensive players in the country and persuade them to hone their skills in maybe the best NFL-prep program for skill players, who can?

Here are the national recruiting rankings for Notre Dame over the past four years, according to Rivals.com. Keep in mind: these rankings are public information. All you need to do to find them is conduct a simple Google search.

2009: #10
2008: #2
2007: #8
2006: #8

Of course, it can be difficult to find these rankings if you are making 33 fucking calls in your car telling friends and family about how substandard the free shampoo at Marriott can be.

It would appear that Charlie Weis can recruit a player or two. It’s just that he’s, you know, the fattest, dumbest, shittiest coach in the history of everything ever. So perhaps we shouldn’t call his system the “best NFL-prep program for skill players” when Jimmy Clausen couldn’t hit the broad side of your ample backside with a pass.
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 12:26 pm | #

Mosquitoes and Masterson. Two of the Almighty's Great Conundrums.
Jim '72 | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 12:32 pm | #

First, Jay, thanks for your dedicaton. We need to see who can still summon some fire for this daunting task, coaches and players alike, and in-person reports are the best for that. I hope everyone who attends the game puts aside the (most likely) anguish and embarassment and to a real grading job on heart and fire. We have seen that the skill and coaching have not shown up too much this year.

Jim,

I'm still not convinced that Jimmy has the tools. Or, he may still be suffering from his previous injuries in some sort or another. I thought the UAB quarterback threw with more umph than he did, and he seems to have lost his nerve. Nerve is not something you can coach.

Go Irish! Stun the Nation!!!
ND67Aquajock | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 12:35 pm | #

We have nothing to lose. Charlie has nothing to lose. Expectations are nil. You might be there for an epic win. Or not. But its still USC - ND, at least for now, so enjoy. If we keep hiring mediocre coaches, our big rival may be Holy Cross.
Old Fan | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 12:37 pm | #

clausen was the product of his dads money, his brother's success, and a carefully orchestrated pr campaign. CW, who does not really know football talent, bought the into the clausen family PR campaign.
belocki | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 12:38 pm | #

My expectaions aren't nil ...

I expect the team, the coaches, and the fans to all behave with class.

Then we'll regroup and see how to go forward.

Jay, have a great time. I wish I was going too.
Tennessee Domer 78 | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 12:42 pm | #

my hope is that the team plays the USC game with passion & heart and that we get invited to a bowl (any bowl), where we wear those green jerseys with pride & win, breaking this seemingly decades long bowl game victory drought.
brian custer | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 12:56 pm | #

CW and the entire rest of the country bought into the Clausen hype.

I'll give Clausen until the beginning of next year before calling him a bust.
Domer97 | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 1:00 pm | #

I'm at ND for the hockey game. A better use of time.
Dana Payne | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 1:03 pm | #

Anyone bold predicting upset? I can see upset, but alot has to happen and quick. The game would have to be high scoring because in no circumstance do i see SoCal scoring under 20 points against anyone right now. Running game for ND must magically appear even if only in part for the upset. ND can win this game, but you have to forget last weekend.
REM | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 1:10 pm | #

1. I am surprised that this game isn't a 'no line' game.
2. I would have gone to the game if I could have found an inexpensive flight
3. My wife asked me what we should do on Staurday. I replied that I am attending a funeral ( watching on TV) and do NOT bother me.
Peter | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 1:13 pm | #

REM, it could only happen if the Trojans really sleepwalk through it. In some ways it's become a classic "trap" game for them. Somehow, though, I don't see them taking it easy on us. They never do, even if they've had some half-hearted showings against other teams on the schedule. This year, for example, they've got a bad loss to Oregon State, a couple of close ones against Arizona and Cal, and a miserable half of football against Stanford (before flipping the switch). Against Notre Dame, however, how many times have you ever seen them listless and bored, as they've shown against other teams? Not often. I expect we'll have their attention from the opening kickoff.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 1:16 pm | #

Man...the negativity around here is depressing. Some of you guys are the worst examples of displaying faith and this "it's our right to be a top-tier football team after a 3-9 season" attitude is pathetic. Weis isn't going anywhere 'til after next year, let's just accept that and wait for that time. But please lighten up on the personal attacks. You make yourselves sound like spoiled brats.

I for one will wait another year.

GO IRISH!
borromini | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 1:17 pm | #

Snyder is back at KSU. maybe all of you guys clamoring for Lou to come back are actually on to something...
domer03inflorence | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 1:20 pm | #

It is senior day at SC so the coaches should have the team jacked up, right? As long as ND is good on the road the CW has a shot at an upset!
cv | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 1:24 pm | #

Jay, you're not crazy. You're just putting yourself in a position to potentially witness the biggest upset ND has ever laid on someone. Hmm, a guy can dream, right?
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 1:29 pm | #

ND has a chance. USC has lost to Oregon State, ucla and stanford in the recent past.

Plus, rain is forecast for Saturday. USC playres are not used to this type of weather.
joe | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 1:37 pm | #

Oh, and sometime this week, one player with leadership qualities far beyond those of normal men (Anello?), needs to take the bull by horns and have a "players only meeting" (sorry Charlie) and give a Lou Holtz type motivational speech for the ages that will give the team the proper needed lift for the game
joe | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 1:42 pm | #

What should the point spread be for you to take the Irish? 15?, 25? I don't think rain will help ND. Didn't it rain last time in LA?
cv | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 1:46 pm | #

rain will nuetralize Southern Cal's speed, make throws harder, scoring will be lower, most likely.
joe | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 1:51 pm | #

Listen to you guys - Praying for rain. I never expected to ever hear that at ND. With your national exposure and draw you should never have much of a down season. There is definitely a problem. Your players are preoccupied with something other than palying hard.
LM | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:01 pm | #

you're a brave soul.

i've actually been wearing my '88 national champs shirt today. i'm frustrated as anyone but i wear the colors with pride and always will. dont let their fans get under your skin. jeers are part of the game, some day usc will be down again and we'll do the same to them.

it's a rare day i'm anxious to watch our boys on the court repping the school as a top ten and capable of winning game against IU, UT, and UNC in consecutive days. that kind of win streak could put us in the top 3. GO IRISH!
alanon | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:01 pm | #

I thought Vegas didn't put a line on games between Div-1A and Div-1AA teams...
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:04 pm | #

1) I think we get shut out this week at SC. Outside of a Tate bomb, I just cant see us moving the ball on them without a run game.


2) For those who say Clausen is a bust, do yourself a favor and compare Clausen's stats as a a sophomore vs Quinn as a sophomore.

I remember going to the Stanford and and BC games in 2004 and watching Quinn throw it out of bounds, miss receivers, and just plain not see open receivers. It happens to young QB's. 3rd and 4th year is where they make there hay. Quinn became good his 3rd year. Remember Carson Palmer? He wasn't good until his 4th year. How about Chris Leak? Mediocre until his senior year. I'm sure there are many other examples.

You have to be patient with young QB's. It also helps if the QB gets more than 2 seconds to throw.

Clausen just needs to stop locking in on his first read and learn to step up in the pocket rather than run away. These are both correctable. Whether or not the current coaching staff will be able to correct it is another story!
jason | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:06 pm | #

I think someone on ND's offense could get seriously injured. SC's defense is scary good and hard hitting too. I cringe at the thought of Clausen getting blindsided by Cushing as he breezes past ND's lethargic line...or at the thought of Tate going over the middle after one of Jimmy's errant throws.

I say that if we come out as healthy as we go in, it is a moral victory.
Steve | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:09 pm | #

Im am disappointed in Charlie's comments. Not much manning up.
The media is too friendly. Why doesn't someone say point blank- you are 0 for 5 on 4th and 2 when you try the basic hand off. How many times are you going to try that before trying something else?
" What the hell is the matter with Clausen?"
It occurred to me in passing that when Charlie sued and lost and then appealed, that that suggested a weakness in refusing to accept the facts. I think his comments now are similar.
I can't even bear to think about USC. Because of Charlie's cracks on Carroll, the one team USC will never look past is us.
canuck 75 | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:10 pm | #

Upset? if the Irish get on the board, it will be a moral victory. After watching the shitstorm against Syracuse, I don't see how anyone can expect a point. THEY COULDN'T MOVE THE BALL AGAINST SYRACUSE.

This is going to be embarassing...granted, not as embarassing as this past weekend, but embarassing.

My prediction: SC 163 ND 0.
RedMahoney | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:17 pm | #

LM, not praying for rain. The comment is about PREPARING for rain. The game changes when this ocurrs.
joe | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:19 pm | #

I've got a bunch of USC friends (except for one week a year) who are trying to give me tickets. I'm still not convinced - the Coliseum is a horrible stadium, parking sucks and the last time I was there it took us two hours to get out of the parking structure after the game.

I'm much more likely to draw up a bar stool in comfort and watch the debacle in HD with a Bombay Sapphire and Tonic close by my elbow.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:26 pm | #

Oh - didn't mean to be Anonymous. I'm the Gin & Tonic drinker.
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:29 pm | #

Red Mahoney, we're playing SC, not Ditka. They will probably be held to the mid-120 point range.
everloyal | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:31 pm | #

This is a statement game for USC. expect the worst. 50-0 would be in the ball park. From there the program is in free fall....
valpodoc | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:31 pm | #

If it rains ND will have no offense whatsoever! The call now is for some rain on saturday.
cv | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:32 pm | #

Unfortunately for ND it rains on both sides of the field. My point is that in the past no one at ND ever talked about factors such as rain or recruiting classes. Something is not right.
LM | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:33 pm | #

Remember, the home team is traditionally spotted 3 points for home-field advantage.

So we really are only 26 point dogs.

*sigh*
Dave in the Basement | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:37 pm | #

Is Ditka still up for coaching?
GoldenStateDomer | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:38 pm | #

...I spent $500 for two shitty tickets bought before the Syracuse debacle...I'm thinking of throwing them in the trash...like Weis should do with his offensive line...or at least Latina...what an "f"ing joke...eleven games into the season and they can't/won't block...christ...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 2:57 pm | #

Jay,

Like Dante heading into the Inferno, I hope you have a good Virgil going with you into the land where you should abandon all hope.
Sean F | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 3:04 pm | #

Yahoo Sports.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/foo...=yhoo& type=lgns
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 3:04 pm | #

Hey, if you're crazy, I'm right there with you. My wife and I are still planning on going this weekend. For better or for worse, right?
Dave | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 3:07 pm | #

Crazy like the Tarleton twins in 'Gone With The Wind' - but admirable in watching such determination in pursuing a hopelessly lost cause.

Next year we get on another treadmill - a nine year cycle of getting our butts stewed by mighty - UConn! Yeah, the same school that not-so-long ago was being coached to mediocrity by Lou's son Skip.

That same program, now well out in front of us, in less than a year away will be the next 'not-well-known program that will show up, kick us, and leave wondering "what was that all about? what'd those guys ever do?"

Coach Edsall fielded questions last week about being the next HC at Syracuse. He said 'no' (Before the Orange blew us out).

I got the feeling he's available. He knows how to coach. He knows how to win. He knows how to develop players. He wins when his first team QB gets hurt.

We don't have a winner anywhere on the "O" side of things.

Randy -- we'll put the Madonna, Madonna, or even Beyonce on the library should you want it -- anything you say! (Actually, Beyonce really would look great there, and a step up from the sleaze that the current slime bag we have at HC has defecated around here the past few years).

Randy Edsall and Notre Dame - we're back in 2 years, we're rid of a cancer, and we'll play for a ring twice in the next decade!

GO for it, Irish!
Charlie Is God | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 3:19 pm | #

"Of course, it can be difficult to find these rankings if you are making 33 fucking calls in your car telling friends and family about how substandard the free shampoo at Marriott can be."

Truly great Jim, laughed harder at this than maybe any post in recent memory (btw, glad I didn't get Peter King's "Office" review today.) Agreed, it seems through snowball fights, and zero statistical research, the media is missing the real story that all the blogs have figured out. The man is a pro coach with no motivation skills in a game dominated by emotional teenagers.

Spoke to my Dad today. He's going to meet my brother out in L.A. for the game. I told him about my infuriating experience in the stands last weekend. He's a 59 year old fan, attended probably 200 home and away contests in his life, and he's NEVER left early. He said today "it's never been this bad. I keep thinking it can't get any worse, and it does. I just don't know what's wrong." He starts to get angry and then realizes it's futile. That's the worst part. Bad Notre Dame football used to make our passionate fans angry. Now even the most optomistic fans tell us the best we can expect is the Sun Bowl and "wait." This is the reason I'm not a Cubs fan. I hate waiting until next year.
Mark | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 3:20 pm | #

Jay and company,

I didn't have the intestinal fortitude to get tickets this year; however, considered taking our 8 yr. old to the pep rally (that was before Syracuse) since the band is coming. Any thoughts as to whether there will be any "pep" in the rally?
OC mj | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 3:21 pm | #

"It would appear that Charlie Weis can recruit a player or two. It’s just that he’s, you know, the fattest, dumbest, shittiest coach in the history of everything ever."
-- Jim Masterson

Shame on you Jim! Shame! Shame!
(I think that guy at Kansas is fatter.)
Charlie Is God | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 3:21 pm | #

Jay-
I salute you. If I was in the area. I would go as well. As bad as it gets, if you can not find it in your heart to go and cheer for the TEAM (not necessarily the coach, mind you), then I call you fandom into question.
There was a guy behind me at the Cuse game that didn't have a positive thing to say the entire game. Didn't cheer even when they did something good. Only griped when they didn't. I "calmly" told him that if he couldn't come to the stadium to support the team (again, not the coach, mind you), regardless of how they are playing, then why don't you just stay the f*&^ home and curse at your TV. The last thing we need in the stadium is more negativity.

Go Irish, Beat Trojans. . . but if you can't beat em, at least go down swinging. This should be a bar fight, not a funeral.
Irish_Wertzy | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 3:43 pm | #

You are better than I, Wertzy because I say bullshit to your post and your holier than thou attitude about fans.

People have every right to bitch and moan when your team shits the bed against and absolutely atrocious team.

Fans that don't want to witness a massacre are no less fans than those that do.

I will root for the Irish to win every game; when they fuck up week after week, year after year, I - and every other fan that wants to - am entitled to bitch and moan.

And call for the coach's engorged, dipshit, incompetent head on a platter.
RedMahoney | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 3:52 pm | #

If I had a ticket, I'd be there.

I thought we were the Fighting Irish, not the fighting choirboys. We can do it.

You guys on campus, light a candle at the grotto. Stranger things have happened.

Hail Mary full................
Subway Alumni | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 3:52 pm | #

It should be in the job requirement that the coach should lead his team from the tunnel to the field. I miss the days of Lou sprinting onto the field.
Gold Wave | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 4:01 pm | #

Fighting... for justice

Fighting... to end hunger.

Fighting... to not blow a 4th quarter lead against a 2-8 program with a lame-duck coach and ....oops.

Notre Dame asks...what are you fighting for?

Uggh. If there's one thing it seems like we're NOT doing out there, it's fighting..... I am at the point where I don't want to hear another one of those "Fighting" commercials.....
GoldenStateDomer | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 4:03 pm | #

I know people looking to sell their tickets, so if you guys want to put your money where your mouth is, I'll put you in touch. I can't imagine a worse stadium for watching a game as a visitor. The seats are atrocious - they shouldn't even collect money for them. And the fans aren't much better.

However, it would be great to hear Irish band gal and her bandmates drown out that dismal drone of a song the Trojans play!

Go Irish Band!
OC mj | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 4:07 pm | #

RedMahoney-

Make no mistake about it. I said my share of shi*s and god-damnits and fu*& (well, I would have said f*&^ if my 8 year old nephew was not with me), during that game. I was also pissed and moaned about a 2nd and 47. But I also cheered when they scored, and did not complain about the play calling when a guys drops a pass that hits him in the damn numbers on the goal line. I questioned why the hell the player can't catch the ball.

I don't make assinine calls (like 15 times) that CW is screwing up by not putting in Dayne Crist, and then trying to justify why that is a good answer at this point in the season.

I stayed til the alma mater was finished, and when I looked behind me as the final FG was missed. My fellow "fan" was no where to be seen. I stayed through the end of the BC game as well, despite being shut out. I expect fans of the team to stick it out to the end of the game cheering for their team and soon to be fellow alumni, as much as I expect the team to compete to the end of the game. Just becuase the team fails, does not mean that I will not cheer for them just as loud next week. If anything, I cheer louder.

I am not a better person than that "fan", but I believe I am a better fan than he is.
I recognize the failures. I just don't harp on them when my energy is better spent trying to make my voice be the one that puts that team over the top.

I take pride in saying "we" when the team plays, in a loss or in a victory. I do not say "they lost" the game, because as an alum, I feel that We Are ND, regardless of whether we are a current student, alumni, or loyal subway alumni.

You can call me holier than thou, if you wish. Any who know me know I am anything by holy. I wear my heart on my sleeve when it comes to supporting Notre Dame, and get tired of those who would rather use their energy voicing negativity than trying to spur the team on.

The same goes for the students. Ask youself this: do you think booing the offense becasue they failed to score/run out the clock/keep a drive alive makes them that much more motiviated next time they get on the field? I have never booed at an Irish Team. Not as a student, not as a manager, and not in my 12 years as an alumni. I never will.

Go Irish, Beat SC!
Irish_Wertzy | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 4:25 pm | #

This just in: As if the snowball incident wasn't bad enough.

Jimmy Clausen egged the house of his football coach Charlie Weis, armed with a dozen eggs, evidence indicates the house was hit twice...
Taco | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 4:30 pm | #

Thanks Mark; Look like we're bereft of MENSA candidates on this site.

Like I could think up something so funny.

Where's Nate from Japan?
I think he's a super-computer, that shuts down on the week-ends & dials into ND games.
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 4:31 pm | #

Good Post Wertzy.
Yeah how did Kamara drop that one?
One exception Irish W. I never refer to the Irish as we.
It's always them.
A sub-alum
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 4:35 pm | #

I'll be at the game, as well. I have no expectations, which is good, I suppose. I only hope it's more exciting than the last game I went to (Stanford 07).
NavyJoe | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 4:39 pm | #

Irish Wertzy; Great post. Bottom line, the kid might have hit the field goal and it would have been an historic kick. I wanted him to do it just for him, after all the abuse he's taken.
I agree totally that some people in the stands can't shut up and are almost always wrong with their comments. What is the point of going when you are in a foul mood the whole game and feel that nothing has been done right?
I always stay to the end and cheer and sing. Thats what makes us ND. Admittedly, some of our fire needs to rub off on the team, but it will.
SC will beat us soundly, but our D is not the problem and Sc will be lucky to get past 30. So I predict 31-10 which is bad, but no worse than Fla pounding everyone or OK pounding TT.
canuck 75 | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 4:48 pm | #

Dylan:

Is it okay to refer to it as a "football game?" Really it's going to be more like an event, or a spectacle, just less like a football game, I'm afraid.
okiedomer | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 4:50 pm | #

Weis needs to fire Latina. The line sucks. Period.

Clausen looks fine -- good even -- when he has time.

Rain isn't going to help ND, it will help SC. Their strength is defense, and the last time ND played in the rain the offense didn't look so good.

No reason to believe ND will be competitive in this game, but still worth watching.
David | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 5:05 pm | #

Irish_Wertzy...you better start praying for the putrid, train-wreck of an offensive line...they are the worst, confused OL that I have ever seen...after the initial shock of losing to Syracuse was over...I went back to my TIVO and re-watched the game concentrating on the OL...the keystone cops couldn't have been funnier...Laural and Hardy times three...

...what is Latina doing?...looking for his next D-2 school/job?... christ
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 5:13 pm | #

...I admit I have tickets to the SC game for myself and my son...I'm looking at the experience as kind of an Irish wake...while counseling my son on the drinking...story telling...and, finally, the burial...at about 8:00 PM PST Saturday...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 5:19 pm | #

Clausen is fine-he is not a bust.
Brady Quinn carried this team on his shoulders-but not until his junior year.

This team is down mostly because of the offensive and defensive lines. I wonder if it is completely the coaching staff's fault, or if this team is littered with lineman that the contending teams did not want?

I do not pay attention to recruiting "star rankings". For example,Robert Hughes was a (supposedly) top 100 recruit and the competition for him was Illinois No exactly competing with SoCal for that guy. Maybe the Irish aren't getting elite players-even if Rivals says so. I watched Demarco Murray in the Oklahoma-Tech game and the Irish don't have a back that can make the plays he can make. Ditto for Lesean McCoy and Javon Ringer. ND might only have 2 legit playmakers-Tate and Floyd.

Just watching what you see on the field, what do you guys think?

It would be interesting to see how many guys on ND's roster were offered by programs in the top 10.
www.southbendblarney.com | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 5:21 pm | #

...I like Rudolph...a lot...tailbacks are not top 50 school recruits...Clausen will be fine after Powlus goes back to selling insurance...

...on the defensive side...tailbacks are suspect...it seems that Lambert has been there 20-years...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 5:25 pm | #

...make that "cornerbacks are suspect"...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 5:27 pm | #

how are we ONLY a 29 point underdog?
Frommy | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 5:27 pm | #

Back to CW, I think they give him one more year, and if they don't improve dramatically (not just 9 wins, but looking like a real, well coached team), they will fire him.

A good candidate, who hopefully doesn't get snatched up, would be Brian Kelly from Cincinatee. See his coaching experience at the link below, very impressive. He also went to a Catholic College, and actually played football (unlike CW).

http://gobearcats.cstv.com/ sport...ly_brian00.html
S man | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 5:40 pm | #

WTF Cincinnati
S man | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 5:41 pm | #

Jay, you're not crazy. You're a fan, and a better one than me. I'm not sure I'll even watch the game.

Crazy would be betting your house on the Irish this weekend.
IdSoonerBeIrish | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 6:26 pm | #

the irish are winning the battle of indiana by 21 in the maui bowl at half time
brian custer | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 6:28 pm | #

Clausen is good for at least one pick six in this one, plus a fumble or two on a blindside hit by one of their linebackers. I'm as optimistic an Irish fan as anyone, and I am anticipating 56-3.
andrew | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 6:50 pm | #

...56-3...you are optimistic...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 7:12 pm | #

I'm with borromini. I knew going into this season we would be 10-2 at best and possibly 6-6 at worst.

I am disappointed with the finish after such a strong start, but we're still a young team and will be better next year.

Hopefully, we'll win a bowl game and head into next year ready to compete at the national level.

So many fans are fairweather. How may fans were ready to write us off after barely beating SDSU?

Ceiling = 11-1/10-2
Basement = 6-6 (at worst)

Holtz came into a situation where Faust had recruited well and left him with a little bit left in the cupboard. Weis walked into the kitched and had the '05 recruiting class with else left to work with.

The part that really disappoints me is the fact that you talk to most UM fans and they're happy with Rodriguez and say he just needs some time. This is coming off the heels of a 9-4 season and beating Tebow/Florida in a bowl game.

We have a few sub-par recruiting seasons + a few losses that can be attributed to a young team learning on the go, and a few people go nuts.

I said at the beginning of the season I would take any win where we could get one, and the same still holds true. Others, go nuts when we win by 7 and lose by 1.

In the immortal words of "Benny the Jet" Rodriguez from "The Sandlot"

"Base up you BLOCKHEADS!!"
Chuck | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 7:18 pm | #

Did anyone catch Charlie's Sunday press conference? He's a beaten man. I want him gone at the end of the season, but it is a sad thing to watch. It's excruciatingly painful to listen to Weis explain his vision of progression and next year's possibilities. I tell you he is beaten, and nothing short of Divine intervention will save this program if he comes back for another year.
tridentum | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 7:26 pm | #

Rodriquez just got to UM and is implementing a completely new system. It's hardly analogous to Charlie's situation. The latter has been at ND for 4 years and has his guys in place. It's not so much that they are 6-6, it's how they lose games. 6-6 is ok if you don't tank games that you should win. 6-6 works if you look like you know what the hell you are doing and making progress at it. It's not ok when you look like you are regressing.
tridentum | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 7:30 pm | #

Hey folks.

I took a picture of a ND player in a moment of prayer Saturday. When I went to look him up, the ND roster didn't have a #17. Does anyone know who this guy is so I can give him a proper identification?

Thanks.
jude | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 7:33 pm | #

Pardon me, headed to 6-6. Getting ahead of myself.
tridentum | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 7:33 pm | #

Maybe Brian Kelly can bring back Double D to South Bend. I'm all for giving someone another chance. Weis burned through his chances starting with SDSU and ending at BC. He also gave us the worst wins in Irish history--SDSU and Navy. With a real college coach Syracuse is a stress-free afternoon, not the excruciating experience which unfolded on Saturday.
Jacques (aka JACC) du Lac | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 7:34 pm | #

Any ventures of how many yards rushing will ND have this week?

I think less than 20.

SC will lock down our wides with single coveragen and the other 8 will be free run or pass blitz without reprisal. It will be ugly.
SPT | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 7:41 pm | #

Jude,

His name is Mike Lezynski, a 5'8" backup QB (soph). If not for the daylight in the background, I would swear that pic was taken after the game.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/foo.../players/ 164674
OC mj | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 8:08 pm | #

I hope the Band of the Fighting Irish gets to play Damsha Bua this Saturday.

They didn't the last time ND and USC met.
RocketShark | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 8:11 pm | #

...what band? the ND university band has never been to the SC game in L.A....it's the Notre Dame high school band that shows up...so much for expending the dollars for a major college rivalry...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 8:15 pm | #

For your information, Jim, the ND band will be making its first ever trip to the SC game this coming weekend. It takes a lot of planning and money to get a 400-piece band to a game 2000 miles away.

It is a little embarrassing, though, that the ND admin never set this up before this year. The SC band, though only 250 members, has come regularly. I've also heard rumors that most of the funding for this trip is not university admin, but band fundraising and private donors.
Matt '09 | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 8:33 pm | #

TAKE USC AND THE POINTS!!
DayBreakBoys | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 8:42 pm | #

Jude,

Matthew Mulvey?

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/foo...eams/nnx/ roster
bpeters1 | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 8:53 pm | #

Thanks for the help, gents.
jude | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 8:57 pm | #

..." It takes a lot of planning and money to get a 400-piece band to a game 2000 miles away."...

...maybe the university could save a little money and leave the offensive line and Lambert in South Bend...I hear it's beautiful this time of year...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 9:14 pm | #

Did anyone notice how Chuck downplayed the USC rivalry at the Sunday press conference?
Pat Hobby | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 9:18 pm | #

...talking about the weather in South Bend...what do you think of the chances that ND has with that Hawaiian 5-star linebacker that visited this past weekend during the Syracuse train wreck and the Indiana snowfall?...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 9:21 pm | #

...talking about the weather in South Bend...what do you think of the chances that ND has with that Hawaiian 5-star linebacker that visited this past weekend during the Syracuse train wreck and the Indiana snowfall?...

a snowball chance in hell...thanks to Weis.
In the Name of Sonny Sixkiller | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 9:34 pm | #

or as much chance of Weis converting on 4th down from the 43.
In the Name of Sonny Sixkiller | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 9:36 pm | #

Converting on 4th down at the 43? We can't score from 5 yards with 4 cracks at it.
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 9:57 pm | #

The game vs. USC will not be a monumental blowout, and here's why:

If this Fighting Irish team has proven one thing this year, it's that they can't do anything with consistency.

So why expect them to put together back-to-back watersheds of cataclysm? That Syracuse loss was truly one for the ages, therefore while I think they'll lose to the Trojans, it won't be by a score you remember.

By God, I hope they stick it to Pete Carroll's team just once before I die, and I've probably only got about fifty years left.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 10:25 pm | #

Where are Bill H. and the guy from Big Sur? They were typing the truth long before the Pitt game.
In Weis we suck | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 10:41 pm | #

Joe Subway "If this Fighting Irish team has proven one thing this year, it's that they can't do anything with consistency"

What make this team so maddening is that they play such schizo football with such predictable patterns.
In Weis we suck | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 10:44 pm | #

Do we have any pass plays over the middle? or is the whole offense 'fade' routes? Hearing no heart, and opponents begging the OL to block them really says it all. I can't believe Sam Young was a 5 star recruit.

Being at the game last week, was it just me, or did the defense have trouble getting the plays in? Cuse would snap the ball, and our guys weren't even in their stance. Without some injection of illegal substances, I'm not sure what can be done with this lot.
I got your snowballs | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 11:28 pm | #

I miss Jim from Big Sur & Bill H.
But, Jim from Redondo Beach is in a Hall of Fame.

Do you think?
Just for a moment that the ND admin asked/demanded CW tone down his act following the 60 minute show & complaints from Alum. And this is the results of such request/demand?
Kids are not impervious to such situations and could easily take advantage of CW being on tender hooks.
Just asking?
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.24.08 - 11:38 pm | #

In teresting story in the LA Times on Northern New Jersey 5*****star Linebacker, Brian Cushing. His road to U$C went thru ND.
I don't ever recall that. Talk about make believe.
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 12:05 am | #

Jim; My song for the U$C game.
http://video.google.com/videosea...=en&emb=0& aq=f#
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 12:28 am | #

We are becoming the IU of basketball, while our fb teams is playing like the Hoosiers.
Go Big Gold | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 12:31 am | #

@ Strait Edge

Your posts are funny and I agree with a lot of them...but, can we leave CW's family out of this? The kid hasn't done anything. Yes, he wears headphones on the sideline. Who cares? Any one of us at his age (or hell, now for that matter) would do the same thing if given the opportunity. I would like to be in charge of packing CW's stuff up and loading it onto the first train out of town, but I don't think anybody here seriously has any ill will towards the family. Do they?



@Go Big Gold

No, ND is not IU basketball. As a fan of both programs, I can honestly say IU basketball is farther along than ND football right now. IU shot themselves in the foot with the Knight thing. Then they complicated it by hiring two piss poor coaches. One was a former assistant and the next was a minority to appease part of the administration. Sound familiar? Somehow (and I'm not sure how, although boatloads of $$$ were involved), IU landed a proven coach from a good program that was in a conference that was arguably a better basketball conference than the Big Ten. IU did it on their 3rd try after Knight. Weis is ND's third try after Lou. ND couldn't even lure one of their past coaches out of the Mountain West. I would say the Crean hire to IU would be the rough equivalent of ND firing CW and pulling Leach out of Texas Tech. Is the ND administration up for something like that? I don't know. I was just beginning to give up on the IU administration before the Crean hire. Don't discount dumb luck, but I wouldn't count on it either.
Steve | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 12:56 am | #

I feel really bad for ND fans who bought SC tickets at the beginning of the year. There are now a bunch of tickets on StubHub for less than $100.
John | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 1:11 am | #

Hey Irish -

Its been a 1+ year since I was last on this blog but here's my $0.02 for Saturday's game.

SC's offense has been very inconsistent this year - about as inconsistent as scoring 40 points a game can be. Sarkisian (OC) has had major brain cramps this season. Gets too gimmicky when running between the tackles will work. Mark Sanchez is a gunslinger and can light up a defense, but he will throw INTs. SC's defense is the best in the country. There are just no weaknesses. Of course, I say this since I'm an SC fan, but I think they will do down as one of the best D's of all time.

So here is what ND needs to do to win on Saturday:

1) ND has to get first downs and burn up the clock by running the ball up the middle. Same as what Oregon State did. Running wide or throwing in the flats will be a disaster for ND. Our defense is way too fast to give up wide yards. Throwing deep could get Clausen killed by our DL or blitzing LBs. The secondary is solid, and unlikely to get burned. Quick, timing slant passes may work if Clausen is getting pressured, but Ellison and Mays will punish WRs and TEs. Taylor Mays put both Arizona running backs out of the game on big hits. It is interesting to watch how close to the line of scrimmage Ellison and Mays will play. They are almost 4 and 5 LBs, and Mays is as big as an LB. Cushing/Maiava/Maualuga are a great LB core - all over the field. So, the only way to score on SC is to run at them (i.e. Oregon State and Stanford). May not necessarily work, but Maualuga frequently goes for the big hit, and can miss assignments. Moala (DT), Cushing (OLB) and Matthews (DE) are studs! Not sure how to neutralize them.

2) Rattle Sarkisian. Sark loves to pass, even though we have a stable of RBs that could start anywhere. CJ Gable and Stafon Johnson are great RBs. Sark should be feeding the ball to these 2 alot, but he insists on establishing a short passing game in the flats.

If ND can get to Sanchez or interrupt the short passing, that may frustrate Sanchez and he could start pressing. The SC-Stanford game was a classic case of this, and SC really didn't start playing on offense until the second half. If Sark lets Gable/Johnson run the ball early and they have any success, or Sanchez has time to throw downfield to Williams/Turner/RoJo, it will be a long night for ND. SC's OL is young, and they are great run blockers, but their pass blocking is average.

3) ND needs to win the turnover battle. Joe McKnight will run all over the field, but drop the ball before crossing the goal line. He is a tremendous talent, but frequently fumbles. Plus Sanchez has a reputation of throwing INTs (only 7 this year though). ND needs to force TOs and pick up points off them.

4) SC does not have a special teams coach and it shows. Its not uncommon for them to give up a big return yardage or allow block FGs/XPs/punts.

5) Penalties - Biggest dissappointment for SC this year is that they can be so heavily penalized. Can play undisciplined and make mental mistakes. Part of penalties are because of a very aggressive defense. Still, if they commit penalties, similar to the amount in the Cal game, this will hurt them.

My prediction
SC - 56
ND - 0

Fight On!
WeAreSC | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 1:47 am | #

In order to win ND Must:

have more points than SC when the game ends.

Which means ND needs some points.

Go Irish
Gabby | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 7:04 am | #

Borromini, you are right on. But take a look at Brian Kelly for two years from now.
jrosh | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 7:06 am | #

I won't be that upset if SC hands us a 56-3 beatdown. In the end, we'll owe Poodle a debt of gratitude for saving ND football. Too bad we can't repay them by boosting their BCS standings, but a blowout win over ND carries so little weight these days.
BrianKellyBrianKellyBrianKelly | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 7:33 am | #

29 points, Is it the largest spread with ND as the underdog in their history ? New heights.
Gabby | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 8:35 am | #

Too much whining boys. Some of you sound like you want it to be 56-0.
The D will play well, and SC`s offence is definitely down a notch this year.
We need one defensive score, one special teams score, one offensive team score and suddenly it is 28-21 with 3 min to go. As we saw last weekend, who panics up 7 with 3 to go-the heavy favourite.
It probably won`t play out this way, but it could. Suck it up a bit and cheer.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 9:33 am | #

A very, very simple rule going forward.

Leave Charlie's family out of it. If you don't, you'll have to find another place on the internet to post your thoughts. Nothing pisses me off more than fans who take shots at members of Charlie's family.

Consider this one of the very few zero tolerance rules here.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 9:46 am | #

SOunds like the rats are jumping ship.
LM | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 9:50 am | #

I don't want to appear to piss in anyone's wheaties, but I did want to touch on the question of Notre Dame's defense.

I eyeballed the cumulative stats, and for what it's worth, Notre Dame would be mid-conference in the Pac 10. They seem to be defending the pass better than the run. But between Notre Dame keeping opponents to ~2.7 yards per carry and USC gaining ~5.5 yards per carry, something's going to give.

If - and this is a BIG if - Sarkisian just calls a power running game rotating CJ Gable and Stafon Johnson, I'm afraid that Notre Dame's defense may get worn out and the score will creep up during the 4th quarter.

In any case, good luck to you all on Saturday. I think that a good number of SC fans would like to see you all cure what ails you, whatever form that takes, because while no-one *likes* losing to Notre Dame, this is a classic rivalry that should stay strong.
DC Trojan | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 10:02 am | #

No question, Jay, SC always plays ND tough and never overlooks them, even in down years. Enjoy the game. I’m still pulling for upset. Sure it’s crazy, but being naive is still better than being a cynic.
REM | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 10:06 am | #

Steve-
You're insane if you think IU basketball is "farther along" than ND football. Did you witness the beat down they suffered last night? How many scholarship players are on that team? They're in for a long year.

The only argument you have is that it's much easier to turn a college basketball program around. All it takes is one great player and a few decent ones to take a team to the Final Four. In college football, you need a couple dozen good players.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 10:06 am | #

DC Trojan,

Good luck to you guys on Saturday. Your analysis of what it would take for ND to stay in this game is dead on, in my opinion. Unfortunately, I don't like our chances running up the middle against you guys. We mustered 1.5 yards a carry in the Cuse game. We simply cannot rush the ball, and this has been our core problem for the last 15 months.

The one thing I cling to is that the O line still is relatively young. They're better this year than last, and perhaps we'll improve enough next year to be able to impose their will from time to time.

I try not to engage in too much ""what if," but if we could run the ball even a little, we probably win two of these three games: Cuse, Pitt and NC.

8-3 going into the SC game is right where we should have been.

I recognize this is the kind of talk fans of lousy teams cling to. It's all we've got -- how we might be next year.
Hal | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 10:43 am | #

The SC offense is down a notch from last year? Last year SC had just come off a loss to Stanford and barely beat AZ. Sanchez was starting his second game ever, had all first year RBs and bad WRs. Some of you are delusional.
cv | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 11:04 am | #

I posted this in the comments after Jay's "Postgame Quotes" post, but too late to get any feedback from those who had moved on to more recent posts and comments sections. So here goes again:

I had a mini-epiphany earlier today about finding a successful coach for a big time program. Not a name, mind you, but rather a formula, a template if you will. This might get long. Sorry.

Look at mid-major conferences. These conferences all typically have middle of the road talent from a recruiting perspective (rankings, etc.). Basically, they lose out on recruits who get offers from the major conferences (and ND), and fight each other over who gets the next tier players. But bottom line is that they all have just about the same level of talent, unless the program is just no good at recruiting.

With this in mind, look at the mid-major teams that have had at least 2 years of solid success in their conference, especially if they have been undefeated in conference and at least competitive (if not successful) playing against bigger, ranked teams who thought they were getting a patsy game.

These programs are lead by coaches who (1) are very good at teaching fundamentals, (2) have good offensive/defensive schemes to work with, and (3) can motivate the student athletes to work hard every day in practice and on Saturday to achieve their best. Think about this. If they can sustain success with a team that has no more talent than the other teams it is beating in its conference, that is a significant sign that the coach is the value-added part of the program. These are the coaches that need to be snatched up. These are the coaches that will make a difference no matter what level they are coaching. See Urban, see Tressel, see Ara (for a long-ago example of this working for ND).

Don't go for the one-hit wonder who happened to have a good year which can be explained away in so many different ways. Look for a body of work that includes consistent success in the context of an all-things-being-equal conference like the MAC, Mountain West, etc. (arguably also the Big East and ACC, depending on what you think of those conferences in football).

ND had it right when they targeted Urban (much as it might pain others here to hear that, both for having missed out as well as for the vitriol posters here have exhibited toward him). Because it is clear that we will have CW for at least one more year, JS needs to start the clock now looking at these coaching opportunities. Look not at who is hot now, but who has been hot (or who is warming up significantly) over the last few years, keep an eye on them for the next year or two, then pounce when no one else is looking. Watch Ball St. for the next year or so. Watch Cincinnati for the next year or two. Watch BYU for the next year. Watch Fresno St. Watch Nevada (oh dear lord, please not game 1 next year). If these programs sustain success for a while under the same coach, that coach will be the one to look for when the trigger is finally pulled.

Big time program experience is not required. Being the value-added piece to a D1A program of any size is the key.

At least it would seem so.

Again, just had this epiphany this morning, so am working it out of my head through this post. Hopefully it makes some sense.

And for the record, there is no way in hell we beat SC this weekend. Even if the SC offense stalls (which is what I rosily suggested earlier might be a key to an ND upset), it is painfully clear that the ND offense will be unable to run the ball or pass protect enough to make a difference. Not against that team. It won't be 37-0, but probably not far off.
IndyEsq | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 11:50 am | #

Also, I have it on inside information that Mike Haywood's house is up for sale. Not sure if that means he was successful in his interview at U-Dub last week, or if he's just jumping ship. Nevertheless, it's an interesting tidbit.
IndyEsq | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 11:51 am | #

To add to IndyEsq's philosophy, you also need to make sure the coach is not just carrying over a previously installed program of success. That's harder to do. For example, is CMU's current success that of Butch Jones or Brian Kelly? Is Peterson the real deal at BSU, or just carrying on the program put in place by Koetter and Hawkins? Florida obviously got it right. Michigan probably did (although looks bad now). Missouri and Pinkel is another success story.
TrueBlueLaw | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 12:00 pm | #

Seeing Pumpkin Head Hawkins struggle at Colorado and Peterson just killing it at Boise, I'd say the latter is likely The Real Deal, no?

Especially given Boise State is winning more now with a run game and a stud defense.

Imagine that...a team that plays nasty defense and runs the ball when and where it wants to.

What a concept!
Straight Edge | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 12:25 pm | #

Burlage's article on "B&G I" raises some interesting questions about Haywood-Weis relationship and the impact on this team:

http://www.blueandgold.com/conte...ntent/? aid=6308

His car analogy is nice hook. Oh yeah, I remember going to the '87 USC game at ND and seeing a ND/Lou Holtz car. A car painted by students with "Lou" painted on the doors and ND on the hoods and a golden dome on the roof. While there is only one Holtz, we need a coach who will bring back passion, excellence and the heart to motivate.
Go Big Gold | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 12:35 pm | #

Remember Lou won the U of M game this year.
Go Big Gold | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 12:37 pm | #

The biggest difference in the SC offense from last year is sacks allowed. Other than that it is better in every catagory.
cv | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 12:43 pm | #

I posted on this blog last year about the SC-ND rivalry, and how I view it to be bigger than the BCS. Growing up and watching SC lose to ND 34 straight years in the 1980s/early 90s, reading about the legends that played for both schools, the cultural differences, yet genuine respect for each other made me truly appreciate the SC-ND rivalry.

For one week a year, we hate ND, but for the other 51, we respect the Irish. And I've always suspected the feeling to be mutual by ND towards USC (maybe I'm being naive). Now that many are viewing this as a statement game for USC to make its case for being in the national championship leaves a hollow feeling. SC-ND is greater than the BCS. It is the essence of college football. Nothing beats it. We're just hoping that ND football gets back to the level it once held, just so saturday's game has the same significance it once did.

Fight On!
WeAreSC | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 12:57 pm | #

"Steve-
You're insane if you think IU basketball is "farther along" than ND football. Did you witness the beat down they suffered last night? How many scholarship players are on that team? They're in for a long year.

The only argument you have is that it's much easier to turn a college basketball program around. All it takes is one great player and a few decent ones to take a team to the Final Four. In college football, you need a couple dozen good players."

Apparently, you didn't watch the game, either, kmf. Indiana is cobbled together by a bunch of Freshmen, JC transfers, invited walk-ons, and former walk-ons under scholarship. They play rough and inexperienced, but that was Crean's 3rd game. More importantly, there's development in the players after only three games. They ran plays and looked cohesive, kicking the ball out for open looks. Perhaps most impressive is that Pritchard (a freshman) didn't look scared of Harangody inside, but went after him. Next season will feature a stellar recruiting class, a season where the sophomores have gelled with their team mates, and a whole year under Crean's coaching.

Most importantly, there's excitement and hope. There's been excitement and hope since the moment Crean was brought on campus. And instead of throwing players under the bus or pointing fingers, Crean is coaching throughout the game, trying to get the most out of his players and developing them into a team.

Yeah, they got beat by 38 by a top ten team, but what else would expect from a team returning one scholarship player who was a former walk-on? Would that Weis could instill excitement and passion in a team the way Crean has done since his first day on the job.
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 12:58 pm | #

cv -

SC's offense is a lot different this year. We've had a vertical passing game that was completely non-existent last year, and the running game is much better. Sanchez/Gable/Johnson are big improvements over Booty/Washington. Booty had a rifle, but threw 40 yard bullets skimming off the top of DBs heads. Also, SC's WRs are much improved. Turner/Williams/RoJo are far better than the trio last year (Turner/Hazleton/Ausberry). Biggest loss from last year is Fred Davis (TE).

The problem this year is 1) Sarkisian - too gimmicky. SC should be running more and throwing more vertically. He is obsessed with the flats. 2) Penalties - too many false starts. Talent wise, SC is far better and more developed than the previous 2 years; but, Sark keeps getting in the way of the offense.
WeAreSC | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 1:05 pm | #

snyder is back at K-State ... could we bring back LOU??? Even better, let's bring Robinson or Toellner back to USC... the good old days
jmc | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 1:23 pm | #

Matt J.-
Apparently you mistook my argument as a defense of Weis. Rather, it was an indictment on Indiana. I know they have a load of walk-ons and transfers--that's my point.

Crean will get it turned around, I'm sure of it. He's a good coach, and I only wish our football coach was of the same quality.

But the argument that IU is developing, pointing to only 3-4 games as evidence, is too small a sample size. I think we all would have agreed that after 5 games this year, ND football was 'developing'. And look how that's turned out.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 1:25 pm | #

A good point, kmf. I think we all were fooled early on and probably propped up with the Michigan victory. And, you're also right in that it takes a much smaller production in the recruiting class to turn a basketball team around.

My main point was (and it seems as though you're agreeing) that I wish Weis, after four years, could instill a sense of excitement, buzz, and passion that Crean has done in just a few months.

As for the team, three games is a short sample, but just seeing how the team has improved provides some hope. Pritchard alone looks promising after those three games. Too bad he can't bang against Gody every night to really toughen him up.
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 1:36 pm | #

WeAreSC,

Agree there is mutual respect in the ND-USC series. This is the game that means the most to me during the season, has the best memories and some of the most painful ones also.

This is true of all the ND fans in my family's older generation (75+) also. And of course this has passed to my sons and nephews (20+).

However, it seems many ND fans now see Michigan as the biggest ND rival. This is a relatively new development.

While I keep an eye out for what SC is up to during the season and if they are on TV against anyone, that is the preferred game for me to watch. Whereas, I love beating Michigan, I don't follow or care much about them except for the ND game.

What do others think - which is ND biggest rival, SC or Michigan and why?
Old Fan | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 1:45 pm | #

Matt J.-
The most frustrating part of the whole situation is that Weis DID instill that excitement. Unfortunately, it was four years ago. That feeling of hope has been in a precipitous decline ever since the Fiesta Bowl and Michigan blowout in '06.

Remember how excited everyone was before USC '05? Hard to believe it's the same coach. Ever since exceeding expectations in that game, ND has consistently underachieved.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 1:45 pm | #

I would argue that there was some excitement before the Penn State game in '06, but then it immediately left the building after the win. I remember just feeling sort of flat right before the Michigan blow-out the next week, and when Quinn's pass tipped off Carlson's hands for the pick-6.

Looking back, I guess that was about the point where someone pushed the lever down on the toilet and ND football began swirling around the bowl.
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 1:50 pm | #

Wearesc, you need to go back and look at the last few games. The sacks have all been coverage sacks, when it is 3rd and 4 and Sark sends all the recivers 20 yards down field there is a huge problem. Run more and throw deep? What are you a raider fan?
cv | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 1:54 pm | #

cv,

I misread your post, and partially agree with you. But, Mark Sanchez hasn't thrown downfield much in the last half of the season. In the Cal, Arizona and Stanford games, Sark deliberately kept it conservative, and wouldn't let Sanchez throw downfield. The sacks are the result of a very predictable short passing game, average pass blocking and Sanchez trying to not throw INTs.

In the Williams/Jarrett/Colbert/Smith days, SC would use its speed and height on smaller DBs, but Sark either doesn't have faith in our WRs or trust Sanchez to throw 15 yard passes. I have no problem with throwing into the flats, but that can't be the only thing an offense does, which has been SC's offense for the past three competitive games until the 2H of Stanford.
WeAreSC | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 2:07 pm | #

WeAreSC is the opposite of a troll.

What I have to admire about USC is, in no particular order:

a) their winning percentage since P.C. took over.

b) their uniforms

c) what they've historically done to Michigan

d) their victory march

e) the colour of their turf

f) their way with slogans: "Fight On", "Win Forever", "Leave No Doubt".
Brief, emotive, uforgettable, and all theirs.
Advertising at its very finest.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 2:51 pm | #

kmf: I say all these glowing things about the state of the Hoosiers' team, and they're getting thoroughly routed by St. Joseph's!!! Ha! Your diagnosis of my diagnosis as it being way too soon is probably spot on!
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 3:01 pm | #

Matt J.-
I applaud your honesty. I predict that IU basketball will be in the Final Four before ND football is in the national championship game.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 3:22 pm | #

Remember "uber recruit" Marc Tyler?
He's 4th string at U$C.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/ pr...,0,852121.story
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 3:29 pm | #

Only Notre Dame gets this type of National Exposure.
Non of the Ivies, faux Ivies, etc, regardless of their academic standings & standard.
John Feinstein, WAPO.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp...8112501078.html
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 3:36 pm | #

@ jim masterson - in fairness to Tyler, he's had some serious injury troubles. IIRC, when he's been healthy and had some reps, he's looked pretty good.
DC Trojan | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 3:37 pm | #

Pat Forde? I never heard of him, but ND leads in his week-end recap.
Great reading through-out for a ND/College football fan.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/c...13& sportCat=ncf
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 3:46 pm | #

Thanks DC. You must be looking forward to this game with some delight!
Sort of like me for last Saturday's 'cuse game.
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 3:47 pm | #

Marc Tyler will be a great back at USC, he sat out last year and is playing his way back this year.
cv | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 3:48 pm | #

kmf:

I have a theory about the contrast between 2005 and 2008. In 2005 we were dealing with a TEAM. They had played together a little, but there weren't any superstars. They had already been humbled time and again. They went into the season hungry to win, because they had suffered a number of beat-downs. The only way that was going to happen was if they did it as a team. We didn't pretend to rely on any one guy to make it happen for us.

Flash forward to 2008. We've got some much-heralded superstars on the team, albeit very young ones. So much talk about Jimmy, Sam, Brian, Golden, and Michael. We expect these superstars to dominate and to win. But it doesn't happen without 11 guys on both sides of the ball. We play like individuals, and not like a team. I think if and when these guys realize they need each other and must play for each other, we will see improvement. Otherwise we will stand around waiting for victories to happen, waiting for the superstars to do their thing.

We play disconnected, and until that changes, we won't win with any consistency.
okiedomer | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 3:55 pm | #

@ jim masterson - oh no you don't, I see what you're trying to do with the reverse ju-ju there!
DC Trojan | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 3:57 pm | #

okiedomer-definitely agree with you. it's clear ND has a collection of talent. what's also clear is that talent has yet to come together. what's even clearer (to most of us) is on whose shoulders that responsibility falls on.

Looks like ESPN.com dug up its library of articles that claim 1) ND has become a football factory, 2) ND has lost its soul/moral compass/virtues, and 3) ND football is officially, once and for all-no, SERIOUSLY this time-dead.

I think they dust these stories off every 4-5 years and swap out the byline.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 4:12 pm | #

Turn down the bowl. Lou would not put up with this. Sun Bowl? Independence Bowl? How about Duval Kamara stops smoking bowls and thinks about why he can't catch a pass over the Holiday's?
Thanksgiving Weekend Massacre | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 4:16 pm | #

IndyEsq,

Your theory is spot on. We all like to think that Stoops, Gruden, Saban, etc. will leave their current job and come here, but it is not all that likely.

The problem with some of your examples is that Kelly is likely to make the jump this year to Tenn. At least it would not surprise me. I agree with you on Peterson at Boise St.

A name in that theory that I have noticed is Henry Frazier of Prairie View. He has rebuilt two crappy programs in a row. Probably not ready this year or be right for us, but he will be in 1-A soon enough.
Andy T | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 4:20 pm | #

And why does everyone keep writing:
"And while Notre Dame was losing to Syracuse - You heard me right SYRACUSE." I've seen at least 5 instances of this "That's right folks, SYRACUSE!"
Hey! If you didn't hear it 500 times on the Radio, 1000 times online, or 10,000 times on ESPN, I'm going to put the caps lock on and tell you Notre Dame lost to SYRACUSE! You heard it right. I can barely say it. Lost to dreadful Syracuse. S-S-S-Syracuse. That's not a typo.
This just in, Syracuse beat Notre Dame, you heard it right, SYRACUSE! Also, did you know Matt Cassel never started at USC? Also, I heard Brady Quinn's sister is dating AJ Hawk.
Thanksgiving Weekend Massacre | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 4:21 pm | #

Indy,

With respect to Haywood, he will be gone regardless of whether Weis is or not and regardless of whether or not he gets the UW gig. He and Weis are not seeing eye to eye so to speak anymore. Merely what I have heard so I don't want to go into details, but my source is good.
Andy T | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 4:23 pm | #

Since we're all throwing gas on the Weis-fire...does anyone know why Charlie has been banned from Ruth's Criss in Mishawaka?
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 4:30 pm | #

Thoughts on ND hiring Turner Gil, Brent Venables, or Greg Schiano?
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 4:38 pm | #

brent venables-no thoughts here.
okiedomer | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 4:40 pm | #

no, no, and possibly, although i dont like him
belocki | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 5:05 pm | #

I'm a fan of Pat Fitzgerald. He's an intelligent, young, fiery coach that can definitely motivate the troops. To go 9-3 at Northwestern is no easy task, even if it is a down year for the Big Ten. Plus, he's a midwestern guy that actually played the game and knows how to deal with tough academic standards.

Not saying Fitzgerald should definitely be the guy but he's a name I don't hear too often and I think he at least merits consideration if they decide to make a change.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 6:02 pm | #

To Old Fan--

Lou said that USC is our only rival, and I take that as gospel. Michigan, Michigan St., Fredo, Purdue, Navy, may all be serial opponents, but none of them is "our" rival, even Michigan. Besides, Michigan can't be our rival for the same reasons that ND can never join the Big Ten. Unlike Michigan or Nebraska, USC has shown us the courtesy of meeting us on the field of play every year.

One comment on coaching candidates. Notice some differences since the last time we looked for a new coach. Weis set all-new parameters for head coaching -- and assistant coaching -- salaries. The Gug opened. We now accept early enrollees. We are LOADED with returning talent. Sure, big names won't come to South Bend anymore just because of the name on the stadium. There are -- however -- a couple more incentives now.

Why not Bill Cowher?
Fitzwater | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 6:07 pm | #

Correct me if I am wrong, but Lou turned down a bowl after the 96 season with a team that only had like 3 losses...this team has not earned a bowl and should not accept any invitation to one.

It's an insult to the program and every other team playing football this year.
RedMahoney | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 6:18 pm | #

Yes, Lou turned down an Independence Bowl bid.

And yes, Fitzgerald is awesome. He was a stud LB on the Darnell Autry NW team that stunned Lou and his Boys in ND in 1995, I believe it was.

Under The Immortal Gary Barnett. And Lou didn't even know his name at the time. Then again, he often couldn't pronounce his own players' names.

And Pat Forde is a Ridiculous Hatchet Man.

Ask Miami fans...
Straight Edge | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 6:31 pm | #

Notre Dame Rushing, Game-By-Game

SDSU -- 34 carries for 105 yards, 0 TD

Michigan -- 34-113-2

Michigan State -- 22-16-0

Purdue -- 40-201-1

Stanford -- 27-83-2

North Carolina -- 30-89-1

Washington -- 49-252-3

Pittsburgh (3OT) -- 39-115-0

Boston College -- 21-66-0

Navy -- 51-230-2

Syracuse -- 28-41-0

Take the games against Purdue, Washington and Navy (all horrible run Ds) out of the picture and...wow.

Even with those numbers, you have 11 rushing TDs in 11 games. One a game!
Straight Edge | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 7:52 pm | #

Pat Forde's article was unresearched and biased nonsense, as ever. Clearly the student body isn't turning against the players. But I suppose writing about misquided tomfoolery doesn't get you the front-page on ESPN.com.

Peterson would be a huge mistake in the vain of Faust and Willingham. He inherited a strong program and has yet to prove he can win big games. Lets see how he handles his at-large BCS birth.

We HAVE to bring in someone with proven experience inheriting and turning around at least one or more disastrous program. Period.

So now the question remains. Who can take South Bend out of it's Urban Mire?
ColoradoIrish | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 7:59 pm | #

Straight Edge how about the "immoral Gary Barnett"

Were I Fitzgerald I'd stay at NU..He has better material.
Dana Payne | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 8:06 pm | #

I don't know much about Peterson but he did pretty well against Stoops in the '07 Fiesta. If I recall correctly they went undefeated that year.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 8:07 pm | #

LOL!

Yeah, I'd say beating a loaded Oklahoma game featuring Adrian Peterson qualifies as "winning a big game", no?!

Surely was a bigger win than Weis' showing against LSU that same week.

Yeah, Barnett is "immoral."

Welcome to Big-Time Sports.

And Charlie ain't much of a Saint either. Just a Horrible Coach.
Straight Edge | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 8:30 pm | #

Look, don't go into the tank, fellas. This is what happens when you listen to the media. Sports journalists like Gene Wojoblowme and Pat For-d-onces to freedom make their cake by getting us all worked up. There's not much fact, just a lot of sanctimony and ire towards teams like the Yankees the Irish. So just block it out.

If you're a dyed in the wool ND fan, then suck it up and root for the Blue and Gold. Ars longa vita brevis.
DG98 | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 9:14 pm | #

I think IndyEsq is dead on. Given John L. Smith's incredible success at Idaho (.716) and Louisville (.661), my only regret is that MSU got him before we could.
Joe Magarac | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 9:40 pm | #

I'm honestly a little worried that some of the players may get seriously injured in this game. Playing the weak schedule we play now, I don't think they are ready for the type of hitting USC brings to the table. I really wish the game would just be cancelled. It's like a marching band member going into the cage of an MMA fight. Or, a rabbit thrown into a cage with a tiger that hasn't eaten in months. A good doctor would call this game for player safety.
worriednd | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 9:53 pm | #

@ worriednd - I don't think it's as bad as all that. I'm not naive enough to claim that SC players never hand out some, ah, iffy hits, but this season hasn't been too bad for that, nor for opponents getting injured. It wouldn't be a bad idea for Clausen to remain vigilant, however.
DC Trojan | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 10:25 pm | #

On a happier note:
Notre Dame. 81
Uof Texas. 80
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 10:52 pm | #

Why not give the Hockey Coach at Notre Dame. Is it Jackson?
The head coaching job at the football emporium.
Geez talking about turning a program around 180*.
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 10:53 pm | #

Brian Hamilton, Chicago Trib recaps CW's press conference.
Mike Haywood to be on sidelines.
http://blogs.chicagosports.chica...-blarney- 6.html
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.25.08 - 11:35 pm | #

USA Today/USA Hockey Men's Rankings
(As of 11/24/2008)

Rank
School
W-L
Points
Prev

1
Minnesota (30)
7-1-4
498
1

2
Notre Dame
9-3-1
446
6

3
Colorado College (1)
8-3-3
404
3

4
Northeastern
9-2-2
395
5

5
Miami (OH) (1)
8-3-3
374
7
worriednd | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 12:04 am | #

Dennis Dodd.
http://www.sportsline.com/colleg.../story/ 11132562
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 12:13 am | #

The Right Reverend Bill Plaschke. LA Times.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/ la...,5081841.column
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 12:35 am | #

WeAreSC

I like to deal with fans like you. We each have different teams we like to win eith great respect for each other. I would say it is no contest that ND-USC is the bigger and better series. Usually one of the teams, is vying for a NC. It is always later in the year than the ND- UM game so it definitely has more bearing on poll results. Moreover, USC is usually a better team than UM, although UM is definitely not a slacker team.

I agree with the poster who said that running up the middle will not work against SC. It did not even work against Syracuse and most other opponents. The only thing that seems like it would work according to you assessment and from what I've seen is short stuff like on the flats. Even then, one of ND's 2 top receivers, Michael Floyd will be out for this game.

Best wishes.
GB | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 12:44 am | #

Maybe that Stone Temple Pilots guy can write an open letter urging Weis to go so ND can return once again to the football promised land.
David Rivers=my fav ND bb play | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 12:57 am | #

The one thing I would change with respect to the SC/ND matchups would be to have the Beach Boy Trojans come and play in South Bend at the end of the season rather than the middle. After all, the globe has warmed up considerably since that agreement was first negotiated. ;)
OC mj | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 3:19 am | #

"Peterson would be a huge mistake in the vain of Faust and Willingham. He inherited a strong program and has yet to prove he can win big games. Lets see how he handles his at-large BCS birth."

So you have to win twice for it to really count?
dex | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 8:21 am | #

GB - Best of luck to you and all the Irish as well (other than on Saturday).

Fight On!
WeAreSC | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 8:40 am | #

Joe Magarac,
I would not have cited anything less than .850 winning percentage, probably even .900 to be sure. I'm talking serious success in lesser conferences where the "all things being equal" descriptor can be applied literally, not hypothetically. Conferences in which all things essentially ARE equal, but for the coach. .716 at Idaho and .661 at Louisville would not cut it according to my proposal.
IndyEsq | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 9:06 am | #

what if charlie was demoted to recruiter and we hired a REAL college coach? That way, we keep who we recruit because charlie does a good job ib that department, and we get a REAL coach that can coach to their potential (or even exceed it). it makes sense to me. Nobody loses that way. I dont think Charlie's would say no to his base salary of 600,000 if he were able to keep it with the condition of strictly recruiting.
CommonSense | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 10:43 am | #

Ok, mud in my eye for missing the Oklahoma win. He still inherited a good program. It's easy to point out my error but no one made a case as to where his experience proves he can come into ND and clean house? Where has he done that before? Why would he be able to now on a bigger stage with much bigger expectations and more difficult academic standards?
ColoradoIrish | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 10:52 am | #

IndyEsq -

Understood. The problem, though, is that most of Notre Dame's great coaches have done better at ND than they did in prior jobs, and none of them except Leahy had winning percentages of .850 or above.

Ara Parseghian went 36-35-1 at Northwestern before being hired at ND.

Dan Devine had a .670 winning percentage at Missouri and then three losing seasons in four years at Green Bay before being hired at ND.

Lou Holtz went .704 at NC State and .722 at Arkansas, then a losing record while rebuilding Minnesota, before being hired at Notre Dame.

If there were a simple and clear formula for hiring successful ND coaches, all ND coaches would be successful. But there isn't and they aren't.
Joe Magarac | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 11:08 am | #

ColoradoIrish,

You are making the same argument that many at ucla made for bypassing Peterson, and hiring Neuheisel/Chow. It remains to be seen whether that was a mistake or not by ucla, but you are making a similar case that others have made.

What about Norm Chow? As much as I would love for Chow to be our OC again (we would have 2-3 more national championships if he were), I'm a realist and know that the clash of egos will never let it happen. So, I would prefer him to go to a non-Pac 10 school, even if it were another rival.

Given the complete disaster over at Westwood High, I wouldn't be surprised if he was willing to entertain the right offer. He has a great offensive mind, and has consistently succeeded on the college level. But, he is older and perceived as uncharismatic (questionable recruiter). Also, I'm unsure how willing he would be to leave SoCal.
WeAreSC | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 11:09 am | #

Joe Magarac

I have not looked at the years of the records of Ara, Devine and Holtz but as I recall, they all brought the programs up from what they were. A .500 record at Northwestern is like a .850 record at ND. Devine had some very good years at the end of his Missouri tenure and Holtz had some very good years at a previously "nothing" program at Arkansas.
GB | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 11:35 am | #

What I mean to say is tht all coaches definitely improved the program at their previous school before coming to ND. That is basically the type of coach IndyEsq is advocating, I believe. Right now, Kelly seems to fit that profile as well as anyone.
GB | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 11:38 am | #

...If UWashington is smart they'll snap up Chris Peterson...he's a find...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 12:18 pm | #

The Trojan band knows 2 songs?
olwhatshisface | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 1:06 pm | #

@kmf

I didn't make my IU basketball/ND football analogy very clear. I was comparing the administrations, not the teams. So by saying that IU was further along, I only meant that they had completed the process of firing a poor coach, hiring a proven winner, and starting the rebuilding process. ND has not even began the firing process yet (that we know of). They still have the critical tasks of identifying the right candidate and attracting him to ND.
Steve | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 2:22 pm | #

ESPN radio is all over Charlie Weis buyout rumors today. They're throwing 15 mil around.

Typically when ESPN is on something this heavy they know something we don't.
ColoradoIrish | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 3:33 pm | #

how did Northeastern crack the top ten in hockey?
sean keegan | Email | Homepage | 11.26.08 - 9:41 pm | #