An at large team from the ACC? Come on. I understand WHY you would put Va Tech in there, but what are you assuming with the Boise-Hawaii matchup? That Boise wins and doesn't climb high enough?
Bryan (ND Alumni '02) | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 9:39 am | #

Now, if only Missouri could control its own destiny, in addition to its own desitny.

Anyone see Mandel's piece on how bad a coach Charlie is?
JohnF | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 9:41 am | #

ND/Stanford will be at 3:30pm ET on ESPN2. Just an FYI.
Michael | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 9:48 am | #

Who cares what Mandel thinks. I don't think he's as bad as some people, but these guys are being paid to write stories people will click on. That's why everything is the best or worst of all time, so people will click it in anger. Don't read that junk.

I don't see Oregon winning the Pac 10. That would be a damn shame to see them, gutted, in the Rose Bowl. It would be a farce, as unfair as that is.
Oreo | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 9:50 am | #

Forbes has rated ND as the most valuable college football team,, although they did misspell Coach Weis's last name.

... and you misspelled "its" in your paragraph on Mizzou. :)
John | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 9:55 am | #

With the Stanford game being televised on ESPN2 does anyone know who the announcers will be for the game?
Knoxville Irish | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 9:57 am | #

Great work, Jeff. Lots of meat to work with. I loved the link to the Forbes list. I found that to be quite interesting, even though the value(s) assigned seem to be on the low side. Imagine if N.D. were to actually sell the program for $100M, and then receive some form of profit sharing. Preposterous. Maybe. But I thought that the Elvis Presley Estate had lost their collective mind when they sold their entire rights to "all things Elvis" for a lump sum + a portion of future profits. Then the new company immediately began generating incredible amounts of cash that would have never been realized under the old, stale management. That being said, ND needs to resume our winning tradition, and hold on to our TV contract. That is what really distinguishes Notre Dame, and Her ability to earn big money. And Kevin White ruining the future opportunites to earn huge, $15M bowl paydays is grounds for immediate dismissal, if not a full-fledged public execution, IMHO.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 10:03 am | #

Knoxville Irish,
I pray that it is not the female play-by-play person that ESPN plagues it's miserable ESPN2 viewers with. Dear God, please not her. Her monotone delivery is horrid.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 10:09 am | #

LOL

Love the "R Kansas" reference.

Les Miles leaves me laughing my ass off sometimes.

Thanks!
okiedomer | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 10:22 am | #

I haven't been keeping up with NDNation, but apparently I should change the "SAT Challenge" to a competition for the "Aspirational Peers Goblet." Does anyone know the reference?

As for my pour speelign, I was an engineer in undergrad.
Jeff | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 10:26 am | #

Knoxville Irish - According to Awful Announcing, the announcers for the ND/Stanford game are Dave Lamont, Ed Cunningham, and Jack Arute.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 10:53 am | #

Jeff,

So was I - EE, class of '87. 16 years of Catholic school ensures I see everybody else's spelling mikstakes.

Good job on the breakdown.
JohnF | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 11:06 am | #

Knoxville & Pat

The ESPN2 play-by-play announcers depress me so much that I'm going to the game so I don't have to listen to them.

BTW, on the Stanford Cardinal website, there's an announcement today that there are an extra 750 tickets to be had - these are returns from the ND allocation.

Shame on us?
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 11:19 am | #

I thought I saw in the pre-game notes on und.com that the Standford game represents something like 3 of the last 7 ND games that haven't been sold out. Another was an Air Force game, and another was a Navy game at a neutral site. Can't remember the others.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 11:26 am | #

It is worth noting that the Irish football program contributed over $20M to the university's academic program, more than the next five teams combined.

This is, I think, because ND's football revenue goes straight to the University's General Fund, as opposed to most schools, whose athletic departments are separate corporations.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 11:33 am | #

Mandel didn't say Weis is a bad coach, he merely stated the obvious; Weis didn't recognize the difference between coaching on Saturday instead of Sunday. Ton Pagna who bleeds Blue and Gold and a GREAT coach has been saying the same thing. I have always thought that Charlie, who is very bright, could change but last week's statement about going back to talk to the Pats gives me real cause for concern. Instead of Boston he should, in the spring, make a daily visit to Oakridge Ct in Granger (it's a 3 mile walk from his house--good for the gut)and learn how to to be a HEAD COACH at Notre Dame. It's not the x's and o's that are the enemy: Charlie must meet the real enemy and it is he. Let's support him guys, but let's face the facts.
Domerplayer | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 11:35 am | #

JohnF and Jeff,

More than anything it's Weis', not Weis's. This has always gotten to me. I brought it up once here and got attacked by other posters. Is it OK now that others are doing it?

Good:
:)-Weis'

Bad:
:(-Weis's
:(-Weiss's
:(-Weiss'
bcnd | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 11:43 am | #

Domerplayer,

Here is the first line from the article:

"Let's start with a fairly obvious realization: Charlie Weis is a terrible college football coach."
JohnF | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 11:46 am | #

bcnd - Weis's is proper grammar. Weis' is generally acceptable as well, but for the sake of being consistent we try to stick with Weis's as much as possible.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 12:09 pm | #

just checking out the mgoblog.
i know that n.d.'s season is infinitely worse than theirs, but still, it's fun to read along as they moan about 2007's lost cahnces and worry about their future ex-carr.
anybody have any insight as to whether the irish coaching staff will look to snag a recruit or two from them. i know charlie got burned last year and professes to have a more ethical approach than say urban meyer or others, but they must be tempted? or perhaps, the would-be recruits have approached charlie?
i know, looking for speculation, but isn't that waht great message boards are all about?
M Jelic | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 12:25 pm | #

Voice,

I assume you are referring to Pam Ward
and if so I would have to agree with you. I'm not familiar with the announcers that Pat has identified so I'll try to keep an open mind and give them the first 5-10 minutes of the 1st quarter. After that I reserve the right to keep one hand on the remote control for the mute button while the other hand is firmly grasped on a bottle of Yuengling. Too bad I can't pick up a radio station that carries the Irish.
Knoxville Irish | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 12:29 pm | #

As a Canadian, I take great exception to the fact that you called Canada 'the 51st state.'

Canada should be referred to only as 'America's Hat', or 'The Loft Apartment Above That Really
Great Party.'

Thanks for reading, eh?
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 1:19 pm | #

Domerplayer: Hopefully, the Patriots' coaching staff will tell Charlie right off the bat to go see some braniac college coach types ore experts that know the college game right away.

I think what Charlie is doing is a good public relations act. The Patriots are having a monster season, and since he was a part of that program three years ago, by association, some of that success can rub off on him in the eyes of his players, recruits and fans, especially after the worst season in Notre Dame history.
Thomas | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 4:07 pm | #

Joe Subway: I thought Canadians were Americans with slightly better manners who enjoyed freezing for a good part of the year.
Thomas | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 4:10 pm | #

John F
The operative word is "college" Use you head not your heart....and I pray that's what the Pats will tell him...he hasn't listened to anyone else
Domerplayer | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 4:15 pm | #

Can I assume that Domerplayer's reference to "Oakridge Ct in Granger" is to the home of Ara? If it is, Charlie should be there a couple of times a week before next season. He has that much to learn,and Ara is the only man alive who can instruct him in how to be a GREAT head coach at Notre Dame.
JimK | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 4:35 pm | #

I am slightly skeptical that the N.E. Patriots are going to be able to straighten out the mess that we find ourselves in at Notre Dame. First of all, they pretty much have their own business to handle until sometime in early February. For them anything less than a Super Bowl Championship will completely negate everything that they have so far achieved this season. Spygate unleashed a fury in Belichick that must be fed with another SB victory. Thus, helping CW analyze wtf happened in South Bend probably can't happen until mid February. God how I hate being negative, but I too feel like this is another attempt by Charlie to attach himself to the Patriots. And for what? Okay, we get it. You were an assistant coach under the Great Belichick and helped them win 3 rings. Charlie, if you didn't learn what Belichick did to be successful THEN, what makes you think you are going to get it NOW. For God's Sake, read biographies on Knute, Lou, Ara, Woody Hayes, Bear Bryant, Bud Wilkinson, John McKay, Bo Schembechler, Vince Lombardi, etc., etc. Guess what? Your assistants know some things that you don't know. Learn from them. Mike Haywood played at ND under both Faust and Lou, and has coached under Gerry DiNardo, Nick Saban, and Mack Brown. ASK HAYWOOD WHAT HE THINKS YOU SHOULD DO!!! My point is this: Charlie, you need to get your act together real quick. You can't afford to piss up a rope next season. Please don't let your friendship and professional affiliation with Belichick , combined with your notorious bullheadedness and pride, prevent you from soliciting the advice of men who have been to the mountain top in COLLEGE football. Until ND gets into the NFC Black and Blue Division, you need to approach your job as if it is a COLLEGE head coaching job. It IS. My hopes, prayers, and best wishes are with you. I still believe you are going to have an epiphany, and lead ND back to greatness. Just keep an open mind as you search for answers. And remember, in the history of the world, no head football coach has ever been paid $3.5M per year to LEARN how to be a head football coach!! Be a sponge and absorb some winning philosophy. The N.D. Family remains supportive of you and your efforts. Go Irish.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 4:54 pm | #

Me thinks Domerplayer is a solicitor for BlewandGeld Ill.
Pat; Apostrophe indicates the possessive case of nouns.
Example:
a) the boy's mother.
b) the boys' mothers.
Nouns ending in s- apostrophe at end of "s."
Love this site.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 4:54 pm | #

Do you guys live near Nouvel? I go to Nouvel and was shocked and excited to see a shout-out here.
Andrew Owens | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 5:01 pm | #

JimK: I thought Charlie said one time that he already talks to Ara on the phone after every single ND game. I seem to remember something about that, but can't think of the specifics.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 5:15 pm | #

Anyone want to argue with Strunk and White's the Elements of Style?

Didn't think so.

Chapter I: Elementary Rules of Usage

1. Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's.
Follow this rule whatever the final consonant. Thus write,
Charles's friend
Burns's poems
the witch's malice

Exceptions are the possessives of ancient proper names ending in -es and -is, the possessive Jesus', and such forms as for conscience' sake, for righteousness' sake. But such forms as Moses' Laws, Isis' temple are commonly replaced by
the laws of Moses
the temple of Isis

See, you learn something every day. ;-)
david | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 5:40 pm | #

Thomas;

I hope you don't mind if I respectfully point out that you're wrong about what you think Canadians are. We are, in fact, uncool Australians.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 6:44 pm | #

"I'm Canadian. It's like an American, except without the gun."
The Kids in the Hall | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 8:20 pm | #

Jim K

Right

Erik '04

maybe every day before the season starts might work better...or any college coach at this level as in his buddy Groh...or his assistants...anybody except his own head. But then, I'm not a genius. Nuff' said
Domerplayer | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 9:00 pm | #

Exceptions are the possessives of ancient proper names ending in -es and -is, the possessive Jesus', and such forms as for conscience' sake, for righteousness' sake.

"Weis" ... isn't that Biblical or something?
John | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 9:23 pm | #

Amen Voice. Either it was another one of Charlie's increasingly pathetic NFL name-dropping exercises, or it means the guy really thinks "schematic" problems caused us to get blown out by a team of 5'10" AF cadets, lose to Navy for the 1st time in 40 years, and get trounced 76-0 by our two most hated rivals. I'm holding out for the slim chance that Bellichek will look at him like he's a freaking idiot and tell him to stop bugging him and to go ask an actual college coach to do his homework for him.

I'm also a little concerned about the "shunning" of Clausen in the end zone celebrations that some of us were discussing earlier. Most people here were pretty dismissive of it, but Aaron Taylor makes a fairly pointed reference to it over at Legends of SB, and he's hardly some doom-and-gloom crackpot.
scott | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 9:27 pm | #

Joe Subway, may I say "America's Tuque"?
Lou ntL | Email | Homepage | 11.21.07 - 9:29 pm | #

Erik 04 -

Yes, I've read the same thing, and I'm happy about that. I've been really down on CW - and it's hard not to be given this worst season in ND history - but Charlie does in fact show good instincts in a variety of ways. I gather, though, that Ara is offering mostly moral support, maybe salted with a suggestion or two - but I suspect the relationship might be akin to a sitting president talking to an ex-president. Sitting isn't going to ask Ex for advice - that would imply weakness or indecision. And Ex is not likely to offer much beyond bromides as not being his place to do so.

I'd feel better if CW actually made a point of trying to learn from Ara - or even another world-class college coach. What did you use for motivation? At what point did you start full contact drills? Given the changes in training methods since you were coach, what would you guess is a reasonable program of strength conditioning? How did you prepare to beat XXX where you were a decided underdog? At what point did you revamp your offense from wing T to pro set to misdirection to option? Take me through your game plan and in-game adjustments for Texas 1970 or USC 1968.

And so on....
JimK | Email | Homepage | 11.22.07 - 5:18 am | #

"America's touque, keeping your ears warm since 1867" is not a bad way to think about Canada.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 11.22.07 - 9:21 am | #

I've never seen a message board with so many people quick to point out other's spelling mistakes and grammar issues. In the words of Winston Churchhill, "Up with that I shall not put." Lets just assume that all competent but may have made a spelling error in an effort to type faster
jdubbs | Email | Homepage | 11.22.07 - 11:14 am | #

My apostrophe in other's should be after as in others'. I forgot to type "are" in between all and competent.

Sorry, look what you made me do.
jdubbs | Email | Homepage | 11.22.07 - 11:16 am | #

As long as we're talking high school football, South Bend St. Joseph's (the one at the corner of Angela and Michigan across from ND) plays for a state title Saturday afternoon against Indianapolis Bishop Chatard. St. Joe's tailback, Jordan Taylor, is apparently on ND's watchlist, though it's a longshot. He may also not play; he had a hammy issue in their semistate versus Fort Wayne Concordia.

Of course, I'm loathe to bring all of this up because I'm an alumnus of Marian High School, South Bend's other Catholic high school and St. Joe's bitter arch-rivals. (They beat us 42-21 in Week 2. Bastards.)
marchand chronicles | Email | Homepage | 11.22.07 - 11:46 am | #

Happy Thanksgiving, BGS friends!
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 11.22.07 - 12:04 pm | #

jdubbs

I forgive you.
GB | Email | Homepage | 11.23.07 - 2:54 am | #