Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

New stuff.

I can't hold my breath that long any longer.

Please don't make us wait that long again.
Jim '72 | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 3:27 pm | #

Sorry, Jim! Work has picked up for all of us lately. Thanks for hanging tight.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 3:31 pm | #

Only half way if you do not include a bowl game.
Will the Weis, Willingham, Davie reunion become another rare statistical first for ND footbawl and the record books?
I have located the mute button on my remote, I am prepared to silence that imbecile in the booth.
Subway Alumni | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 3:44 pm | #

On 12, there is a small error.

It says "are better than the product the Orange(men) putting on the field".

There should be an are/is before the putting.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 3:54 pm | #

Got it. Thanks Brad.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 3:55 pm | #

Is it true that the season is going to end? Since we're independent, can't we just keep playing and get started right away on 2009? Dang, this offseason is going to be full of painful anticipation.

Now let's put some more bricks in that wall between us and lil' Fortunato.
indy | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 4:06 pm | #

indy:

Your reference to A Cask of Amontillado is awesome. You rise even higher in my estimation.
The Song of Hiawatha Francisco | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 4:11 pm | #

In the Navy/Syracuse paragraph, I think it should say that the odds ARE (not 'is') microscopic.

FWIW there's a gambler's fallacy operative there, too: the fact that Navy beat us last year doesn't have much of an impact on the odds of their beating us this year even if the odds of back-to-back losses are vanishingly small. But I digress ...
John | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 4:13 pm | #

Just being tongue-in-cheek. I'm well aware of the gambler's fallacy, having fallen victim to it many a time. Usually in games of rock-paper-scissors.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 4:25 pm | #

Bah, forget about next season.

I am still excited about THIS season. I am really, really excited about watching this team grow and learn. So far we've seen them (in my estimation) get better and better every game. They know what they can do now, and they know the kinda yardage they can put up on a team. They've also learned how to win. But right now, they need to learn to develop that killer instinct that great teams have. It's fun to watch.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 4:27 pm | #

We should have a field day on Washington.

I dont think BC is that great. We should be able to beat them

Pitt looks for real right now and will be the biggest game till USC.

Diesel Knight is BUNK.

Go Irish.
Mexican Irish | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 4:45 pm | #

I agree with Jim...first post. Every day I check the BGS blog to see if there is something new. Nothing for too many days, but this afternoon my wait has been rewarded. Thanks Jay.

The Irish are coming back. Patience to those who are impatient. Enjoy the return trip. It is fun.
tednict | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 5:30 pm | #

7 wins shouldn't be an issue, and if it is, then it's a big issue. UW, Navy, and Syracuse should be automatics.

The next tier is BC and Pitt. Those are our swing games--I think we could play well and lose both of them, or we could blow them out, or who knows? Both teams are roughly in the 20-30 range in the rankings (yeah, I know Pitt is #17, but they'll lose another game and slip back some, be it to us or someone else). We're probably somewhere from 30-40. Not impossible or even unlikely, per se, for us to win, but losses wouldn't shock anyone either.

Southern Cal, well...a win there would be a shock.

Basically, I think we're still on track to win 8 games and go to a minor bowl. We'll win one of the two against BC and Pitt. And then we'll play another ACC team in the Gator Bowl....as long as it's not Ga Tech, I'll be happy. Paul Johnson + decent athletes = sad Notre Dame.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 7:17 pm | #

tednict is right. The Irish are coming back soon too.
Mexican Irish | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 8:05 pm | #

I think we come out and dominate Washington beginning to end and then impose our will on Pitt the next weekend instead of it being the other way around. All in all I think we finish 9-3. We either lose to BC close much like UNC or I think we beat USC a la '05 without the 4th down completion. With the talent we have, we should definitely be able to come out of LA with a W.
Go Irish!
IrishEyes21 | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 8:26 pm | #

I'm saying we lose to BC (cause we always do) and USC. USC will beat us...badly. Again.
DayBreakBoys | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 9:14 pm | #

I just hope the front 7 can find a way to start consistently pressuring QB's. Is anyone optimistic that this will happen? We showed some promise against the Trees...
Tony Spilotro | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 9:47 pm | #

Speaking of 'Extreme Activities Competition', Jeff Samardzija's decision to join SNL instead of the NFL is starting to look wise. He's performing very well.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 9:59 pm | #

Pittsburgh scares me more than B.C. because of Lesean McCoy. He might be more explosive than Ringer.

The Irish front 7 will not improve this season. The players give good effort, but aren't that skilled. (Though I like Brian and Harrison Smith at linebacker) More Ethan Johnson, Darius Fleming, and some Steve Filer would add athleticism, but I think the coaches are gonna hold back on them still due to experience. Need serious recruiting help here.

There is no game that is a sure thing (though Washington and Syracuse are really bad), because the Irish rely strictly on Jimmy Clausen and the passing game, and he can play lights out-or 2nd half of North Carolina.
www.southbendblarney.com | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 10:45 pm | #

ND is trying out a new kicker. His name is David Ruffer, a soph. He used to kick for football power, William and Mary.
GB | Email | Homepage | 10.22.08 - 10:55 pm | #

Saw a recap of last week's PSU/UM game, and the Old Guy said something in his recap that made me think of UNC: "You never know what type of team you have till you face adversity," referring to Penn State getting kicked early on, then rolling off a million straight points versus Michigan.

Our first "test" in that department (blowing a big lead, on the road, versus a so-so team) was a failure. But we tried, and indeed had the nation watching till thru that now-famous last drive. Last year we lose 45-6, so it's a big improvement.

For our sake, I hope UW plays their game of the year. With our talent, even with UW being at home, there's no excuse to lose. But I doubt manu of us are even thinking of getting inside their minds: it's close to the end for their coach, they look at us as (ironically) the evil empire, and Ty may stay (and they'll have a great season) with a "W." We haven't played anything close to a complete game yet, so while not likely, this doesn't get the 'automatic.'

Would be nice to knock off Pitt - the odds say that Coach Moustache is due for some type of a win-streak; hopefully 5 or so is it.

It irks me to even think of BC - and, is it true that it's 5-straight now? Hopefully CW knows enough to leave JC at home [I thought I noticed a few 'hyperextension' symptoms] - they're gonna' have fun with us ... again.

A come-from-behind 'w' on the road would be the core-plus of this season.
Somehow, I still think 8-4 is possible, but I'd definitely take 7-5 if it means a Norteastern-type/level opponent in a bowl (any bowl, as long as it's held somewhere near, or in, Indiana!).
FightingGrandmoms | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 12:06 am | #

If we had to take a split in home/away, I'm glad Pitt's home and BC's away. I feel having home field tips the Pitt game to our advantage.

Whereas having BC at home would just rack up our stadium repairs bill.
Matt '09 | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 12:16 am | #

With all due respect to the grammarians out there, why so compelled to correct the BGS authors' excellent posts, no matter how gracious they are about your doing so? Between providing excellent commentary, linking articles, working for a living and trying to satisfy ornery fans (like me), I expect a few slip ups. How about "Thanks, Jay, for quenching our thirst for more, more and more Irish football gab, even though it's been a rather dead week for us and we should probably get a life." Yea, that works.
OC mj | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 12:32 am | #

we have to beat pitt or BC.. if not we must beat USC. actually we have to beat BC for sure, just because of a text I received from a BC grad after the hockey finals this year. so we have to beat BC, which leaves pitt and USC, which we absolutely MUST split, meaning in all likelihood that pitt is a must-win for us. also we owe USC an upset so we have to beat them too. especially if they're making a run for national title. so we have to run the table.
red | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 12:38 am | #

Where's foffum?
Lo-fi | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 12:53 am | #

"Thanks, Jay, for quenching our thirst for more, more and more Irish football gab, even though it's been a rather dead week for us and we should probably get a life."

That OC mj (not an ornery person!) said it for me, too.
Thanks guys.
FightingGrandmoms | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 4:39 am | #

Once again, I'm hearing a lack of respect for BC. Get through your head people: They have our number!!! I don't care if they lose to NC and Clemson. This is the toughest game left on the schedule!
bjm | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 5:15 am | #

regardless of what they do in the coming weeks, BC will be a tough test, especially at Chestnut Hill. it's their Super Bowl and they always play their best football against ND. with the way things have gone against them this decade, i would regard that as the biggest win of the season (outside if they were somehow able to win at SC).

i'm still struggling to put Navy in the "automatic" or "gimmie" category. their losses have come to ranked Ball State and Pitt teams, and a Duke team (who beat UVA by four touchdowns) that is worlds better than they have been in past seasons. they're not great, but until ND proves they can consistently stop the run, i'll still worry about that one.
Schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 7:01 am | #

BC is "the toughest game left on our schedule!"

bjm- You may want to take another glance at the schedule. Rumor has it ND's last game is against a decent little team out West.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 8:49 am | #

oc mj....great comments regarding Jay and the others who post such fine information on this board for our consumption!!

Schultz...you are correct regarding your concern about stopping Navy's running game as that is our defensive weakness. To that I'll add my own concern about stopping Pitt's running game as well which is definitely above par in my estimation. No team remaining on our schedule should be taken lightly but Pitt and Navy concern me greatly with their ability to run the football.

U$C is simply U$C and we will have our troubles. BC is who they think they are, winners of 5 straight over us (unfortunately)and I for one will never overlook Fredo again!!
Knoxville Irish | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 9:37 am | #

BC should not have our number this year. Last year's game was actually quite winnable, and I think we all agree that a 5th year quarterback who is actually pretty good is hard to beat.
I expect us to beat them solidly.
I don't know much about Pitt talent wise, but it is clear that Wannstadt is a poor coach. Thus, he wins a couple of games he shouldn't, loses a couple he should win, and gets outcoached in the toss up games. (Sounds a bit like Ty doesn't it)Independent of our opponents, we simply must continue to improve in all phases. (aside; in typing I wrote the word phasers instead of phases. We would certainly be difficult to beat if we were armed with phasers, set on stun, of course.)
We need run defense to stiffen, and then we can match up with anyone.
canuck 75 | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 9:54 am | #

Is Navy running a similar offense to the one they ran last year? If so, I think we'll be ok. Corwin Brown has another year of experience against that system, and I like Kyle McCarthy coming up in run support. I remember Gerome Sapp being a key factor in stopping Navy when I was a student. The guys in the middle just have to watch out for that pesky full-back dive, and the outside linebackers can't just stand there unblocked and watch the QB cut back up the middle.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 10:24 am | #

Much has been made of ND's inability to "pound the ball" with any consistency. But now that we've pretty much gone to a spread attack, is anyone else concerned about our ability to effectively pass the ball in the coming weeks, when the temps drop and receivers' and QBs' hands freeze? Seems to me that running the ball well is important in colder weather.

Just tossing it out there...
kmf | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 10:56 am | #

canuck 75

I don't know much about Pitt talent wise, but it is clear that Wannstadt is a poor coach.

It does seem that Wanny has been inconsistent (like another Indiana school) since he has been coaching Pitt. I did not think he did a good job with the Bears but thought he did well coaching the Dolphins. But, like another coach who was hired the same year, he seems to also be learning the college game.
GB | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 2:58 pm | #

I'm gonna leave this question open to anyone... I just got out of the Marines and my dad bought me tickets to the ND v. Syracuse game. It will be the first Irish game I've seen in South Bend, been to two away games. I know the one thing I have to do is watch the team walk to the stadium. My question is what time does that normally happen and what else should be a definite thing that I do while I am there. Thanks, GOOO IRISH!!!

Todd
Todd | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 4:49 pm | #

Todd:
Walk into the stadium is probably about hour and a half to two hours before game time. The teams walks from Mass to the game.

Really try to go to the Drummer's Circle at Friday midnight on the steps of the Dome--it is better than the Pep Rally.

On Friday afternoon around 4 go over to the Dome and watch the band march to the practice field.
Lush | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 6:58 pm | #

Thanks Lush I really really appreciate it. I heard the Drummers Circle is awesome so we will def. be checking that out. Thanks!
Todd | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 7:36 pm | #

"BC should not have our number this year. I expect us to beat them solidly ///... we need run defense to stiffen, and then we can match up with anyone."
canuck 75

----
canuck --

It seems improbable that BC has had our number for a decade-and-a-half, but ..... we'll be lucky to have a shot come anytime after mid-3rd qtr. They may not have our talent ( or, they may) but they've long been a much tougher team than we are.

As for run defense, we are undersized, and young. It's virtually impossible to notably grow in size during a season. They're doing it with loads of smarts, and guts.

We should beat Pitt because it's at ND, we have more talent, and Pitt's HC, unlike UNC's, operates at the same competency level as ours.
FightingGrandmoms | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 11:22 pm | #

We will beat BC this year. Let's not discuss it anymore. We will beat BC this year.
belden | Email | Homepage | 10.23.08 - 11:39 pm | #

"BC will be tough especially at Chestnut Hill"

Are you kidding me? Chestnut Hill? Really? Yeah...that stadium packs a punch.
Patches O'Hoolihan | Email | Homepage | 10.24.08 - 2:28 am | #