First game of the season and a loss to BYU it looked like another bad year for Notre Dame... But in week 2 they shocked most College football fans by defeating Michigan at home and a semi-surprise going to Michigan State and winning there.
Is Michigan just a real over-rated team (they did only beat San Diego St. by 3)therefore Notre Dame's win means little. Also Michigan St is has already had one loss to there record going into there game with The Irish... So, has Notre Dame turned the corner with this year being a big step back to respectability.
Today there playing Washington who's not doing to well with an 0-2 team, you think Notre Dame will step up and play on there past weeks levels now that there favorites?. You think they'll win this week? Can The Irish break into the top 25? Love them or hate them, I think it's good for college football that Notre Dame has some credibility out there.
This weeks look interesting with Washington @ Notre Dame and I'll also keep an eye on Iowa @ Michigan, to see if Michigan can get their act together.
smark/net attack wienerville advisory holds at ORANGE alert - High (JBL is STILL WWE champion and now smarks arch enemy HHH is the World Champion. Major red threat, but the undercard seems okay. The alert holds... for now)- 9/19
The Michigan State game wasn't an upset, as Notre Dame went in a 3 point favorite, and Michigan State had lost to the State University of New Jersey, who then turned around and lost at home to Division IAA New Hampshire. The Michigan game was an upset, but it also was Michigan having a freshman quarterback starting his 2nd career game, 1st on the road. The key to the season for Notre Dame is next week against Purdue. They have no business winning the game, except for Purdue not winning in South Bend in 30 years. If they pull off that upset and can actually knock off Boston College for once, they can go to Rocky Top 7-1 on November 6th, and things could get fun. Lose to Purdue, they probably go 6-5/7-4. Beat Purdue, and they could catch breaks and go 8-3/9-2.
I realize this is a little late but I think I can weigh in some on this.
Notre Dame has an extremely talented football team. Brady Quinn is going to end up one of the best QBs in ND history if they just let him throw the ball. Rhema McKnight and Maurice Stovall are the most dynamic 1-2 WR duo they've had since...God, Tim Brown and whomever was playing with Tim Brown.
The key to the BYU game was part that they were on the road, and more than that, Willingham's play-calling was disastrous. They weren't moving the ball and he kept going to the same plays, over and over, because he couldn't figure out the 3-3-5 defense. Defensively, they played okay, but they weren't very aggressive.
For the Michigan game, and God bless Michigan but they are having some problems, they took a home field advantage and also did exactly what they should've done in week one: stretched the defense with some deep throws (that worked) and got their run game established with Darius Walker adding a speed threat rather than the same chug it between the tackles attack you expect from Notre Dame. Willingham finally just did what he wants to do and completely abandoned the established Notre Dame style of play. He tried to balance the offense, and succeeded. They got aggressive on defense and made good on Michigan turnovers. That game should've been 35-20 or even 35-12. Michigan was out of it as soon as Notre Dame scored a touchdown, they did nothing the rest of the way.
Michigan State-ND is another rivalry game where home field plays a factor, and that's all that kept MSU in that game. A win is a win, ND is good but they aren't dominant, and sometimes they're going to win ugly. The Washington game, well, Washington is pretty terrible this year, but Notre Dame established themselves further there and a 35-point win can do wonders for confidence.
The Purdue game this week will be interesting, because Kyle Orton is going to test Notre Dame's secondary like they haven't been tested all season. Home field is again going to be a factor and that's why I'm going with ND. Purdue's defense showed some holes against Illinois last week, and I think most of Willingham's strategies going in will be to exploit those weaknesses.
After that, they have should-win games against Stanford, Navy and BC. If they win the Purdue game and win those three, they're going to Tennessee at 7-1, and I really don't think it's all that unlikely. Beating Michigan was the first step in what Willingham needed to accomplish this season. The more I watch them play, the more that BYU game seems like Willingham merely got outcoached and outschemed, and it looks like a trip-but-not-fall game now.
I actually like their matchup (as far as them having a shot to win) against every team left on their schedule except SC. I hate Notre Dame to death, but I'll admit when they're good, and I think they really might be.
Originally posted by ScottChristRhema McKnight and Maurice Stovall are the most dynamic 1-2 WR duo they've had since...God, Tim Brown and whomever was playing with Tim Brown
Stovall is awful. His hideousness on punt returns was one of the key factors in the BYU loss, culminating in his brilliant decision to field a punt at the 1 yard line. Now, Matt Shelton might be the best big play receiver Notre Dame has had since the Rocket a dozen years ago. Anything he catches is either for 30 plus yards, a touchdown, or both. And, after seeing Stanford play USC tough last week, I can't even consider that an easy win on the schedule.
Originally posted by redsoxnationStovall is awful. His hideousness on punt returns was one of the key factors in the BYU loss, culminating in his brilliant decision to field a punt at the 1 yard line.
He is a bad return man. Shouldn't have been returning punts in the first place, probably. I blame Willingham for putting him there as much as I blame Stovall for sucking at it. However he's a fine possession receiver when Willingham uses him properly, as he did against Michigan.
Now, Matt Shelton might be the best big play receiver Notre Dame has had since the Rocket a dozen years ago. Anything he catches is either for 30 plus yards, a touchdown, or both.
Shelton can fly, he actually reminds me of Bill Schroeder a lot. Partially as both are white, but Schroeder used to be able to make those big plays in the Favre offense too. He smoked UM on that 40+ yard TD pass. He can beat most DBs just with his speed. Yeah, I like him.
And, after seeing Stanford play USC tough last week, I can't even consider that an easy win on the schedule.
SC lost to 6-loss Cal last year and were dominant the rest of the time, I don't take Stanford any more seriously now than I did before. Maybe not an easy win, but ND ought to be favored nonetheless. They should beat Boston College, they'll probably gag and die there anyway.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say they really got exposed as pretenders today while Purdue made a pretty convincing case for being a really good team. I'd also say that Kyle Orton just vaulted to the top of any Heisman lists.
Boiler Up Tim
People who say they don't "play politics" merely play politics badly. -- David Drake
Originally posted by ges7184But don't feel bad Notre Dame fans, you are not alone. Joining you in the pretender ranks this weekend is West Virginia, LSU, and Tennessee.
Heck, I didn't even think Tennessee should've been in the contender ranks to begin with. Check some of my stuff from the beginning of the year.
Originally posted by ScottChristAnyway, Purdue is good. It doesn't make ND bad. Does make Michigan look worse, though.
Looks really don't mean anything here, since U-M and Purdue play each other in a couple of weeks. We'll find out then who's the best.
In the meantime, I cannot believe no one has mentioned perennial doormat Northwestern beating THE Ohio State University. Looks like THE Ohio State University can kiss THE National Championship goodbye, not to mention (probably) THE Big 10 Championship. Hopefully they can get a spot in THE Outback Bowl or something.
Sorry, whatever, you rubbed it in when U-M lost. Turnabout is fair play
What's interesting is that Notre Dame plays Navy this weekend, and the Mids may actually have a chance of beating them for the first time since 1963...
Originally posted by GrimisWhat's interesting is that Notre Dame plays Navy this weekend, and the Mids may actually have a chance of beating them for the first time since 1963...
Next weekend. This weekend, ND hosts Stanford. Navy has come close a few times recently, and this probably is their best chance, but they'll still come up short. Plus, the game is in the Meadowlands rather than Baltimore, so it will be a virtual home game for ND, who are unbeaten all time in the state of New Jersey.
Originally posted by redsoxnationPlus, the game is in the Meadowlands rather than Baltimore, so it will be a virtual home game for ND, who are unbeaten all time in the state of New Jersey.
Notre Dame has NEVER played in Annapolis. EVER. in 77 games against each other. Sure, they play in Baltimore, and East Rutherford, and Cleveland, and Orlando, and freaking Ireland but never in Annapolis. Notre Dame at least will play Air Force on the road, but not Navy.
Originally posted by ScottChristAnyway, Purdue is good. It doesn't make ND bad. Does make Michigan look worse, though.
Looks really don't mean anything here, since U-M and Purdue play each other in a couple of weeks. We'll find out then who's the best.
Yooo buddy. Go Blue and all but I am totally an honest fan. They have looked quite bad. Anyway, I don't think Michigan/Purdue is to find out who's the best. Michigan needs to worry about Minnesota. How much does THAT suck? Worrying about Minnesota, ugh.
Originally posted by ScottChristAnyway, Purdue is good. It doesn't make ND bad. Does make Michigan look worse, though.
Looks really don't mean anything here, since U-M and Purdue play each other in a couple of weeks. We'll find out then who's the best.
In the meantime, I cannot believe no one has mentioned perennial doormat Northwestern beating THE Ohio State University. Looks like THE Ohio State University can kiss THE National Championship goodbye, not to mention (probably) THE Big 10 Championship. Hopefully they can get a spot in THE Outback Bowl or something.
Sorry, whatever, you rubbed it in when U-M lost. Turnabout is fair play
No problem, 2002 wasn't that long ago!
Actually, it looks like an off year for UM and OSU. However, I would say that the way things are shaping up, Wisconsin and Purdue will be playing in 2 weeks to determine who is going to win the Big Ten. Hopefully the Boilermakers won't let down after that and kick some Wolverine behind. Orton really is the man this year.
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"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." - George W. Bush
As a Purdue fan, this weekend scares me more than the Wisconsin game. While I think that Joe Tiller is the best coach in the Big Ten and one of the 4 or 5 best in the country at West Lafayette, he does have an annoying habit of getting badly outcoached in important road games, witness his 1 and 8 record against Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame on the road. I know that Penn State is having one of their down decades, but I'm still worried that Tiller will do something stupid because the Boilermakers are in State College.
I don't see the Purdue-Michigan game as determining the best of the Big Ten because Michigan isn't in that discussion. There's Purdue, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and then there's the rest of the Big Ten. The remainder of the schedule really favors Purdue to win the Big Ten since they get Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin at home and don't play Minnesota. This is the first time in my 30 plus years as a Purdue fan that I'm really thinking they have a legitimate shot at being in the National Championship picture as something other than a spoiler.
Oh well, hope is beautiful while reality bites.
Tim
People who say they don't "play politics" merely play politics badly. -- David Drake
Originally posted by whatever No problem, 2002 wasn't that long ago!
Actually, it looks like an off year for UM and OSU. However, I would say that the way things are shaping up, Wisconsin and Purdue will be playing in 2 weeks to determine who is going to win the Big Ten. Hopefully the Boilermakers won't let down after that and kick some Wolverine behind. Orton really is the man this year.
Actually, Minnesota's not playing either Ohio State or Purdue, so they're really in good shape here. All they gotta do is beat Michigan and Wisconsin (both on the road-ugh), and I think they've got a shot at running the table the rest of the way.
As far as my Buckeyes go, well, I almost threw the Tivo remote through the brand new TV three times on Saturday. I can handle them losing to Wisconsin, or Purdue, or even That Team Up North, but NORTHWESTERN?! Jim Tressel and his goddamned sweater vest can kiss my ass. Hey Jim, there's this new innovation in football called the FORWARD PASS-you might want to look into it.
Go Boilermakers.
"It's the four pillars of the male heterosexual psyche. We like naked women, stockings, lesbians, and Sean Connery best as James Bond because that is what being a [man] is." -Jack Davenport, Coupling
Originally posted by bash91As a Purdue fan, this weekend scares me more than the Wisconsin game. ... I know that Penn State is having one of their down decades, but I'm still worried that Tiller will do something stupid because the Boilermakers are in State College.
Don't be scared. If there was a chance that Michael Robinson (#12, WR/QB) was going to suit up, we may have a chance just because he accounts for like half our offense's production this season. But even in the BC game he wasn't that big a factor. It all boils down to having no offense. 21 net rushing yards against Minnesota. Not to take anything away from Minnesota's defense, but that flat out sucks. Our great legacy of running backs (most of whom have done nothing on the NFL stage, but still...) has boiled down to 21 net yards on the ground. Plus according to a recent article, JoePa has vowed to find a new playmaker even if he has to go right down through the roster. Which is all nice and good, but by throwing these guys into game situations and never using them again as we seem to have done multiple times this season and in seasons past, you burn a year of eligibility and waste them for that season. But I digress, it's a Notre Dame thread. The short of it is, don't sweat it. Unless Tiller fails to send his defense out onto the field for approximately one-half of the game, then we're talkin'!
I have never ever even come close to being anything near a Notre Dame fan, but I've grown up with them. To describe an Irish team as surprising for winning a couple of games, or even being competitive in others, just seems like some strange alternate universe. As far as being "for real," maybe not in terms of a national title, but they'll probably have a late-season bowl game. Willingham's first season seemed shocking in that he won so much with, essentially, Davie's team. The next seasons seemed more predictable, trying to spin straw into goal. With Willingham finally having his system in place and his recruits for his system on the field, it's probably an upswing for the Irish in terms of getting back to the National Championship picture. Who knows, if they beat Southern Cal and wind up 9-2 (10-2?) and the Big East is down, Notre Dame could be a BCS player...
PSU 2-3 (0-2 Big Ten) Can we just hook our entire offense up to "The Michael Vick Experience" ride from the Nike commercials? Please? "You rock, Rolfski. You are one hep cat." "Ya, ya, sock it to me."
Originally posted by bash91As a Purdue fan, this weekend scares me more than the Wisconsin game. While I think that Joe Tiller is the best coach in the Big Ten and one of the 4 or 5 best in the country at West Lafayette, he does have an annoying habit of getting badly outcoached in important road games, witness his 1 and 8 record against Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame on the road. I know that Penn State is having one of their down decades, but I'm still worried that Tiller will do something stupid because the Boilermakers are in State College.
You have nothing to worry about. Our defense is good, but they're young and they'll be eaten alive by the Purdue air attack.
I think StegDutchie said it all. Penn State has no offense, and I'm a huge cheerleading fan of the team. I have friends on the coaching staff and in the front office, and I can't see one good thing they have on offense at the moment. I have an all-stadium pass, and I wouldn't be going to the game this weekend if I wasn't getting paid to. Most likely, I'll either be in our office in the bowels of Beaver Stadium watching another game after the rout starts or I'll be sneaking around the field trying to get on TV by standing behind the sideline reporter at all times.
On the other hand, the last Purdue game that I attended (way back in 2001, I believe) Penn State had a pretty miraculous comeback in an awesome game. But we had, you know, an actual offense back then. The only way Penn State wins (or keeps it close) is if they rack up the ground yards, and neither Tony Hunt nor Austin Scott (who is apparently on Paterno's shit list) have stepped it up against quality opponents. I wouldn't be surprised if our true freshman back (whose name escapes me at the moment) winds up playing, just because Galen Hall likes him and his red shirt has been tossed out the window already.
Congrats to the winners this year in Fantasy. I do not have the time nor the inclination to check the record books, but I feel I have maybe earned a dubious record of sorts. I managed to play in two separate The-W.
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Orton really is the man this year.
