Given their dismal performance on the gridiron in 2007, it's understandable that most people place the 2008 Irish Football odds into an "all-or-nothing" basket. With sharp memories casting dark shadows across a pedestrian schedule, it's easy to understand their views.
The ND faithful blinders provide some hope that the glass is half full, but it's a canyon of an understatement to say that this team has a great deal to prove. However, I'm not as optimistic as the U$C and "whomever's playing ND" crowd, that the wheels can not be re-attached to this wayward cart.
There are two sides to every story, and then there's the truth. 7-5 or 11-1, I suspect loads of people will make the leafy pilgrimage to share family time with Touchdown Jesus, Rockne Memorial, and their faithful brothers.
What's your view of the glass?
THE GLASS IS HALF-FULL
SAN DIEGO STATE ... If they don't win this, the Irish & Charlie are DONE. (1-0)
Sep. 13 MICHIGAN ... Young recruits improve and off year for MI (2-0)
Sep. 20 at Michigan State ... Irish never win this one or do and next week is off (2-1)
Sep. 27 PURDUE ... Bounce back week at home or choke after MSU win (3-1)
Oct. 4 STANFORD ... Still at home (4-1)
Oct. 11 at North Carolina ... Basketball maybe, Football yes (5-1)
Oct. 18 Open Date
Oct. 25 at Washington ... Recruiting pays—buh-bye Willingham (6-1)
Nov. 1 PITTSBURGH ... Not looking like a powerhouse this year, plus at home (7-1)
Nov. 8 at Boston College ... Chip on shoulder & down year for Eagles (8-1)
Nov. 15 vs. Navy (at Baltimore, Md.) ... Payback, baby (9-1)
Nov. 22 SYRACUSE ... Lots of complaints about weak schedule for Irish (10-1)
Nov. 29 at U$C ... 10-1 Irish goes to Hollywood? WOW! After Stanford? Years of thumping? Even at 10-2 and showing up at the Coliseum they could land in the BCS? Or blasphemy, they actually beat U$C? (11-1)
THE GLASS IS HALF EMPTY
SAN DIEGO STATE ... Preview of Halloween in South Bend but a win (1-0)
Sep. 13 MICHIGAN ... O-line proves only mildly stronger—Clausen is still running (1-1)
Sep. 20 at Michigan State ... Irish never win this one (1-2)
Sep. 27 PURDUE ... Adjustments & home keep it close but not enough (1-3)
Oct. 4 STANFORD ... At home and NEED win (2-3)
Oct. 11 at North Carolina ... Basketball maybe, Football yes (3-3)
Oct. 18 Open Date
Oct. 25 at Washington ... Recruiting pays—buh-bye Willingham (4-3)
Nov. 1 PITTSBURGH ... Should win at home (5-3)
Nov. 8 at Boston College ... Not on the stolen Irish turf (5-4)
Nov. 15 vs. Navy (at Baltimore, Md.) ... Payback, baby (6-4)
Nov. 22 SYRACUSE... Lots of complaints about weak schedule for Irish (7-4)
Nov. 29 at U$C ...Thump! (7-5)
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2 months ago
You glass is half full scenario is more like "The cup runneth over."
Fat Charlie and the Domers will not go 11-1 this season.
Losses this season will come from Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Washington, Pitt, BC, and USC.
A 5-7 record and warming the bench during the bowl season.
The BCS should create a bowl called "Because we are Notre Dame Bowl." No matter what their record, Notre Dame gets to play in a bowl game.
from 2 months ago
Nice Kent. I so love biblical allusions. Wouldn't it be wonderful if ND's proverbial cup did runith over?
Catchy bowl name too, let me know if you'd like to pitch it to Wonder Bread and ABC/ESPN? Unfortunately, I suspect we might be second or third in line based upon the non-conference interest in playing such an easy team and the miracle TV ratings they get even in off years.
5-7 is a strong possibility but appears to be more wishful thinking than critical analysis. Ty's got Washington back, huh-interesting? Michigan's QB has never played a NCAA game but ready for Rockne Memorial-scratch-scratch?; MSU-Purdue-BC all lost a majority of their starters but reboot?-mmmm... I see; I know nothing about Pitt so you're probably right there; and U$C is one of those rivalries???
Guess that's why they play the game.
2 months ago
As a former coach and now retired guy, IMHO, ND was a team with the raw talent, but failed to play as a team - period. I don't honestly think they were as bad as the results as weighted - I'm talking talent not performance. At times they were pathetic indeed, but they jelled a bit towards the end of the season. I like their prospects. 11-1 is pushing it, but 9-3 is possible. I think they will honestly get the award as most improved team - that will be easy. I REALLY like this young Dayne Crist QB coming into SB - he will be another Montana IMHO. I predicted Michiigan and/or possible USC will fall to the Irish. Going against his modus operandi - I think Weis will try to run up scores on anyone if the situation occurs as retribution for the team getting mocked last season. I think the Irish wil average 27 points on O and give up an average of 17 on the D side. Anything 7 or over on the W side will be a major advance. Sorry they won't be playing my AF Falcons this season.
from 2 months ago
Insightful and articulate Bill I couldn't agree more. Charlie Weiss didn't get enough blame for this very important aspect of last years misery. Michigan comes to mind as a team that gave up the season based on poor starts with inflated expectations.
I might add that Clausen (regardless of Beer Olympics) may not be "as advertised." Certainly hope he proves us all wrong but Crist as you observe may be playing sooner than later. If you're right, I hope unlike Montana, he gets to play before his JR/SR year.
As for running up the score. That hasn't happened since Holtz and I'm not sure the four hour TV format is suited for that but in my unbiased opinion... I hope you're right.
Nothing better than an AF fly by on game day. Good luck to your Falcons... always a fun team to watch.
from 2 months ago
What about a Navy fly by, which traditionally is with ND and Navy pilots?
I too agree with your analysis, Bill. The Irish will live and die by their offensive line. Charlie will establish the running game first. I think he may play starters past a certain point to establish a sense of winning rather than retribution, since he has such a young team. However, they will still substitute quite a bit to build further experience in players for future years. He wants to see leadership, an attitude, game situations knowledge, and confidence.
2 months ago
There is no way the Irish will beat SC at the Coliseum. Since Irish fans have been moved from the west end zone to the peristyle, they are now closer to the Harbor Fwy than they are the field. When the Irish used to beat the Trojans they had a solid group of fans in sections 14, 15, & 16. Those seats have now been moved to 28, 29, 1, 2; so far from the field that no Irish players could ever hear the fans cheering. Of course the powers that be at Notre Dame care little about the common fans as they sit in those few hundred seats good seats in sections 9 and 10. The new AD needs to get those west end zone seats back and refuse the tickets in sections 28, 29, 1 & 2. Any Irish fan who sits in those sections is doing a disservice to Notre Dame. Irish fans need to boycott the seats in those 4 sections and the Notre Dame administration should consider canceling the series unless the seats in sections 14, 15, & 16 are returned.
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