Before Saturday's game against USC, the Irish got into a scuffle with the Trojans. To the ESPN announcers, the skirmish showed some much-needed energy from a team whose biggest knock may be their lack of intensity these past few years.
To me, it showed immaturity.
I expect the team I root for every Saturday (the Irish) to be better than that.
Pumping your fist, pounding your chest, and jawing at your opponent before a game proves nothing. It doesn't create energy, it wastes it. It isn't real.
Real intensity is when you ignore all distractions without difficulty.
Real intensity is when you don't need to say a thing to get across your message because you know your actions will do the talking.
Real intensity is when you play every down as if it could change the game because it very well could.
On Saturday, the Irish seemed to try the "fake it 'til you make it" strategy. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. You can't expect to just dial it up on gameday.
Where was it against USC? Where was it against Boston College? Where was it against San Diego State?
The defense has shown it much more often than the offense. But with the struggles that the offense has had staying on the field, the defense wears down and loses it by the fourth quarter.
That needs to change. If Charlie Weis isn't the guy who can bring that mentality, then it's obvious where the changes need to start.
Fans want to see that nasty streak that so many people talk about, but few of the Irish faithful have seen of late.
Lower your head and fight for those extra yards. Punish any defender that dares to take you on a block. Dig it out in the trenches and drive your opponent to his backside only to pick up the next guy that comes your way.
After the whistle blows, be a good sport and help the guy up. But until you hear that sound, it is your job to paint the field with his sweat and blood.
Note: Do not deliberately try to make your opponent bleed or become injured. It's just a game, man.
Confidence. Arrogance. Swagger. That's where it all starts.
Lord knows that USC has it.
Charlie seemed to have it when he came back to his alma mater. And I could only assume that those qualities may have something to do with the reported lack of friends he's made at the university.
So why don't the players show it?
8 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
Joe G 7 months ago
You're absolutely right on this one. Whatever energy and excitement you show before the game doesn't mean a single thing if it doesn't translate to the field during the game.
As much as I hate to bring up the 2006 ND-MSU game, this article reminded me of it. There was the flag-planting incident in South Bend in 2005, and everybody expected ND to be out for a similar sort of revenge in East Lansing the next year. Fortunately, for most of the game it looked like that wouldn't be an issue. But you probably remember John L. Smith and co. blowing a huge 4th quarter lead.
After the game, there was some jawing and maybe a little bit of shoving. Three Spartan players ended up standing on the block 'S' at midfield to prevent a flag-planting. I just remember sitting in the stands wondering, "Where was this intensity when we were blowing a 17-point lead? We're plenty willing to fight after the game, but we just rolled over during the fourth quarter."
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Matt Poloni 7 months ago
Oh yeah. I remember all that. And that's exactly the type of thing that I don't want to see out of Notre Dame.
Glad you liked the article. Thanks for the feedback, Joe.
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Jo-Ryan Salazar 7 months ago
Wins + Chemistry ===> Swagger + Intensity
A simple equation. Notre Dame lacked either of the first two in their defeats, and as a result, lacked the last two. I'll be quite surprised if they keep Charlie Weis at the end of the season (subject to a minor bowl invitation from one of the more sympathetic committees out there).
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Matt Poloni 7 months ago
I think the equation is more like this:
Wins + Chemistry <===> Swagger + Intensity
It goes both ways. Swagger and intensity will win you ballgames and bring you chemistry. The wins and chemistry produced will then give you more swagger and intensity. And then it goes back the other way again.
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Jo-Ryan Salazar 7 months ago
Good point, Matt. But as I see it, I think it has to start somewhere in order for it go both ways. And that comes with the chemistry in training camp and practice and the wins triggering from that resulting in high intensity and swagger and confidence, and the cycle that you pointed out.
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Matt Poloni 7 months ago
I definitely agree with you. It does have to start somewhere. And you're right that training camp and practice are where it starts.
That's where it undeniably lies with the coaches. The players are responsible for their execution and (to some extent) the chemistry factor, but coaches should be providing the intensity which is the foundation of the other three aspects.
Great insight, man. I appreciate it.
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Andrew Nuschler 6 months ago
Another great piece Matt.
You nailed fake intensity as just another example of faking something too important to be faked. We always had guys who were always full of false hustle - diving all over the floor when there was no need i.e. the ball was well out of reach or out of bounds, slapping the floor and then getting torched, doing a bunch of stuff b/c it looked like effort, etc.
Always hated that. Just like I hate the "intensity" of trash-talking and all the other bullsh*t that is totally irrelevant to play on the field and is thus a waste of time/energy.
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Matt Poloni 6 months ago
My sentiments exactly.
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