Bleacher Report - Articles by Clashmore Mike

Notre Dame's Season Ends Not with a Bang, but with a Whimper

Clashmore Mike — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:32:05 -0500

While the crowd cheered when the Irish scored and made noise for UConn on third down, it was hollow. For this Fighting Irishman, who attended his first Notre Dame football game at the age of 11 years old, it felt like the next-to-last performance of a burned-out theater troupe—everyone saying their lines and hitting their marks, even as the spark went out of both the actors and the audience. As the game wore on, a deadly, heavy blanket of inevitability descended. By the middle of the third quarter, I knew we would lose this game.

What's left to say? With one game to go, Notre Dame Nation has already turned the page. Jimmy and Golden are as good as gone, and Charlie Weis is a dead man walking. The real driver of the ND story now is not Stanford (we'll get crushed), or even what embarrassing bowl bid the Irish will accept (skip the bowls, stay home, let the pain of this unmitigated disaster sink in, and learn from it). No, now the question is: Who will lead the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame?

Urban Meyer was quick to stand up and say that he doesn't want the job. That's easy to do when you know you'll never get the offer. The underhanded way he played ND five years ago, using Notre Dame as a bargaining chip to secure his job at Florida, isn't forgotten. For those ND fans longing for the ethically challenged Florida coach to ride into South Bend, I suggest you move on. Ain't gonna happen, and it isn't his choice.

Odds are that Brian Kelly, the east coast Irishman with a Catholic college education and a startlingly good record of winning, will be the next head coach of Notre Dame. But whomever AD Swarbrick decides on, please make it quick and painless. Your model should be Faust-to-Holtz, rather than the Davie-to-O'Leary-to-Willingham, or Willingham-to-who-wants-it-no-one-does-to Weis model. Quick, clean, and to the point. And let's let the dawn of a new Irish day begin.

Heartbroken Notre Dame: Coach Charlie Weis to Blame?

Clashmore Mike — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:47:57 -0500

Well, what's left to say after the disaster at Pittsburgh?

To call this a disappointing season is perhaps the most banal understatement you could come up with. So how does this Fighting Irishman feel about the state of the program that he loves so much? Anger. Disgust. Bewilderment. Fed-up. But most of all, heartbroken.

It's over, Coach Weis.

You began this season with not one, but two legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates (It might have been three if Michael Floyd hadn't gone down). You have a top-three offense. Truly explosive. Over the last four years, to your credit, you have out recruited the entire nation.

It's true, you inherited a ticking time bomb from Willingham, and that earned you patience from both the fanbase and the administration. But those guys are all gone now, and this team…and record…is all yours.

Given the trajectory of not only our team, but of our remaining opponents, I fully expect the Irish to now finish 6-6. How can this be happening?

I know you don't own all the blame. Never, ever, have I been as disappointed in a coach has I am of Coach Tenuta.

I remember his defenses at Georgia Tech—a team that has rarely had the same talent level as Notre Dame. They were aggressive, attacking, and seemed to confuse and confound offenses.

But here? Tentative play, terrible tackling, no pressure up front, and worst of all, we hear the Navy coach confess that his team that relied on the Irish lining up exactly as we did two years ago. Deny it all you want, but he said it, and their play against us backed it up. Unbelievable.

Then there's the penalties.

There's two things to say about this. One, never have I seen more biased officiating in my 38 years of attending Notre Dame games as I have this year. Case in point: Clausen's "fumble" at the end of the Pitt game.

It's been happening all season. Obvious touchdowns overturned. A refusal to call flagrant pass interference. Phantom holding calls. And an utter lack of flags for opponents.

Don't tell me Pitt's only infraction was a late off-sides call. Balony. You could see the holding. But, you know what? Whatever...there were plenty of actual penalties on our part to do us in. How can this Notre Dame team play so undisciplined? So stupidly? I swear, if I see Sam Young draw another holding call I'll scream.

The bottom line is, under Coach Weis, our overall record has fallen to 35-25 (.583), the exact same winning percentage predecessors Bob Davie and Tyrone Willingham had when they were put out of our misery.

Charlie, you are a good guy. I've met you, I know your heart is in the right place. You are a good, no…great, offensive coordinator. I know that 90 percent of the criticism is pure, personally cruel, biased hatred of Notre Dame. But under your stewardship, something is missing. It's missing! Everything is in place to win…but we aren't winning.

It's time to turn the page.

NOTE: To my Bleacher Report friends…it's good to be back.

I had a professional writing obligation that took all my spare time. I've still been to every home game (and will be in the House that Rock Built next week for one final nail in the coffin). Perhaps the book deadline was a blessing…it kept me from dwelling in writing on the disaster that this season has become. Anyway, it's good to be back!

Notre Dame: Three Down, Nine to Go

Clashmore Mike — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:43:55 -0400

The 2009 season is well under way, and with one quarter of the schedule in the record books, I thought I’d share my impressions about the three games so far. As a self-confessed Notre Dame partisan, I’ll work hard to stay objective.

1. Our offense can play with anyone in the country

Having seen the level of play over the last two years, one has to be hesitant in making a statement like this. But the Hawaii Bowl wasn’t a fluke. The Irish are potent, averaging 34 points per game, and around 500 yards total offense over the three games this season.

It took me a few games, but I’m now a believer. We can move the ball on anyone.

2. Our defense is a big problem

The defense was stellar in the opening game with Nevada. But it’s been all down hill since then. While on offense, Notre Dame has been able to go up and down the field at will, but unfortunately, our opponents have been able to as well, making every game a shootout.

So what’s the problem? Is it scheme? Or is it talent? We knew our d-line was going to be the weakest link, but it isn’t just that.

The strength of this unit was supposed to be the secondary. But pass or run, we’ve had issues. Clearly, success or failure now depends on Tenuta and company plugging the holes and gelling. It isn’t impossible that as the season grinds on it will happen. Otherwise we’ll see more shootouts than Dodge City.

3. No more tolerance for critics bashing NDs "easy schedule"

All summer long, every critic of Notre Dame used their supposed easy schedule as a tool to disqualify any success the Irish might have this season. The argument went something like this. “Notre Dame is terrible. They won’t win more than four games. But even if they do win 10 games and make it to a BCS Bowl they still stink because their schedule is so soft.”

While I know this actually passes for critical thinking and thoughtful analysis among the legions of know-nothing Irish Haters, no amount of preseason discussion could shut off this BS.

Well, suddenly our schedule doesn’t look so soft. Michigan? Who knew they’d be this good. As much as I hate to, I’ll be the first one to stand up and eat my words—your QB is the real deal.

Washington? Uh oh…that looked like a gimme…but not anymore. So shut up with the “easy schedule” nonsense.

4. Notre Dame stadium has gotten loud

To those of you who regularly attend games at Notre Dame Stadium, have you noticed the noise? Seriously…this is the loudest I’ve seen this stadium in years (and I’ve been attending games since 1971). Something’s going on…fans are believing again.

5. UM loss was reality check No. 1. MSU win was reality check No. 2

Following the loss to Michigan, despair settled in. We played great against a formidable Nevada offense, and then were just gashed by Michigan. Clearly, we weren’t as good as we thought we were.

Then, following the win over Michigan State, where just as the week before it was coming down to a defensive stop, the Irish found a way to win.

For you kids out there, that kind of heroics used to happen all the time in Notre Dame Stadium…the Irish always seemed to find a way to win. Just like against Michigan State.

Now we don’t seem as bad as we did following Michigan. We’re somewhere in between, and hopefully getting better.

6. Has anyone noticed how great Clausen is?

Seriously, he’s the real deal.

7. Officiating

Are you kidding me? Athletic Director Swarbrick, if you are reading this, you simply must do something about this.

8. Michael Floyd.

Gone for the season. That hurts.

9. We do, indeed, have a running game

Hats off to Charlie Weis. The changes he made in his coaching staff are reaping big dividends. Armando Allen has turned into a powerful, explosive running back. The guy is a bruiser, and is never brought down on the first tackle.

The long-overdue change in offensive line coach is making a huge difference as well. Finally runners have running lanes, and Clausen has protection. None of the offensive fireworks would be possible without the o-line stepping up.

10. USC lost

So they’re human after all. Come on, guys…we can get ‘em this year.

Notre Dame Crushes Nevada: Turns Sights on Wolverines

Clashmore Mike — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:57:28 -0400

I deliberately waited a couple of days so that the euphoria of a near-perfect Notre Dame win over Nevada wouldn't tempt me to write things I might regret later. But all in all, my opinion of Saturday's blowout victory over Nevada hasn't really changed much.

It had everything: balanced offense, swarming defense, good special teams, and best of all, the opportunity to watch the critics who predicted a Nevada win (especially those here on B/R), eat a cold plate of their own words.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not overestimating the victory. The Irish still have many games to play, and their schedule is bound to look more difficult as the season goes on. Even miserable Michigan and Purdue looked like champions in their patsy openers.

But let's also not underestimate the victory. Notre Dame shut out last year's No. 5 ranked offense.

Shut them out.

I knew something special was brewing. It began at the midnight Drum Circle Friday night, and by Saturday morning there was a definite energy in the air that had been missing for a long, long time. While waiting for the band to step off and march to the stadium, I spoke to a visiting couple from Nevada.

"We are honored to be invited to play here," they said. "We know what Notre Dame means, and what this place stands for."

Wow. The Wolfpack fans were great. It was a pleasure to meet so many of them.

But then it was gametime, and mutual respect notwithstanding, it was time to face off on the field. So here's my thoughts on the game:

1.) Jimmy Clausen Is The Man

If he maintains this level of play, only a conspiracy will keep him out of the Heisman race. He has come of age, and the two-year baptism of fire has made him not only an outstanding quarterback, but a team leader as well.

He was nearly perfect, completing 15 of 18 passes for 315 yards and four touchdowns. He set his own record for longest career touchdown pass (70 yards), and then broke it in the same game (88 yards), both to Michael Floyd.

The raw, true freshman who was sacked 57 times in his first year and threw almost as many interceptions as he did touchdowns is history. Like I said, he's the man.

2.) Just Try and Beat ND's Receivers

Golden Tate. Kyle Rudolph. And the freak, Michael Floyd. Go on, double-team one or more of them. You are going to have to.

And it will come at a big cost somewhere else. If you don't, it's bombs away.

They will eat you alive. I've been attending ND games since I was 10 years old (that's almost 40 years). I've seen great players, and I've seen incredible receivers. But I'm not sure I've ever seen this many that are this good on one team. And I mean anywhere.

3.) Dear O-Line, Welcome to Notre Dame

Finally the offensive line showed up, and with it came an impressive running game. If they are here to stay, the Irish will pass it on you, or run it on you. You pick.

4.) Jon Tenuta Delivers a Defense

Nevada averaged 38 points a game last year. This year, against an amazing, aggressive, constantly blitzing Notre Dame defense, they converted only two of 12 third down chances.

The heralded Wolfpack quarterback that ran for 1,000 yards last year did nothing but run for his life. Every snap brought immediate pressure, and I was amazed at the significant increase in the Irish's team speed.

And now comes Michigan. To give credit where credit is due, they looked far better than expected against Western Michigan, but then, lots of extra practice can do that to a team. Given where both teams are, the Irish should handle the Wolverines. But suddenly, the Michigan-Notre Dame game is starting to feel like old times.

Charlie Weis' Fork in the Road: How Will History Repeat Itself?

Clashmore Mike — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:41:23 -0400

The summer-long conversation regarding the fate of Notre Dame head coach will soon be over. Unfortunately, most of the discussion on this subject, from the television sports channels to internet bloggers, has offered more heat than light.

In less than a week, the Irish will tee it up against the University of Nevada in Notre Dame Stadium. Charlie Weis’ legacy may well be decided in this very first game. Notre Dame and Coach Weis are at a fork in the road, and which direction they go will soon be known. Will it be mediocrity? Or the proverbial “Return to Glory?”

The Spanish philosopher George Santayana said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." This goes for institutions as well as individuals, and throughout the history of Notre Dame’s football program, many of the same mistakes have been made, then corrected, then made again.

It’s a lesson for those with short memories, those who believe that the program’s recent decade of mediocrity is a new phenomenon, and that Notre Dame’s best days are behind her.

We all know about Knute Rockne, the legendary coach who not only set the bar so high for the Irish, but also with his celebrity, his marketing savvy, and his winning percentage (still the highest in the history of the game), created Big Time College Football.

But with his death in 1931 there began a cycle of feast or famine for Notre Dame Football that continues to this day.

Rockne was followed by Elmer Layden, who coached from 1934 to 1940. Layden was one of the legendary “Four Horsemen,” but as a coach, especially following Rockne, his teams were a disappointment.

His best year was 1938, when the Irish went 8-1. Otherwise, six or seven wins out of a nine game season was about average. Not bad, but for Notre Dame, not good enough.

But soon Irish eyes were smiling. Under Frank Leahy (1941-43, 1946-49) Notre Dame won four National Championships. Some Irish Faithful may think it blasphemous, but Frank Leahy was Notre Dame's greatest coach. His winning percentage of .864, was just under that of Knute Rockne’s.

But as Leahy’s success grew, the University began feeling self-conscious about what might seem to be an over-emphasis on football, and the football coach. This wasn’t new…during the heyday of Rockne, the feeling that the colorful coach was beginning to eclipse the educational and spiritual mission of the school was growing.

However, Rockne died before it came to a head. Not so with Leahy. The administration began to restrict the coach’s scholarships and power, and eventually forced him out.

What followed was a decade of mediocrity. From1954 to 1963, the Irish underperformed. First was coach Terry Brennan, followed by Joe Kuharich. Neither was a success. Fans grieved and detractors gloated that Notre Dame’s success was history. Done. They were “irrelevant.” Sound familiar?

Then came Ara Parseghian.

There’s no need to recap the Era of Ara…even the youngest know-nothing is familiar with the championship-caliber teams that Parseghian fielded between 1964 and1974. When Parseghian retired, Dan Devine brought home another national championship.

We all know the story from there. Gerry Faust, fresh from coaching high school, ushered in the next down period. Lou Holtz came to the rescue with 11 years of glory. And when Holtz got too big and too successful, just like Leahy before him, he had to go. And with him went winning.

And now, after the latest decade of mediocrity, we stand at the fork in the road.

From where this writer sits, Charlie Weis is poised to be either the next Ara Parseghian, or the next Terry Brennan. His fate is in his hands. When Weis took over in 2005, his team exploded onto the scene. Who can forget it? It was the greatest single-season, first-year-as-coach turn-around since, well, Ara Parseghian. All was well for two years. Notre Dame had returned to where she belonged. Or had she?

What followed two breathtaking years of success were two of the worst years in Irish history. And so here we are.

Like Weis, Terry Brennan’s first two years were good. In 1954 he only lost one game, and in 1955 he only lost two. But then, in 1956, with a team loaded primarily with underclassmen, his record fell to an abysmal 2-8. Fans were howling for his head, and for a while it looked like he would be canned.

But in the end, the administration kept him on. Many felt that Notre Dame’s high athletic standards were crippling recruiting. But part of the problem was that Brennan was an inexperienced coach. (He was only 25 when he was hired!) And it was on-the-job training for him as a head coach.

Anyone who follows Irish football will see the parallels with Coach Weis. Is he Ara? Or is he Brennan. Time will tell, but I’m betting on a resurgence. Unlike Terry Brennan, Weis isn’t a boy in a man’s job. He’s taken steps to fix his mistakes, and the talent is there.

But I won’t guarantee it. Remember, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

This article originally appeared on Domersportsreport

The Calm Before the Storm

Clashmore Mike — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:45:07 -0400

It is the last week of July. For football fans, this is the deep breath before the plunge. All across the country training camps are getting ready to open...soon, but not just yet. The Irish report in 10 days.

I was on the Notre Dame campus this past week. It was a beautiful early evening in high summer. Despite the peace and stillness, the echos were there, stirring, getting ready to wake up in just a few short weeks. Summer students coming and going.

A few football fans shopping in the bookstore. The faithful praying in the Basilica, or in the sacred space of the Grotto. It served to remind me what we really play for. Domers understand it, but many of our opponents never will.

We ND bloggers have spent a long summer analyzing the team, the schedule, the new coaches, and predicting how the coming season will play out. Some of us have also spent time answering an unending stream of animosity from those that hate the Fighting Irish. (If I read one more article about why ND needs to join a conference I'll be sick...) But this is all just marking time.

Soon, the speculation will end. Our lads will strap on the gold helmets, the band will play the Fight Song, we'll tee it up, and a new chapter in the History of Notre Dame Football will be written. Has the team turned the corner? Will Coach Weis take us to a BCS bowl? Will the Irish regain their historic position in college football?

We'll know soon. The wait is unbearable. Go Irish!

This article originally published at: Domersportsreport

Irish Improvement Is Golden in Blue & Gold Game

Clashmore Mike — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:00:41 -0400

I decided to wait a bit before I recorded my thoughts about the Blue & Gold Game. I thought surely the beautiful weather, the friendly fans, and the festive atmosphere would color my perceptions on the field.

So, I decided to wait. Now, with 24 hours elapsed since Notre Dame’s Spring scrimmage, I can calmly summarize my impressions of the new incarnation of ND football in three words:

Speed: This team is noticeably faster. Way faster. From Armando Allen’s explosive running (he is full-speed the moment he touches the ball) to the swarming defense, this is a team that, on Saturday, looked as if it had taken an impressive stride in this department.

Depth: The array of receivers is almost unprecedented, as is their size. Most of them are over 6 feet tall. They will be a challenge to virtually every defensive backfield they come up against in 2009.

And they will be catching passes from Clausen, who is backed up by two guys who both looked fantastic: Dayne Crist and Nate Montana, who both engineered scoring drives. (It was great seeing his father Joe sitting in the stands.) Virtually every position has depth and experience.

Aggression: It was obvious, even with the generic packages they were fielding, that this defense is off the leash. They were fast, aggressive, and blitzing constantly. (This team will eat whatever QB Michigan fields alive.)

And finally, the offensive line needs a round of applause. We haven’t seen this kind of surge off the line, this kind of blocking, and this kind of running lane creation in ages.

It was a thing of beauty, and if it is any indication, the infusion of coaching talent in key positions is paying off.

Now, as a qualifier, it was, after all, the Spring Scrimmage. We don’t see a lot. They hold things back. We see a lot of starters against second-stringers. But…make no mistake, this was impressive.

So Far So Good for Charlie Weis, Notre Dame This Offseason

Clashmore Mike — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:01:43 -0500

Weis gets it. He really does. Amid the wreckage of the end of the 2008 season (Hawaii Bowl notwithstanding), there was fear and trepidation for the future of the most storied program in College Football history.

Could Weis, amid calls for his head, a feeding-frenzied media, and an angry Irish Nation, not only see what had to be done, but do it? Or would stubborness, or loyalty to staff, or merely limited college-coaching experience keep him from making the coaching staff changes that were so clearly needed?

Many observers of the program called for a list of (obviously) necessary changes, and swiftly following the bowl game came the firing squad. Heywood gone. Latina (thank heavens) gone. Several others departed as well.

And then came the hiring, the most promising being new offensive line coach Frank Verducci, an offensive line coach with extensive experience not only in the NFL, but in college football as well.

All good. But this writer also called for other changes that seemed, on the surface, less likely. That is, until today.

It has been announced that Weis will again be the offensive coordinator. When others called for hiring an OC with college play calling experience, I stuck by Charlie on this one. It is his one undeniable strength, which made his handing it over the inexperienced Haywood so baffling.

A few of us also called for Tenuda to be made Defensive Coordinator. This just in from the AP: "Defensive coordinator Corwin Brown will share the title of defensive coordinator with Jon Tenuta while adding the title of associate head coach. Tenuta, the linebackers coach, will call plays on defense." Expect the Irish defense to become an attack dog with Tenuda off the leash.

And finally, while Coach Weis says it is "50-50" whether he will call the plays from the box, I fully expect to see him there in 2009. Weis always wants an edge, and having seen the advantage that height gives him, he'll be there. The young, high-energy Brown will provide side-line inspiration.

So far so good! Given the changes in staff (and philosophy: "The pressure package is what I've always done and will continue to do," says Tenuda), the growing maturity of the players, the continued high level of recruiting, and the schedule, 2009 should be a very good year for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame's House Cleaning Has Begun

Clashmore Mike — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:23:21 -0500

Fighting Irish faithful greet the new year with relief. The bitter disappointment of 2008, which had many of us ready to throw Charlie Weis under the bus (your correspondent included) has, with both time and recent events begun to fade.

It is time to turn the page and face the future. And, gratefully, so far so good.

The bowl losing streak, so gleefully and shamefully flogged by everyone from Bleacher Report haters to ESPN, was finally and definitively ended. The Hawaii Bowl (hopefully) shows what we have to look forward to.

The team is back to full strength…no major injuries in the offseason, and the attrition we get through graduation is minimal due to the youth of this team.

And speaking of the team's youth, this team will be a seasoned, grown-up unit starting in 2009. It won't be men (USC) against boys (ND) in 2009.

And most importantly of all, Weis is cleaning house with the assistant coaches.

Already gone is:

Oliver: The play of his defensive line was unacceptable, so he is gone.

Haywood: Mike Haywood was both offensive coordinator and running backs coach. In searching for his replacement, Weis is only interviewing for the latter position (i.e, Weis is calling the plays in 2009).

(Don't be surprised if he does it from the press box. You saw in Hawaii what advantage that gave him.)

Latina: Of all the coaches that needed to go, it was offensive line coach Latina. His replacement, Frank Verducci, is already in place. Verducci coached the o-line for the Cleveland Browns in 2007 (they won 10 games), for the Cowboys and Bills, and more importantly, 10 years for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Look up their record during his tenure and you will know we are going to see a big improvement in the running game.

My bet is there may be another change or two—watch special teams and quarterback, but these are less certain.

Now, if Weis can instill a missing killer instinct in these guys, we can go far.

Open Letter to Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick

Clashmore Mike — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:05:58 -0500

To Jack Swarbrick:

Notre Dame was just completely dismantled by USC. Did you watch this?

Sir, its over. You know what you have to do.

We hoped that, somehow, we would at least be competitive, that we would see some glimmer of hope that this program would turn around under the current regime. It is painfully apparent that the time for change has come.

You know what you have to do. Do it.

Notre Dame Loses More Than a Game to Syracuse

Clashmore Mike — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:12:52 -0500

I can barely bring myself to sit at this keyboard and comment on what I witnessed yesterday.

I can say that my family has a devotion to the University of Notre Dame that goes back to my father who, as a boy sitting in his Catholic grade school in a small town in northwest Iowa, would join his fellow classmates in a prayer for an Irish victory every Friday in the fall.

That family devotion turned into something more later in life, and I have been privileged to attend, but for perhaps a half-dozen or so, every game in Notre Dame Stadium since 1971.

I’ve seen my share of heartbreaking losses…games in which the stakes were (seemingly) much higher.

The 58-7 humiliation at the hands of Jimmy Johnson’s Miami Hurricanes, and the 1993 loss to Boston College are the two that stand out the most.

There have been others, of course, and they have come far more frequently in the last decade. But at least when the Hurricanes were running up the score, we knew there was a regime change coming.

As for the BC loss, for someone with the ability to see the long view, that was the game that broke the hearts and spirit of Notre Dame, and we haven’t quite been right since then.

But now we have to face this loss to Syracuse. For me, on one of the most bitterly cold game days I’ve ever sat through, came the most bitter loss as well.

You might counter by saying I’m wrong…that the two losses I mentioned above were worse. That we are rebuilding. That the talent is young and inexperienced. Whatever.

I will respectfully disagree.

Coach Weis, you’ve lost me. I’ve defended you here and other places. The vast majority of the criticism that has come your way has been hateful, bigoted, mean-spirited, and uncalled for. But here, after yesterday, you lost me.

You can clearly recruit, and whoever follows you will not inherit the historically bare cupboard you did when you took over.

You can clearly coach offense in the NFL. But as others have discovered before you, there is a difference between coaching mature NFL talent who have reached their highest potential in the game, and developing talent in the college game.

You are a good man. A Notre Dame man. And for those who know what that means, that is high praise indeed. You came when Our Lady’s school was under siege and silenced her critics. For that we will always be grateful.

For all these reasons it pains me to say this. You lost us, Coach. And worse, it looks like you lost your team.

It is time to go.

Notre Dame's Sixth Straight BC Loss Shakes The Faith; Weis' Countdown Begins

Clashmore Mike — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:16:56 -0500

This was the loss that did it. The countdown clock on Charlie Weis’ tenure as head coach at Notre Dame started when the fourth quarter ended. That’s not to say that it can’t be reversed, or stopped again.

But with the debacle that was the loss to Boston College for the sixth straight game, even defenders have had our faith shaken and our hearts broken.

It isn’t just the loss, but the way we lost. After clear signs of improvement in the first half of the season, the Irish now seem to be a team not just stuck in neutral, but one that has actually slipped into reverse.

Four turnovers.

A botched punt return.

Drive-killing, undisciplined penalties.

Failure to adjust after half-time.

An inability to control the line of scrimmage, on both offense and defense.

A lack of a Killer Instinct.

A kicking game that has lost games.

I could go on.

So, what’s to be done? Coach Weis, I know you are a good, decent, generous man. I also know you are a great offensive coordinator, and a helluva recruiter. For what it’s worth, here are some suggestions from someone who has seen more Notre Dame football games than he can remember:

1.) Replace Offensive Line Coach John Latina.

This should have happened after last year. Despite being a disciple of Joe Moore, Coach Latina has failed to instill even fundamental blocking skills to this under-performing unit. Everything starts here. No running game? Sacks? Failure to get ONE YARD for a first down? It all lays at the feet of Coach Latina.

2.) Relieve Mike Haywood of play calling duties.

With all due respect to a good and loyal man, Notre Dame needs and deserves an offensive coordinator with experience. This is not an entry-level program. His play calling has been a disaster.

Time and again productive drives engineered by the passing game have been killed not by turnovers, but by a sudden series of running plays that have gone counter to team strength. It has been maddening, amateurish, predictable, and ultimately disasterous.

You are clearly a better play caller. Take the reigns.

3.) I am afraid Corwin Brown needs to move on as well, and John Tenuta should be made Defensive Coordinator.

Clearly whatever strengths Tenuta brings are being kept in check by the cumbersome arrangement of having both him and Brown coaching defense. Write Brown a letter of recommendation and let Tenuda off the leash.

4.) Ron Powlus might need a second look as QB coach as well….

As for you Coach Weis, you need to get hands-on again. You need to inspire. You need to get ANGRY. You need to make these kids know what it means to put on that gold helmet.

You have one more year. Next year, these highly skilled but inexperienced freshmen and sophomores will be experienced sophomores and juniors…plenty old and skilled enough to make a run at the national championship, and at the least win 10 games. You know what it means to lose…and lose big…to USC. We’ll be massacred this year.

But to be humiliated by Boston College, our little brother ND wannabe’s, the school Frank Leahy left for Notre Dame, to lose to them six straight games…that’s asking too much.

You will get five years. But if next year is like this year, you won’t get six.

Chris Marinelli Eats His Words as Notre Dame Defeats Stanford

Clashmore Mike — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:43:26 -0400

Are you watching? No, I mean, are you really paying attention? If not, let me spell it out for you: Notre Dame’s quarterback is turning into a superstar.

Outlined against a bright blue October sky, Jimmy Clausen had another career-best day. For the second weekend in a row, the sophomore QB passed for three touchdowns, and made a career-best 29 completions on 40 attempts. Do the math. That’s a 72 percent completion rate, with no interceptions.

It’s not just the gaudy numbers. If you are indeed paying attention, the evolution of Clausen is impressive. His stats are eerily similar to those of Brady Quinn, who owns most of the Irish record book as quarterback. The difference is that Clausen is that good earlier in his career. But as I said, it’s not just the numbers.

To watch him play not only from last year to this year, but from San Diego State to Stanford is to watch him go from boy to man. Clausen’s early enrollment and 2007 baptism of fire are reaping huge dividends, and his command of not only Weis’s complicated New England Patriots playbook, but of the team itself, is growing.

Barring something unforeseen, Jimmy Clausen should be the leading Heisman candidate for 2009.

Of course, for the Irish faithful, Saturday’s win over the Cardinal was both gratifying and frustrating.

The frustration came in the fourth quarter, when a young Notre Dame team, who is not used to being so far ahead so early in the game, let down and thus let Jim Harbaugh’s over-confident Stanford team back in the game. Maturity will (hopefully) help them learn to play the full 60 minutes.

But the most gratifying aspect of the game was seeing defensive lineman Pat Kuntz make Stanford right offensive tackle Chris Marinelli eat a cold plate of his own words. If you’ll remember, Marinelli, a 6'7" 297-pound junior, shot his big fat mouth off about the upcoming game with Notre Dame.

First he expounded on playing at Notre Dame.

“I hate it, playing up there,” he said. “The field, excuse my language, the field sucks. The stadium sucks. I think the area sucks.”

Then, in true Stanford fashion, he just had to go further.

“I grew up with a bunch of Irish and Italian Catholic people back home, and all they talk about is Notre Dame this, Notre Dame that. And they’ve never even been there, you know? So I hate those guys. I hate that school.”

They must be proud. After all, this is the school that had their band permanently banned from the Notre Dame campus when, during its pre-game and halftime performances, it parodied the Irish Potato Famine and a band member dressed as a nun conducted the band with a crucifix instead of a baton. (The Stanford Athletic Department had reviewed and approved the band’s planned performances in advance.)

Marinelli might have gotten away with just being a typical Stanford a-hole, but he had to then call out the Irish defense

“Keep blitzing it, keep trying it,” he confidently said. “They have one sack all year in 200 blitzes. We are going to gash the (expletive) out of them, I promise you that.”

Pat Kuntz read Marinelli’s remarks at the Friday night pep rally. On Saturday he sacked Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard twice. By the end of the game Pritchard had been sacked a total of five times.

Chris Marinelli…you already issued a lame apology to Notre Dame. Now you need to apologize to Tavita Pritchard. Then practice shutting your big fat mouth.

Irish Rising: Notre Dame 2007 Season Laid to Rest in Blowout Over Purdue

Clashmore Mike — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:12:50 -0400

“There are three kinds of people in this world…those that make things happen, those that watch things happen, and those that ask ‘what just happened?’ Tomorrow this team is gonna make things happen. You all are going to watch what happened. And Purdue? Purdue is going to ask ‘what the hell just happened?’”

—David Grimes, at the Friday night Pep Rally before the Purdue game

There are two ways to watch the game. You can watch it with your heart or your head. After last week’s disappointing loss to MSU, my heart immediately said, “Oh no, it’s true. The Irish of 2007 are still with us.”

But instead, I chose to listen to my head. Dispassionate, objective viewing (and decades of experience watching the Fighting Irish) told me that loss was more about an emotional let-down after the huge win over Michigan than a lack of ability and skill. That back-to-back Michigan/Michigan State combination has undone the Irish on many occasions.

If I was right, then the Purdue game would be the Truth Detector. More often than not, the annual clash between Notre Dame and Purdue is a barometer of how the rest of the season plays out for both teams. To say this was a must-win was an understatement.

So, following the game, what does my heart and head say? Surprisingly, they are in agreement. If you remove the anomaly of the MSU game, there is no mistaking the enormous strides this team is making from game to game, or even from half to half. Notre Dame is indeed rising. And rising fast.

Jimmy Clausen, who was branded as an over-hyped failure, has exploded into the real deal. His decision-making, ability to read defenses, check through his receivers, and lead the offense is growing from play to play.

Against the Purdue team that took Oregon to overtime, he completed 20 of 35 passes for 275 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. His efficiency for the game was better than the (very) senior Curtis Painter, a pre-season Heisman candidate. This game shut the door on that pipe-dream.

His stable of deep-threat receivers is spectacular. From here on opponents ignore Grimes, Kamara, Tate, and Floyd at their own peril. Clausen can throw the long ball, and these guys just go and get it.

And finally, the much-maligned offensive line jelled, unleashing a running attack that, in the third quarter, sparked an offensive explosion. Armando Allen rushed for 91 yards in the third quarter alone, and Clausen completed 9 of 14 passes. Speaking of Allen, he had a career-high 137 yards on 17 carries. That is just shy of eight yards a touch.

So, are they back? Well…define “back.” If you mean are they the Irish of 1988-1993 or 2005-2006, no. Not yet. But are they on their way? No doubt about it. I’ve said it before, and I mean it. The Irish are rising, and when this team of Freshmen and Sophomores are Juniors and Seniors, well…then we’ll really see something.

Here come the Irish.

Notre Dame's Victory Over Michigan Shows the Party Is Over for the Irish Haters

Clashmore Mike — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:48:07 -0400

For a Notre Damer, it doesn’t get any better than this just-completed weekend.

Whenever the Michigan Wolverines and their fans bus into South Bend, it is an event. No matter the records or rankings, neither team wants to lose to the other.

There is no love lost between Notre Dame and the University of Michigan. Memories are long, stretching back to 1887, with boycotts and blowouts and legendary games marking mileposts along the 120-plus year history.

They have been called “Natural Enemies,” and rightfully so. This year, neither team was ranked. But don’t tell the Irish Faithful that this game was meaningless. This game meant everything—validation, pride, history, credibility, and last, but not the least, payback.

We knew the storm was brewing literally and figuratively on Friday evening. The weather forecast for Satuday called for real football weather in the form of driving rain.

But for the Wolverines a worse storm began brewing on Friday evening. The pep rally in the Joyce center, packed to the rafters with delirious Irish faithful, honored the 1988 National Championship team and its coach Lou Holtz, who soaked in the adoration and reflected it back to the crowd.

Following a singing of The Notre Dame Victory March, coach Holtz delivered a stem-winder of a speech that must have given a hint of what it was like to be in the locker room during his tenure.

“This game is gonna be won. You go to bed tonight and don’t worry about it. You worry about Mark May’s intelligence... but not this game! It’s about faith, it’s about support, it’s about never giving up—no matter what the odds are. We are Notre Dame and nobody else is! And we’re special! And we take that pride in the way we play and the way we feel and the way we do things! Go Irish! God bless you!”

Shortly afterwards, at dinner across the street at Parisi’s Italian Restaurant, we rubbed elbows with Tim Brown, Derrick Mays, Digger Phelps, and other Irish legends before heading home and preparing for Saturday. Holtz was right—we just knew we would win the following day.

Gameday on Notre Dame’s campus is a special thing, and all the rituals and rites were properly observed. Bloody Marys at the Morris Inn. Steak sandwich at the Knights of Columbus. The bagpipe band. The Marching Band’s concert on the steps of Bond Hall. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart and a prayer at the Grotto. It was here, in the sacred space of the Grotto, while hundreds of pilgrims knelt in prayer or lighted candles, we were treated to the sight of three alcohol-glazed Wolverine fans popping beer cans and wisecracking, as if we needed another example of why these barbarians needed to be sent packing.

And then there was the game. If you want a recap of the game, read the papers.

Don’t believe the face-saving blather that Michigan “gave the game away,” or they are having a down year, or any other BS you might read.

I was there and I saw it—they were beaten. They aren’t as bad as people are saying, and in a year or two, when they have mastered their new offense, they will be a force once again.

But they have players now—good players; and they were trounced in Notre Dame Stadium. As Charlie Weis said in his press conference, “It was Bombs Away. We had more for them, we just couldn’t get to it all.”

The Irish took a huge stride from San Diego State to Michigan (begging the question: “Who is better, San Diego State or Michigan?”).

Look for continuing improvement.

“Clausen to Tate” will be a frequent and devastating mantra, and both of these guys are the real deal.

The Irish are rising, and to all the smirking ND Haters—your smiles don’t look so confident, and your empty comments don’t carry as much conviction as they once did.

Good luck to your team if they run up against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame over the next few years.