Bleacher Report - Articles by Derek Horner

Why Hating Notre Dame Is YOUR Fault, Not Ours

Derek Horner — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:52:43 -0400

So, you hate Notre Dame, or you're a fan who has to listen to people who hate Notre Dame... I'm going to explain once and for all why you shouldn't hate the school, or the program; and if you do, it's YOUR fault.

You claim that Notre Dame should be in a conference, that it doesn't belong in particular bowls, or that it gets too much media attention. Your hatred, however, is based in your own misunderstanding of college football. You think college football is based in merit. And, if you want to talk about merit, no school boasts such a remarkable combination of superlatives as Notre Dame's eleven National Championships, seven Heismans, 96 All-Americans, 90 percent graduation rate, .736 winning percentage, and 10 NFL Hall of Famers, among many other accolades. But, again, college football isn't about merit.

College football, to put it simply, only represents one thing - Money. The only bowl game that matters at the end of the season is the National Championship, and it's debatable that the National Championship matters. USC was awarded a national championship when it never participated in the Championship game, and there is no credible system to determine who should even participate in the game.

No, the bowls are built solely for the monetary gain of those in power. Bowl games are merely exhibitions designed to line the pockets of BCS conferences, bowl advertisers, and television stations. Forget the small schools.

If you work with the premise that college football is soley about money, you can see why Notre Dame gets into the most lucrative bowls, why it stays on the tips of every commentator's tongue, and why Notre Dame gets special clauses and consideration in all NCAA contracts.

As evidenced by the data, and by their bowl invitations, Notre Dame has the most lucrative fan base in the country. Love or hate Notre Dame, people tune in to watch the Irish across the country. In a system that rewards money, not merit, Notre Dame is simply rewarded for its ability to make money.

Yeah, but they should still join a conference, right? Conferences are money driven, as well. Where Notre Dame alone bears the risk of its successes and failures on the field, teams in conferences don't. Conferences were created for the risk averse teams who wanted to share in the profits of its members during good years and bad.

When Florida has a great year and Vandy has a bad year, Vandy still gets money because Florida has to share its wealth with the other members of the conference. Notre Dame doesn't have that luxury. It has forged its own path, not relying on support from anyone but itself. Can you really begrudge a school that embraces that kind of capitalism? Our country was founded on these risks! Notre Dame's fortunes are risk and reward without relying on anyone else for help.

With all of this talk about money, Notre Dame has managed to maintain academic standards and discipline for its players, rivaled only by the Ivy Leagues, Duke, and Stanford. If you hate Notre Dame because of its players' success in the classroom, you need to take a good look in the mirror.

No, your hatred should lie with the NCAA. You've allowed it to pull the wool over your eyes, making you think that college football is credible, that teams have earned their bowl berths. The NCAA doesn't have a credible system to determine who is truly good and who is truly bad, though. It doesn't have a system that is fair for all participants. Notre Dame has found a niche in the hole of NCAA unfairness.

A fair system would be a 16 team playoff that granted an automatic berth for all 11 conferences, plus five at-large bids. This would give every team equal access with no room to complain. All teams would have an equal chance to recruit, receive money, and gain exposure, spreading both wealth and opportunities throughout Division 1 football. The playoffs would occur for four weeks during December and January when academics aren't an issue, and the bowl exhibitions could still exist for all teams not in the playoffs. As it stands, the rich keep getting richer in a system that only cares about money.

Don't begrudge Notre Dame its financial victories in a system that only cares about money. Begrudge the NCAA for allowing a system to exist that doesn't encourage fairness or reward merit. Meanwhile, I, like the rest of our fans, will continue to laugh all the way to the bank as Notre Dame continues to build new academic facilities with its bowl money - win or lose. Why? Because the bowls don't matter - only money matters.

Manti Te'o Welcome Song for Notre Dame Fans

Derek Horner — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:25:54 -0500

Since the Lei idea was thrown out by the administration of Notre Dame, a quick jingle might help the student section get fired up and show the love to Manti Te'o, the stellar Hawaiian linebacker visiting the Irish this weekend.

The jingle goes as follows:

Tayyyy O! Tayyyy O!
Day light come when a Manti sign on!

Hey Mista Manti Man,
Play for Charlie's Irish!
Daylight come when a Manti sign on!

**Repeat**

The jingle is simple, sweet, and to the point, so the entire student body can learn it and show Manti why he should play for the Irish. Go Irish! Pass it along!

Dolphins Owner: Sell Team In Case Obama Elected

Derek Horner — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:35:31 -0400

Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga is looking to sell the Dolphins organization before a possible Obama presidency. Huizenga is the mastermind behind blockbuster and a multimillionaire who is well respected in the Miami community and gives donation after donation to charity.

Why does Huizenga want to sell the Dolphins? Let's take a look.

Obama's plan is not only to increase taxes on those who make $200,000 or more, which was previously stated as $250,000 and has recently been stated as $150,000, but it is also to double the capital gains tax, dividend taxes, and payroll taxes.

From a purely financial standpoint, it makes sense for Huizenga to dump the Dolphins.

On the surface, it appears that another millionaire is trying to avoid millions more in taxes, but the selling of the Dolphins goes deeper. Obama's tax plan will hurt the economy and the average person who pays to see professional sports teams.

While I personally disagree with the high prices of entertainment or the high salaries paid to athletes and actors who don't contribute to society, the taxes laid by an Obama administration prevent many people from attending those entertainment events.

The Dolphins organization won't see the same profits it's seen of late. Huizenga knows this as much as he knows that selling the Dolphins during an Obama administration will hurt him substantially, too.

When retirements are affected, when people who would come to the games are affected, when the economy continues to fold, capitalism fails to prosper and entertainment is the first to feel the crunch.

Economists will tell you that raising taxes is the worst thing to do when the economy is as fragile as it currently is.

Wayne Huizenga once was a small business owner, someone who read the economy, found a need, and created a business that answered that need. While South Florida is a traditionally Democrat, Huizenga is a Republican who is respected in the community and never voiced his opinions.

Now, however, Huizenga is speaking up. He sees the writing on the wall. There's trouble on the horizon if Obama is elected. He's doing the wise thing, the practical thing. The Miami owner is selling the Dolphins.

One More Loss and Phil Fulmer Is Finished

Derek Horner — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:27:47 -0400

There is a strong consensus that University of Tennessee's head football coach Phil Fulmer will be finished after his next loss.

It was rumored that Fulmer would be out after the Alabama game. That rumor grew legs before the Mississippi State game, however the Vols ultimately crushed the Bulldogs after a second half surge sparked by two interceptions returned for touchdowns.

The remaining Tennessee schedule includes South Carolina on Nov. 1, followed by Wyoming, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. It is unlikely the Vols will escape unscathed, therefore, it is likely Fulmer will be finished in the coming weeks. This weekend alone poses a threat against Steve Spurrier.

At first blush one can see that Fulmer has a national title. In recruiting, the Vols have been fairly successful with three top five classes since 2002 and five top 20 classes during the same period. Now the Vols are on track to have another top 10 class this year.

Fulmer is also renowned for having greats such as Peyton Manning, Jamal Lewis, and Cedric Wilson.

On the field Fulmer's teams regularly have nine and 10 wins including bowl games, which seems exceptional, though a look at Vol losses reveals much more. Since 2002, the Vols have had three or more losses each season. Three losses will certainly exclude any team from the National Title, if not a BCS Berth in any BCS bowl.

The Vols are regular runner-up contenders or worse in the SEC under Fulmer. Fulmer had many great players with whom he couldn't attain that elusive undefeated season or national championship.

Will Tennessee fans settle for mediocrity? Those who hate Tennessee or play against them hope their fans will resign themselves to the obligatory three losses per year, but in the midst of a 3-5 record, it appears Vols fans have had enough and the stands are empty.

With one more loss, Vols' fans will get their wish, but who will lead the Vols' in the future? Will it be Cutcliffe, who was arguably the mastermind behind any Fulmer success? Will it be Gruden, who will doubtfully leave his spot at Tampa Bay and who grew up in the shadow of the Golden Dome at Notre Dame? Will it be another lesser known name, or will the Vols make a controversial move for Steve Spurrier?

Many questions surround the future of Tennessee, but one thing is certain: Phil Fulmer won't be coaching next year unless he wins every game left on the schedule.

Ty Willingham Resigns

Derek Horner — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:29:25 -0400

Plagued by mediocrity and the inability to recruit players at Notre Dame and Washington, Ty Willingham has finally announced his resignation after Washington's annihilation by the Irish. Willingham states that he is resigning, but will coach the remainder of the season.

In their last game, the Huskies managed just 55 yards of total offense before the Irish substituted their entire Defense against Washington. Before the final drive, the Huskies managed less than nine first downs and failed to cross midfield.

The question, now, is whether the media will berate the Husky athletic program as a racist organization as it berated the Irish when they fired Willingham and subsequently hired Charlie Weis. Weis has 11 wins in 14 attempts against the PAC-10 as Irish head coach, while Willingham on has 9 wins in 30 attempts.

Notre Dame's Kicking Woes Finally Come Back to Haunt Them

Derek Horner — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:57:51 -0400

Yes, Jimmy Clausen threw two blatant interceptions and had a fumble that put UNC in great position to score, but Clausen's mistakes could have been easily covered if the Irish had a decent kicking game.

Instead, the Irish were forced to go for fourth-and-long well inside field goal range, costing the Irish three valuable points.

There were multiple areas of the Irish game against UNC that could have been improved. Haywood could let the running game go and stick with our bread and butter, passing.

Jimmy could actually look off his receivers, but instead, Jimmy prefers to stare them down and throw interceptions and multiple potential interceptions. The Irish could have chosen to try to get a first down on second-and-seven instead of trying to throw a fade to Golden Tate toward the end zone over 30 yards away.

Yes, there are things the Irish team could have done, but ultimately, the kicking game is killing us.

It is unacceptable when a kicker is making 25 percent of his field goals. Kickers have one sole purpose in practice: KICK!

Maybe the coaches need to put the kickers through Oklahoma or other tackling drills to toughen them up. Right now, they are weak-minded, sensitive players who are easily overcome by the eyes of a crowd.

They really need to keep life in perspective. They have a single job.

Could you imagine one of our kickers trying to run across the middle of the field watching the ball, trying to make a catch, and knowing someone is about to kill him? It wouldn't happen!

Coach Weis needs to do something drastically different with the kickers, like he did with the team's practices last year when the team couldn't block.

Because we can't kick field goals, we are forced to go for it on fourth down, no matter how far away a first down might be. If, instead, we had a kicking game and not a head case who can't make a field goal, even if the posts were twice as wide, the Irish would have been down by two points against UNC.

Two points!!! The Irish would have been in great shape to kick a field goal and escape from Chapel Hill with a win.

No, we have to settle for a loss, because one position on the team has an inherent inability to exert the slightest competence. Our kickers can't kick, and it finally cost us!

A Notre Dame View to Finding Free Information About Your Favorite Teams

Derek Horner — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:04:41 -0400

The economy is down and you want information about your favorite team. Don't waste your money at a pay site. Use a couple of simple research tricks and find the information for free. It's out there! I'll show you how, using Notre Dame as my example.

There's a problem with pretentiousness among some Notre Dame message boards. They're negative, aloof, and holier than thou. Where should you go if you want to find out about Irish football or Irish recruiting without having to pay a monthly price and be berated for your views?

We'll show you.

First, we'll tell you where you shouldn't go. You shouldn't go to a site that requires a payment, because there are plenty of free boards out there that make their money the right way—through advertisements.

You don't need to charge a monthly fee if you can show that your site brings in more traffic than the next guy's site. You simply need to have a good business plan and have marketable value for your patrons. There are sites that don't trust that model, however.

Irisheyes with Mike Frank, a Scout.com affiliate, and Irish Illustrated, a rivals affiliate, are two sites that violate the cardinal rules of a well-run website. They rely on their subscribers AND advertisers to generate revenue when they should rely solely on advertisers. If they have valuable information, they wouldn't need to charge their readers.

They do, however, and lose traffic in the process. You can find everything rivals and scout offer with a few simple mouse clicks. How?

First, every press conference with Charlie Weis or Mike Brey is published on the Internet at Notre Dame's Web site, with questions and answers from every reporter at the press conference. You can watch the press conference or you can read the transcript. These press conferences are the source of almost any article you'll read about the Irish.

Secondly, you can watch the game and make your own conclusions about the Irish. How did the line play? Did the defense look good? What about the playcalling? There are multiple ways to analyze the game.

You can rely on your first impression by watching the game, you can re-watch the game at NBC.com, you can read an article by the Associated Press for free, or you can do all three to formulate an opinion about the most recent Notre Dame game. Your impression will be based on the same set of facts as any scout reporter or rivals reporter. Why pay?

Do you need more insight? Visit a message board. Free message boards are everywhere, so there is no need to pay for information you can glean from fellow Irish fans and alums elsewhere. You do have to be careful which boards you visit, because you will find a different taste for the Irish at each; but you can find everything talked about on pay sites at free boards, from how the game went to recruiting. In this day and age, information travels fast.

Now, you must know a few things about the free boards. I will start with the most infamous, yet most negative board I've experienced: NDNation.

NDNation is a great site if you want to read numerous articles about the Irish from across the country, but beware of the discussion boards entitled "Rock's House" and "Cartier Field." NDNation's boards are filled with pretentious posters who are disgruntled that they are not coaching the Irish, but doing something else with their lives.

If you have an opinion not in line with theirs, watch out! They'll make you think they're experts because they have more conviction than the average preacher, but eventually, the negativity will overwhelm you. If you browse for a week or two, you'll understand. Most notoriously, you'll get to know ACross, a babbling fool whose anger spews all over "Rock's House."

The embodiment of NDNation's pretension is "Cartier Field," a discussion board they built so a poster could earn his way into the "real" discussion.

And, if you're looking for recruiting info, good luck. They're in bed with Mike Frank at Irisheyes, so they have an agreement to monitor the board for any recruiting information that could cut into Frank's business. Apparently, he thinks you can have an informational monopoly on a 16 or 17-year-old's life. I humbly disagree.

Brief mention should also go to the first board I frequented in college: UHND. While you can find bits and pieces here and there, I have found that its substance is the most lacking of all. Check out the following boards if you want to find valuable information and respectful posters more in line with Notre Dame's fanbase.

Domerdomain is my absolute favorite Notre Dame board on the Internet. Click "Forum" to enter the discussion boards, where you will find everything you need to know about the Irish football team in "General Discussion" and "Recruiting."

Both have powerful, respectful, and knowledgeable posters who can really offer most of the insight you would ever need about Irish. Additionally, their moderators, like the legendary Sir John, do a great job of cleaning up filth and maintaining peace among posters without limiting dissenting opinions.

Similarly, you can visit irishenvy. As a visitor to all of these sites, I give irishenvy the same rave reviews that I give domerdomain. While I prefer domerdomain, I certainly enjoy irishenvy for the same substance and sense of respect it offers is posters and all Notre Dame fans. Nobody is pretentious and everybody listens.

Of course, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the fantastic opportunity to read articles and comment on them here at Bleacher Report. Bleacher Report isn't just another news site, but a place where fans can articulate the arguments and insights found within the discussion forums.

Here, you'll find concise articles that are user driven, both from a writer's perspective and a poster's perspective. Make sure you get involved and start your own lively discussion!

There is no need to pay for practice reports or recruiting news, no matter what school you support. You merely need to do a little research. For Notre Dame fans, you can find all the information you need by reading article headlines at rivals or scout, reading articles at NDNation or Bleacher Report, getting details on discussion boards, and watching the game for yourself.

It's a tough economy, free information is out there! Don't waste your money! Go Irish!

Is "Hayseed" a Racist Term of Endearment for Notre Dame's Harrison Smith?

Derek Horner — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:17:20 -0400

Affectionately known by Irish players as "Hayseed," Harrison Smith brings a toughness and grit to the Notre Dame defense that reminds everyone of former Irish great, Tom Zbikowski.

Smith is slowly becoming a fixture not only at his unique safety/linebacker hybrid position, but also in the minds of Notre Dame fans across the country who have adopted the same affectionate attitude the team has already embraced.

"Hayseed" embodies that affection as a single, unique identity defining the Knoxville, Tennessee native.

Smith grew up in the shadow of the University of Tennessee's Neyland Stadium but shunned Phil Fulmer and the Vols to attend a school three hours from the Canadian border. By attending that school, Smith made a choice to attend a school that is culturally different from his roots in East Tennessee.

While Notre Dame is a school that embraces the cultures of the entire nation, the majority of its students come from cities north of the Mason-Dixon line. Everything from Smith's accent to his attitudes is unique in South Bend and at the university he represents on the football field.

Is calling Smith "Hayseed" racist? It's obviously based on the physical traits and character traits inherent of a Knoxville native, but what are those traits?

Hayseed implies that a person is simple and uneducated. Wordnet defines a hayseed as a yokel, someone who "is not very intelligent or interested in culture." Why is it fair to classify a white kid from the South as a hayseed, but not a kid from another class as any other demeaning name?

Personally, I don't take offense to calling someone a name in fun, but I do take offense to the hypocrisy of a culture that says it's unacceptable to call a minority an offensive name but says it's acceptable to call a member of the majority an offensive name.

I really hate to mention this topic, but as a member of the majority, we shouldn't be subject to the hypocrisy of our culture simply because we are slow to offend. Something has to be said.

Recent examples show that society says it's acceptable for a member from the Jewish minority to say "F... Jesus," but it's unacceptable for a member of the majority to call Louisiana folks "coon asses." It's acceptable for a minority to call one of its members who sides with the majority an "Uncle Tom," but it's unacceptable to call a minority "that one."

I don't mind calling Harrison Smith "Hayseed" because it’s a term of endearment, but there needs to be some uniformity and less hypocrisy. Smith comes from the South, a minority region that has been the brunt of many of the nation's jokes.

For a region historically oppressed and punished for its past wrongs, calling one of its members simple-minded and feeble upholds the cultural pillars that create glass ceilings and maintain other prejudices that reinforce ideas of inferiority and the inability to achieve more.

Smith, as a Southerner, is no less a minority than one who is Jewish, Black, Mexican, Northern, Catholic, etc.

The race issue needs to be uniformly dropped or uniformly applied. To steal from Peter Griffin, "You know what really grinds my gears?" Racial hypocrites!

I support Hayseed and am excited to see him unleash his full potential on the field, but I also understand what it's like to be a Southerner transplanted in the North. Best of luck to him and best of luck to the team. Go Irish!

Brady Quinn Makes His Pick for President

Derek Horner — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:03:54 -0400

Strongville, Ohio—Notre Dame’s former Golden Boy, and now a backup quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, made his pick for President known at a rally in Strongville, Ohio, on Thursday. Along with fellow first round draft pick Joe Thomas, Brady Quinn introduced John McCain and Sarah Palin to a raucous crowd of 6,000, who had packed themselves into an auditorium to see the Republican candidates along with their surprise guests.

Known for his All-American personality, GQ looks, and exceptional football skills, Quinn sought to add his reputation and natural marketing ability to the campaign trail for the Republican ticket in a state that George Bush won in 2004. Ohio, however, remains a battleground state in this election, so Quinn understands that every little bit can help. What is that little bit? It's what makes Brady Quinn a natural coverboy.

A former first round pick, Quinn continues to ride the bench behind Derek Anderson, the Brown’s starting quarterback; but that hasn’t stopped Quinn from amassing nearly as many endorsements as Peyton Manning. Riding his ability to attract people, Quinn has signed endorsements with X-Box, Hummer, Subway, and EAS, while the NFL continues to exploit Quinn’s boyish looks. Some circles call Quinn the “Greatest Back-Up in History.”

Though the crowd on Thursday was excited, interrupting speeches with deafening cheers, and booing Barack Obama with the same level of guile, John McCain and Sarah Palin continue their battle to overcome the identity of the Bush Administration and the natural consequences of a failing economy. They understand the hurdle they must overcome to win the election in November.

Understanding that challenge, the Republican duo turned to Quinn, who added an amicable and familiar face to a struggling campaign in the hopes of attracting enough voters to win Ohio's 20 electoral votes. When the country forgets that you are a Vietnam Veteran who endured the worst conditions imaginable as a POW, and that you have a stellar record of showing up, voting, and uniting both sides of the aisle, you can always count on a familiar face to help you out.

For the McCain-Palin ticket, that familiar face is one any mother would love her daughter to bring home: Brady Quinn.

College Football's Disneyland: Notre Dame

Derek Horner — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:07:26 -0400

Have you ever been to Disneyland, seen a Disney movie, or encountered Disney marketing? Sure you have. You can’t miss it!

Well, grab your Mickey Ears and Notre Dame’s “The Shirt,” because we’re going to give you a brief glimpse of the Disney of College Football: Notre Dame.

The first thing anyone notices about Notre Dame is the Golden Dome. Like Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle, all roads point to the Golden Dome. As the face of Notre Dame, it sits in the middle of campus for all to see, especially when anyone makes the beautiful drive up Notre Dame Avenue to Main Circle.

After taking the obligatory photo in front of the Golden Dome, the savvy visitor should venture inside both Main Building, the official name of the Golden Dome, and the Basilica where one can take in the ornate structures and artwork that represent traditions of Catholicism and the University.

Like Disneyland, Notre Dame is divided into unique parts. Each quad has its own traditions, and each quad has its own unique structures.

For example, South Quad is home to South Dining Hall a cafeteria known for its medieval design where sitting at one of the elevated tables makes you feel like you’re eating at the last supper. South Quad is also home to Dillon Hall, “The Rock,” and O’ Shaughnessy Hall.

On North Quad, you can find the LaFortune student center, Stone Henge, and the remnants of the old Field House, all sites with individual stories and individual distinction. Notre Dame even has its own Epcot Center called Stepan Center which has the same eerie golf ball design as Epcot.

I don’t want to take all of the adventure out of your trip, but be sure to research and visit God Quad, Mod Quad, and West Quad. You’ll find tradition, history, and opportunities for photos on each.

Notre Dame is also famous for multiple religious monuments that have been affectionately renamed with Notre Dame’s football legacy in mind. Everyone is familiar with “Touchdown Jesus,” the mural on the side of the library that overlooks Notre Dame Stadium, but have you heard of “First Down Moses” or the “Holy Hand-Off”? Be sure you check them out. I think you’ll be surprised at the duality of each structure when you see them.

Similar to Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy, Notre Dame has an unrivaled legacy of characters that have solidified themselves in the minds of America. The legends of Notre Dame Football began with Knute Rockne and the Four Horseman and continued to include the Gipper, Parseghian, Holtz, and Rudy to name a few. Which one is your favorite?

Notre Dame doesn’t reach its full potential as a tourist attraction until home game weekends. Unlike Disneyland, you definitely want to visit Notre Dame when the crowds are at their peak.

On Friday nights before the game, you can find the team, fans, and surprise guest speakers in the JACC for the pep rally. You can also see the trainers repainting the helmets with Notre Dame’s signature gold paint as you walk past the north side of Notre Dame Stadium.

If you’re awakened on Friday night before the game thinking you hear the echoes of Notre Dame, don’t fear, it’s only the drumline playing Irish tunes at midnight in front of Main Building. Have a listen or go back to sleep, it’s almost game time!

Saturdays begin with the break of dawn, dew on the ground, and the smell of bratwursts in the air. When you get to campus, you’ll find fathers and sons throwing footballs on the quad. You’ll find tailgaters galore, and you’ll find that tradition begins well before the game begins.

Go to the Bond Hall, the architecture building, where you’ll find the band playing pre-game tunes. The anticipation builds and you get the chills. It isn’t even game time, yet! Line the walk from the Basilica to the Stadium to see the team make their way to the locker room. Then, go tailgate with the nicest fans you’ll meet at any college or professional sporting event in the country.

It doesn’t need to be said, but the game is special, as well. I won’t ruin the surprises, but you won’t be let down. After all, what would Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, or the Haunted Mansion be if you knew all of the surprises before the ride?

Whether you love the Irish or hate the Irish, magic is around the every corner at Notre Dame. From the unique architectural motif to the never-ending reminders of Notre Dame’s tradition, no place can overpower you with a sense of awe like a trip to South Bend.

And… If you look really closely, you just might see Tinker Bell fly over the Golden Dome. Well, at least, you’re guaranteed to see a little man in a green suit. No, I’m not talking about Regis. Like Disney, though, you won’t be disappointed. Go Irish!

If JC Told Notre Dame to Join a Conference...

Derek Horner — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:28:03 -0400

Yes, Irish fans, I know it's taboo to talk about Notre Dame and that near-socialist idea of "the conference"... BUT, let's pretend Jesus Christ returned and declared, "Notre Dame shalt join a conference of which it can choose, but thou shalt choose a conference, or thou shalt linger (with its fans and alumni) amongst the coals of the fallen angel for eternity!"

My first remark would be, "Huh... That sucks." Then, I would start sifting through the information to figure out which conference best suits our football team.

Let's begin with the X's and O's of a conference. First, you have to understand how a conference works. Conferences are conglomerations of teams that divide risk amongst themselves while trying to uniformly manage discipline, values, and other criteria amongst member schools.

When five teams go to a bowl and the rest of the conference sits at home over the holidays, everyone still gets a payout. While the five teams who go to a bowl get more money from their appearance in the bowl, they don't get all of the money.

The bowl teams get a portion of their earnings, then the rest of the money is placed in a pot that is divided amongst all member schools. And so, the semi-socialist nature of a conference is defined. Even losers get their share.

Second, you have to know that there are BCS conferences and non-BCS conferences. The rich guys and the little guys.

Well, I figure unless we want to take a vow of poverty, we have to join a BCS conference. We're already a BCS member without being a member of a conference, so it wouldn't be that much of a stretch.

Now, let's look at the BCS conferences to see where we fit best.

Big East

The most natural place for the Irish to look is at the Big East where it already has membership in all other sports. From a football perspective, is this really the best choice?

Big East teams include Pitt, West Virginia, Rutgers, UConn, Cincinnati, South Florida, and a host of others. At the risk of sounding arrogant, is this really a conference that has power houses in line with the traditions and prestige of Notre Dame?

Just a couple of years ago, the Big East's BCS bid was in serious question, and again, the Mountain West Conference is making a case to take the Big East's bid.

While the prestige of the conference is the weakest of any BCS conference, there is a case to be made that Notre Dame could maintain a place at the top much more easily.

ACC

Similar to the Big East, the ACC isn't the strongest conference in the nation, but it isn't the weakest. It has a smattering of traditional powers, a few natural rivals that would draw television audiences, and an academic credo that is more in line with that of the Irish.

When you think tradition and power, you think Miami and FSU. When you think of natural rivals, you think of those two, but you also throw in Boston College.

As far as schools that do it right in terms of academics, you think of Duke, UNC, and UVA. The competition is challenging but not impossible. The ACC might be a fit.

SEC

When you look at the SEC, it appears Notre Dame might not be a fit at all, but let's take a closer look.

The SEC is strong in the running game, has great defenses, and is really fast. It also has underhanded recruiting techniques, shady academic standards, and even shadier coaches.

Does Notre Dame want to fight its way through the best competition in the country week in and week out? Probably not.

The Irish offense is designed for balance which you find much of in the SEC, but again, the other aspects of the Southeastern Conference give much room for pause.

Notre Dame would have to sell its academics and values short to put its face on the emblem of the SEC. Doubtful the Irish are a fit unless you looked at conferences from a purely competitive perspective.

Big 10 (11)

Geographically, everyone says ND is a fit and the Big 10 would have its pretty 12 number it so desperately wants. Is the Big 10 really a conference Notre Dame wants to be a part of? There are natural rivals in Michigan, MSU, and Purdue...Ohio State if you want to throw them in too.

There is some competition, but it hasn't been great lately. It's much more solid than the Big East or ACC, though. As far as academics, there are schools that are fast and loose with academics and there are schools that are a little more stringent, but nothing you would consider Duke or Vanderbilt.

The teams are not that exciting and the conference is a little blah, it seems. The character of the Big 10 fits perfectly with the character of the Midwest. It's just kind of blah.

Big XII

How would Notre Dame fit with a bunch of traditional powers from the middle of the country? Notre Dame certainly doesn't have the cowboy attitude about it that the Big XII teams have, but there are some traditional powers that would be fun to watch Notre Dame play.

Jerome Bettis' former favorite, Oklahoma ,is always a powerful team, as is Texas. A&M is a team with a military history similar to Notre Dame's and has a higher academic standard. There are newcomers like Kansas, the state that killed Rockne, and Missouri.

The Big XII would lend quite a variety to Notre Dame's schedule while maintaining a balance between upper level teams, average teams, and downright awful teams. Does Notre Dame have a Big XII attitude, though?

Pac-10

Lastly, we consider the Pac-10. How does Notre Dame fit on the West Coast? Well, considering the Irish success in recruiting out west, most of its players could play near their parents.

There are traditional powers like USC and UCLA. There are fun teams like Oregon and Oregon State. There are awful teams like Washington and Washington State. As far as academics UCLA, USC, and Cal are great institutions, but there are also purely party schools.

The conference attitude? Well, having lived out West, the attitude is as follows: surfing is number one, then professional sports, then college sports if the team is good. As soon as the team falls apart, fans jump off the ship faster than mice.

There is no band playing while the ship sinks like there is at Notre Dame. Additionally, the Pac-10 has its moments of weakness. The conference can fall apart in a second, despite what the writers want you to believe.

If I had to choose? Well, it would probably be burning in the pits of hell. If I had to choose a conference, however, I prefer the ACC for the balance and benefits it affords.

There is a wide variety, there are academic schools, and a good amount of traditional rivals.

That's just my opinion. What do you think???

A Biased, Opinionated, & Unofficial Guide To This Week's Top Games

Derek Horner — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 07:05:26 -0400

Honestly, this weekend's games are about as awful as watching Ohio State play in the National Title, but here are my picks:

Rutgers vs. West Virginia

I'm going with the University of New York: New Jersey Campus in this one. Rutgers, though they have fallen backwards a little, appears to have the edge on this one. West Virginia made a less than stellar transition after losing Rich Rodriguez. The sad thing is that it's the same system! I guess it is the edumacation state, though.

Even though Rutgers wins, the writers in New York will still love USC better, not the faux-Ivy League sounding Scarlet Knights.

Indiana v. Minnesota

I'm going to go out on a limb and pick Indiana, they're not awful, but they're not average either. Minnesota, on the other hand, has a coach who is really loud with an inferiority complex. He sounds a lot like Ed Orgeron. We see how that worked at Ole Miss.

I guess if I lost every piece of talent that comes out of Cretin-Derham to the Irish, I would be a little crazy, too.

Michigan State vs. Iowa

Javon Ringer is on my fantasy NFL football team THIS year. He is THAT good. Good luck bringing him down, Iowa. Then, there is the problem of the supporting cast. While you are focusing on Javon, look behind you to the endzone, because it's going to be Touchdown Spartans. You didn't even see the playaction did you? Be honest.

"Doing less with more." I think it's Ferentz's motto. Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa, and Ringer just ran for 230.

Notre Dame vs. Stanford

Well, Jimmy cracked corn and cut his hair. Maybe the hair was holding him back, because he unleashed himself on Purdue. While I like Harbaugh, because he is ten times the Michigan man Mike Hart will ever be, Stanford doesn't have the horses. Did you see that flash? I couldn't tell if it was Golden Tate, Armando Allen, or Michael Floyd running past you. All I know is that six more points went up on the scoreboard.

Auburn vs. Vandy

Well, nobody attends the Vanderbilt games, so there shouldn't be any home field advantage. Auburn's coming off a crushing victory against an awful Tennessee team, and by crushing, I mean not so much...

I don't think Auburn escapes Tennessee without a loss. Despite the talent disparity, Auburn gets outschemed, because they are still trying to figure out whether they are war eagles or tigers. Which one is scarier? I don't know, but you better stop that Vandy attack.

Illinois vs. Michigan

Bring the noise! Illinois! Dude, the "s" is silent. On the legs of a kid who runs like a Clausen—High knees and unathletic—Michigan loses to the Juice. Didn't the gummy bears have some juice they would drink so they were "bouncing here and there and everywhere"?

Maybe Juice Williams has found it, because he's a pretty shifty fella. Anyway, Michigan continues a woeful season getting trounced by 35. I wish I could be a Michigan man this year... Wait... I was Irish last year. 3 and 9 represent!

Ohio St v. Wisconsin

Dude, Ohio State, I didn't know you still had a team. Shouldn't you have disbanded after the last two national title games? Oh, I get it, you're trying to be the Buffalo Bills of College Football. Hey, whatever works for you.

As far as Wisconsin is concerned, how in the world did you lose to Michigan? Put... the cheese... DOWN! My prediction? The earth opens up and swallows both teams and will spit them out when next season rolls around.

Alabama v. Kentucky

Roll Tide. I won $20 bucks taking Bama straight up last week. They are THAT good. Saban's a great coach. If you doubt him, you are making a large mistake, my friend. I don't care how good Kentucky thinks its offense might be, Alabama crushes them. Saban doesn't have let down games, either, so don't use that excuse. There is nothing else to do in Tuscaloosa except to practice and play football.

Oregon v. USC

This is my game of the week. Goonies never say die! Trojans say Fight On! What's that about. I hope they remember that Troy fell to the Greeks and... The Beavers. Don't look for a typical USC blowout.

USC has a difficult time defeating the spread, and the Goonies, I mean Ducks bring plenty of the spread to town. Oregon wins this one in a close one. Quack, Quack, Quack... To steal a quote from Mighty Ducks, "It's not worth winning if you can't win big!" C'mon ducks!

Well, Happy Tailgating, everyone!!! Hopefully, you didn't get too offended at the picks!

Quick Shots: Memphis Vs. UAB

Derek Horner — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:00:34 -0400

Atlanta, Ga.—The Memphis Tigers roll into Birmingham on Thursday riding the wave of a two-game winning streak. The real question, however, is how the Tigers will do against the Blazers.

As any fan of the rivalry knows, there is absolutely no love lost between these teams. They hate each other so much that the passion carries over into basketball season, where things truly get ugly.

Make no mistake, however, that no matter how outmatched UAB may be against the Tigers, the Blazers find a way to win (with the exception of last year). UAB is the Oregon State to the Tigers' USC.

Let's begin with a quick look at both teams.

UAB has struggled mightily to find the win column this year, registering a single W against Alabama State, but the Blazers have shown they are not inept at scoring, averaging 23 points against C-USA opponents.

Joe Webb leads the Blazer offense throwing six touchdowns matched by six interceptions with nine sacks. While the rushing is spread amongst numerous players, Webb is also UAB's leading rusher. Containing him and locking up receiver Frantrell Forrest will be key to a Tiger victory.

Defensively, the numbers weigh heavily against the Blazer 11, so it might be a tough day for the Blazers if the Tigers score often and early.

A quick look at the Tigers shows a team not much better than the Blazers. Junior college transfers, regular transfers, and attrition of traditional high school to college athletes has contributed to a disjointed Tiger team that is still trying to find its way.

The first loss to Ole Miss doesn't look as bad with each passing weekend, but the Tigers continued to skid against a high-powered Rice team and a weak Marshall program.

Fortunately, however, the Tigers were able to take baby steps to regain their footing, translating an effort to regroup in victories over I-AA Nicholls State and another bitter out of conference rival, Arkansas State.

If the Tigers can find consistency in their offensive production behind Arkelon Hall and get the ball moving on the ground on the backs of workhorses Curtis Steele and Charlie Jones, the game on Thursday won't be close.

Additionally, the Tiger passing game is designed in a mold only Coach Calipari can understand with tall, lanky receivers complementing the speedsters who stretch the field.

The Tiger gameplan against UAB is going to rely on heavy inside zone running plays until UAB goes into a single safety set over the Tiger receivers. Then, look out! It's gonna be jump ball city with Memphis' PTPers, baby!!! (Dick Vitale voice—after all, what is a discussion about Memphis athletics without some mention of basketball?)

Of course, Memphis will dump off a lot of screens, too.

The Tiger defense wants to force Webb to throw the ball with heat coming from all directions, while maintaining solid defense when UAB shifts into two tight end sets.

Memphis also has to be aware of UAB's screens but knows that if the defense can keep the Blazers in third and long, the Tigers will be in a great position to keep the Blazer offense out of the end zone and off the field.

Look for another step towards a bowl appearance as the Tigers pounce on UAB Thursday night in a victory more in line with the expectations levied by all the Memphis faithful in the preseason.

Prediction: Memphis 38, UAB 20

Quick Shots: Notre Dame Vs. Stanford

Derek Horner — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:09:50 -0400

Atlanta, Ga.—Is Notre Dame ready for Stanford? This is a quick shot, so don't blink or you'll miss it.

Stanford is coming off a two-game winning streak against San Jose St. (23-10) and Washington (35-28). While momentum is building for the Cardinal, Stanford hasn't been without its woes. In the Cardinal's two losses, it has lost by an average of 21 points. Stanford can put up numbers, but it can also be held to 17 or less.

Charlie Weis cites the dual running threat of Toby Gerhart and Anthony Kimble as a real obstacle for the Irish defense, but the Stanford passing game has been less than stellar. Led by Tavita Pritchard, the Cardinal is only passing for 140 yards per game with Pritchard throwing four touchdowns and four interceptions in five contests.

The Cardinal will rely heavily on the ground game of Gerhart and Kimble, even though Gerhart is questionable for the trip to South Bend.

What can you expect from the Irish? Well, that is the question, isn't it? With a team laden with young superstars, consistency will be a problem all season. Will the Irish ride the wave it caught in the second half of the Purdue game, or will it come out slow as it has done so many times already?

It is doubtful the Irish will have a letdown, but not improbable that it won't find its comfort zone until the second half again.

Despite the worries, I expect the Irish to be in true second-half-of-the-Purdue-game form. The line is gaining more confidence, and it appears the Irish have finally embraced an identity as a pass-first team.

With playmakers like Floyd and Tate posing a deep threat every play and an experienced talent at wide receiver like Grimes maintaining the fundamentals necessary to make plays, Clausen and the Irish should explode on Stanford to the tune of 42 points at minimum.

Did I mention the speed at tight end? Oh yeah, that guy Kyle Rudolph can flat-out fly up the field. Look for more involvement from him this game too.

Yes, Jim Harbaugh is infusing excitement and talent into this Stanford team, but a one-dimensional offense outmatched on both sides of the ball will yield to the Irish despite putting up points.

Notre Dame's defense, while it struggles against the run at times, will load up the box and force Pritchard to get uncomfortable and pass. Every Irish fan knows this plays right into Notre Dame's hands, because the Irish secondary is fast, deep, and more than capable of making the big plays necessary to stop a Stanford aerial assault.

In the end, look for a confident Clausen to march the Irish down the field, supported by a few big runs by Armando Allen. Once Stanford is sufficiently confused, look for instant scoring strikes.

On defense, the Irish will probably give up an early touchdown, but then the defense will stiffen up and cause a few turnovers.

Additionally, the Irish should celebrate the return of the Notre Dame kicking game. If given the chance, Brandon Walker will make all of his field goals. It's a mental thing for those guys, and Walker seems to be back from lala land.

Go Irish! Beat Stanford!

Final Prediction: Notre Dame 45, Stanford 17

A Contextual Approach to Media Irresponsibility Through College Football

Derek Horner — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:30:51 -0400

Atlanta, Ga--The Media in America is out of control. It is irresponsible, unaccountable, and downright cheap. It’s this reason we read articles on the Bleacher Report. It’s this reason that we write articles on the Bleacher Report. We want fresh, honest opinions and insights into the one thing we love: Sports!

I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t use this opportunity to illustrate media irresponsibility in the context of college football. Keep in mind that the exhibits, here, are only a microcosm of the larger problem with today’s media.

To begin, we should highlight in a couple of sentences media theory applicable to our discussion. In the early 20th Century, French existentialists visited the United States only to lament what they saw. All around them stood monuments of commercialism and a flood of commercial images and texts drowning the citizens of the United States.

These existentialists weren’t scared of capitalism, but afraid of this product of capitalism, the manipulations of texts and media to create an idea in the minds of the American people that forced them to move in one direction or another. They were vocalizing a modern view of an observation De Tocqueville once made about the dangers of capitalism in a young, developing America. That sounds a bit abstract, huh?

Let’s use an ancient example. In ancient Greece there was a theory postulated by Plato known as Plato’s Cave. It works like this. Assume that you are in a cave. All around you are black walls and a single portal to the outside world. As you sit in the cave, all you can see are the black walls and whatever flashes across the portal, whether it be a bird, clouds, a flower growing at the entrance.

The only truth you know is what you see cross the entrance of the cave. Movie theatres employ this theory. Have you noticed that a theatre turns black, then the screen lights up to show you the movie on the screen? By darkening the theatre and getting rid of all noise around you except that produced by the movie, you are fully engrossed in the movie. The only thing you know is that there is a movie playing in front of you. THAT is your reality.

The moral, here, is that reality and truth are as much about what is omitted from your sight as what you actually see. It is on this that the media thrives and drives its business. It is this which I hope to reveal to you by looking at media coverage in college football.

Let’s back up a few months. ESPN was roasting Mike Golic at a private function attended by Charlie Weis and others. As the roast proceeded, Dana Jacobson took the podium saying, “F Notre Dame, F the Golden Dome, and F Jesus.” It was one of those moments when you could hear the record scratch and everything come to a screeching halt.

ESPN immediately began confiscating any videos of the incident and shoveling everything under the carpet. To summarize, you have a media outlet hosting a company function where something outrageous and negative happens to the company. ESPN controls the information, though, so they simply tried to hide the information. Now, reverse the situation.

Imagine Charlie Weis said "F Jews" to Dana Jacobson who is Jewish. Do you think ESPN would have abstained from airing something this controversial? Of course not! ESPN not only would mention it in a serious tone on Sports Center, but it would also place an article on its website with a large, mean picture of Charlie and hammer Notre Dame until they fired him.

When ESPN was the guilty party, though, it waited days to see what the response would be, hoping everyone would forget the incident without it being in the headlines and hope no one would find out. When people responded, ESPN suspended Jacobson for a few days, only reporting her apology. She is still on the ESPN, regularly.

Now, let’s look at Exhibit B. I use Notre Dame references, because I have followed the Irish so long that I know what is being published and what is being omitted in media articles. A case in point is the firing of Ty Willingham. How many pundits and journalists immediately yelled, “Racism!”

How many members of the media did little to no homework, but assumed that a black coach who was fired after three years was automatically the victim of racism? To an unsuspecting viewer who didn’t follow football or Notre Dame football, Notre Dame’s racism would be a fact.

The viewer would have no other reason to suspect it wasn’t racism. Why? Because the viewer only sees what the media shows him or her. He or she doesn’t question what the media isn’t publicizing, because a viewer doesn’t know that there is anything else to the story.

Here are the facts in the firing of Ty Willingham. Ron Zook was hired and fired the same time Ty got the axe. At that time, both had been coaching three years. Ty had a record of 21-15, while Zook had a record of 23-14. After Quinn’s class, Ty had two less than stellar encores in recruiting. Zook, however, continued to recruit at a stellar level and a stellar pace.

While I am only giving this issue rather topical treatment, this treatment is more insightful than most of the media stories that attributed Ty’s firing to inherent racism at Notre Dame. Zook had a better winning percentage in the toughest conference in the country and was an outstanding recruiter. Ultimately, Notre Dame and Florida recognized their programs weren’t moving in the proper direction, so they made quick changes rather than delaying the inevitable.

When Ty is fired this year, will media pundits call Washington racist?

You can see how an uninformed reader or an uninformed viewer can be easily swayed if the media fails to present all of the facts. The media, however, hides behind the First Amendment: The right to free speech. I am not advocating we censor the media, but there must be accountability, especially when the media makes money on its poor, deceitful, and outlandish reporting practices.

What happens when someone’s house is burning down? The media runs out with its trucks and takes images of the person crying as his or her dreams literally go up in flames. Do these people get any compensation for having their misery broadcast to the world? No, but the media outlets make loads of money from advertising and viewership.

As you follow your favorite team or write the article that intrigues you, I challenge you to exercise responsibility not only to your subject but to your audience. Give fair, insightful, and well researched treatment to every subject you approach.

If you are skeptical of this article, I ask you to do an experiment for yourself. Find discussion boards for your favorite team and frequent them once a day for five minutes. Then, read articles about that team. After a year or two, scandals will pop up, either in the media or in inner circles. See how the media treats your team. See how they cover your team when they write about it.

I use Notre Dame, because it’s a team the media likes to use due to its large fan base. If a writer publishes something inflammatory, he knows every Notre Dame fan will read it and write him hate mail, but this accomplishes his goal: readership.

As a writer you are entrusted with the power to manipulate the truth both in what facts you decide to use and what facts you decide to omit. As a reader, don’t fall prey to propaganda. Ask questions. Find the truth. Once you have learned these lessons in the context of athletics, take them into every article your read, whether it's an article about science, sports, politics, etc.

I hope we can all find the truth through media responsibility and accountability, but when we can’t, it is our responsibility to advocate for that truth. Good luck! Happy Reading! Go Irish!

Broken and Tacitly Unfair: The BCS and Antitrust

Derek Horner — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:21:41 -0400

Atlanta, Ga.—The BCS is the result of a old, unfair, traditional notion of college athletics to place the money and power of the system in the hands of a few, while offering scraps to the rest of the competition.

Before we begin, we have to start with a premise that has become more apparent with each passing year and each passing controversial national championship. The College Football system is not about merit on the field. It is about money and traditional favorites.

Keep in mind, I am a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, so I understand the benefits of being on the top of the food chain economically. I grew up in Memphis, though, where I followed my parents’ alma mater, the University of Memphis.

I am in a perfect state of yin and yang in terms of the benefits and detriments of the broken system we call College Football and the BCS.

If we look at the system, we see that those with television contracts, major bowl affiliations, and access to the BCS are hoarding all of the money. The average bowl for a non-BCS team generates $1 million, while the average BCS team takes in $5 million.

The BCS bowls pay out $14 million to the participants that are distributed among conference members of each BCS conference, while the Liberty Bowl, arguably the top bowl for a non-BCS team, pays roughly $1.5 million.

Why do some conferences feel entitled to receive the $14 million payouts while the non-BCS participants can only hope for $1.5 million, unless they are lucky enough to stumble into an At-Large spot in the BCS?

Ole Miss, with its BCS Conference affiliation, upgraded its facilities to the tune of $15 million, while the University of Memphis is struggling to raise a meager $1.5 million to upgrade its facilities.

There are numerous arguments that the old guard will make to keep the status quo, from the economic argument to the slippery slope argument that someone will always complain to nobody wants to watch non-BCS teams.

To understand how to the fix the system, we have to take a look at the BCS from a recruiting perspective.

If you’re a kid in high school, you look at a school for its success, its facilities, the education, the campus life, the television exposure, and how you fit into the system.

When you look at a non-BCS school versus a BCS school, you see campus life and academics, but you also notice the disparity between the facilities, coverage, and opportunity to play in a large bowl.

Even if you are enamored with your role in a particular school’s system, you would be better for an unsuccessful BCS team rather than playing for a successful non-BCS team.

Without players, you cannot get better. To get recruits you have to be successful. It’s the ultimate catch-22.

The probability of success is minuscule—otherwise the non-BCS conferences would be placing teams in the Top 25 and BCS bowls at an equal rate to the BCS schools. The problem, however, is that the non-BCS schools do not have the talent, nor do they have the perfected offenses to consistently take down the BCS goliaths.

Once in a while you have the success of Boise State or TCU or Utah or East Carolina. There is simply no access, however. Because there is no access, teams cannot find recruits. Because they can’t find recruits, teams have more difficulty winning. Because they have difficulty winning, they can’t attract large numbers of fans.

Because they can’t attract large numbers of fans, they can’t make their bowls lucrative or are not invited to bowls, because they don’t attract money. Because non-BCS teams can’t generate money in bowls or among their fan bases, they can’t get lucrative television contracts.

Because they can’t get television contracts, non-BCS teams can’t attract fans or garner exposure that attracts recruits. Because they can’t attract recruits, non-BCS teams can’t get better.

And so the vicious cycle continues.

Do you see how the blatant unfairness damages teams? Do you see how it damages schools? The entire reason a school wants to have a Division I football program is to generate revenue for the school. Non-BCS teams can’t do this.

FedEx had to bail out the University of Memphis because it continued to lose money. Why did it lose money? Because the University of Memphis doesn’t have access to the money.

Conversely, the University of Notre Dame has access to bowls and money as an independent because it has a television contract, a national following, and generally good seasons upon which it built its financial success.

It is here where we apply Antitrust law to the BCS. Antitrust applies to corporations and non-profits. No matter how you categorize colleges, they are in the business of college football. They generate revenue and profit on the backs of successful partnerships and successful football programs.

Antitrust law prevents practices that that restrict free trade and anti-competitive practices. Additionally, a cartel is defined under the law as members who agree to work together in the same industry, agreeing to perform anti-competitive practices in unison with the aim of increasing individual members' profits while reducing competition.

Applying the facts to the law, it is easy to see that the BCS partnerships and practices are so facially and blatantly unfair that they do achieve the aim of increasing BCS members' profits while reducing competition.

Non-BCS teams can’t recruit because the rules aren’t the same for them. They aren’t on a level playing field where they can compete with BCS schools.

BCS teams have successfully implemented practices and procedures that are unfair and have driven down competition while propping up BCS programs, allowing them to reap the benefits of their unfairness.

While this is only a topical treatment of Antitrust applied to the BCS, you can see why it is important that the BCS be torn down. It is appeasement at best.

After filing a lawsuit on behalf of all non-BCS schools, the answer is a 16-team playoff with a guaranteed spot given to each conference champion and five at-large bids. From there, you would find your winner in the same format college basketball already employs.

One argument is that this makes the season too long for the student-athletes. My rebuttal is that no student athlete is studying over Christmas break, I-AA does it, the basketball season makes football season look short, and can you imagine how many more people would care about these bowls?

With access to a fair system, the non-BCS versus BCS disparity would level out. Non-BCS teams would be able to attract players to teams where they could get early playing time.

Another argument is that a playoff won’t make money, but my rebuttal is that the games in the playoff will mean more and other bowls can run concurrent to the playoff games. You are able to maintain a hybrid system that still employs the old bowl system while enacting a fair system to find a champion.

A third argument is that if you do a 16-team system, number 17 will always complain. When does it stop? I rebut this by saying there is equal access. If you don’t like the fact that you were left out, then you need to go win your conference next year.

We need to change the system. I am tired of boycotting the BCS bowls unless Notre Dame is playing.

A huge concession for any Notre Dame fan is that I would support forcing Notre Dame to join a conference if we had a fair playoff as described above. We should have a system that rewards your merits on the field, not your merits as a traditional power or your merits for having a lucrative fan base.

We need to mobilize an Antitrust lawsuit that will solve this problem. Until then, I will enjoy Notre Dame’s ability to bring in more money than any BCS conference school in the country, while loathing the inability of programs like the University of Memphis to make a profit, have access to lucrative bowls, or attract recruits.

Irish Faithful: Charlie Weis Is Notre Dame's Future

Derek Horner — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:39:31 -0400

Atlanta, GA--It was a chilly Tennessee day in December 2001 when I awoke to my mom telling me Notre Dame had hired a new football coach.

FINALLY!

After the George O'Leary fiasco, my anticipation was killing me. Nothing could have been worse than having Bob Davie as coach, so it was exciting to see who Notre Dame ordained as the new Commander-in-Chief. I remember sitting up in bed when my mom said, "It's Ty Willingham from Stanford."

My excitement quickly faded. I said, "Seriously?!?! He hasn't done anything worth noting there!" I gathered myself and began researching. Maybe this Ty guy isn't that bad. Notre Dame knows what they're doing. Instead of following my first instinct, I rejected my primal reaction and decided to jump on board. It's Ty!!!

Excitement ensued, especially when my Senior season began 7-0. Recruiting was booming and the Irish were doing better than expected. There was a hesitancy, though. Every win was the result of a fortuitous play, a fortuitous call, or a defensive miracle.

The offensive production was scant and shaky. Trying to maintain loyalty to my school and team, I maintained that Ty had a quarterback who didn't fit his system. He needed a drop-back passer. After all, we went to Florida State where we dominated the game in Doak Campbell Stadium. We were 8-0!

Then, like the housing bubble, like the internet bubble- our bubble burst. Notre Dame dropped its next game to BC. Of all people, our bubble had to burst at BC; but our cautious optimism was reaffirmed. Notre Dame was living on its defense. There was no offense.

Now, fast forward to the present.

To understand the present, you have to remember the past. To understand why Charlie Weis is a great coach and calls to fire him are misplaced and outrageous, you have to understand why Charlie's teams are different from Ty's teams. Let's take a look at Notre Dame during and after Ty.

Ty couldn't win with his guys and Davie's guys. Ty had classes loaded with talent. Davie was a good recruiter who recruited McKnight, Stovall, etc. Then, Ty added a class, Brady Quinn's class. After the 2003 Signing Class, however, Ty self-destructed in recruiting, producing two less-than-stellar classes while Ty cited the same trite arguments that you can't recruit at Notre Dame, the academic standards are too high, you can't win at Notre Dame in today's game.

That left the cupboard bare for Charlie with Ty's lack of diligence in the following two classes.

In Ty's 2004 class, six players stayed with the Irish out of 16 that Ty recruited. Ty followed that class with a 15-man class, of which 13 remained with the Irish. Lee Corso and other talking heads like to credit this last class, Pat Kuntz's class, as Charlie's; but anyone who knows recruiting knows it takes more than a year to recruit high school kids, not two weeks.

Additionally, Ty gets credit for Stovall and McKnight's class, even though, again, it takes more than a year to recruit these kids; so Ty's "first" class is really Bob Davie's last class. Adding the numbers, Ty had Brady's class, then, proceeded to recruit 31 players for 50 available spots, retaining 19 players for those 50 spots. There's a lack of numbers in the senior class and fifth-year class from a pure mentorship perspective. There aren't enough bodies.

A player's junior year is a magic year, when the player tends to mature. Charlie's first class is maturing this year. Wait until next year when Jimmy Clausen's class does the same. The Irish are going to have all of the pieces in place to truly contend for a National Title and continue that moment into the foreseeable future.

The 1988 team will look like a Junior Varsity team once Charlie fills the ranks with his players from top to bottom, from 5th year senior down to true freshman. Right now, however, we have to be patient.

We have two years before James Aldridge and the rest of his class become 5th year seniors, mentoring the new blue chip recruits while the experienced players we know and love take care of business on the field. The path to glory is almost paved!

We have to remember that Charlie took the Irish to two BCS bowls with two and a half full, talented classes—one of which played under three coaches. Some say that the Irish in Charlie's second year declined. The answer is simple why they declined. The Irish were losing pieces and filling in those pieces with anything they could salvage from Willingham’s last two classes. The team was crumbling.

Charlie made us remember the magic for two years, though. He made us remember how the Irish could play and have played.

Now, it's time to give Charlie time. It's time to be patient. Under Ty we could see the team wasn't progressing and recruiting was bringing in little to no recruits. The future was bleak. Even if you only look to Charlie's recruiting, you can see the Irish moving in the right direction. Two teams, Texas and Tennessee, regularly fill the ranks with blue chip recruits. Both have National Titles despite poor coaching.

At worst, we can reevaluate the progress of Charlie Weis's Irish in two years, but right now, it's time to be loyal sons and daughters. This team is going to be inconsistent, because it is still young. What tho' the odds be great or small, Weis will lead us to victory after all. He will bring us out of the Dark Ages of Notre Dame football.

Remember, he is a fan, alum, and coach; so he sees the Irish like no other coach since Rockne. He feels pressure like no other coach in Notre Dame history. On that he feeds. On that he thrives. The Irish will go bowling this year, and they will do it on the backs of highly touted freshmen and sophomores who are vaulting up the depth chart with each passing day.

Show some fortitude! We're almost there! Go Irish!!!