Irish Eyes are Smiling Again: Jimmy Clausen and Co. Headed for Glory.

When Brady Quinn walked out of Notre Dame Stadium for the last time, the nay saying began.  The major media news flourished with the tales of an overrated Notre Dame without its' star quarterback. 

Who knew how right they would be?  

The 2007 season matched all the highs that Coach Charlie Weis had achieved, only in the wrong direction.  When the dust settled, an abysmal sight greeted the fans of the Fighting Irish. 3-9.  The worst season in more years than Notre Dame has record books to count them in.  And Notre Dame lost to Navy.  Breaking the win streak of 43 years and highlighting the ultimate low in Notre Dame history.

Then it began.

The call for Charlie Weis's job.  The outcry, fans outraged at losing to Navy.  At looking so far from the 2005 and 2006 teams that Coach Weis fielded that Notre Dame could have been beaten by a division II school.  It raged on.  The once smiling Irish Eyes were blood-shot from the tears of shame and far to much ale.  A few faithful stood by and said that it would just be a passing phase, that things would be better in the future that Notre Dame would rise again.

May I take this moment to say, "I told you so."

What's that you say?  Yes, it is only the fifth game of the season.  Yes, they still do look young, and are still making mistakes.  But even so, Notre Dame is without a doubt, back and growing in the right direction.  

After the SDSU game, Chicken Little hit the streets again, and a murmur rose among the ranks.  Sure, Notre Dame won, but a score more like 63-3 would have been more to the liking. 

And so it began again. 

With Michigan on the horizon with the same punishing defense that had stripped Notre Dame of everything but their skivvies last season, waiting and slavering for a chance at the Irish. 

Then a miracle happened. 

Michigan forgot how to hold onto the ball.  Then Notre Dame was able to move the ball in the first half well, and even got some run yards.  Amazing.  Of course that was simply because of the turnovers, they say.  But, hey, Notre Dame was 2-0 so who was going to complain?

Then comes Michigan State.  This is the part where we all groan as if our ex has just shown up at the door, wanting to talk, while we have our new interest waiting on the couch. 

Notre Dame's defense kept them in the game until they were too tired to hardly stand up, much less go out and stop a monster in green and white, sometimes called in this dimension, Javon Ringer.  The offense struggled and made costly mistakes costing Notre Dame the win.  That's right we did it again. 

People who had said Notre Dame would end the season with "11 wins this season after watching the Michigan game!", changed their call to, "Fire Weis and go get Skip Holtz, like father like son right?!"

Not so fast skippy. 

The Purdue game.  Everyone looked at that game with dread.  Sure their run defense was almost non-existant; but Painter was a serious veteran completing almost 65% of his passes.  Kory Sheets looked like Javon Ringer's mini-me, but with ankle-breaking jukes and two of the wide recievers looked like it was any day until they had their coming out party.  Pudue was going to score points.  Could Notre Dame?

The offense spoke for itself.  The first half, Notre Dame struggled again and the fans began to get antsy.  Restless Leg Syndrome took a firm hold on the stadium and people began to consider Touch Down Jesus with renewed fervor.  Then Robert Blanton made a pick six on Painter that help Notre Dame tie it up before the half. 

At half time Notre Dame must have taken to licking car batteries and taping electrodes to themselves as electric is the only word to describe the team that came back out of the tunnel.

Armando Allen, the sophomore running back ran for almost 100 yards in the third quarter alone, making the Purdue defense look like a high school squad.  Perfect since Armando said he hadn't had a game like that since his junior year.  

Then Jimmy Clausen began to show his stuff, throwing for 275 yards and three touchdowns.  Notre Dame played like they were back. 

The defense has been solid so far this season.  They are putting a lot of pressure on quarterbacks and are only a few steps away from getting him on the ground.  In 2006 the defense ended up being ranked 65th in the NCAA. 

In 2007 Corwin Brown improved Notre Dame's overall defensive ranking to 39th, and put the secondary in 2nd with only Ohio State allowing fewer pass yards.  This year Notre Dame and Charlie Weis have proven it to the nation.  They are back.  This year they will end up with a wining season. Next year.  Well the sky is the limit for this team as they will continue to get better and play harder. 

The rest of the college football world beware.  The team with the most National Championships, could stack on a few more in the near future.  Here come the Irish.