How Will the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame Do This Year? A Father-Son Debate

Son:  I grew up a Notre Dame fan…not that I had much choice. In Kentucky in the 1970s, it was Notre Dame football on Saturday afternoon television, or nothing. Added to that, my father graduated from Notre Dame (Stan Meihaus Jr., Class of 1961). If the Blue-and-Gold won, us kids got ice cream, fireworks and stayed up late. I was kind of operant-conditioned into becoming a fan. 

Dad: You forgot to mention marching around the house to the Victory March. 

Son:  Oh yeah, and when ND won, Dad would put the Victory March album on the stereo, and lead us all in a marching line through the house singing “Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame.”

But all these years later, even absent the ice cream, I am still a fan of the Golden Dome. They are one of the few universities that still seem to really believe in the scholar-athlete model, the idea that you can have an intelligent, educated student AND a good football player. Most universities quietly sneer at that now. 

Plus, I had been led to believe, my mortal soul could be in danger if I pulled for anyone else. 

Dad: Maybe his body also. 

Son:  All that said, I have always viewed myself as more realistic about the Irish than my father. We had our annual scheduling/record argument this year, and I thought it would make for some entertaining reading.

Scheduling

Son:  Looks to me like Notre Dame has finally and forever given up on the idea of a tough schedule. It used to be the Michigan schools, Purdue, USC, an undersized military academy or two and then a healthy dose of Alabama or Florida or Texas or Penn State. The Irish are still playing the Michigan schools, Purdue and the military academies, but South Florida? Wake Forest? Come on.

Dad: I do not agree with the current schedule model, that is seven home games, four away games and one on a neutral site. To get this schedule you must schedule teams that do not insist on a home and home schedule; in other words, second-tier teams.

As for the crack about the military academies, during World War II ND was going to close because all of its students were being drafted. Some of its football players even ended up playing against ND at Great Lakes Navy (coached by Paul Brown), or Iowa Preflight or Quantico Marines. Navy opened a 13-week officers’ training program that moved hundreds of students onto the ND campus and kept ND from having to close. 

Notre Dame has never forgotten what the Navy did for it, and Notre Dame will schedule Navy as long as Navy wants to play.

Son: OK, here’s the game-by-game schedule, and our predictions:

Game 1: University of South Florida

Son:  You couldn’t invite one of the other Florida schools in for the opener, like Florida or Florida State or Miami? I guess Miami-Dade Community College was already booked. Laugher for The Irish; if not, fire Brian Kelly right after the game. 

Dad: I think Miami has bigger problems than its schedule right now. In fact they may end up with the death penalty, as did SMU in football and the University of Kentucky in basketball in the 1950s. 

By the way, you live in North Carolina, right? Boy, that Butch Davis sure knows how to run a clean program, doesn’t he?

South Florida returns QB B.J. Daniels who was a 58 percent passer last year to an injured group of receivers. They also lost three offensive line starters. A look at the rosters indicates that ND is 10-15 pounds heavier on average at each position and an inch or two taller. If ND’s freshman defensive players are as good as touted, ND will win big.

Game 2: At Michigan

Son:  Let’s be honest, going into The Big House just is not the intimidating experience it used to be, especially after RichRod got through wrecking the place. Normally this would be a tough venue for The Irish, but a brand new Wolverine coaching staff trying to rebuild a program on the down slope means an Irish W. 

Dad: I agree. The new coach is installing a pro-style offense, which should eliminate the reason ND lost last year. QB Denard Robinson ran for over 200 yards. In addition the defense has not improved, at least on paper. The return of Greg Mattison, who was an assistant at both ND and Michigan, to be defensive coordinator, is a step in the right direction. A close win for ND.

Game 3: Michigan State

Son:  Sparty, on the other hand, is on the rise after finishing 11-1 last year under the best coach in the Big Ten, Mike Dantonio. Despite the beating they got from Alabama in the postseason, and the loss of some key defenders, Michigan State looks to contend for the conference title again. They know they need to win on the road at Notre Dame to be taken seriously, and they will. Irish L. 

Dad: Dantonio was the coach at the University of Cincinnati that Brian Kelly replaced and Kelly improved on all of Dantonio’s records. So who’s the best coach in this matchup?

MSU returns a three-year starter at QB in Cousins who completed 67 percent of his passes. MSU also returns the Big 10 Offensive player of the Year in RB Baker who averaged 92 yards per game. The problem is replacing the two starting LBs they lost.

I feel the inside strength of ND’s defense—noseguard Nix (at 330 pounds), Teo and Calobreese at LB and Smith at safety—will be able to contain the run. The ends and outside backers will be fast and strong enough to pressure the QB. ND should win. However, I do not think that ND will beat both Michigan teams, so I will agree to a loss to MSU.

Game 4: At Pittsburgh

Son:  Pitt had a tough coaching search this year after firing Dave Wannstedt. They first went with Mike Haywood, pictured here, only to see him arrested three weeks after they hired him on a domestic dispute. They cut him loose and went with Todd Graham from the University of Tulsa.  

Most polls have Pitt finishing second in the Big East, but most pollsters also admit that the conference looks weak this year. Between the coaching carousel and the loss of several key players, they will not be favored against the Irish. Nonetheless I think they find a way to get it done against ND at home. Irish L. 

Dad: Pitt returns QB Sunseri and RB Ray Graham, who rushed for over 900 yards last year. However, Dion Lewis, the leading rusher, and J. Baldwin, the leading receiver, are gone, as are two defensive lineman to the NFL draft. The offensive line, a problem all last year, will continue as a problem. The defensive back seven are good but when your secondary is making all the tackles you are in trouble. ND by two touchdowns.

Game 5: At Purdue

Son: Purdue was awful last year, 4-8 and decimated by injuries, and they don’t look to improve much this year. The Irish get a nice away game W. 

Dad: It looks like we agree on this contest. Purdue does return 19 starters from a really poor team, but the best, DT Kerrigan, is in the NFL. ND will win by three touchdowns.

Game 6: Air Force

Son:  The Falcons return most of their No. 2 rated pass defense this year, and a fourth-year starting QB in Tim Jefferson. They went 9-4 last year and won their bowl game. They come into South Bend and come close to making the Irish regret their policy of scheduling military academies. Irish in a close one. 

Dad: It is true that Jefferson returns but the primary thing to remember is Air Force is a running team. They will not be able to run any more than Army did in 2010. The front seven of ND are now experienced and bigger and faster than AF. In a close contest, AF poor kicking could be a deciding factor. But this will not be close. ND by three TDs or more.

Game 7: Southern Cal

Son:  Even with Matt Barkley returning at QB and Lane Kiffin at the helm, the Trojans are bowl-ineligible due to the Reggie Bush fiasco. They will mail it in at South Bend.  Irish W. 

Dad: Sometimes you win by losing. When Reggie Bush was being recruited, it came down to USC and ND. Thank God that USC won.

Kiffin has never stayed long enough at one place to know if he can be a good coach. His short stay at Tennessee resulted in questions about NCAA violations.

Matt Barkley is the real deal, a two-year starting QB. USC probably has the best left tackle in the country in Matt Kalil at 6’7" and 295 lbs. They have two excellent RBs but Woods is currently hurt (ankle) and Tyler is suspended for a least one game, maybe more. Overall, USC is not as deep as normal. ND in a close one.

Game 8: Navy

Son:  Is Navy still running the triple option? Yes. Has Notre Dame figured out how to stop it yet? No. It’s tempting to predict another Navy W here, but the Midshipmen just aren’t as talented as they have been in the last few years. Irish W in a close one. 

Dad:  Coach Ken Niumatalolo is still someone to worry about. He always gets his players to play well on Saturday. Although ND is usually bigger (20-30 lbs. on average) and more talented, Navy has won three of the last four years. Unfortunately, for Navy, the QB is gone and probably protecting our country. ND by 14.

Game 9: At Wake Forest

Son:  Seriously?  The only team the 2-10 Deacons beat in the ACC last year was (drumroll please) Duke. Several teams put up more than 50 points on them. This year won’t be any better. The Irish will be playing the third string in the fourth quarter. Irish W.

Dad: This is another game we agree on. I think that this game was scheduled to put ND in the spotlight in the Southeast, a great recruiting area.

Game 10: Maryland in Washington, DC

Son:  You can’t tell me this was a coincidence. Some wise-acre in the ND Athletic Department did a huge statistical study and figured the way to get a few easy wins was to find programs that were undergoing coaching changes. 

Ralph Friedgen got the boot from Maryland last year after going 9-4, winning his bowl game and being named ACC Coach of the Year. He was replaced by Randy Edsall. By my count there are four new coaches on Notre Dame's schedule. Irish go 2-0 against the ACC. 

Dad: I wish that ND’s athletic department was smart enough to schedule games when they saw coaching changes. Historically ND probably has more coaching changes than most, and that’s one reason for our poor record lately. However, most football games are scheduled 5-10 years in advance with one or two scheduled two years in advance. Should be a big ND win. I hope so since I plan on being there.

Week 11: Boston College

Son:  Cupcake eating is over. It doesn’t matter what the predictions for the Eagles are, they always play the Irish with a chip on their shoulder, as an also-ran Catholic football team. They come into Notre Dame Stadium, push them around in their own house, and leave with a W.  Irish L. 

Dad: BC has hated ND since 1941 when ND hired ND alumni Frank Leahy who was then BC’s head coach. In 1940 BC had a great year (12- 0) and upset Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. Leahy went to ND and won national championships in ‘43, ‘46, ‘47 and ‘49. ND was second in '48. Leahy also produced Heisman winners in ‘43, ‘47, ‘49 and ‘53. 

I was at the game in 1993 when ND was behind 38-17 with only 11:13 remaining. ND went ahead with 1:13 remaining but BC got a good return, a stupid ND foul and then kicked a 49-yard field goal to win. OH AGONY. 

This will be a hard-fought game. Both teams have All-American junior inside LBs. Luke Kuechly at BC is 6’3” and 236 lbs. Teo at ND is 6’2" and 255 lbs. But Teo has a better supporting cast. ND has two full front seven rotations and will be fresher at the end. Edge to ND defense.

BC’s Harris leads BC in carries (700-plus), 100-yard rushing games (21) and is second in total yards in the ACC with about 3,600 yards. He is currently hurt, but is expected to miss only the first two games. BC’s QB is experienced and accurate but not outstanding. Edge to BC’s offense, especially since ND has not yet named a starting QB. ND defense will win this one in a squeaker.

Game 12: At Stanford

Son:  The Domers end their season at the home of the best college quarterback in the land and the preseason pick to win the Heisman, Andrew Luck.  If Luck is still healthy, the Irish season ends in heartache on a balmy Southern California night.  Irish L. 

Dad: I agree on Luck, but you forgot RB Taylor who rushed for 1,100 yards, three good tight ends and one of the best interior lineman in the country, DeCastro.

Stanford has some weaknesses. Jim Harbaugh and the offensive and defensive coordinators are gone, and these are the men that turned the program around. They also lost three O-linemen and two starting LBs. The Cardinals will be unable to give Luck the time needed to throw. I would call this a win for the Irish, but as with the Michigan schools I do not think Notre Dame can beat both California schools. So call this one a loss.

Final Records Predictions:

Son: 8-4, mid-level bowl 

Dad: 10-2, BCS bowl