Time for a recurring theme that we will try to post every week before the game.
I can't wait to see....
... whoever becomes the starting quarterback prove how great a coach the Robot Football Genius is
... the first blind side hit on the GT QB from a blitzing linebacker coming out of our new 3-4
... the emergence of Armando Allen and Golden Tate as big play threats
... saying "Who the hell was that?" after one of our underclassmen makes a big play
... That Idiot From ESPN start sweating already about his preseason prediction
... the Irish come out of the tunnel for another season
... Corwin Brown jumping up and down on the sidelines with his players after a big defensive play
... Tommy Zbikowski let everyone know that he is bringing the hammer with him all year
... my friends, the most dedicated alumni group in the nation, back in town again for ND football
Bring it Tech... just fricking bring it....
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Cautious Optimism
Cautious optimism. Sure, you can say that any college football fan feels that way. But has there ever been a better way to decribe Notre Dame fans and the way they feel right now?
Saturday, when the Irish take the field for the first time in 2007, several serious questions will be answered about the Charlie Weis era.
1. How is recruiting going? If we go through the entire game without seeing a significant performance from a freshman or sophomore - how can we really say that recruiting is coming around? But, if these kids step up, the future is bright.
2. How is the evolution of Coach Weis the head coach going? He has followed two mantras thus far with the Irish. 2005 was beat them down, build them back up. 2006 was embrace the high demands that come with success and step up to the challenge. 2007 is demand results, but don't carry such a big stick. So far, Weis has been 'pleased' with his team and 'encouraged' - many of the same trait that we saw in 2005. If we can post a similar performance like the 2005 opener (Pitt is was viewed in '05, in much the same light as GT in in '07) than we can take a big sigh of relief.
3. What is the future of the qb situation? If JC trots out, we might have a three year starter. If DJ trots out, everyone will be saying - when will JC play? If Evan is the guy, everyone will wonder why JC and DJ couldn't step up (I can see the headlines now - 'Injury Holds Back JC' and 'Is DJ A Bad Fit For A Weis Offense?'
But all these questions are the madness of being a Notre Dame fan - at least over the last 10 years. Gone are the days when we could puff out our chests and say that things really are turned around. The Davieham Era taught us that absolutely nothing will be taken for granted - or assumed to be on the right track. In fact, during the Davieham Era, I think we jumped five tracks and eventually ended up on that railroad portion from Back to the Future III - right into Eastwood Gulch.
What Saturday's game means to Notre Dame fans is simple - another sign that Weis has us on the right track. 2005 was an enormous step forward. 2006 was a quasi-disappointment for a team that was not ready for the big time (though let's be honest, MSU and UCLA will resonate FOREVER with this generation of ND fans). 2007 could turn out to be like 2005 again...
In the time that I have monitored Notre Dame football - it is those surprise seasons that mean more than any of the others. 1988, 1993, 2005, they were all huge surprises, somewhat coming out of nowhere. Those are just the best. Don't get me wrong, I love to beat down the opposition when you are on top (which I think is going to happen in the coming years) but those surprise seasons - when you don't expect excellence but are suddenly slapped across the face with it - those can be the sweetest.
Saturday, when the Irish take the field for the first time in 2007, several serious questions will be answered about the Charlie Weis era.
1. How is recruiting going? If we go through the entire game without seeing a significant performance from a freshman or sophomore - how can we really say that recruiting is coming around? But, if these kids step up, the future is bright.
2. How is the evolution of Coach Weis the head coach going? He has followed two mantras thus far with the Irish. 2005 was beat them down, build them back up. 2006 was embrace the high demands that come with success and step up to the challenge. 2007 is demand results, but don't carry such a big stick. So far, Weis has been 'pleased' with his team and 'encouraged' - many of the same trait that we saw in 2005. If we can post a similar performance like the 2005 opener (Pitt is was viewed in '05, in much the same light as GT in in '07) than we can take a big sigh of relief.
3. What is the future of the qb situation? If JC trots out, we might have a three year starter. If DJ trots out, everyone will be saying - when will JC play? If Evan is the guy, everyone will wonder why JC and DJ couldn't step up (I can see the headlines now - 'Injury Holds Back JC' and 'Is DJ A Bad Fit For A Weis Offense?'
But all these questions are the madness of being a Notre Dame fan - at least over the last 10 years. Gone are the days when we could puff out our chests and say that things really are turned around. The Davieham Era taught us that absolutely nothing will be taken for granted - or assumed to be on the right track. In fact, during the Davieham Era, I think we jumped five tracks and eventually ended up on that railroad portion from Back to the Future III - right into Eastwood Gulch.
What Saturday's game means to Notre Dame fans is simple - another sign that Weis has us on the right track. 2005 was an enormous step forward. 2006 was a quasi-disappointment for a team that was not ready for the big time (though let's be honest, MSU and UCLA will resonate FOREVER with this generation of ND fans). 2007 could turn out to be like 2005 again...
In the time that I have monitored Notre Dame football - it is those surprise seasons that mean more than any of the others. 1988, 1993, 2005, they were all huge surprises, somewhat coming out of nowhere. Those are just the best. Don't get me wrong, I love to beat down the opposition when you are on top (which I think is going to happen in the coming years) but those surprise seasons - when you don't expect excellence but are suddenly slapped across the face with it - those can be the sweetest.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Robot Football Genius - Just F---king With Everyone
After watching the first week of football practice on und.com - I have come to one simple conlusion.
Either Jimmy Clausen is the starting quarterback - or he is not going to play at all. Robot Football Genius is just meesing with everyone either way. JC is going to start from day one (and behind closed doors he is whipping the ball all over the place) or he is not going to start and RFG is just playing with people...
I don't see any in-between... either he is starting day one - or not playing at all.
Either Jimmy Clausen is the starting quarterback - or he is not going to play at all. Robot Football Genius is just meesing with everyone either way. JC is going to start from day one (and behind closed doors he is whipping the ball all over the place) or he is not going to start and RFG is just playing with people...
I don't see any in-between... either he is starting day one - or not playing at all.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Notre Dame Fan Commandments
There was, at one time, a 10 commandments put out for ND fans that are on the back of a t-shirt. It was also included in the book The Gipper's Ghost -
1. Thou shalt not tarnish the image of Notre Dame.
2. Thou shalt always remember the importance of alumni contributions - and score touchdowns accordingly.
3. Remember to always keep protected thy quarterback.
4. Honor thy coach.
5. Thou shalt not fumble.
6. Thou shalt not get caught in the act of committing a needless penalty.
7. Thou shalt not sell thy Notre Dame football tickets above their actual face value.
8. Thou shalt not be a hot dog.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy oppnent's cheerleaders.
10. Thou shalt not lose to USC.
All straight and to the point - and all still accurate to this day. I do think, however, that we need some more commandments to live by - so I propose my own. And let's get rid of this 'thou shalt' crap... and give it a twist. Each one of these statements will end with -
... and call yourself a true Notre Dame fan.
1. You cannot travel overseas during football season...
2. You cannot plan or attend a marriage in your family during football season (including bye weeks)...
3. You cannot give/sell your tickets to fans of the opposing team...
4. You cannot waste a game ticket on someone who doesn't care about football and only wants to be 'seen' at the games....
5. You cannot abstain from following the Irish on the road and cheering them on...
6. You cannot stomach, cheer, or accept any other college football team in the nation...
7. You cannot personally attack Notre Dame players...
8. You cannot spend and entire season away from Notre Dame Stadium on game day weekends...
9. You cannot enjoy the play-by-play or commentary of Brent Musberger, Bob Davie, Keith Jackson, Bob Griese or Mark May.
10. You cannot, under any circumstances, embrace anything positive about the University of Michigan or Southern Cal...
Some comments for each -
#1 - Don't plan an overseas trip in the fall, then complain that you can't watch the football game. Your fault for traveling.
#2 - There is ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE to get married in the fall. NONE. It robs your friends of both their money (for plane fare) and off time to get to home games each season. Don't even try to sell me on the bye week scenario either. If you are friends with true ND fans - they make every effort to get to the Bend every home game in the fall. Who the hell are you to ask them to spend their off time - on a bye week - to go to your wedding? Stop thinking about yourself....
#3 - The only caveat here is if you have a very close relative that might be an alumnus of the opposing team. You can go to the game with them at ND Stadium - but they better sit there with reverential respect.
#4 - This is for females who don't know what the hell is going on (not all females, you all know who I am talking about), women who are dressed like they are at church, young kids who don't understand what is going on (basically, anyone under the age of six) and old people that bitch and moan when you get up and cheer. Stay home and watch it on tv if you don't like me cheering.
#5 - Any true fan goes into the lions den and cheer for their team. Plus, it gives you perspective in just how great ND Stadium is - literally, 80% of the other places out there are complete dumps.
#6 - There is only one great college football program in the nation - Notre Dame. End of discussion.
#7 - You can cuss their names when they make a bad play, but you cannot PERSONALLY attack ND football players - they are 18-22 year olds - deal with the mistakes they make and move on. It is not like they are out there not trying...
#8 - True ND fans attend a home game every season - with seven of them each season - no excuses not to get to one.
#9 - Bunch of bums - the lot of them.
#10 - no description needed.
1. Thou shalt not tarnish the image of Notre Dame.
2. Thou shalt always remember the importance of alumni contributions - and score touchdowns accordingly.
3. Remember to always keep protected thy quarterback.
4. Honor thy coach.
5. Thou shalt not fumble.
6. Thou shalt not get caught in the act of committing a needless penalty.
7. Thou shalt not sell thy Notre Dame football tickets above their actual face value.
8. Thou shalt not be a hot dog.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy oppnent's cheerleaders.
10. Thou shalt not lose to USC.
All straight and to the point - and all still accurate to this day. I do think, however, that we need some more commandments to live by - so I propose my own. And let's get rid of this 'thou shalt' crap... and give it a twist. Each one of these statements will end with -
... and call yourself a true Notre Dame fan.
1. You cannot travel overseas during football season...
2. You cannot plan or attend a marriage in your family during football season (including bye weeks)...
3. You cannot give/sell your tickets to fans of the opposing team...
4. You cannot waste a game ticket on someone who doesn't care about football and only wants to be 'seen' at the games....
5. You cannot abstain from following the Irish on the road and cheering them on...
6. You cannot stomach, cheer, or accept any other college football team in the nation...
7. You cannot personally attack Notre Dame players...
8. You cannot spend and entire season away from Notre Dame Stadium on game day weekends...
9. You cannot enjoy the play-by-play or commentary of Brent Musberger, Bob Davie, Keith Jackson, Bob Griese or Mark May.
10. You cannot, under any circumstances, embrace anything positive about the University of Michigan or Southern Cal...
Some comments for each -
#1 - Don't plan an overseas trip in the fall, then complain that you can't watch the football game. Your fault for traveling.
#2 - There is ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE to get married in the fall. NONE. It robs your friends of both their money (for plane fare) and off time to get to home games each season. Don't even try to sell me on the bye week scenario either. If you are friends with true ND fans - they make every effort to get to the Bend every home game in the fall. Who the hell are you to ask them to spend their off time - on a bye week - to go to your wedding? Stop thinking about yourself....
#3 - The only caveat here is if you have a very close relative that might be an alumnus of the opposing team. You can go to the game with them at ND Stadium - but they better sit there with reverential respect.
#4 - This is for females who don't know what the hell is going on (not all females, you all know who I am talking about), women who are dressed like they are at church, young kids who don't understand what is going on (basically, anyone under the age of six) and old people that bitch and moan when you get up and cheer. Stay home and watch it on tv if you don't like me cheering.
#5 - Any true fan goes into the lions den and cheer for their team. Plus, it gives you perspective in just how great ND Stadium is - literally, 80% of the other places out there are complete dumps.
#6 - There is only one great college football program in the nation - Notre Dame. End of discussion.
#7 - You can cuss their names when they make a bad play, but you cannot PERSONALLY attack ND football players - they are 18-22 year olds - deal with the mistakes they make and move on. It is not like they are out there not trying...
#8 - True ND fans attend a home game every season - with seven of them each season - no excuses not to get to one.
#9 - Bunch of bums - the lot of them.
#10 - no description needed.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Camp Begins, Excitement Builds
You cannot help but get excited when fall camp begins. Love everything about it. The unknowns, the press conferences, the players you have never heard of finally showing up.
With that in mind, off the top of my head here are the top 'Holy Cow This Guy Will Be Good This Year But I Have Never Heard Of Him' -
Corey Mays (2005) - Hardly ever played before 2005, went out and finished second on the team in tackles and will forever be remembered, at least by this blog, of the hit on Michael Hart from scUM that knocked his butt out of the game.
Kevin McDougal (1993) - At one point, was going to be a senior who lost his job to a freshman - Ronnie Potts. Potts got hurt late in fall practice, McDougal looked at Lou and said 'I can do this' and went out and led his team to one dropped INT and one long FG from a national championship. Arguably, the top one-year starting QB in ND history - right there with John Huarte, though, after a thought, have to give that title to Huarte. Went from 50 attempts in his first two seasons (and no monograms) to winning the Heisman Trophy as a senior first-year starting QB. Hard to beat that.
Matt Shelton (2003) - Came out of no where making spectacular plays in fall practice. Went on to break the ND record for yards per reception in a season.
Shane Walton (2000) - Dude was a soccer player who suddenly showed up in the lineup - and never left. Worked his way into a unanimous All-America selection later in his career.
There are many more, but these are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Feel free to leave a comment for more.
Also, here is our best guess of who will be that guy this year:
- John Ryan
- Toryan Smith
- James Aldridge
- Armando Allen
- Duval Kamara
- Pat Kuntz
With that in mind, off the top of my head here are the top 'Holy Cow This Guy Will Be Good This Year But I Have Never Heard Of Him' -
Corey Mays (2005) - Hardly ever played before 2005, went out and finished second on the team in tackles and will forever be remembered, at least by this blog, of the hit on Michael Hart from scUM that knocked his butt out of the game.
Kevin McDougal (1993) - At one point, was going to be a senior who lost his job to a freshman - Ronnie Potts. Potts got hurt late in fall practice, McDougal looked at Lou and said 'I can do this' and went out and led his team to one dropped INT and one long FG from a national championship. Arguably, the top one-year starting QB in ND history - right there with John Huarte, though, after a thought, have to give that title to Huarte. Went from 50 attempts in his first two seasons (and no monograms) to winning the Heisman Trophy as a senior first-year starting QB. Hard to beat that.
Matt Shelton (2003) - Came out of no where making spectacular plays in fall practice. Went on to break the ND record for yards per reception in a season.
Shane Walton (2000) - Dude was a soccer player who suddenly showed up in the lineup - and never left. Worked his way into a unanimous All-America selection later in his career.
There are many more, but these are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Feel free to leave a comment for more.
Also, here is our best guess of who will be that guy this year:
- John Ryan
- Toryan Smith
- James Aldridge
- Armando Allen
- Duval Kamara
- Pat Kuntz
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