Lou joins the four letter network

[guff]

Lou joins ESPN for as college football analyst

Now there will be someone at ESPN that actually likes ND.

Bob Davie will probably try to muscle him out of the job at some point.

 

[Domer95]

Lou joins ESPN for as college football analyst

Now there will be someone at ESPN that actually likes ND.

Bob Davie will probably try to muscle him out of the job at some point.

No, he probably go behind his back and try to get him fired for his age, a la Joe Moore...

 

[irishtexan]

Bob Davie should just keep his mouth shut and keep being pissed off he sucked as a coach

 

[jiggafini19]

He in way over his head. First head coaching job was ND. Gimme a break. Worst clock management coach of all time.

Holtz recommended him to the administration. I still can't believe they hired him.

 

[Aerosmith777]

well, hindsight is 20/20. at the time it probly seemed like the right move. You have a legendery coach calling it quits and leaving what was still a pretty solid program, and he recomends his assistant to succede him. Now obviously we all know better, but at the time I could see how it seemed like the right move if the University didn't wanna rock the boat while they were still relatively near the top of the college football world.

 

[jiggafini19]

well, hindsight is 20/20. at the time it probly seemed like the right move. You have a legendery coach calling it quits and leaving what was still a pretty solid program, and he recomends his assistant to succede him. Now obviously we all know better, but at the time I could see how it seemed like the right move if the University didn't wanna rock the boat while they were still relatively near the top of the college football world.

For many, this was hindsight. The day the decision was announced, I was scratching my head. Davie was not qualified to replace Holtz. It was the wrong decision then and it was the wrong decision now.

But at any rate, I like the way Davie handles himself as an analyst. I've found him to be nothing but professional and insightful in the past.

 

[bmf175]

Yes finally we have somebody in our corner over at ESPN.

I could have met Holtz when he was in town last week... I didnt find out about it until yesterday

 

[maison bleu]

He in way over his head. First head coaching job was ND. Gimme a break. Worst clock management coach of all time.

Holtz recommended him to the administration. I still can't believe they hired him.

Not saying Charlie's in over his head, but isn't this his first head coaching job, not counting high school?

 

[irishtexan]

yes it is. Some people are relishing on that fact, but I tend to look at the assistants he has brought with him. Weis has been a winner everywhere he has been and his staff is one of , if not, the best in college football.

 

[jiggafini19]

Not saying Charlie's in over his head, but isn't this his first head coaching job, not counting high school?

It is his first head coaching job, but he's going from the NFL to college.

Look at Weis and look at Davie. You're exactly right....not saying he's in over his head. Compared to Davie at the time, it isn't even close.

Weis has former head coaches on his staff that will be able to run things and allow him to manage the team as a whole. Yes, he will focus in on the offense, but Vaas and Haywood are going to be very hands on. While losing Cutcliffe hurts, Vaas comes in with professional head coaching experience.

The staff he picked wasn't by mistake. His transition from NFL assistant to collegiate head coach will be much easier.

 

[Rip Rap]

The reason for optimism with Weis is a combination of the top two factors.

First, I think most have recognized that Davie was a strong strategist, particularly on defense, but was apparently a poor motivator. He could tell you the theory of every play, but couldn't make it work regularly enough to win. (There are other reasons to dislike Davie though, the Moore lawsuit, etc.). Davie seldom got blown-out.

Willingham was a good motivator when he needed to be, but was inconsistent and didn't know crap about gameday preparation. Willingham had never been a coordinator and was not even a huge success as a positions coach. Willingham often got blown-out.

Weis certainly knows the strategy, but has hired assistants that have also proven themselves as top position coaches. Still, it remains to be seen if Weis is the total package. I think blind enthusiasm now is a bit misguided. On the other hand, it does seem like EVERYTHING has gone right since ND hired him: Dream staff, recruiting surge, and a fourth superbowl victory.

 

[jiggafini19]

He is doing and saying all the right things.

And nothing has happened on the field yet. If he gets 7 or more wins out of this team with the schedule they play, he'll be a greater magician than David Blaine.

 

[guff]

Weis already has a leg up on his predeseccors. He understands clock management.

I think 7 wins can be done without having to pull off any major upsets (MSU, Wash Purdue, BYU, Navy, 'Cuse and Stanford) Major being the key word.

And beating Pitt isn't out of the question. I think Wannstedt may actual hurt Palko's development and bring Pitt's offense down a notch. Wannstedt was never really known for his offensive know how. The only question is 'who covers Lee.'

The most important thing for next season will be confidence. If the team is 3-1 going into Pitt this team can really do some damage. Sort of like Ty's first year. That team wasn't all that good on paper but the inertia of confidence propel them to wins.

The problem with the schedule is the USC game. I can see a scenario where ND is 4-1 going into the USC game. It's the first home game in three weeks, everyone is psyched, hopes are up and USC lays a beating on them at home. That could be a confidence killer.

 

[guff]

Jeez what kind of fan am I. I can't even get the schedule right. Sorry I was looking at a schedule from an old media guide. I really should have done better than that.

My do over.

MSU now becomes the key game on the schedule. ND could be 0-2 going into that game. Heading into Wash. 0-3 could be brutal.

Seven wins is still realistic.

My apologies again for the screw up.

 

[Rip Rap]

Consider the following facts:

1.) Michigan, Tennessee, and USC are the only schools on the schedule that can honestly claim they might have better players. USC and Tennessee probably do.

2.) Pitt, Washington, Syracuse, BYU, and Stanford also have first-year coaches, leaving no clear strategic advantage and lesser-quality players. Also, for the record, I honestly believe Wannstedt is going to shock people with Pitt in the coming years (why did Harris leave anyway?).

3.) Purdue and MSU are the only 'wildcards' IMHO. Then there is Navy and a bowl game...

9-3 is perfectly reasonable and 8 wins is probably the min. Weis expects of himself.

 

[jiggafini19]

Rip, you're a bit more optimistic than I am.

I see 6 wins no matter how many times I look at it. Then again, it is mid June.

Wannstedt wants to implement a running game at Pitt despite the fact that Palko is a stud QB. I was at the Pitt game last year in South Bend. That is my lasting impression of ND, so playing them on the road is to Pitt's advantage.

They outplayed Purdue last year and still managed to get smoked. Purdue's defense is very good and they also have a passing attack. Being ND's weakness is their secondary, I'm not sure what to think here.

SC, Tenn and Mich all have superior talent to ND, but ND beat the latter two last season.

It all comes down to Michigan State being a must win for ND. Everywhere else looks like a win or loss. MSU could determine 6-5 or 5-6.

If they can win 7 or more games, this would be one hell of a coaching job. I don't think they have the personnel to beat some of the teams they play.

Hopefully it settles itself on the field and not in my worried mind.