Who do you want to beat most next season?

[Irish Envy]

What team on our schedule do you want to beat most next season? Also, in order to get some discussion... why did you vote for the team you did?

 

[nayers]

where Pitt would be the most logical choice...I would rather lose to Pitt, and beat USC. I can't wait for the 3rd of September!

 

[Irish Envy]

I picked Washington. I am hoping we come out with something to prove and absolute kick the Washington squad up and down the field.

 

[sblxdoc]

I went with USC. However, Mich. makes me sick. Only a month and a half away. Anybody heading up to Heinz field on Sept. 3rd?

 

[KMac151993]

I am looking the my crystal ball and (hope) to see the Irish and Trojans walking into Notre Dame stadium undefeated, would set the stage for a classic.

 

[Irish Envy]

I think USC is the obvious choice for most, but I think we'd be setting ourselves up for a big letdown. I think we are still one or two seasons away from being competitive with the likes of USC. You never know, though.

 

[cfbf]

Since I could only pick one, I picked UM. It sounds like our series with them may end soon so I would like to win as many of the remaining games we have with them as possible.

 

[sblxdoc]

Since I could only pick one, I picked UM. It sounds like our series with them may end soon so I would like to win as many of the remaining games we have with them as possible.

haven't looked at future schedules, but did not know this. any further details?

 

[KMac151993]

But I hate Purdue, so beating them always makes my year.

 

[Irish Envy]

haven't looked at future schedules, but did not know this. any further details?

I believe the series ends in '09 and nothing has been negotiated to keep it going at this point.

 

[jiggafini19]

USC and Michigan. Both make me want to puke. Beating Michigan makes my following week so much better.

However, in recent years, they ruin everything by losing to Michigan State the following Saturday.

Win at home, do your best on the road. Above all, compete and play hard. I can take a loss, but not by 31 points.

 

[grantland]

I picked SC because I think that is our biggest rival. I love flashy Hollywood versus solid Midwest.

Came close to choosing UM and/or Tennessee. Reason being - those are the only two teams listed against whom ND has an all-time losing record - we need to catch up.

 

[jiggafini19]

Michigan is the natural enemy. SC is a rival in a different mold.

 

[grantland]

I have to tell you, Michigan State fans are tough to deal with when they beat us. Do you find Michigan State fans unusually bitter - or is it just my personal experience with the 4 or 5 I know?

 

[grantland]

Michigan is the natural enemy. SC is a rival in a different mold.

Agreed. Something about the SC rivalry that just gets me. Being down south I, of course, am exposed to all the SEC rivalries. I guy I work with is an Auburn fan. Most friends around here are Georgia fans. Their rivalries are of pure unalderated hate.

I do not look at ND/SC that way. I feel there is a mutual respect almost admiration (maybe not).

Plus Rockne started it and you gotta love that.

 

[jiggafini19]

Michigan State has to have the little brother complex to UM and even Ohio State. I love watching them beat UM, though. Braylon Edwards single handedly beat them last year. Tough loss. But the TD in 2001 on the last play of the game to beat UM....priceless.

Purdue under Tiller has made things interesting.

 

[Rip Rap]

We need to beat the teams we're supposed to beat-like Purdue-before we worry about USC again.

 

[irishtexan]

WASHINGTON.......I want to kick the christ out of willingham and hopefully shut ESPN up for a day or two, I think charlie will be fired up for this one. Washington will be winless I predict going into this one.

 

[jiggafini19]

WASHINGTON.......I want to kick the christ out of willingham and hopefully shut ESPN up for a day or two, I think charlie will be fired up for this one. Washington will be winless I predict going into this one.

I might be the only person in ND Nation looking past this game. I really look forward to ND winning this game and it being over with. It will be a Dog and Pony Show unlike any game we've seen in years. The media will hype it up, Weis and Ty will give the standard answers to the standard questions. It won't be a big deal, they want to win the game, blah blah blah. Washington is so bad, they'll need all the emotion they can to stay in this game. Talent wise, they might not win a game all year.

Rip Rap makes a great point. Winning home games against mid tier teams should be a starting point. If they had done that last season, they could have been 9-2.

 

[grantland]

We need to beat the teams we're supposed to beat-like Purdue-before we worry about USC again.

No doubt. Looked at in that light, probably Pitt becomes the most important game.

 

[Guest]

I picked michigan, but it would certainly be more meaningful if we beat usc, because they've destroyed us the last 3 years.

I just hate michigan, I know USC is our biggest rival, but I've personally always felt michigan is our biggest rival.

Hey, if Ty could beat michigan 2 out of 3 times, then Weis should have no problem.

 

[jiggafini19]

I picked michigan, but it would certainly be more meaningful if we beat usc, because they've destroyed us the last 3 years.

I just hate michigan, I know USC is our biggest rival, but I've personally always felt michigan is our biggest rival.

Hey, if Ty could beat michigan 2 out of 3 times, then Weis should have no problem.

Michigan is ND's biggest rival hands down. Michigan did all they could to try and destroy ND Football when the program was first trying to get up and running. They are often in the hunt for the same recruits, they're very close to each other and Michigan is the one team that has a winning record against ND in a traditional series.

Rockne got the USC thing started and Carroll has picked things up there again.

I've said this many times, but ND has three teams are their schedule that have more talent than them...and they beat two of those three last year. Purdue seems to have their number lately and ND may finally be getting their number back from Michigan State.

Ultimately, Pitt is the biggest game of the year.

 

[Irish Hawk]

USC. It would make a statement to the entire country that we are back and we mean business. It would send a message to recruits that we belong with the big boys again.

 

[Domer95]

Getting stomped 3 years in a row by > 35pts by the Univ. of Spoiled Children.....'nuf said.

 

[Rip Rap]

No doubt. Looked at in that light, probably Pitt becomes the most important game.

Still Purdue.

Pitt, in my opinion, really isn't that bad of a program. Pitt, at 0.578, has had three legendary coaches (Pop Warner, 1915-1923; Jack Sutherland, 1924-1938; Jackie Sherrill, 1977-1981), has been attributed 16 national titles (of which 1937 and 1976 are consensus), and has had a Heismann trophy-winner (Tony Dorsett).

Purdue, at .0539, is genuinely terrible. They have no national titles, no great coaches, and no great players other than that Griese guy. Maybe Alstott. We should never lose to Purdue. They are the most un-storied program on our schedule.

I cringed the day after we lost to Purdue and Dwight Ellick was quoted in the South Bend Tribune as saying "we wanted to prove that we were the best team in Indiana." My, how far our standards had fallen...

 

[jiggafini19]

USC. It would make a statement to the entire country that we are back and we mean business. It would send a message to recruits that we belong with the big boys again.

Some of the top guys in the nation are making that game a visit to South Bend. There will be key recruits on ND's list for that game. I think they have been prepping for it since Weis took the job.

I hope they're unbeaten when they come to South Bend.

 

[grantland]

Still Purdue.

Pitt, in my opinion, really isn't that bad of a program. Pitt, at 0.578, has had three legendary coaches (Pop Warner, 1915-1923; Jack Sutherland, 1924-1938; Jackie Sherrill, 1977-1981), has been attributed 16 national titles (of which 1937 and 1976 are consensus), and has had a Heismann trophy-winner (Tony Dorsett).

Purdue, at .0539, is genuinely terrible. They have no national titles, no great coaches, and no great players other than that Griese guy. Maybe Alstott. We should never lose to Purdue. They are the most un-storied program on our schedule.

I cringed the day after we lost to Purdue and Dwight Ellick was quoted in the South Bend Tribune as saying "we wanted to prove that we were the best team in Indiana." My, how far our standards had fallen...

I hear you - it is pretty bad fighting for the state title. I do think a Pitt win would be a momentum starter. However, I have to stick with my original answer of USC. How wishy-washy is that response?

I want to beat SC because my greatest memory of ND football is the Green Jersey's in 1977 (49-19) and the fact that my first ND game at ND was SC 1979. I know, I know - most of you were not even born then.

That is one of the things so great about ND. We have no ties to one big rivalry. A few will always be there (SC, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue (even though they are horrible)) but ultimately we all really want to win them all. That makes one of the few truely national teams and the only great one. One of the many reasons I say NO to conference affiliation.

 

[mikasa]

washinton..just to shut up the the people who critisize...let us show TW how to organize a football team to the highest degree...God Bless the IRISH

 

[WeisGuy05]

If we can keep USC's offense off the field we have a chance. Did anybody see the Colts and Patriots game in the playoffs, and how long did Weis's offense have the ball? They had the ball a whole quarter more than the Colts. And if I remember right, we ran the ball extremely well against USC last year. Until, Willingham chose to put in Holiday and run quarterback sneek up the middle to which was a huge momentum swing after USC sniffed that obvious offensive package out. If we run the ball, keep USC off the field, keep clock running....we can and will "shock the world."

 

[absoluteirish59]

Because im sick and tired of watching usc players act like they're the best players around. So arrogant! Plus they have really laid it on ND the past few years, throwing the ball late in games while up a large margin. Basically rubbing it in our face. Not only do i want ND to beat them, i want a blowout. I want to see their faces in defeat. Also they are our biggest rivalry, and its always exciting when the play no matter what their records are.