Flag incident

[Guest]

Whats your thoughts on the MSU flag incident? It didn't bother me much. In fact I think it proves our point that ND isn't irrelevant. If ND was so irrelevant then why have there been so many incidents like this over the years, with FSU ripping up our turf, or Palko dropping the F word on NBC, or this flag incident. It still means alot to these kids when they beat ND.

When we beat MSU next year I really hope no ND players plant a flag on there field. I'd be pretty embarrassed if they did.

 

[jiggafini19]

This crap really pisses me off.

One year at homecoming, one of our conference rivals danced on our logo during the pre-game warmups. They went ahead 19-0 at halftime. We scored 31 unanswered points and knocked their asses all over the field in the second half.

After the game, some of our guys were going to go over to their sidelines and dance on their side of the field. Our captains had none of it and pulled them back to the locker room.

It is all how you are coached. This dancing on logos, planting flags, taking sod, destroying locker rooms...it is all classless and shows what kind of program you really end up having.

Relevant or not, Notre Dame doesn't need to do moronic things like this. That's why schools like Michigan State and Boston College, win or lose, will always be second class. Great teams like SC, OU, LSU...they don't act this way because they expect to win.

Some teams, clearly, don't expect victory. So they therefore don't know how to handle it.

 

[leppycole]

Thats harmless,
I actually thought it would be great motivation for Charlie to use in the future.
What's worse that, or being pelted by debri from Mich fans.

 

[Rip Rap]

When we beat MSU next year I really hope no ND players plant a flag on there field. I'd be pretty embarrassed if they did.

They won't.

Unfortunately, I've also seen this sort of thing happen with programs that have "been there before." Consider a team like Ohio State. When they won the national title, the students rioted. When they beat ND at home 29-16 in 1996, they took the field, danced around, ran through the band, etc. (completely preventing the post-game band performance). I hope we never let them step foot in our stadium again, but there is something deeper to their trashiness.

MSU was great back in the 60's, so there's no reason for them to act like a bunch of johnny-come-latelies. Rather, you would expect that sort of thing from the likes of Boston College.

 

[Guest]

I agree I never want to see Ohio State on our schedule again. I really wish schools like Texas wouldn't schedule them either.

 

[nayers]

the flag thing made me mad...it wasn't the first time either, last time they won at ND they did the same thing, it really bothers me

 

[bmf175]

Im surprised there is not some rule in place that is suppossed to limit the amount of celebration after a game on the home teams turf. Especially when it comes to defacing the field and the locker rooms.

They pretty much have rules and regulations for every other kind of celebration.

 

[WeisGuy05]

I played football in HS like many of you probably have and we had many rivals. But that was a total lack of respect and classless. I am sorry but I was fuming and burning inside. If I was there I would have ran onto the field....not really, but you see where I am coming from.

 

[Batch]

I wasnt very happy about it for sure...Jigga pretty much sums up my thoughts though...some teams have class and some don't. I am surprised that John L would condone that sort of thing.

-Batch

 

[Batch]

Hmm I just read a post on ndnation stating that one of the MSU players is contending that ND has done that to in East Lansing the last two years we played there.

I sure can't recall anything like that happening.

-Batch

 

[Guest]

Hmm I just read a post on ndnation stating that one of the MSU players is contending that ND has done that to in East Lansing the last two years we played there.

I sure can't recall anything like that happening.

-Batch

Thats what MSU fans are saying on their message boards, but I think its total bull. If its true why don't they post a picture of it, actually someone asked that question and all they said was we have a credible source.

 

[Vince Young]

You know how we can keep visitors from doing crap like this?

Beat 'em.

Just win.

That's it!

 

[ACCIrish]

ya your right vince the bottom line is we shouldnt be losing to these second tier teams and it wouldnt happen
GO IRISH!! BEAT HUSKIES!!!

 

[KMac151993]

ACCIrish knows what he is talking about. Plain and simple it doesn't happen if you beat those teams ranked below you.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

even though I can't really condone it....I would rather see them ramming a stupid stick into our grass than post game brawls like at SC-Clemson.

 

[irishnd31]

I played football in HS like many of you probably have and we had many rivals. But that was a total lack of respect and classless. I am sorry but I was fuming and burning inside. If I was there I would have ran onto the field....not really, but you see where I am coming from.

I'm with you WeisGuy. That thing would have been green and white toothpicks when I was done with it. But that's just me. I was fired up. I handled the loss well, but when you show that kind of disrespect in our House, that really f%#$'n pisses me off.
MSU...act like you've been there before boys. Very classless team, coaching (for allowing that to happen), and school. When you win a NC, then you can plant flags anywhere you want (Good luck with that one). Until then kepp the flags on the sidelines.

 

[jiggafini19]

Thats what MSU fans are saying on their message boards, but I think its total bull. If its true why don't they post a picture of it, actually someone asked that question and all they said was we have a credible source.

How the hell can you plant a flag in the field at East Lansing when they have turf?

Am I thinking of another field?

 

[irishnd31]

Hell, they've been on turf for as long as I can remember. Credible source my a$$.

 

[TexasDomer]

MSU has had natural turf the last few seasons.

 

[BigIrish]

the lack of class starts from the top down. just like the Irish have begun to adopt Weis' personality, the Spartans have taken on John L.'s

doesn't anyone find it ironic that the game winning touchdown was scored by teague - a halfback that was suspended last game against hawaii? in his career at MSU, he's been convicted in two separate instances of drunk driving and drug possession. he was suspended against hawaii because of charges stemming from an assault and battery against a woman (i heard it might have been his girlfriend). the charges were dropped when teague agreed to undergo substance abuse testing and anger management classes. big surprise - teague is suspended against hawaii and back on active duty for ND.

this sort of behavior is nothing new for smith. consider his patience with smoker - a drug addict who missed a plane for an away game. smith has a history of protecting and tacitly condoning the morally suspect behavior of his players off the field.

the bottom line is this - how can you honestly expect the spartan team to act with any class or dignity when those philosophies are contradicted by the head coach?

 

[jiggafini19]

Yeah, it made the loss sting that much more for me. What a joke.

You set the tone immediately. Follow up with consequences because if you don't, people walk all over you. I don't think anyone is going to mess with a guy like Weis or even Urban Meyer. There are disciplinarians out there that have some bite to their bark. They're few and far between, but they're out there.

 

[Batch]

Article on the incident.

Interesting little jab right at the end as well...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/09/21/sports/s141434D87.DTL

 

[AlbuquerqueIrishFan]

I'm just learning of this now. As soon as the Spartans scored the td in overtime, I shut the tv off and went for a walkt to cool down, only to find out they rubbed it in our faces.

I hate MSU more than any other program, although USC is right there, and this loss just kills me. I can't believe we lost that game. I'd rather lose to Purdue, USC, or Tennessee, but not MSU....ugh...I'm going to throw up now.

 

[WeisGuy05]

I would like th know what was up with all those shitty arrgonant smiles of John L. Smith's after halftime....those went away rather quickly late in the 3rd Q

 

[weisfaninmass]

I was at the game -- i sat next to the MSU parents -- both teams put their heart and soul into the game --- the fans although in shock at the lost, were clapping for both teams performances -- then the flag incident happened -- the whole stadium boo-ed - the MSU parents looked embarrassed (except a few) - the Student Body started chanting "A__ Hole A__Hole". The MSU incident was bush league but.....

To those who call ND irrelevant in College Football, or those who call ND not special anymore, why then do teams celebrate like the just won the game of their life when they beat ND in South Bend???

 

[TomFoolery]

How do you quiet a dog- toss him a bone! If ND would win these so called "winnable" games, then these things wouldn't occur. Understand that that there will be roadblocks & teams aren't going to "lay down" just b/c they are playing ND. Furthermore, the IRISH don't possess superior talent compared to the tougher opponents, thus have to play everyone tough- there aren't any "gimme games".

 

[KMac151993]

We have already determined you are a fool.

 

[guff]

Nobody, especially ND fans, expects teams to lay down just because they are playing ND. Quite the opposite, we know that every week the opponent is going to give ND it's best shot.

 

[jiggafini19]

Nobody, especially ND fans, expects teams to lay down just because they are playing ND. Quite the opposite, we know that every week the opponent is going to give ND it's best shot.

Exactly. Take every team on ND's schedule. Whoever their conference rival is, that's there biggest game.

ND is usually second. They're Notre Dame and everyone wants to beat them. Why do you think Navy plays them so tough? It's their biggest game after Army.

Cover of Blue and Gold shows the MSU players planting the flag. "Home Wreckers" is the title.

I'm saving this for 730 days until they get these guys again at the Bend