Can we just win Saturday first?

[WakeUpEchoes]

Nothing I do will impact the game. I do believe that. That said, I do wear the same shirt and hat, sit in the same place in the living room, and drink similar beer.

I just don't want to have a huge buildup and have things go badly. That's just killer.

Yup. It's more for my sanity than anything else. Plus loss aversion.

 

[WhoDeyIrish]

Nothing I do will impact the game. I do believe that. That said, I do wear the same shirt and hat, sit in the same place in the living room, and drink similar beer.

I just don't want to have a huge buildup and have things go badly. That's just killer.

I understand that I have no control over the outcome of the games but I do the same **** you do. Since week 1 I've wore the same #10 ND jersey, same pair of jeans, sit in the same spot of my living room and drink the same beer. I can't watch ND games anywhere but my house. I get my kid up Saturday morning and get him dressed in the same outfit he wears every Saturday. Pretty funny stuff. I do wash my clothes weekly though.

 

[Grahambo]

This thread:

 

[JughedJones]

I understand that I have no control over the outcome of the games but I do the same **** you do. Since week 1 I've wore the same #10 ND jersey, same pair of jeans, sit in the same spot of my living room and drink the same beer. I can't watch ND games anywhere but my house. I get my kid up Saturday morning and get him dressed in the same outfit he wears every Saturday. Pretty funny stuff. I do wash my clothes weekly though.

lol...

we all sound pretty similar.

All but 1 game this season (BC) I've been in my house with both TV's going, (so I can switch when things aren't going great.)

Same #3 jersey, same 2012 The Shirt, same 10 year old torn and frayed hoodie, and same green clover boxers (washed.)

I drink Pabst for the 1st quarter and Buffalo Trace bourbon, on the rocks and in the same bucket glass for each quarter there after.

 

[Bubba]

That's expected out of that guy. I'm more worried about everyone else. I definitely think Kelly keeps this team focused on Saturday but one can't seem to steer in the direction of BCS Championship. I know my main focus would be USC and I wouldn't be thinking about anything other than that.

They'll be okay. Just a sample...

TJ Jones‏@Tj2Smoove
We may be #1 but we still got one more game to take care before we can start talkin bout the big picture. #BeatTrojans #businessmindset

TJ Jones‏@Tj2Smoove
Need to have 3 great days of preparation before headin out to LA Friday!! #Focused

When you're #1 you have to put in extra to stay there.
Retweeted by Ezekiel Motta

Bennett Jackson Jr.‏@B_Jax2
Only thing on my mind this week is the #USC game !! #NDFB

Nicky Baratti‏@NickyBaratti
Excited for the opportunity to get better this week

 

[Riddickulous]

We may be overlooking USC, but I guarantee you that the team isn't. They know what's at stake.

 

[ickythump1225]

So long as the men on the team are focusing USC what us as fans do really has no impact on the game. If I had the sense that the team was looking ahead or overlooking USC I would be nervous. But honestly I think as a fanbase we're doing a pretty good job not overlooking USC, every hypothetical post about the NCG seems to be pinned with "if we don't beat USC it's all meaningless" or something along those lines.

 

[woolybug25]

I'm not just talking about the website man. I don't understand why you feel the need to talk down to people constantly?

Again, I'm talking more in general terms. I know there is a thread dedicated to just the USC game but I'm not just talking about Irishenvy.com.

It's all good though. I'm just going to go back to not posting anymore because people like you make it undesirable for others.

haha... dude, take a chill pill. I wasn't talking down to you, I was just saying that it doesn't make sense for us to shut down any talk on this site about the future just because we're a game away from going to the title game.

If my simple comments make you this upset that you feel that you need to threaten us with not posting anymore, then maybe you should take a moment to step away from it. Because to be honest, you seem frantic right now. If you don't want to read comments from people prognosticating on the future, then it's is as simple as not reading it. I know that's what the team is doing.

 

[ickythump1225]

Nothing I do will impact the game. I do believe that. That said, I do wear the same shirt and hat, sit in the same place in the living room, and drink similar beer.

I just don't want to have a huge buildup and have things go badly. That's just killer.

That's why I personally am not partaking in too much thinking ahead because I really can't afford another letdown haha. The 2009 NFC CG still stings as does 1998. (Both Vikings losses)

 

[ickythump1225]

They'll be okay. Just a sample...

TJ Jones‏@Tj2Smoove
We may be #1 but we still got one more game to take care before we can start talkin bout the big picture. #BeatTrojans #businessmindset

TJ Jones‏@Tj2Smoove
Need to have 3 great days of preparation before headin out to LA Friday!! #Focused

When you're #1 you have to put in extra to stay there.
Retweeted by Ezekiel Motta

Bennett Jackson Jr.‏@B_Jax2
Only thing on my mind this week is the #USC game !! #NDFB

Nicky Baratti‏@NickyBaratti
Excited for the opportunity to get better this week

That's what I like to see.

 

[IrishLax]

I'm so worried about this game. All reports of Wittek are that he is a bigger, stronger Barkley with a better release... all you can hope for is inexperience, and frankly Barkley's decision making was already the weak point of the team. Seems like all of the USC guys are circling the wagons for a last hurrah and going to come out firing.

Plus we got the SI cover......

 

[woolybug25]

Because it's USC?

Because this is it?

83 years of beautiful history, from Knute Rockne to Brian Kelly.... You're goddamn right I'm focusing on USC!

This is the biggest week of the season to date. I'm psyched. I want to talk about the game and do all of the things to prepare myself for the upcoming game as I have done every week.

That being said, neither of our "focus" is going to change what is going to happen. I simply don't see any point on shutting down any discussion that doesn't revolve around USC. I want to talk about USC too, but that doesn't mean that I am going to stop reading and discussing the season as a whole.

As I told , whodey. If you don't want to read it, then stick to the USC thread. It is the only topic of discussion in there. If you don't open threads like this or threads about the BCS, then your problem is solved. But I don't see why I have to personally change what I read and discuss.

 

[Emcee77]

I'm so worried about this game. All reports of Wittek are that he is a bigger, stronger Barkley with a better release... all you can hope for is inexperience, and frankly Barkley's decision making was already the weak point of the team. Seems like all of the USC guys are circling the wagons for a last hurrah and going to come out firing.

Plus we got the SI cover......

Good point ... Barkley hasn't been playing like a senior this year. His erratic play has been part of the problem for them. I don't think they are losing as much as most people might think by substituting a senior with a redshirt freshman, when the senior is as unreliable as Barkley has been and the redshirt freshman is as talented as Wittek.

 

[woolybug25]

Plus we got the SI cover......

Manti had a killer game after his SI cover. I am expecting the same.

 

[irishpat183]

This is the biggest week of the season to date. I'm psyched. I want to talk about the game and do all of the things to prepare myself for the upcoming game as I have done every week.

That being said, neither of our "focus" is going to change what is going to happen. I simply don't see any point on shutting down any discussion that doesn't revolve around USC. I want to talk about USC too, but that doesn't mean that I am going to stop reading and discussing the season as a whole.

As I told , whodey. If you don't want to read it, then stick to the USC thread. It is the only topic of discussion in there. If you don't open threads like this or threads about the BCS, then your problem is solved. But I don't see why I have to personally change what I read and discuss.

Correction my man...It's the biggest game in recent Irish history.

 

[JughedJones]

This is the biggest week of the season to date. I'm psyched. I want to talk about the game and do all of the things to prepare myself for the upcoming game as I have done every week.

That being said, neither of our "focus" is going to change what is going to happen. I simply don't see any point on shutting down any discussion that doesn't revolve around USC. I want to talk about USC too, but that doesn't mean that I am going to stop reading and discussing the season as a whole.

As I told , whodey. If you don't want to read it, then stick to the USC thread. It is the only topic of discussion in there. If you don't open threads like this or threads about the BCS, then your problem is solved. But I don't see why I have to personally change what I read and discuss.

Dude... I added a 'Lebowski-esque' line at the end of that... just for you... it's alright.

That said, if you don't want to read a thread with people talking about focusing on USC, you don't have to open them. (See? I can do that too.)

 

[irishpat183]

Good point ... Barkley hasn't been playing like a senior this year. His erratic play has been part of the problem for them. I don't think they are losing as much as most people might think by substituting a senior with a redshirt freshman, when the senior is as unreliable as Barkley has been and the redshirt freshman is as talented as Wittek.

Of course a lot of this has to do with that **** poor Oline...We should feast.

And Barkley is the one with the timing down with Lee and Woods. I expect to see a lot of balls over and under thrown.

 

[Ironman8]

Of course a lot of this has to do with that **** poor Oline...We should feast.

And Barkley is the one with the timing down with Lee and Woods. I expect to see a lot of balls over and under thrown.

I'm going to lean towards overthrown, giving how everyone is pumped up his arm strength, the stage, and the fact it's his first start. High balls = higher likelihood of tips / INTs

 

[Riddickulous]

I'm going to lean towards overthrown, giving how everyone is pumped up his arm strength, the stage, and the fact it's his first start. High balls = higher likelihood of tips / INTs

From his Scout profile:

He struggles with accuracy at times, but shows poise under pressure and a willingness to hang in the pocket and take a hit. A gun-slinger mentality, Wittek likes the high risk, high reward throws

Picks.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

All reports of Crist are that he is a bigger, stronger Clausen with a better release...

Fixed for what people were saying about us in 2009. If Wittek was better he would be playing even if Barkley was healthy.

I'm worried about Lee going up against our secondary. We can't miss any tackles. I'm worried about turnovers. We'll need to play about as well as we did against Oklahoma to lock up a trip to Miami. However, I feel like I can overlook a bit because of how the team is not overlooking SC. This is a personal game for them and they'll leave everything on the field.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

@Mark_T_Willard: Max Wittek: "We're going to win this ballgame."

We're shakin' in our boots Max.

 

[irishpat183]

I'm going to lean towards overthrown, giving how everyone is pumped up his arm strength, the stage, and the fact it's his first start. High balls = higher likelihood of tips / INTs

Or they come out and try and establish the run......

[/IMG]

 

[ickythump1225]

We're shakin' in our boots Max.

Perhaps he has any observations about us "quitting" last year that he would like to throw out there since you know he's decided to open his mouth.

 

[choo choo]

the last time i saw this much looking ahead was the week before the pitt game...could barely find a thread on here for that game...and we all know how that game turned out - a missed fg from us not having to wory about it...i know we dont play, but like some of you like to preach: the kids read this stuff too...i just wanna get after sc and then we'll all have some great stuff to chat about

 

[MaynardVideo]

Meet new USC QB Max Wittek, who guarantees victory over Notre Dame

2:58PM EST November 20. 2012 - USC redshirt freshman quarterback Max Wittek isn't shying away from Saturday's big stage. In fact, Matt Barkley's injury replacement is thinking big: Wittek is guaranteeing a win over Notre Dame.

"We're going to win this ballgame," Wittek said of the Trojans' season-ending date with the Fighting Irish, in an interview with an ESPN Radio affiliate in Los Angeles.

As if Saturday's game needed another storyline.

BARKLEY OUT: USC QB's shoulder injury will keep him out against the Irish

Wittek is stepping in for Barkley, who suffered a potentially season-ending shoulder injury during Saturday's 38-28 loss to UCLA. He's completed 8-of-9 attempts on the year for 95 yards, including all three of his attempts for 40 yards during the fourth quarter against the Bruins.

Wittek is expected to battle with incoming freshman Max Browne for the starting job in 2013, after Barkley moves on to the NFL, so this week's experience might come in handy.

A full transcript of Wittek's comment:

"We haven't got the full game plan yet, but from what I can tell, we're going to play our offense, whatever coach [Lane] Kiffin feels comfortable giving me. If he wants to air it out, let's air it out. If he wants to pound it on the ground, let's do that. Like I said, I'm going to go out there, I'm going to play within myself, within the system, and we're going to win this ballgame."

Despite his lack of experience, Wittek is talking like a seasoned veteran. "You really can't ask for a better opportunity to show what you've got," he told Rich Hammond of The Orange County Register.

But beware: Notre Dame ranks sixth nationally in total defense, first in scoring defense and 11th in pass efficiency. What will Manti Te'o and friends think of Wittek's guarantee? (Personally, I love his confidence.)

 

[timm3117]

Of course a lot of this has to do with that **** poor Oline...We should feast.

USC's OL has been pretty awful, Barkley was knocked around like a pinball all year, now its a freshmans turn. I don't care how USC fans want to spin it losing a QB that has thrown 36 TD's this season is huge. The freshman could step up, or he could look like a freshman. Either way unless Wittek can play on D, I like our chances.

 

[WhoDeyIrish]

Well I think I accomplished my goal. We have some really good discussion going on. Good to see. See you all Saturday night.

My prediction:

ND 31
USC 16

 

[timm3117]

Meet new USC QB Max Wittek, who guarantees victory over Notre Dame

Well Wittek has proven he can throw against a prevent defense in the last seconds of a game down by 10. I guess we'll see how he does with guys actually playing D.

 

[Irish#1]

Just my own superstitious habits. I guess that I'm in the minority here but I'm looking more forward to the ND vs USC game over the National Championship because I'm not sure we are playing in that game. For the record I would love to play Bama and that's who I want to play as well. I just don't get why we aren't all pumped for this game. This team has pretty much made me lose sleep at night for several years. Payback time I guess, I'm the only one that thinks that way.

I'm looking forward to it as well. scUM is a big rival , but not as much as USC is to me. That said I can't help but wonder about the 2013 version of the 1973 Sugar Bowl.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Leadership is one thing, but a bench-warmer QB who guarantees a W here just loses credibility with the team. Insert eye-rolling by the upper-classmen.

I think Wittek really out-kicked his coverage with his teammates on this one.