Colin Cowherd compliments Notre Dame

[NDFANnSouthWest]

WTF....maybe i shouldn't comment. smh

 

[ThePiombino]

Guess I am the only ND fan who doesn't think they are the best team in the nation. Happy they going for the title but don't think they are the best team.

I truly believe this team has 8-4 talent but had a magical season. Our D is great but our O is too inconsistent.

You know this is 2012, right?

 

[Whatever]

I don't think they are the best team. But that doesn't matter. Were the New York Giants the best team when they won Super Bowls? Was Kemba Walker's UCONN team the best when they went through the NCAA tournament? No way in hell.

Notre Dame isn't playing to be "the best team," and they aren't really even playing for bragging rights to be the best team. They are playing for a national championship, and it's totally different.

stuff.

I realize this, but when ranking the teams, people around here keep arguing ND would beat everyone in the world. I just think that isn't true. I would love to say they could but that would be naive and make me appear as a homer. I even think we can beat Bama since we match up with them pretty good. We are 12-0 but shouldn't be cocky. Can we acknowledge its been magical season (we caught quite a few breaks) and stop pretending we all thought we would be here in the end?

P.S. I have watched every game.

 

[koonja]

I realize this, but when ranking the teams, people around here keep arguing ND would beat everyone in the world. I just think that isn't true. I would love to say they could but that would be naive and make me appear as a homer. I even think we can beat Bama since we match up with them pretty good. We are 12-0 but shouldn't be cocky. Can we acknowledge its been magical season (we caught quite a few breaks) and stop pretending we all thought we would be here in the end?

P.S. I have watched every game.

There isn't a 12-0 team in recent history that hasn't caught breaks. But our team capitalized on the breaks, other great team in 2012 haven't. If it's a dog fight in the national championship game, I like the fact that our guys have been tested and proven in close games.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I realize this, but when ranking the teams, people around here keep arguing ND would beat everyone in the world. I just think that isn't true. I would love to say they could but that would be naive and make me appear as a homer. I even think we can beat Bama since we match up with them pretty good. We are 12-0 but shouldn't be cocky. Can we acknowledge its been magical season (we caught quite a few breaks) and stop pretending we all thought we would be here in the end?

P.S. I have watched every game.

Better teams lose every week. I cannot stand (and I'm not at all accusing you of making the statement), when people say "well I don't know if ____ can beat _____." Literally every time they look like a moron. Every time.

National Champions win close games every season. 2010 Auburn and 2007 LSU won six games by <8 points, 2002 Ohio State seven by <8 points. You'd have to go back to Nebraska's 1995 squad to find a team that decidedly won every game.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Simply having "Colin Cowherd" in the title can ruin a thread and bring forth whacked out commentary. Here are a few facts:

1]. Notre Dame has won all its games... duh;
2]. There is no proof that any team in the NCAA is better;
3]. If anyone has actually played ball, they realize that there are teams which will just beat you; it's in the players and the coaches. It's in the leadership. Some teams will not die. Who says that this is not one of those;
4]. There are about seven All-Americans playing on this defense [KLM, Nix, Tuitt, Te'o, Spond, Shembo, Motta]. Yes, they won't all be recognized as such, but different announcers have recognized all of them. Add a fine oldtimer [Fox] and two precocious CBs [Russell and Jackson], and there is a stunning amount of talent, and leadership amassed there. Who is to say that they cannot win?;
5]. I have seen teams with so-so offensive consistency win titles and be praised as the Second Coming [do I remember Alabama oh so long ago... when was it? last year? this year?]. Who says that this defense can't beat anybody? It is in fact doing it.

.... what piles of steaming guano some of these comments are; and sadly not all by anti-ND media commentators.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I realize this, but when ranking the teams, people around here keep arguing ND would beat everyone in the world.

Who has argued that? I'm ecstatic that we don't have to play Oregon in the title game. Chip Kelly's offense is f*cking terrifying.

I even think we can beat Bama since we match up with them pretty good.

We match up well against most SEC teams because of our style of play. We'll be an underdog against either 'Bama or Georgia, which is fair and exactly how we want it.

We are 12-0 but shouldn't be cocky.

Who's being cocky? I've seen lots of happiness, but not much arrogance.

Can we acknowledge its been magical season (we caught quite a few breaks) and stop pretending we all thought we would be here in the end?

No team makes it this far without some good fortune. Our season hasn't been nearly as lucky as most haters are implying.

 

[Grahambo]

Who the best team is?

That is one of the most overrated arguments in sports today.

 

[dudesthisisthebest]

On D we have a high 1st LB, high 1st DE, late first DT, late round DE, a midround OLB, a midround S, two CBs with high potential but I can't project, another S I can't project yet, and 2 LBs who won't get drafted. That's 3 first rounders and likely 9 NFL players. On O? An improving college QB who won't get drafted cuz of stature, a top pick TE, 2 OL who will get drafted... one of which pretty high, meh WRs, a late round RB. Yeah, our offensive talent is pretty average. As a team though? Definitely better than your standard 8-4 team in a major conference (i.e. Penn State or North Carolina or Northwestern).

I agree with pretty much all that. My changes would be:

Motta's a late round safety at best.
Bennett Jackson, with his speed, I'd already project to be a mid-round selection at worst.
I'd give our WR's a little more credit than meh if Daniels is healthy.




This is championship level talent offensively and defensively. Heck, it was BCS level talent last year. All it really needed was solid quarterback play and that has still probably been the weakest link this year. If you're really comparing talent, there is no comparison to the Wisconsins, Texas Tech's, Miss St., Oregon St. etc.

 

[WaveDomer]

It is very rare when you have any sports team be so dominant that they can be called the best in the league. It doesn't happen a lot. It is usually who gets hot at the right time. Even great teams don't win the championship all the time. Remember teams like UNLV when they lost to Duke or the Packers or Patriots in recent years? Remember, Trent Dilfer has a ring.

Has ND caught some breaks? Sure. But that goes back and forth. The missed Pitt FG came after ND fumbled in the endzone. That's just an example. Tom Brady got the tuck rule. The Yankees had that kid who reached over the wall to interfere. You can't go a full year getting by on breaks. You also can't go a full year without them. The only real test is whether you win or lose and ND is 12-0.

As far as ND's offense, I would say they aren't explosive, but they don't need to be. This is a grinding offense. Did you see what Riddick did against USC? There are times where he just lowers his shoulder and runs through a guy instead of trying to get by. I'm convinced that's why he got more time this year: to wear down the defenses. If ND's run game can score 40, they will score 40. Look at Oregon. They are a juggernaut offense, but so what? They also gave up 51 to USC while we held them to 13.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Guess I am the only ND fan who doesn't think they are the best team in the nation. Happy they going for the title but don't think they are the best team.

I truly believe this team has 8-4 talent but had a magical season. Our D is great but our O is too inconsistent.

Welcome to IE, across.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Lulz

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

All about context. Look at Georgia's schedule and tell me we don't go at absolute worst 10-2 against that junk.

Look at Florida's schedule... we could've done as bad as 7-5. But as for talent? On D we have a high 1st LB, high 1st DE, late first DT, late round DE, a midround OLB, a midround S, two CBs with high potential but I can't project, another S I can't project yet, and 2 LBs who won't get drafted. That's 3 first rounders and likely 9 NFL players. On O? An improving college QB who won't get drafted cuz of stature, a top pick TE, 2 OL who will get drafted... one of which pretty high, meh WRs, a late round RB. Yeah, our offensive talent is pretty average. As a team though? Definitely better than your standard 8-4 team in a major conference (i.e. Penn State or North Carolina or Northwestern).

NFLDraftScout has Bennett as the #6 junior cornerback in the country, so when the top players leave he could be one of the best senior cornerbacks next year.

NFL Draft - 2014 NFL Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Welcome to IE, across.

Andrew Cross would never deign to mingle with us plebeians. Remember, he's the leading light on Notre Dame's largest online community.

 

[BurningRiver]

 

[irishtrain]

Cowherd is a goofshit contrarian that will say anything to move the dial.

I don't blame an entertainer for doing what they need to in order to get ratings, but he presents his views as incontrovertible fact. If everyone thought ND should be on top, he would scream and holler that we were a fraud.

He said the other day that "I'm not here to convince you I'm right, I'm here to start arguments." He walked it back and said he was there to present entertaining topics, but I
thought it was telling.

Douche.

Mot a sports guy in my opinion-an entertainer entertaining. Go Irish!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Speaking of luck, Brian Fremeau just published an article on just how fortunate the Irish have been this season.

Notre Dame did win one game in which the margin gained on turnovers exceeded the scoring margin in the game. Against Michigan, the Irish collected 12.7 points in total turnover value and won the game 13-6. But in most of their other victories this year, the Irish were overcoming turnover, special teams, or field position deficits.

Take the Pittsburgh game, for instance, the triple-overtime thriller against a mediocre opponent that nearly cost them a trip to Miami. The Irish gave up 14.0 points in turnover value in the game and still eked out a victory. In FBS games this year, only two teams overcame a larger turnover deficit and won. Duke beat Memphis despite an 18.8 point deficit in turnover value, and Virginia beat Penn State despite a 15.7 point deficit in turnover value.

The Irish won twice in 2012 despite losing the field position, turnover, and special teams battles in a single game: close victories over Purdue and BYU. Over the course of the season, Notre Dame won 10 games in which it had a deficit in at least one of those three factors, and 8 games in which it had a deficit in at least two of those factors. No other team overcame as many combined field position, turnover, and special deficits as Notre Dame. Does that make them lucky?

From the perspective of FEI, these elements are actually a big reason why the Irish are considered one of the best teams in the country, not one of the luckiest. Notre Dame’s opponent-adjusted offense is ranked eighth, and its opponent-adjusted defense is ranked second. It’s the non-offensive and non-defensive stuff like special teams (88th) that are holding back the Irish from passing the eye test in more people’s eyes. These might be the factors that hold the Irish back from winning the BCS title game as well, but it shouldn’t be a reason to knock them for what they have accomplished to date.

 

[ickythump1225]

I realize this, but when ranking the teams, people around here keep arguing ND would beat everyone in the world. I just think that isn't true. I would love to say they could but that would be naive and make me appear as a homer. I even think we can beat Bama since we match up with them pretty good. We are 12-0 but shouldn't be cocky. Can we acknowledge its been magical season (we caught quite a few breaks) and stop pretending we all thought we would be here in the end?

P.S. I have watched every game.

We can beat any team in the country, period. That doesn't mean I think we're some juggernaut that will be remembered as the greatest team of all time. But every champion at every level of any sport catches breaks and has quite a bit of good luck. Hell every team catches breaks and gets lucky but great teams capitalize on those breaks and make the most of them whereas mediocre and bad teams don't.

Think of great teams throughout time, think of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers. People always lament about how those teams "get all the breaks" or the "refs always make bad calls in their favor" etc etc. They don't get any more breaks than my Minnesota Vikings but they take advantage of those breaks.

The 2012 Notre Dame Fighting Irish are a great team. We are the #1 team in the nation. Are we the "best" team? Who knows, in college football it's impossible to know, but it's not about being the "best." It's about being the national champion and we have a shot at that whereas 120 other teams will not.

 

[IrishinTN]

Every team the Irish played had their share of breaks as well, and none bigger than Pitt. Not only did Farley have surgery that week, not only was nix at deaths doorstop fighting the flu (along with several other players that we don't even know about) but they were the recipient of an end zone int and a fumble at the goal line. Pitt failed to take full advantage. And I daresay we could do this for every team we played. The difference is, Notre Dame took every inch they were given and made the most of it. 12-0 by will, not by chance.

 

[ARALOU]

I was talking to a friend today who happens to be a vol fan. We talked about luck and championships. He reminded me of the Clint Steorner gift the Vols got during their run. Luck happens and like it was said before, unless you are the 95 Huskers and boat race everyone then you had a little luck.;

 

[Woneone]

As much as I hate to say it, this team reminds me of the '02 Buckeyes (I would never tell any of my friends here in Ohio this).

Picked to be an average team in the preseason (picked 3rd in the B10 at 8-5 or so).
A great defense.
A good running game.
A quarterback who seems to make the plays when he needs to.
A few breaks (Cincinnati dropped 2 touchdowns to beat them, Krenzel throws a 40+ yard strike to Jenkins vs. Purdue, a throw he makes 1 out of 100 times).
A few games closer than intended.
An overtime game against an opponent they should have dominated.
Playing a huge favorite (probably) in the National Championship.

Let's hope the outcome is the same.

 

[Sweetness34]

I have been telling my OSU friends the same thing. I totally agree and I think they will shock the world January 7th.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I can't remember...have we lost a game this year?

 

[mrmiller8]

Mot a sports guy in my opinion-an entertainer entertaining. Go Irish!

I listen to cowherd every day and he is entertaining. he creates numbers on the dial and thats his job. We as ND fans should be happy that they are a topic. His "get by" as a journalist is "be interesting" and he is......don't hate him he is a great journalist and draws numbers....we are doing exactly what he wants.....talk about him, which in turn, makes us listen more.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

I listen to cowherd every day and he is entertaining. he creates numbers on the dial and thats his job. We as ND fans should be happy that they are a topic. His "get by" as a journalist is "be interesting" and he is......don't hate him he is a great journalist and draws numbers....we are doing exactly what he wants.....talk about him, which in turn, makes us listen more.

Think we could avoid calling him a "journalist"

 

[NDPhilly]

Being replaced by Marcellus Whiley on Sportsnation in the next few days. On SN now basically ignoring the segments and doing what he wants. Pretty funny.

 

[IrishLax]

Being replaced by Marcellus Whiley on Sportsnation in the next few days. On SN now basically ignoring the segments and doing what he wants. Pretty funny.

Wow seriously? Marcellus Wiley? Completely different kind of personality.

I actually really liked the Michelle Beedle / Colin Cowherd dynamic... then Beedle left and i dont know if I've seen more than 1 episode since.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Thompson > Beadle. Wiley is pretty good too. I think the move is more because the show is moving to LA and not so much to replace cowherd.

 

[NDPhilly]

Thompson is better looking but I think Beadle knew more about sports. I liked her way better.

 

[greyhammer90]

Wow seriously? Marcellus Wiley? Completely different kind of personality.

I actually really liked the Michelle Beedle / Colin Cowherd dynamic... then Beedle left and i dont know if I've seen more than 1 episode since.

I'm in the same boat as you. Really liked the show when it was her and Cowherd, haven't really watched since they lost her. She knew her basketball.