Don't smudge the Irish shine; Notre Dame is Notre Dame

[Irish Envy]

There is, of course, a possibility that Colorado, Georgia and Florida State will win their conference championships next weekend. Stranger things have happened -- like meteors.

But on the off-chance that nobody you know will discover the secrets of alchemy between now and then, we will be left with the BCS bowl lineup we are looking at today -- USC and Texas, LSU and Penn State, Virginia Tech and Ohio State, Notre Dame and West Virginia.

Or substitute Oregon for Ohio State, if you're feeling whimsical enough.

But Notre Dame is not to be touched, for one apparently unassailable reason -- Notre Dame is Notre Dame.

This is, for good or ill, the one reason all the pundits, analysts, disembodied talking heads and assorted wise guys always gave as the weekend played itself out -- Notre Dame is Notre Dame.

And when you think about it a second, the seamless circular logic of that is perfection itself.

Now before you Notre Dame fans rear up on your fetlocks and start screeching about Charlie Weis and Brady Quinn and Jeff Samardzija and Knute Rockne and Touchdown Jesus, take a breath. This isn't a matter of Notre Dame being unworthy of a BCS bowl, so idle that whine.

There is some truth, however, to the notion that their inclusion will actually hose a team with better credentials just because they can say, "But we're Notre Dame."

And they are.

The issue, if it can be called that, is not just Notre Dame's side deal with the BCS that makes it automatically BCS-quality with nine wins, but the fact that the BCS is still a jerry-rigged non-solution to a problem that not enough people regard as a problem.

Namely, the college playoff system that won't happen.

BCS defenders say that it is designed only to make a match between Nos. 1 and 2, which of course is a lie, and lying and college football go so well together. If the BCS was about 1 and 2, why are there three other BCS bowl games with massive payouts?

Answer: It's a way to try and backdoor a playoff system past university presidents who already don't like or trust the football factories from which their schools derive so much cash.

And why do they not trust the football factories?

Answer: Because coaches at the largest programs go as far as they are allowed, and then some, and some schools have already given them the run of their institutions as it is.

Thus, what the BCS says it's about and what it actually is about are two different things. This is why even when they luck into a season in which the top two teams are so easy to spot, they can't figure out 6, 7, 8 and 9. Which, if the BCS was actually about what it says it's about, wouldn't be any kind of issue at all.

Which brings us back to Notre Dame.

The Irish were unlucky in that some of the highest profile teams on their schedule (Purdue, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Michigan) either collapsed entirely or turned average. Because of that, their strength of schedule number is pretty modest.

On the other hand, why should that penalize Oregon, which lost only to USC?

Simple. Because (all together now) Notre Dame is Notre Dame.

This, despite the fact that Oregon has sent large numbers of fans to big bowl games, and have produced good ratings at said bowl games. Oregon is not Notre Dame, though, and Touchdown Jesus has a romantic tinge to it that Phil Knight doesn't.

And ultimately, Notre Dame is Notre Dame because the pundits largely say it is. Notre Dame has been one of the cutest stories in what by any measure has been a profoundly entertaining season, between Weis and Quinn and the USC game and the controversy over Tyrone Willingham's firing, and there is a national groundswell for Notre Dame that doesn't apparently exist for the Oregons of this world.

The BCS, though, had to do a series of side deals just to make itself exist (the Rose Bowl deal with the Pac-10 and Big Ten, and Notre Dame, just to name two), and every deal you make ahead of time gets in the way of picking the best two, or four, or eight teams.

So we end up with "Notre Dame is a BCS team because it's Notre Dame," which is a stupid reason. Now "Notre Dame is a BCS team because they had a great season" is an excellent reason, but that should be placed against "Oregon is a BCS team because ..." and "Ohio State is a BCS team because ..." and let the analysis stand on its own.

Then again, there's always Colorado and Georgia and Florida State, and then you'll get a whole new set of migraines, starting with this new chestnut: "Why aren't there eight BCS bowls, and who needs to be punished for this shameful oversight?"

Me, I'd start with analysts who come up with "Notre Dame is Notre Dame," but maybe that's just me thinking we should do that just on G.P.

Source: CBS Sportsline

 

[jiggafini19]

If Notre Dame were 10-1, the schedule would be too easy. If they had beaten SC and were 11-0, they only beat SC and the schedule was easy.

Notre Dame is Notre Dame, but they never win no matter what.

I'm ignoring all of this nonsense and enjoying the fact that 6-6 became 9-2 because the school is a bunch of elite racists (wink wink) and the easy schedule has given them a BCS bowl due to a sense of entitlement (chuckle).

Can't rain on Jigga's parade, haters. This smile is permanent.

 

[Irish Envy]

If Notre Dame were 10-1, the schedule would be too easy. If they had beaten SC and were 11-0, they only beat SC and the schedule was easy.

Notre Dame is Notre Dame, but they never win no matter what.

I'm ignoring all of this nonsense and enjoying the fact that 6-6 became 9-2 because the school is a bunch of elite racists (wink wink) and the easy schedule has given them a BCS bowl due to a sense of entitlement (chuckle).

Can't rain on Jigga's parade, haters. This smile is permanent.

Well put. Figured the stories from this morning would get some people riled up.

 

[TexasDomer]

The point I've read the last couple of days that makes the most sense to me is that the real "problem" for Oregon and Ohio State is not Notre Dame. It's West Virginia, a team ranked outside the top 8 who gets an automatic bid because of conference requirements.

ND is in the top 8 in the BCS. There are four BCS games. Even Mark May can do the math. ND deserves to be there. Oregon deserves to be there. OSU deserves to be there. WVU doesn't.

 

[irishnd31]

If Notre Dame were 10-1, the schedule would be too easy. If they had beaten SC and were 11-0, they only beat SC and the schedule was easy.
Notre Dame is Notre Dame, but they never win no matter what.
I'm ignoring all of this nonsense and enjoying the fact that 6-6 became 9-2 because the school is a bunch of elite racists (wink wink) and the easy schedule has given them a BCS bowl due to a sense of entitlement (chuckle).
Can't rain on Jigga's parade, haters. This smile is permanent.

Couldn't agree more Jiggs. Even with all of the PSU bandwagoners out here in Oil $hitty, PA, you can't erase this smile off of my face either.

 

[jiggafini19]

The point I've read the last couple of days that makes the most sense to me is that the real "problem" for Oregon and Ohio State is not Notre Dame. It's West Virginia, a team ranked outside the top 8 who gets an automatic bid because of conference requirements.
ND is in the top 8 in the BCS. There are four BCS games. Even Mark May can do the math. ND deserves to be there. Oregon deserves to be there. OSU deserves to be there. WVU doesn't.

WvU needs to get out of the Big East and into another conference. I'm not sure where, but they need to figure something out fast. In the Big East, they'll get the BCS bid every year but ZERO respect. The schedule is too weak and a one-loss team could trump them if they go unbeaten.

I like Rodriguez a great deal and that program can succeed, but that conference gives them zero credibility. They need to schedule tough outside of their conference season.

 

[domerfor life]

If Notre Dame were 10-1, the schedule would be too easy. If they had beaten SC and were 11-0, they only beat SC and the schedule was easy.
Notre Dame is Notre Dame, but they never win no matter what.
I'm ignoring all of this nonsense and enjoying the fact that 6-6 became 9-2 because the school is a bunch of elite racists (wink wink) and the easy schedule has given them a BCS bowl due to a sense of entitlement (chuckle).
Can't rain on Jigga's parade, haters. This smile is permanent.

Yeah and if ND plays every top team from each conference and beats them all soundly and then they win by 2 against a 2-8 Navy squad, then every one will ignore the whole body of work and say that ND doesn't deserve to play for a NC because they barely beat Navy. It's insane. I didn't know the ND bias ran so deep until a few years ago. Just participating on the message boards really brought the hate to life for me. I now realize how much of an injustice it was for ND not to be playing for the championship in '93 after a 3 point loss to BC. Oklahoma got blitzed in their conference championship game by K State and still went to the NC game. They ignored a whole body of work and based their decision on one game. If SC loses Saturday, I bet they will still play for the NC. I'd rather have 11-0, but I'll take 9-2 over 6-6 or 5-7 anyday of the week. Why don't critics compare Charlie and Ty's first year records now? Ty's team went 1-2 their last three games of the regular season. This team went 3-0 and broke every major offensive record in the book. On a bad day, they still amassed 665 yards of total offense. Oh that reminds, are there any records that this offense hasn't broken? This is going to be scary the next few years. It's going to be great to watch though. The band will get alot of work.

 

[domerfor life]

WvU needs to get out of the Big East and into another conference. I'm not sure where, but they need to figure something out fast. In the Big East, they'll get the BCS bid every year but ZERO respect. The schedule is too weak and a one-loss team could trump them if they go unbeaten.
I like Rodriguez a great deal and that program can succeed, but that conference gives them zero credibility. They need to schedule tough outside of their conference season.

Yeah they have to quit scheduling Marshall and schedule some more big boys. When you lose to the only legit team on your schedule and you lose badly, that doesn't garner much respect. That conference is awful. I think they've beaten most every team by at least 25 points. People don't see that as dominant. They see that as being an extremely weak league. Speaking of weak, what if Florida State pulls the best game of the year out their a$$ and beats VA Tech? A four loss team would be in the BCS. They should make an amendment to the current agreement. If you win your conference you still have to be in the Top 8 to be guaranteed a spot or something like that. I think West Virginia deserves a good bowl game, but I don't think they deserve a BCS bid unless they go to a different conference. If FSU wins, they still don't deserve a BCS bid.

 

[jiggafini19]

Domerforlife, you're right on. So why don't these Ugly Ducklings invade someone else's board? Oh, I forgot. ND hate is like Kool Aid...just add to water and serve chilled.

Just Ducky.

http://www.softycentral.com/sights/newphoto/harr.jpg

 

[domerfor life]

Domerforlife, you're right on. So why don't these Ugly Ducklings invade someone else's board? Oh, I forgot. ND hate is like Kool Aid...just add to water and serve chilled.
Just Ducky.
http://www.softycentral.com/sights/newphoto/harr.jpg

Exactly. They're trying to blame us and it's not our fault. We've done our part. I don't think many people are saying that they don't deserve a bid, but many of them are saying that we don't deserve a bid. That just doesn' make much sense. When they try to back up their argument, the ignorance level goes up a couple of notches. Any team in the top 8 deserves a bid, but because of the deal their AD and president signed there is a good chance that they will get left out. What good is bashing another team to further their cause? It's not very ethical or sportsmanlike.

 

[bigdon]

Repeat after me--After the rose bowl game there is no such thing as "deserved". The function of the bowl games is to make money for the sponsors. They could care less who the public THINKS should be in what bowl. This is about business with a capital "B".

 

[Domer95]

Repeat after me--After the rose bowl game there is no such thing as "deserved". The function of the bowl games is to make money for the sponsors. They could care less who the public THINKS should be in what bowl. This is about business with a capital "B".

"After the Rose Bowl game, there is no such thing as 'deserved'.

 

[Aerosmith777]

I read this loser's article on sportsline and really wanted to get this posted, but the damn message board never works!!! (just the usual for sportsline) so I'll put it on here and let you guys take a look:




"Hate to say it, but he was right about one (and only one) thing. The analysts who have said Notre Dame deserves to go because they are Notre Dame are stupid, but the reason they're stupid is because there is a much better reason Notre Dame deserves to go that none of them seem to recognize: Notre Dame is simply a better team than Oregon, and would kill the Ducks on a neutral field.

Before all you stat nerds get your panties in a bunch, lets look at these two teams a little closer. Yes yes, Oregon did only lose one game and it was to the defending national champions. But I'd point out that they got blown out of their own building in that game, while Notre Dame played that same USC team down to the wire and didn't lose it until the closing seconds of the game. Score one for ND over Oregon.

Now, to those of you who like to scream and yell about the MSU loss, I ask you, do you remember watching MSU at the beginning of the season? They were 4-0, scoring 40 points a game on people, and Stanton was being touted as a Heisman darkhorse. Just a humble opinion, but maybe just maybe can we look at the context of the actual game before we slaughter ND over that one loss? The team that beat ND at South Bend was not the team that finished the season 5-6. Maybe its JUST possible that MSU ran into a tough roadblock, having to play Michigan and @OSU back-to-back (not to mention an under-rated Northwestern team after that), which is the kind of stretch that can just totally derail a team's season? Maybe that had something to do w/ MSU's epic collapse?

Now, on to one of my favorite topics that NONE of the ugly ducklings want to talk about, Oregon's schedule OUTSIDE of USC. Well, there's Houston and Montana, there's a couple of real powerhouses. Ah, I see Stanford and Washington, we all know they're going places. Arizona, Washington St., and Oregon St. I mean damn, w/ a conference schedule that tough NO WONDER they had to schedule Montana this year. Hey look! Arizona State and Cal(at home for that one no less)!! Finally a couple wins over bowl-eligible teams!!! (too bad that's the Insight Bowl and Sun Bowl, respectively). And finally, here's the kicker, the biggest win the Ducks have all year, Fresno State. A non-BCS opponent that just lost to Nevada. Wow. I mean, seriously, talk about a BCS-worthy team, huh?

Two facts jump out at me about Oregon's schedule that tell me how much they DON'T deserve a BCS bid: 1.People can say what they want about how ND's schedule turned out this year, but a win at Michigan is still a better quality win than any of Oregon's wins this year. and 2. By my count Notre Dame scheduled 7 teams that went to bowls a year ago, 3 of which were BCS teams, 3 of which were also in the preseason top 5 this year. Now, Notre Dame can't control what their opponents do the rest of the season, but at least they tried to put a schedule together. You can't tell me the Ducks EVER thought that an out of conference schedule of Houston, Montana, and Fresno State (two of which were at HOME no less!) was ever gonna be that challenging! You want to go to a BCS game w/o winning the Pac-10 (and in a year when you don't have to play UCLA, and get to have your toughest conference opponents, USC and Cal, both at home) Ducks? go schedule Texas, or OSU, or Florida even in your out of conference schedule next year instead of a bunch of non-bcs patsies! Or I got a better idea. You wanna go to a BCS game next year? (cause you can forget about this year) schedule a home-and-home w/ the ND. I'm sure Charlie would love an extra "W" on the schedule."

 

[jiggafini19]

Ah, finally someone with a stimulating piece of conversation.

Aerosmith, you'd be my guy in the fourth quarter with a BCS game we don't deserve on the line.

 

[Aerosmith777]

hehe, good times