Notre Dame ducking game with LSU?

[Irish Envy]

Most of the schools contacted come from the Southeastern Conference, Big 12 and Conference USA. The Dallas paper named six schools in particular: LSU, Arkansas, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.

Ausberry said LSU would have great interest in playing Notre Dame, but that Notre Dame isn’t interested in playing LSU. This despite the fact Notre Dame has stated it is looking to play more neutral site games at venues around the country, including Dallas and New Orleans.

“We would love that,’’ Ausberry said. “But they’re trying to ‘downsize’ their schedule. We’ve gone through 2018 with them and they’re not interested in playing LSU at this time.’’

Source: 2theadvocate.com

 

[Irish Envy]

What do you all think about this? Do you think our AD shoved his shoe into his mouth when he announced to the world he was trying to water down our schedule? I think that should have been kept private personally, and that is (strength of schedule) that I've always held in high regard.

 

[maison bleu]

I don't know about all that, but I would LOVE to see ND play LSU at the Superdome. Though it's not exactly a neutral site.

 

[irishnd31]

Not that I don't think ND can't beat LSU, but if you look at the past several national championship teams as well as some of the schedules that teams like Ohio State and scUM play (who schedule in the MAC to get their "guaranteed victories"), every one of them has more than a handful of "cupcake" games on their schedule year in and year out. Would I like to see ND play LSU? Sure. LSU may have their chance sooner than they think, possibly in a NC game or a bowl. We aint ducking no one.

 

[NDAlumSon]

It's common knowledge around college football that not only has ND consistently had the toughest of schedules but that they also never cried or whined about it. Still one of the few programs that will not lower their standards to play some D-2 patsies like a lot of the powerhouse programs do. I think I like the combination of weakening the schedule just slightly while "barnstorming" the country for a few neutral site games now and again.
An LSU matchup in New Orleans satisfies neither criteria.

 

[scooper]

There are many national powers that I would love to see ND playing for various reasons, but we can't play every big dog that comes along barking for a shot. Fans of every major program think we are "ducking" them.

I'd love to match up with LSU this season, especially because I think they are the most balanced of the title contenders and have a good shot to play for it all this season.

 

[maison bleu]

Not that I don't think ND can't beat LSU, but if you look at the past several national championship teams as well as some of the schedules that teams like Ohio State and scUM play (who schedule in the MAC to get their "guaranteed victories"), every one of them has more than a handful of "cupcake" games on their schedule year in and year out. Would I like to see ND play LSU? Sure. LSU may have their chance sooner than they think, possibly in a NC game or a bowl. We aint ducking no one.

I know that overall ND plays a tough schedule, but RE: MAC games, people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

After all, the Irish are playing all 3 service academies this year. Army and Navy are "guarantee victories" just as much as Toledo or Eastern Michigan.

 

[scooper]

I know that overall ND plays a tough schedule, but RE: MAC games, people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

After all, the Irish are playing all 3 service academies this year. Army and Navy are "guarantee victories" just as much as Toledo or Eastern Michigan.

Navy would have beaten most of the MAC the last two years.

Army-you are correct. We have actually very seldom played them over the last 20 years.

Air Force is often a strong bowl team. Though not so much last year.

 

[maison bleu]

Navy would have beaten most of the MAC the last two years.

Army-you are correct. We have actually very seldom played them over the last 20 years.

Air Force is often a strong bowl team. Though not so much last year.

All I'm saying is that THIS year, ND loosing to Army or Navy would be as big, if not bigger, an upset than a MAC team knocking off one of the Big 10 powers.

 

[scooper]

All I'm saying is that THIS year, ND loosing to Army or Navy would be as big, if not bigger, an upset than a MAC team knocking off one of the Big 10 powers.

A fair point, yes.

 

[irishnd31]

I know that overall ND plays a tough schedule, but RE: MAC games, people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

After all, the Irish are playing all 3 service academies this year. Army and Navy are "guarantee victories" just as much as Toledo or Eastern Michigan.

I'm not trying to step on any toes here maison and I apologize if I offended, but the remark was not just directed towards Michigan. Yes, you guys do play Toledo and Eastern Michigan, and I think that you will admit that those are "cupcake games". Navy,during the Willingham era, was not a guaranteed victory, in fact they came close to beating us a handful of times. I agree with scooper in the post below this one in that Army is way down and Air Force is not the team who was in the Top 25 in Willingham's first year at ND. Those will most likely be wins. Navy most likely a win. Notre Dame has always played the academy teams though. Has Michigan always played Toledo or Central Michigan? Is there a tradition between Michigan and those teams? Smart money says NO.

I hate Ohio State probably more than you do or ever will. When they won the most recent NC, they had beaten teams like San Jose State and Akron, and a few more cream puffs. Made me sick.

 

[jiggafini19]

I think if ND plays one of the three, they play Navy. Otherwise, they should get some other schools in there.

I don't like the Big Ten-MAC series, but the MAC is becoming more legit each year. Those teams can play.

I-AA and Sun Belt teams are absolute no no's.

 

[maison bleu]

The MAC seems to be producing a lot more NFL-caliber players--Randy Moss and Big Ben R, just to name two. Service academies? Latter-day Roger Staubachs are few and far between.

Another thing about Big Ten - MAC matchups. In some states, there is pressure from the government for state universities to play the states' other schools. If Western Michigan plays at the Big House, they get a big payday that would otherwise have gone out to a school in a different state. I'm not sure how common this is, but I know for a fact it's why Iowa regularly schedule Northern Iowa....

 

[jiggafini19]

Being a I-AA guy, I hated those games. We were lambs to the slaughter so the athletic department could get a fat check. Didn't seem right, but those games were fun nonetheless. Sure, we got our asses stomped....but the rest of our schedule seemed to be moving a lot less faster than it did in the first two games. One of the benefits was that those teams weren't nearly as good as the I-A guys.

As for Navy, They almost beat Davie (97 and 99) and they almost beat TW (02 and 03). Even Holtz had a 35-17 run in with them at some point late in his career. Suffice to say, I doubt it will happen any time soon.

Randy Moss ended up at Marshall by default, but Roethlesberger, Leftwich and others of the like have turned out to be good football players. The MAC was also the place where Pope Urban got his career up and running as a head coach.

 

[Indydomer]

i agree we need to get rid of two of the three and play some other schools. Pennington is another that came out of the MAC. We should just join the big ten!! Oooohhh that will get a rise.

 

[Irish Legend]

Being from Austin, I want to know why Texas is playing Sam Houston State this year? The Big 12 schedule is weak enough...except OU, and they are hosting tOSU this year. Other than those two games it should be a cake walk.

 

[Fitzgerald]

The MAC seems to be producing a lot more NFL-caliber players--Randy Moss and Big Ben R, just to name two. Service academies? Latter-day Roger Staubachs are few and far between.

Another thing about Big Ten - MAC matchups. In some states, there is pressure from the government for state universities to play the states' other schools. If Western Michigan plays at the Big House, they get a big payday that would otherwise have gone out to a school in a different state. I'm not sure how common this is, but I know for a fact it's why Iowa regularly schedule Northern Iowa....

1. The MAC had a run of producing NFL stars. That run seems to be over, IMO, though they still produce some NFL players.

2. Navy is a better TEAM, just plain team, regardless of pro prospects, than most any MAC team is, year in and year out, and would beat most teams in the MAC.

 

[jiggafini19]

2. Navy is a better TEAM, just plain team, regardless of pro prospects, than most any MAC team is, year in and year out, and would beat most teams in the MAC.

Many on the low end. They can beat those guys, Central and Eastern Michigan, etc. Navy plays the upper tier schools and loses.

Navy's wins last year came against the other two service academies and the likes of Duke, Temple, Kent and Rice. Toledo, Northern Illinois, Bowling Green and Miami of Ohio could all take Navy on the field.

 

[Fitzgerald]

Disagree. Navy's results last year:

Sat, Sep 3 Maryland L 20-23
Sat, Sep 10 Stanford L 38-41
Sat, Sep 24 at Rice Ppd.
Sat, Oct 1 at Duke W 28-21
Sat, Oct 8 Air Force W 27-24
Sat, Oct 15 Kent State W 34-31
Sat, Oct 22 at Rice W 41-9
Sat, Oct 29 at Rutgers L 21-31
Sat, Nov 5 Tulane W 49-21
Sat, Nov 12 at (7) Notre Dame L 21-42
Sat, Nov 19 Temple W 38-17
Sat, Dec 3 at Army W 42-23

Postseason
Thu, Dec 22 Colorado State W 51-30


Now what that tells me is that in a BCS league, Navy (at least last year) would have been in the lower half of the league, if not near the very bottom, but would have stayed in most every game, and would have won a few. And that, in a non-BCS league, Navy would still have been a bowl team, and beaten most anyone, and been in every game.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Now what that tells me is that in a BCS league, Navy (at least last year) would have been in the lower half of the league, if not near the very bottom, but would have stayed in most every game, and would have won a few. And that, in a non-BCS league, Navy would still have been a bowl team, and beaten most anyone, and been in every game.

You are spot on.

In a non-BCS conference they would do really well. Paul Johnson is a stellar coach and those guys work as hard as anyone. Great guys...tough competitors.

 

[Irishmist]

It's fairly common knowledge that Navy will stay on the schedule for as long as they want. This is in appreciation for the support that ND received from the Naval Department during World War II. The NROTC program, the Midshipmen school and several other Naval programs helped keep the University afloat during a time of drastically reduced enrollment.

Plus, they play their a$$ off against us. I think it was Father Joyce who said something to the effect that Navy plays so hard against us that sometimes I wish that they would win.....but not THIS year!!!!