Yet again... my heart goes down the toilet

[ACamp1900]

I have been fooling myself that my beloved Irish could really get back among the greats since I was nine years old... now I can just hear the five star recruits thinking, "Well I think I'll be passing on that offical visit to South Bend, why bother."

Someone please give me a reason why this beating doesn't derail all the progress Charlie had made to this point, because that's the way I see it...


(Thank god SC is in thier current troubles or Jimmy Clausen might have jumped ship, as a 18/19 year kid, I would have after what I saw today...)

 

[VictorsValiant]

That's a good point. Better bounce back, esp. since Nd hasn't been that consistent over the years.

 

[Irish Envy]

Please, back away from the ledge and/or the booze.

 

[ACamp1900]

Please, back away from the ledge and/or the booze.

lol, no booze, just worried... AND completely sober... that's the first smile in a couple hours I must say... and still feel all recruiting progress has been destroyed...

 

[KMac151993]

lol, no booze, just worried... AND completely sober... that's the first smile in a couple hours I must say... and still feel all recruiting progress has been destroyed...

I don't think its that bad...but I def. think it does hurt us.

 

[guff]

I think ND owes me 3 and half hours. I don't mind watching 'em lose but they should atleast try. I'm not one to critize college players but that was beyond bad. That was about as heartless as I have ever seen a team play. It was - in a word - Willinghamesque.

 

[BLUETHUNDER]

I think ND owes me 3 and half hours. I don't mind watching 'em lose but they should atleast try. I'm not one to critize college players but that was beyond bad. That was about as heartless as I have ever seen a team play. It was - in a word - Willinghamesque.

Exactly right. i told my freind at the half that they look they dont care at all. It seemed like there was no fire or passion by any buddy on the team.

This is going to really hurt recruiting. This was supposed to be a big week but it turns out we got our butts handed to us. I am sure those recruits saw the lack of heart on the team today and they are going to take that back with them.

However, a pure beat down of MSU next week will really help.

 

[Slingsup]

Yes, ND got spanked today. But I look back at the losses when Ty Willingham was around...30+. ND did not lose by that much today. ND beat a good PSU and Georgia Tech team. I still am not convinced that the defense has improved. On multiple plays, I saw Travis Thomas get manhandled. Lambert got beat all around. I'm not the coach but changes need to be tested with the highly regarded Freshman in my opinion. This sucks because this was the 2nd most important game of the year.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Yes, ND got spanked today. But I look back at the losses when Ty Willingham was around...30+. ND did not lose by that much today. ND beat a good PSU and Georgia Tech team. I still am not convinced that the defense has improved. On multiple plays, I saw Travis Thomas get manhandled. Lambert got beat all around. I'm not the coach but changes need to be tested with the highly regarded Freshman in my opinion. This sucks because this was the 2nd most important game of the year.

Not trying to be a downer, but a 27 point loss is not that far off a 31 point loss. (Yes, he had two worse ones)

I will admit I am extremely unhappy today. However, I have one big take away from this game: they did NOT give up, but they played sloppy.

5 turnovers? ugh

That's what sank us.

Thankfully, that can be remedied.

 

[irishfan81]

I don't know what to think. I think honestly we looked like a TITANIC LOSINGHAM TEAM. Thats how bad we sucked today. Time to start some freshmen.

 

[lattedatte]

I said it in another post prior to game time, the keys to this game were big plays and special teams. They got nearly all of those today. It was deflating and the team handled it poorly, but for the love of God in was ONE GAME, i repeat ONE GAME. This team will now be substantial favorites in every game until USC. A one loss team is still a BCS team, maybe even a BCS championship team. But that would be two years, two BCS games. We all fell into the NC hype, but who wouldn't have taken two BCS games in two yrs. after Gruden and Urban turned us down less than 2 years ago. This team will be fine, maybe not a NC team but a damn good one. With recruiting going awesome, the future is bright my freinds, but baby steps, baby steps.

 

[onenybrother]

As Florida Evans said when James Died. Damn! Damn! Damn!

 

[ACamp1900]

I said it in another post prior to game time, the keys to this game were big plays and special teams. They got nearly all of those today. It was deflating and the team handled it poorly, but for the love of God in was ONE GAME, i repeat ONE GAME. This team will now be substantial favorites in every game until USC. A one loss team is still a BCS team, maybe even a BCS championship team. But that would be two years, two BCS games. We all fell into the NC hype, but who wouldn't have taken two BCS games in two yrs. after Gruden and Urban turned us down less than 2 years ago. This team will be fine, maybe not a NC team but a damn good one. With recruiting going awesome, the future is bright my freinds, but baby steps, baby steps.

song same different year...

All I'm saying is this makes 2 high profile BEATINGS in just 4 games and another game that is looked at nationally as very questionable with GT... we'd better pray we win each game until SC if recruiting is to go "awesome"

 

[Slingsup]

Not trying to be a downer, but a 27 point loss is not that far off a 31 point loss. (Yes, he had two worse ones)

I will admit I am extremely unhappy today. However, I have one big take away from this game: they did NOT give up, but they played sloppy.

5 turnovers? ugh

That's what sank us.

Thankfully, that can be remedied.

I am not happy about the game either. I guess I have already gone through the 3 phases of denial, anger, and now acceptance that ND is not the best team in the land. 27 points are not far from 30 off but 5 turnovers led to the wide margin...not poor play. Poor play is what caused Willingham to lose his job. I guess 5 turnovers can be called poor play but oh well. I'm disappointed with the "nastiness" of the football team this year. Does anyone feel that Weis may have gone soft?

 

[pappy]

Wait, there was a football game today? I'll be damned. I looked and looked and looked on TV, but only found the Michigan game. Notre Dame played football today? Hmm. News to me.

 

[irish4life99]

Ok, Ok, Ok, let's all just step back and take a deeeeep breath. We know that this was really ugly, but the defense really didn't play that badly. We did hold UM to only 126 yard rushing w/only 2.9 yards per rush.

Now Wooden and Lambert need to be benched. I know that West didn't do any better, but I'll be damed he didn't do any worse and he's a true freshman. No excuses for the other two.

It's still early in the year, we can still have a great season. No reason to bail yet.

 

[KMac151993]

47 points was the second most points ever given up in Notre Dame Stadium.....not even Davie, Willingham, or Faust gave up that many at home. Charlie has his work cut out for him now, lets all sit back and see how he handles it.

 

[irish4life99]

47 points was the second most points ever given up in Notre Dame Stadium.....not even Davie, Willingham, or Faust gave up that many at home. Charlie has his work cut out for him now, lets all sit back and see how he handles it.

My, how quickly we turn. One bad game and already you comparing Weis to Ty and Davie. Weis so far has not let any one beat us by 38 points at home. Or lose to a BYU or Syracuse.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

Well, I think Weis is building a hell of a future. We probably don't have much of a chance of getting into the title game, but there's always tomorrow.

Next year will be exciting, if only because the expectations won't be so high and there will be a ton of young talent. So, give us 2-3 years, and we'll be consistently awesome.

It's hard though, because our dream was shattered so quickly. I don't think it had to be that way, either; this series is meant to be really close, so when one team fucks up the way we did (Carlson drop ((though it was too hard/too high a throw)) & Grimes' fumble), things get out of synch, and the next thing you know, it's a blow-out, even though the talent and strength of the teams are relatively similar.

 

[marv81s]

was just going to say the same thing. Damn, one game and the nay sayers are out. Thought the article on ESPN on the game pissed me off, but to come on here and see the chicken littles already. Yeah we got taken to the woodshed today, but by our own doing for the most part. Our offense did nothing to help out the D at all. They got no rest and our secondary didn't play good at all. It was a bad showing all around, where were the fundamentals at? ND believed the hype and the players got way too full of themselves after last weeks performance. This blowout could be just what they needed and to have all the press come out and say "see, we thought ND was overrated" and all that other bullshit. Better to lose one game now in September than one game in late October or early November. WE ALL NEED TO RELAX!!!! We could still make the title game or a BCS bowl. Hopefully this blowout will give all the team a new found focus that they need.

 

[rontdtarchala]

we looked like mental patients out there

 

[solo]

I think a lot was learned today.

1. Our defense is as bad as it was last year, maybe even worse. At least last years D could stuff the run. This D can't stop the run or the pass.

2. BQ is not Heisman material nor 1st overall pick in the coming draft

3. This team is not a legit contender.

4. Our offense isn't all powerful like we thought. The trend continues of our offense tanking against good defensive teams (Michigan and OSU last year, GT and Michigan this year)

5. Despite Weis being a good coach, he has a lot to prove before he can be called "elite". We've been manhandled twice in 4 games, that doesn't often happen to the "the greats".

And before I proclaim that the world is coming to an end, know that I still think our programi s moving in the right direction. We need to get 2 or 3 consecutive top 10 recruiting classes filled with 5 star recruits before we can truly expect to hang wiht the big boys. But we definitely moving in the right direction.

 

[ACamp1900]

Better to lose one game now in September than one game in late October or early November. WE ALL NEED TO RELAX!!!! We could still make the title game or a BCS bowl. Hopefully this blowout will give all the team a new found focus that they need.

What we need and have needed is a big win against a legit team (not a bunch of wins against some ify teams, now imagine if we lose even one of those upcoming games)... this was one of two chances this year and I don't see SC being any different from today... as for getting us more focused... the Fiesta Bowl sure got us focused didn't it... that's just the way I feel about

 

[ACCIrish]

ya sure he hasnt given up 38 points at home or lost byu or syracuse but did you watch the same game today I did cause we might as well lose that bad!! Stop tryin to sugarcoat this it was an ugly display of football and we just got whooped the whole game! We must defintiely were not nasty tough or whateve. At times i even wondered if some of the guys wanted to be out there because of the lack of intensity for UM of all teams. Now id like to say that i havent given up hope for this season because its just one. Hell we will prolley win out til USC and hopefully this team has improved substantially by the time we get there and if we win must likely be in a bcs game if not the nc and you know what if we dont i will still be a Notre Dame fan for life its just upsetting we didnt come ready to play!
GO IRISH!! BEAT SPARTAN!!!

 

[ACamp1900]

I think a lot was learned today.

1. Our defense is as bad as it was last year, maybe even worse. At least last years D could stuff the run. This D can't stop the run or the pass.

2. BQ is not Heisman material nor 1st overall pick in the coming draft

3. This team is not a legit contender.

4. Our offense isn't all powerful like we thought. The trend continues of our offense tanking against good defensive teams (Michigan and OSU last year, GT and Michigan this year)

5. Despite Weis being a good coach, he has a lot to prove before he can be called "elite". We've been manhandled twice in 4 games, that doesn't often happen to the "the greats".

And before I proclaim that the world is coming to an end, know that I still think our programi s moving in the right direction. We need to get 2 or 3 consecutive top 10 recruiting classes filled with 5 star recruits before we can truly expect to hang wiht the big boys. But we definitely moving in the right direction.

totally agree, I have felt we needed a win or two against a Michigan or such before we start landing those five stars on the D side of the ball... I guess I was hoping Nd could be legit now and try to stay there through next year and on in the future... after the last four games it's clear that it'll be another 2-3 year process at least, and lord I am tired of hearing that....

 

[NDgettysburg]

the defense really didn't play that badly. We did hold UM to only 126 yard rushing w/only 2.9 yards per rush.

If you factor in Henne getting dropped for a 10 yard loss and their backup gaining only 9 yards on a bunch of carries.....otherwise Hart ran for 124 yards (4.0 ypc). Sorry but I don't consider that playing the run well.

Our offense did nothing to help out the D at all. They got no rest and our secondary didn't play good at all. It was a bad showing all around, where were the fundamentals at?

You know what's funny....Criqui asked CW before the game how the week of practice went and the things they worked on the most. CW replied "the fundamentals"

I'm more disappointed in Quinn....his throws are terribly off. Yes some were dropped but most were overthrown. Hell, even the TD to Samardzija was behind him. Jeff made a very nice catch on a badly thrown ball. Quinn also seems to have a fondness for throwing into double coverage.

 

[ND Lifer]

Let's face it! This team looked every bit like a Willingham coached team today and the score backed it up. Weis was out coached in ther Fiesta Bowl. He really hasn't made the personnel adjustments this year that needed to be made. The defense is virtually the same as last year, possibly even worse. We have the same secondary starting and they were horrible last year. Our LB's are obviously worse than what we had last year. Coaching means upgrading players and/ormaking changes when the people at starting positions are inept. Lambert has looked pitiful the last two weeks when he's palyed Absolutely horrible. If the freshmen are such good "cover corners", as Weis has stated many times, then they're better than what's out there playing. So why aren't the coaches starting them in the game. The offense has looked horrible in two out of three games. Why isn't Charlie doing something about that. These are the same guys we had on offense last year. They should be better after having one year in Weis' system. The team looked very, very flat and didn't look like they were up for the game at all. Maybe Charlie's idea of every opponent being the same as any other needs to be rethought. When BIG games are BIG games, he should use that as motivation. It helps in getting the team "up" for a game. These kids aren't pros. They're college kids and they will respond to big game emotions.

Now we have to face a mobile QB in Stanton. We know what kind of trouble that presents to Minter and the defense. We've seen it before. Next week may become another disaster unless the coaches make some drastic changes, especially on defense.

I believe Ohio State really exposed us in the Fiesta Bowl and other teams have picked up on it. In the meantime, we haven't made the adjustments required, especially on defense.

If I was a recruit, especially a defensive prospect, I would really be in a quandry. No wonder we can't recruit any big time defensive tackles.

It's a sad day!!!!

 

[irish4life99]

ya sure he hasnt given up 38 points at home or lost byu or syracuse but did you watch the same game today I did cause we might as well lose that bad!! Stop tryin to sugarcoat this it was an ugly display of football and we just got whooped the whole game! We must defintiely were not nasty tough or whateve. At times i even wondered if some of the guys wanted to be out there because of the lack of intensity for UM of all teams. Now id like to say that i havent given up hope for this season because its just one. Hell we will prolley win out til USC and hopefully this team has improved substantially by the time we get there and if we win must likely be in a bcs game if not the nc and you know what if we dont i will still be a Notre Dame fan for life its just upsetting we didnt come ready to play!
GO IRISH!! BEAT SPARTAN!!!

Never said it wasn't a ugly game. But listen to some of these bandwagon comments. Last week Weis was a god, this week he's being compared to you know who. I'm out for now. I cannot stand hearing this. Everyone just needs to chill out and focus on next week. Don't worry, we will still have a great season. We just went' 2-1 in a VERY hard 3 game series. Get past MSU and we should be able to cruse out to USC being 10-1. That's not so bad!

 

[VictorsValiant]

Here my take on what happened. And keep in mind I want Nd to get better because I want this win to be meaningful.

1. Don't throw Weis off the bus. It's amazing how Nd fans can turn after one game. This wasn't all his fault. He called good plays, but Quinn didn't deliver. I mean, if you miss screens to your RB by underthrowing, what does that say about you as a QB. Quinn also missed open recievers, though most of that came when the game was out of reach. Still, he performed very poorly when there was ANY pressure, not only when he was getting hit (and there was a lot of that, too).
2. Another reason why I don't think you can pin this on Weis is because of the poor coaching on defense. What was Minter thinking leaving 2 average CB out on an island with no protection against two of the fastest WR in college football? That was such a boneheaded move and it was even worse because he didn't change anything until it was too late. But on a deeper level (and I've been saying this for a while), the talent on defense is just not there. The LBs play hard, but they are undersized and lack natural ability. The secondary is horrible except for Zbikowski. More importantly, you have to note that most of the players on defense (and offense), are not Weis' players. They're holdovers from Willingham, who recruiting pretty badly for the most part. A lot of it comes down to that. Furthermore, it will be up to Weis to recurit defense and not repeat Willingham's mistake of only getting good offense. Last year's recruiting was really telling. Many more offensive players and less on defense. That must change.
3. I've also said this before, but give Weis some time. Don't expect everything to happen at once. Give him 3 years to get his players on the field, and then judge him as a coach. There's so much of this quick fix mentality among Nd fans. You have to improve incrementally, and that takes time.
4. Don't throw away the season. Stick with what you have. If you play Walls, for example, he will get burned. In that one play where he played, Debord went straight after him, and Walls was beat on a Breaston screen. There's still a lot of football left, although I don't think you'll have a chance against USC, esp. since it's away. A 2 loss season is not that bad.

 

[ACamp1900]

Just for the Rec. I personally am not on the Bash Charlie wagon, (I know I haven't made any posts stating such, but just didn't want anyone to get it skewed)... just dissapointed and I still feel this will hurt recruiting... unfortunately we are not an elite program that can take a loss like this and keep the five stars rolling in ...

basically, .... me sad