Win Convincingly

[guff]

Since Sunday I've listened to four Charlie Weis press conferences/interviews (Sun and Tues presser, interviews on "The Herd" and during the Bowling Green/Toledo game.) During all those interviews Weis has said "if we win convincingly...". It is clear that Weis realizes that beating Southern Cal by a point isn't going to get ND into the Championship Game. The only way ND gets to the title game is by beating SoCal soundly.

His gameplan will reflect that reality. I don't think he's concerned about just winning because just winning isn't good enough. I expect it to be completely different from last year's gameplan. Last year I think Weis was trying to "steal" a win with ball control. This year I'd expect him to attack on both sides of the ball. And that will either lead to big plays or big mistakes.

ND will by two TDs or lose by two TDs.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Since Sunday I've listened to four Charlie Weis press conferences/interviews (Sun and Tues presser, interviews on "The Herd" and during the Bowling Green/Toledo game.) During all those interviews Weis has said "if we win convincingly...". It is clear that Weis realizes that beating Southern Cal by a point isn't going to get ND into the Championship Game. The only way ND gets to the title game is by beating SoCal soundly.

His gameplan will reflect that reality. I don't think he's concerned about just winning because just winning isn't good enough. I expect it to be completely different from last year's gameplan. Last year I think Weis was trying to "steal" a win with ball control. This year I'd expect him to attack on both sides of the ball. And that will either lead to big plays or big mistakes.

ND will by two TDs or lose by two TDs.

That's a good assessment of his statement. I think you are dead on. Sounds like he not only realizes that this is make or break, but rather that he needs to go all out and not "just win".

Wow...that could make for a very interesting game indeed.

 

[kjones]

Stop making me more excited!! If there wasn't a giant bird to eat on thursday, i'd probably kill myself before the week is over.

 

[Guest]

Winning big over USC is our only chance. We lost early in the year so if we can win big over USC many voters will feel we are much better than we were when we lost to Michigan.

I remember back in 02' when USC slaughtered us many felt they were the best team in the country after that win despite their 2 early losses, because they finished strong.

 

[scooper]

Stop making me more excited!! If there wasn't a giant bird to eat on thursday, i'd probably kill myself before the week is over.

I'll be eating three birds over two days. Then it's time to cook the trojans.

I honestly think at this point that ND has been eliminated. But I love that Charlie and his band of merry men are still shooting for it.

 

[kjones]

I honestly think at this point that ND has been eliminated. But I love that Charlie and his band of merry men are still shooting for it.

I agree. But we got a shot. And if we just beat SCum, I'll be so happy, it'll really be hard for me to be too disappointed. (At least for a good month or so.) GO IRISH!

 

[guff]

ND most likely has been eliminated but what Weis is doing should be commended. He's really building USC up. 54-3 in their last 57 games (or whatever it is), losing by a combined 8 points, Poodle never lost in November, Poodle hasn't lost at home since way back when yadda, yadda, yadda.

Now after ND beats USC by 14+ when asked at his post game presser if ND deserves to be #2, Weis "That's not my decision to make but we just beat a team that was 54-3 in their last 57 games....and we beat 'em by two touchdowns so we're as deserving as anyone."

The other problem ND has is that it is a late game and Weis doesn't have a lot of time for post-game politicing. He's only going to have one chance to make that sales pitch and I'm not sure how many media folks will be paying attention to a post game presser that starts at about 11:30 EST. If this were a day game he'd be able to hit all the halftime shows and the four letter network highlight show, Troy Smith suck off and bad joke fest (aka SportsCenter).

Gotta love that he's going down fighting.

 

[jiggafini19]

I'd be on the floor if Notre Dame won this game by double digits. If they win by a point, I could give a rat's ass.

This game is going to take a full 60 minutes to decide a winner. And special teams is going to have a say in it. Most likely, Notre Dame special teams. Someone is going to do something to decide the outcome of this game.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

MOst likey ND has already been eliminated, BUT college football is a strange bird. The only thin voters love more than the huge game with National Championship implications is the NEXT game with National Championship implications. It wasn't very long ago that the mantra was a 1 Loss SEC team definitely gets in. It's not probable, but definitely possible that ND could get in with a huge win over SC.

 

[jiggafini19]

The BCS is too confusing.

I'm going by the same stance I've had all along: ND did not get the job done against Michigan. Now, all I want them to do is win out against SC and a bowl. If it is Urban in the Sugar bowl, so be it.

 

[ND_Ownz!]

Only thing that concerns me, is if we lose, do we fall out of the BCS all together?

 

[Sweeney6083]

It sucks but if we win we let michigan walk into the National championship without so much as a chance to play anyone except tOSU. I find that terrible disturbing.

 

[jlschwenkler]

I agree with the general consensus that we don't have a chance at the NC game. But here's a scenario that would be pretty great: we win out, the SEC teams lose, scUM goes to the NC game and loses AGAIN. Meanwhile, we win our bowl game ... and finish with a #2 ranking and the right to spend the next twelve months bitching and moaning about how we were never given a shot, etc.

I, for one, would quite enjoy that.

 

[GREENJERSEYS'07]

notre dame's not that bad.A few flaws and holes in the system,but overall a pretty
good team.It would tickle me to no end if...

notre dame plays tech and tenuta took chances and they turned out to be a good team also.

notre dame beats penn state bad
and
the next week they are still on an emotional high(and a little over confident),michigan's good,but it was still a trap game for the irish.English takes chances and it too pays off.coulda happened to anyone and does every year.

michigan state,would anyone come out and play hard after the week before?
heh,notre dame wins

purdue is a win and now despite what anyone says,they start getting prepared for usc.This also contributes to some of notre dame's lackluster games inbetween also.
That is I agree a little early and noone really had any kind of idea just how usc would turn out,record wise,but...

A MAKEBELIEVE interview with charlie

interviewer:
charlie,what coach and/or team do you hate the most?
charlie:
well,I realy don't dislike any team or coach,this is football and...
interviewer:
charlie,out of all the teams you play this year,which one do you dislike?
charlie:
I don't think that is a professional question and I'm not answering
interviewer:
charlie,if you don't answer the question,you can't be coach any more.
charlie:
well,in that case,PETEY and USC!!! and we are gonna kick their ass until there is no end!!!


yeah,yeah,yeah, a litttle childish and I'm not 12 years old,but this is how i feel today.
If the defesne can step up and the o-line can open holes and give quinn time to pass,
this game will not be funny.

 

[GREENJERSEYS'07]

Only thing that concerns me, is if we lose, do we fall out of the BCS all together?

i think that could be the intentions of some votersand charlie knows this.If you take a good look at the bcs and the way some things could pan out notre dame still could drop a bunch and be in the top 14,but it will look bad.

 

[GREENJERSEYS'07]

I agree with the general consensus that we don't have a chance at the NC game. But here's a scenario that would be pretty great: we win out, the SEC teams lose, scUM goes to the NC game and loses AGAIN. Meanwhile, we win our bowl game ... and finish with a #2 ranking and the right to spend the next twelve months bitching and moaning about how we were never given a shot, etc.

I, for one, would quite enjoy that.

That's what I'm thinking.
Arkansas will be the key to this.Noone has been able to stop their running game and force mustain to pass.
If notre dame gets to play them and that happens it could be a very good win.

 

[southbend62]

Oh dear god...please give ND a victory against USC. I'll give up porn. I'll start going to church. I'll stop swearing like a long shoreman. I'll be nice to my mother-in-law AND sister-in-law. Please, please let Charlie have a huge game plan up his sleeve and win this game. Oh and dear god...please end all the suffering in the world and let ND win this game by at least 2 touchdowns. Thank you Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Amen.

 

[marv81s]

Give up porn??!!

 

[southbend62]

I'm desparate. We need to beat USC. I'll give up our entire porn collection if it means ND wins. (My husband is not really an ND fan...so I'll have to sneak it out--but if we win--it's gone!)

 

[FleaFlicker]

I think Weis realizes that we don't have much of a shot at the NC. But he is probably looking at it this way... If we win, we go to a regular BCS bowl. If we win convincingly, we have a shot at the NC (though slim). If we lose, we most likely get in a BCS bowl as well.

It sounds like he is just going to go balls to the wall in this game. None of that 50/50 run/pass ratio. USC's pass defense isn't as strong as it's run defense, so look for him to try and expose that by playing a two-minute offense from the start, and by just trying to shred USC through the air.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

I'm desparate. We need to beat USC. I'll give up our entire porn collection if it means ND wins. (My husband is not really an ND fan...so I'll have to sneak it out--but if we win--it's gone!)

You can't sneak out porn on a man. We have sensors that with sniff that out in a hurry. Plus, he can always go to his back-up porn. Every guy has a Plan B so you should be ok by a technicality.

 

[scooper]

Wow. This thread has taken a different turn. Thanks for the laughs, southbend62.