[January 3, 2007] SUGAR BOWL - Notre Dame (10-2) vs LSU (10-2)

[Irish Envy]

vs.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-2) vs. LSU Tigers (10-2)
Louisiana Superdome - New Orleans, LA
January 3, 2007 - 8:00pm EST​

LSU On The Season
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=colhead vAlign=top><TD width=43>DATE</TD><TD width=170>OPPONENT</TD><TD width=100>RESULT/TIME</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>09/02</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>La Lafayette</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W 45-3</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>09/09</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>Arizona</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W 45-3</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>09/16</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at #3 Auburn</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>L 7-3</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>09/23</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>Tulane</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W 49-7</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>09/30</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>Miss St</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W 48-17</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>10/07</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at #5 Florida</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>L 23-10</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>10/14</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>Kentucky</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W 49-0</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>10/21</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>Fresno St</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W 38-6</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>11/04</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at #8 Tennessee</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W 28-24</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>11/11</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>Alabama</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W 28-14</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow><TD width=43>11/18</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>Ole Miss</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W 23-20</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD width=43>11/24</TD><TD width=170><NOBR>at #5 Arkansas</NOBR></TD><TD width=125>W 31-26</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>​

 

[bayernarsch]

Charlie better go rent a Metallica concert's worth of speakers to start pumping sound into practice if the guys are going to be ready for all those Bayou Bengal fans at the Dome in what amounts to a home game for LSU. Definitely a challenge for which the team should have no problem getting up. Should be a great game.

 

[irishfan]

They average giving up just 11 points a game, and average scoring almost 34. wow.

 

[Vince Young]

We're dead.

We are so dead.

If we win this game I will die of joy.

We. Are. Dead.

 

[tedwick]

We're dead.

We are so dead.

If we win this game I will die of joy.

We. Are. Dead.

I share your sentiments...

For example: Their kick returner is a guy named Trindon Holliday.
Good News: He's 5'5"
Bad News: He runs a 6.46 60m dash.
http://www.dyestat.com/3us/5in/NIC/06.htm

panic.

 

[GREENJERSEYS'07]

We're dead.

We are so dead.

If we win this game I will die of joy.

We. Are. Dead.

ah crap,maybe lsu will have 5 turnovers.

 

[Brady4Heisman]

Arent we all supposed to be notre dame fans???? were's the faith?

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Arent we all supposed to be notre dame fans???? were's the faith?

Left it on the sidelines after the USC game maybe?

Honestly, I hope we win. I KNOW we have a shot...

But I really don't feel too good about this one. It does NOT bode well.

 

[jiggafini19]

LSU has a big QB that is accurate and a defense that might be better than scUM or SC's.

Their defensive backfield is one of the best in the nation.

 

[Sweeney6083]

Damn LSU is really good , lets hope were ready.

 

[southbend62]

Oh come on! Suck it up. We have to believe we can win this game or there is no reason to show up. Sure LSU is tough---but for the love of god and all that's holy---ND has to win this bowl game. Charlie will squeeze it out of the team.

 

[jiggafini19]

They'll compete. No doubt about that.

 

[southbend62]

I can't imagine letting Quinn leave ND without a bowl win...no way, no how. Charlie will make them practice every day for the 30 days before the bowl game. How can any team be expected to play well for a bowl game after sitting for 30 days? OSU is going to be ice cold by January 6.

 

[scooper]

Their defense is good-no doubt-but those numbers as a bit skewed. The best three offenses they faced are Florida's, Tennessee's and Arkansas. They gave up 23, 24 and 26, repspectively. Those aren't huge scores, but none of those offenses are as good as Notre Dame's. Heck, they gave up 20 to Ole Miss, which was the Rebels' second highest total against an SEC team. Florida scored in the 20's against most of their SEC opponants, so it's not like LSU shut them down. The only SEC teams against which Tennessee scored more were Vanderbilt and Georgia.

I'm not saying LSU's D isn't good. But they can be moved on and scored on. If the Irish protect the ball, they can score and I fully expect them to.

The question is on the other side. I fully expect the offense to once again have to try to outscore somebody. But they've pulled that off before.

This is a tough tough game. But it's winnable. Surely, the Irish are better than Ole Miss, who LSU was lucky to beat in Baton Rouge.

 

[bc525]

Well let's hope CW takes advantage of the time and puts together a sound game plan....we can NOT afford a flat first quarter! The D better come out playing "nastier" than they've ever played all year....none of this arm tackling crap! Not only do we need the O to put up BIG points (not just stats, but real points on the board), but we also need to have them keep our D off the field!

I honestly think our D is good for a few holds, but it is inevitable that they are going to give up some big plays!!!

Yes, it is essentially a home game for them, but ND has never had a lack of faithful and I'm sure there will be a big number of Domers in the Dome...

As for Florida...I'm glad Urban's crying got him in....he's going to get waxed! I do have to balk at Tressel for recusing himself....take the vote...vote for UM and support the Big 10, you pansy! Ok...I know that's like asking David if he'll take a rematch with Goliath....but Hello Jim...you've got the better team....I think the #1 team in the country should have a "Fear No One" attitude...not this passive BS.

 

[southbend62]

Just to see Carr complaining about Florida was a thing of beauty. Maybe all teams regardless of conference can start playing the same number of games and have the schedules end at the same time. Having Michigan sit idol couldn't have helped with the voters that went with Florida.

 

[luckofirish8]

We can win this game without a doubt, but LSU has a lot of speed. We must find a way to neutralize all their speed.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

I love Scoop's enthusiasm and happen to agree with him too. I don't know if LSU has seen anyone use their tight ends like ND can. That may make a significant difference.

 

[jiggafini19]

I can't imagine letting Quinn leave ND without a bowl win...no way, no how

I thought he'd get a win against SC, too. Bad guys win in the end of some movies.

Ohio State is too well coached to be "rusty" no matter how long they wait to play.

That idiot Urban Meyer used three timeouts in the third quarter against Arkansas. tOSU will lay the wood to Florida.

As for Notre Dame, winning this game is without question a signature win for Quinn and Weis. Hands down. They'll need the tight ends and screen passes because LSU has phyiscal DBs that will slap our WR in the mouth. I hope Weis uses Grimes and West more. They're smaller, faster and can do a good job of getting open.

 

[southbend62]

As for Notre Dame, winning this game is without question a signature win for Quinn and Weis. Hands down. They'll need the tight ends and screen passes because LSU has phyiscal DBs that will slap our WR in the mouth. I hope Weis uses Grimes and West more. They're smaller, faster and can do a good job of getting open.

But the bottom line is ND can beat LSU. Everyone needs this win and they have got to pull this out.

 

[jerseyborn1971]

The boys have a daunting task ahead of them. The loss of hope in the face of adversity is the worst thing that can happen to you. Keep the faith and BELIEVE.

 

[jiggafini19]

Indoors, on the turf....maybe ND's speed will be enhanced.

Will Travis Thomas record his first tackle since the Air Force game?

 

[crimson_vendetta]

This should be a real close game. Despite the "home field advantage" that LSU has, I think Notre Dame can play them close.

 

[tedwick]

i'm kind of hoping that going in expecting them to lose will make a win more likely. ND has been getting me like that recently.

I really hope they win the thing. I know they can. It's just LSU might be the second or third best team we've played all year, and we saw what happened against UM and USC...

 

[Indydomer]

going to be a tough game fellas. Again we don't match up athletically and Russell is a bad man. We can't make mistakes early in the game, and have to get momentum early to shut down the crowd noise. (35-31 ND) Brady and Weis finally beat a big time team, and we give a push to the young kids next year to continue the greatness of ND.

By the way, during the BCS selection show they kept showing Rockne giving that famous speech. Felt chills a couple times. I think that guy could have motivated a dead man.

 

[ACamp1900]

They'll compete. No doubt about that.

I am sure of it... LSU is damn good... actually picked them to meet Mich for the title at the beginning of the year... but we will compete... and can win this game... we have to contain JR which we can do... if LSU has a flaw it's the O line...we will put up points...

 

[ACamp1900]

i'm kind of hoping that going in expecting them to lose will make a win more likely. ND has been getting me like that recently.

I really hope they win the thing. I know they can. It's just LSU might be the second or third best team we've played all year, and we saw what happened against UM and USC...

Or the best... if we play like we did against SC, we'll get beat by thirty... but we won't and if the team is on and Brady plays like HE did against SC... we'll win... I have no doubt

GO IRISH

 

[Famboo28]

Or the best... if we play like we did against SC, we'll get beat by thirty... but we won't and if the team is on and Brady plays like HE did against SC... we'll win... I have no doubt

GO IRISH

Yes, we will have to play a MUCH better game than USC, we cannot come out flat in the game and be playing catch up the entire game. Hopefully, also, since the game is indoors, the kicking will be somewhat improved (not likely to happen) and won't have to gamble on 4th downs when inside the 25. The fact of the matter is in order for us to be an extremely competitive LSU team we will have to play a perfect game, or pretty damn close to it. We cannot have dropped passes, missed tackles, and terrible miscommunications. Also, look for Carlson to have a big game. With Carlson back in the lineup, it will be much harder for people to defend the pass because without a deep threat down the middle of the field, a team can run a very successful Tampa 2 defense.

 

[Bubba]

Or the best... if we play like we did against SC, we'll get beat by thirty... but we won't and if the team is on and Brady plays like HE did against SC... we'll win... I have no doubt

GO IRISH

Brady did play a great game. A few less drops by our receivers in the Sugar bowl and we maintain some drives, keep the defense rested and score some points. They can do it, I'm sure.

 

[IrishDon103]

Brady Played a great game against SC?? I don't know about that...

The first drive he missed rhema wide open in the endzone. Easy throw. He also made some bad mistakes in general 1st quarter.

He played well most of the rest of the game, but again missed a throw or two and he got really rattled between getting ass-pounded b/c of our "o-line" and all the dropped passes.

So I give him a B+ for the game...but a great performance? Nuh-uh.

Anyhow, I think we all know LSU has the edge in terms of talent...

BUT. but but but but..but.....I think Charlie sees the critics, and when he looks at his record, he sees some good ones, but no true "signature" ones. He also sees a few games (SC, OSU, UM) that were winnable (SC, OSU for sure...UM maybe) and yet we got pretty badly spanked. So Weis sees these things, and what does he say? Probably something like "Shit, we need to win this bowl game.".

So the point is, while I think we are a little outmatched, I think Charlie knows that, and knows we need to win this game, and will find a way. Look for Brady to play a hell of a game against a good LSU defense, and look for some interesting wrinkles in the game plan.

And most of all, pray every night...