We are going to be lke Illinois next year in terms of improvement

[NDsuperfan09]

Last year Ilinois had lots of inexperienced talent, and they only won one game in the big ten (2-10) overall. It was a transistion year,or rebuilding year. Now look at this season they could easily be 5-0 right now, and are beating Wisconsin currently who is the 5th ranked team in America. They have a great shot to win the big ten if they hold on today. Right now we look like they did last season, some very good inexperienced talent against a very tough schedule. I hope we experience the turnaround they had next season where we are a top 10-15 team again, or at least have the potential to be. I'm not giving up on this current team, but if the current '08 committs stay committed and Charlie turns it around during the offseason next year could be a huge rebound year.

 

[johnnd05]

Ugh. The LAST thing I want to hear is comparisons of this team to Illannoying ...

 

[NDsuperfan09]

I hate Illinois as well as I wish we had Tez, and Rejus Benn right now but if we make a turnaround like they have next year I, and most other objective ND fans would be pleased.

 

[johnnd05]

I hate Illinois as well as I wish we had Tez, and Rejus Benn right now but if we make a turnaround like they have next year I, and most other objective ND fans would be pleased.

I understand what you're saying. To some degree I'm still convinced that the wheels are going to fall off and the Illini are going to lose all the rest of their games this year. Hey, you gotta have hope ...

 

[piyachi]

We are going to be much better than Illinois is this year. This is a down year for the Big 10 (11?), and the Zooker is taking advantage. He has a few very good players that are his youngsters like that DC receiver, and a lower talent upperclassmen body. They have yet to play the real class of their conference and I imagine it could get ugly for them in those games.

Next year we are going to be a team with talent across the board, and we won't be playing a schedule as brutalizing as this years. We will have almost every player back on the O and some better adjustment in terms of talent/personnel/experience on D.

I can see the analogy but I hope (expect) that we are better than they are this year. Also just wait until the end of the season to see how the zooker does. He's got a coupla' losses left in the tank.

 

[KamaraPolice]

Ugh. The LAST thing I want to hear is comparisons of this team to Illannoying ...

I thought the same thing. I thought this was a flame post when I first saw it. Beat some highly overrated Big Ten teams and suddenly you can coach.:banghead2

 

[johnnd05]

I thought the same thing. I thought this was a flame post when I first saw it. Beat some highly overrated Big Ten teams and suddenly you can coach.:banghead2

Yeah, well one of those teams beat us pretty soundly. It's hard to acknowledge that Zook is doing really well so far this year. Blech.

 

[NDsuperfan09]

Weak Big Ten conference or not Illinois has improved. We may end up being better next year but up to this point Illinois is 5-1, and very easily could be 6-0. I meant we could expect a turnaround in our play, and record next year similar to what Illinois has done this year. I was using someone that experienced what we are going through and then suddenly turned it around the following year. I wasn't trying to compare Illinois to ND, or saying we should strive to be like the Illini, just pointing out the similarities between the two teams in terms of their situations thats all.

 

[IrishOrange]

Yeah, well one of those teams beat us pretty soundly. It's hard to acknowledge that Zook is doing really well so far this year. Blech.

John, the Zooker is doing a great job, by Zook standards. I was sad to see him leave Florida. But, I'll say, you're right, There will be a comperable improvement, in all likelihood better when it's all said and done. Zooker can get talent on the field, but he has not been very good at beating equal talent with it.

Your Coach (I personally can't stand him, but thats beside the point) Has in the past gone toe to toe against superior teams, and won some, lost some. If all the kids on your squad this year continue to buy into him as a coach, and buy into his system as one that can get the job done, they really have no excuse not to win 10 next year.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Well one ND will have in common w/ IL last year as that both will have a 2-10 record...IF ND can eke out two victories...I'm starting to wonder. But I'm still looking fwd to next year, so please keep all the verbals statisfied Charlie. If you get all 19 to sign on the dotted line, that will have been your biggest win at ND yet.

 

[patman1868]

I was thinking about this while I was watching the UofI game also, that we were in the same position they were in last year. I hope that all of this playing time for the young players will payoff like it did for illinois.

 

[KamaraPolice]

Zook is a second-rate coach and Illinois is a second-rate team. Don't be fooled by their victories. The big 10 will continue to lose good coaches and replace them with scum like beilema, brewster and zook

 

[ocNDd]

First, a disclosure...I'm both an Illini and Irish fan.

I was thinking the same thing...ND is hopefully on track for the same type of improvement that UI has had this year.

But for ND to win one game and then come out saying how much the Big10 stinks and that all the teams are overrated is a bit much. If I recall correctly, ND is 0-3 vs the Big10 this year while UI is 3-0 and ND got whooped by the same PSU team that UI beat this year...and up until this point Beilema was 16-1. Give them some credit for winning some legitimate games.

Win one game and some unfounded arrogance returns. Sheesh. Regardless of where the Illini season goes from here, at this point it's getting a bit ahead of ourselves to bash them...especially on the same day they knocked off an unbeaten #5 team. I know...this is a fan forum and we're supposed to make all kinds of silly statements...so forgive me for expecting some sanity.

The Irish WON! Enjoy it. It's a great day in CFB for me. Finally there is a Saturday that I wished I was in the States (rather than Nepal) and able to watch the games.

Goooo Irish! Beat BC!