Aug 31 | Texas A&M

[Jimmy3Putt]

It’s hard to win them all. Even Bama in its heyday slipped up every year.

 

[arrowryan]

I continue to see some scenarios coming from here and there among ND fans, pundits, etc. that suggest ND could lose this TAMU opener and then win out. If you're giving me that on a silver platter on August 1st, I'd be inclined to say yes, but I really think they can go down there and beat them regardless.

By that same token, I could see an 11-1 finish at the end despite beating TAMU.

They need to win this game

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

They need to win this game

Please elaborate.

 

[arrowryan]

Please elaborate.

A loss here would be “same ol’ Notre Dame”. A&M probably won’t be in the top group in the SEC, but Notre Dame has the roster to win it’s toughest game on the schedule and it’s time that they do it.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

A loss here would be “same ol’ Notre Dame”. A&M probably won’t be in the top group in the SEC, but Notre Dame has the roster to win it’s toughest game on the schedule and it’s time that they do it.

So it's an August/September narrative versus the big picture.

Understood.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

If ND lost to TAMU and won out for a National Championship, I would imagine there would be some mom's basement Hot Pocket eaters who would have some kind of problem with that, but they'd be an extreme minority.

To me, "same old Notre Dame" is not winning a championship.

 

[arrowryan]

So it's an August/September narrative versus the big picture.

Understood.

A win here would springboard them into the rest of the season. It would be massive.

 

[NDPhilly]

Would much rather lose to FSU mid season than this one. Desperately need some momentum.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

A win here would springboard them into the rest of the season. It would be massive.

It puts them at 1-0. If the game were being played neutral or in South Bend, is there the same sense of urgency.

Would much rather lose to FSU mid season than this one. Desperately need some momentum.

Which one would the people who determine the playoff pairings going to remember more? I can tell you right now, it's going to be losing to FSU in November.

As for desperately needing momentum in the first game of the year, I'm wondering if you might be able to expound on that. The program has won its last three games, signed a top ten recruiting class and have a top five recruiting class currently in hand while securing the top paid OC in America and one of the top five paid DC in America.

 

[ND7983]

ND is better than everyone on the schedule. Period.
So every week, ND “should” win the game.

I find the narrative switch between Freeman & BK winning all regular season games to be hilarious.
Not going to name any names, but BK has undefeated regular seasons (which he had 4 of them at the Power 5 level), and people say the “schedules weren’t difficult.”
Then this year’s schedule isn’t difficult, those same people, “it’s hard to go undefeated in the regular season regardless of schedule.”

Which is it?

I will answer.
Yes, it is very difficult to have an undefeated regular season at the P5/P4 level, because things just happen.
So BK doing it 4 times, with 2 different teams, is very impressive.

Freeman needs it this year.
The schedule is set up perfectly.
All offseason to prepare for toughest test.
Then a month of easier games until next year, which is at home.
Then another month of easier games before next test, which is at home.
Then last month of easier games until final test.
Byes before tough games & multiple service academies & multiple G5 games.
So 4 G5 games, and one of the road P4 games off-campus at an NFL stadium that will be half ND fans.
The last road game of the year at SC is usually half ND fans.
And at Purdue is going to be a lot of ND fans.
So really only one real road game, which ND has all offseason to prepare for.

A healthy ND should be 12-0.

 

[ulukinatme]

Would much rather lose to FSU mid season than this one. Desperately need some momentum.

FSU is in November though, and honestly I don't think they'll be as good as they were last year. You better believe if it's cold in November in South Bend they're going to struggle a bit like last time. An early loss is more redeemable than a late one, we've seen that in the past. I hope we win against A&M, but if it's between them and FSU I would rather lose to A&M.

 

[PutuporShutup]

ND is better than everyone on the schedule. Period.
So every week, ND “should” win the game.

I find the narrative switch between Freeman & BK winning all regular season games to be hilarious.
Not going to name any names, but BK has undefeated regular seasons (which he had 4 of them at the Power 5 level), and people say the “schedules weren’t difficult.”
Then this year’s schedule isn’t difficult, those same people, “it’s hard to go undefeated in the regular season regardless of schedule.”

Which is it?

I will answer.
Yes, it is very difficult to have an undefeated regular season at the P5/P4 level, because things just happen.
So BK doing it 4 times, with 2 different teams, is very impressive.

Freeman needs it this year.
The schedule is set up perfectly.
All offseason to prepare for toughest test.
Then a month of easier games until next year, which is at home.
Then another month of easier games before next test, which is at home.
Then last month of easier games until final test.
Byes before tough games & multiple service academies & multiple G5 games.
So 4 G5 games, and one of the road P4 games off-campus at an NFL stadium that will be half ND fans.
The last road game of the year at SC is usually half ND fans.
And at Purdue is going to be a lot of ND fans.
So really only one real road game, which ND has all offseason to prepare for.

A healthy ND should be 12-0.

Agree, and we should have a defense that is capable of traveling and showing up consistently.

 

[Irish#1]

Agree but the 4 for 40 or 4 for life mantra is a dig at other schools academics

Except 4 for 40 isn't a personal dig at a coach.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Agree, and we should have a defense that is capable of traveling and showing up consistently.

And a run game. Price and Love are going to be a monster 1-2 punch. Kedron Young and Aneyas Williams should get some opportunities too, with the unfortunate Payne injury.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Four road games. Only one doesn't really bother me.

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

This is simple probability, people.

Can ND salvage its season, win out, and get a natty despite a Week 1 loss to A&M? Absolutely.

Is it far more unlikely after conditioning upon a week 1 loss? 100%. Especially when this means we’ve learned a bit more about the quality of our team.

In a vacuum, ND can lose any game this year and still potentially go 11-1. But Week 1 is massive, and a loss to start means we go from slight favorites for playoffs to more likely being left out.

Each game, winning is important, but especially the 50-50 ones, which will swing a season.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Except 4 for 40 isn't a personal dig at a coach.

Either is “we put wrs in the nfl”

It becomes a dig when nd compares its graduation rates to other schools

 

[317Irish]

Either is “we put wrs in the nfl”

It becomes a dig when nd compares its graduation rates to other schools

And I mean nooooooo disrespect to u by this comment:

That is a (yet another) very stupid argument that you’re making.

 

[Irish#1]

Either is “we put wrs in the nfl”

It becomes a dig when nd compares its graduation rates to other schools

Again, that's not personal and it's not subjective. MF probably has a chart or something where he shows the rates and doesn't go into a speech that Auburn or whoever is poor at graduating their players and digs on them. He probably lets the numbers speak for themselves.

We put wrs in the NFL isn't personal either.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think a lot of it is just preseason banter for something to talk about. Nevertheless found it curious that a handful of ND pundits had mentioned the scenario of starting 0-1 and then winning out.

Remaining healthy at key positions is going to be critical. Control what you can control. There is probably going to be a barnburner at home that we don't expect, would be my guess.

I'm still pointing to that Louisville game on my internal fan clock. I'm not one of these dopes that goes around talking about "revenge", but man that's shaping up to be a game I REALLY want ND to win.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Four road games. Only one doesn't really bother me.

Same. If playing 2 academies in the same season becomes a talking point at the end of the season, then you’ll know the wheels are coming off

 

[IRISHDODGER]

If ND lost to TAMU and won out for a National Championship, I would imagine there would be some mom's basement Hot Pocket eaters who would have some kind of problem with that, but they'd be an extreme minority.

To me, "same old Notre Dame" is not winning a championship.

That would be nuts but I don’t doubt it. The odds have never been higher for a 2 loss team to win it all.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Again, that's not personal and it's not subjective. MF probably has a chart or something where he shows the rates and doesn't go into a speech that Auburn or whoever is poor at graduating their players and digs on them. He probably lets the numbers speak for themselves.

We put wrs in the NFL isn't personal either.

Yeah.. I do believe ND takes a much "classier" approach to how they show they are better than other schools.

My point is just that ND absolutely does talk about how they are better than other schools at some things, they also don't hide the fact they will be challenged differently as well.

 

[PutuporShutup]

And I mean nooooooo disrespect to u by this comment:

That is a (yet another) very stupid argument that you’re making.

What argument do you think I'm making?

 

[condoms SUCk]

Would much rather lose to FSU mid season than this one. Desperately need some momentum.

Bingo, FSU is one of the favorites to win the ACC...TAMU isn’t even in the top 5 for the SEC.
This is a no brainer, if you must choose which game to lose I'd rather it be against a possible Conf Champ than a middle of the pack SEC team.
Trying to diminish the harm losing game 1 of a szn w/ this team's talent is beyond ridiculous.

 

[Valpodoc85]

 

[NDVirginia19]

Georgia... What the fuck

 

[ulukinatme]

I'm curious how Clemson is pulling off 99%? They probably sent more early to the NFL than us during that period, right? Graduation rates used to be our thing.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Georgia... What the fuck

They really take that football factory moniker to heart.

 

[NDVirginia19]

I'm curious how Clemson is pulling off 99%? They probably sent more early to the NFL than us during that period, right? Graduation rates used to be our thing.

Probably combination of us sending more guys to the NFL early than we used to and Clemson having easier degrees with more flexibility to complete in a shorter period of time