Opponents no longer fear or respect us

[tradition]

Is anyone, like myself, tired of waiting for us to return to the status of a major powerhouse. I am not sure that getting to the BCS bowl games a couple years ago really placed us on that level since we still got hammered by Michigan and USC during the regular seasons and OHIO STATE and LSU in the Bowl games. I personally do not feel that we really fully recovered from the last second field goal by Boston College back in 93 that cost us a national championship. Now that we had such a poor season last year, everyone is expecting and/or accepting a 4 or 5 loss season this year which by NDs' standards SHOULD be considered another down year. I am tired of hearing about Georgia, LSU, USC, and Ohio State. When CW was hired, he talked about bringing NASTINESS WITH A SWAGGER back to the team. I am tired of seeing Mark May laugh at us. Every team goes through down periods, however, this has gone on too long. As a fellow alum, I am chomping at the bit. If Urban Meyer at Florida and maybe Saban at Alabama and Newheisel at UCLA can produce in short order, there is no longer any excuse for us not to be able to do the same. After last years' dismal performance, the hunger and motivational level of the players and coaching staff should be at peak level. There is nobody that loves ND more than myself, and I am sorry for being so critical but this year is the time we need to regain fear and respect from our opponents INCLUDING USC. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

My thoughts are simple, you have not paid too much attention to the recruiting haul CW has done nor do you seem aware of the empty team TY left, it's that simple.

This year ND will be a lot better, it's next year that we will earn the respect.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Can we finally let the TY agruement die? I am pretty sure Paul Johnson did not have as much talent on the field as we did last year.

 

[SoCalDomer]

The reality of how you feel is the reality of how you feel. Nothing we say is going to change that. But you do seem to be replacing some facts with feelings.

First, CW did deliver results early. His first two seasons were very good, 9-2 & 10-2 (without the bowls). Yes, ND lost to USC (in the waining moments, by 4 points), LSU, OSU and Michigan. But together, those team lost very few games in the last three years. Each of those teams were ranked in the top 5 when we played them. Three of those teams played for the NC in the last three years, and one won it. That's not excusing those losses, but it is the facts.

You also say Saban and Meyer have had quick results. Yes it's true Meyer won the NC in his 2nd year, but last year they got stomped by Michigan in the bowl (the same Michigan that lost to a D-1AA school in it's opener and then got beat badly by Oregon the following week). During the 2007 season, Florida lost to every "big game" opponent (GA, LSU, Auburn, Michigan) except for Tennesee.

Saban hasn't shown sustained results yet. They went 6-6 last year, losing to Louisiana-Monroe (a D-1AA school), Miss State and Florida State. So far this year they are 1-0; they beat an overrated Clemson.

I guess the only answer is to be as patient as possible and follow this year. this year will tell if ND is on its way to achieving sustainable results.

 

[IrishGrizz]

For an answer tradition, I can hardly wait to return. But to me, the wait started getting shorter the day we got CW as HC. We had a long ugly trip through the desert w both Davies and Willingham.

During the years since Lou left, we have had a few glimpses of the tradition you refer to, including the 1st year w Ty when he won, and the 1st two years w Charlie when he won 9 and 10 games. But to be short sighted and impatient because of last years 3-9 year is to miss how close we are to returning to the tradition and the overall future we have in front of us.

 

[Legacy]

Expectations for immediate gratification. Charlie and Company are building the base for ND football for the next ten years. We're beyond '93 and the previous coach.

 

[tradition]

Thanks for your thoughts

Thanks for your thoughts

Thanks for your responses. I am sorry for having such negative thougths at the moment. I guess I need to develop a better attitude and have more patience. I will work on that.

 

[daytonirish]

We all have the negative feelings after last year. But the team was young and actually had 18 or so plyers on the field for there first college play. What is funny is that all day saturday all they kept saying about scun was how they were playing 6 first time players and that it takes time. Well this season should show us alot about the players and the coaches at ND. And I think we will like what we see all season.

 

[Bubba]

Thanks for your responses. I am sorry for having such negative thougths at the moment. I guess I need to develop a better attitude and have more patience. I will work on that.

Don't apologize for your feelings. Your original post had some weight to it. Teams don't respect or fear us at the moment. That is a reality. I do feel, however, that we are on the right track in the long run which is much better than searching for quick results that do not last.

As far as your comparisons go, UF, Alabama and UCLa were in better shape than ND when they got their new coaches. Not to take anything away from them, but UCLA has only beaten an over-rated UT team. I wouldn't judge them on that performance alone. Lets see what they look like in a couple years. Anyone besides me think we'll see some of the recruiting problems follow Neuhisal (sp?) to UCLA. He doesn't necessarily have a squeaky clean track record.

Anyway, GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[The Polish Irishman]

I think the respect stop when MSU planted their flag at mid-field.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

F MSU. We are going to kick their tail this year. Sparty's a chick.

 

[03euroSVT]

I think the respect stop when MSU planted their flag at mid-field.

I would have thought that we would have gotten the respect back in 2006 when we beat them and didn't do the same.

I believe teams still respect ND because of the tradition (with the exception of MSU in 2005). Teams just don't fear ND like the used to (or should). We can and will be back on top.

Go Irish

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

The first step is going to come on Saturday. One of the most important things this team needs after last season is confidence and Saturday is going to be an opportunity to gain some confidence. They are going against an overmatched and badly injured squad and they will get some good reps and have a lot of success and a nice game to get their feet wet and back to a winning feeling. Winning at Stanford and against Duke last year didn't help confidence much because they had been beaten down so badly all season. But, its a new season and even though being 1-0 isn't much, it will be a good start and will lead to better things down the road.

 

[irishfan]

Tradition-don't believe ESPN and think that the OSU game was a blowout. Besides that, you're right. we can't be pleased with going 7-5 or 8-4 or anything like that.

 

[phork]

The Ty argument can't die. The cupboard was left bare, and it takes a LONG time to refill it. Especially with quality linemen. If you don't have a line, you aren't going anywhere.
The simple fact that these young kids, who could easily go to any other school, come to ND because they WANT to be part of ND and what it means, is fantastic.
IMHO, no less than 8 wins this year. There must be CONSIDERABLE improvement over last year. Other than the 3-9 record, we hung in those games until the second half when 2 quick scores from the other team KO'd us.
We have a lot of things going our way this year, Tenuta, easier schedule, Clausen in year2 and many more. I think we will all be pleasantly surprised.

 

[wahoo]

It's time for the Irish to rise from the ashes. Anything less than 8-9 wins this year would be unacceptable to me(based on the schedule).
Even with the success of the first two years under Charlie, I have been unhappy with the play of the defense. I want to see a more dominating defense...forcing turnovers....decleating some of these runners so that they think twice when they get the next handoff. Once the defense starts playing well then I think the wins will start to multiply.

 

[NDboy15]

We have to earn it first. Yeah sure, we've had a few good records in the past the few years, winning 10 games, only losing a couple, but we were never really dominant. Well, hell we did dominate some teams, but they were teams like Army or North Carolina.

We're going way back to the turn of the century. In the early 1900's ND football was the underdog, Notre Dame the school was the underdog and the Irish people themselves were kept down. Then we started to win. Lets hope history repeats itself.

 

[seabass]

Strictly recruiting-wise, it is much easier for a school in fertile territory to rebound than it is for a school in less fertile grounds. USC and Oklahoma's return to power was brought about much faster thanks to California and Texas. ND's mystique isn't bringing in the same number of kids like it would have years ago, but it still means something, and the top classes being brought in should (hopefully) pay dividends in a couple years.

Also, I fully believe college football is cyclical. USC, OU, Texas, OSU, Nebraska, Miami, Florida State, Penn State, and Alabama have all gone through this (some still are), but I'll be darned, they rise right back to the top. ND will return in time.

 

[jonesman]

Folks,
We have to rebuild that respect and fear of coming into ND stadium. That will begin this year. The reason I say that is because we will not ever see another down year with CW. If you short memory people could just remember back to year one when many of the pundits were even saying that CW better win in 2005 and 2006 because the recruiting woes of Ty would come home to roost in 2007. Well, they did more than roost, they crapped all over our dreams. CW knows that 2007 was his one muligan and no excuses moving forward. The cupboard is restocked and will continue to be so.
As for all those people who give me that UF was rebuilt in a year by Urban. Don't piss me off. They are just like the OSU fans who say that Tressel came in and rebuilt them in a couple years. The analogy is nuts. These are the typical uneducated college fan. Prior to Urban, Zook was recruiting stellar classes with tons of talent, he just could not coach them. As for the Suckeyes, Cooper was putting more talent in the NFL than any school in the Big Ten when he was there. He just could not beat UM. Ty was busy playing golf and sitting on his ass. If Ty had stuck around one more year, ND may have never recovered. We would have been fielding walk-ons as starters. If you question how bad the talent was that he recruited, look where the kids that left transferred. NONE to a major school of any sorts. Most went D-II.
Prepare for a fun season with some good wins, a few tough losses, but growing respect for an AWESOME 2009 and beyond!

 

[NDOM]

folks,
We Have To Rebuild That Respect And Fear Of Coming Into Nd Stadium. That Will Begin This Year. The Reason I Say That Is Because We Will Not Ever See Another Down Year With Cw. If You Short Memory People Could Just Remember Back To Year One When Many Of The Pundits Were Even Saying That Cw Better Win In 2005 And 2006 Because The Recruiting Woes Of Ty Would Come Home To Roost In 2007. Well, They Did More Than Roost, They Crapped All Over Our Dreams. Cw Knows That 2007 Was His One Muligan And No Excuses Moving Forward. The Cupboard Is Restocked And Will Continue To Be So.
As For All Those People Who Give Me That Uf Was Rebuilt In A Year By Urban. Don't Piss Me Off. They Are Just Like The Osu Fans Who Say That Tressel Came In And Rebuilt Them In A Couple Years. The Analogy Is Nuts. These Are The Typical Uneducated College Fan. Prior To Urban, Zook Was Recruiting Stellar Classes With Tons Of Talent, He Just Could Not Coach Them. As For The Suckeyes, Cooper Was Putting More Talent In The Nfl Than Any School In The Big Ten When He Was There. He Just Could Not Beat Um. Ty Was Busy Playing Golf And Sitting On His Ass. If Ty Had Stuck Around One More Year, Nd May Have Never Recovered. We Would Have Been Fielding Walk-ons As Starters. If You Question How Bad The Talent Was That He Recruited, Look Where The Kids That Left Transferred. None To A Major School Of Any Sorts. Most Went D-ii.
Prepare For A Fun Season With Some Good Wins, A Few Tough Losses, But Growing Respect For An Awesome 2009 And Beyond!

Well Freekin Said Dude.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Guys,

New to the forum here and have been reading up on the posts which have become very interesting to me and sparked my interest and, my two cents if you please. If you can bear with me for a couple of minutes... My dad and grandfather took me to my first live football game, 1973 sugar bowl. I was 5 years old. I fell head over heels for the Irish and have been a die hard ever since. The rest of my family and friends are all SEC fans except for my youngest brother who fell for the Irish sitting beside his big brother watching games and the excitement he felt though me. I live in Tennesse and if it's not the "SEC being the best conference" or "Go Vols" and "Notre Lame", (my brother -in- law is a Michigan fan, but he is ok!) and Lastly "Roll Tide", I have been completely stomped in the ground since the Davie takeover. With the exception of the 2006 year, I feel the pain of every fan in this forum. Although, our time is near, and very near. CW will have 'our team' back in the hunt soon. We will gain the respect we well deserve soon again. The recruits he has made, and the ones in the future, will win back the desire to play at the most historic and famed University once again. I salute everyone in here that shows the pain and passion to be back on top.

Dizzy

 

[SoCalDomer]

welcome aboard Dizzy