After seeing so many posts this week about that say things such as. Fire Charlie, Jimmy Sucks, Haywood can't call plays, Tenuta was overrated, OL is a bunch of pansies, RB's run like my grandma, DL can't stop the run, Brandon couldn't make a FG, blah blah blah. I thought it is time we all sit down take a deep breath, drink a beer and enjoy our team a little bit. So here is some things to chew on while we all get pumped up for our favorite catholic rival.
1. Season Expectations: For those of us that were not delusional or under the influence of an illegal substance, we recognized that 7-9 wins was the reality for this team. We could win 9 games with a couple good breaks. If injury or bad breaks got us, it may be only 7. What we did ask is that the team is competitive in the losses. WE ARE ON TARGET FOR OUR WINS AND ABSOLUTELY BEEN COMPETITIVE IN THE LOSSES.
2. Youthful Talent and Depth: When you look at this team we are finally seeing real elite talent developing on this team. Key word, DEVELOPING. On offense, we will start 7 underclassmen this week. Tate, Kamara, Floyd, Robinson, Clausen, Rudolph, Allen. On defense, it is harder to judge because of defensive alignments, but we will play underclassmen on DL, LB, CB. It is encouraging that we have this much great young talent, however they will make mistakes and are sometimes playing before physically mature, ie Ethan Johnson on DL. Only a couple years ago, we played people just because we had no option, no so anymore. TALENTED DEPTH RESIDES AT EVERY POSITION WITH YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY.
3. Recruiting: Charlie may have faults, but recruiting is not even close to one of them. I give him total credit for his efforts here. He has attacked the process with vigor and knows how to sell ND. He recognizes where he fails and changes strategy. 3 TOP 10 RECRUITING CLASSES AND A 4 ON ITS WAY.
4. Schedule: I don't really like this one, but it is the reality of todays college football until they change the bowl process. ND has a favorable schedule with 7 home games and more winnable games in the future. I also believe the nuetral site game is a positive. It is taking us to places like Texas where we recruit many kids. We can now tell a kid that we will be playing in your backyard. FAVORABLE SCHEDULE, MORE HOME GAMES, MORE TIME ON NBC, MORE NATIONAL EXPOSURE WITH NUETRAL SITES.
5. Flexible Charlie: Some people may not appreciate CW, but I can say that he has definitely shown the ability to change his style, strategies and plans to try to create success. Unlike many big ego coaches who say this is me, my style and my program, Charlie recognizes he needs to mold things to create success. WILLINGNESS TO LEARN.
6. Media Recognition: Normally ND draws the ire of most media about being overrated and undeserving of its rating. If you have been listening close lately, you are hearing most media recognize that ND is on the way up. Even, Mark May paid compliments to ND this past weekend. Bob Davie who is normally a sour former coach was spewing compliments. Herbie has been very positive in our direction. We have several players being recognized on the Rivals power rankings. All of this is great for recruiting. MEDIA KNOWS ND POWER IS GOING TO RETURN.
CONCLUSION: There are way to many things go in a positive direction for us to all go panic that the ND Football world is going to end. We are litterally only 2 plays from being a 7-1 football team. Think about these two and I am not pointing at these players being at fault, but it is two plays most will remember. If JC does not throw an INT on the first play of the 2nd half at NC and if Harrison Smith does not commit a dumb personal foul in the Pitt game we are 7-1. See folks, it is not as if we were drubbed up and down the field. Last year, we would have had to point out a whole series of plays. We are soo close to being soo good. It is coming. Actually folks, if a call was reviewed during the NC game, we would have won. When Blanton stripped the ball from NC's WR the refs said he was down. I have reviewed this play in slow motion dozens of times and it is a fumble all day long. That would have given us the ball. If you recorded the game, go back and watch it.
The recruiting, positve press and commitment by Charlie to work toward success all are great signs. IF and I mean IF Charlie does have to be let go in the future, I have total confidence that he will leave our University miles ahead of the previous two coaches. So, in the end celebrate our success and future because they are bright. Finally, did you really want this team to end up with 10 or 11 wins to only get slaughtered by some power in the BCS. We don't need that, we need steady growth and success back to the top of the mountain.
GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!
1. Season Expectations: For those of us that were not delusional or under the influence of an illegal substance, we recognized that 7-9 wins was the reality for this team. We could win 9 games with a couple good breaks. If injury or bad breaks got us, it may be only 7. What we did ask is that the team is competitive in the losses. WE ARE ON TARGET FOR OUR WINS AND ABSOLUTELY BEEN COMPETITIVE IN THE LOSSES.
2. Youthful Talent and Depth: When you look at this team we are finally seeing real elite talent developing on this team. Key word, DEVELOPING. On offense, we will start 7 underclassmen this week. Tate, Kamara, Floyd, Robinson, Clausen, Rudolph, Allen. On defense, it is harder to judge because of defensive alignments, but we will play underclassmen on DL, LB, CB. It is encouraging that we have this much great young talent, however they will make mistakes and are sometimes playing before physically mature, ie Ethan Johnson on DL. Only a couple years ago, we played people just because we had no option, no so anymore. TALENTED DEPTH RESIDES AT EVERY POSITION WITH YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY.
3. Recruiting: Charlie may have faults, but recruiting is not even close to one of them. I give him total credit for his efforts here. He has attacked the process with vigor and knows how to sell ND. He recognizes where he fails and changes strategy. 3 TOP 10 RECRUITING CLASSES AND A 4 ON ITS WAY.
4. Schedule: I don't really like this one, but it is the reality of todays college football until they change the bowl process. ND has a favorable schedule with 7 home games and more winnable games in the future. I also believe the nuetral site game is a positive. It is taking us to places like Texas where we recruit many kids. We can now tell a kid that we will be playing in your backyard. FAVORABLE SCHEDULE, MORE HOME GAMES, MORE TIME ON NBC, MORE NATIONAL EXPOSURE WITH NUETRAL SITES.
5. Flexible Charlie: Some people may not appreciate CW, but I can say that he has definitely shown the ability to change his style, strategies and plans to try to create success. Unlike many big ego coaches who say this is me, my style and my program, Charlie recognizes he needs to mold things to create success. WILLINGNESS TO LEARN.
6. Media Recognition: Normally ND draws the ire of most media about being overrated and undeserving of its rating. If you have been listening close lately, you are hearing most media recognize that ND is on the way up. Even, Mark May paid compliments to ND this past weekend. Bob Davie who is normally a sour former coach was spewing compliments. Herbie has been very positive in our direction. We have several players being recognized on the Rivals power rankings. All of this is great for recruiting. MEDIA KNOWS ND POWER IS GOING TO RETURN.
CONCLUSION: There are way to many things go in a positive direction for us to all go panic that the ND Football world is going to end. We are litterally only 2 plays from being a 7-1 football team. Think about these two and I am not pointing at these players being at fault, but it is two plays most will remember. If JC does not throw an INT on the first play of the 2nd half at NC and if Harrison Smith does not commit a dumb personal foul in the Pitt game we are 7-1. See folks, it is not as if we were drubbed up and down the field. Last year, we would have had to point out a whole series of plays. We are soo close to being soo good. It is coming. Actually folks, if a call was reviewed during the NC game, we would have won. When Blanton stripped the ball from NC's WR the refs said he was down. I have reviewed this play in slow motion dozens of times and it is a fumble all day long. That would have given us the ball. If you recorded the game, go back and watch it.
The recruiting, positve press and commitment by Charlie to work toward success all are great signs. IF and I mean IF Charlie does have to be let go in the future, I have total confidence that he will leave our University miles ahead of the previous two coaches. So, in the end celebrate our success and future because they are bright. Finally, did you really want this team to end up with 10 or 11 wins to only get slaughtered by some power in the BCS. We don't need that, we need steady growth and success back to the top of the mountain.
GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!
