Are we destined to win it all this year?

[Riddickulous]

Think about it. EVERYTHING is going our way.

The schedule, the experience, the intensity...it's all coming together.

Nevada is scary. However, our talent may be so overwhelming that they won't be able to keep up (ie: Hawai'i).

Michigan is terrible and they have a fresh distraction to keep their minds off of gameplanning with an NCAA investigation.

Michigan State has lost their two biggest playmakers.

Purdue has a new coach, a new quarterback (interceptions, anyone?), and they just blow.

Washington...sucks. Period.

USC is starting a true freshman quarterback, who, despite having a cannon, seemingly throws interceptions at will. One of their star players, super fast deep threat Ronald Johnson, could miss the game against us.

Boston College lost their potential starting quarterback and are left with no options, their star linebacker, and stud defensive tackle B.J. Raji went to the NFL.

Washington State is awful.

Navy is good, but we will not have a problem with them this year.

Pittsburgh lost LeSean McCoy, their only playmaker.

UConn blows.

Stanford might be a little tough, but we'll stomp them.



Are we supposed to go all the way? Eh?

 

[military_irish]

honestly i'll have to agree with you, not just as a ND fan either but just as a college football fan, we may not be the best team in the country by any means but when it comes to our schedule and talent you really can't expect anything else, especially if we come out shooting on all cylinders in the Nevada game.....just one week, one week and we shall see

 

[mick2]

i am taking a show me approach to this season just like the team. Im not talkin any trash to fans of other teams, i am just waiting to see. I do believe this could be a special season for two reasons.

1. the schedule is doable, not easy, but very doable.

and

2. i am as anxious as ive ever been to get this season underway im even more anxious than before the 2006 season when we were picked to go to the NC.

Something about this team has me really riled up, but we still have to play the games, and i'm not sleeping on any team, and i bet the team isnt either.

 

[Praytorian]

We wont be able to do it all until we stop the run. If we can do that, especially against USC, the table can be run, and all of us happy.

 

[chyrspchuck]

wow, I love ND as much as the next guy but let's be realistic.

We might lose to USC and if we are praying that our schedule is so easy that we squeak into the National Championship game, then we will get slaughtered against the likes of Florida.

I'm saying if your defense is that we have an easy schedule, 2005 and 2006 bcs games should be an example to what could easily happen.

 

[irishtrain]

playing for it all

playing for it all

Could happen, I think we beat SC but I'm concerned about Nevada and Stanford because of where these games are on schedule. Nevada is a good team and as I said the score will not be as important as how we play. We should win but it will be tough and Stanford being last will want to spoil the whole season. What I hope happens is that they just take it to both teams and get the x factors out of the game 'ie'-calls, turnovers, and busted plays. Mich/Mich St are just tough man games we have to win ugly. If these things happen then they could play for it all. I want to see a tough (pressing the issue for the entire game) team that leaves little doubt who was better that day. The wins will take care of themselves.

 

[phork]

Get off the kool-aid. I'm as big a fan as anyone, but ND is a year away atleast from competing with the big boys.

 

[wahoo]

I don't want to take things too fast. This is the year the Irish can start their rise back to the top. Right now I want to take it one game at a time. let's take out a good Nevada squad and go from there

 

[MirageSmack]

As far as Barkely throwing INT's in pre-season goes, as bad as he is, he has apparently thrown less than Leinert, Sanchez, Booty and Palmer did. Maybe it;s just because they are going up against one of the best defenses in practice.

Having said all that, I'm still glad to go up against a true Frosh QB in our stadium.

 

[irishtrain]

prediction

prediction

I wasnt saying anything more than they could win all these games, my prediction is 10-2, hope I'm wrong but I know this team is very good weak schedule or strong schedule. I am concerned about Nevada and Stanford. You cant predict wins I'm just saying if they play to their ability they will win 10 games.

 

[irishtrain]

predictions

predictions

And they aint losing to SC this year, I can feel that one coming.

 

[tko]

in order to get to 12-0 you have to win the first one and that's what i'm focused on. i truly hope we see the Hawaii version of this football team, or better. I agree with Mick, show me the $ boys. the last thing i want to see is a hyped ND squad come out flat and recent history has shown us that time and again. i hope we're beyond that this season though.

 

[NDinL.A.]

in order to get to 12-0 you have to win the first one and that's what i'm focused on. i truly hope we see the Hawaii version of this football team, or better. I agree with Mick, show me the $ boys. the last thing i want to see is a hyped ND squad come out flat and recent history has shown us that time and again. i hope we're beyond that this season though.

Yup, agree with you and mick, it's absolutely the show me year. I'm still sticking with 10-2 until the MSU game. MSU has been a tougher team than us, especially last year. We won't win crap until we can dominate or at least compete in the trenches. We have the skill players all over the field to compete with even the FL's and and the TX's of the world, but until we can do it with both lines, we'll still be second tier. But yes, it's fun to actually be realistically in the hunt for a BCS game, if we can put it all together...

 

[TDHeysus]

in addition to focusing on the first game, an early season goal is to win the first 2 games. I agree with some idiot I saw on espn over the weekend; if notre dame wins versus michigan, and is 2-0 at that point, the door will be opened to at the very least a 10 win season.

 

[JefMaj]

With regard to the much questioned sophomore pressence on the defensive line: 1988 - Chris Zoroch & George Williams - - - 1964 Alan Page, Kevin Hardy, Regner, & Gmitter - - - all sophomores.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

With regard to the much questioned sophomore pressence on the defensive line: 1988 - Chris Zoroch & George Williams - - - 1964 Alan Page, Kevin Hardy, Regner, & Gmitter - - - all sophomores.

Nice. I believe depth is the key to the D-Line this year.

 

[JefMaj]

Don't like Mark - but, in his defense - he predicted 3-9 on '07; 6-6 last year; and 9-3 this year. Now, the proof will be in his weekly predictions.

 

[Riddickulous]

The two biggest question marks are the two lines. If they can be effective, we will be a very good team.

 

[mat33]

If we enter the USC game undefeated, I think we have a legit shot at beating them and getting to the national championship. But for that to happen we need to play as physical as Michigan St. which we have not done in years.

 

[mick2]

If we enter the USC game undefeated, I think we have a legit shot at beating them and getting to the national championship. But for that to happen we need to play as physical as Michigan St. which we have not done in years.

i can see it now. the showdown between the future california super recruit matt barkley vs the present Jimmy Clausen.

ND #8 v fusc #4

 

[JefMaj]

SAID EARLIER: With regard to the much questioned sophomore pressence on the defensive line: 1988 - Chris Zoroch & George Williams - - - 1964 Alan Page, Kevin Hardy, Regner, & Gmitter - - - all sophomores.


Guess I should add Jeff Alm to '88 list

 

[irishtrain]

winning it all

winning it all

How about the picture of Tate with hand to ear that posts on marquis on top of Irishenvy board--'he hears the train coming'- seriously though a great article on sister board by Ryan Prong on this year's wins/loses- like me his concern is with Nevada and Stanford for the same reasons I give. Nevada will be a tough first game with one very talented QB and Stanford at the end because of the importance for our record and they'll give blood to win that one. I stand by 10-2 if we win those games I'm either wrong or bumps in the road somewhere else. One of those bumps wont be SC I think we win that game. Once again no person in their right mind would predict that because they are still a great team I just have a feeling about this one.