The "Long Grass" Theory

[Riddickulous]

I'm sure you've heard it before.

This is the common excuse other teams give as to why they:

1) Lost to the Irish in South Bend (mid-major programs, highly ranked programs)
2) Nearly lost to the Irish in South Bend (elite, highly ranked programs such as USC)

The most famous usage of this excuse was after the legendary "Bush Push" game in 2005. USC fans claim that return man Desmond Reed was injured by the "long grass", even though he blew out his knee. How long grass can blow out a knee is beyond me.

Another famous account of the "long grass" theory is the 1977 ND-Pitt game. Pitt fans claim ND wanted to "slow down Tony Dorsett" after he ran for 303 yards on the Irish the previous year. According to Pitt fans, Dorsett was credited as saying that the players "couldn't even see their shoes" because the grass was so long.

So, how incredibly stupid is this claim?

 

[kmoose]

I'm sure you've heard it before.

This is the common excuse other teams give as to why they:

1) Lost to the Irish in South Bend (mid-major programs, highly ranked programs)
2) Nearly lost to the Irish in South Bend (elite, highly ranked programs such as USC)

The most famous usage of this excuse was after the legendary "Bush Push" game in 2005. USC fans claim that return man Desmond Reed was injured by the "long grass", even though he blew out his knee. How long grass can blow out a knee is beyond me.

Another famous account of the "long grass" theory is the 1977 ND-Pitt game. Pitt fans claim ND wanted to "slow down Tony Dorsett" after he ran for 303 yards on the Irish the previous year. According to Pitt fans, Dorsett was credited as saying that the players "couldn't even see their shoes" because the grass was so long.

So, how incredibly stupid is this claim?

It's obvious that this is, indeed, fact. You see, the home team, having shoes specifically designed and manufactured for them by the aliens from Roswell, are unaffected by the long grass. This allows the long grass to ONLY slow down the other team, NOT the home team.

 

[Riddickulous]

It's obvious that this is, indeed, fact. You see, the home team, having shoes specifically designed and manufactured for them by the aliens from Roswell, are unaffected by the long grass. This allows the long grass to ONLY slow down the other team, NOT the home team.

Shaq would just levitate.

 

[weisbank4]

The long grass and the "Bush Push" cancel eachother out for stupidest excuses for 2 different teams ever.

Hughes got pushed in versus Washington, game is a loss without that conversion. Are Washington fans gonna cling to that for the next 4 years?

Same with the stupid grass. Reggie Bush looked pretty fast to me in the game. So did Zbikowski.

Both of these things wear my ass out. Im tired of hearing both. If ND stops a 4th and 17 then win the effin game plain and simple but instead they allow a 70 yard pass play.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

The long grass and the "Bush Push" cancel eachother out for stupidest excuses for 2 different teams ever.

Hughes got pushed in versus Washington, game is a loss without that conversion. Are Washington fans gonna cling to that for the next 4 years?

Same with the stupid grass. Reggie Bush looked pretty fast to me in the game. So did Zbikowski.

Both of these things wear my ass out. Im tired of hearing both. If ND stops a 4th and 17 then win the effin game plain and simple but instead they allow a 70 yard pass play.

4th and 9. Sorry I was there and it is burned into my memory.

 

[mick2]

the "hughes huddle" will go down in ND history and lore forever!!!

 

[Riddickulous]

the "hughes huddle" will go down in ND history and lore forever!!!

I've heard it's called the "Stewart Pull".

In other news, here are is an incredible excuse from a poster on the Rivals.com message boards:

"Notre Dame grows out the grass to neutralize the speed of their faster opponents. A player that runs a 5.5 40 wouldn't have nearly as tough of a time playing up to speed as a player that runs a 4.3."

 

[phork]

Long grass would have the effect of not being too forgiving when you plant your foot and try to cut. Either way it was a freak accident and could have happened to anyone.

 

[Swash]

I just watched a highlight video from the 05 USC game. It was a professionally, USC made one. The commentator talked about how ND grew out the grass to make USC slower haha.

Growing out the grass is essentially a double negative. If it slows down USC, it's gunu equally slow down ND. Practicing for a week in longer grass isn't going to make a player faster, in my opinion. Unless there is some scientific evidence that says ND runs soooo much faster than USC, it's the dumbest excuse in the book.

 

[Irish#1]

I'm sure you've heard it before.

This is the common excuse other teams give as to why they:

1) Lost to the Irish in South Bend (mid-major programs, highly ranked programs)
2) Nearly lost to the Irish in South Bend (elite, highly ranked programs such as USC)

The most famous usage of this excuse was after the legendary "Bush Push" game in 2005. USC fans claim that return man Desmond Reed was injured by the "long grass", even though he blew out his knee. How long grass can blow out a knee is beyond me.

Another famous account of the "long grass" theory is the 1977 ND-Pitt game. Pitt fans claim ND wanted to "slow down Tony Dorsett" after he ran for 303 yards on the Irish the previous year. According to Pitt fans, Dorsett was credited as saying that the players "couldn't even see their shoes" because the grass was so long.

So, how incredibly stupid is this claim?

People tend to forget that whatever you do, it affects both teams. I was at the game ND - Pitt game in '77 and I can vouch that the grass was very long. I remarked to my wife about it being noticeably longer. The first play from scrimmage Dorsett was stuffed at the LOS. The second play he went off the right side for a 65 yard (est.) TD and Pitt never looked back in that game. So much for HFA.

 

[dshans]

Uh-Oh. It doesn't look good for the Troy Boys from "Southern Cal." The weather forecast for South Bend is for rain tomorrow and Thursday evening. Cutting grass when it's wet is a Scott's no-no, so chances of a putting green field for the Twinkle Toed Trojans is slim.

Maybe this year ND will be blamed for calling in a cold front to discomfort the poor lads. Everyone knows that the cold, like long grass, affects only our opponents.

 

[Riddickulous]

Maybe this year ND will be blamed for calling in a cold front to discomfort the poor lads. Everyone knows that the cold, like long grass, affects only our opponents.

But it's true. Our players can stand the cold because they have FIRE blazing in their hearts.

 

[weisbank4]

The stupidity of it is what gets me. They say the long grass was a "neutralizer" - well, how is that? If SC was a faster team than ND, arent they still faster on any surface? If ND was "slow" then that would make them a little slower. If SC was "fast" it would make them a little slower in the same proportion to ND that it was before. WTF?

 

[tankjeep]

The stupidity of it is what gets me. They say the long grass was a "neutralizer" - well, how is that? If SC was a faster team than ND, arent they still faster on any surface? If ND was "slow" then that would make them a little slower. If SC was "fast" it would make them a little slower in the same proportion to ND that it was before. WTF?

i can understand why you would say that is dumb, but being that i play soccer quite often and i'm old and slow....tall grass makes it easier to go against younger/more fit players. it may be a different sport, but both involve running.

and tall grass can and does make a bit of a difference.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Pete Carroll was just on The Herd and said the length of the grass is a non-issue and just something for the media to talk about.

 

[AlumniHall98]

Pete Carroll was just on The Herd and said the length of the grass is a non-issue and just something for the media to talk about.

I don't know if any of you guys heard that piece of crap (Cow-ard-herd) talking on his show Monday afternoon, but he was basically ripping apart both Notre Dame, its fans, and its alums - all in one ten minute tirade. He went on and on about how terrible we are, how we have NO chance to essentially EVER beat USC again, let alone beat them saturday, how we have NO talent at ND, how not one of our D players would sniff the field at any of the "elite" programs (he mentioned Alabama specifically), and even went so far as to essentially insult an entire city, putting down South Bend, saying how its msierable there, no stud athlete would ever want to go there for their collegiate career; I mean just ripping us a new one - to the point I was getting upset listening to it, and my wife had to calm me down! I couldn't believe that piece of shit - he is such an ND hater its not even funny.

A guy from South Bend called in and was saying how the Irish will be a legitimate NC contender next season, and Cow-ard-herd tore this guy up, insulting him, calling him names, saying he needs to stop "drinking the cough medicine"???? never even hrard that one before....just completely insulting, really. Mike Golic should have come on the air Tuesday AM and tore this douche bad a new one!!! He insulted our univeristy, our football team, our alums, and all of our fans. Just inexcusable, biased hatred of Notre Dame by an asshole ESPN jokcey.

Just ranting a bit...it really fired me up...in fact, I hope Charlie plays a clip from that show for the team this week, that'll get 'em fired up!

 

[phork]

He went on and on about how terrible we are, how we have NO chance to essentially EVER beat USC again, let alone beat them saturday, how we have NO talent at ND, how not one of our D players would sniff the field at any of the "elite" programs (he mentioned Alabama specifically),

"drinking the cough medicine"????

I really don't think that any of our current D would start on a team like Alabama, sorry but thats the truth man. As far as beating USC ever again, this is the best shot in a long time, and will be the best shot in a long time. USC also has a young team, and once they get their QB situation worked out and that defense grows up, forget it.

As for the cough medicine, around here we call it Koolaid. Aside from the insults, there is really nothing to get fired up about. ND hasn't proven anything to anybody so far in the 5 years that Weis has been here. Saturday is Put Up or Shut Up day for ND, because it will be another year before they have a chance to play a top ranked team.

This game really is the season for ND in a lot of ways. #1 Legitimizes ND as a good team. #2 Any hope of Jimmy winning the Heisman, means ND must win this game. #3 If ND doesn't win this game, and if they get the tar beat out of them (ahem, again), this could in fact derail the rest of the season. #4 Any chance at a BCS game hinges on a victory on Saturday.

Be mad and fired up all you want, but I'll be mad when ND beats USC and the powers that be don't give them the credit they deserve, because you know its coming. ND beats USC at home! Big deal, USC is in a down cycle. USC Beats ND on the road! Great win for a young USC team.

 

[Riddickulous]

I don't know if any of you guys heard that piece of crap (Cow-ard-herd) talking on his show Monday afternoon, but he was basically ripping apart both Notre Dame, its fans, and its alums - all in one ten minute tirade. He went on and on about how terrible we are, how we have NO chance to essentially EVER beat USC again, let alone beat them saturday, how we have NO talent at ND, how not one of our D players would sniff the field at any of the "elite" programs (he mentioned Alabama specifically), and even went so far as to essentially insult an entire city, putting down South Bend, saying how its msierable there, no stud athlete would ever want to go there for their collegiate career; I mean just ripping us a new one - to the point I was getting upset listening to it, and my wife had to calm me down! I couldn't believe that piece of shit - he is such an ND hater its not even funny.

A guy from South Bend called in and was saying how the Irish will be a legitimate NC contender next season, and Cow-ard-herd tore this guy up, insulting him, calling him names, saying he needs to stop "drinking the cough medicine"???? never even hrard that one before....just completely insulting, really. Mike Golic should have come on the air Tuesday AM and tore this douche bad a new one!!! He insulted our univeristy, our football team, our alums, and all of our fans. Just inexcusable, biased hatred of Notre Dame by an asshole ESPN jokcey.

Just ranting a bit...it really fired me up...in fact, I hope Charlie plays a clip from that show for the team this week, that'll get 'em fired up!

Cowherd is a moron.

In one his rants, he basically said that 20% of NFL players are criminals and that the NBA is much "cleaner" and "classier".