ESPN's Mark Schlabach rates Notre Dame #14 for 2011

[tadman95]

College football's Way-Too-Early 2011 Top 25 - ESPN

Momentum baby!!!!!!

 

[IrishLax]

SI has us as #24.

 

[IrishBlood81]

I would think that to to have a realistic rating they'd have to wait and see about Floyd and Lynch. But sweet!



81

 

[GreatGolson]

not to be a downer but this is also the guy who predicted us in the BCS in 2009 and 2010, he likes ND a lot.

 

[rikkitikki08]

not to be a downer but this is also the guy who predicted us in the BCS in 2009 and 2010, he likes ND a lot.

Exactly what i was thinking, i would almost rather this guy not have us ranked

 

[RallySonsOfND]

I would like to see us come in unranked, and just destroy ranked teams.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Agree with the last 3 posts. I was about to come in and request and exorcism on those rankings, the last thing this team needs is the pressure of ultra-high expectations. They seem to thrive with a chip on their shoulder, though this being ND, they're going to have to exceed unrealistic expectations sooner or later.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I like the rankings and the hype. I think we have finally got a team that will fight nomatter what number is next to their name. This team won't collapse like the teams of the past, theres finally a leader that won't let it happen.

Bring the hype, I think theyll thrive off of it.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I would think that to to have a realistic rating they'd have to wait and see about Floyd and Lynch. But sweet!



81

Maybe I am wrong, but I can't see Lynch making that much of an impact in 2011. He's going to have a ton of information to digest, he may get time in certain situations, but I can't see him making a huge impact. Kind of like Teo in 08. He played alot, but was very raw, and made a lot of mistakes. So I don't think Lynch will have any effect on where ND is ranked next season.

 

[irishff1014]

I would count on this he has TCU 18 and the razorbacks 6th. They need to be switched.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Well, guys, agree to disagree. Someone big coming out and ranking us high shortly before NSD and in the last minutes of the recruiting war, has got to be a good thing. Please think about these things as elements of the psycho-social world; the football will be settled on the field. Being highly praised in public can't hurt you.

 

[Veer option]

IMO the ESPN ranking is a little high. Though it makes me glad that the college football world now understands that there are some great things happening in South Bend.

 

[BGIF]

Agree with the last 3 posts. I was about to come in and request and exorcism on those rankings, the last thing this team needs is the pressure of ultra-high expectations. They seem to thrive with a chip on their shoulder, though this being ND, they're going to have to exceed unrealistic expectations sooner or later.

I like the underdog image. Avis having to try harder than #1 Hertz.

But considering the way the BCS does it selections and the bias of conference coaches ND needs to start out in the week one polls as high as possible. Say an SEC team like Alabama, and Big 12 team like OU, or a PAC 10 team like ORE start out the season ranked in the Top 5 and ND is in the Others Receiving Votes category. All four teams go undefeated, ND will get no consideration for the NC game except by the computers. The human voters aren't going to move the preseason #33 team ahead of the preseason #3 team as long as both are undefeated. Two of the greatest bowl game ever played were the '73 Sugar Bowl and '75 Cotton Bowl were ND knocked off #1 Alabama in the first one and #2 Alabama in the second one. Today those game would not have happened. ND was ranked #3 going into the Sugar Bowl and #9 going into the other one. ND was ranked #5 when them demolished #1 Texas and won a NC in '77. The 7th ranked Irish lost by a TD to #1 UGA and Herschel Walker in the '81 Sugar Bowl. They wouldn't have been selected by the BCS Committee for either game. IN '71 the 6th ranked Irish knocked off #1 Texas in another game they wouldn't get selected for today.

Regardless of my personal choice for preseason ranking, given the conference playoff games which were set up specifically to enhance a team's selection in the BCS, ND needs to start the season ranked high. Then they need to win one game, 12 times to play in the NC game.

 

[tadman95]

Originally posted by BGIF:

But considering the way the BCS does it selections and the bias of conference coaches ND needs to start out in the week one polls as high as possible.

Agree 100% If we aren't ready to be #14 (or any other #) then we aren't ready. I think Kelly is ready to make a big step with this group. QB performance will be critical, and I think there are several incoming freshmen that could play big roles by the end of the year if we can just hold this class together and pick up Lynch, Carlisle, etc...

 

[tadman95]

Some more love from ESPN's Brian Bennett

Michael Floyd makes Irish an '11 contender - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN

 

[eNDzone]

Got to ask the question again. Look at the schedule and tell me who is going to beat us.

If and when someday when ND goes undefeated they will play for the NC. There is to much money in it for everybody for them not to.

 

[jason_h537]

UGHHHHHHH i hate ESPN, they are so anti ND when we should clearly be #1. DAMN YOU MEDIAAAAAA!!!!!!!!