Notre Dame Football: 10 Reasons Why They Will Win the 2011-12 BCS Championship

[GreatGolson]

Sorry HCTI but any remains of ND bandwagoners from the """Return to Glroy***""""" died in 09 sometime around the UCONN game. I'm just tired because these articles feed the trolls and other fans that say we're a bunch of arrogant aholes who think our team will win the NC every year

 

[woolybug25]

Irishtrinity - I feel like one of these days, you are going to have an epic meltdown on here. You certainly wear your heart on your sleeve.

At least that heart is colored blue and gold and pumps green kool-aid at 180 beats a minute. Good onya.

 

[GreatGolson]

BREAKING NEWS!!!! I FOUND A MEANINGFULL COMMENT ON B/R!!! This is a very very smart remark (not a dis) but a very good reminder that BK is not Jesus, it was written by a fan and intented to slow down the Kool-Aid Flow
From B/R Comments
"BK isn't Lou. Lou has a national championship. BK called that pass at the end of the Tulsa game and told us to, "get used to it." i hate it, but its a very good reminder for us all

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Basically what it comes down to Trinity is that most of these guys have a tight sphincter re: the ND Football program due to not being able to deal with adversity and tough situations.

I salute the hell out of your optimism and I agree to a certain degree, but have tempered my enthusiasm just a bit below your prognostication.

Don't put too much stock into the comments here. Some of these guys have broken their ankles so many times getting on/off the ND band wagon that they don't know if they're walking on their feet or their a$$. They know who they are but continue to show up here and ramp up their nonsense every season.

Stay positive brother... We Are.....N.D.

thanks bro some folks just don't get it.. like holtz said at the end of the 88 miami game "it's the spirit of notre dame"..

thats why i went to 2 ND games this past yr pitt and western to show love when times are bad.. i'm going this yr. to the air force game the trip last yr hooked me any ND fan who hasn't been to a game doesn't know the true magic of the school/stadium..

BREAKING NEWS!!!! I FOUND A MEANINGFULL COMMENT ON B/R!!! This is a very very smart remark (not a dis) but a very good reminder that BK is not Jesus, it was written by a fan and intented to slow down the Kool-Aid Flow
From B/R Comments
"BK isn't Lou. Lou has a national championship. BK called that pass at the end of the Tulsa game and told us to, "get used to it." i hate it, but its a very good reminder for us all

I rest my case Your Honor...

 

[Riddickulous]

10-2 is fine for me, a BCS match up and a good game to spring board for a 2012 NC.

I actually see us taking a minor step back in 2012.

Why, you ask?

1) The schedule. Navy, Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Miami, Stanford, Boston College, Pittsburgh, USC.

2) We lose our only elite player on offense.

3) The entire right side of our OL is gone. That's Taylor Dever and Trevor Robinson. Concerns there.

4) We lose five very, very experienced players on defense...

- A four year starter in Harrison Smith, who is also clearly our best safety.
- A three year starter in Ethan Johnson, our best and most complete defensive end.
- A three year starter in Darius Fleming.
- Gary Gray, perhaps the best cover corner in nearly a decade. Should finish his career with around 25 starts.
- Robert Blanton, another guy who should finish with about 25 starts.

...Not to mention potential fifth years who may not return: Kapron Lewis-Moore, Sean Cwynar, Hafis Williams, Brandon Newman, Jamoris Slaughter. And Braxston Cave on offense.

I'm expecting 8-4/9-3 in '12.

 

[woolybug25]

I actually see us taking a minor step back in 2012.

Why, you ask?

1) The schedule. Navy, Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Miami, Stanford, Boston College, Pittsburgh, USC.

2) We lose our only elite player on offense.

3) The entire right side of our OL is gone. That's Taylor Dever and Trevor Robinson. Concerns there.

4) We lose five very, very experienced players on defense...

- A four year starter in Harrison Smith, who is also clearly our best safety.
- A three year starter in Ethan Johnson, our best and most complete defensive end.
- A three year starter in Darius Fleming.
- Gary Gray, perhaps the best cover corner in nearly a decade. Should finish his career with around 25 starts.
- Robert Blanton, another guy who should finish with about 25 starts.

...Not to mention potential fifth years who may not return: Kapron Lewis-Moore, Sean Cwynar, Hafis Williams, Brandon Newman, Jamoris Slaughter. And Braxston Cave on offense.

I'm expecting 8-4/9-3 in '12.

At least you jinxed a mediocre season.

I agree with what you are saying. But trying to make predictions two seasons prior is a futile exercise. We have no idea if the teams that look tough on that schedule will end up being tough two years from now. Any one of those teams could lose their best player from injury, for instance. Furthermore, you dont know who or how many players will break out by then. By all means, most of us expect players like Lynch, Ishaq and Tuitt to be big time players.

 

[military_irish]

I know I am late to the party but I applaud irishtrinity's optimism. I actually think just like him, rain or shine I am behind ND. Like I mentioned in another thread I bet that ND would have an 8-9 win season in 2007 and we all see how that season turned out. I am a realist with an optimistic point of view. If that makes any sense.

Absolutely nothing wrong with having high expectations, even when things are at the lowest point.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I know I am late to the party but I applaud irishtrinity's optimism. I actually think just like him, rain or shine I am behind ND. Like I mentioned in another thread I bet that ND would have an 8-9 win season in 2007 and we all see how that season turned out. I am a realist with an optimistic point of view. If that makes any sense.

Absolutely nothing wrong with having high expectations, even when things are at the lowest point.

I think that goes for most people here. Anyone that is posting on a ND board in July is a pretty solid fan, and the last decade has given plenty of opportunities for people to jump off the bandwagon.

Also, it isn't like this board is a bunch of cynical Debbie Downers. Pretty much everyone that posts here is excited about the direction of the program and varying degrees of optimistic. Still, as a fan you lose some credibility if you cannot offer realistic evaluations and maintain realistic expectations. I'm pretty confident this will be a good team this year, but the B/R thing said every unit was the best in the country and every player is an all-American and going to the NFL. I'm just saying...lets slow down a touch.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

I know I am late to the party but I applaud irishtrinity's optimism. I actually think just like him, rain or shine I am behind ND. Like I mentioned in another thread I bet that ND would have an 8-9 win season in 2007 and we all see how that season turned out. I am a realist with an optimistic point of view. If that makes any sense.

Absolutely nothing wrong with having high expectations, even when things are at the lowest point.

That's what I'm talkin' about....

 

[military_irish]

I think that goes for most people here. Anyone that is posting on a ND board in July is a pretty solid fan, and the last decade has given plenty of opportunities for people to jump off the bandwagon.

Also, it isn't like this board is a bunch of cynical Debbie Downers. Pretty much everyone that posts here is excited about the direction of the program and varying degrees of optimistic. Still, as a fan you lose some credibility if you cannot offer realistic evaluations and maintain realistic expectations. I'm pretty confident this will be a good team this year, but the B/R thing said every unit was the best in the country and every player is an all-American and going to the NFL. I'm just saying...lets slow down a touch.

I agree with pretty much all you said so I will just mentioned the NFL part. But if you look at ND's roster and just look at the talent. They all have the potential to be great and be the best unit in the nation. Granted from the performance that has been seen on the field, it is hard to make a case for many of the players on the team.

But I will just say all it takes is that one thing to click and in a season any player can break into the legitimate All-American.

 

[Chicago Irish Fan]

I certainly won't be predicting an undefeated season any time soon, but it would not be an unprecedented jump. Bob Stoops, Urban Meyer, Gene Chizik, and Jim Tressel went 7-5, 9-3, 8-5, and 7-5 respectively in their first seasons and they all won national championships their second seasons. I'm sure it seemed just as ridiculous to predict such a jump before their championship seasons as it does to predict a title for ND now. That said, I see us in the 9-10 win range.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Irishtrinity - I feel like one of these days, you are going to have an epic meltdown on here. You certainly wear your heart on your sleeve.

+1

 

[BeauBenken]

Every game ND goes into I always think we can win. During my tenure as a fan growing up I have seen some BCS teams that got walloped and so teams with great potential get walloped. Yep, there's been lots of walloping. I've been made pretty humble by this.

So I guess what I'm saying is that going into every game, I can always see us winning and I always cheer my hardest for my Fighting Irish, but when I think about the season, all I ask to see is effort and progress from our boys.

 

[Rocket89]

I actually see us taking a minor step back in 2012.

Why, you ask?

1) The schedule. Navy, Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Miami, Stanford, Boston College, Pittsburgh, USC.

2) We lose our only elite player on offense.

3) The entire right side of our OL is gone. That's Taylor Dever and Trevor Robinson. Concerns there.

4) We lose five very, very experienced players on defense...

- A four year starter in Harrison Smith, who is also clearly our best safety.
- A three year starter in Ethan Johnson, our best and most complete defensive end.
- A three year starter in Darius Fleming.
- Gary Gray, perhaps the best cover corner in nearly a decade. Should finish his career with around 25 starts.
- Robert Blanton, another guy who should finish with about 25 starts.

...Not to mention potential fifth years who may not return: Kapron Lewis-Moore, Sean Cwynar, Hafis Williams, Brandon Newman, Jamoris Slaughter. And Braxston Cave on offense.

I'm expecting 8-4/9-3 in '12.

Good points about losing the defensive players. However, I don't think Ethan Johnson is our best and most complete defensive end. In fact, I'd put him probably 10th best out of the 11 starters on defense (just ahead of whomever starts at ILB next to Te'o). EJ is solid, but I don't think we'll really miss him, especially with Lynch, Tuitt & Co. behind him.

Hayseed, Gray, and Fleming are going to hurt BAD.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

Every game ND goes into I always think we can win. During my tenure as a fan growing up I have seen some BCS teams that got walloped and so teams with great potential get walloped. Yep, there's been lots of walloping. I've been made pretty humble by this.

So I guess what I'm saying is that going into every game, I can always see us winning and I always cheer my hardest for my Fighting Irish, but when I think about the season, all I ask to see is effort and progress from our boys.

I feel you 100 percent on this. The biggest thing for me is to see our boys leave everything out on the field and never quit. I want to see our boys fight to the finish so at the end of the day win or lose we know they fought their butts off. I think we can all see how this team has a certain fight and swagger we haven't seen in a long time. This team has had to learn what it takes to win and I hope the last four games of last season helped. I too have lofty expectations and have been a die hard fan since the early 70s. I have seen us when we were on top of the world and I have seen us when we were down in the gutter. Notre Dame football to me is almost like life itself. You have good times and bad times and it can be a rollercoaster of a ride at times but in the end it's enjoyable. I look forward to this season like everyone else. All I want to see this year is progress from last year and to see this team play to it's potential on a more consistent basis. I don't think it's unrealistic to think we can't win 10 games this season but I don't think we are BCS National Championship ready yet either. I do know this...., I will watch every game and root for our boys every Saturday and hope for the best. I think it's alright to be optimistic and have lofty goals, but at the same time you also have to be realistic.

 

[phork]

I think you can be behind your team 100%, but tempering expectations with reality is not unfounded. Everyone was on me about the latter Weis years because I wasn't as kool-aid drunk as some others on here, turns out I was right.

I think everyone here is behind ND 100%, otherwise they wouldn't be here. However realizing the teams ceiling is another story all together.

 

[Kingbish01]

Man, just read through this post. Can't believe Irishtrinity got jumped on for posting an article written for B/R. Ya, we all know about bleacher report...blah blah blah. It's July, it had something to do with ND football. We all come on and check this site daily and I have seen much more boring threads started. Irishtrinity....I think some people on this thread are the fans that threw snowballs at the team during the Syracuse game.

 

[WaveDomer]

Man, just read through this post. Can't believe Irishtrinity got jumped on for posting an article written for B/R. Ya, we all know about bleacher report...blah blah blah. It's July, it had something to do with ND football. We all come on and check this site daily and I have seen much more boring threads started. Irishtrinity....I think some people on this thread are the fans that threw snowballs at the team during the Syracuse game.

He did just link an article and also put in the reality checks such as Floyd and injuries. So disagree if you want, but disagree more with the article. Irishtrinity is just the messenger posting something for us to read. And as Steven Tyler said, "Fake it until you make it." And as Steven Pressfield wrote, "The three dumbest guys I can think of: Charles Lindbergh, Steve Jobs, Winston Churchill. Why? Because any smart person who understood how impossibly arduous were the tasks they had to set themselves would have pulled the plug before he even began." Personally, I hope every member of the ND football team is buying 100% into an undefeated championship run.

 

[irishog77]

I agree, Wave. I hope the players aren't hoping to finish 9-3 and have a good showing in the Champ Sports Bowl. I want them to have NC aspirations. Who knows if it'll happen or not, but definitely have lofty aspirations for yourself and team-- try to achieve the sun and moon.

 

[GreatGolson]

i love ND, for god's sake i went to every home game in 2007 and 2008 but i just have the worst feeling that we are feeding the trolls here

 

[tankjeep]

thanks irishtrinity for giving us something to read about ND football. the season couldn't get here soon enough.

and my hopes are high for this season. usually starts out that way, and i pray it continues. for the first time in a long time......i really have a good feeling that bk will have our boys playing some good football. you never know....anything can happen, so for me an undefeated season may be a stretch, but it isn't impossible.

if the ball bounces our way and we actually get solid officiating and players stay healthy....then it's a possibility.

as riddickulous ('yea that guy') pointed out though.....next season is going to be brutal. the schedule alone is scary.

 

[WaveDomer]

i love ND, for god's sake i went to every home game in 2007 and 2008 but i just have the worst feeling that we are feeding the trolls here

Remember, trolls eat anything. And yeah, I don't think there's anything wrong with a fan having lower expectations, just like I don't think it's wrong to have high expectations. But the team should definitely have high expectations.

 

[Kingbish01]

I don't think for a minute anyone in the Auburn family thought they would run the table and win a national championship last year. What happens if Crist throws for 3,500 and Wood runs for 1,000 along with a vet D. I can't wait! P.S. Greatdayne...ND went 5-8 at home during 07 & 08. 10-5 During '09 & '10....Pleas stay away from ND stadium this fall...I kid I kid

 

[jfjkd01]

I don't think for a minute anyone in the Auburn family thought they would run the table and win a national championship last year.

Exactly.........Wasn't Auburn record like 8-4 or 8-5 the year before they won the National Championship?

 

[BGIF]

I don't think for a minute anyone in the Auburn family thought they would run the table and win a national championship last year. ...

I think the guy that ponied up the $180G's had an inkling of why he spent his money.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I think the guy that ponied up the $180G's had an inkling of why he spent his money.

I was about to say. You don't pay $180k for a Heisman candidate out of JUCO unless you have MNC aspirations.

 

[Blaise]

I have no problem with people lowering expectations, nor do I have them with people thinking ND is winning the ship every year...

For me, expect that, is depressing. In my 29 years, if that is what I expected, I would of been happy once with ND football, and disappointed 28 times.....
I prefer to be objective, and I think this year that means 10-2, but I could never hate on someone screaming ND is winning it all.... Good for them... keep the faith

 

[Anchorman]

In fact, according to athlonsports.com, the Fighting Irish will face nine teams ranked in the preseason top 45—a number that is unlikely matched by any other team in the country

This is the epitome of Bleacher Report. Its unlikely matched, but we couldnt be bothered to actually look!

 

[SoDakDomer]

Superfans.

‪SNL SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE DA BEARS PART 1 REAL WITH CHRIS FARLEY N DA SUPER FANS FROM SNL FUNNY‬‏ - YouTube

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Though KPENN was a bit blunt, I didn't read any of the comments here as "hating" on irishtrinity for excessive optimism.

Most of the "negative" comments in this thread are either laughing at Bleacher Report (and how can you not) or picking apart the author's predictions. The vast majority of what gets posted on BR is utter crap: full of misinformation and hand-waving, instead of the well-reasoned arguments-- often supported with statistical evidence-- that get made here. So in the future, just be aware that BR articles are likely to be dismissed out of hand.

And as for the Kool-Aid, we can brew much better stuff than that author was offering on our own.

Do I think ND will go 13-0? OH YEEEAH!