What is 2011's most important game?

[I.R.I.S.H. GL]

I go back and forth between Michigan and USC. But I can hear coaches everywhere say win the next game on the schedule, so I guess South Fla.

 

[Cali_domer]

USF. Got to get the first one.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Look at the number of blue-chip recruits visiting for the USC game.

No contest.

 

[I.R.I.S.H. GL]

Look at the number of blue-chip recruits visiting for the USC game.

No contest.

Whiskey, I want to thank you for that response. You are 100% correct, and not to mention I will be in South Bend for THE GAME that weekend.

 

[Bubba]

... so I guess South Fla.

Win the next game. Every week is more important than the next, until you lose. Win them all and then you don't have anything to worry about!!

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

The most important game is the next game.

 

[GBdomer]

Its always about the next game taking it one game at a time. But if there is An important one its USC.

 

[JughedJones]

Look at the number of blue-chip recruits visiting for the USC game.

No contest.

Yup, but can you imagine losing to USF and a couple others before USC? There may not be as many blue-chips in attendance that night.

Just sayin.

 

[Cali_domer]

Yup, but can you imagine losing to USF and a couple others before USC? There may not be as many blue-chips in attendance that night.

Just sayin.

^^^^^This^^^^^

 

[koonja]

1) Michigan - we have to beat them or it will be 3 straight years. And we should beat them.

2) Michigan St - IMO, if we win this game we'll be undefeated going into the USC game, and college gameday, the blue chip recruits, and everyone else will be tuned in for my #3 game...

3) USC - I put them behind MSU and Mich because we should beat both Michigan teams. Although we will be favored in the USC game, they're still extremely talented, especially compared to the Michigan teams. It would not be a disaster if we lost to them, although, it is still a big game.

4) Stanford - Again, it's on the road and probably will be our toughest game. Won't be the end of the world if Luck beats us for his final home game.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Actually would be 3 straight years for Michigan. Still 3 too many.

I think beating scUM in their house is a statement game for us early in the season. I don't care what kind of season they have, a good win in that environment is a springboard event. If we start 2-0 I predict special things for this team......

 

[Riddickulous]

South Florida.

A loss here would be an utter disaster. Think Northwestern 1995.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

South Florida.

A loss here would be an utter disaster. Think Northwestern 1995.

We actually ended up 9-3 in '95 and played in a competitve Orange Bowl game, which we wouldve won if Powlus didnt break his collarbone in the Navy game.

But I understand your point.

 

[dshans]

Think Northwestern 1995.

Don't you DARE make me think ...

 

[Rocket89]

Michigan.

 

[notredomer23]

1. USF because I will be there. Which means that ND is going to lose, for I was at Tulsa last year, and Air Force in 2007.
2. Michigan- First night game in the Big House ever. If we beat South Florida and then beat Michigan handily at their place, people are going to start talking.
3. Michigan State- They are always dangerous and this should be a battle of ranked unbeatens. A win here should start up some real NC talk, whether is deserved or not.
4. Pitt- While they are going to be down and we should beat them handily, it is a must win.

Notice I posted the 4 games in September. Go undefeated there, go undefeated into Stanford IMO

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Yup, but can you imagine losing to USF and a couple others before USC? There may not be as many blue-chips in attendance that night.

Just sayin.

I understand what you're getting at, but we were asked to pick just one game.

We could go into the USC game 5-1, and it would still enjoy all the hype; thus, I don't think you can say any one of those games is more important than USC.

If you asked me which game I want to win the most, it's definitely scUM; the skunkbears are due for a humiliating curb-stomping. But a big win over USC could result in verbals from multiple blue-chip recruits, and there's no other game on our schedule that's likely to produce similar results.

 

[arrowryan]

if Notre Dame is going to lose because you will be there. Please dont go!

 

[Irish2015]

I say Navy cause its just outright pathetic if we lose to Navy again. We beat them for what 43 straight years, but lost 3 of the last 4. Outright pathetic if you ask me; therefore, this game is a must win.

 

[I.R.I.S.H. GL]

1995 was a weird year for Irish football. That Northwestern game was a a shock to all in attendance that day, I can attest beacuse I was there. Then the Suckeyes come to town with the #1 or #2 ranking in their pocket. As well as four 1st round picks, one being Orlando Pace (#1 draft pick) and Eddie George (heisman winner). The worst fans I've ever encountered in my 25+ years at ND Stadium. And the game was relatively tight, and then another clipping call on an Autry Denson punt TD that would've put ND down by less than a TD. Lastly I was a jinx again at Orange Bowl playing a top 10 FSU team, we should've won, but FSU had all kind of talent and Lou pulled out every trick & manuever he had to stay in the game. Sorry for the rant, but '95 was still special, all three of those teams were top 10 throughout the season. I think had we won some close games last year and Stanford & MSU have the seasons they did we could have easily seen a redux of '95. Just my two cents. GO IRISH!!!

 

[koonja]

After the season, I don't see BK answering the QU: Which was your most important game? And answering: South Florida.

Wins like Michigan and USC give the players confidence that can carry them through the rest of the season.

I don't even need to mention the recruiting ramifications.

A coach is always going to say the right things, and say the next game is the most important in order to keep his players from looking ahead. But we can be real, we're not in charge of keeping 80+ kids heads straight. USF is not the biggest game.

 

[UPMich_NDfan]

1995 was a weird year for Irish football. That Northwestern game was a a shock to all in attendance that day, I can attest beacuse I was there. Then the Suckeyes come to town with the #1 or #2 ranking in their pocket. As well as four 1st round picks, one being Orlando Pace (#1 draft pick) and Eddie George (heisman winner). The worst fans I've ever encountered in my 25+ years at ND Stadium. And the game was relatively tight, and then another clipping call on an Autry Denson punt TD that would've put ND down by less than a TD. Lastly I was a jinx again at Orange Bowl playing a top 10 FSU team, we should've won, but FSU had all kind of talent and Lou pulled out every trick & manuever he had to stay in the game. Sorry for the rant, but '95 was still special, all three of those teams were top 10 throughout the season. I think had we won some close games last year and Stanford & MSU have the seasons they did we could have easily seen a redux of '95. Just my two cents. GO IRISH!!!

Northwestern was a tough pill to swallow that day...but looking back they are a botched game against Miami Ohio from going undefeated in the regular season!


I still say USF, much better vibe when you win the first one. Even tho most people on here realize how tough USF could be, not sure how many national cfball fans do...lose this and ND will get dumped on negatively not a great way to start a year that has so much hope/excitement surrounding it. It would be nice to win to build a HUGE anticipation week going into scUM.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

1995 was a weird year for Irish football. That Northwestern game was a a shock to all in attendance that day, I can attest beacuse I was there. Then the Suckeyes come to town with the #1 or #2 ranking in their pocket. As well as four 1st round picks, one being Orlando Pace (#1 draft pick) and Eddie George (heisman winner). The worst fans I've ever encountered in my 25+ years at ND Stadium. And the game was relatively tight, and then another clipping call on an Autry Denson punt TD that would've put ND down by less than a TD. Lastly I was a jinx again at Orange Bowl playing a top 10 FSU team, we should've won, but FSU had all kind of talent and Lou pulled out every trick & manuever he had to stay in the game. Sorry for the rant, but '95 was still special, all three of those teams were top 10 throughout the season. I think had we won some close games last year and Stanford & MSU have the seasons they did we could have easily seen a redux of '95. Just my two cents. GO IRISH!!!

Have your years mixed up. Ohio Suck came to South Bend in '96. And their fans still blow.

 

[rikkitikki08]

USC is really important as always, especially for the recruiting aspect. But South Florida is huge, if we come out and lay down a beating then that could send our confidence through the roof

 

[BGIF]

Have your years mixed up. Ohio Suck came to South Bend in '96. And their fans still blow.

^

'95 Columbus
'96 South Bend

Too much Vrabel and Finkes.

 

[BGIF]

1995 was a weird year for Irish football. ... GO IRISH!!!

NW was a 28 point underdog. ND's center stepped backwards onto Powlus's foot sending him flying and ending the 2 pt conversion try to tie the game late in the 4th Q. A couple of day after the Purdue win Holtz had spinal surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Holtz had missed a game, a practice, or a team meeting in his 3 decades of coaching. Bob Davie stepped in an directed ND to a romp over Vanderbilt ... and the dark clouds gathered.

 

[BGIF]

What is 2011's most important game?

Depends on your perspective:

Recruitingwise - USC (IT'S SHOWTIME!)

All-Time Winning Percentage Battle - UM ( #1 versus #2 is a 2 game swing)

National Championship - USF (It's not the opponent. It's the NEXT GAME. If you don't win the next game ... . ND doesn't have a conference championship to overcome an early lose so at ND it's always the next game)

 

[GowerND11]

Right now USF is the most important, as people say we need to start strong. Over the course of the season, saying we beat USF, USC is clearly the most important game.

 

[tdbaum1]

Not only is the next game always the most important one. I think a lot of people are underestimating USF. It is not going to be a cake walk and you never know with the first football game of a season. Any team can win. USF is definitely the most important. Momentum is everything.

 

[calvegas04]

USC must win