ND #13 in Rivals preseason rankings

[Ironman8]

lol... "rolling with" = using. Has nothing to do with performance of the team. In fact my whole point is that he was very bad and therefore we were at a greater disadvantage using Tommy as a replacement versus Mitch as a replacement. Nice reading comprehension.

I don't think it's reading comprehension so much as understanding a slang term. While most would probably understand what you meant right away, that doesn't mean everyone would. You guys have differing opinions and it's creating a great dialogue - don't belittle it by doing that.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I don't think it's reading comprehension so much as understanding a slang term. While most would probably understand what you meant right away, that doesn't mean everyone would. You guys have differing opinions and it's creating a great dialogue - don't belittle it by doing that.

Hehe posting like a Mod now!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I don't think it's reading comprehension so much as understanding a slang term. While most would probably understand what you meant right away, that doesn't mean everyone would. You guys have differing opinions and it's creating a great dialogue - don't belittle it by doing that.

I wouldn't. Thanks for teaching me something new. For future, it's easier to limit slang when you are trying to make a concise point . . .

 

[Ironman8]

Hehe posting like a Mod now!

Shhh

 

[Rhode Irish]

In fairness, its not like "rolling with" is cutting-edge slang. I think its simply a case where one word could mean more than one thing in a particular instance, and I think context would seem to indicate that he meant we "went into the game with..." I do get how someone could be confused there, though.

As far as the substance of your argument, I tend to come down somewhere in the middle. I think, if you look hard enough, you can always come up with an excuse for why a team lost a game beyond they just got beat. The argument devaluing each of the four wins is a little overstated. Maybe any individual win in that group you could make a case that it didn't mean much, but taken collectively those wins do mean something. On the other hand, it probably helps to keep the wins in perspective. There weren't any wins over a truly elite team among the four, so I think this team still has work to do to show it is an elite team. I'm not ready to assume that going into the season. I want to see it.

 

[IrishLax]

In fairness, its not like "rolling with" is cutting-edge slang. I think its simply a case where one word could mean more than one thing in a particular instance, and I think context would seem to indicate that he meant we "went into the game with..." I do get how someone could be confused there, though.

Exactly. He missed the whole essence of the point and the obvious contextual clues as to what was meant. It's less about not knowing the definition of a "slang" term and more about not comprehending what he was reading.

To the other points... Miami scored their points when we called off the dogs and put in all of our second string. Cause and effect. Really simple observation when watching the game.

As for Utah I don't know anyone who thinks we beat a world beater BCS team. But the argument that we won because they had a "let down" is pretty crazy. As an athlete, you have "let down" games after you come off a big win or underestimate your opponent or both. It is possible that they underestimated Notre Dame; but doubtful.

A more appropriate argument for you to make would be that we watched game film from TCU stomping them and schemed our defense to incorporate some of what TCU used to success. You could also argue that we had an advantage because of the 2 weeks to prepare. Both of those are legit advantages in favor of ND that likely contributed to the win. Heck, you could even argue that the rainy conditions and natural grass played a very large factor in the way Notre Dame's defense was able to dominate. But trying to qualify the win as if Utah's confidence/motivation/focus was somehow detracted from their ability to perform on the field because they were coming off a bad loss does not hold water. If anything, bad losses motivate you more.

 

[Green Goblin]

Utah: Ranked at 15, everyone says it was a great win because of their ranking. I think after we could agree they barely belonged in the top 25. You don't think they lost confidence after that loss and were still stung by what happened?

So what had happened to ND just prior to that game? A kid died a tragic death, coach was heavily blamed for it, lost our starting QB for the year, lost our best RB for the year, and lost by a point to a really bad team.

Who had more of a reason to come out and quit in that game?

 

[GoldenDomer87]

Just an opinion.

Just an opinion.

I'm saying I THINK some people are looking too much into those wins and should wait before we crown them BCS champs. They were solid wins, don't get me wrong. They weren't wins that tell me they are 13th best in the nation. They were 4-5 up to that point. EVERY TEAM HAS INJURIES.

Obviously, you feel after an upset you can only go one direction and that is improve. I think two things can happen, improve or fall apart. I think the month of November (with ND) the last couple of years might prove that teams can fall apart. Tell me if you haven't heard this before, ND comes into the season ranked with huge expectations and then we fall flat on our face. I want to see a couple games.

I'm sorry I can't be perfect like you lax and read everything correctly. I'm just looking at it one way and its obvious you see it different.

 

[IrishLax]

I'm saying I THINK some people are looking too much into those wins and should wait before we crown them BCS champs. They were solid wins, don't get me wrong. They weren't wins that tell me they are 13th best in the nation. They were 4-5 up to that point. EVERY TEAM HAS INJURIES.

Obviously, you feel after an upset you can only go one direction and that is improve. I think two things can happen, improve or fall apart. I think the month of November (with ND) the last couple of years might prove that teams can fall apart. Tell me if you haven't heard this before, ND comes into the season ranked with huge expectations and then we fall flat on our face. I want to see a couple games.

I'm sorry I can't be perfect like you lax and read everything correctly. I'm just looking at it one way and its obvious you see it different.

Hey no problem, not many people can.

Kidding aside, I probably shouldn't lambaste a newbie poster. I encourage people to give their opinion, but if I vehemently disagree with it I'm not going to bite my tongue (fingers?).

Anyways, have a rep for sticking it out and I hope you continue posting. Just try to tone down the "unbelief" unless you've got lock-tight argument for being a wet blanket.

EDIT: My reps are worth 3 blocks. Sweet.

 

[Rhode Irish]

In a related note, the ESPN Power Rankings will also have Notre Dame as a top-15 team coming into the year. They have released No.'s 25-16, and no sign of ND yet (although ND opponents USC (25) and MSU (17) are in that group). Based on the amount of coverage ND has received from the Worldwide Leader to this point, and the fact that they have been ranked in every other preseason poll I have seen, I have to believe they will be included among the teams not yet covered, putting them in the top-15.

Geez, mgriff. That is uncalled for.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

Heinous script.

 

[mgriff]

I have no idea what happened, just posted a pic from a normal website. I can't edit the message as it crashes my browser. :jawdrop: A mod needs to delete that post ASAP so there aren't other bandwidth issues. The pic showed up and in my message box, but turned into that unbelievable script.

GOT IT.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

friggatriskaidekaphobia, fear of Friday the 13th.

riskaidekaphobia, fear of the number 13.

frigenkikurasstrphobia, fear of playing Notre Dame.

 

[Green Goblin]

In a related note, the ESPN Power Rankings will also have Notre Dame as a top-15 team coming into the year. They have released No.'s 25-16, and no sign of ND yet (although ND opponents USC (25) and MSU (17) are in that group). Based on the amount of coverage ND has received from the Worldwide Leader to this point, and the fact that they have been ranked in every other preseason poll I have seen, I have to believe they will be included among the teams not yet covered, putting them in the top-15.

Geez, mgriff. That is uncalled for.

Notre Dame is #15..

I was listening to a guy on SVP, a journalist but didn't get his name, he picked ND to be this year's Auburn-type team to come out of nowhere and win it all.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

That's what I am talking about!

 

[GoldenDomer87]

I'm not being a wet blanket (at least I don't think so). I'm giving reasons as to why I think they should be ranked in the 20's. I'm not saying this is a horrible team and we suck. I don't understand the reasoning behind #13 except for the team's potential. I still think there is more work to be done. I think Kelly would say the same thing. The 4 wins were confidence builders and earned some respect to be ranked, say 23, but we need to continue it.

I have thought for awhile that our team always failed the eye test. They were slower, smaller, and weaker. Now I look at this team and see SEC type players. Look at Teo, Floyd, Cave, Tuitt, Lynch, Calabrese, Fleming, and I could go on. This team has the potential to do it, but I think it takes more than four games.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Domer87, I don't disagree, but at the end of the day the preseason rankings are meaningless. I think this team has the potential to be the 13th best team in CFB, and maybe better. But I, like you, want to see it on the field. I'm not going to lose sleep over whether they're ranked too high or too low in the preseason.

 

[GoldenDomer87]

No Sleep Lost!

No Sleep Lost!

Domer87, I don't disagree, but at the end of the day the preseason rankings are meaningless. I think this team has the potential to be the 13th best team in CFB, and maybe better. But I, like you, want to see it on the field. I'm not going to lose sleep over whether they're ranked too high or too low in the preseason.

Haha, ya I guess that would be the underlying point. They might do it so we have something to talk about in the last month before the season starts. I guess it just gives the haters more ammo IF things don't pan out. All we will hear is that we are always ranked higher than we should be.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Rivals.com College Football - Rivals.com preseason bowl projections

They have us in a rematch against The U in the Champs Sports Bowl.

 

[CarrollVermin]

I personally like Phil Steele's projection better...ha.

 

[anarin]

Rivals.com College Football - Rivals.com preseason bowl projections

They have us in a rematch against The U in the Champs Sports Bowl.

That kinda throws me off...

Rank us #13 and then toss us into the Champ Sports Bowl? They obviously think the Irish are gonna drop atleast 3 to 4 games.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Rank us #13 and then toss us into the Champ Sports Bowl? They obviously think the Irish are gonna drop atleast 3 to 4 games.

Makes perfect sense. Most bookies are putting the O/U on wins for ND this year at 9.5. If we win 10, we head to a BCS bowl. If we win 9, we head to the best non-BCS bowl available, which is the Champs Sports Bowl.