Kirk Herbstreit loves this Notre Dame football team

[Sherm Sticky]

Can Irish Avoid 0-3? - ESPN Video - ESPN

Has hell frozen over? Discuss...

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Sharp suit, Herbie.

 

[irishtrinity]

he speaks the truth.. worst thing we go 10-2 knowing we should have been undefeated..

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Sharp suit, Herbie.

Is that sarcasm? I kind of liked the suit.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Is that sarcasm? I kind of liked the suit.

Not sarcasm at all.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Got ya

 

[magogian]

Of course he likes us. We are 0 and 2. It is the only time he will like us.

 

[mick2]

i dont have much of a problem with the herbmeister, except for the fact that he works for espn. but hes actually very unbiased and fair most of the time.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Herbie's just trying to make inroads again into the midwest lol, they basically hate him at tOSU. Who by the way should have gotten beat last week against Toledo. Some opportune referee calls let tOSU score 10 on two drives.

 

[irishfanjho15]

i dont have much of a problem with the herbmeister, except for the fact that he works for espn. but hes actually very unbiased and fair most of the time.

^^^ True that. Down with the "Mothership". ESPiN can s*ck me. They are the TMZ of sports.

 

[Buster Bluth]

They are the TMZ of sports.

Truer words have never been spoken.

 

[phgreek]

i dont have much of a problem with the herbmeister, except for the fact that he works for espn. but hes actually very unbiased and fair most of the time.

Not sure how you measure bias...I look at a couple things.

1) the accuracy of criticism and praise

2) the words chosen to communicate criticism or praise.

When he drops "high school defense" on us...thats bias ...the words he chose to communicate criticism were inflamatory and unnecessarily harsh, and humiliating...Would he do that to an SEC team...to a big 10 team? BIAS, plain and simple.

So...I think he got absolutely slapped around by the irish faithful since that statement, and he continues to get slapped around, and will continue to get slapped around until he builds some positive cache...

This is his attempt to do some of that...

Personally, he has nine more such positive statements to make before I am even neutral on the guy...

 

[bert2834]

I like Herbie and when he said it about our "defense", he wasn't exactly wrong.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Truer words have never been spoken.

Mad props Buster.

 

[irishfanjho15]

What I think is funniest about the whole Herbie and liking our team is that he, and I'm paraphrasing here, was one who said he'd reserve judgment until he saw us play. This just goes to show that this team is much closer than most see. This is why I believe in Kelly. He sees it and losing only makes you work harder and want it more. It's the great test of life, adversity I mean. I have a saying about this and its, "You'll do a lot things in your life, but the biggest question is what will you do next". That's the mark of a program which will see much, much better days, one who picks themselves up and keeps fighting.

 

[Buster Bluth]

He sees what every intelligent football connoisseur sees: a damn fine football team that simply needs to stop turning the ball over.

 

[irishfanjho15]

He sees what every intelligent football connoisseur sees: a damn fine football team that simply needs to stop turning the ball over.

True and people should be on watch. God-willing we keep these recruits and we could be down right scary in years to come.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Not sure how you measure bias...I look at a couple things.

1) the accuracy of criticism and praise

2) the words chosen to communicate criticism or praise.

If Herbie was biased against ND, why would he ever say that he likes us better now-- at 0-2-- than he did preseason? That takes a certain amount of courage as an analyst, and one certainly wouldn't expect him to climb out on a limb for a team he's biased against.

When he drops "high school defense" on us...thats bias ...the words he chose to communicate criticism were inflamatory and unnecessarily harsh, and humiliating...Would he do that to an SEC team...to a big 10 team? BIAS, plain and simple.

Herbie said we "almost looked like a high school defense," specifically in reference to our (lack of) speed, after we had just given up an average of 471 yards/game in three back-to-back losses to Michigan, Michigan State, and Stanford last season. He then predicted that we would lose to BC. Given the timing of the comment, and our historic ineptitude on defense under Weis, the comment was hardly unreasonable. Harsh? No doubt. But sadly defensible at the time.

 

[DANsanity15]

He all but picked Notre Dame to win last week. I'm delightfully surprised he's on the bandwagon

 

[phgreek]

If Herbie was biased against ND, why would he ever say that he likes us better now-- at 0-2-- than he did preseason? That takes a certain amount of courage as an analyst, and one certainly wouldn't expect him to climb out on a limb for a team he's biased against.

Why does anyone with a bias ever tone it down? Repercussions. I think he got stung by ND nation pretty hard. I think he realizes he stepped on it...I think he would prefer not to be in the dog house of one of the biggest fan bases in the nation...so I didn't say he was dumb...I said the words he chose...that showed bias...find me where he said something as derogatory about another team of ND's stature...or is ND the only one who was playing poorly at that point last year?

Herbie said we "almost looked like a high school defense," specifically in reference to our (lack of) speed, after we had just given up an average of 471 yards/game in three back-to-back losses to Michigan, Michigan State, and Stanford last season. He then predicted that we would lose to BC. Given the timing of the comment, and our historic ineptitude on defense under Weis, the comment was hardly unreasonable. Harsh? No doubt. But sadly defensible at the time.

Oh...my mistake, ...that "almost" changes everything...

The point is...have you, to this point, heard the man "almost" degrade anyone else that way?...AGAIN, he could be right on the money that we had a weak defense to that point, he could say speed is clearly the issue...but IMHO, there is bias evident becuase of how he chose to provide his evaluation...

9 more Herbie...

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Why does anyone with a bias ever tone it down? Repercussions. I think he got stung by ND nation pretty hard. I think he realizes he stepped on it...I think he would prefer not to be in the dog house of one of the biggest fan bases in the nation...so I didn't say he was dumb...I said the words he chose...that showed bias...find me where he said something as derogatory about another team of ND's stature...or is ND the only one who was playing poorly at that point last year?

Even if that's the case (which I don't believe), why choose now, when we're 0-2 and walking into a game against the 15th ranked team nationally, to disingenuously rep the Irish? Makes no sense. If that's what's truly driving his positive comments, he'd be much wiser to wait until we hit the softer part of our schedule to say we look good while we're beating up on inferior teams.

The point is...have you, to this point, heard the man "almost" degrade anyone else that way?...AGAIN, he could be right on the money that we had a weak defense to that point, he could say speed is clearly the issue...but IMHO, there is bias evident becuase of how he chose to provide his evaluation...

You're being over-sensitive. Herbie saying we "almost look[ed] like a high school defense" was probably a bit hyperbolic, but it wasn't "degrad[ing]". We had just given up 500+ yards to a single player, and we gave up a ton of yards to State and Stanford. At that point, nobody knew how good Denard Robinson really was, or that State and Stanford were each in the midst of their best seasons ever.

So no, I don't think Herbie committed blood libel against ND by saying our lack of speed made us look "almost like a high school" team against those offenses. At the time, it was sadly defensible.

 

[ND4EVA]

http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/notre-dame-football/48685-herbstreit-nd.html

wasnt to long ago seems most had no issues with Herbie

 

[Mr. Larson]

he speaks the truth.. worst thing we go 10-2 knowing we should have been undefeated..

I could think of much worse things than that. 10-2 and ND is potentially playing in a BC...Sorry the bartender just informed that I've been cut off. One week at a time here. And I think NDFANnSouthwest has a Lou Holtz quote is his signature line relating to eyes being in the front of your head.

Herbie seems to do his homework so it's good to hear him picking the Irish.

 

[phgreek]

Even if that's the case (which I don't believe), why choose now, when we're 0-2 and walking into a game against the 15th ranked team nationally, to disingenuously rep the Irish? Makes no sense. If that's what's truly driving his positive comments, he'd be much wiser to wait until we hit the softer part of our schedule to say we look good while we're beating up on inferior teams.

I think he chose to make a statement at a time where it would mean something to the faithful...thats really not a foreign notion

You're being over-sensitive.

Snif, snif...No I'm not...MOM!

...the question was bias...I told you how I look at it

Herbie saying we "almost look[ed] like a high school defense" was probably a bit hyperbolic, but it wasn't "degrad[ing]".

Really? I would have been offended if I were on that unit. Look how often do you use "Hyperbole" unless you are animated about a point? Is being animated about a point or view usually mean you have a dog in the fight? OK...anyway, so lets find another example of such Herbie "hyperbole" aimed at another team of Notre Dame's stature...then I'll nod and say maybe the guy just got caught up in the moment.

We had just given up 500+ yards to a single player, and we gave up a ton of yards to State and Stanford. At that point, nobody knew how good Denard Robinson really was, or that State and Stanford were each in the midst of their best seasons ever..

OK, I get the circumstances lead him to the conclusion that our defense was weak, and speed was the issue...how do you get to "almost high school" from there?

So no, I don't think Herbie committed blood libel against ND by saying our lack of speed made us look "almost like a high school" team against those offenses. At the time, it was sadly defensible.

The criticism appeared to be reasonable and defensible, his selection of "hyperbole" was crap.

Dude...I agree to disagree on Herbie... I will always view this as the guy took a swipe at ND...he had a disdain for ND, and it reared its ugly head....and he got walloped by the irish faithful, and has been backpedalling since.

 

[BeauBenken]

I'm getting confused by this barrage of "ND kicks ***" from the media.

 

[Rudy89]

I'm getting confused by this barrage of "ND kicks ***" from the media.

its a conspiracy. they hate us and want to jinx us so we lose *shakes fist angrily at media*

 

[BeauBenken]

its a conspiracy. they hate us and want to jinx us so we lose *shakes fist angrily at media*

Exactly.

 

[Carlyle Javar Holiday]

He loves how this team has 9 turnovers in two games? Did he not see the last two games. I am not loving this team right now. It is even worse because both games were winnable.

 

[Old Man Mike]

All these guys [ex. Herbstreit, RSmith, Pollock, Fauria, May, even Bayliss et al] have watched years of football. They all are seeing the same thing. This team has proved that it can do stunningly positive things in the areas [general offensive and defensive plays, yardage production, line-of-scrimmage power, etc] which translate into wins against almost anybody on the field. The areas of error are SO spectacular that no one can believe them. AND because all the areas, though usually "peripheral" to the core of team function, are both the clear and only reason for defeat, AND are usually fixable by teams, no one can believe that they will continue to go on.

Listen to all these guys talk. They're shaking their heads unanimously in disbelief. They now see, paradoxically, after two losses, the on-field proof of how dangerous this team is. They see this team as an angry monster waiting impatiently to get all its "parts" smoothed out. I'll bet very few teams in the country would REALLY like to play ND right now. Who wants to be the one on the other side of the line when the turnovers and penalties stop??

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Not sure how you measure bias...I look at a couple things.

1) the accuracy of criticism and praise

2) the words chosen to communicate criticism or praise.

When he drops "high school defense" on us...thats bias ...the words he chose to communicate criticism were inflamatory and unnecessarily harsh, and humiliating...Would he do that to an SEC team...to a big 10 team? BIAS, plain and simple.

So...I think he got absolutely slapped around by the irish faithful since that statement, and he continues to get slapped around, and will continue to get slapped around until he builds some positive cache...

This is his attempt to do some of that...

Personally, he has nine more such positive statements to make before I am even neutral on the guy...

Totally agree with Whiskey on this one. We were getting killed on defense when he made the statement.

I love that the analysts have turned around on us. Previously, it was only us touting the team. They turned out to be right. I hope they're right again.