Dec 29 | Champs Sports Bowl vs. Florida State

[Jason Pham]

<div align="center"><img src="http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2&pictureid=18"><img src="http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2&pictureid=35">
</div><div align="center">
<br><strong>Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Florida State Seminoles
Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium (Orlando, FL)
Thursday, December 29, 2011
5:30pm EST
<img src="http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2&pictureid=17">

 

[gspjeb]

think it will be a good matchup.......FSU D is pretty darn good but their offense is struggling. Very similar teams right now....should be fun to watch

 

[Irish2015]

apparently Rees was named the starter for the bowl.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Yeahhhhh Tommy is starting...




oh boy.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Catholics VS Creminoles. Can't wait, always a fun matchup (except for 2003).

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

Thinking of taking work off for this, but I'm not so sure if it's gonna be Tommy. I really couldn't take watching the FSU defense confuse and pummel him all night.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Thinking of taking work off for this, but I'm not so sure if it's gonna be Tommy. I really couldn't take watching the FSU defense confuse and pummel him all night.

That's the spirit!!!!

Go Irish!

{rolls eyes}

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Theo will play RB and Tuitt is cleared to play.


Also Crist's status with the team after transfer request is "up in the air"

 

[KPENN]

Hopefully Aaron has 10 sacks or something like that

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Yeahhhhh Tommy is starting...




oh boy.

I heard Crist was! What gives?

 

[CanadianIrishFan306]

Seems fitting
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cipJq3ZHuuQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[rikkitikki08]

Yeahhhhh Tommy is starting...




oh boy.

Bet henrix and rees split snaps still

 

[rikkitikki08]

Lynch is going to be beyond jacked up for this game

 

[DillonHall]

Lynch is going to be beyond jacked up for this game

That's what I'm kind of worried about.

 

[rikkitikki08]

That's what I'm kind of worried about.

I can see why it might worry some people but in my opinion he will be a BEAST to say the least......it could go either way but i suppose we will see

 

[The Polish Irishman]

I will be there. Heck why not.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Lynch is going to be beyond jacked up for this game

“@19lynch19: FSU it is.. im drooling. Gona be a great game CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL!”

 

[4irishnation]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mvNaRgZ1hlg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[IrishLax]

Going to be interesting. FSU is a streaky offensive team... if they don't show up to play, they might not score a single point against our defense. At the same time, everyone brings their A game against ND... and their A game is good enough to hang 30 on us.

Tommy will be a deer in the headlights against their athletic defense.

 

[mick2]

See all you guys there! Maybe we can meet for a beer!

 

[RallySonsOfND]

Will be watching this game from our resort in the Dominican Republic!

 

[jmurphy75]

Let me know if any of you guys that plan on coming to Orlando want to try and tailgate together. Also if you need any local info, hit me up, Orlando's been my home for 20 years.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Let me know if any of you guys that plan on coming to Orlando want to try and tailgate together. Also if you need any local info, hit me up, Orlando's been my home for 20 years.

braggart....

 

[BobD]

Let me know if any of you guys that plan on coming to Orlando want to try and tailgate together. Also if you need any local info, hit me up, Orlando's been my home for 20 years.

I can't believe he got a whole town in Florida named after him!

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

<object id="flashObj" width="488" height="378" classid="clsid27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=1285299499001&playerID=1270513372001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAA8me1tBk~,z_G-8NHp9SvRYH9N1w28DYcPr4DVnZbW&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=1285299499001&playerID=1270513372001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAA8me1tBk~,z_G-8NHp9SvRYH9N1w28DYcPr4DVnZbW&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="488" height="378" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>

<object id="flashObj" width="488" height="378" classid="clsid27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=1296997514001&playerID=1270513372001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAA8me1tBk~,z_G-8NHp9SvRYH9N1w28DYcPr4DVnZbW&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=1296997514001&playerID=1270513372001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAA8me1tBk~,z_G-8NHp9SvRYH9N1w28DYcPr4DVnZbW&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="488" height="378" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>

Here are the highlights from FSUs last two games.

What I saw:

- Seriously athletic defense but I think we will be able to run on them.

- UFs QBs literally gave away their game to FSU by buckling under blitz pressure, fumbling and throwing awful interceptions.. Whoever it is, Tommy or Andrew, will have to rely on the run, protect the ball and take what FSU is giving. .. One down at a time and a heavy dose of Eifert and Floyd.

- Make no mistake about it, FSUs defense will have to win this game for them. EJ Manuel is as much of a liability as he is a threat. With Tuitt healty, Lynch, Nix and hopefully some blitzes dialed up from Diaco we should keep him off balance and turnover happy. They don't have a very impressive running attack besides Manuel running the option from time to time.. and we've had plenty of experience with that.

- This game comes down to how our QBs play against the speed of FSUs defense. If Tommy or Andrew come out and start throwing picks and fumbling the ball it's going to be a long evening. If we can get the running game established I think our defense keeps EJ in check and we come out a winner 24-13.

 

[UmphreakDomer]

riddick to play RB but "with flexibility" to pop outside.

i like it. hello wheel route...i've missed you!

 

[TerryTate]

Someone needs to fill in for Jonas, or we will not run it on them.

 

[Irish Fam]

this is my favorite florida state highlight... (the first play)

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/o28mIWoc8GQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[BleedBlueGold]

- This game comes down to how our QBs play against the speed of FSUs defense. If Tommy or Andrew come out and start throwing picks and fumbling the ball it's going to be a long evening.

Agree 100%. One problem: This has been our Achilles heel all season. ND has yet to show up for a full game when it's mattered most (aside from the MSU game). They absolutely cannot afford to start off slowly (in all facets) against a very talented FSU team. Our defense played great the second half against Stanford. We'll need an effort similar to that for a full 60 minutes to give our offense a chance. I have faith in our defense and it's not like we're going against another Andrew Luck, but we can't start off slow. I don't see our offense putting many points on this FSU defense. QB, OL, and defense are completely responsible for this game. Don't turn the ball over, don't allow sacks and establish a run game, and keep their streaky offense in check and ND should come out on top.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

This will be the closest thing ND has seen to an "SEC caliber" defense all season (fast and hard-hitting). Can't wait to see how we stack up against it.