Way too early top 25 from ESPN

[calvegas04]

College football's Way-Too-Early 2012 Top 25 - ESPN

 

[arrowryan]

I would rather have us start out unranked

 

[ND NYC]

we play 4 of the top 11 teams in that poll next year

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I'm not taking the bait on ND next year. I'm sorry but my koolaid drinking days are over after this past season. Fix the QB play, fix the redzone efficiency, fix ST, fix the turnover problems, find a way to replace Floyd, find a way to replace the secondary....all this against a pretty brutal schedule. I'm in "believe it when I see it" mode from here on out.

I realize there's a legitimate argument that with ND's top defense that every game is winnable. While I completely agree with that, ST and turnovers play a HUGE role in the outcomes of games. ND was near last in both of those categories this past season.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Michigan will immediately fall from #11 after a week 1 thrashing from Alabama.

 

[arrowryan]

I'm not taking the bait on ND next year. I'm sorry but my koolaid drinking days are over after this past season. Fix the QB play, fix the redzone efficiency, fix ST, fix the turnover problems, find a way to replace Floyd, find a way to replace the secondary....all this against a pretty brutal schedule. I'm in "believe it when I see it" mode from here on out.

I realize there's a legitimate argument that with ND's top defense that every game is winnable. While I completely agree with that, ST and turnovers play a HUGE role in the outcomes of games. ND was near last in both of those categories this past season.

I 100% agree with you on this. Notre Dame, too many times, brings our hopes up just to disappoint us at the end of the year

 

[ACamp1900]

Michigan will immediately fall from #11 after a week 1 thrashing from Alabama.

Bama loses (or will lose) almost everything that made them special this year... don't be shocked if it's a game

 

[irishpat183]

I'm not taking the bait on ND next year. I'm sorry but my koolaid drinking days are over after this past season. Fix the QB play, fix the redzone efficiency, fix ST, fix the turnover problems, find a way to replace Floyd, find a way to replace the secondary....all this against a pretty brutal schedule. I'm in "believe it when I see it" mode from here on out.

I realize there's a legitimate argument that with ND's top defense that every game is winnable. While I completely agree with that, ST and turnovers play a HUGE role in the outcomes of games. ND was near last in both of those categories this past season.

Thank you for this post......Some reality for the kool aid drinkers and excuse makers.

I love the irish and will root for them everyday for the rest of my life...but I'm done with expectations and excuses. Win, win against teams that are good, and win consistantly, and I will be impressed. Other than that? It's just blabble.

 

[calvegas04]

psh, in June you will all be pre-ordering your ND 2012-13 national championship banners lol

 

[irishpat183]

Bama loses (or will lose) almost everything that made them special this year... don't be shocked it it's a game

They'll just have another pro caliber guy step in....and Kirkpatrick and Richardson are jrs...even losing Richardson, Lacy is a stud and only a Soph.

But they're still gonna be better than Mich, who also loses 11 starters.

 

[ACamp1900]

From one who put down the kool aide a few years back... it makes taking the inevitable loses a bit easier to take...

 

[irishpat183]

psh, in June you will all be pre-ordering your ND 2012-13 national championship banners lol

HAHAHAHAHA!!! I'm not trying to be cynical....I mean, I'm just tired of the same old "We are ND" BS that gets us NOWHERE.

Just win baby.

 

[ACamp1900]

They'll just have another pro caliber guy step in....and Kirkpatrick and Richardson are jrs...even losing Richardson, Lacy is a stud and only a Soph.

But they're still gonna be better than Mich, who also loses 11 starters.

This will also be the first time in a long while bama will play a dynamic/true play maker on offense... last time they played one in newton they lost... just sayin

 

[Buster Bluth]

I 100% agree with you on this. Notre Dame, too many times, brings our hopes up just to disappoint us at the end of the year

Says the teenager. haha

People in their thirties, or older, are the ones who have been through the real pain.

Are my eyes mistaken or do I not see Ohio State on that list? Mark Schlabach's fine work again...

 

[irishpat183]

From one who put down the kool aide a few years back... it makes taking the inevitable loses a bit easier to take...

Yes it does.....You are right on the money about that. I can't fully throw myself at ND's mercy anymore. Just can't do it. I will always be a fan, but not a blind one.

 

[irishpat183]

Says the teenager. haha

People in their thirties, or older, are the ones who have been through the real pain.

Are my eyes mistaken or do I not see Ohio State on that list? Mark Schlabach's fine work again...

Yes....I turn 30 this FEB....I have seen it all.

 

[ACamp1900]

Yes it does.....You are right on the money about that. I can't fully throw myself at ND's mercy anymore. Just can't do it. I will always be a fan, but not a blind one.

this is where I am... it is funny how many have gone that way here in the last few months... I find it hard to post after loses because so many want to fool themselves into this "We are one guy away from being the 85 bears" stuff...

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Thank you for this post......Some reality for the kool aid drinkers and excuse makers.

I love the irish and will root for them everyday for the rest of my life...but I'm done with expectations and excuses. Win, win against teams that are good, and win consistantly, and I will be impressed. Other than that? It's just blabble.

I quit drinking kool-aid a long time ago. To be honest, I have no aspiration of this team ever playing for a NC again in my lifetime. I'm completely content with a season that ends with 9 wins (but includes a bowl win).

Do I want more? Yes. Will I expect more? No. As BK always says, "It's a process...." Crawl before you walk. Start consistently winning at home, consistently executing on both sides of the ball for SIXTY MINUTES, and then (only then) my aspirations may climb season to season.

*I'm predicting 8-4 (like I did last year and the year before). I challenge the program to show us more than that.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Every time ND fans argue over preseason rankings, Lane Kiffin kicks a puppy. And Brady Hoke then eats that puppy.

Think of the puppies.

 

[ACamp1900]

I think USC is over ranked also... depth issues are one key injury away from ruining that team...

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I think USC is over ranked also... depth issues are one key injury away from ruining that team...

Agree. Oklahoma is (once again) too high IMO also. The media is just so happy U$C is "back" in the bowl picture, that they are going to put them on a pedestal all pre-season hyping them up.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

USC and LSU are going to be a class above everyone else next year. Undefeated seasons for both of them going into the NC Game.

 

[ND NYC]

I'm not taking the bait on ND next year. I'm sorry but my koolaid drinking days are over after this past season. Fix the QB play, fix the redzone efficiency, fix ST, fix the turnover problems, find a way to replace Floyd, find a way to replace the secondary....all this against a pretty brutal schedule. I'm in "believe it when I see it" mode from here on out.

I realize there's a legitimate argument that with ND's top defense that every game is winnable. While I completely agree with that, ST and turnovers play a HUGE role in the outcomes of games. ND was near last in both of those categories this past season.

why create all these excuses not to win already?

 

[ACamp1900]

why create all these excuses not to win already?

because the are legit???

 

[ND NYC]

who you all kidding---we start off 2-0 next year and 99% of you guys (and me) will checking kayak.com for the best hotels and flights to miami in jan of 2013.

we cannot control that part of us that requires us to root and hope for the irish. its in our DNA. we are whether we like it or not notre dame leopards and will never be able to change our spots.

you know it

i know it.

so enough of the "i wont get fooled again" "i wont watch the games" "i wont expct us to win much" talk.

your only fooling yourselves

 

[irishpat183]

this is where I am... it is funny how many have gone that way here in the last few months... I find it hard to post after loses because so many want to fool themselves into this "We are one guy away from being the 85 bears" stuff...

Yeah. I hate the "Well if so-and-so made that catch, or so-and-so didn't fumble...we'd be a 11 win team/in the BCS" lines that I read on here over and over again.

Point is, great teams don't do the things we do. They beat other great teams. They beat the teams they are supposed to beat. We do none of those. Don't blame "luck"...we just don't have the players. It's really that simple. We have some, but not enough.

I will enjoy watching the games, but we're not a title contender. Nor do we belong in the discussion. Especially at this point.

Keep landing guys like Lynch, Tuitt, Shep, Greenberry, maybe Darby? That's the first step. Keep that up, and we'll be on our way.

YOU NEED 5 STAR CALIBER GUYS. 3 star guys with fluff from IE members are why we are 8-4 every year. I get all jacked up on the guys getting recruited by the likes of "Rutgers" that I'm forgetting that there is a reason why ALA and LSU aren't after him...Not anymore.

I'm sorry, but I'm not going to believe that a guy with a 3 star rating is somehow "better" because an IE member is so ND drunk that he looks up every little thing he can to convince us he is. Now, are there exceptions?? ABSOLUTELY.

But this mindset of recruiting "ND GUYS" is BS. Let's start recruiting guys that can play football, play it fast, and hit someone in the mouth with attitude. Otherwise, enjoy 8-4 with ND GUYS.

That is my rant. But I'm a little edgy today.

 

[ACamp1900]

who you all kidding---we start off 2-0 next year and 99% of you guys (and me) will checking kayak.com for the best hotels and flights to miami in jan of 2013.

we cannot control that part of us that requires us to root and hope for the irish. its in our DNA. we are whether we like it or not notre dame leopards and will never be able to change our spots.

you know it

i know it.

so enough of the "i wont get fooled again" "i wont watch the games" "i wont expct us to win much" talk.

your only fooling yourselves

I'll be happy to start 3-0 because that means we beat the state of michigan... which I have said every freakin year is the first step to returning to glory and such... but no... When we land in a title game... I'll start believing... as of right now I am overly pesimistic about this team...

btw, i didn't buy in this year... or last, and so on... have the post history to prove it... just sayin

 

[irishpat183]

who you all kidding---we start off 2-0 next year and 99% of you guys (and me) will checking kayak.com for the best hotels and flights to miami in jan of 2013.

we cannot control that part of us that requires us to root and hope for the irish. its in our DNA. we are whether we like it or not notre dame leopards and will never be able to change our spots.

you know it

i know it.

so enough of the "i wont get fooled again" "i wont watch the games" "i wont expct us to win much" talk.

your only fooling yourselves

No, I won't. I'm 30 years old. I have put a ton of things in perspective. I take the "what have you done lately" attitude with my sports teams.

You're right about one thing.,...I will be watching every saturday. And I love the Irish. That won't change. But I'm done with expectations for a team that can go 8-4 or 4-8 depending on the weather.

I will watch and enjoy ND. That is all. I will celebrate the victories and be dissapointed when they lose. And I will chime in on IE...but I'm just not at the point anymore where I'm throwing remotes or slamming doors.

 

[gkIrish]

Ideally

1. Michigan beats Alabama
2. Michigan is ranked top 5-9
3. ND beats the heck out of them
4. ND is 4-0, ranked in the top 8-10 heading into the middle part of the schedule

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Yeah. I hate the "Well if so-and-so made that catch, or so-and-so didn't fumble...we'd be a 11 win team/in the BCS" lines that I read on here over and over again.

Point is, great teams don't do the things we do. They beat other great teams. They beat the teams they are supposed to beat. We do none of those. Don't blame "luck"...we just don't have the players. It's really that simple. We have some, but not enough.

Winning a title requires good coaching, elite talent, and more than a little luck. ND fans with inferiority complexes were making the same arguments last year in comparison to Auburn. And where's Auburn now?

YOU NEED 5 STAR CALIBER GUYS. 3 star guys with fluff from IE members are why we are 8-4 every year. I get all jacked up on the guys getting recruited by the likes of "Rutgers" that I'm forgetting that there is a reason why ALA and LSU aren't after him...Not anymore.

No team is full of 5-star recruits. Before Darby's decommitment, we had the #3 ranked class in the nation; behind only Texas and Alabama. LSU and 'Bama don't offer a lot of great prospects; not because those kids aren't good enough, but because LSU and 'Bama don't recruit much outside of the South (they don't have to).

I'm sorry, but I'm not going to believe that a guy with a 3 star rating is somehow "better" because an IE member is so ND drunk that he looks up every little thing he can to convince us he is.

Of course ND fans want to think that every 3 recruit is this year's "sleeper". Sometimes it works out that way (see: Tyler Eifert). But we all know a 3 recruit's chances of becoming a productive starter are not good. Why this annoys you so much I'm not sure.

But this mindset of recruiting "ND GUYS" is BS. Let's start recruiting guys that can play football, play it fast, and hit someone in the mouth with attitude. Otherwise, enjoy 8-4 with ND GUYS.

We do recruit guys who can do all those things. But we also require that they be able to spell their names and lack a criminal record. That counts us out for virtually every guy you saw playing on 'Bama's defense last night.

Don't fall into the trap of blaming ND's chronic underachievement on one factor. You seem to be blaming personnel, which is obviously part of the problem, but it goes much deeper than that. And at the end of the day, ND will never be able to manage it's roster like an SEC team, so we'll always be at a disadvantage.