I'm hoping the Mark Mays of the world predict ND going winless thru the 1st 4 games. I'm hoping ND will stay under the radar, but there's too many subplots for that to happen.
One thing I've noticed is fans starting to say something along the lines of "Hey it's gonna be just like 2005 when everyone picked us to be 0-6 thru the first six games!". I, for one, don't expect a similar outcome b/c all the variables are differnt this time around.
1. Charlie Weis has proven he can win on the D1 level as HC. Before '05 he was a 1st time HC w/ no proven track record, so the pundits weren't sure what to expect.
2. The manpower is totally different w/ the graduation of most of the starters from the last 2 yrs. Don't think our opponents & the press aren't salivating over the prospect of payback...which will make upset victories for ND all the more sweeter!
3. The press will see this as their last chance to show that Willingham was undeservedly fired; it sounds silly now, but let ND start off 1-3 & just watch the Mike Wilbons, Mark Mays, John Saunders, Tim Brandos, Lee Corsos of the world start monologuing on the subject that, in sound minds, has long since been proven to be the correct move by ND.