2008 Optimism

[jonesman]

Guys,
I know, I know. This season has been beyond anyones dreams or nightmares in reality. I DO have some real reasons to be optimistic in 2008. I really believe that the ship gets going in the right direction and we will pick up serious MO as it wears on. So, why do you ask that I have optimism. Well here we go.

1. Returning starters all over the place. I know these kids have struggled, but they have gotten valuable experience and many are just plain young. We will return a minimum of 9 starters on Offense. We lose Sully, but he will be replaced quite well by Wenger. We lose Carlson which is big, but Yeatman and Ragone will be a great combo. Further, we bring in two beasts at TE in 2008. The OL will be back as a whole and year stronger and more experienced. Expect them to have a bad attitude next year. The backfield is loaded with talent. Allen, Hughes, Aldridge are all solid. Let's hope CW gets Luke on the field more. WR's are showing good flashes already. QB is going to be solid. Jimmy shows he is getting healthy and I believe will prosper next season with a bit more strength and understanding of the O. Evan is a solid player behind him. On Defense, we again return many starters and will have some great youth coming to South Bend. OLB is the position I believe we are all excited about. Neal and Smith will be fearsome with a season of growth. DL loses Laws which is enormous. We wish you the best Trev, you deserve millions, but we have some good foundation. Look for Ian Williams to anchor the middle solidly. He has done well in back up duty. Kuntz at one DE and Brown at the other most likely. We will have many freshman to help out. ILB will see some transition. Crum will hopefully come back, but we may need some help. Paskorz may get some time, maybe we move Mo Richardson there. Filer and McDonald will get early reps. At DB, you have to salivate. Bruton will be awesome and there are about 4 guys who will fight like crazy for Zibby's role. I expect an upgrade in performance back there. So, in the end, there are not many holes to replace and most places will see upgrades due to returning starters getting good experience and just plain growing.

2. Charlie is LEARNING!!!! -- I have given the Jersey guy plenty of grief, but I really think that he knows he must change and will work extra hard to make this successful. He has the ultimate desire to see ND succeed. I do not think there is one man in college football who will work harder in this off-season to improve himself and his staff than CW. He even said this week that he will continue to evaluate himself and improve. He does love ND and has desire to make all things right in SB. He wants a National Championship at ND worse than any of his Super Bowl's. I will NOT ask for his head again this season and will give him 2008 to get us going.

3. Schedule -- In 2008 we have a schedule that should allow the guys to achieve some success. Even the tough teams will be spread out in the scheduling. UM is going to be minus, Henne and Hart. Further, don't be suprised if Manningham goes NFL. This will make them in total rebuilding like ND was this year. There are also many other very winnable games.

4. Recruiting -- The kids that are committed, seam very committed and will bring ND to full strength for the first time in many years. This will be huge for two reasons. We will finally have solid depth and we will be filling that depth with TALENT. You will have a roster that could be very very scary in 2009. We will have youth that believes ND WILL win every game. There will be high school All-American's all over the field. Not every high school all star becomes an ND all star, but there will be too many for an position to be a bust.

So 2008 is almost over and we will have to suffer thru an off-season of harrassment from our anti-ND friends, but relief is coming. As a man once said, "there better enjoy it now". ND WILL be back at the top of college football sooon. When we return this time though, it is for good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WalshND]

Great post. reps...

 

[goldandblue]

Go Irish! N.c. 09'

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

Great post, many reps. I really believe everything you have said so far...but one question, what if Charlie was to consider brining in Lou Holtz purely for pep talks before the game? Lou is so good at it, it's my favorite segment each week on ESPN.

 

[ipoopmypants]

1 - Baylor is also returning tons of starters

2 - I have seen no evidence that he is learning. In fact, I have seen much evidence to the contrary.

3 - The schedule is easier, I grant you that. However, we are already 0-2 for what we thought was the easy part of this year's schedule.

4 - We have a lot of talent. No one can argue against that. However, someone has to turn that raw talent into college ready players. I have serious concerns that Charlie and his staff may not be able to do this.

 

[goldandblue]

Well, lets hope they can, I just don't see It all be coaching issues, I think there must be some internal problems within the team creating much more problems. They coached well the first two years, How can they all the sudden in one offseason go to crap? After this year is over, I beleive some players will leave the progam through graduation that are a part of this problem.

 

[Newc]

1 - Baylor is also returning tons of starters

2 - I have seen no evidence that he is learning. In fact, I have seen much evidence to the contrary.

3 - The schedule is easier, I grant you that. However, we are already 0-2 for what we thought was the easy part of this year's schedule.

4 - We have a lot of talent. No one can argue against that. However, someone has to turn that raw talent into college ready players. I have serious concerns that Charlie and his staff may not be able to do this.

1. Comparring Baylor and ND's young classes shows how seriously this post should be taken.

2. I think the progression of Jimmy, AA, Aldridge along with the promising play of Kamara, Neal and Brian Smith show that Charlie is in fact getting through to the youngsters and having a positive impact.

3. I think the front end of our schedule this year beat a lot of confidence out of our players which had a serious effect on the games against the weaker teams.

4. I don't think many people had Brady Quinn as a future Heisman hopeful after his sophmore season, nor did anyone know who the Shark was. In addition, there was a reason why Darius looked like a fairly solid player with good results in college but went undrafted. Also, didn't Stovall come into Notre Dame with sky high expectations but didn't really deliver on them till Charlie arrived? We have only began to see what Charlie's recruits can do, players need more time than 10 games to turn into superstars, especially when they are surrounded with other young players.

I'm not a Weis appologist by any means. I too have questioned him a few times throughout the season, but I'm not going to call for the guys head or say he doesn't know what he is doing. I'm sure he can outcoach all of the experts on this site, so lets just give him and our young guys a little time to show us what they can do.

 

[ipoopmypants]

1. Comparring Baylor and ND's young classes shows how seriously this post should be taken.

2. I think the progression of Jimmy, AA, Aldridge along with the promising play of Kamara, Neal and Brian Smith show that Charlie is in fact getting through to the youngsters and having a positive impact.

3. I think the front end of our schedule this year beat a lot of confidence out of our players which had a serious effect on the games against the weaker teams.

4. I don't think many people had Brady Quinn as a future Heisman hopeful after his sophmore season, nor did anyone know who the Shark was. In addition, there was a reason why Darius looked like a fairly solid player with good results in college but went undrafted. Also, didn't Stovall come into Notre Dame with sky high expectations but didn't really deliver on them till Charlie arrived? We have only began to see what Charlie's recruits can do, players need more time than 10 games to turn into superstars, especially when they are surrounded with other young players.

I'm not a Weis appologist by any means. I too have questioned him a few times throughout the season, but I'm not going to call for the guys head or say he doesn't know what he is doing. I'm sure he can outcoach all of the experts on this site, so lets just give him and our young guys a little time to show us what they can do.

1. The Baylor comparison illustrates that just because you are returning starters doesn't mean you will be good. I am sure you can see that anaolgy.

2. You have to be crazy here. Weis in his press conferences fully admits he isn't getting through to the players, young or old. His words, not mine. So for you to say "Charlie is in fact getting through to the youngsters and having a positive impact" is just plainly WRONG. Could he change that, ABSOLUTELY. Hopefully he will next season, but he sure as shi* hasn't done it this season.

3. Your point doesn't change my initial point.

4. You are giving Weis credit for Quinn as evidence that recruits can turn into players? Wasn't he recruited by Ty who developed him? Or is your argument that Weis developed a bad QB into a great one in the Spring and Summer before his junior year? Because if that is your point, I ain't buying it.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

1. Comparring Baylor and ND's young classes shows how seriously this post should be taken.

2. I think the progression of Jimmy, AA, Aldridge along with the promising play of Kamara, Neal and Brian Smith show that Charlie is in fact getting through to the youngsters and having a positive impact.

3. I think the front end of our schedule this year beat a lot of confidence out of our players which had a serious effect on the games against the weaker teams.

4. I don't think many people had Brady Quinn as a future Heisman hopeful after his sophmore season, nor did anyone know who the Shark was. In addition, there was a reason why Darius looked like a fairly solid player with good results in college but went undrafted. Also, didn't Stovall come into Notre Dame with sky high expectations but didn't really deliver on them till Charlie arrived? We have only began to see what Charlie's recruits can do, players need more time than 10 games to turn into superstars, especially when they are surrounded with other young players.

I'm not a Weis appologist by any means. I too have questioned him a few times throughout the season, but I'm not going to call for the guys head or say he doesn't know what he is doing. I'm sure he can outcoach all of the experts on this site, so lets just give him and our young guys a little time to show us what they can do.

Really? Did you read what you just wrote?

 

[johnnd05]

Well, lets hope they can, I just don't see It all be coaching issues, I think there must be some internal problems within the team creating much more problems. They coached well the first two years, How can they all the sudden in one offseason go to crap? After this year is over, I beleive some players will leave the progam through graduation that are a part of this problem.

This claim could be disputed ...

 

[GoIrish41]

1 - Baylor is also returning tons of starters

2 - I have seen no evidence that he is learning. In fact, I have seen much evidence to the contrary.

3 - The schedule is easier, I grant you that. However, we are already 0-2 for what we thought was the easy part of this year's schedule.

4 - We have a lot of talent. No one can argue against that. However, someone has to turn that raw talent into college ready players. I have serious concerns that Charlie and his staff may not be able to do this.

BEAT IT TROLL

:countdown

 

[goldandblue]

This claim could be disputed ...

Well, anyway you look at it, 2 BCS appearances aren't a result of bad coaching.

 

[Newc]

1. The Baylor comparison illustrates that just because you are returning starters doesn't mean you will be good. I am sure you can see that anaolgy.

2. You have to be crazy here. Weis in his press conferences fully admits he isn't getting through to the players, young or old. His words, not mine. So for you to say "Charlie is in fact getting through to the youngsters and having a positive impact" is just plainly WRONG. Could he change that, ABSOLUTELY. Hopefully he will next season, but he sure as shi* hasn't done it this season.

3. Your point doesn't change my initial point.

4. You are giving Weis credit for Quinn as evidence that recruits can turn into players? Wasn't he recruited by Ty who developed him? Or is your argument that Weis developed a bad QB into a great one in the Spring and Summer before his junior year? Because if that is your point, I ain't buying it.

1.You're right, just because players are coming back doesn't guarentee wins, but quality players coming back does provide "optimism" for success.

2. Classic Charlie Weis, as learned from Bill Parcells. Charlie has stated many times, in his book is one example, that he will always take full blame from the media for his teams shortcoming and will never call anyone out in public. He does state that he is sure to dole out responsibility in the locker room and behind closed doors.

3. Your initial point was we lost to teams we should have won against. Those teams being Navy, Air Force, Duke and Stanford (the last two which we still have to play). I don't think many people had us beating USC, UM, BC, PSU, ect. Therefore I'm saying that having that many quality teams at the front of our schedule using us as punching bags may very well have had a big effect on how we played in those games that "we should have won".

4. Its my argument that Weis turned an underachieving QB into a first round pick. Even Brady credits Weis for his development. Sure Ty recruited him, but Brady's lackluster play sure left a lot to be desired in his first two years.

 

[johnnd05]

Well, anyway you look at it, 2 BCS appearances aren't a result of bad coaching.

Not a /result/ of bad coaching, to be sure. But at least two of last year's ten wins could be understood as having happened /despite/ it.

 

[wallym]

I have to agree with ipoopmypants on a number of points. Bottom line is that our players just have nothing left to play for, and I think that's why CW isn't getting through to players. I do agree, the beginning of our schedule probably played a part in our lack of confidence now, but the sign of a good coach is ALWAYS getting the most out of his players no matter what the situation. Period.

 

[Junkhead]

We are not losing that much (Laws and Carlson aside), the schedule look softer at this point, and the best recruiting class I've seen is on the way. I'm quietly hoping some minor coaching changes in the off-seaon. I've been thoroughly disappointed with the program as a whole this season, but I can give CW credit for working to fix the problems. The D has been shaky, but I have more confidence in CB's D than Minters.

 

[goldenlid]

At this point I'm just going to sit back and ride this wagon that I have been on for about 30 years.

 

[IrishRamMan10]

im thinkin big for the 08 team... Plus I should be in south bend to be at all the games...I expect next year to be a complete 180

 

[taxman]

The Legacy of Charlie Brown!

Once upon a time there was a baby born, who had a few problems as he grew up. He really was a good kid, but he always had problems doing what he liked to do most, and that was play football.

He had a special friend who had a special game that she liked to play with Charlie. Charlie got very frustrated but he convinced himself that he really could play. While the other boys would not let him play with them in their real games, his special friend would play this special game with him. He knew that he was never going to figure it out and that he was always going to mess up, but he never gave up ‘giving it another try’ after encouragement from his special friend.

He wondered what he could do with his life. He loved football, but somehow he knew he had to go to college if he wanted to make something of his life. After asking around about the best place to go, someone suggested he should go to Not Dumb University. He applied there and sure enough, this little boy who was not really such a ‘little’ boy was welcomed. He went to learn how to talk and pretend. He would sit in the stands and watch the other kids who could play and pretend that he was telling them what to do.

After graduation he wondered what he could ‘really do’. He wanted to be successful at something, and he still loved football. He knew his problem, but no one at Not Dumb University ever found out, because he never went on the field to play. He talked a good game, and as long as he didn’t have to get involved in the game, he seemed to do well. The people seemed to like him, and he was a big man who talked a big game and seemed to have a good persona.

He thought to himself: If I could find a way to ‘flow through life without anyone really watching me do anything, I could probably be a real success’. As long as I don’t really do anything, I can go anywhere I want to and people will think I am really great. If I can hook up others who really do know how and work closely with them, then it won’t really matter if I don’t. I will ride with them, and go with them and be one of them, and peo0ple will then like me too.

If you are looking to go along for the ride without getting noticed, riding in coach is probably the best place to be, and so he decided that that is what he would do. He found several people who would let him ride in coach, but after awhile he got restless with the smaller places, because after all “He was a BIG Man now!” What he really needed was a Weiner! He thought to himself, If I could just get into a Weiner Mobile, that would be the top. With the training he had gotten at Not Dumb University he parleyed his way into the Weiner Mobile located in some would say is the most beautiful area of this great country.

After a great ride in the Weiner Mobile the most surprising thing happened to Charlie. Here he was in a great ride with everyone looking at him and ‘his’ entourage and thinking that they could do no wrong, he thought that he had reached higher that his training at Not Dumb University would have ever taken him. He was now at the place where his unpleasant memories of his childhood problem was far away, and maybe he didn’t really remember it correctly, or just maybe he really wasn’t as bad as everyone said, or as he had first known. Maybe he really was a Weiner. Charlie was becoming confused, but he saw ‘confidence’.

About this time Not Dumb University was having problems of its own.

No memory of the story some 60 years ago in the city named after the South Bend of the St Joseph River provided guidance for Not Dumb University. The Studebaker and Packard’s were all in museums where they belonged and were no longer out in the light, available for study and consideration. History would repeat itself again, as it had so many times before.

Not Dumb University was having problems winning, which is what it wanted to do more than anything else. Teaching was what they professed to do, but winning was what you could see, and losing was not something to be tolerated. Why if you were a loser, you would be kicked out of school, it did not matter why you had come. This way they could maintain the Integrity of their name.

So after some other academic leaders came in to show the students how to play football and these academic ‘professors’ and couldn’t get the students to ‘learn’ someone suggested that this was a job for the Pro’s. Who can we get that ‘looks good’ was the question. Not Dumb University had traveled to the eastern paradise where everything looked good and while looking up there they saw this guy in the Weiner Mobile. He looked like a big guy and someone was reminded that he had gone to study at Not Dumb University, and had graduated. This was all the proof that was needed that this man was NOT DUMB. He had a nice smile, and looked good. He seemed to have a lot of confidence, and the players seemed to like him. The players of football were the best in the business, and they were all playing for the big bucks. Here finally was the Man who they were looking for…they were sure. He had everything that they KNEW they needed.

Others had been looked at, but they were in such demand, and for some reason did not want to go to Not Dumb University. That they would pass up such an opportunity to come there, was a reason know only to them. Not Dumb University could not understand it, but no matter, we have THE MAN of the Weiner Mobile. We will now be a Weiner Too! They asked him to come and ride not just in ‘coach’ Coach, but in Head Coach. That was beyond the wildest of his childhood dreams.


Great rejoicing was done as the Weiner was coming to ‘save us’. (Whatever happened to Touchdown Jesus?)

One of the most important Laws that we have working for us is the law of inertia. It says that moving objects will tend to continue moving until pressure is placed for change. This law kept the Dumbers’ going for awhile.

By year 3 most of the seasoned players had moved on and it was time to build a new team. When asked about if He was going to concentrate on building a new team, rather than answering the question openly, he seemed to attempt to change the question to whether or not he wanted to win, and he did. The real answer to the question was NO, but that answer would not have been good, and he knew that they wanted to win, so he gave them what they wanted. He had learned something while at this great school those many years ago. This school was well liked, even the name was impressive. It was so much like what he was used to. The ride had been good so far, if I can just keep it going, he thought.

As the season started at Gorgeous Tech questions began, and as the year went on they continued.

The final question? I don’t have time to come up with it know, or maybe even intelligent enough to figure it out.

In reading in Monday’s SBT I saw that Charlie Brown was inviting the invite. I believe that Tyrone had to go because he knew his program was not going to work and that he started tinkering and ND does not have time for tinkering.

Last August Charlie Brown said that he would not talk about ‘rebuilding’. Little did we know what he was talking about? Maybe that was the closest he has come to figuring out what the ‘real’ problem is.

I think that Charlie Weis is fundamentally a good man and a probably someone who is fun to hang out with. But that is not what Notre Dame University needs to run the Football Program. If that man was working (?) in my business, and you were my consultant hired to help me get my business back on track, what would your advice be?

I was a Notre Dame Fan before I knew where Notre Dame was. Still am, but I have stopped taping the games, and haven’t been able to find time to watch the past few weeks.

I don’t mean anything mean in this discourse. It is intended to be as close as I could get to what an entertainer who is coming to town soon would do. I watched a George Carlin HBO Special and liked the way he can explain things in a way that we can all understand it.

I was going to go on commentating on what went on through the season…but I have to work.

 

[irish4ever]

4. You are giving Weis credit for Quinn as evidence that recruits can turn into players? Wasn't he recruited by Ty who developed him?

Now that was a totally stupid comment! Ty couldn't even develop a turd out of his own ass! He was next to worthless as a coach!

 

[JeremyND07]

I wish I was still drinking the koolaid but it taste like piss!!! I see nothing better then 7-5 or 8-4 next year with a few major a$$ wippins thrown in there! 2009 if we are not at least 10-2 Weis should be fired!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ipoopmypants]

Now that was a totally stupid comment! Ty couldn't even develop a turd out of his own ass! He was next to worthless as a coach!

Ask Brady Quinn if Ty helped in his development.

Clearly you are just a racist jerk who likes to pop off.

 

[GoIrish41]

Ask Brady Quinn if Ty helped in his development.

Clearly you are just a racist jerk who likes to pop off.

Racist? WTF are you talking aobut. He didn't say anything racist. Stop trying to start an argument troll.

 

[Newc]

Yea really, all he said was Ty was worthless as a coach...where is race discussed in there? I think Alex Smith is a shitty QB, doesn't mean I think there should be no white QBs in the NFL does it??

Why do people come on here only to start fights?

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Because ND is a huge target, and they have no life.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

I have to agree with ipoopmypants on a number of points. Bottom line is that our players just have nothing left to play for, and I think that's why CW isn't getting through to players. I do agree, the beginning of our schedule probably played a part in our lack of confidence now, but the sign of a good coach is ALWAYS getting the most out of his players no matter what the situation. Period.

You said you agree you poop your pants. HEE HEE.

I'm putting all my vBucks on ND over SDSU next year. Can I place my bets now?