BCS title game postgame thoughts

[Patulski]

They didnt do anything different in the 3-4 tonight then the rest of this season.

Agree. They simply played a well coached team team with better all around talent. Credit Alabama for combining skill and efficiency. They looked great.

 

[Claymation]

Not a ton to say about this game. Proud of our boys, nothing but heart and fight all year. Yeah it hurts now. It helps more than hurts in the long run. Gotta get ready for next year and get to work!

 

[Irish To The Core]

If the game wasn't such a crapshoot, I would watch again and see. But at first glance, I thought I saw 5 down lineman more than once or twice.

I've already deleted it from my pvr.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

@RobJob293
That's gonna hurt for yrs! But no one will take the love I have for my brothers!! #ND

P.S. I felt like posting a couple here instead of their recruiting thread, for ease of view.

 

[Irish To The Core]

I need an injection of Toradol. Do you think Dr. Moriarity would have any left?

PS I can't belive the team Dr.'s name is Moriarity...maybe he is the evil genius behind this loss.

 

[C!C!4oND]

That was a tough game to sit through. Definitely didnt play to our full capability. Wish we executed and kept the game competitive.

Still proud of the team. Go Irish.

 

[STLDomer]

“@BFeldmanCBS: 2014 BCS Odds: Bama 3-1; Oregon 8-1; LSU 10-1; OSU 10-1; A&M 14-1, UF 15-1, FSU 15-1; ND, Lville, Clem 20-1, per @RJinVegas”

LSU 10-1 is an absolute joke IMO

 

[Patulski]

Do you think it was his strategy to constantly have your down lineman try and shoot upfield? Like we mentioned before, getting upfield so quickly allowed the OL to move upstream to the LB's. I really think the DL strategy was way too aggressive.

Nix did this all year. Only tonight, instead of beating his man to the running back or QB, he was ridden downfield.

They didn't do anything differently scheme wise than they did all year. They simply played a superior team.

 

[Redbar]

Was talking to a man who coached for over 40 years he started out at ND, won a Natty in 1973, coached 19 more years in college then 21 in the league. The first time he made it to the playoffs in the NFL he couldn't rest, so he took a walk and when he did he saw a dozen of his players out in the hall, listening to headphones staring at the pool, some looking at the playbook. They went out and lost bad, they peaked before the game because they couldn't relax before it. Now I am not saying that is what happened here, BUT I am saying there is something to having been there before. My hat is off to a great Bama team, but I simply could not be prouder of our guys. I know it didn't go the way we all would have liked, but I know it wasn't for a lack of effort. Thank you so much to the 2012 Fighting Irish Football Team, we see what it's like on top of the mountain, be as brave as you were this year and we'll be back in that game next year and maybe we'll know better how to bring our best performance to the field.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

“@BFeldmanCBS: 2014 BCS Odds: Bama 3-1; Oregon 8-1; LSU 10-1; OSU 10-1; A&M 14-1, UF 15-1, FSU 15-1; ND, Lville, Clem 20-1, per @RJinVegas”

LSU 10-1 is an absolute joke IMO

OSU 10-1 is a joke as well.

 

[TCramer]

tackling.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

We will be there in a year or two but tonight was a wake up call. The arm tackles were embarrassing, the zone D was porous and our psyche was weak.

- Golson looked fantastic with what he had to work with (awful, defeatist play calling).

- Zeke flew to the ball ferociously... no one else did.

- Shembo & Tuitt never created a pass rush. But in reality Bama never had to rely on the pass and our weak *** zone coverage gave AJ whatever he wanted. We need athletes that can play man... like Bama has... plain and simple.

- WE'LL BE THERE

- In Vegas terms, we were playing with house money. Ask yourself what your pre-season expectations were. Mine was 9-3, 10-2 at best.

- Congratulations to Alabama. They are a well oiled machine that doesn't seem to be slowing down in the near future.

- BK will keep the class together and continue to fill the roster with supreme athletes. That is why we lost tonight. They were stronger, faster and deeper. We are getting stronger, faster and deeper.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Guys, want to say congrats on your season, this was the best O line I have ever seen at Bama!
Take it from someone that has been to the bottom and back to the top, it takes a great coach with a plan, Notre Dame has the right man and you guys will be back on top for years to come!
Good luck next year and thanks for letting me visit your sight. I look forward to future battles between our great teams.

Cheers man.. Congratulations.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

William Mahone ‏@FreeWilly_32
We just gettin started

 

[Irish To The Core]

Before I go to bed I have one thing to say. I remember the 1990 Superbowl (really well b/c I am a huge Joe Montana/49'ers fan). The Broncos were savaged that day. Elway looked like my Granny and in the end Elway and the Broncos came back and did pretty well. You learn from mistakes and this was a lot of learning...take a bit of time to heal and get back at it and remember what it felt like to be on the wrong side of a game like that...like McArthur said "I shall return."

 

[phgreek]

Probably we score.

But IMO not a game changer. With the way we played tonight, it would have went their way eventually.

...Yea, they marched relentlessly down the field...passing at will, running at will all night...The Interference call changes nothing. Our defense spent all night either a) catching ;b) in the wrong pursuit angle, c) arm tackling and whiffing.

Lacey is a nice back...so is Yeldon, but come on...they aren't that much better than what Stanford and MI St. bring...we had numerous opportunities to blow up drives with TFLs, and flat did not wrap up. Resulted in Loooong drives, and the defense was demoralized and exhausted by half. Had they simply pursued and tackled better...even getting driven off and catching like we were, if you make tackles when you have down hill opportunities, and you pursue correctly...you stop them more often than not...

Pass rush...what pass rush...I started clocking Mccaron's time back there with an hour glass...NO secondary stands up to that...

...by mid way through the 2nd quarter, it was clear nothing but a dazed and confused Mccaron was beatable...my hell, he hurt himself sliding, and his own center hit him more, and harder than we did. ...Maybe ND tried to dial some things up...I don't recall seeing an all out blitz...(what like giving up a big chunk was too big a risk?) I love Bob Diaco, and he is a super defensive mind...and I'm sure he knew why that wouldn't work...just would have been nice if Mccaron's Jersey needed to be washed before it got retired.

 

[ROLLtide]

Congrats on the season, Kelly is a good coach you guys are on the right track.

Bama just had the o-line to control the game, i thought that was the biggest difference in the game, plus A. Cooper is a match up problem, budding superstar receiver.

Looks like you guys are bringing in a great recruiting class, you'll be right back in the thick of things next year.

 

[GoldenChild]

Before I go to bed I have one thing to say. I remember the 1990 Superbowl (really well b/c I am a huge Joe Montana/49'ers fan). The Broncos were savaged that day. Elway looked like my Granny and in the end Elway and the Broncos came back and did pretty well. You learn from mistakes and this was a lot of learning...take a bit of time to heal and get back at it and remember what it felt like to be on the wrong side of a game like that...like McArthur said "I shall return."

I love the sentiment but didn't it take Elway til 98 to finally get a ring?

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Congrats on the season, Kelly is a good coach you guys are on the right track.

Bama just had the o-line to control the game, i thought that was the biggest difference in the game, plus A. Cooper is a match up problem, budding superstar receiver.

Looks like you guys are bringing in a great recruiting class, you'll be right back in the thick of things next year.

Thanks man. Much appreciated.

I'll be heading back to Tide Fans to congratulate. Just not tonight.

 

[Redbar]

Congrats on the season, Kelly is a good coach you guys are on the right track.

Bama just had the o-line to control the game, i thought that was the biggest difference in the game, plus A. Cooper is a match up problem, budding superstar receiver.

Looks like you guys are bringing in a great recruiting class, you'll be right back in the thick of things next year.

I think this is all very true. Reps

 

[Patulski]

- Golson looked fantastic with what he had to work with (awful, defeatist play calling).

- Zeke flew to the ball ferociously... no one else did.

We watched a different game:

1. Kelly called an aggressive pass game and Golson under threw open receivers downfield in single coverage. Had he led those receivers and completed those passes we would have had two long gains in the 1st half, which would have helped us immensely.

2. Motta was consistently put into perfect position by Diaco's blitzes, but Lacy and Yeldon were too quick for him. He simply was not the kind of difference maker we needed at safety tonight.

 

[Bluto]

We watched a different game:

1. Kelly called an aggressive pass game and Golson under threw open receivers downfield in single coverage. Had he led those receivers and completed those passes we would have had two long gains in the 1st half, which would have helped us immensely.

2. Motta was consistently put into perfect position by Diaco's blitzes, but Lacy and Yeldon were too quick for him. He simply was not the kind of difference maker we needed at safety tonight.

True that.

 

[Emcee77]

Great season for the Irish. I really like the direction our team is headed.

I guess I was not as impressed with Golson as some people. He made some nice plays and really looked like he was getting into a nice rhythm with Daniels and T.J. at times -- but I thought he looked imprecise much of the game. Nothing major, i.e. no bad INTs, but he'd fail to lead a guy far enough, put a ball just out of reach of a guy toeing the sidelines, etc. Still love the guy, and he made some nice plays for us tonight and all season, but I think we need a little more precision from our QB. It will be interesting to see how the QB competition goes in the spring. If we had won this game and Golson had played lights out, it would be tough for Gunner to win, but I think Gunner has a fighting chance the way this went.

McCarron, on the other hand, was unbelievably precise and accurate. I think some of the criticism of our secondary is fair, but some is misplaced -- McCarron just made them look bad by putting every ball right on the freaking money. It blew me away. Against LSU and TAMU McCarron looked like the weak link on his team. I had no idea he was capable of playing like that.

But we'll get there. Pasadena 2014. I'm already excited.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Congratulations to the Irish on a great season. Sucks it had to end this way, but sometimes your opponent is just flat out better than you. That offensive line of Bama is impressive. Combine that with a couple of 225 lb running backs, and things get difficult in a hurry.
I know we missed quite a few tackles, but this game was a perfect storm of what could go wrong, and what I was praying wouldn't happen. I actually left this game quite impressed by Motta. The kid missed a lot of tackles, but I give him a ton of credit for flying around like he did tonight. He stuck his nose in there all night and really is a physical, tough kid. Tough night, well prepared and talented opponent. We all see where the deficiencies are, I'm positive the coaches do as well. I have a strange feeling we will be back in this game before long. As for Manti, it was a pleasure watching you all these years, please be on the board when the Giants draft in April. Go Irish, the future is bright.

 

[GreenSox04]

as i sit here well past the clock hit 0.. im not raging, im not angry. im not any of the overwhelming emotions i expected myself to be if this would be the case. im a little deflated. but im talking to everyone in my house, which usually isnt the circumstances following this type of outcome.. was i subconsciously expecting this? i still just have pride for this group, and season.

anyone in this boat with me..

 

[Irishbounty28]

We watched a different game:

1. Kelly called an aggressive pass game and Golson under threw open receivers downfield in single coverage. Had he led those receivers and completed those passes we would have had two long gains in the 1st half, which would have helped us immensely.

2. Motta was consistently put into perfect position by Diaco's blitzes, but Lacy and Yeldon were too quick for him. He simply was not the kind of difference maker we needed at safety tonight.

Ding, Ding, Ding!!! Motta played and outstanding game, and showed that he has the will. The problem was that he didn't have the athletic ability or the strength to stop their running attack.

To those of you that are discrediting Manti, shame on you. Think of where we would be today without him. He has been the shining light in our program since he has been here, and something I would want my children to model after. He played his heart out tonight for "Our team"!

Our team was outmatched today by a superior opponent. From the snap this game was decided, and it is as simple as that. Alabama is in a class of its own. Sure, they were taken in by complacency (LSU and Texas A&M), but most teams are. Hell, we should have lost to Pitt if it weren't for some gracious missed calls.

This program is moving in the right direction and we are seeing growth and development as we speak. This is a far cry from the Davie, Willingham, and Weis eras.

We are going to return, and kick other teams in the mouth. This is the creation of a monster we are witnessing at this very moment, and if I am not right you may call me out in the future. We will be dominant, and destroy all opponents! We have witnessed greatness, and will achieve it shortly. MARK MY WORDS!!!

 

[KPENN]

as i sit here well past the clock hit 0.. im not raging, im not angry. im not any of the overwhelming emotions i expected myself to be if this would be the case. im a little deflated. but im talking to everyone in my house, which usually isnt the circumstances following this type of outcome.. was i subconsciously expecting this? i still just have pride for this group, and season.

anyone in this boat with me..

I feel the same way. Alabama's better and that's really there is to it.

I mean I was way, way, way more frustrated over USF, Michigan, USC last year and other losses in previous seasons. They just simply got beat by the best team.

 

[WaveDomer]

Great, great season. This was sad for me, but mostly because I'm sad for the guys on the team like Riddick and Te'o. Plain and simple: Bama beats anyone in the country tonight. There were missed tackles for a reason. Their line dominated and pretty much opened holes at will. It's crazy. I was thinking, is ND just having a bad game? Or would teams like Stanford and USC also just get spanked by Bama? I'm thinking the latter.

My only real problem with the offense tonight was going for a long pass on 4th down. Other than that, what they heck do you want them to do? It's pretty obvious they need to score on pretty much every possession. Plus, they hardly had the darn ball in the first half, it seemed like. Very proud of how guys like Jones, Daniels, Golson, and Riddick played.

On defense I just think there wasn't much ND could do. They couldn't get off the damn field. Bama is just a better, bigger, and deeper team at this point. Hats off.

 

[BeauBenken]

I only deleted a small handful of posts in this thread. I'm really proud of you guys that you didn't get more out of hand than that.

Proud of this team and the young men who represent everything good about college football. Back to the grind.

 

[Fbolt]

My thoughts:
Also, I couldnt help but think...how different would this have been with Aaron Lynch still on the team? He fiesty attitude wouldve been welcomed.

Really? Get past it please....

I was sure that 21-0 lead was all part of some divine plan to make the movie of this season more exciting. All I can say is that movie's ending really sucked.

I agree! I'm looking for the alternate ending myself!

Well, what the hell. It only took me about 3 years to get all those vbucks, anyway.

With ya there-stone broke now.

BULLCRAP.

Everyone is looking for their scapegoat. Congrats on finding yours!

This program is moving in the right direction and we are seeing growth and development as we speak. This is a far cry from the Davie, Willingham, and Weis eras.

We are going to return, and kick other teams in the mouth. This is the creation of a monster we are witnessing at this very moment, and if I am not right you may call me out in the future. We will be dominant, and destroy all opponents! We have witnessed greatness, and will achieve it shortly. MARK MY WORDS!!!

Agreed!


Thanks for a great season ND! Wishing the seniors the best of luck and hope the Bears pick them up in the draft (yes, all of them). Looking forward to continued growth of every player on the team-and for next year!

Go Irish!!