BCS title game postgame thoughts

[chicago51]

Just want to thank you guys for having such a rational and pleasant post game discussion. Last night I wanted to break a lot of things, but instead just went to bed, and waking up this morning and reading everything helped me to realize the world hasn't ended and I still love this team a lot. So thanks guys. Go Irish and lets hope 2013 is even better.

Today is the first day of the rest of everyone's life. FORWARD 2013!

Will miss the seniors.

 

[007depthchart]

You guys got a healthy Bama (besides b.jones played with ton ligaments in ankle and stated he was at 75-80%). I know Bama inside and out and knew you would get by far the best Bama team of the year, I stated that in one of my first few posts here before getting message from mod that I was being a troll. No one on Bama's schedule comes within 20 pts, A&M included, of the Bama team you played last night. If you guys had played the Bama of LSU/TX A&M you would have gotten first a team that had not went through the 2nd fall practice of the long bowl preparations where Bama coaches do excellent job of cleaning up mistakes done throughout year, but you would have gotten AJ with a severely bruised back, Eddie Lacy with turf toe and sprained ankle that had no explosion and was just a power back, amari cooper with turf toe and sprained ankle with no explosiveness, and the other starting wideouts in rotation played with similar injuries, all playing at about 50% capacity(Norwood was healthy for LSU, got put out of game early 1st half against A&M). You guys got by far the best Bama team of the year. It reminded me of 2010 when Bama lost 3 games in regular season but over bowl preparations a lot of defensive studs like dareus, upshaw, and barron who were hurt much of season, plus young defense thinking too much , became healthy and drastically improved. Destroyed what was it undefeated or one loss michigan st team. That Bama team I have no doubt would have beaten Auburn and Oregon by double digits and ended up the best team.

 

[kmoose]

We lost the line of scrimmage battle. Badly.

We didn't lose the line of scrimmage battle badly, on defense. The defense held the line, they just couldn't get off of the blocks to make a tackle. The talent gap wasn't nearly as bad as it looked. And the team never quit competing. They played hard, even when it was obvious that the game was Alabama's. This loss stings, but it was still a successful season. Congratulations to the team, in general, and the seniors, in particular. I'm sorry that your college careers had to end on such a down note, but hold your heads high, each and every one of you. You have set into motion a wave that will still be gathering steam, for years to come. I wish you each and all nothing but the best in your post-collegiate lives.

 

[chicago51]

I'm seriously thinking Swarbrick and Kelly should try to schedule Bama in October. We got a better shot at beating them in the middle of year than at the beginning or end.

 

[RDU Irish]

Scanned the recruiting for Bama and ND 2010 through 2012 and they have a ton of stars on us, not to mention the number of 4.5 and 4.4 forties dotting the Bama lists. We have enough talent to make a run at it obviously but 2013 is the first class that REALLY pops off the page talent wise top to bottom.


How do we shape up for 2013?
O line is an area of significant need of upgrades. Injury bug and bad karma generally have hamstrung us there and that lack of depth led to less contact in practice leading to the title game.

RB - great shape - even though we lose Wood and Riddick, I think we reload with more upside next year

WR - Very good, 5* player away from elite. DD, TJ, Cbreezy are a great nucleus.

TE - Troy needs to step up big time.

QB - Golson will be pretty good, Gunner needs to grow up b/c Golson will miss time from injuries and he needs to be ready.

DLine - Elite

LBs - Very good but a year or two away from elite

Secondary - improve to above average next year with Farley, Jackson and Russell allowing Redfield and Luke to ease in a bit. Two years from elite though.

 

[koonja]

I'm seriously thinking Swarbrick and Kelly should try to schedule Bama in October. We got a better shot at beating them in the middle of year than at the beginning or end.

I touched on that in post #25 of this thread:

http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/notre-dame-football/83211-what-were-missing.html

What do you think?

 

[RDU Irish]

I'm seriously thinking Swarbrick and Kelly should try to schedule Bama in October. We got a better shot at beating them in the middle of year than at the beginning or end.

Which is exactly why Bama (and the entire SEC) schedules cream puff division II schools whenever they get a chance.

 

[ALLGATOR]

I'm seriously thinking Swarbrick and Kelly should try to schedule Bama in October. We got a better shot at beating them in the middle of year than at the beginning or end.

No SEC team is going to play a top out of conference football team in the middle of the SEC season.

 

[DomeLover3]

Is it possible to do this? Aren't schedules made years and years in advance? I like the idea though

 

[ALLGATOR]

Is it possible to do this? Aren't schedules made years and years in advance? I like the idea though

They would not accept. If you ask a Bama fan why did they lose to A &M they will tell you its because they played LSU the week before.

 

[Emcee77]

If you ask a Bama fan why did they lose to A &M they will tell you its because they played LSU the week before.

Yep. They have said things to that effect frequently on this site since the game last night ... the courteous ones are saying that the reason they blew us away last night is in part because this was the healthiest they've been all season.

 

[chicago51]

I touched on that in post #25 of this thread:

http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/notre-dame-football/83211-what-were-missing.html

What do you think?

This post:

I would like to schedule one SEC team per year. For two reasons:

1) Play a game against or in a state that's loaded with talent (LSU, Bama, Georgia, Florida, etc).

2) We can point to our schedule all we want, hell we can even be right in an objective SOS argument. But the fact is, no one's going to give us much credit until we start playing and beating a SEC team.

Take off Oklahoma. That's a tough game and Oklahoma isn't as loaded with prospects as Georgia, Florida, etc are. Keep Texas and USC because those are talent-rich states. I fully believe we can compete with SEC teams on a week to week basis. Giving a team like Bama 37 days to prepare, however, was a different story, at least last night. Play them 6 days after then play Tennessee and I think we have a shot.

I like your points. I think we have a better chance to win as well as I mentioned.

Doing the schedule math here starting in 2015:

5 ACC Games
1 USC
1 Standford
1 Navy
1 MSU
1 Purdue
1 Texas series

That is 11 games. We have a game to play with. I say instead trying to reschedule UM annually we rotate UM with MSU and Purdue playing of the 2 of the 3 each year. Then schedule an SEC home and home series. In no particular order: UGA, UF, Bama, and LSU.
I want to know if an SEC team has the stones to come into South Bend in say late October or November? If we can't the SEC then I say home and home with OSU.

I doubt any of the schools will accept but it is just an idea. It would probably have to be early in the year too if they did.

The SEC will never travel to play a midwest school in the bad weather time of the season.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

 

[BobD]

FML That little bastard doesn't know what to do with this. I wish his center would eat him for breakfast.

 

[gkautz10]

One bright spot that stood out to me was the improvement in both punting teams. ND finally found out how to block a few people on punt returns. The coverage was stellar on the punt team also.

 

[NDinTEXAS]

Im so sad today that is all

 

[chicago51]

Thank you to the folks on the board throughout the day. I'm still upset but I'm moving forward. I feel much better than I did 9 hours ago. My new signature says it all as to how I feel.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I am glad. Seriously. Hope everyone else is chipper!

 

[philipm31]

Jeez people, the name is STANFORD

 

[Patulski]

We didn't lose the line of scrimmage battle badly, on defense. The defense held the line, they just couldn't get off of the blocks to make a tackle. .

They had 529 yards in an almost perfect balance of 265 yards rushing and 265 yards passing. You can parse some fictional difference between not losing the line of scrimmage and not getting off blocks, but they scored 42 points against a defensive front that was like a sieve in the run game and a pressure-less limp curtain in the passing game.

 

[Patulski]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9NLN11H2CQk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This only shows the scoring plays.
But in each of the running plays Nix is 2-3 yards in the backfield.
They just ran away from him.

Look at the third TD at the 1:34 mark. Their guard and tackle open up a hole you can drive a truck through blocking Tuitt and Springman, and then their lead blocker seals Manti and then pancackes Carlo.

Sobering stuff there.

 

[IrishMoore1]

Wow I took so much sh!t at work today. Now that I've calmly gathered my thoughts, here are a few things:

1. We didn't show up
This game reminds me a lot of the USC game from last season. The team, especially the defense, got caught up in its own hype. They looked completely lost and unprepared the whole game.

2. We got punched in the mouth and then proceeded to fold like a beach chair.
This was absolutely embarrassing. To come out the way they did and display such a pathetic performance. It was so frustrating to see so many missed tackles (a la vs USC last year)

3. I'm not sure that it was Bama that's on another level, or we played like bantha poo doo, on a bottom level

4. If we had any semblance of a running game, the offense may have been able to put up more points. I'm beginning to wonder if O-line training and conditioning should be reevaluated

5. I don't see how anyone could hold their head up high after a performance like that. If they had fought hard from the start and kept the game close, I would definitely be proud of their efforts, win or lose. This was not the case. This game was never in doubt for Bama. The stadium turned into a slaughter house. This was Apollo Creed vs. Draco, and somebody shoulda thrown the white towl into the ring.

6. The WORST part about this loss is that it validates everything all the Haters have been saying all season. It validates their belief that we played a weak schedule. It validates their belief that ND can't hang with the SEC. Finally, it validates their belief that the SEC is the elite conference of college football. Were they right? I don't know anymore.

 

[Irish#1]

Been traveling all day and in the hotel. Don't feel like reading all 500+ posts so if I repeat somethhing alread posted I apologize in advance.

We got beat because Bama was bigger, faster and stronger. Kelly's comments afterwards told me he already knew that. Bama also played by far their best game of the year. I liked that we played hard until the end. That's a very positive sign. We're now getting the recruits we need to compete at that level so it won't be long fellows. Keep the faith. Love all of you.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

1. We didn't show up
This game reminds me a lot of the USC game from last season. The team, especially the defense, got caught up in its own hype. They looked completely lost and unprepared the whole game.

2. We got punched in the mouth and then proceeded to fold like a beach chair.
This was absolutely embarrassing. To come out the way they did and display such a pathetic performance. It was so frustrating to see so many missed tackles (a la vs USC last year)
.............
5. I don't see how anyone could hold their head up high after a performance like that. If they had fought hard from the start and kept the game close, I would definitely be proud of their efforts, win or lose. This was not the case. This game was never in doubt for Bama. The stadium turned into a slaughter house. This was Apollo Creed vs. Draco, and somebody shoulda thrown the white towl into the ring.

6. The WORST part about this loss is that it validates everything all the Haters have been saying all season. It validates their belief that we played a weak schedule. It validates their belief that ND can't hang with the SEC. Finally, it validates their belief that the SEC is the elite conference of college football. Were they right? I don't know anymore.

I disagree on a number of points here.

Getting physically pushed around by superior athletes who are extremely well coached sometimes looks like you're not prepared or you're folding under pressure. There's no way that this team, one that has shown so much heart all year, decided to fold in the championship game. I'll never believe that.

I think our schedule did end up being overrated by the end of the year. Several teams underachieved. We still had excellent wins at OU and against Stanford. But the strength of schedule went from one of the best to just above average.

 

[wakeuptheechoes]

Thank you to the folks on the board throughout the day. I'm still upset but I'm moving forward. I feel much better than I did 9 hours ago. My new signature says it all as to how I feel.

That signature quote by Bum after the Oilers lost to the Steelers in the AFC Championship game. I hope we do better because the Oilers never returned to the AFC Championship under Bum.

 

[IrishLax]

Wow I took so much sh!t at work today. Now that I've calmly gathered my thoughts, here are a few things:

1. We didn't show up
This game reminds me a lot of the USC game from last season. The team, especially the defense, got caught up in its own hype. They looked completely lost and unprepared the whole game.

2. We got punched in the mouth and then proceeded to fold like a beach chair.
This was absolutely embarrassing. To come out the way they did and display such a pathetic performance. It was so frustrating to see so many missed tackles (a la vs USC last year)

3. I'm not sure that it was Bama that's on another level, or we played like bantha poo doo, on a bottom level

4. If we had any semblance of a running game, the offense may have been able to put up more points. I'm beginning to wonder if O-line training and conditioning should be reevaluated

5. I don't see how anyone could hold their head up high after a performance like that. If they had fought hard from the start and kept the game close, I would definitely be proud of their efforts, win or lose. This was not the case. This game was never in doubt for Bama. The stadium turned into a slaughter house. This was Apollo Creed vs. Draco, and somebody shoulda thrown the white towl into the ring.

6. The WORST part about this loss is that it validates everything all the Haters have been saying all season. It validates their belief that we played a weak schedule. It validates their belief that ND can't hang with the SEC. Finally, it validates their belief that the SEC is the elite conference of college football. Were they right? I don't know anymore.

You've got to be kidding me on some of these. We played Alabama even in the second half... How is that quitting?

 

[Pa Golden Tate Fan]

Deafainlty a great year for the Irish. They are a year ahead of schedule. Nobody would have beaten Alabama last night. This team will be better next year because of more depth and talent.

 

[Bama]

Thoughts from a Bama fan

Thoughts from a Bama fan

First let me say I am a Bama fan, but please hear me out!!

I just wanted to say that I enjoyed watching Notre Dame play this year!
Notre Dame is a class school and a class football team and ya'll are class fans!. I have so much respect for ND and its great tradition. Being a Bama fan I can appreciate great tradition. Ya'll play the type of football that I love, tough running game and a great defense. Watching the game lastnight the one thing that stood out to me was the ND players looked a little wide eyed to everything. With us having played in that game a couple of times I think we knew what to expect. I think maybe ND was there a year early. I've watched most of your games this year and I know lastnight was not ya'lls typical game. If we played again saturday, I really think it would be a lot different game. How about we do it again next year in Pasadena? so from a die hard Alabama fan, I say hold your head up!! Notre Dame being good again is great for college football. In my opinion, theres Alabama, Notre Dame then theres everybody else.

Roll Tide and Go Irish!!

Bama

 

[arrowryan]

First let me say I am a Bama fan, but please hear me out!!

I just wanted to say that I enjoyed watching Notre Dame play this year!
Notre Dame is a class school and a class football team and ya'll are class fans!. I have so much respect for ND and its great tradition. Being a Bama fan I can appreciate great tradition. Ya'll play the type of football that I love, tough running game and a great defense. Watching the game lastnight the one thing that stood out to me was the ND players looked a little wide eyed to everything. With us having played in that game a couple of times I think we knew what to expect. I think maybe ND was there a year early. I've watched most of your games this year and I know lastnight was not ya'lls typical game. If we played again saturday, I really think it would be a lot different game. How about we do it again next year in Pasadena? so from a die hard Alabama fan, I say hold your head up!! Notre Dame being good again is great for college football. In my opinion, theres Alabama, Notre Dame then theres everybody else.

Roll Tide and Go Irish!!

Bama

Thanks man. I'm hoping for a rematch in Pasadena next year also

 

[KPENN]

First let me say I am a Bama fan, but please hear me out!!

I just wanted to say that I enjoyed watching Notre Dame play this year!
Notre Dame is a class school and a class football team and ya'll are class fans!. I have so much respect for ND and its great tradition. Being a Bama fan I can appreciate great tradition. Ya'll play the type of football that I love, tough running game and a great defense. Watching the game lastnight the one thing that stood out to me was the ND players looked a little wide eyed to everything. With us having played in that game a couple of times I think we knew what to expect. I think maybe ND was there a year early. I've watched most of your games this year and I know lastnight was not ya'lls typical game. If we played again saturday, I really think it would be a lot different game. How about we do it again next year in Pasadena? so from a die hard Alabama fan, I say hold your head up!! Notre Dame being good again is great for college football. In my opinion, theres Alabama, Notre Dame then theres everybody else.

Roll Tide and Go Irish!!

Bama

Thanks for the nice words. You guys have got a hell of a team down there.