ESPN "On the Mark", on BCS (Barf Alert)

[Catsudon]

link

8. Notre Dame shouldn't be listed
The Fighting Irish have improved under coach Charlie Weis, but they haven't done enough to deserve a place in the BCS standings at this point. Notre Dame cracked the AP poll at No. 25 this week, but voters should have waited a week to see what the Irish do against USC at home on Saturday.
Notre Dame needed fourth-quarter comebacks to beat Michigan State and Purdue, then needed overtime to defeat Washington. That's evidence of being a tough team, but that doesn't necessarily make you a good team.

The Trojans are the only ranked team left on Notre Dame's schedule. The Irish should have to beat the Trojans to have any chance at a BCS bowl.

I really disagree with the part where he says that we haven't done enough to deserve a place. I guess the bar is set very high against us just because we're Notre Dame. Isn't at the end of the day, all you need is one more point than the other guy?

Granted, I have a feeling that some of the voters may have put ND in the top 25 again for some nefarious reason, when we didn't even play last week. But I won't go into that.

Winning at the last minute once or twice maybe attributed to luck, but to do it consistently shows that how tough we are and how good our QB is under pressure.

In the beginning I didn't think we were good enough to go all the way with only one loss after last season. and especially after the Michigan game. But looking at the guys playing every weeks against their opponents and the refs, I believe we can beat USC this week and use that as a boost to get us through every games this year.

 

[tankjeep]

beat usc this weekend and this is moot. but it's still annoying as hell how much nd hate there is.

 

[irishfan]

He should have written this article next Sunday morning. Such an idiot for trying to say who should be ranked where in the BCS when there is a week full of big games ahead before the rankings come out.

 

[kmoose]

Ok. I can see him thinking that ND should have to beat 'SC, in order to go to a BCS bowl. You could make an argument that ND has gone to BCS bowls that they probably shouldn't have, based on the fact that they are ND. ND did not perform well in those games, so I could see someone saying, "I want to see that they can beat a top tier team, before I am convinced." But, is this guy really insinuating that we don't deserve to be in the Top 25 without beating USC? I don't know if he was just using that "the voters should have waited a week, to see what ND does against USC" as some kind of incredibly weak segue, or if he was just coming right out and saying that ND doesn't deserve to be ranked 25th. If it's the former, fine. If it's the latter, what an idiot.

 

[phork]

ND shouldn't be ranked, the fact that they are is because everyone else they could push up there has faltered. ND shouldn't have lost to Michigan. ND should have buried Purdue, MSU and Washington. BCS calibre teams put out inferior teams to pasture, not let them hang on and have to scramble for last minute come backs against teams like Purdue.
And please don't insult me by saying Purdue is a decent football team.

Beat USC and everyone will say "Wow, look at ND". USCs toughest offensive foe this year came from Cal, ranked 60th in offense. ND is 10th. A lot of answers will come from this game. Is ND for real? Is USCs 6th ranked Defense that good? With Floyd in the game, ND wins. Without Floyd I put the favor on USCs side, but still winnable for ND.

So when should ND be ranked? When they actually beat a team that has a pulse.

 

[weisbank4]

ND shouldn't be ranked, the fact that they are is because everyone else they could push up there has faltered. ND shouldn't have lost to Michigan. ND should have buried Purdue, MSU and Washington. BCS calibre teams put out inferior teams to pasture, not let them hang on and have to scramble for last minute come backs against teams like Purdue.
And please don't insult me by saying Purdue is a decent football team.

Beat USC and everyone will say "Wow, like at ND". USCs toughest offensive foe this year came from Cal, ranked 60th in offense. ND is 10th. A lot of answers will come from this game. Is ND for real? Is USCs 6th ranked Defense that good? With Floyd in the game, ND wins. Without Floyd I put the favor on USCs side, but still winnable for ND.

So when should ND be ranked? When they actually beat a team that has a pulse.

I agree with all that to a "t" - now lets both duck together to avoid the koolade tsunami thats headed our way.

 

[jfjkd01]

The way I see it, if we don't beat SC we won't be ranked for the rest of the year, if we lose to SC and seem to be ranked I don't think it would be any higher than 20th......... ND season all comes down to the SC game, if we lose again everybody will say that ND can't beat a ranked team.....

 

[kmoose]

BCS calibre teams put out inferior teams to pasture, not let them hang on and have to scramble for last minute come backs against teams like Purdue.

1. Just because they shouldn't be in the BCS rankings, that doesn't mean that they have no business being in the 20-25 range, in the AP poll.

2. How do you explain the '02 Buckeyes? I certainly don't think that this ND team is BCS worthy (unless they beat USC), but there is a precedent for struggling through the season, but winning along the way.

 

[Irish#1]

I agree with all that to a "t" - now lets both duck together to avoid the koolade tsunami thats headed our way.

I think you guys are missing a few points. Every game is unique to themselves.
1. We lost to UM away. This was as big a game for them as any this year and they played out their butts. Forcier has been good, but hasn't played at that same level since. Remember the bogus over ruling on the screen pass that produced a TD? If the refs don't over turn it ND wins that game as currently undefeated.
2. The ND game is as big a rivalry game for Purdue as any on their schedule, including the Old Oaken Bucket. Purdue just missed a chance to beat a nationally ranked team on the road. They come home with something to prove. Now add the excitement of a nationally televised game, a student blackout and bringing Tiller back to speak to the team before the game and Purdue is playing at a high level. Sure they have looked pathetic since, but I think most of that is due to the last minute loss to the Irish.
3. UW already proved they could beat a ranked team, so I expected a very tight game with them.

I don't know if the Irish can beat SC this year, but I haven't been as excited about this rivalry game since the infamous Bush Push. It will take a geat effort, but the Irish can win this game if they limit big plays and mistakes.

 

[irishfan]

ND shouldn't be ranked, the fact that they are is because everyone else they could push up there has faltered. ND shouldn't have lost to Michigan. ND should have buried Purdue, MSU and Washington. BCS calibre teams put out inferior teams to pasture, not let them hang on and have to scramble for last minute come backs against teams like Purdue.
And please don't insult me by saying Purdue is a decent football team.

Beat USC and everyone will say "Wow, like at ND". USCs toughest offensive foe this year came from Cal, ranked 60th in offense. ND is 10th. A lot of answers will come from this game. Is ND for real? Is USCs 6th ranked Defense that good? With Floyd in the game, ND wins. Without Floyd I put the favor on USCs side, but still winnable for ND.

So when should ND be ranked? When they actually beat a team that has a pulse.

I'm not going to say they should be ranked anywhere better than 20 right now, but you can't say they shouldnt be ranked, then say they're only ranked because other teams have faltered. Other teams have faltered recently, ND hasnt. That's why they're ranked. If they shouldn't be ranked, then what team outside the top 25 should be instead? Auburn? Arkansas? Wisconsin?