Expectations for 2012?

[woolybug25]

I want interceptions (Plural)!

I want my wife to come in to see what I'm so excited about.

I want to have a good time!

I just want to dance!

 

[tadman95]

Tadman, that post of your almost ends up, dare I say it? Kinky at the end. Way too much double entendre for Mayberry. You know what I mean?

Well, I didn't really intend it that way but I fully appreciate the duality of the statement. I am frankly okay with either outcome, or both.

I might add, she's good! Very good!!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

You guys just krack me up! (spelling intentional)

 

[NDhoosier]

Well, I didn't really intend it that way but I fully appreciate the duality of the statement. I am frankly okay with either outcome, or both.

I might add, she's good! Very good!!

 

[NDTH91]

First of all, I expect our luck to improve, I expect our turnovers to drop, and I expect us to be competitive in EVERY game. This idea came to me while reading almost the entire "Rule of 3" thread, which I have to say was some exhilarating discussion. However, that thread was closed, and I thought this was the next most relevant place to post.

I saw so many posts about how tough our schedule was and how everyone would be ecstatic with 10-2 and really pleased with 9-3. I'm not saying I wouldn't be happy with a 9-3 season, but here's what I am saying:

Since when did we start chalking up losses? I used to (and most of the time still do) look at games against highly ranked teams and think, "hey, there's a great chance to make a big move in the rankings" and "man, I can't wait to see us play that team. What if we upset them?!?!" Now, all I see is "gee, if we could just beat the teams that we're supposed to beat, it would be a really stellar year." I get that Oklahoma is really good. I get that usc (as much as I hate to say it) is really good. But it's nice to think that we might be on the upper hand of an upset for once. I'll admit that I'm more optimistic than most, but it's not like I'm suggesting that some Division II team is going to upset a national title contender (App. St. vs. Mich?). I'm talking about a team that is going into the season as #24, and will be higher than that when we face the toughest teams on our schedule if we can take care of business to open the year.

I understand that Notre Dame hasn't given us a ton of reasons to believe over the past 20 years or so, but I also believe (maybe foolishly) that this winning culture that everyone is looking for starts with the fans. I'm not saying that we should just chalk us up for an undefeated season every year. I'm not unrealistic. I just can't stand chalking up losses. It shouldn't be enough JUST to beat the teams that we're supposed to. To be the best you have to beat the best, and I can't help but think that Notre Dame will beat some teams that are better than we are sometime in the future.

I guess I just hate the thought of some of us giving up and packing it in before the fight even starts.

Rant over. Feel free to berate me for all of the hope and optimism in this post.

Go Irish.

 

[Naptown]

As much as I've tried to create winning scenarios for each, ND is going to get embarrassed by USC.

However, I don't believe Oklahoma will spank us as bad as predicted. I think we'll be 8-10 point dogs in that game because Oklahoma may be the toughest team to beat at home in the country. A game like that could be a shootout if our offense is in tune by that time. Everyone always claims B12 teams have such high powered offense but its skewed because they do not play defense.

We will also play a pissed off Michigan team. You're going to truly see how exposed Michigan is when Alabama shows what down south speed looks like against a one dimensional WR converted to QB. They will be on a 2 game win streak when they come to South bend unless UMASS or Air Force uses the talent stealing trick the aliens used in Space Jam recently.

I don't know if its tough to be optimistic anymore or because our opponents have actually gradually improved but I do think people shouldn't sleep on Purdue.

We will lose 1 of the games that we're big favorites in this year.

Stanford's coach is below average and without Luck I expect Stanford to be pretty terrible this year.

But back to the USC game, we have to play perfect. Even with the Kitten betting ND to cover and he tries to shave points so he can buy another beach house for a co-ed, our secondary doesn't have the speed nor experience to slow down Woods and Lee. To be honest, we should lose, to USC. Whether you want to call them excuses or not, we are outclassed regarding sheer star power talent at 90% of the positions on the field(including depth). We had 2 amazing pass rushers last year and USC's inexperienced O-line slowed them down.

This year could be a total disaster as it may be hinged entirely on the shoulders of a QB who has never taken a live snap in college.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[NDTH91]

Do I expect us to beat usc? Not really. That kills me to say, but I realize that they're a much more complete team than us right now.

That being said, do I think we CAN beat usc? Hell yeah. Appalachian State beat michigan. Tulsa beat US. Both of those teams (and hundreds more from the past) were grossly outmatched talent wise, but they found a way.

Will we have to play a near perfect game? Yeah. But really good teams, and really well coached teams can do that when it matters.

The point is, I get that things can look grim from an outside stance, but I think this team is capable of winning ANY game if it plays the right way, and we have a few things go our way for once.

It's easy to look at the schedule and shake your head and be worried about some of the games. It's hard to know that you don't have the odds on your side, but to still put all of your heart behind the team. It's the heart part that I feel like many of us are losing.

 

[Naptown]

I would swallow my pride and accept a loss or two to some underwhelimg teams like Purdue or a lost Pitt team on the grounds that we embarrass a team like OU or USC.

Kelly should start suspending players for turnovers.

 

[BGIF]

I would swallow my pride and accept a loss or two to some underwhelimg teams like Purdue or a lost Pitt team on the grounds that we embarrass a team like OU or USC.

Kelly should start suspending players for turnovers.

I thought NDinFL's comment in the 2012 Fall Camp Thread was harsh until I read your post above.

I think you should just stay out of this thread (from the 2012 Fall Camp Thread)

In 1952 Johnny Lattner fumbled 7 times against Purdue. Coach Leahy had a football taped to Lattner's hand for a week.

ND fumbled 40 times that season (1/quarter) going 7-2-1 with wins over #2 USC, # 4 OU, #5 Texas, and #9 PU. The tie was with #19 Penn. The losses to #1 MSU (ND fumbled 7 times) and unranked Pitt (more fumbles). In the Penn Tie, Lattner fumbled around Penn's 20 on ND's last drive. Against Pitt Heap had a 92 yd punt return to close to 1 point but the extra point was missed. It was the SECOND XP miss in the game. Penalties and a muffed pitchout (sound familiar?) set up a Guglielmi Safety for the 3 point Pitt win.

You would would have suspended Junior John Lattner who was a Unanimous First Team. -American that year along with the rest of the starting backfield (Lattner, Worden, Heaps, and Guglielmi). BTW, Lattner won the Heisman the following year.

You would have definitely benched Soph QB Ralph Guglielmi who completed less than 43% of his passes while throwing 4 TDs and 9 Ints. Two years later Guglielmi was Unanimous First Team All-American QB.

 

[Naptown]

I was kidding about suspending players for turnovers. That's just silly..

 

[jason_h537]

I would swallow my pride and accept a loss or two to some underwhelimg teams like Purdue or a lost Pitt team on the grounds that we embarrass a team like OU or USC.

Kelly should start suspending players for turnovers.

This may be unpopular but I would rather have a season where ND beats every team it is supposed to beat than pull an upset on OU or USC. I am sick of watching losses to USF, Michigan, FSU, Western Michigan, and so on. Just stop losing these games.

 

[BGIF]

This may be unpopular but I would rather have a season where ND beats every team it is supposed to beat than pull an upset on OU or USC. I am sick of watching losses to USF, Michigan, FSU, Western Michigan, and so on. Just stop losing these games.

And here I thought we won the WMU game.

Winning the games they're supposed to win consistently would be a step in the right direction and put the focus on what would be needed to get to the top level.

 

[Kanye West]

As much as I've tried to create winning scenarios for each, ND is going to get embarrassed by USC.

However, I don't believe Oklahoma will spank us as bad as predicted. I think we'll be 8-10 point dogs in that game because Oklahoma may be the toughest team to beat at home in the country. A game like that could be a shootout if our offense is in tune by that time. Everyone always claims B12 teams have such high powered offense but its skewed because they do not play defense.

We will also play a pissed off Michigan team. You're going to truly see how exposed Michigan is when Alabama shows what down south speed looks like against a one dimensional WR converted to QB. They will be on a 2 game win streak when they come to South bend unless UMASS or Air Force uses the talent stealing trick the aliens used in Space Jam recently.

I don't know if its tough to be optimistic anymore or because our opponents have actually gradually improved but I do think people shouldn't sleep on Purdue.

We will lose 1 of the games that we're big favorites in this year.

Stanford's coach is below average and without Luck I expect Stanford to be pretty terrible this year.

But back to the USC game, we have to play perfect. Even with the Kitten betting ND to cover and he tries to shave points so he can buy another beach house for a co-ed, our secondary doesn't have the speed nor experience to slow down Woods and Lee. To be honest, we should lose, to USC. Whether you want to call them excuses or not, we are outclassed regarding sheer star power talent at 90% of the positions on the field(including depth). We had 2 amazing pass rushers last year and USC's inexperienced O-line slowed them down.

This year could be a total disaster as it may be hinged entirely on the shoulders of a QB who has never taken a live snap in college.

I hope I'm wrong.

KLM played a half and EJ was out. Kalil left, Nick perry left, and Devon Kennard is out and we play a team with little depth in the beggining of the season. It won't be ugly at all honestly.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Lax, is this it?


GO IRISH!!!!!!!!

Diz

 

[greyhammer90]

Not saying it won't happen. But how many preseason-hype chances does Theo get? Every year at ND has been "his year" so far. He's like ND's version of Tony Romo.

HAHAHA... WOW. Nothing like hindsight.

 

[Dizzyphil]

HAHAHA... WOW. Nothing like hindsight.

"You are Rolling" LOL

GO IRISH!!!!!


Diz

 

[BurningRiver]

My expectations?

I hate to quote myself, but......

 

[KPENN]

Looking back on this thread irishtrain hasn't changed much

 

[GreatGolson]

I guess i shouldve raised my own expectations, now anything less than a perfect season would be dissapointing to me

 

[IrishAlum1997]

I think it all depends upon the quarterback play and injuries.
If Rees, 7-5
If Hendrix, 9-3
If Golson, 12-1 or if no injuries 13-0.

Brilliant.

 

[NDPhilly]

I said 8-4 with losses to MSU, Stanford, OU, and USC. We are a year ahead of schedule

 

[ACamp1900]

I called for 0-12.... I haven't paid much attention, how have our boys done???

 

[Irish YJ]

I do think it's possible that we are unbeaten when we play USC if (1) the QB situation is worked out, and Golson hits his stride by game 3, and (2) our CBs step up. We should be able to handle UM if we don't fade like last year, and OK is very beatable IMO. Possible, yes, but we have to figure out 2 very important positions...

My prediction.... I think EG is progressing, but not as far along as I'd hoped. DBs have really surprised me this year. I'm already looking ahead to USC. Hope the team is not. We need to throttle WF.

 

[ACamp1900]

Biggest surprise is the secondary for me, no question...

 

[Irish YJ]

Biggest surprise is the secondary for me, no question...

Me too. No question, not even close. I'm still in denial I think. I don't know if their success is a product of talent development and great recruiting, or simply a group taking reaping the benefit of our front 7. My opinion, probably equal parts of both. Regardless, I'm a happy camper.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

Bump...

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I posted back in August ND would win the Natty against Bama, Manti would become the most decorated CFB player ever, and ND would sign the #1 recruiting class. Man, I'm good.

 

[ndfi78]

I'm so glad I didn't post in this thread to start with, I would definitely look like a fool now.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

That's a much better view of it. I basically watch every game knowing ND can and usually should win, then watch as they show how they can not win. When the streak ends and there's a 0 in the loss column in January, the only way you could find me is six feet underground from a heart attack.

Hope you stick around beyond tonight, mackie. Bathe in the kool aid.

 

[We_Are_ND]

Had to browse through all the pages and make sure I didn't say anything dumb annnnnnd I didn't. Phew. Buuut many of you did. Many. of. you. did.....