General team info

[SeekNDestroy]

It's a completely delusional fanbase. They think the offense won't miss a beat without Cam Ward, even though Beck kinda stunk last year and they've had to wholly re-make their WR room. They were also woeful defensively last season, and the new DC should make improvements on that side of the ball, but they lost a lot of important players on the front 7 and their secondary is bad.

They do have some talent. Their OL should be very good, and their DL has a lot of talent (Ruben Bain is a scary dude). If this was a BK-coached team, I might feel different, but I just feel like we're too talented and they have too much to put together during Game 1 for this to be anything other than a pretty comfortable ND victory.

Curious what your wife’s thoughts are on the team/game? Is she also knowledgeable about the Irish?

 

[Dale]

Even when shared?

No. He skipped right past my point.

By sharing do you mean per school payout? Not sure what you would mean otherwise. I didn’t skip it.


ND is at a reported $67 million through 2029. The Big Ten is expecting $75 million this season. It was reported they are expecting $80 - $100 million annual payout. NDs annual payout would be the $67 + CFP money moving forward, IIRC an estimated $80 million.

NDs CFP run in 2024 certainly helps

 

[Katzenboyer]

Curious what your wife’s thoughts are on the team/game? Is she also knowledgeable about the Irish?

She is! She watches most Irish games with me (as long as she's not at a Canes home game), and actively rooted for us during the playoffs. Attended the ND/PSU game at the Orange Bowl with me, too (in a Canes pullover, though. Can't win 'em all.)

Her thoughts in terms of optimism on Miami's side basically boils down to the 2017 game at Hard Rock, which was a goddamn hornet's nest. ND was the favorite in that one, too (both in terms of ranking and by Vegas) but Miami rolled. She's seemingly hoping that the transfers brought in to keep the offense rolling (Beck + receivers), coupled with a slight improvement on the defensive side of the ball and the tough environment, are enough to carry the day.

In terms of her concerns re: the Irish, she's realistic about Miami's defense probably not being a Top 30 unit next year (even though it should improve from last season's abomination) and she knows JLove and JD are studs. She's worried the Irish control the offensive line of scrimmage, run the ball down the Canes' throat, and Miami never gets the chance to rattle CJ Carr in his first start. She also knows Carr was a bigtime recruit (so we're not trotting out a young Ian Book or a washed Brandon Wimbush like we were in 2017) and that Carr might expose Miami's revamped secondary, which was pretty weak last year and needed a complete overhaul in the Transfer Portal.

 

[Irish#1]

I just want to make sure I’m understanding this correctly:

- Stanford already doesn’t “count” towards 1/5 required ACC games unless they are on a specific year’s rotation.
- the ACC publicly stated it was going to have Clemson, FSU and Miami play ND regularly to drive up tv ratings and dollars.
- now Clemson will NOT “count” towards our annual 5 game ACC slate unless they were already on the rotation that year. Even though the ACC needed this to happen.
- if Stanford and Clemson are both on the calendar in a non-ACC scheduled year, we would have to play 5 ACC + Stanford + Clemson for 7 total ACC games? Absolutely not.
- Miami can easily break the agreement within a year’s notice but ND has no say on restructuring the 5 game requirement?

we’re carrying the water for ACC and something’s gotta give.

ACC really struggling to keep from imploding.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I hear what you’re saying, but ND clearly wants the Clemson series to count as 1/5 of their annual ACC game commitment. So there is a disconnect currently and I’m obviously irked that Miami can just drop a game within a year’s notice, but I doubt ND has that type of leverage.

Fair but I think it's perhaps focusing on the tree(s) and missing the forest.

ND has a seat at the table. They are currently stabilizing a very volatile moment where everything is moving towards a duopoly that weakens everyone not contained within. If the current playoff discussions get pushed through with ACC (and everyone else) being a 2nd class conference, the center will not hold.

For now, I don't blame the commissioner for protecting his teams. They need to play brand name teams to improve SOS/appeal/revenue and if a smaller school is supplanted by ND striking a 12 year deal with Clemson, it weakens the ACC as a whole (and strengthens ND/Clemson). In essence, as much as ND would've liked for the ACC to agree to their terms, they must also understand you can't weaken the other school's faith in the conference and further decrease their revenue. We should do as little as possible to disrupt the foundation that we're trying to stand on.

 

[JD Irish]

Fair but I think it's perhaps focusing on the tree(s) and missing the forest.

ND has a seat at the table. They are currently stabilizing a very volatile moment where everything is moving towards a duopoly that weakens everyone not contained within. If the current playoff discussions get pushed through with ACC (and everyone else) being a 2nd class conference, the center will not hold.

For now, I don't blame the commissioner for protecting his teams. They need to play brand name teams to improve SOS/appeal/revenue and if a smaller school is supplanted by ND striking a 12 year deal with Clemson, it weakens the ACC as a whole (and strengthens ND/Clemson). In essence, as much as ND would've liked for the ACC to agree to their terms, they must also understand you can't weaken the other school's faith in the conference and further decrease their revenue. We should do as little as possible to disrupt the foundation that we're trying to stand on.

Okay, but the result is ND playing 7 ACC games per year and therefore being a de facto ACC member, including losing its most meaningful rivalry games from the schedule. Is this really what anyone associated with ND wants? I think it's horrible.

 

[Irish#1]

She is! She watches most Irish games with me (as long as she's not at a Canes home game), and actively rooted for us during the playoffs. Attended the ND/PSU game at the Orange Bowl with me, too (in a Canes pullover, though. Can't win 'em all.)

Her thoughts in terms of optimism on Miami's side basically boils down to the 2017 game at Hard Rock, which was a goddamn hornet's nest. ND was the favorite in that one, too (both in terms of ranking and by Vegas) but Miami rolled. She's seemingly hoping that the transfers brought in to keep the offense rolling (Beck + receivers), coupled with a slight improvement on the defensive side of the ball and the tough environment, are enough to carry the day.

In terms of her concerns re: the Irish, she's realistic about Miami's defense probably not being a Top 30 unit next year (even though it should improve from last season's abomination) and she knows JLove and JD are studs. She's worried the Irish control the offensive line of scrimmage, run the ball down the Canes' throat, and Miami never gets the chance to rattle CJ Carr in his first start. She also knows Carr was a bigtime recruit (so we're not trotting out a young Ian Book or a washed Brandon Wimbush like we were in 2017) and that Carr might expose Miami's revamped secondary, which was pretty weak last year and needed a complete overhaul in the Transfer Portal.

Checking a Miami board. Most think the environment will be the same as it was in 2017 and ND won't be able to handle it. Very strong possibility about the crowd and noise, yet three indicators that this will be different this time. 1. Kelly is not coaching this team. 2. The A&M game last season should be enough to show that MF and his teams can handle that type of environment. 3. The pressure can't be more than having to beat UGA and PSU in the playoffs.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Checking a Miami board. Most think the environment will be the same as it was in 2017 and ND won't be able to handle it. Very strong possibility about the crowd and noise, yet three indicators that this will be different this time. 1. Kelly is not coaching this team. 2. The A&M game last season should be enough to show that MF and his teams can handle that type of environment. 3. The pressure can't be more than having to beat UGA and PSU in the playoffs.

The greatest topic of conversation will be CJ Carr's first start being in that environment. Best case scenario for ND is that they come out fast and control the LOS, run the ball well, and just let him cook off of PA. Hope the boys have a healthy summer/fall so that we are ready to bulldoze in the trenches.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Checking a Miami board. Most think the environment will be the same as it was in 2017 and ND won't be able to handle it. Very strong possibility about the crowd and noise, yet three indicators that this will be different this time. 1. Kelly is not coaching this team. 2. The A&M game last season should be enough to show that MF and his teams can handle that type of environment. 3. The pressure can't be more than having to beat UGA and PSU in the playoffs.

Yup. It's a whole different program under Freeman.

 

[SDIrishFan]

The greatest topic of conversation will be CJ Carr's first start being in that environment. Best case scenario for ND is that they come out fast and control the LOS, run the ball well, and just let him cook off of PA. Hope the boys have a healthy summer/fall so that we are ready to bulldoze in the trenches.

One of the absolute keys to last season was that we never fell behind by two touchdowns. Meaning, we never had to hit the panic button and play catchup in a style of offense were aren't comfortable with. I have faith Denbrock, in combination with our defense, to do the same this year. Doesn't mean we'll win every game, but it should be enough to keep Carr from feeling like everything is on him to win.

 

[ulukinatme]

the need to recruit SoCal the week after the season finale (USC or Stanford) isnt what it used to be nowadays with the signing day so quick after. Coaches need to be back in South Bend then, not on the road going up and down the 101

Hey! Our boys like getting out of chilly South Bend for a few days in November. Don't you dare deprive them of that!

 

[ulukinatme]

Checking a Miami board. Most think the environment will be the same as it was in 2017 and ND won't be able to handle it. Very strong possibility about the crowd and noise, yet three indicators that this will be different this time. 1. Kelly is not coaching this team. 2. The A&M game last season should be enough to show that MF and his teams can handle that type of environment. 3. The pressure can't be more than having to beat UGA and PSU in the playoffs.

That's cute that they think we're not going to be able to handle their environment. We lost that game in 2017 in part because we were still figuring things out after an absolutely abysmal 2016. Kelly had them ill prepared, and the game plan sucked. It was a reoccurring thing with Kelly. Freeman makes mistakes, but he doesn't seem to make the same mistakes over and over, he tends to learn from them.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

the travel they have to do in the BigTen just isn't sustainable

No and shame on the P12 ADs for not factoring that in to the move to the B1G. It has brought light to what travel can do to a team regardless of opponent. ND has known this forever and now other blue bloods are getting a taste of it & instantly whining.

 

[Armyirish47]

The ESPN.com has an article ranking the top 10 College Football coaches.

College Football's Best & Brightest!

4. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame​

Record: 33-10 (all at Notre Dame)

Points: 64

Numbers to know: In 2024, Freeman led the Fighting Irish to a 14-2 record, the most wins in a season in program history.

You were one of two voters to rank Freeman No. 2? What do you like about him as a coach?

In just his third year, Freeman coached Notre Dame all the way to the national championship game. Despite being outgunned by Ohio State, the Fighting Irish hung tough through the fourth quarter. Under Freeman, Notre Dame remarkably has returned to being a top-five program. -- Jake Trotter

You were one of two voters to exclude Freeman from your top 10? What was your thinking?

If I had it to do over again, I'd probably have Freeman somewhere in the 8-10 range, but my initial doubts are still reasonable: some notable in-game blunders (10 defenders vs. Ohio State in 2022), inconsistency on offense and not quite enough of a track record of success ... yet. He can silence any doubters this year. -- David Hale

 

[FWIrish4]

The ESPN.com has an article ranking the top 10 College Football coaches.

College Football's Best & Brightest!

4. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame​

Record: 33-10 (all at Notre Dame)

Points: 64

Numbers to know: In 2024, Freeman led the Fighting Irish to a 14-2 record, the most wins in a season in program history.

You were one of two voters to rank Freeman No. 2? What do you like about him as a coach?

In just his third year, Freeman coached Notre Dame all the way to the national championship game. Despite being outgunned by Ohio State, the Fighting Irish hung tough through the fourth quarter. Under Freeman, Notre Dame remarkably has returned to being a top-five program. -- Jake Trotter

You were one of two voters to exclude Freeman from your top 10? What was your thinking?

If I had it to do over again, I'd probably have Freeman somewhere in the 8-10 range, but my initial doubts are still reasonable: some notable in-game blunders (10 defenders vs. Ohio State in 2022), inconsistency on offense and not quite enough of a track record of success ... yet. He can silence any doubters this year. -- David Hale

David Hale sure is something. First off, 10 defenders happened in 2023 against OSU and second off, that mistake means more than taking your hobbled team all the way to the natty? Lol

 

[Free Manera]

Kelly shit his pants in the tunnel before that game. The team fed off his baby back bitchness and ran for the hills.

Freeman came out of the tunnel at TAMU looking for someone to hit. Team fed off his aggression. I can't wait for that Miami game. ND is going to beat their brakes off and the ND chants will be audible by the fourth quarter.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Kelly shit his pants in the tunnel before that game. The team fed off his baby back bitchness and ran for the hills.

Yep. Then when Wimbush overthrew a wide open EQ St Brown on the opening drive, which would've been a walk-in TD, I had that sunken feeling that it was over.

Tone starts with the HC before the game

 

[Irish#1]

The greatest topic of conversation will be CJ Carr's first start being in that environment. Best case scenario for ND is that they come out fast and control the LOS, run the ball well, and just let him cook off of PA. Hope the boys have a healthy summer/fall so that we are ready to bulldoze in the trenches.

Granted starting is different, but him being on the sidelines at A&M has to help.

 

[fightingirish26]

Granted starting is different, but him being on the sidelines at A&M has to help.

Would he have even traveled? 4th string true freshman qb, wouldn't be surprised if he didnt

 

[DONTH8]

Would he have even traveled? 4th string true freshman qb, wouldn't be surprised if he didnt

Just went back and watched the team coming out of the tunnel. He traveled.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Just went back and watched the team coming out of the tunnel. He traveled.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Okay, but the result is ND playing 7 ACC games per year and therefore being a de facto ACC member, including losing its most meaningful rivalry games from the schedule. Is this really what anyone associated with ND wants? I think it's horrible.

I don't understand what you're arguing.

ND chose the 7th game to start a new meaningful series. They wanted to keep USC but USC isn't committed to keeping the series going.
Besides USC, what are the other meaningful rivalry games they are losing?

I think ND wants independence, even if it has some costs. What are you clamoring for? B10 membership?

 

[stlnd01]

I don't understand what you're arguing.

ND chose the 7th game to start a new meaningful series. They wanted to keep USC but USC isn't committed to keeping the series going.
Besides USC, what are the other meaningful rivalry games they are losing?

I think ND wants independence, even if it has some costs. What are you clamoring for? B10 membership?

Since you ask, yeah, increasingly, I think I would rather us play nine B1G games (that include meaningful rivals like USC, Michigan, Sparty, Purdue) than seven ACC games (including made-up rivals like Clemson and Stanford) plus whatever other filler we can find - which will get even harder once the SEC also goes to nine games.
At some point independence has more costs than benefits and I worry we're getting close to that.

 

[JD Irish]

I don't understand what you're arguing.

ND chose the 7th game to start a new meaningful series. They wanted to keep USC but USC isn't committed to keeping the series going.
Besides USC, what are the other meaningful rivalry games they are losing?

I think ND wants independence, even if it has some costs. What are you clamoring for? B10 membership?

I am arguing for ending the ACC agreement and for ND to actually be independent. ND chose to end the Michigan and Michigan State annual games for no legitimate reason.

 

[FWIrish4]

I don't understand what you're arguing.

ND chose the 7th game to start a new meaningful series. They wanted to keep USC but USC isn't committed to keeping the series going.
Besides USC, what are the other meaningful rivalry games they are losing?

I think ND wants independence, even if it has some costs. What are you clamoring for? B10 membership?

This is what I don’t understand. As part of their new tv deal, the ACC let it be publicly known that ND will play 2/3 of Clemson, FSU and Miami every year.

So ND and Clemson make their own deal and now the ACC claims those games won’t count towards our 1/5 commitment per year.

ND didn’t choose a 7th game against the ACC.

The ACC wanted this to happen, Clemson and ND made it happen on their own, and now the ACC wants another free ND game against its conference every couple of years.

 

[IAIrish]

She is! She watches most Irish games with me (as long as she's not at a Canes home game), and actively rooted for us during the playoffs. Attended the ND/PSU game at the Orange Bowl with me, too (in a Canes pullover, though. Can't win 'em all.)

Her thoughts in terms of optimism on Miami's side basically boils down to the 2017 game at Hard Rock, which was a goddamn hornet's nest. ND was the favorite in that one, too (both in terms of ranking and by Vegas) but Miami rolled. She's seemingly hoping that the transfers brought in to keep the offense rolling (Beck + receivers), coupled with a slight improvement on the defensive side of the ball and the tough environment, are enough to carry the day.

In terms of her concerns re: the Irish, she's realistic about Miami's defense probably not being a Top 30 unit next year (even though it should improve from last season's abomination) and she knows JLove and JD are studs. She's worried the Irish control the offensive line of scrimmage, run the ball down the Canes' throat, and Miami never gets the chance to rattle CJ Carr in his first start. She also knows Carr was a bigtime recruit (so we're not trotting out a young Ian Book or a washed Brandon Wimbush like we were in 2017) and that Carr might expose Miami's revamped secondary, which was pretty weak last year and needed a complete overhaul in the Transfer Portal.

I'm curious about the first game, will Canes fans show up for this in force just because it's ND? I'm not so sure. When we last saw them, they got beat in the pop tart bowl.

They couldn't make a major bowl with a Heisman winner and #1 overall pick and he's being replaced with a downgrade coming off an injury without the weapons he had last season. Not exactly reasons for optimism, but we've all been fooled before so why should their fans be any different.

I also took a look at their home game attendance last season and of all the home games they had last season during their early run, it took them until fsu in late October to sell out.

I'm not saying those who will show up won't be maniacs, but it wouldn't surprise me if a portion of the fan base is already over Cristobal and will sell seats to Irish fans.... where have we seen that before?

 

[ulukinatme]

I'm curious about the first game, will Canes fans show up for this in force just because it's ND? I'm not so sure. When we last saw them, they got beat in the pop tart bowl.

They couldn't make a major bowl with a Heisman winner and #1 overall pick and he's being replaced with a downgrade coming off an injury without the weapons he had last season. Not exactly reasons for optimism, but we've all been fooled before so why should their fans be any different.

I also took a look at their home game attendance last season and of all the home games they had last season during their early run, it took them until fsu in late October to sell out.

I'm not saying those who will show up won't be maniacs, but it wouldn't surprise me if a portion of the fan base is already over Cristobal and will sell seats to Irish fans.... where have we seen that before?

I think they'll sell out regardless of the late season losses, 3 out of their last 4. We'll be in town, we always draw a crowd.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I'm curious about the first game, will Canes fans show up for this in force just because it's ND? I'm not so sure. When we last saw them, they got beat in the pop tart bowl.

They couldn't make a major bowl with a Heisman winner and #1 overall pick and he's being replaced with a downgrade coming off an injury without the weapons he had last season. Not exactly reasons for optimism, but we've all been fooled before so why should their fans be any different.

I also took a look at their home game attendance last season and of all the home games they had last season during their early run, it took them until fsu in late October to sell out.

I'm not saying those who will show up won't be maniacs, but it wouldn't surprise me if a portion of the fan base is already over Cristobal and will sell seats to Irish fans.... where have we seen that before?

It will absolutely be a sellout.

 

[NDPhilly]

Don’t know where to put this but this kid’s edits are so good

 

[Dale]

Look how many are transfers or medicals that’s wanted to graduate