Most important reason ND needs this W?!?!

[IrishSLC]

This is ND's biggest game of the year and for countless reasons. They are all important and we all want the W. But which reason is the most important?

Importance on this season...

1) National Championship
This is what we've been waiting for over 20 years. ND's rise back to the national scene. Weis has re-energized many of us and the team. In his 5th year with a loss already in the books, if ND can finish the season 11-1 they should be in the National Championship hunt.

2) Clausen's Heisman hopes
It's important that team goals remain a priority and the team, the media, and the fans don't get caught up in individual awards. Personally I did this with Brady Quinn. The Irish need to be focused on the opposition and getting the W! Every Week! It does invoke a sense of personal pride for fans when their guy gets the Heisman. Ask yourself this, Would you rather be in Bradfords shoes and claiming the Heisman or Tebows shoes, winning a national title last year?

I hope you and Clausen agree with me when I say National Title. - Side note, It did provide national title hopes for Oklahoma entering this season (didn't play out obviously) but it would do the same for ND I'm sure.

3) Shutting up USC fans and slamming their title hopes.
If you told me the national champion would lose to Washington during the season I would call the BCS a joke (again). But it's very possible with USC already ranked #5 could get in if they go undefeated the rest of the way. Not to mention how many recruits we've lost to USC over the years. This might help us in that department.

Overall Program Importance...

1)Charlie Weiss Job at stake.
Some say Win and he stays. Lose and he is out. Who really knows. I do know that losing gets him one step closer to the unemployment office.

2) Silence critics and idiots (Mark May)
Overrated. Over hyped. Weak opponents. "Interning coach". Notre Dame has been embarrassed on the National scene by USC for the last several years. Weis doesn't have a quality win under his belt and he is on the hot seat. Each year we hear, "ND, return to glory or joke?" Argument. I'm sick of hearing it, it's about time we shut them up.

3) Recruiting trail
Help us against USC. Restore faith in country as a national power and garner a lot of honor amongst fans and potential recruits.

I'm sure I missed some and I know it's ultra long, but I wanna hear what you guys/gals have to say about this.

 

[weisbank4]

your point #1 is huge. That is a signature win and they do have respectable teams here on out scheduled.

That being said, I just dont see this happening.

 

[BeatSC]

your point #1 is huge. That is a signature win and they do have respectable teams here on out scheduled.

That being said, I just dont see this happening.

C'mon you got to believe at least until the game is over. We have beat sc when we have been bigger underdogs. If we execute and play like we know we believe we belong on the same filed we can beat these guys! Why can't we pass on these guys? Why can't we run on these guys? Why can't our LB's get to the QB? Why can't our DB's intercept a Freshman's passes? Until they beat us we can beat these guys! It's gonna be cold (below 40) and those pussies aren't gonna like it. It's at home and we need to capitalize. Next year it's out here in LA and I like our chances better in South Bend.

Go Irish "BeatSC"!

 

[TDHeysus]

I think the program points take precedent over the season points. IMO

using your numbers, my order of importance:

Overall Program Importance...
3 - recruiting
1 - helping CW with some stability.(i dont believe he is fired if he loses, but a win helps)
2 - quiting critics


Importance on this season...
2 - Mr. Clausen's Heisman bid
3 - always good to tell USC to shut the f* up
1 - NC, I dont think its in the cards this year. but a strong showing is.

 

[phork]

National Championship? Really? Wow. Time to lower some expectations for the year imo.

 

[Shaun4013]

If anyone had NC hopes for this year than you were aiming way to high. A good solid record and a BCS bid was what we had to look for. Continued improvement, winning big games and continuing to get good recruits will lead to a NC in the near future.

 

[irishfan]

National Championship? Really? Wow. Time to lower some expectations for the year imo.

I think if we're 5-1 with 6 games that we will be favored in to end the schedule, the NC is a legit goal. I mean if we beat USC I think we're in a BCS Bowl even at 10-2, so we might as well have the goal of playing for the NC. If we go 11-1, we're clearly going to be in the discussion as long as Texas does not go 12-0. (I'm assuming the winner of FLA/Bama will be 13-0) If we go 11-1, in my opinion we should be ranked ahead of every team from the Pac-10, Big 10, and Big East. Only leaves Bama, Florida, VA Tech, Miami, and Texas who could have 1 loss and claim to be ahead of us. Again, just my opinion. Then it gets complicated with Bama beating VT, VT beating Miami, no one wanting to see a Bama/FLA SEC Champ. rematch in the NC, Texas weak out of conference schedule, etc.

 

[Shaun4013]

I am sorry but even if ND wins out they are not going to the NC. The strength of schedule this year is horrendous.

 

[Junkhead]

I am sorry but even if ND wins out they are not going to the NC. The strength of schedule this year is horrendous.

Horrendous might be an overstatement.

 

[irishfan]

I am sorry but even if ND wins out they are not going to the NC. The strength of schedule this year is horrendous.

There's anywhere between 7-10 bowl teams on our schedule

 

[phork]

QFT bro. Currently ND is ranked #25, barely. A win vs USC moves ND maybe into the mid-teens. There simply is not enough time left in the year to climb into #2. And frankly I don't want a NC game, because when ND plays a real defense its going to really hurt when you get punched in the mouth and ran out the stadium. My top tier expectation for this year was a BCS game and a competitive win or loss.

Frankly the school cannot take another embarrassing loss in a BCS game, because then the Mark Mays come out and say "I told you so", which trigger the kool-aid drinkers to ask "Why does everyone hate us?"

 

[irishfan]

QFT bro. Currently ND is ranked #25, barely. A win vs USC moves ND maybe into the mid-teens. There simply is not enough time left in the year to climb into #2. And frankly I don't want a NC game, because when ND plays a real defense its going to really hurt when you get punched in the mouth and ran out the stadium. My top tier expectation for this year was a BCS game and a competitive win or loss.

Frankly the school cannot take another embarrassing loss in a BCS game, because then the Mark Mays come out and say "I told you so", which trigger the kool-aid drinkers to ask "Why does everyone hate us?"

they play a real defense in 2 days so we'll see what happens then

 

[domerfor life]

I'm trying to have faith, but......idk man.....idk....I just don't know how good THIS team really is. I know SC is good as usual. They are a little weaker than in most years, but that's still good enough for them to beat most of the teams in the country.