ND-USC Post Game Thoughts

NDRock

Well-known member
Messages
7,489
Reaction score
5,448
I never understood why we practiced on turf and played on grass. Should practice on the same field you play your home games, IMO.
 

woolybug25

#1 Vineyard Vines Fan
Messages
17,677
Reaction score
3,018
BFD. Fenway Park has concerts and rugby matches and 80+ baseball games a year in the same(ish) climate as South Bend. They're doing multiple football games a year now too.

You asked what they planned and I told you. Wasn’t trying to debate.
 

Rocket89

Uniform Connoisseur
Messages
2,914
Reaction score
551
I do disagree. The only time I recall it looking like "garbage" was the very last spring game, at which point they had clearly let it go.

This is the re-writing of history so popular at NDN.

The stadium grass was objectively terrible pretty much since the place was built. There are plenty of old-timers who admit that the grass was crap (and had that rep from opposing teams) back in the 50's and 60's. In recent times, there have been some objectively awful appearances.

The problem for ND, and many northern teams, is that the grounds crew can't find a happy medium. If they try to keep it short like the 2011 opener it's not durable enough. Seriously, re-watch that USF game and look at how poor of condition that grass is in for the first game--patches missing, spray paint everywhere to hide the really large spots, etc.

If they keep it long, as was famous during the Weis years, huge divots get ripped out and there's arguably more slipping. I'd also argue it looks completely bush league.

Switching to field turf was one of the wisest investments the school has made. Over the long-term it's cheaper and you're not sinking in hundreds of thousands of dollars, even millions over time, for a field that can be destroyed by one bad day of weather.

It provides so much more flexibility for the school, the team can practice in the stadium far more, it's a no-brainer decision.
 
Last edited:

Rocket89

Uniform Connoisseur
Messages
2,914
Reaction score
551
They make a throwaway point in there about how we'd be undefeated on long grass and I actually think they're on to something. It was extremely short sighted to go to turf based on the premise that we wanted to run Kelly's Cincinnati offense. Given our recruiting strengths, it's much more likely that we're the bigger and stronger team than the quicker and faster one. Going to turf wasn't just a bad aesthetic decision, it was a bad football decision as well. #HotTakes

Don't agree with this, either.

Over the long history of Irish football nothing has been more important than speed. Being bigger and stronger without speed is basically like settling for New Era Bowls as the program ceiling.
 

irishog77

NOT SINBAD's NEPHEW
Messages
7,441
Reaction score
2,206
Auto-tune, new leather, dyed hair, The Hobbit in 48 FPS, It's a Wonderful Life in color, fake boobs. "Better" isn't always an upgrade. I cringe every time I see those black beads flying out of that carpet. Give me mud and grass stains.

Prolly best to omit that one in bold...on a football message board.
 

Section20Row27

New member
Messages
186
Reaction score
31
Only thing that would make this post game thread better is if we started sharing recipes...

Tortelini soup:

quart of chicken broth (low salt)
1 can of stewed tomatoes
1 small can of tomato paste
1 small shallot
2 cloves of garlic
oregano - a couple of shakes
1 package of frozen spinach
1 pound of Italian sausage
your choice of stuffed tortelini

saute onion and garlic in olive oil. cook sausage until almost cooked, then add onion and garlic. Add chicken broth, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, and simmer. Once to a boil, add frozen spinach. 5-7 minutes before serving add tortelini and oregano.

Double, triple, etc. ingredients for more servings. Great crock pot soup for any occasion!

PM me if anyone would like an Italian sausage (Chicago style) family recipe.
 

Irish YJ

Southsida
Messages
25,888
Reaction score
1,444
Tortelini soup:

quart of chicken broth (low salt)
1 can of stewed tomatoes
1 small can of tomato paste
1 small shallot
2 cloves of garlic
oregano - a couple of shakes
1 package of frozen spinach
1 pound of Italian sausage
your choice of stuffed tortelini

saute onion and garlic in olive oil. cook sausage until almost cooked, then add onion and garlic. Add chicken broth, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, and simmer. Once to a boil, add frozen spinach. 5-7 minutes before serving add tortelini and oregano.

Double, triple, etc. ingredients for more servings. Great crock pot soup for any occasion!

PM me if anyone would like an Italian sausage (Chicago style) family recipe.

I'm interested! Would suggest posting it if not too much typing. Post here http://www.irishenvy.com/forums/leprechaun-lounge/274958-what-you-eating-cooking.html
 

Irish Wildcat

New member
Messages
40
Reaction score
4
Tirico then would just say the positive thing he was pushing Doug towards revealing. For the Adams question, Flutie eventually gave in and admitted he should be a Heisman candidate.
Watching Notre Dame football my entire life, I'm okay with this. Admittedly, my life is probably short compared to many ND fans. I have vivid memories of watching Notre Dame football on other networks where they flat out disrespect the program. Or, more egregiously, I have vivid memories of network mainstays, such as Verne Lundquist, remaining absolutely silent as the color commentator tries to point out how the opposing team got away with something, such as defensive holding. In this example, I also know that the color commentator stopped working with Lundquist.

I've yet to experience any specific instance where I thought Flutie was, flat out, being a homer against Notre Dame.
 

BleedBlueGold

Well-known member
Messages
6,268
Reaction score
2,491
Gonna leave this right here from last week 10-19-2017, 10:37 AM:

Had it in my gut earlier this week. I'm sticking by it...For whatever reason, I've had this 2014 ND vs UM feeling. Not that I think ND will shutout USC. But I just don't see USC having a chance in hell during this game. We have a better OL, better running game, and we have Elko. 34-17 (and the under-20 streak continues).

I obviously didn't expect ND to score as many points as they did though. That is just wow. USC should thank BK for not putting 60 on them. IMO, they should have.
 
Last edited:

wizards8507

Well-known member
Messages
20,660
Reaction score
2,661
I've yet to experience any specific instance where I thought Flutie was, flat out, being a homer against Notre Dame.
He just spins everything into a negative. Wimbush scrambles for 20 yards, Flutie says "he really should have seen the open crossing route." That kind of thing.
 

NDohio

Well-known member
Messages
5,869
Reaction score
3,060
Tortelini soup:

quart of chicken broth (low salt)
1 can of stewed tomatoes
1 small can of tomato paste
1 small shallot
2 cloves of garlic
oregano - a couple of shakes
1 package of frozen spinach
1 pound of Italian sausage
your choice of stuffed tortelini

saute onion and garlic in olive oil. cook sausage until almost cooked, then add onion and garlic. Add chicken broth, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, and simmer. Once to a boil, add frozen spinach. 5-7 minutes before serving add tortelini and oregano.

Double, triple, etc. ingredients for more servings. Great crock pot soup for any occasion!

PM me if anyone would like an Italian sausage (Chicago style) family recipe
.

First of all, thanks for getting this thread back on the lighter side. The whole turf/grass argument was bringing me down. We just beat USC by a million points, there should be no negativity...

Second - Yes I am interested.
 

Irish#1

Livin' Your Dream!
Staff member
Messages
44,591
Reaction score
20,044
Don't agree with this, either.

Over the long history of Irish football nothing has been more important than speed. Being bigger and stronger without speed is basically like settling for New Era Bowls as the program ceiling.

I'm a grass guy, but I don't lose sleep over the turf. I like teams having to compete in the "conditions". Why not a dome to keep out the harsh weather and let the athletes compete at the top level? Fast teams will be fast on turf or grass. slow teams will be slow on turf or grass. Remember, turf might improve speed ever so slightly because the turf won't give like grass, but the visiting team enjoys the same benefits, so is it really an advantage?

I remember in '76 the Irish hosted Pittsburg with Tony Dorsett. The grass looked like it was every bit of 4" long. It was left long to slow down Dorsett. Second or third play from scrimmage, Dorsett goes for somewhere around 65-70 yards for a TD.
 

zelezo vlk

Well-known member
Messages
18,011
Reaction score
5,049
Something I forgot until yesterday: ND is going bowling this year confirmed. Nice
 

GowerND11

Well-known member
Messages
6,536
Reaction score
3,287
Let's look at the Big 10 since, geographically, it's relevant. Of the 14 teams, only 4 play on natural grass. One of those, Maryland, has a bit better of a climate. I think that is pretty telling about the field surface conditions in the Midwest. Penn State, one of the few with natural grass, has one of the nation's best turf management programs. The other two, Northwestern and Purdue... Their fields continually look not great by the end of the season.

Disclaimer: I like natural grass. Seeing stains on the uniform is something I miss for ND. But it's nice to know that players are sliding on the grass like years past, and chunks of turf aren't flying everywhere.
 

ulukinatme

Carr for QB 2025!
Messages
31,518
Reaction score
17,385
Let's look at the Big 10 since, geographically, it's relevant. Of the 14 teams, only 4 play on natural grass. One of those, Maryland, has a bit better of a climate. I think that is pretty telling about the field surface conditions in the Midwest. Penn State, one of the few with natural grass, has one of the nation's best turf management programs. The other two, Northwestern and Purdue... Their fields continually look not great by the end of the season.

Disclaimer: I like natural grass. Seeing stains on the uniform is something I miss for ND. But it's nice to know that players are sliding on the grass like years past, and chunks of turf aren't flying everywhere.

Purdue's Spring Game field(The same year we were planning on removing our grass) looked just as bad or worse than our field and they had no plans on switching. So, for those that claim we let the grass get bad on purpose are incorrect imo. It was a combination of bad weather in Indiana the previous year and struggles to maintain the field. I believe we replaced grass once or twice the previous season because of how bad the weather and damage had been.
 

GowerND11

Well-known member
Messages
6,536
Reaction score
3,287
Purdue's Spring Game field(The same year we were planning on removing our grass) looked just as bad or worse than our field and they had no plans on switching. So, for those that claim we let the grass get bad on purpose are incorrect imo. It was a combination of bad weather in Indiana the previous year and struggles to maintain the field. I believe we replaced grass once or twice the previous season because of how bad the weather and damage had been.

This is true. One of the big factors in PA that year, and possibly Indiana, was a few thaw and refreezes that occurred that spring. Really does damage to grass. Many golf courses in my area were hampered.
 

BeatSC

Well-known member
Messages
4,443
Reaction score
1,375
rewarching.

it's insane bow this defense is tackling. even the corners, they touch you, you go down.

All the corners but Crawford who is usually very dependable. He got stiff armed into the turf and then faked out of his jock on another play. Love was all over like a glove on his guys.
 

NDty9

Well-known member
Messages
1,142
Reaction score
638
He just spins everything into a negative. Wimbush scrambles for 20 yards, Flutie says "he really should have seen the open crossing route." That kind of thing.

I heard this exact comment yesterday when re watching the game... Except I believe it was a bit worse, because he said something along the lines of “If he was coached properly, he would have seen that crossing route, but instead says , I’m an athlete I’ll just take off “

Not criminally negative, but he still SUPER ANNOYING imo
 

FWIrish4

Well-known member
Messages
1,408
Reaction score
2,833
I'm curious to some other's thoughts about this. I absolutely love the upgrades to the stadium and how the Jumbotron is incorporated into the atmosphere. I do think we're missing one thing and that's a grand entrance.

Like mentioned before, the pregame prayer is awesome with the team in the locker room. The Jumbotron then goes straight into a minute long highlight video of the season as the team makes its way down the tunnel. By the time the video is over, the team is already at the tunnel and there's a very quick transition into them running out with no build up. I love the highlights but just feel we need some type of build up with maybe some bagpipes and a set entrance routine like some of the other schools have. Literally my only suggestion when it comes to the new stadium!
 

GowerND11

Well-known member
Messages
6,536
Reaction score
3,287
I'm curious to some other's thoughts about this. I absolutely love the upgrades to the stadium and how the Jumbotron is incorporated into the atmosphere. I do think we're missing one thing and that's a grand entrance.

Like mentioned before, the pregame prayer is awesome with the team in the locker room. The Jumbotron then goes straight into a minute long highlight video of the season as the team makes its way down the tunnel. By the time the video is over, the team is already at the tunnel and there's a very quick transition into them running out with no build up. I love the highlights but just feel we need some type of build up with maybe some bagpipes and a set entrance routine like some of the other schools have. Literally my only suggestion when it comes to the new stadium!

Having video of them slapping the sign as they walk down the steps and into the tunnel could be a start.
 
Top