No Worries and Realistic expectations

[WakeUpTheEchoes2303]

I have been reading these forums quite a bit, decided to finally post something....

A few of my friends are about ready to go off the deep end when it comes to Notre Dame football. The last three years have been agonizing, and judging by the last two games, we may be in for another long season, especially when you look at the upcoming schedule. Unfortunately, this team, even though much improved from last year, will probably end up with a similar record, but there are somethings to look forward to....

Charlie Weis's teams seemed to start hot and finish weak. I fully expect Brian Kelly's team to do the exact opposite. This team will only get better throughout the course of the season, and hopefully by bowl time, will be able to blow some team out of the water and create some momentum leading into next season.

Playing Stanford, Pitt, and Utah at home provide the oppurtuniy for ND to knock off a ranked opponent. Kelly could earn a signature win in his first season, something Weis never did. Who knows, winning one or (hopefully) two of these three games and taking care of business against Tulsa, Western Mich, Army, and Navy, could really provide ND with a solid finish.

Stay realistic my friends..... the record may not reflect the progress being made, but Brian Kelly is a winner. He will get things right. We were fooled by Tyrone and Weis having good first seasons at ND, and not living up to expectations. I will gladly take struggles early on in Kelly's tenure, as long as things get better year by year, and not worse. Go Irish

 

[mgriff]

I don't think anything on the schedule would be considered a "signature win" this year. Maybe if Stanford goes on to win the Pac-10 title, but to me, that term means beating one of the elite. Stanford still wouldn't qualify in my book. USC is usually our best shot, but they don't look so hot this year either.

 

[brucejcarr]

I have been reading these forums quite a bit, decided to finally post something....

A few of my friends are about ready to go off the deep end when it comes to Notre Dame football. The last three years have been agonizing, and judging by the last two games, we may be in for another long season, especially when you look at the upcoming schedule. Unfortunately, this team, even though much improved from last year, will probably end up with a similar record, but there are somethings to look forward to....

Charlie Weis's teams seemed to start hot and finish weak. I fully expect Brian Kelly's team to do the exact opposite. This team will only get better throughout the course of the season, and hopefully by bowl time, will be able to blow some team out of the water and create some momentum leading into next season.

Playing Stanford, Pitt, and Utah at home provide the oppurtuniy for ND to knock off a ranked opponent. Kelly could earn a signature win in his first season, something Weis never did. Who knows, winning one or (hopefully) two of these three games and taking care of business against Tulsa, Western Mich, Army, and Navy, could really provide ND with a solid finish.

Stay realistic my friends..... the record may not reflect the progress being made, but Brian Kelly is a winner. He will get things right. We were fooled by Tyrone and Weis having good first seasons at ND, and not living up to expectations. I will gladly take struggles early on in Kelly's tenure, as long as things get better year by year, and not worse. Go Irish

This team is two plays away from being 3 - 0. This team is far better than the one that was on the field a year ago. I'm as disapointed as the next guy after a loss, but after you step back and take a look at what is going on with the program, you have to be excited. In the past 9 months they have implemented a new offense, defense and tempo of play. Every game the offense has gotten better (Crist, Allen the O-Line). The defense is battling a few injuries at the moment, in the already thin secondary. I can tell you one thing....this team never quits. MSU after the half came right out and scored quickly. Last year this team would have rolled over and quit. This year they fight until the final seconds are gone from the clock. Things will turn for the better and soon.

 

[mrmiller8]

This team is two plays away from being 3 - 0. This team is far better than the one that was on the field a year ago. I'm as disapointed as the next guy after a loss, but after you step back and take a look at what is going on with the program, you have to be excited. In the past 9 months they have implemented a new offense, defense and tempo of play. Every game the offense has gotten better (Crist, Allen the O-Line). The defense is battling a few injuries at the moment, in the already thin secondary. I can tell you one thing....this team never quits. MSU after the half came right out and scored quickly. Last year this team would have rolled over and quit. This year they fight until the final seconds are gone from the clock. Things will turn for the better and soon.

Completely agree with all the other comments above. Its a new era and new system. When I say new system I'm not just talking about schematics on the field. I'm talking a proven system that has set up programs to succeed and do it the right way and in all phases of being a college football player. Strength and conditioning, Eating right, a coaching philosophy that involves every aspect of the program to be set up for success. I am still high on BK and don't think its fair to say that the Irish suck, but in retrospect they aren't a very good team right now. Good teams find ways to win and they haven't yet, so they aren't very good. Doesn't mean that in four weeks they wont be a good team, but right now they aren't very good, not bad but not good.

 

[NDOM]

Plenty of worries and want my realistic expectation??? We will finish 4-8 or 5-7.

 

[NDOM]

I have been reading these forums quite a bit, decided to finally post something....

A few of my friends are about ready to go off the deep end when it comes to Notre Dame football. The last three years have been agonizing, and judging by the last two games, we may be in for another long season, especially when you look at the upcoming schedule. Unfortunately, this team, even though much improved from last year, will probably end up with a similar record, but there are somethings to look forward to....

Charlie Weis's teams seemed to start hot and finish weak. I fully expect Brian Kelly's team to do the exact opposite. This team will only get better throughout the course of the season, and hopefully by bowl time, will be able to blow some team out of the water and create some momentum leading into next season.

Playing Stanford, Pitt, and Utah at home provide the oppurtuniy for ND to knock off a ranked opponent. Kelly could earn a signature win in his first season, something Weis never did. Who knows, winning one or (hopefully) two of these three games and taking care of business against Tulsa, Western Mich, Army, and Navy, could really provide ND with a solid finish.

Stay realistic my friends..... the record may not reflect the progress being made, but Brian Kelly is a winner. He will get things right. We were fooled by Tyrone and Weis having good first seasons at ND, and not living up to expectations. I will gladly take struggles early on in Kelly's tenure, as long as things get better year by year, and not worse. Go Irish

ROTFLMAO!!!!! Are you kidding me? Notre Dame football does not have such thing as a homefield advantage. When Uconn and Syracuse and Navy come to your stadium and walk away with a win; you got major issues. Sorry I just had to laugh my butt off on that one.

 

[jonesman]

Guys,
Many of you are too young to remember, but Lou Holtz struggled thru his first season. The fact has had some bad breaks, Crist injury, fake FG and untimely turnovers which have pretty much tarnished a good start to the season.

This team is improving each week and I have faith that Kelly will get us back to being a great program. This guy has been a winner at all levels. He knows how to get it done.

GO IRISH

 

[mick2]

maybe i am just growing up, or possibly becoming a bit numb to it all.

But, i certainly have no worries, i wasn't throwing my beer at the tv.

if its gonna take i a miracle fake field goal to beat us, sometimes you just have to tip your cap and move on.

its football fellas, i will always be upset when they lose but hey, i got bills to pay, i cant stay pissed all week anymore.

Go Irish!

 

[Jerry]

I don't think anything on the schedule would be considered a "signature win" this year. Maybe if Stanford goes on to win the Pac-10 title, but to me, that term means beating one of the elite. Stanford still wouldn't qualify in my book. USC is usually our best shot, but they don't look so hot this year either.

I think beating Stanford and Utah would be big for ND nation. And beating USC would be huge in CFB nation. Looking at SC's schedule I think they will have 8 wins going into the ND game and probably looking for a 10 win season to salvage this "bowl-less" season. It would be a huge signature win for ND in Kelly's season. Obviously as long as SC doesn't totally self destruct.

 

[dsotm]

I think beating Stanford and Utah would be big for ND nation. And beating USC would be huge in CFB nation. Looking at SC's schedule I think they will have 8 wins going into the ND game and probably looking for a 10 win season to salvage this "bowl-less" season. It would be a huge signature win for ND in Kelly's season. Obviously as long as SC doesn't totally self destruct.

And that about sums up why ND is a faltering program. It's really quite embarassing to think that beating Stanford would be a signature win. The fact that we need to get up to beat Stanford/Utah/Army/Navy, is pathetic. Years ago, this type of statement would be unheard of. Self fullfilling prophecy. No longer a viable challenge to teams like USC, Michigan, Oh. St, etc, we have to be content with trying to beat teams like Purdue, Stanford, and BYU. Sad days indeed.

 

[mgriff]

I think beating Stanford and Utah would be big for ND nation. And beating USC would be huge in CFB nation. Looking at SC's schedule I think they will have 8 wins going into the ND game and probably looking for a 10 win season to salvage this "bowl-less" season. It would be a huge signature win for ND in Kelly's season. Obviously as long as SC doesn't totally self destruct.

Yeah, see, to me, Stanford and Utah are not signature wins. Good wins this year over quality opponents? Sure, but not signature. An eight win USC team is now a signature win for us? That falls well short of my definition of a signature win. I would say signature for the program is top five in the nation, to prove that ND can compete and beat the best. To each his own. A win over any of those teams this year will be good for the program, and a reason to be excited, but they just fall short of signature in my estimation.

 

[theclassickiller]

I have been reading these forums quite a bit, decided to finally post something....

A few of my friends are about ready to go off the deep end when it comes to Notre Dame football. The last three years have been agonizing, and judging by the last two games, we may be in for another long season, especially when you look at the upcoming schedule. Unfortunately, this team, even though much improved from last year, will probably end up with a similar record, but there are somethings to look forward to....

Charlie Weis's teams seemed to start hot and finish weak. I fully expect Brian Kelly's team to do the exact opposite. This team will only get better throughout the course of the season, and hopefully by bowl time, will be able to blow some team out of the water and create some momentum leading into next season.

Playing Stanford, Pitt, and Utah at home provide the oppurtuniy for ND to knock off a ranked opponent. Kelly could earn a signature win in his first season, something Weis never did. Who knows, winning one or (hopefully) two of these three games and taking care of business against Tulsa, Western Mich, Army, and Navy, could really provide ND with a solid finish.

Stay realistic my friends..... the record may not reflect the progress being made, but Brian Kelly is a winner. He will get things right. We were fooled by Tyrone and Weis having good first seasons at ND, and not living up to expectations. I will gladly take struggles early on in Kelly's tenure, as long as things get better year by year, and not worse. Go Irish

I would say blowing out Pitt at home (who was ranked at the time) in his first game as head coach was a pretty signature win. At least as fans that one is probably stuck in our heads. That was the best offensive performance all around I have seen from ND in two decades. That was an elite team, and really could have been one Bush Push from the NC game. But I digress...

I see your point, but on the flipside of the coin, those teams are not by any stretch considered elite. And losing to them would hurt us more than beating them would help us I think.

But I still expect us to beat every team every week. And I don't think I'm totally delusional, I'm just a fan and that's what we do.

 

[theclassickiller]

And that about sums up why ND is a faltering program. It's really quite embarassing to think that beating Stanford would be a signature win. The fact that we need to get up to beat Stanford/Utah/Army/Navy, is pathetic. Years ago, this type of statement would be unheard of. Self fullfilling prophecy. No longer a viable challenge to teams like USC, Michigan, Oh. St, etc, we have to be content with trying to beat teams like Purdue, Stanford, and BYU. Sad days indeed.

Those are crazy and I'm assuming you were just exaggerating to drive home a point.

With Crist in the game we were lightyears ahead of Michigan. Not even a comparison. And as a program, we are on the right track and they sure don't seem to be going the same direction as us.

 

[dsotm]

Those are crazy and I'm assuming you were just exaggerating to drive home a point.

With Crist in the game we were lightyears ahead of Michigan. Not even a comparison. And as a program, we are on the right track and they sure don't seem to be going the same direction as us.

I'd like to say I wasn, but didn't we lose to Navy last year? And Navy and AIR FORCE in 2007? What's our record agains Michigan the last 10 years? Didn't we lose 2 years ago to BC, and Syracuse?? This is what I mean. I'd like to think I was exaggerating.

Show me one USC, OhST, Florida, Alabama, Penn St, or really almost any ACC/SEC team in the last 3 years that would have lost to any of those teams and I'll concede. Until them, lot's of people here are either delusional about what the program has become- or just complacent.

 

[dsotm]

Those are crazy and I'm assuming you were just exaggerating to drive home a point.

With Crist in the game we were lightyears ahead of Michigan. Not even a comparison. And as a program, we are on the right track and they sure don't seem to be going the same direction as us.

They are 3-0 with a potential Heisman wining QB. Where is our track, exactly, going? I'm sick of hearing this. We are what our record is, and what we've done. We are not what the possibilities are. I possibly, will win $10 million in the lottery tomorrow. Probably, I will not.

Dane Crist does not play defense. To say we are lightyears ahead of a team in which we just gave up a record amount of yardage to a QB is pure comedy.

 

[RDU Irish]

Thank you for summing up the reason Weis had to go. Let's at least give Brian Kelly a shot at a few of the perennial patsies before calling in Chicken Little.

 

[IrishinSyria]

the perennial patsies

Air Force and Navy, by the way, are hardly patsies. Air Force just gave Oklahoma all it could handle and Navy and Ohio State came down to a 2 point conversion last year.

 

[RDU Irish]

We traded Air Force for Tulsa this year. I consider patsies the weakest 1/3 of the schedule. This year that is Army, Tulsa, Western Michigan and Navy. I will admit Navy is tough to put in that category and so would Air Force if they were on our schedule. BUT those are the weakest four teams and losing to ANY of them is abominable if you want to be formidable again.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

maybe i am just growing up, or possibly becoming a bit numb to it all.
.....

its football fellas, i will always be upset when they lose but hey, i got bills to pay, i cant stay pissed all week anymore.

Go Irish!

+1
Right on. Well said.

 

[IrishTimer]

I'd like to say I wasn, but didn't we lose to Navy last year? And Navy and AIR FORCE in 2007? What's our record agains Michigan the last 10 years? Didn't we lose 2 years ago to BC, and Syracuse?? This is what I mean. I'd like to think I was exaggerating.

Show me one USC, OhST, Florida, Alabama, Penn St, or really almost any ACC/SEC team in the last 3 years that would have lost to any of those teams and I'll concede. Until them, lot's of people here are either delusional about what the program has become- or just complacent.

You do realize Ohio State almost lost to Navy last season. USC lost to Stanford a few years ago at home as well when Stanford was bad.

 

[dsotm]

You do realize Ohio State almost lost to Navy last season. USC lost to Stanford a few years ago at home as well when Stanford was bad.

Yep, I do. I realize crazy things happen. Mich losing to App state. However, Oh State ALMOST lost- but they didn't. USC did lose to Stanford- but let me know the next time that happens. Those are minor blips for them.

You have to realize now that almost every game for us is now a battle. That's sad. We don't have blips anymore. As good as a team like Navy, Air Force, BC, Purdue, et all may be from time to time, they should NEVER, EVER beat us. It's that simple. And if they do- it should shock eveyrone. Are you shocked anymore by who ND loses to? Have you been shocked in years?

I know that sounds smug- but that's the reality of being a top tier team. Until we get back to a position where those game are easy, and the occassional loss is a blip- we'll never be close to a contender again.

Hopefully we will.

 

[fitz_bu47]

dsotm-sorry bro, but that's not true....look around at college football, the parity in College football is unreal, on any given day anyone can beat anyone is more true than ever. Everyone has talent, and everyone can get beat. With the exception of Alabama (they look like a pro team), almost everybody is in a fight every week. Now are there still blow outs? Yes, but not like it used to be, every week there are "shocking" halftime scores b/c they are so close, and a lot of those turn into upsets. In this day and age, the complete dominance over an extended period of time, over almost any team is unheard of.....I too agree that we should beat the teams you list most if not all the time, but it is hardly a given............................................................................................Just a little venting, I swear, I LOVE THIS BOARD, and reading and commenting on most things you all have to say about our Irish, MOST of the time. After a loss this place is terrible, I honestly don't know how some of you guys go through life happy b/c if your standards for everything are as unrealistically high as they are for a football team in their third game w/ a new coach, you have to be constantly dissapointed.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I'd like to say I wasn, but didn't we lose to Navy last year? And Navy and AIR FORCE in 2007? What's our record agains Michigan the last 10 years? Didn't we lose 2 years ago to BC, and Syracuse?? This is what I mean. I'd like to think I was exaggerating.

Show me one USC, OhST, Florida, Alabama, Penn St, or really almost any ACC/SEC team in the last 3 years that would have lost to any of those teams and I'll concede. Until them, lot's of people here are either delusional about what the program has become- or just complacent.

There are some bad, bad, bad losses in the last several years. No excuses for them. I was curious though, so I took some time to look up a few other results. Not arguing. Here they are.

Here are a few thoughts about the teams you mention:

Yes. We lost to Navy last year. So did 9 other teams. That includes a bowl victory. And they were within 4 of Ohio State.

We lost to Air Force in 2007. They won 9 games that year.

Syracuse was 4-8 last year. One of those wins, one was against a ranked, 9-win, Rutgers squad.

Of the "almost any ACC/SEC team" comment you make:

Virginia Tech got 2nd in the ACC last year. They just lost to James Madison. Two years ago, they lost to BC (I think you specifically referenced them - they actually won 9 games that year).

Georgia Tech just lost to my beloved Jayhawks (after a loss to North Dakota State)


Of the elite teams you name:

USC lost to 5-7 Washington last year (Notre Dame beat them).
USC lost to 4-8 Stanford in 2007 at home (Notre Dame beat them).

You just said this: "As good as a team like Navy, Air Force, BC, Purdue, et all may be from time to time, they should NEVER, EVER beat us. It's that simple."

Ohio State lost to 5-7 Purdue last season (Notre Dame beat them).


One more...

Alabama lost to 6-6 Louisiana-Monroe in 2007. That same year, they went only 6-6 in the regular season.

But, to be fair, that was just Saban's first year...we shouldn't talk about that...


...should we?

 

[eNDzone]

Maybe if we stop listening to the talking heads that ND has a gravy schedule this year and actually compare the teams we've played to the jokes that most teams have played so far, we would come to the conclusion that its hard for a team with a new coaching staff, implementing a new offence and defence, to come out of the blocks and win them all. At this point as fans we have to look for improvement. The wins will come when the team is able to execute what they are learning. When their attention to detail is near flawless that's when we will see NCs.

 

[Riddickulous]

Realistic expectations:

- Could win one or two of our next three. Maybe all three if we catch some breaks. The most likely as it looks, at the moment, is Boston College.
- A win over Western Michigan, likely a comfortable one.
- A win over Tulsa, possibly less than comfortably.
- A win over Navy, likely comfortably.
- A win over Army, in spectacular blowout fashion.
- A split between USC/Utah.

I think at best, we can win 8, maybe 9 games.

 

[theclassickiller]

I'd like to say I wasn, but didn't we lose to Navy last year? And Navy and AIR FORCE in 2007? What's our record agains Michigan the last 10 years? Didn't we lose 2 years ago to BC, and Syracuse?? This is what I mean. I'd like to think I was exaggerating.

Show me one USC, OhST, Florida, Alabama, Penn St, or really almost any ACC/SEC team in the last 3 years that would have lost to any of those teams and I'll concede. Until them, lot's of people here are either delusional about what the program has become- or just complacent.

Yes we lost to Navy last year, but the statement was that we had to "get up" to beat Navy or Army. That's not true. In fact we've recently play Navy about as crappy as any team on our schedule and still we are far better than they are. And 2007 cannot be brought up in any argument on the state of Notre Dame football. Anything that happened that year was an abberration in the history of Notre Dame.

Also, BC is nothing to scoff at. Putting them in the same category as Navy, Army, and Syracuse is ridiculous.

USC lost to Stanford and Oregon State. Ohio State beat Navy by only 4 last year and lost to Purdue. Florida got blown out by a Michigan team which lost to Appalachian State...

You can go down the list and find teams that overachieve and beat giants. That doesn't mean those giants have to "get up" to beat them. Alabama struggles year in and year out with Ole Miss. No one is going to argue they are remotely close as teams.

Also, aren't we talking about Michigan now? Not Michigan of years ago. You said we aren't a viable challenge to them anymore. We've field a better team than them for the last three years. It took a couple huge mistakes and an injury for them to beat us the last two times and you don't think we were a viable challenge?

I'm not bashing you, I just think you might be understating where we are if you think we can't challenge the Michigans and have to play our best to beat the Navys.

 

[theclassickiller]

There are some bad, bad, bad losses in the last several years. No excuses for them. I was curious though, so I took some time to look up a few other results. Not arguing. Here they are.

Here are a few thoughts about the teams you mention:

Yes. We lost to Navy last year. So did 9 other teams. That includes a bowl victory. And they were within 4 of Ohio State.

We lost to Air Force in 2007. They won 9 games that year.

Syracuse was 4-8 last year. One of those wins, one was against a ranked, 9-win, Rutgers squad.

Of the "almost any ACC/SEC team" comment you make:

Virginia Tech got 2nd in the ACC last year. They just lost to James Madison. Two years ago, they lost to BC (I think you specifically referenced them - they actually won 9 games that year).

Georgia Tech just lost to my beloved Jayhawks (after a loss to North Dakota State)


Of the elite teams you name:

USC lost to 5-7 Washington last year (Notre Dame beat them).
USC lost to 4-8 Stanford in 2007 at home (Notre Dame beat them).

You just said this: "As good as a team like Navy, Air Force, BC, Purdue, et all may be from time to time, they should NEVER, EVER beat us. It's that simple."

Ohio State lost to 5-7 Purdue last season (Notre Dame beat them).


One more...

Alabama lost to 6-6 Louisiana-Monroe in 2007. That same year, they went only 6-6 in the regular season.

But, to be fair, that was just Saban's first year...we shouldn't talk about that...


...should we?

Nicely stated. I should have read this before I posted about the same argument!

 

[TDHeysus]

It's really quite embarassing to think that beating Stanford would be a signature win.

how gut-wrenchingly true that ^ statement is.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

how gut-wrenchingly true that ^ statement is.

Stanford is a very good team. Harbaugh has done a nice job.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Stanford is a very good team. Harbaugh has done a nice job.

Of course, we should be "that" team. But yea, this year Stanford has a great coach whose peaking before he heads out the door and a top-5 QB. Its them or Oregon for the Pac-10 (with respect to Arizona, and disdain for USC).