Nov 10 | Florida State

[BobbyMac]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s going to be cold for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FSU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FSU</a> at Notre Dame on Saturday night. And the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Noles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Noles</a>’ putrid rushing game could freeze the Seminole offense: <a href="https://t.co/t8MDe4lXPX">https://t.co/t8MDe4lXPX</a></p>— David Visser (@DavidBVisser) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidBVisser/status/1059446122526195713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BobbyMac]

SIAP. Didn't see this yesterday. 25 years. I was there.

Man, Costas & NBC used to knock these intro's out of the park.

I wonder if he'll get special assignment duties for the Syracuse game? Nothing says an NBC broadcast like having the other teams' alums doing the broadcast. At least with Cuse, you'll get the best ones in the biz, no one pumps em out like Newhouse.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">25 years ago, #1 FSU and #2 ND met in the “Game of the Century”. This Saturday, the meet again...just as much at stake for Notre Dame...nothing to lose for Florida St. <br><br>Gotta be a big weekend for the Irish <a href="https://t.co/thP0La934U">pic.twitter.com/thP0La934U</a></p>— Barstool Irish (@BarstoolIrish) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarstoolIrish/status/1059259415075975173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BobbyMac]

Interesting data from Tim Bourret (ND '77)

He's led a charmed life.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Notre Dame hasn't had consecutive 10-win football seasons since 1992-93. The Irish reached 10 wins in 1993 with a home win over Florida State. Saturday Notre Dame will attempt to get to 10 wins for the second straight year with a home win against Florida State.</p>— Tim Bourret (@TimBourret) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimBourret/status/1059273383710470144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BobbyMac]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Typically, when I put snowflakes in the forecast in November, people get <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rage?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rage</a>. However, I've been overwhelmed with excitement from Notre Dame fans as they welcome Florida State to South Bend on Saturday. Temps in 20s/30s - talk about a home advantage.... <a href="https://t.co/fmAEiqmRD6">pic.twitter.com/fmAEiqmRD6</a></p>— Matt Rudkin (@MattRudkinWSBT) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattRudkinWSBT/status/1059642013900029953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BGIF]

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25187590/florida-state-coach-willie-taggart-gives-playcall-duties-offensive-coordinator

Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State wanted to shake things up, so Willie Taggart has turned over the playcalling duties to his offensive coordinator.

Taggart said he's "not a big ego guy," and after a rocky start in his first season (4-5, 2-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) as the Seminoles' coach, he opted to let offensive coordinator Walt Bell call plays in the 47-28 loss at NC State. Despite the loss, Bell will call the shots again this week against undefeated Notre Dame.

"I thought Walt did a good job of calling plays," Taggart said. "Obviously, we didn't get the win, but I thought him doing that was good, and allowing me to see and be a part of other things within our program. I thought I was able to interact with our players a lot better, a lot more on the sidelines when I needed to."

It's a major change for Taggart, who called the plays in 2015 and '16 when he was at South Florida and in 2017 at Oregon.

His USF offense was No. 4 nationally in scoring offense (43.8 points) in 2016, and the Ducks were 18th (36 points) in 2017. Taggart hasn't had that kind of success with the Seminoles.

Florida State is 106th in the FBS in scoring (23.8 points), struggling behind an injury-depleted and inconsistent offensive line. The Seminoles have allowed 28 sacks (117th), and the run game has been woeful, averaging just 76.9 yards per game (128th).

Bell could provide a needed change-up. He is considered a rising star in the coaching profession because of his dynamic offenses as a playcaller at Arkansas State (2014 and '15) and Maryland (2016 and '17). Taggart and Bell had no prior friendship before he was brought to Florida State, but the two coaches favor fast-paced, spread offenses.

Quarterback James Blackman made his first start of the season against the Wolfpack, filling in for injured starter Deondre Francois (ribs). Blackman completed 29 of 46 passes while setting career highs for passing yards (421) and touchdown passes (four).

The sophomore was accurate in connecting on 19 of 24 passes through the first three quarters but wasn't able to help the Seminoles rally from a 37-21 deficit in the final quarter.

Taggart said he has not decided whether Blackman or Francois will start at Notre Dame.

"We'll go through the week and see how Deondre is doing, see how these guys are practicing throughout the week," Taggart said. "We'll make that decision later in the week."

Florida State also could be without two of its top offensive linemen. Tackle Landon Dickerson, who has been limited to just two games in 2018 due to an ankle injury, is not ready to return to practice, Taggart said. Guard Cole Minshew (neck stinger) also remains day-to-day.

 

[irish4ever]

No worries. They have talent but there’s zero excuse for ND allowing this game to be in doubt in the second half. Alas, I said that about BSU, Vandy & Pitt.

I know, right! This SHOULD be a game the Irish roll their opponent, but that was the case with other 3 mentioned.

 

[Irish#1]

We're in trouble. Temps going the wrong way. Updated NWS forecast calls for a high of 34 with no snow. Do I really need the italics?

 

[Black Irish]

My hope is that the Irish are up by three scores early in the 3rd Q and start rotating in the 2nd string to give the starters some rest before Syracuse.

 

[irishnd31]

My hope is that the Irish are up by three scores early in the 3rd Q and start rotating in the 2nd string to give the starters some rest before Syracuse.

Don't hold your breath. That was the hope for Ball State, Vandy, Pitt, and Navy.

 

[Irish YJ]

Don't hold your breath. That was the hope for Ball State, Vandy, Pitt, and Navy.

I'm still going to hold my breath, and still going to bet vbucks that ND covers. It's tradition after all.

I still haven't given up hope that O play calling won't go to shit in the 2Q.

 

[irishnd31]

I'm still going to hold my breath, and still going to bet vbucks that ND covers. It's tradition after all.

I still haven't given up hope that O play calling won't go to shit in the 2Q.

Oh Im with ya pal. Im very upbeat and positive about this team.

I have just prepared myself each week for a dog fight and within two scores regardless of the opponent. I actually like it that way. Blow out losses are kind of boring. I really don't know how Alabama fans can even stay engaged during regular season games, especially this year. Id be bored beyond belief during the game and happy with the win afterwards. I also wonder what their message boards are like. What do they complain about?

 

[Irish YJ]

Oh Im with ya pal. Im very upbeat and positive about this team.

I have just prepared myself each week for a dog fight and within two scores regardless of the opponent. I actually like it that way. Blow out losses are kind of boring. I really don't know how Alabama fans can even stay engaged during regular season games, especially this year. Id be bored beyond belief during the game and happy with the win afterwards. I also wonder what their message boards are like. What do they complain about?

Same here.. from week to week, this team is like a box of chocolates.

I'd be OK with Bama boredom for a season or two...

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I hope they start Blackman over Francois, for the simple reason that Francois has much more insulating fat and muscle on his frame than Blackman.

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

I hope they start Blackman over Francois, for the simple reason that Francois has much more insulating fat and muscle on his frame than Blackman.

Isn't it the opposite? Francois is the smaller of the two and Francois is a lot less accurate

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

Last call, $90/ticket!
Upper Level Corner 113 | Row 17
Upper Level Sideline 107 | Row 25
Upper Level Corner 113 | Row 12

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Isn't it the opposite? Francois is the smaller of the two and Francois is a lot less accurate

Blackman is taller, but he's a twig.

He was 6-3, 165 lbs coming out of HS. He's now listed as 6'5", 181, which is still probably exaggerated. The chill will seep into that young man's core with that frame lol

Francois: 6'1", 215

 

[Irish#1]

Oh Im with ya pal. Im very upbeat and positive about this team.

I have just prepared myself each week for a dog fight and within two scores regardless of the opponent. I actually like it that way. Blow out losses are kind of boring. I really don't know how Alabama fans can even stay engaged during regular season games, especially this year. Id be bored beyond belief during the game and happy with the win afterwards. I also wonder what their message boards are like. What do they complain about?

IIRC earlier this year Saban was whining about Bama fans showing up late and leaving early. I guess it's like that hot girl. Once you're been with her a while the excitement wears off some.

 

[Blazers46]

After looking at the weather forecast I think ND rolls by 25+. FSU has nothing to play for except the spoiler role. Its hard to play spoiler when you are a Florida team coming to play in freezing temps. They will not want to be in South Bend and they will do everything possible to just to survive the cold. It will be a sad day to watch for FSU fans. They cannot run and they will drop a lot of balls. Will kind of remind me of the Sun Bowl against Miami except ND is a lot better and FSU is not as good as that Miami team.

ND 56 FSU 7

 

[IrishInFl]

FSU is awful. If this isn't ND's largest margin of victory this season, I'd be surprised.

 

[SoIll]

FSU is awful. If this isn't ND's largest margin of victory this season, I'd be surprised.

Ill take that bet..

 

[beryirish]

FSU is awful. If this isn't ND's largest margin of victory this season, I'd be surprised.

That would be 30 points or more then.

 

[arrowryan]

If FSU some how leaves South Bend with a W, this Notre Dame team would be the biggest fraud of 2018 and we would have to start asking "what are we doing?". FSU is entering the game with nothing to play for, their HC stinks, and over 80% of their roster will be trying to figure out why their face hurts and what this white stuff is falling from the sky.

Meanwhile, Notre Dame has everything to play for. Punch them in the mouth early and the only thing they'll be able to think about is getting back on the warm bus. This game shouldn't be close at all.

 

[ACamp1900]

FSU is awful. If this isn't ND's largest margin of victory this season, I'd be surprised.

I think it's possible... they have talent in spots to make things difficult but I just can't see a struggling team from Florida coming into South Bend against a good ND team, with the weather forecasts being what they are, and pulling it off. I said it before in a thread somewhere, if FSU wins this game then just tip your cap and move on because a ton of football logic will have to be broken. A blowout is certainly more plausible imo than a FSU victory.

 

[Irishize]

I’m sure the players will do their best to show no ill effects from the cold simply b/c they’re tired of hearing about it from media/fans. That’s easier said than done...especially for those players who have never left the state of Florida much less the South.

 

[Irishize]

Heard Neuheisel make an interesting observation this morning. He noted that Taggart is a “Harbaugh guy” as he played for Jim’s dad at WKU & was on Jim’s staff at Stanford.

Neuheisel suggested that Harbaugh may have recommended his OL coach to Taggart last year as Willie was compiling his staff. After all, the guy is from Florida & Taggart is getting a first hand reference from one of his mentors, right?

Remember how bad UM’s OL had been? Now with Ed Warriner coaching the OL, UM’s run game has been showing vast improvement. Meanwhile, FSU’s OL has actually gotten worse.

Did Coach Khaki Pants foist his old OL Coach onto Coach Taggart?

 

[NDohio]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brian Kelly says that Drue Tranquill will practice this week with the intention to play every snap this weekend against Florida State.</p>— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/1059861506102345729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He is not human...

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Maybe he is wearing that new Tyco Brace that the guy from ND designed?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

The DL line must be jacked up and salivating to play this game...The DL should dominate and have at least 5 sacks.

 

[irishog77]

Heard Neuheisel make an interesting observation this morning. He noted that Taggart is a “Harbaugh guy” as he played for Jim’s dad at WKU & was on Jim’s staff at Stanford.

Neuheisel suggested that Harbaugh may have recommended his OL coach to Taggart last year as Willie was compiling his staff. After all, the guy is from Florida & Taggart is getting a first hand reference from one of his mentors, right?

Remember how bad UM’s OL had been? Now with Ed Warriner coaching the OL, UM’s run game has been showing vast improvement. Meanwhile, FSU’s OL has actually gotten worse.

Did Coach Khaki Pants foist his old OL Coach onto Coach Taggart?

There are/were a lot of rumors that a similar thing happened when Saban recommended Derek Dooley for the ut head job.

No idea if that was actually the case with harbaugh and saban, but I'm sure it happens.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

FEI predicts a 27-point Irish victory, with a 98% chance of at least winning outright:

.984 Notre Dame Florida State 38-9