Sept 21 | Georgia

[T Town Tommy]

Being an ND fan, it is remarkable to me that fans from different teams get together to cheer on their conference. I guess there is conference pride but why? Is it to help offset the pain of not actually winning? So the bad teams in the SEC can still point to those at the top and say, "see? SEC is the best!"

It's a foreign concept to me.

I think it's typical conference pride first. Then it is human nature to try and associate yourself with winning. That's why I think you see a Ky fan in basketball cheering for Bama in football and vise versa for Ky basketball.

I have somewhat mellowed in my conference pride over the years as CFB has become more national with tv, etc. I will still cheer for SEC schools but it is more now about how does their OOC game help my team with the playoffs.

As far as how many ND fans actually get in to the Ga game... I would be surprised if they get more than 2-3 thousand over the 8k allotment. Haven't checked the secondary market but I would be shocked if Ga fans give up their tickets... especially with a Top 10 team coming to town.

 

[stlnd01]

I think it's typical conference pride first. Then it is human nature to try and associate yourself with winning. That's why I think you see a Ky fan in basketball cheering for Bama in football and vise versa for Ky basketball.

It may be conference pride but I'm not sure it's typical.
I don't know USC fans to give a rip about Washington or Oregon. Michigan fans don't console themselves over their annual loss to Ohio State by saying "Well I hope the Buckeyes win their bowl game."
I'm not a Southerner but I do feel like the South - and thus most of the SEC - has a stronger sense of regional identity than the other conferences. Maybe that's part of it. Mostly though, I suspect you hit the nail on the head about associating yourself with winning. If you're a fan of, say, Arkansas or South Carolina you have to live vicariously through someone. Might as well be Bama.

 

[Irish#1]

I think it's typical conference pride first. Then it is human nature to try and associate yourself with winning. That's why I think you see a Ky fan in basketball cheering for Bama in football and vise versa for Ky basketball.

I have somewhat mellowed in my conference pride over the years as CFB has become more national with tv, etc. I will still cheer for SEC schools but it is more now about how does their OOC game help my team with the playoffs.

As far as how many ND fans actually get in to the Ga game... I would be surprised if they get more than 2-3 thousand over the 8k allotment. Haven't checked the secondary market but I would be shocked if Ga fans give up their tickets... especially with a Top 10 team coming to town.

It may be conference pride but I'm not sure it's typical.
I don't know USC fans to give a rip about Washington or Oregon. Michigan fans don't console themselves over their annual loss to Ohio State by saying "Well I hope the Buckeyes win their bowl game."
I'm not a Southerner but I do feel like the South - and thus most of the SEC - has a stronger sense of regional identity than the other conferences. Maybe that's part of it. Mostly though, I suspect you hit the nail on the head about associating yourself with winning. If you're a fan of, say, Arkansas or South Carolina you have to live vicariously through someone. Might as well be Bama.

Stlnd01 is spot on. Name any other conference that does this? It's a regional identity. The SEC got punked back in 1865. They've stayed close to each other ever since.

A Georgia company I deal with was trying to get me a couple of tix, but just told me they couldn't get any, even with some of their employees being UGA alum. I have a sad.

 

[T Town Tommy]

It may be conference pride but I'm not sure it's typical.
I don't know USC fans to give a rip about Washington or Oregon. Michigan fans don't console themselves over their annual loss to Ohio State by saying "Well I hope the Buckeyes win their bowl game."
I'm not a Southerner but I do feel like the South - and thus most of the SEC - has a stronger sense of regional identity than the other conferences. Maybe that's part of it. Mostly though, I suspect you hit the nail on the head about associating yourself with winning. If you're a fan of, say, Arkansas or South Carolina you have to live vicariously through someone. Might as well be Bama.

Regional identity is a huge factor as well. Football in the South is king and it's a religion for most people 365 days a year. If they would only be as passionate about education....

 

[stlnd01]

Regional identity is a huge factor as well. Football in the South is king and it's a religion for most people 365 days a year. If they would only be as passionate about education....

Ha.

I’m curious to see if/how the SEC’s newcomers assimilate over time. I used to live in St. Louis, which is, like, part Southern/part Midwestern (and western Missouri really skews more toward Texas and the Plains). But it’s not really a place where football is a religion. I
If/when Mizzou fans start chanting about the SEC, we’ll know it’s the bandwagonery

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

lmaoooooooo "Me, Carrie Anne, and Billy Bob can hit three iconic stadiums while watching our three favorite teams in one weekend? (rebel yell) Thank God our house is on wheels."

Lol.

Seriously though, based on the reports on how dirty campus was after their visit, I think some of them started tailgating on Tuesday and just slept in the parking lot.

I think ND will travel well for this one too, but not 30-40k. We showed up really well for Lousiville. Probably couldn't tell on TV as people said, we lack conformity in our gear, but there were a ton of us.

 

[Riddickulous]

This is 100% going to be one of those heartbreaking close road losses like FSU or Clemson.

 

[MNIrishman]

It's amazing to me how many people don't understand how ND's fan base is distributed. While most Georgia fans are in Georgia, most ND fans are out of state. I think the biggest cities for ND alumni are like Chicago, LA, San Fran, and NYC, but we're very distributed. There's no game "close" to the majority of our fans.

 

[stlnd01]

It's amazing to me how many people don't understand how ND's fan base is distributed. While most Georgia fans are in Georgia, most ND fans are out of state. I think the biggest cities for ND alumni are like Chicago, LA, San Fran, and NYC, but we're very distributed. There's no game "close" to the majority of our fans.

We’re everywhere. Hiding in plain sight. Perhaps wearing blue, or gold, or green, or white, or maybe some slate grey if we’re rocking one of those old Davie-era versions of The Shirt that only came in XL. Invisible amidst the color-coordinated, geographically-concentrated hoardes from Georgia, Nebraska or Oregon.
Then we strike.

 

[T Town Tommy]

It's amazing to me how many people don't understand how ND's fan base is distributed. While most Georgia fans are in Georgia, most ND fans are out of state. I think the biggest cities for ND alumni are like Chicago, LA, San Fran, and NYC, but we're very distributed. There's no game "close" to the majority of our fans.

I would say Ga and Fla have the most distributed fans as far as SEC teams. It seems to me, at least, that I run in to more of their fans when I travel than any of the other teams. Obviously nothing like ND, but there seems to be Dog and Gator fans lurking around in a lot of places other than their respective states.

 

[SoIll]

This is 100% going to be one of those heartbreaking close road losses like FSU or Clemson.

and I'm fine with that. We can't get blown out .. again

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

and I'm fine with that. We can't get blown out .. again

See, I'm not. I don't "expect" us to win this, but at the same time, we need to break through and win a big one on the national stage. I'm not okay with losing a close game. No moral victories. BK has done a good enough job rebuilding this thing that we're beyond it.

If not, what are we all doing here. Discussing a team that can make a NY6 bowl? Great, we're par with TCU.

It has to happen sooner or later. Let's make it next Saturday.

 

[Crazy Balki]

20k ND fans
60K Jawga fans

Which fan base will have more total teeth?

Probably Jawga fans.

I imagine a ton of our fans will be the old farts we see at NDS, and dentures aren't real teeth.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

This is 100% going to be one of those heartbreaking close road losses like FSU or Clemson.

I’m skeptical.. Unless we’ve got some tricks up the sleeve I think we get handled. I’m sure we’re not showing everything these first 2 weeks but here’s my reasoning.

- Interior DL

I didn’t see the push I would have liked to have seen against an inferior opponent. I’m not really concerned about Okwara & Kareem bc I’ve seen what they can do.

I worry that if guys like Franklin and Lacey can’t step up and take on doubles or temper Georgia’s interior run game, we’re in trouble.

Amosa & Hinish are high energy guys and that’s great but Georgia has one of the best OLs in the country. High energy won’t get the job done.. we need a DISRUPTOR.


Remember when we played BJ Raji’s Bc Eagles? And he was literally out there alone stopping the run game?

I just want one of these guys to be 1/2 that and I’ll be happy.

Otherwise I think they gash us up the middle and Fromm PAs his way to an easy win.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

See, I'm not. I don't "expect" us to win this, but at the same time, we need to break through and win a big one on the national stage. I'm not okay with losing a close game. No moral victories. BK has done a good enough job rebuilding this thing that we're beyond it.

If not, what are we all doing here. Discussing a team that can make a NY6 bowl? Great, we're par with TCU.

It has to happen sooner or later. Let's make it next Saturday.

Recruiting rankings don't tell the whole story, I know. But when I look at the talent discrepancy between ND and the elite (Clemson, Bama, Georgia, Ohio St, Oklahoma) I realize we are playing against a stacked deck. We need an elite talent at QB (we have 3* Ian Book - accurate, sure not Vince Young) to compete at the highest level. We also have a gaping hole in the middle of our defense matching up against one of the best offensive lines in the country blocking for at least 2 future NFL RBs. We counter with a converted 3* WR as our #1 back (now injured) and 2 x 3* RBs to back him up. I don't see how this ends well unless our LB and QB play are miles better than in week 1 and we force a few turnovers. It could happen, but the odds aren't great.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I’m skeptical.. Unless we’ve got some tricks up the sleeve I think we get handled. I’m sure we’re not showing everything these first 2 weeks but here’s my reasoning.

- Interior DL

I didn’t see the push I would have liked to have seen against an inferior opponent. I’m not really concerned about Okwara & Kareem bc I’ve seen what they can do.

I worry that if guys like Franklin and Lacey can’t step up and take on doubles or temper Georgia’s interior run game, we’re in trouble.

Amosa & Hinish are high energy guys and that’s great but Georgia has one of the best OLs in the country. High energy won’t get the job done.. we need a DISRUPTOR.


Remember when we played BJ Raji’s Bc Eagles? And he was literally out there alone stopping the run game?

I just want one of these guys to be 1/2 that and I’ll be happy.

Otherwise I think they gash us up the middle and Fromm PAs his way to an easy win.

We won't really know how our interior DL holds up against a very good OL like Georgia, however, I thought the interior DL got a ton of push against Louisville. Hell, they were more effective than the ends for the most part.

MTA was a true disruptor in that game. Georgia is another beast entirely, but it's worth mentioning. They were better than most anticipated.

 

[IrishLion]

The dumb thing about this game is that because ND is young/inexperienced/injured in places where they absolutely CANNOT be if they want to beat a team like Georgia, people not familiar with ND are going to make sweeping generalizations and dismiss ND the rest of the season if UGA beats them by two scores or more, regardless of what ND does.

The DL and LB's are going to get wayyyy better as the season progresses and they get more reps. ND is going to be a much better team by the time they play Stanford than the team we see play UGA, just by the young nature of the defense and the depth issues we've got with our speedy gamebreakers being out (Young and Armstrong).

So ND could lose to UGA by 21 points in a game where it's kind of close, but then UGA scores to shut the door. And UGA could do it by attacking a young interior (which will be better later in the year) and keying on Claypool and Finke all day (which they wouldn't be able to with Young and Armstrong around).

And even though it would simply be a sign of a top-10 team having some growing pains and bad injury luck, everyone is going to fall back on "ND can't hack it against the big dogs, we can dismiss them the rest of the way."

The UGA game is the perfect storm of unfortunate timing, really, and ND's perception is going to take a hit for it*.




*Unless it's clear we just don't belong on the field with UGA and get boatraced, but I'm not counting on that. The problem is that a 17-21 point game could actually be a pretty good showing for ND, but most people won't see it that way [ND fans included]

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Recruiting rankings don't tell the whole story, I know. But when I look at the talent discrepancy between ND and the elite (Clemson, Bama, Georgia, Ohio St, Oklahoma) I realize we are playing against a stacked deck. We need an elite talent at QB (we have 3* Ian Book - accurate, sure not Vince Young) to compete at the highest level. We also have a gaping hole in the middle of our defense matching up against one of the best offensive lines in the country blocking for at least 2 future NFL RBs. We counter with a converted 3* WR as our #1 back (now injured) and 2 x 3* RBs to back him up. I don't see how this ends well unless our LB and QB play are miles better than in week 1 and we force a few turnovers. It could happen, but the odds aren't great.

TJJr is a 4* last I saw, but your point is well received. All of our concerns coming into the season have not been answered after one game and I doubt that playing an inferior opponent will make that picture any clearer defensively.

However, I want to see our weapons explode tomorrow afternoon and give UGA's defensive staff a lot to worry about and work on this week. We have too much talent at TE, even sans Kmet if he doesn't go tomorrow, and WR not to be spreading the ball around and giving defenses headaches. That being said, UGA looked very human against an outmatched Vandy team last week.

I don't think we get raced off the field but I'd be lying if I said I was confident heading in. But, to my original point, BK and this team should feel like they have a shot next week if they play up to their ceiling, which is the huge question mark. Can they head into UGA on all cylinders, and based off of our single data pt in L'ville, the answer is unclear.

 

[IrishLax]

I legitimately think we lose by 4 TDs. I have no faith in the offense, and the defense is weak at a point that plays into Georgia's strengths. You don't win big boy football games with a pop gun offense... it's really that simple.

 

[SoIll]

I legitimately think we lose by 4 TDs. I have no faith in the offense, and the defense is weak at a point that plays into Georgia's strengths. You don't win big boy football games with a pop gun offense... it's really that simple.

Idk if it'll be that bad, but I don't see how it'll be competitive. I personally don't think Jake Fromm is that good, but with our linebackers...... Deandre Swift n co will have a heyday

 

[calvegas04]

Have to wait to see how we go against UNM first before saying we will get smashed

 

[ND88]

I legitimately think we lose by 4 TDs. I have no faith in the offense, and the defense is weak at a point that plays into Georgia's strengths. You don't win big boy football games with a pop gun offense... it's really that simple.

The offense looks terrible because Long is hiding the playbook. Nothing like looking terrible to throw off future opposition. Expect more Finke targets against New Mexico to keep them wondering, but don’t expect Claypool to get more than 3 touches.

 

[ACamp1900]

I legitimately think we lose by 4 TDs. I have no faith in the offense, and the defense is weak at a point that plays into Georgia's strengths. You don't win big boy football games with a pop gun offense... it's really that simple.

 

[stlnd01]

Four touchdowns? Will you people get a grip?
Georgia’s got question marks too. Like replacing their entire WR corps. We basically have three weeks to prepare. And our defense is good enough I don’t think they’ll run us off the field.
I agree they’re the better team, and matchups don’t work in our favor. But we’ve done this before (FSU in 2014, Clemson in 2015, Georgia in 2017) and it hasn’t been a rout. We’ll need our passing game to play better than it did against Louisville, but if that happens we should be able to hang with them.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I legitimately think we lose by 4 TDs. I have no faith in the offense, and the defense is weak at a point that plays into Georgia's strengths. You don't win big boy football games with a pop gun offense... it's really that simple.

That's only if Book is on point. If he's not, probably closer to 6 or 7 TDs. If our LBs have gaffes like against Louisville, could trend into the 8-9 TD deficit.

When we shoot our wad, Georgia will pull out the howitzer.

 

[TheMightyQuinn10]

Yes..let the hate flow through you...same here..til I see different.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

We’re going to get embarrassed on a national stage by the SEC again.

I hate to feel this way but Book is NOT going to be running for 1st downs like he needs to against New Mexico and our D is just not good enough to support the inability to sling the ball around.

If we’re barely pushing it in on the 1 yd line against NEW MEXICO.... do I need to say it?

Sorry, I’m a bummer right now..

This year and next will be 8/9 wins.

 

[Circa]

We’re going to get embarrassed on a national stage by the SEC again.

I hate to feel this way but Book is NOT going to be running for 1st downs like he needs to against New Mexico and our D is just not good enough to support the inability to sling the ball around.

If we’re barely pushing it in on the 1 yd line against NEW MEXICO.... do I need to say it?

Sorry, I’m a bummer right now..

This year and next will be 8/9 wins.

What makes everyone think that SEC teams playing FCS schools and blowing them out makes them good? We will be FINE!

 

[NDdomer2]

What makes everyone think that SEC teams playing FCS schools and blowing them out makes them good? We will be FINE!

Vbet on the game?

 

[NorthDakota]

What makes everyone think that SEC teams playing FCS schools and blowing them out makes them good? We will be FINE!

...New Mexico is basically an FCS team. North Dakota State would beat these guys like a drum...on the road... in the heat.... at elevation.

ND can't blow them out at home