State of the program

[lattedatte]

Facts:

Prior to CW taking over:

'04 season:
Record: 6-6
third consecutive 31 pt loss to USC
25 point loss to purdue
17 point loss to Oregon st.
Losing opener to BYU.
Offense looks like ass.
Terrible recruiting class

After CW takes over:

'05 season
Record: 9-3.
Near win against USC
BCS bowl
Offense breaks several records.
Top 5 recruiting class

'06 season
Record: 10-2
Heisman Trophy candidate, possible first overall pick in the NFL draft.
BCS bowl
Offense breaks more records
Likely worst case scenario top 10 recruiting class with potential to be in top 3
Verbal commit from number one recruit in the nation.

State of program: Strong.

We can argue and bitch all we want and I will continue to do that becuase I think we to need to get better athletes at LB, WR and RB. But man this program has come far in two short years, real far. Thanks CW, thanks.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

Expectations for the present: too high
Expectations for the future: not high enough - we'll be sweet.

 

[Clotho]

Why not put up '93? Why stop at '04? Of course if you compare now to the absolute worst, things are fine. But they're not fine, and those are not the standards ND fans should have. We're not Rutgers. We're Notre Dame. We have the head coach and offense and offensive recruiting we deserve- but what about D, and special teams coaching- and D and special teams recruiting? Those are not "strong" any way you slice it. Those are incredibly weak.

 

[jiggafini19]

Patience is virtually non existent in sports, especially college football. That being said, I'm not sure what most people expect. I know I've been an ND fan my entire life, so I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.

You will not see the dividends of Charlie Weis for a few more years. The 2006, 2007 and 2008 recruiting classes are going to be the foundation of whatever this man's legacy is as head football coach of Notre Dame. There will be a lot of sophomores on the field next year and a QB with zero experience as the starter. September is murder again, but after that the games are winnable.

This is not anything like the previous 8 seasons we saw between Holtz and Weis. They're hammering the also rans, but the big programs are still ahead. Four of Weis' five losses are to Ohio State, Michigan and USC twice. Not exactly f*cking Purdue, Syracuse and BYU.

The arrow is pointing up and come Signing Day in a couple of months you will see that even more so.

 

[Seymore]

Patience is virtually non existent in sports, especially college football. That being said, I'm not sure what most people expect. I know I've been an ND fan my entire life, so I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.

You will not see the dividends of Charlie Weis for a few more years. The 2006, 2007 and 2008 recruiting classes are going to be the foundation of whatever this man's legacy is as head football coach of Notre Dame. There will be a lot of sophomores on the field next year and a QB with zero experience as the starter. September is murder again, but after that the games are winnable.

This is not anything like the previous 8 seasons we saw between Holtz and Weis. They're hammering the also rans, but the big programs are still ahead. Four of Weis' five losses are to Ohio State, Michigan and USC twice. Not exactly f*cking Purdue, Syracuse and BYU.

The arrow is pointing up and come Signing Day in a couple of months you will see that even more so.

Im fully prepared for a shaky season next year. That being said, who knows how these young bucks will play ? There's alot of potential there, Im anxious to see some of the fellas we've heard little about this season, and if they can jumpstart their careers earlier than expected. Guys like Sergio Brown, Raeshon Mcneil,Kallen Wade, Paddy Mullen etc...guy's we haven't seen play yet, or who have barely played at all. We've seen Toryan Smith's potential, and a host of others, but it's the guys we've heard little about Im anxious to see. Should be a fun season !

 

[irish4ever]

Next year will be a fun year to watch. The true ND fans will be patient with the inexperience that lies ahead. There will loses no doubt, but I suspect a few "surprises" by the young studs that will be making up the ND lineup as well. Again, there will be the typical idiots that don't understand what it takes (time and patience) to build a team back from the dead (Ty's recruiting days) ... they'll be calling for Charlie's head and whatnot! But to the true ND fans .... next year should be interesting and fun watching an evolution of powerhouse in process!

 

[grantland]

The team will exceed expectations next year.

 

[Clotho]

I guess I just don't trust Minter to coach the good young defensive players up to their potential, and eventually turn them into a top 25 unit. I just don't think he can. I wish we would get a younger, better, hungrier defensive coach. Minter is only in there for his recruiting- and unless we swing a few big recruits on D between now and January, even that won't be worth it.

 

[tedwick]

Next year kind of reminds me of the year Brady, Stovall, and McKnight graduate in NCAA Football 06. : ) You know, the one when you're coming off of an 11-1 season (you can't be THAT cheap!) and a bowl win, and have great recruits at every position. So you start all of the new "toys" you've got, like the CB with 99 speed, or the 6'8" WR that runs a 4.3, even though they're all freshmen.

I want to see Demetrius Jones and Munir Prince run the option. I want to see Aldridge, Schmidt, and Schwapp run a Wishbone or a Maryland I, and just stuff it down defenses throats behind Sam Young, Chris Stewart, and Matt Carufel. I want to see Jimmy Clausen tossing smart-bomb jump balls to Duval Kamara and Konrad Reuland every single play for a quarter. There are no expectations and there's SO MUCH TALENT, so why not? : )

 

[Clotho]

Also I appreciate being called a "typical idiot" for not being blindly loyal to all things ND, and for being critical of our defensive coaches and recruiting. Thanks a ton.

Next year will be fun, yea. It's fun to see the young guys, Weis's guys. I just hope to see defensive improvement. Minter can't do it this year with a senior-laden line and veteran DBs. How's he going to do it next year with no one?

 

[njuneardave]

wow, ted. your 2nd paragraph just got me really excited.... i think it was the "smart-bomb" jump balls