The Magic Number Is Three, Maybe

[PJWhitfield]

Frank Leahy won his first national championship in his third season. Ara won it in his third season. Dan Devine won it in his third season. Lou Holtz won it in his third season. ... Dreaming of 2012.

 

[GreatGolson]

id prefer 2 but it is what it is

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Why can't he win one in year 2 and 3. If he doesn't he is a lazy slacker. Aaron Lynch will break the NCAA record for sacks next season.

Seriously, I know NC's involve luck, I hope the perfect storm happens for ND, and they win one soon. The school, team, and fans deserve it.

 

[irish4ever]

Frank Leahy won his first national championship in his third season. Ara won it in his third season. Dan Devine won it in his third season. Lou Holtz won it in his third season. ... Dreaming of 2012.

Let it be written, let it be done!

 

[Riddickulous]

Knute Rockne won his first in year six (although he was undefeated in years two and three).

In 2012, we lose 5 starters on defense (roughly, we don't know how the depth chart will look in the fall), including three in the secondary. Combined with that rough schedule, I'm not optimistic about that year.

 

[mick2]

2012 will be great fun for college football fans because of all the great matchups.

but i will probably need to buy pepto-bismol by the case for that season!

what a murderous mid season!

S22 MICHIGAN
O06 vs. Miami (Chi)
O13 STANFORD
O20 BYU
O27 @ Oklahoma
N03 PITTSBURGH
N10 @ Boston College

 

[RyCo1983]

Let it be written, let it be done!

Creeping Death

 

[BGIF]

Frank Leahy won his first national championship in his third season. Ara won it in his third season. Dan Devine won it in his third season. Lou Holtz won it in his third season. ... Dreaming of 2012.

You dream of 2012, Kelly's working on 2011!

 

[Sherm Sticky]

What Riddickulous said +1...Harrison Smith, Gary Gray, Blanton, Ethan Johnson, possibly KLM, Flemming, Filer, possibly Manit...Yikes we are going to be talented, but very green on D.

 

[jonesman]

Guys,
I like the optimism and I believe that Kelly is building a special thing at ND, BUT until Jack Swarbick gets his head out of his backside about scheduling we are not going to win a National Title.

You are never going to hear Kelly complain, but you have to believe that even he is shaking his head about 2012. What the bleep are we thinking??? Oklahoma, Miami, Michigan, USC, Stanford, BC, Arizona St all in one season. Why not just toss Alabama in there for giggles. NOBODY, I mean NOBODY in college football is playing a schedule like this. Swarbick is scheduling ND right out of the BCS!! Thanks Jack!!

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Guys,
I like the optimism and I believe that Kelly is building a special thing at ND, BUT until Jack Swarbick gets his head out of his backside about scheduling we are not going to win a National Title.

You are never going to hear Kelly complain, but you have to believe that even he is shaking his head about 2012. What the bleep are we thinking??? Oklahoma, Miami, Michigan, USC, Stanford, BC, Arizona St all in one season. Why not just toss Alabama in there for giggles. NOBODY, I mean NOBODY in college football is playing a schedule like this. Swarbick is scheduling ND right out of the BCS!! Thanks Jack!!

Dang you are right, now I'm depressed.

 

[95NDAlumNM]

The 2012 schedule is what makes Notre Dame special. Yes, no other BCS team would ever have a schedule like this. Great. Who wants to be like thoise other teams?

 

[Irish4Life09]

Guys,
I like the optimism and I believe that Kelly is building a special thing at ND, BUT until Jack Swarbick gets his head out of his backside about scheduling we are not going to win a National Title.

You are never going to hear Kelly complain, but you have to believe that even he is shaking his head about 2012. What the bleep are we thinking??? Oklahoma, Miami, Michigan, USC, Stanford, BC, Arizona St all in one season. Why not just toss Alabama in there for giggles. NOBODY, I mean NOBODY in college football is playing a schedule like this. Swarbick is scheduling ND right out of the BCS!! Thanks Jack!!

We play Arizona St. in 2013, not 2012.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

We play Arizona St. in 2013, not 2012.

I think ASU wins their Pac-12 division next year.

 

[ndfi78]

Guys,
I like the optimism and I believe that Kelly is building a special thing at ND, BUT until Jack Swarbick gets his head out of his backside about scheduling we are not going to win a National Title.

You are never going to hear Kelly complain, but you have to believe that even he is shaking his head about 2012. What the bleep are we thinking??? Oklahoma, Miami, Michigan, USC, Stanford, BC, Arizona St all in one season. Why not just toss Alabama in there for giggles. NOBODY, I mean NOBODY in college football is playing a schedule like this. Swarbick is scheduling ND right out of the BCS!! Thanks Jack!!

Hmm, I guess you haven't been paying attention to the SEC.

 

[ND101]

Hmm, I guess you haven't been paying attention to the SEC.

Even the S.E.C. teams play at least one to two lousy out of conference games and then get Kentucky and Vanderbilt on their schedule. The 2012 schedule will the be the toughest in nation.

 

[Riddickulous]

Guys,
I like the optimism and I believe that Kelly is building a special thing at ND, BUT until Jack Swarbick gets his head out of his backside about scheduling we are not going to win a National Title.

You are never going to hear Kelly complain, but you have to believe that even he is shaking his head about 2012. What the bleep are we thinking??? Oklahoma, Miami, Michigan, USC, Stanford, BC, Arizona St all in one season. Why not just toss Alabama in there for giggles. NOBODY, I mean NOBODY in college football is playing a schedule like this. Swarbick is scheduling ND right out of the BCS!! Thanks Jack!!

Notre Dame historically has triumphed over ridiculous schedules before.

In 1929, Knute Rockne's Notre Dame squad played all 9 games on the road (Notre Dame Stadium was under construction).

In 1988, Notre Dame played teams that finished 2nd, 4th, 5th and 7th in the final AP Poll.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

Never say never..., anything is possible. I think we will be VERY good this year and the next several. I think the groundwork has been done to really build something special and we have been getting the pieces to fit nicely. This coaching staff has done an incredible job and will continue to do so. 2012's schedule is insane but we can do it. It will make a BCS game or Chamionship even all the more sweet. Go Irish!

 

[ndftbl]

2nd year is more likely than 3rd

2nd year is more likely than 3rd

given:

1) the difference in the schedules, and the fact that USC (2012 road game), Oklahoma (2012 road game), Miami and Michigan will probably be much better by 2012.

2) this year's senior class is one of our best ever, ratings wise - minus Rudolph, of course.

 

[hrc08]

1. Those 2012 teams have to play, imo, a top 5 preseason ND team.

Crist or Rees would have been the starter for a full year by then. We return Teo, Martin, Eiffert, Wood, Watt, Cave, Slaughter, Motta, Blanton, TJ Jones, Theo Riddick, Robbi Toma, Calabrese, 2009's top OLmen Christian Lombard will be seasoned by then, Louis Nix, Kona Schwenk, Tyler Stockton, Kendell Moore, Danny Spond, Dan Fox, etc, etc, etc. Suffice it to say, ND will be one of the most experienced teams in the country.

I mean, my goodness, Cierre Wood, Tyler Eiffert and Zack Martin were basically TRUE Freshman lastyear. How good is Zack Martin?

2. This years freshman class was really good.

3. This years HS recruits are going to be even better.

Imagine this 2012 front 7

--------------------------------------Lynch----Nix----Tuitt-------------------------------------------
--------------------------I. Williams--------Teo---------Moore---------Councell-------------------

Then you have Utopo, Shembo, Stockton, Rabassa, Fox, Spond, etc, etc, etc, to back those guys up.

Year 3 of BK's offense. Cierre Wood running over and around people. Cam Roberson running over people. Riddick... overplaying Wood on the run, slip screen Touch Down.

College Football needs to ready themselves. ESPN needs to ready themselves. But mostly we ND fans need to ready ourselves. We are back guys. Pick your heads up.

 

[Lou Holtz]

Hmm, I guess you haven't been paying attention to the SEC.

i second that here is Miss. States 2010 Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time (CT) - Results On the Air Media
Sat, Sep 03 Memphis
Memphis, TN TBA

Sat, Sep 10 Auburn *
Auburn, AL TBA

Thu, Sep 15 LSU *
Starkville 6:30 p.m.
ESPN
Sat, Sep 24 Louisiana Tech
Starkville TBA

Sat, Oct 01 Georgia *
Athens, GA TBA

Sat, Oct 08 UAB
Birmingham, AL TBA

Sat, Oct 15 South Carolina *
Starkville TBA

Sat, Oct 29 Kentucky *
Lexington, KY TBA

Sat, Nov 05 Tennessee Martin [HC]
Starkville TBA

Sat, Nov 12 Alabama *
Starkville TBA

Sat, Nov 19 Arkansas *
Little Rock, AR TBA

Sat, Nov 26 Ole Miss *
Starkville

With the exception of UK and Ole Miss that confrence schedule is pretty rough

 

[jonesman]

Lou,
Yes, the SEC conference schedule is pretty tough, but they put some total deadbeats in there for non-conference.

Here are some of the non-conference for the teams who played in the BCS this year.


OSU - Ohio U, Eastern Michigan, Marshall

Auburn - Arkansas St and Chattanoga

Arkansas - Texas El-Paso, Louisiana-Monroe, Tennessee Tech

Oregon - New Mexico, Portland St

As you can see every school in the top BCS games scheduled some total patsies. It is a must to get thru a 12 game schedule.

For ND, our patsies are teams like Navy, Air Force, BC, Purdue. All teams that could beat anybody if they catch them right. The patsies others are scheduling allow those teams to rest starters and they do not have to adjust any game plan.

Further, because ND plays teams from so manhy different conferences, we see a huge variety of offenses. For teams in a specific conference, they see very similar offensive and defensive styles most weeks. Look at the Big Ten, most are power offenses with big slow defenses.

For you people telling me that this is how Knute Rockne did it in 1930's, WAKE UP!!!!! Those days are gone and will never return. Not even the days of Lou shall return given the spread of talent in todays college football.

So, in the end, I am hopeful that Jack wakes up and makes some changes.

 

[KPENN]

Lou,
Yes, the SEC conference schedule is pretty tough, but they put some total deadbeats in there for non-conference.

Here are some of the non-conference for the teams who played in the BCS this year.


OSU - Ohio U, Eastern Michigan, Marshall

Auburn - Arkansas St and Chattanoga

Arkansas - Texas El-Paso, Louisiana-Monroe, Tennessee Tech

Oregon - New Mexico, Portland St

As you can see every school in the top BCS games scheduled some total patsies. It is a must to get thru a 12 game schedule.

For ND, our patsies are teams like Navy, Air Force, BC, Purdue. All teams that could beat anybody if they catch them right. The patsies others are scheduling allow those teams to rest starters and they do not have to adjust any game plan.

Further, because ND plays teams from so manhy different conferences, we see a huge variety of offenses. For teams in a specific conference, they see very similar offensive and defensive styles most weeks. Look at the Big Ten, most are power offenses with big slow defenses.

For you people telling me that this is how Knute Rockne did it in 1930's, WAKE UP!!!!! Those days are gone and will never return. Not even the days of Lou shall return given the spread of talent in todays college football.

So, in the end, I am hopeful that Jack wakes up and makes some changes.

Changes what exactly??

 

[Lou Holtz]

Lou,
Yes, the SEC conference schedule is pretty tough, but they put some total deadbeats in there for non-conference.

Here are some of the non-conference for the teams who played in the BCS this year.


OSU - Ohio U, Eastern Michigan, Marshall

Auburn - Arkansas St and Chattanoga

Arkansas - Texas El-Paso, Louisiana-Monroe, Tennessee Tech

Oregon - New Mexico, Portland St

As you can see every school in the top BCS games scheduled some total patsies. It is a must to get thru a 12 game schedule.

For ND, our patsies are teams like Navy, Air Force, BC, Purdue. All teams that could beat anybody if they catch them right. The patsies others are scheduling allow those teams to rest starters and they do not have to adjust any game plan.

Further, because ND plays teams from so manhy different conferences, we see a huge variety of offenses. For teams in a specific conference, they see very similar offensive and defensive styles most weeks. Look at the Big Ten, most are power offenses with big slow defenses.

For you people telling me that this is how Knute Rockne did it in 1930's, WAKE UP!!!!! Those days are gone and will never return. Not even the days of Lou shall return given the spread of talent in todays college football.

So, in the end, I am hopeful that Jack wakes up and makes some changes.

i agree he needs to make changes... i was just saying that the 2012 schedule is just as hard as the average SEC schedule, i do think that will shut up the haters who say we schedule a bunch of goons.

That being said i think jack needs to work on some way to get at least one SEC or Big 12 opponent in our schedule as opposed to one of those teams like Tulsa or WMU it would be better for ND and NBC. Can you imagine how excited people would be if the most prestigious team in college football played Florida or Auburn every once and a while i know i would be jacked up.

Now back on topic, i agree with the majority of the posters on this board in saying that 2011 will be better than 2012, one because that schedule is pretty rough, we have some holes on defense that will need to be filled, i think with 9 returning starters on both sides of the ball it is BCS or bust

 

[BeauBenken]

I think it was Lou Holtz who said that before he was hired he was told that Notre Dame would put together the toughest schedule possible every season...I like competition and I think so should all Fightin' Irish.