The Upcoming Season!

[coachjohnson]

I would like everyone's opinion on the upcoming season. How many games will they win? What has to happen for a success. Now I realize everyone will have strong opinions on this. I will leave you with this thought. The last time we won a title it was with a youthful team a year earlier than expected. Look at 88' team compared to this years team, very similar situations.

 

[kmoose]

I would like everyone's opinion on the upcoming season. How many games will they win? What has to happen for a success. Now I realize everyone will have strong opinions on this. I will leave you with this thought. The last time we won a title it was with a youthful team a year earlier than expected. Look at 88' team compared to this years team, very similar situations.

The 1988 team was coming off of an 8-4 season, in which they beat Michigan, USC, and Alabama. This team is coming off of a 3-9 season. in which they beat UCLA, Duke, and Stanford. I don't see any similarities there. I think that 6-6 would be a successful year for this team. I'm not saying that I would be happy with a .500 season, but I think that would be a realistic goal.

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

I'd be satisfied with 7 or 8 wins. I could give you a better guess after the game versus SDST..

 

[coachjohnson]

Very good point, but the similarities I am talking about have nothing to do with the records, also,even though they finished 8-4 they lost their last 3 games of the year of 87', nobody looked for them in 88'. I am not predicting a national title, but at least our Irish of today won it's last two games of the season. If you look that up you will see it has been awhile since our Irish have done that. That is huge coming into a season and ending a terrible season.

 

[NDOM]

I say we finish 7-5 in the regular season and win our first bowl game. I'm still not sold on the offensive line. Latina is still the Oline coach and he has proved NOTHING to me yet. I'm very worried about the defensive line as well. Only time will tell. If the offensive AND defensive line VASTLY improve from last year then we may go 8-4 or 9-3 but thats a BIG what if????

 

[NDsuperfan09]

I say we finish 7-5 in the regular season and win our first bowl game. I'm still not sold on the offensive line. Latina is still the Oline coach and he has proved NOTHING to me yet. I'm very worried about the defensive line as well. Only time will tell. If the offensive AND defensive line VASTLY improve from last year then we may go 8-4 or 9-3 but thats a BIG what if????

My thoughts exactly. The trenches area is going to kill us yet again this year if they haven't improved by a large margin. 6-7 wins is my predcition with a bowl win.

 

[notredomer23]

SDSU-W

Michigan-W. New coach, no offense, new system, and a QB that doesnt fit that system. Revenge is a bitch and so are we. 39-0

MSU-L Close, but MSU's rushing offense will be great. If we can stop ringer it wil be a victory, but i dont think we will.

Purdue- W. Painter. Thats all they have. No more great athletes.

Stanford-W they will be good, but not this year.

Washington-W We are not losing to Ty

North Carolina- Toss. It goes to OT, either team can win

Pitt- W, they are a good team, but besides McCoy, who else do they have? There defense will be good,but we should win.

Boston College-W. Last years team had 16 5th year seniors. They will go 3-9

Navy-W A new streak begins

Syracuse -W 49-0

USC- L, about by 10 points

11-1 at best, 9-3 or 10-2 is a chane, and 8-4 is accectable. As long as we are not blown out and are competitive in every game 7-5 is even acceptable, but we MUST win the bowl.

Now before you say I am crazy for predicting we go 10-2 or 9-3 hear me out.
Last year we had one offensive linemen over 300 pounds and he didnt start. Now we have 10 over 300, and its all muscle weight.Sam Young went from 289 I belive to 330!!! This is going to be a completely different line. The only weak area on this team IMO is the DLine, but the constant blitzes might I hide that sometimes. Jimmy Clausen is now 100% healthy. Our Secondary will be very deep and strong.

Let me state I am an optomist

 

[irishmarine]

umm ok sounds good to me.

 

[IrishRamMan10]

I want a bowl win. Thats all.

 

[coachjohnson]

notredomer23, very well put. I had the opportunity to see our young irish in spring practices and we're not as bad off as people would think. Our defensive backs looked great and McNeil has improved tremendously. I think 9 wins will happen, but more wouldn't surprise me either. I do agree that we have to win a bowl in the event that make one, which I think we will. I do have the feeling that Michigan is going to give teams a fit. Rich knows that offense very well and it's where App got their offense. Appalachian State has won a title every year they have run that offense, they will run it well in year one. I know that offense well because my team runs it. They will have it down well enough to win early and they'll get better as the season goes. Your right about their quarterback, but the offense will be geared towards his strengths, the Michigan game really scares me. Thank God it's at the House that Rockne built, we'll win a close one there. I think we will beat UNC down, and give USC fits in the coliesum. I think we will beat MSU. I agree with all the rest of your reasoning. But I am very optimistic too.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

Im hoping for 8-4 that would be a huge improvement and realistically with our scheduele it can be done.Im trying not to get my hopes to high because even though the talent is now there and the practices are looking great,we really wont know what we have until the season starts.

 

[roto-stud]

Nine wins then a win in the Gator Bowl!!!

 

[GoldenDomer21]

9-3, realistically speaking I think we have a chance at this. It all depends on whether or not the Oline can give Clausen time enough to throw the ball, and make holes wide enough for a RB to get through. Defensivly, I think we'll mature a lot from last season and make a difference. If we make 9-3 after a 3-9 season, we'll lock in some good recruits this year and be set for a NC in 2009.

 

[domer88]

Even last year's team wins 5 with this year's schedule.

Until our offense can generate a running game and protect Clausen, and until our defense can slow down a running game... (in all cases I am optimistic)...but until, I think we have a bunch of toss up games including Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, NC, Purdue and BC. We may win ALL of these games or we could lose a bunch of them - so I think WORST case is 8 wins (win 3 & lose 3 of the games listed & lose to USC). 9-3 & 10-2 seem possible with our schedule & dramatic (expected) improvement on the O-line - and Jimmy stays healthy a throws like he did in the Blue-Gold game.

My fear is that 10-2 team ranked 9 to 12th may not be able to win the BCS bowl against #3 _________.

 

[irishmarine]

im looking for an 8 win season. maybe 7 or 9 but im figure 8 wasd about right. weaker schedule help builds confidence in our youth and hopefully a bowl win. i dont care if its cereal bowl but we have to win one

 

[domer88]

My point is that with some (expected) improvement, a little luck, the lucky breaks our schedule has already given us - Michigan early, BC down year etc. I think we could end up winning more - maybe even 10 wins BUT still not be a BCS caliber team. So half of me is hoping for 8 or 9 wins and a bowl victory, my better half is hoping we win 'em all, then worry about the bowl in January.

 

[ndlb41]

I think 9-3 with a bowl win would be a nice stepping stone to a nc next year! I too am very optimistic

 

[coachjohnson]

We are in a pretty bad drought in the area of bowl wins. I really need to end the year by winning one of those.

 

[irishmarine]

yeah me too. i could go for a bowl win this year.

 

[IrishinTN]

8 wins and a bowl. I would take that as some clear progress.

 

[goldandblue]

realistically I say 8-4 with a Bowl game. Hopefully a win for a change. I would like to see a 9-3 or 10-2 season with a bowl win.

 

[KAPLAN]

All I want is a bowl win. PLEASE do not win 10 and end up in the Sugar Bowl vs. LSU or another elite team. Why can we not make the BCS and play the Big East or ACC champion. We always get the #3 team (Ohio St, LSU) Just win the damn bowl game.

 

[irishmarine]

i would love to see us go 8 wins and a minor bowl but bigger bowls always invite us because they know how much money this team carries

 

[GoldenDomer21]

A bowl win this year is paramount. No bowl win may spell some disaster for CW. Not predicting a dooms day or anything. But we all know the pressure is on to win a bowl.

 

[irishmarine]

true and thats why i hope we dont get put in a major bowl. lets play in the dunlap careal bowl and beat someone. please.

 

[Sureal]

Yeah I agree that we should win a minor bowl now but I do have a question.

Is 'careal' Gaelic for cereal?

 

[CurtisCandy]

Like everyone else here, I have to deal with reality - and all its harshness - every day. So, when it comes to our beloved Irish, at this point in the year when anything is yet possible, I prefer to live in a world of fantasy, optimism, cute puppies, laughing children and women with greatly relaxed standards towards big, bald freaky guys...

That said, we go 10-1. Our only loss is a nail-biter to USC (and that loss is only to set up when we put the dagger through their heart in '09 in South Bend). -- Despite losing the game, however, three members USC's core of upstanding student athletes are arrested and carted off the field in handcuffs for various felonies.


...Oh yea, and Pete Carroll develops a painful, unsightly cold sore... Herpes? You be the judge.

Now I am going to the corner, where I will put my fingers in my ears and childishly shout "LALALALA! I can't hear you!"so I don't have to be subjected to all the reason and logic you guys are going to hurl at my 10-1 prediction.

 

[coachjohnson]

Well you will get no argument from me, but you probably will a lot of others.

 

[GoldenDomer21]

Like everyone else here, I have to deal with reality - and all its harshness - every day. So, when it comes to our beloved Irish, at this point in the year when anything is yet possible, I prefer to live in a world of fantasy, optimism, cute puppies, laughing children and women with greatly relaxed standards towards big, bald freaky guys...

That said, we go 10-1. Our only loss is a nail-biter to USC (and that loss is only to set up when we put the dagger through their heart in '09 in South Bend). -- Despite losing the game, however, three members USC's core of upstanding student athletes are arrested and carted off the field in handcuffs for various felonies.


...Oh yea, and Pete Carroll develops a painful, unsightly cold sore... Herpes? You be the judge.

Now I am going to the corner, where I will put my fingers in my ears and childishly shout "LALALALA! I can't hear you!"so I don't have to be subjected to all the reason and logic you guys are going to hurl at my 10-1 prediction.

I like optimism. It helps to balance all the realistic people out there. Including myself

 

[ChubbyCubbie]

7-5 possibly 8-4- this season is the stepping stone for '09