Pitt Awaits Fuming Irish

Reeling and squabbling after a devastating loss to Navy, the Notre Dame football team heads to Pittsburgh to take on the ninth-ranked Panthers on Saturday night. Dave Wannstedt’s team is 8-1 on the season after easily dispatching Syracuse, but there is no chance they will take the Irish lightly. Led by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, the entire city is intent on showing extraordinary support for Pitt this weekend as the Panthers pursue their own BCS dream.

The Irish players have attempted to show solidarity this week in the aftermath of public player criticism of the defensive schemes run against the Midshipmen. As a consequence, starting nose tackle Ian Williams will not start at Pittsburgh and it is unclear whether he will play in the game.

Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate and Kyle McCarthy ultimately accepted responsibility for the loss on behalf of the players, but the smoldering remnants of internal strife remain palpable on campus. Irish assistant head coach Corwin Brown fanned the flames by calling out Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo for encouraging illegal blocking methods against his defense, and he went on to defend his team’s game plan. This circling of the wagons is usually a bad sign that significant cracks are forming in a program’s foundation.

Meanwhile, Coach Charlie Weis hopes to have tailback Armando Allen and guard Trevor Robinson back for this game, but tight end Kyle Rudolph injured his shoulder last week and will not be available on Saturday. The defensive line will be thin without Williams in the middle, which may enable Pitt’s running game to wear down Notre Dame’s front as it did in last season’s quadruple overtime victory.

Despite the furor surrounding Weis and the team this week, the Panthers represent the perfect opportunity for the embattled coach to quiet his critics with a rare win over a ranked team. Weis and Wannstedt began their respective college coaching careers five years ago with an Irish victory in the same venue, and observers will compare the trajectory of the two programs after this one is in the books.

NOTRE DAME’S OFFENSE vs. PITTSBURGH’S DEFENSE

Once again, the Irish must run the ball well to win. Navy proved that the passing game alone, no matter how prolific, cannot guarantee a win. There are simply too many opportunities for error for a heavy aerial assault as opposed to running the ball downhill against an opponent. Failure to sustain the ground game caused Notre Dame to surrender a 14 point lead at home last year to Pitt, and this facet of the game is even more critical on the road. With Allen back and both Robert Hughes and Theo Riddick in the wings, the Irish need to feed them the ball numerous times throughout the evening.

Robinson’s return will help solidify the line if he is ready to return after an ankle sprain. The biggest concern remains at tackle, where Paul Duncan and Sam Young must win their matchups against Pitt’s stalwart ends Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard. To make matters worse, Mick Williams has 13 tackles for loss this season from the defensive tackle position, and the team has combined for an impressive 38 sacks. Notre Dame has recorded only 18 to date.

Clausen will continue to have Tate and Michael Floyd at his disposal, but Mike Ragone will fill in for Rudolph at the tight end position that is suddenly very thin. The Panther secondary is led by veteran safety Dom DeCicco, who leads the team in tackles. The overall unit has played well in spots, but they have also been burned on a fair number of occasions. Expect Wannstedt to employ the soft zone employed by previous Irish opponents to take away the long scoring pass and dare Weis to run.

Clausen and his receivers are good enough to prevail, but the game will probably come down to how much pressure the Panthers are able to apply to Clausen in the pocket. The front four has been able to get the job done all season, but there are other quality players on this defense. Linebacker Greg Williams is a talented sophomore who can blitz as well as drop into coverage. His 51-yard interception return for a touchdown last week broke open the game against Syracuse. Williams is flanked by Adam Gunn, a senior who production is well above average.

PITTSBURGH’S OFFENSE vs. NOTRE DAME’S DEFENSE

The Panthers have achieved balance between the run and the pass behind a solid offensive line and senior quarterback Bill Stull. While Irish nemesis LeSean McCoy now works for the Philadelphia Eagles, freshman Dion Lewis has stepped in to the lineup and run for 1,139 yards. The team averages 187 rushing yards per game, or 50 more than Notre Dame. Pitt also averages 5.1 yards per carry, which meets the standard of excellence in any league.

Stull does not throw as frequently as Clausen, but his 68% completion rate and only four interceptions against 17 touchdowns speak volumes about the effectiveness of this offense. Jonathan Baldwin is the home run threat in the passing game, while tight end Dorin Dickerson is an extraordinary possession and red zone receiver. Dickerson set a Pitt tight end record for touchdown receptions in a season last week by recording his tenth. The other wideout is Oderick Turner, who is talented but not as consistent as the others.

Wannstedt will run the ball against Notre Dame’s front, particularly if Williams is not utilized. Even if it is not successful early, history suggests he will stick with the ground game in anticipation of reaping fourth quarter dividends when he is trying to keep the ball out of Clausen’s hands. Stull will look for Dickerson on third down and will try to hit Baldwin deep when the Irish are concentrating on stopping Lewis.

Pitt starts three seniors on the interior of its offensive line, and left tackle Jason Pinkston is very highly regarded. This group has allowed only nine sacks all season, so Notre Dame’s undersized rushers will have a difficult time applying pressure even in obvious passing situations. The Panthers will move the ball in this game, but the Irish defense must find a way to keep them out of the end zone. The linebackers need to do a better job of fighting off blocks, but they will need an inspired effort by the linemen in front of them.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Once again, Notre Dame can help itself by winning the field position battle. Pittsburgh is barely average in punting efficiency and in the return game, and the Irish need to focus on this area to tilt the odds in their favor. The Panthers have also experienced a spate of fumbling problems on their recent punt returns, so additional effort to apply pressure downfield is recommended. Cameron Saddler is the main return man, and is joined by Aaron Smith and Ray Graham.

Dan Hutchins performs the punting and place kicking duties for Pitt, with generally good results. His numbers are solid in the field goal department, but his distance is just average. Notre Dame’s Nick Tausch hopes to get back on track after missing two makeable field goal attempts last week, and Irish fans are still hoping for a breakthrough in a kickoff or punt return with Riddick and Tate. Eric Maust and Ben Turk continue to battle for the punting job each day in practice, but neither has been consistent enough to seize the job on a permanent basis.

SUMMARY

Notre Dame’s offensive linemen were more highly recruited than their Pittsburgh defensive counterparts, but they must play up to their potential to win the battle on the line of scrimmage. On the other side of the coin, the Panther offensive front appears to be more than a match for the depleted Irish, who will need more than a better scheme after giving up 348 rushing yards to Navy.

While Clausen has been patient by throwing mostly short passes against defenses designed to limit his range, Weis has not showed the requisite confidence in his ground attack to see it through. Instead, he prefers to live and die with his quarterback. Protection and field position will be critical to Notre Dame’s chances, but Notre Dame will not win if it is outgained on the ground by a wide margin.

Let’s look at a few questions that will help determine the outcome:

Will Notre Dame’s run/pass mix indicate a greater degree of balance and success in the ground game?

Can the Irish protect Clausen?

Can the Notre Dame defense hold Pitt to less than four yards per rush?

Which team will gain an advantage from special teams?

Can Notre Dame stop the Panthers in the red zone?

Will Stull be able to maintain a high passing efficiency?

After a tumultuous week, will the Irish be emotionally high or flat for this game?

Which team will be most successful in the fourth quarter?

Does Pitt deserve a top ten ranking?

PREDICTION

The Panthers will be emotionally charged and already appear to have a physical advantage at the line of scrimmage. This combination does not bode well for the Irish, whose skill position talent may not be enough to keep pace unless the ball bounces their way or Pittsburgh makes uncharacteristic errors. Clausen will carry his team a long way on his back, but the ground game or a special teams surprise will have to surface for Notre Dame to pull out a win.

Stull is not as accomplished as Clausen, but he doesn’t have to win the game through the air. In the end, the team that runs the ball best will win, and that needle points to Pittsburgh.

PITTSBURGH 34 NOTRE DAME 24

Cowardice and Greed

I've had some time to reflect on Saturday night and what it meant to Notre Dame both on and off the field. No doubt there were benefits derived from our game against Washington State. I certainly enjoyed seeing us run roughshod over an opponent for a change, although that had more to do with the quality or lack thereof of the opponent. I know San Antonio is a good destination, and don't doubt people had fun going there. The pictures of the Riverwalk certainly looked enticing.

But I can't get past the mindset that is making these games possible, and I cannot see my way clear to endorsing it or supporting it. My position has nothing to do with "groupthink", and everything to do with trying to make sure Notre Dame stays true to the kind of things it used to stand for.

The people who run our football program don't want to make difficult choices, like bringing in a high-profile coach who might make them nervous sometimes (see: Holtz, Lou) or blue-chip players who won't always act like choirboys. Instead, they want the path of least resistance to winning just enough games to keep the alumni wolves from their door. So they spend a quarter of the schedule on "buy" games against programs without the self-respect to demand a more equitable setup. They believe alumni and fans will be so happy to have tickets they'll pay top dollar for crappy matchups against Low Self Esteem State. Meanwhile, the win total is padded, camouflaging any shortcomings that may be present on the field or sidelines ... shortcomings that will become embarrassingly apparent when a quality opponent is encountered.

The people who run our football program don't want night games on campus, even though some fans and our broadcast contractor do, because managing a crowd like that responsibly takes hard work and quality decision-making. Never mind that a lot of other blue-chip programs manage to do it, our folks are terrified of the slightest liability. But they don't want to give up the money NBC will pay, because they're more interested in wringing every last dollar out of the arrangement. So they put together these boondoggle games in which they greedily demand full control of television rights and gate receipts, limiting the quality of opponent that can be arranged. They put the responsibility for night game crowd control on someone else, meaning they don't have to come up with viable plans, without having to give up control of the greenbacks.

I have no problem playing a balanced schedule, and I certainly wouldn't advise playing "a top 20 team every week", as some strawman-erecting folks have accused. I've long been an advocate of 4-4-4 or a variant (e.g. 3-5-4). I'm not demanding ND play a suicidal schedule -- after all, 2005's fit the model, was fine by me, and we did quite well against it.

I have a big problem, however, when the school is just trying to schedule wins by dumbing things down to the point that excellence is no longer required for a W. I have a big problem when the school that is supposed to stand for sportsmanship tries to use loopholes and its market demand to bully smaller programs into inequitable arrangements. I don't give a damn if every other school is doing it -- I was raised to believe Notre Dame was different.

Yes, we derived some benefits from Saturday. But I'm not willing to pay that price for those benefits.

Men Without Chests

Guest author: Frank Pimentel

In The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis argued that modern education produces "what may be called Men without Chests. It is an outrage that they should be commonly spoken of as Intellectuals. This gives them the chance to say that he who attacks them attacks Intelligence. It is not so. They are not distinguished from other men by any unusual skill in finding truth nor any virginal ardor to pursue her."

Sadly, we see this in full effect at Notre Dame today. First, in their initial bumbling attempt to defend the commencement invitation to President Obama, the University distributed laughable "talking points" to the Board of Trustees, which managed, in one swipe, to insult the intelligence of anyone who questioned the propriety of the invitation and to directly insult the initial Laetare Award honoree.

Then Fr. Jenkins compounded the error by issuing a statement to the effect that he, presumably in contrast to the shanty Catholic rubes who saw through the artifice concocted by Notre Dame in its perpetual desire for respect by those whose opinions matter in academia, was going to deliver an "inclusive and respectful speech." In other words, as Lewis predicted, those who attack him, attack "Intelligence."

Alas, the commencement debacle was not the most recent example at Notre Dame of Lewis’ foretelling. Last week, Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick announced that next October, Notre Dame would be fortifying its football schedule by playing Western Michigan University. Parenthetically, I’ll state that for all I know, WMU is a great school and runs a fine football program. But that’s kind of the point; about all I know of WMU is that it is in Kalamazoo – and I doubt that most anyone not from Michigan or northern Indiana even knows that.

Of course, that announcement understandably caused instant deflation among nearly anybody who harbors hope that the Fighting Irish will once again become the team it was under Rockne, Leahy, Parseghian, or Holtz. By way of brief examples, on our way to the 1988 national championship, ND played Michigan, Miami, and USC in the regular season. The next year we played Michigan, USC, Penn State, and Miami before the bowl game. In ’90 we played Michigan, Miami, Tennessee, Penn State, and USC in the regular season.

But that wasn’t the end of the consternation. Instead, echoing Jenkins’ pronouncements surrounding Commencement, Swarbrick announced with respect to the inevitable backlash, "It reflects a not very sophisticated view of what's going on out there." As with Jenkins, those who attack him attack "Intelligence."

But I am not fooled. In the case of football, the problem isn’t finding opponents on short notice, it’s finding opponents who will be bought, not expecting a return visit by Notre Dame. This scheduling philosophy, deemed "7-4-1" for shorthand, means 7 home games, 4 road games, and 1 "neutral site" game televised on NBC -- amounting in substance then to 8 home games and 4 road games. It requires materially watering the schedule down and making it, frankly, boring.

I believe this was intentional. Notre Dame knew that if it shorthanded itself by establishing a Potemkin 7-4-1 "requirement," it would eviscerate future schedules so badly that, by contrast, a league schedule (Big 10? Big East? ACC?) would be appealing. Of course, this is a false choice. Simply returning to a more balanced home/road schedule (6-6, or even 7-5), with the historical norm of playing home-and-home series with marquee schools, would immediately solve the problem.

But that itself is the problem. The powers that be don’t want the supposed scheduling problem solved. Rather, while alumni have always overwhelmingly opposed joining a conference for football, those in the Dome and JACC – specifically John Heisler – "know better" and want it (and for reasons having nothing to do with athletics and everything to do with those whose opinions matter in academia).

They don’t want to solve the scheduling "problem" that they created themselves. Rather, they have set us up to "solve" the scheduling "problem" by, sooner rather than later, throwing up their hands and arguing that the only feasible solution left will be to, surprise, join a conference.

But my Intelligence will not be insulted. Until Notre Dame places Men with Chests back into leadership positions, my checkbook – which had heretofore been open – will remain closed.

21st Century Irish

I've long pushed for Notre Dame to enter the 21st century and take advantage of technological opportunities to make the fan experience better. I'm also a staunch opponent of any kind of "big screen" in Notre Dame Stadium, preferring those who want the entertainment to provide for themselves rather than affect my game experience.

So you can imagine how excited I was to hear about the new application for iPhone and iTouch, Notre Dame Central. Created by NBC, this app would provide real-time video coverage of the team and allow those so inclined to follow along via video and see all the replays they wanted. I felt this was the logical first step towards the per-person video offerings that would keep Notre Dame Stadium Jumbotron-free.

I bought it the first day it was available and looked for my opportunity to put it through its paces. Unforeseen schedule conflicts meant I could not attend the Michigan State or Washington games, and would be otherwise occupied during the Purdue game. This allowed me to test out the app for two home games and one road game, along with a couple of during-the-week perusals.

Overall, the picture quality is very good, with the usual "it's an iPhone not a 1080p big screen" caveats. I was able to run video on 3G at home and on the go with very few problems. I did not test it using a Wi-Fi connection, but logic would dictate the connectivity to be even better in those situations. How it will perform at an ND game with a bunch of other people hammering the cellular network, I don't know. Reports from site users seemed to indicate connectivity left something to be desired, and I know ND was initially concerned what a bunch of video users would do to its recently-upgraded network. Rumor has it ND is looking into making the Stadium Wi-Fi enabled, so we'll see if that comes to fruition, but for now, I would expect catch as catch can in South Bend on game day.

The On-Demand section has some good selections. The Highlights include every game and NBC feature this season, along with band performances and game wrap-ups. The Archives only has five games available: MSU 1991, BC 1995, GaTech 1997, SC 1999, and Air Force 2000. Given the good-quality video in the games they have -- which are pretty similar to the game rebroadcasts available on the website (commercials and time in between plays removed) -- I'm hoping they add more in the coming weeks.

The schedule seems pretty basic at first glance, but a nice feature is the ability to set game alerts -- useful for road games, as their kickoff times tend to vary. Future schedules are not included.

The News and Stats section gives you access to most AP articles on the Fighting Irish, and gives you four screens of team stats (Overall, Offense, Defense, and Special Teams). I wasn't able to determine if they were updated real-time during games, but at the very least, it's a handy quick-reference.

The "More" section is a reference to MobiTV -- the tech powering the app video -- and an invitation to learn about NBC Sports Mobile, which offers things like simulcasts of NBC offerings -- US Open Golf, Wimbledon, Kentucky Derby, etc. NBC Sunday Night was not listed, so I'm guessing that's not in the package.

The key usage, though, is for games in play. Some things I liked, some I did not.

The picture quality, as I noted, is pretty good. The game is broken up into blocks that comprise one or two plays each, and you can go backwards and forwards both within a block and to previous blocks -- very useful when one wants to watch a replay. There is volume control, but it was kind of hit-or-miss. I also didn't see a button that would bring you "back to live" when you'd been looking at replays. I had to hammer the forward button until I got there.

The summary page gives the scoreboard and current scoring, along with game stats. This was very useful at the aforementioned Purdue game, which was on the road (so no video). It gives yard line, down and distance. One critical thing it's missing, though, is who has the ball, which made following things a little tricky. It would also be nice (for road games at least) if there was a play-by-play listing, which would make it even easier to track the game, although I realize that might be more work for whoever is entering the data.

I think the app is very well put together, and since it's the "first try" for NBC, I imagine it's going to get even better. If the Archives section were beefed up and the navigation made a little more solid, it would be first-class. But even as it is, it's well worth the money to add to your device.

Continuation and Correction: Washington

The Fighting Irish sit at 3-1 after escaping West Lafayette with a win, and now have three in a row at home. What must they continue to do, and what corrections are required, if they're going to build on a two-game win streak going into the bye?

The biggest continuation is the use of the running game. It bore fruit in the second quarter on Saturday, used to great effect with Dayne Crist in the game. If ND is looking to take the pressure off Clausen, having the backs share the load is one way to do it. Fewer passes means fewer plays where Clausen is pushing off on his bad wheel and fewer plays where he's opening his body up to potentially damaging contact. According to the latest press conference, Armando Allen will have "no limitations" starting in practice Tuesday, so that's heartening news.

Other smaller continuations would be...

• Expanding Theo Riddick's role. Ankle sprains are tricky things and can linger, so Allen has a risk factor associated with him now. The more reps we can get Riddick, the better
• Keeping Jonas Gray's confidence up. He certainly came through for ND on Saturday, showing a sure-handedness he seemed to be missing before

The biggest correction is the defensive line play. Although better at times versus the Boilermakers, Huskies QB Jake Locker represents perhaps the most dangerous threat at his position ND will see all year. While he doesn't have Clausen's accuracy, his mobility adds a degree of difficulty in defending him. If the down linemen can't keep Locker contained, it'll put much more pressure on the rest of the unit. The last thing ND needs on Saturday is a shootout.

Other smaller corrections would be...

• Getting Duval Kamara's head in the game. The illegal formation penalties were inexcusable, and with Floyd out of action, WR productivity must be kept high
• Consistency in punting. Giving Locker any field position benefits just makes him more dangerous

Rebounding Effort

by John Vannie

The Michigan State Spartans visit Notre Dame on Saturday as both teams try to get back on track after disappointing losses last week. While the Irish failed to close the deal against Michigan in Ann Arbor, the Spartans gave away a tight contest at home to Central Michigan by failing to recover an onside kick in the final moments. Notre Dame has not beaten Michigan State in South Bend since 1993, and is 3-9 overall in the series during this span.

Kirk Cousins has taken over the quarterback duties for the Spartans, but he is being pushed by Keith Nichol, a transfer from Oklahoma. Both are capable passers and are surrounded by quality receivers. The running game has yet to approach last year’s success now that stalwart tailback Javon Ringer has departed. Freshmen Ray Caulton and Larry Caper are working in tandem to replace him with mixed results to date.

The Irish hope to be healthy this week after suffering injuries to Michael Floyd and Armando Allen at very inopportune moments against the Wolverines. Floyd appears to be ready while Allen’s status may be a game time decision. Defensively, Notre Dame’s players escaped injury but their pride was badly bruised by Michigan’s upstart quarterback Tate Forcier, whose newfound fame will forever be tied to the Irish.

Both Mark Dantonio and Charlie Weis have similar jobs this week as far as motivation and focus are concerned. Michigan State needs to address problems in the running game and in the secondary, while the Irish must be concerned about the defensive front and special teams. Weis can ill afford to drop to 1-2 on the season since this will certainly rekindle negative speculation regarding his job security.

Notre Dame’s Offense against Michigan State’s Defense

The Irish ground game made notable progress last week, and the plan against the Spartans should contain more of the same. Armando Allen ran for 139 yards and converted several third down opportunities behind an improved offensive line, but the extent of his availability this week is unclear. Jonas Gray and Theo Riddick may have to absorb more of the workload, but neither performed particularly well in brief duty last week. Michigan State may prove to be tougher against the run with nose tackle Oren Wilson and All-American Greg Jones at middle linebacker. Jones leads the team with 29 tackles in two games.

Michigan State’s approach will be to stop the run and put pressure on Jimmy Clausen in the pocket. This worked well for the Spartans last year, when Clausen was rarely able to set his feet and complete passes downfield. Safety Otis Wiley, who has since graduated, recorded two interceptions at key moments in that game. This season, the improvements in the running game, better pass protection and a more experienced Clausen should enable Notre Dame to find the end zone. Dantonio acknowledged the risk of bringing pressure against the Irish this season given the progress Clausen has made and the threat of countermeasures such as screen passes and draw plays.

Michigan State’s secondary has been its biggest concern on defense this season. It’s not likely that they will be able to cover Notre Dame’s receivers without an effective pass rush. The Spartans will try to disguise their intent on blitzes, and the outcome may come down to a chess game between Weis and Dantonio. If the Irish can run the ball at or near the level achieved against Michigan, they will be able to put up plenty of points this week.

Other notable defenders for the Spartans are senior end Trevor Anderson and sophomore free safety Trenton Robinson, who will get the start over 5th year senior Danny Fortener.

Michigan State’s Offense against Notre Dame’s Defense

Notre Dame’s aggressive, blitzing defense should have more success against Cousins, who is primarily a pocket passer. Nichol is the better runner of the two Spartan signal-callers and may see action if needed to counter the rush. Regardless of the target at quarterback, the Irish must stay in position and wrap up each tackle.

Cousins will be effective if given time to throw. He has completed 66% of his passes and thrown four touchdowns with no interceptions. He has a trio of capable receivers led by Blair White (16 receptions), plus a quality tight end in Charlie Gantt. Receiver Mark Dell, who played well against Notre Dame last year, may be ready to play after missing the first two games this season.

The Spartans are trying to revive their running game now that Ringer is no longer an option. Caulton (the starter) and Caper are splitting time right now, but the team managed only 107 yards on 30 attempts against Central Michigan. The offensive line is anchored by left tackle Rocco Cironi, and it’s no coincidence that most of the successful running plays are run in his direction. The other side is still sorting itself out as Dantonio searches for the right pieces to the puzzle.

Dantonio will try to keep the Irish defensive line at bay with the run in order to keep Jon Tenuta’s blitz from harming his quarterback. Since neither Michigan State’s rushing attack nor Notre Dame’s run defense has performed well this season, it will be interesting to see which unit gains the upper hand. If the Spartans can make yards on the ground, they will also be able to keep pace on the scoreboard.

Special Teams

Both team had major snafus last week. The botched defense against an expected onside kick doomed the Spartans while the Irish gave up a long kickoff return for a touchdown that energized Michigan. Senior kicker Brett Swenson is perfect on field goals and extra points this season and is generally very reliable from under 50 yards. Punter Aaron Bates is also solid.

Notre Dame has been less than stellar. Nicholas Tausch recovered after an early missed field goal in Ann Arbor, but punter Eric Maust was inconsistent at best. The Irish return and coverage teams have not looked crisp this season and personnel changes may be underway since many freshmen and sophomores were given an early opportunity to make an impression.

Summary

The Irish must put last week’s loss behind it and seize the initiative on Saturday to win. Notre Dame’s players are experienced enough to do just that, but the Spartans usually play their best game of the year in this contest before their annual November fade. Both offenses boast an effective passing attack but the successful team will be the one that can keep the others running game under control.

If Wilson is able to tie up blockers while Jones runs free to stuff the run, the Spartans can keep close until the fourth quarter and find a way to pull off yet another victory on Irish soil.

Here are a few key questions that will determine the outcome:

• Can Notre Dame avoid a letdown after a disappointing loss?
• Will Notre Dame play more disciplined defense or continue to be out of position?
• Can the interior of the Irish offensive line keep Jones from dominating in the middle?
• How will Cousins handle the pressure from a blitzing defense?
• Will Weis be able to keep the Spartans off balance with his play calling?
• Will a special teams play have an effect on the outcome?
• Can Notre Dame’s much maligned defensive front stop the Spartans’ anemic running game?
• Will Allen be at full speed, and if not can Gray and Riddick pick up the slack?

Prediction

The overall talent and experience levels favor Notre Dame, but the Irish must avoid the catastrophic mistakes that plagued them last week. They would also benefit from a better performance by the referees, but the idea is not to put oneself in a position where one bad call can determine the outcome. This could be a 14-point win for the home team if events unfold as expected, but Michigan State’s history of exceptional performances in recent years and the uncertainty regarding Allen’s availability cannot be ignored. The Irish should hold on for the win, but the Spartans will bring plenty of attitude and make things uncomfortable until the final moments.

Notre Dame 31 Michigan State 27

Contender or Pretender?

by John Vannie

Notre Dame and Michigan square off at the Big House on Saturday in a game that will provide a boost to one program’s rebuilding efforts while relegating the other to the dreaded “wait until next year” mode. Yes, I did say "rebuilding" in the context of Michigan and Notre Dame football, where seldom is heard such a discouraging word. The fact is that both Rich Rodriguez and Charlie Weis were forced to restock a depleted cupboard at their respective schools, and each recently endured a 3-9 season on what they hope is the road to recovery.

The Irish won last year’s rain-soaked contest 35-17 as Golden Tate burned the Wolverine secondary and Rodriguez’ spread option attack misfired by committing six turnovers. Both teams are improved this season, and the gap between them is certainly less than 18 points. One might argue that Michigan’s excess practice time this summer has accelerated its turnaround, but those expecting the NCAA to punish the Wolverines should not hold their breath.

Saturday’s game will be a contrast in styles. Michigan’s defense boasts a solid front four that will put pressure on the quarterback, but they are vulnerable in the secondary. The Irish bring pressure by blitzing linebackers, and rely on a solid secondary to cover opposing receivers. The weakness is up front, particularly against the run. Offensively, Notre Dame’s sophisticated passing attack will keep any defensive coordinator awake at night, while it’s improved rushing attack may not yet be ready to take over a game in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines prefer to stay on the ground and take the pressure off a pair of freshman quarterbacks.

Neither Tate Forcier nor Denard Robinson are prototypical strong-armed Michigan quarterbacks, but Rodriguez has changed the model to a more mobile and elusive style. The offense is built on speed and deception rather than raw power, and the Irish defense will be stretched from sideline to sideline. Although Notre Dame looks stronger on paper, the history of this series since its renewal 30 years ago indicates that upsets by the home team are more the rule than the exception.

Notre Dame’s Offense against Michigan’s Defense

Defensive Coordinator Greg Robinson has joined the Wolverine staff this season after an unsuccessful run as the head coach at Syracuse. Robinson’s best achievement at Syracuse was an upset victory over Notre Dame last November in South Bend, but the Irish played without Michael Floyd and the running game was a mess.

The key to this game is the battle between the Michigan defensive front and the Irish offensive line. Michigan is aware of the significant advantage enjoyed by the Irish receivers against its secondary, and the likes of end Brandon Graham and tackle Mike Martin will be counted upon to neutralize it. The Wolverines will try to overpower the Notre Dame ground game and force quarterback Jimmy Clausen to convert on third and long. While Clausen was successful in this regard against Nevada, his protection will be severely tested this week. Not only will the Irish need to double team Graham, but they must also be on the lookout for well-disguised and delayed blitzes from anyone in the back seven.

Weis may use the same tactics on Graham and freshman Craig Roh as he did last week against Nevada’s talented defensive ends. A mix of screens and cut blocks will be employed to slow them down and allow Clausen to display his passing proficiency. As for the running game, the presence of Martin and linebacker Obi Ezeh will make it difficult to make yardage up the middle on Michigan, but there will be opportunities off tackle or wide in conventional sets or a wildcat formation.

Robinson will employ multiple coverages and pre-snap movement to create problems for Clausen. Last week, the junior did an outstanding job of identifying single coverage, looking off the safeties and hitting the open receiver. If he has sufficient time and is able to effectively read the coverage scheme, his receivers will enjoy success against the Michigan secondary.

Michigan’s Offense against Notre Dame’s Defense

Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Jon Tenuta is adept at turning up the heat on young quarterbacks, and the Irish game plan will be to hit Forcier early and often. The risk in a blitz-happy strategy is that Michigan’s offensive line needs only to create small creases for its backs to burst into an opponent’s secondary. Both sides will guess right at times, but the unit that can establish a degree of physical dominance will prevail. The Irish linebackers and secondary need to be aggressive yet disciplined in run support, and the front four must penetrate the line of scrimmage and create disruption.

The Wolverines will employ Forcier and Robinson at quarterback, and both might line up in the same backfield. Forcier is the more accomplished passer while Robinson was the team’s leading rusher last week against Western Michigan. This rotation is far more strategically driven than last season’s ineffective quarterback carousel between Nate Sheridan and the since-departed Steven Threet.

Michigan’s speed and mobility at the point of attack also supports the extensive use of Manti Te’o at linebacker for the Irish. His speed may be better suited than the skill set of Toryan Smith to defend the spread option. Another player to watch for Notre Dame is free safety Harrison Smith. He will be a key player in run support but is also the last line of defense against the long passes to Junior Hemingway that Rodriguez will spring on the Irish at opportune moments.

While Hemingway’s movements will bear watching, Michigan does not have comparable weapons in the passing game to prevail if the ground attack fail to move the chains consistently. The Irish can weather the damage from a few big plays that will almost certainly occur as long as they are not on their heels the entire afternoon. Notre Dame’s success on defense will hinge on its ability to battle the Wolverines to a standstill in the trenches and keep them from running downhill.

Special Teams

Irish freshman Nicholas Tausch was not tested in the field goal department last week, but may get his chance in a clutch situation on Saturday. Punter Eric Maust was reasonably successful against Nevada. He did not realize extraordinary distance but none of his kicks were returned. Another freshman, Theo Riddick, had only one chance to return a kickoff on Saturday, but it’s too soon to tell if he can become a true weapon in this role.

Michigan kicker Jason Olesnavage came through on a 44-yard field goal attempt last week, and it’s always a relief to get that first successful kick out of the way. Zoltan Mesko averaged over 47 yards in five attempts, including a 66-yard rocket. Western Michigan could manage only six total return yards on his punts.

Summary

This is a rivalry game that both teams desperately need to win. Weis’ teams have been more businesslike than demonstrably emotional during his tenure, but the Irish must show some fire this week. Decision making by the quarterbacks will be a key factor in the outcome, and Notre Dame has a distinct advantage with Clausen at the helm. The questions surrounding the Irish are more of a physical nature. The linemen must give prepare for a hard-hitting battle and the defense must improve its tackling. The Wolverines may not be as talented at the skill positions, but they will attempt to stop the run and make Clausen hold the ball long enough in the pocket to hit him repeatedly. Since defensive pressure leads to turnovers, the team that is most successful in this regard will win.

Here are a few key questions that will determine the outcome:

• Can Notre Dame match Michigan’s intensity and emotion?
• Will Notre Dame allow the Wolverines to control the time of possession?
• Can Paul Duncan and Matt Romine handle Brandon Graham and give Clausen time to pass?
• What impact will Manti Te’o have for the Irish?
• Can the Irish force Michigan into third and long situations?
• Which defense will demonstrate superior hitting and tackling?
• How will Tausch perform under pressure?
• Which team will make mental mistakes and commit turnovers?

Prediction

The game may not be decided until the fourth quarter, and Notre Dame will be in trouble if it has to play from behind all day. Conversely, the Irish might win by 10-14 points if they can build an early lead and force Michigan out of its comfort zone, but that rarely happens when these teams play in Ann Arbor. In recent visits, Notre Dame has made mistakes that put it in a hole early, but Clausen gives them a chance to recover if they can maintain their poise under adverse conditions.
Although anything can happen in this contest, it’s likely that neither team will dominate on defense or be able to run its offense with the ease it enjoyed last weekend. I expect the Irish to hold their own up front and exploit their advantage at the skill positions, but it won’t be a walk in the park.

Notre Dame 24 Michigan 21

Irish, Weis Seek Validation

by John Vannie

Notre Dame opens the 2009 football season at home on Saturday with renewed hope for both the program’s reputation and the security of its head coach. The Irish struggled to a 10-15 record in the past two seasons as Charlie Weis attempted to rebuild the program with a solid base of underclassmen. This year, the team and its fans expect to reap the rewards of this endeavor. The overall roster is generally more athletic, many key players have gained valuable experience, and the schedule appears to be quite favorable.

The opposition this week will be provided by the Nevada Wolfpack, who have never played Notre Dame. Chris Ault’s team boasts a potent offense that was ranked in the nation’s top five last year and returns most of its starters, except at wide receiver. The defense is far less formidable, but Nevada hopes that the patience afforded last year’s young players will lead to improvement this season.
Weis barely managed to survive last November’s collapse and must start fast this month in order to keep the smoldering chair in his office from a spontaneous combustion. The Irish boast a wealth of talent at the skill positions and an experienced offensive line. The latter unit has been much maligned over the past two seasons for inconsistent performances and passive play, but enters this campaign injury-free and absent any plausible excuse.

Defensively, the back seven is stocked with speed, skill and numbers. Competition at each linebacker and secondary position has yielded a formidable two-deep that has not been evident in South Bend in more than a decade. The primary concern is an inexperienced group of linemen, but this can be mitigated if sufficient members of a promising sophomore contingent meet or exceed expectations. Nevada is the first of several teams that will test Notre Dame’s ability to stop the run, and the degree to which the Irish are successful will be a key factor in their overall season results.

Notre Dame’s Offense against Nevada’s Defense

Nevada may be the perfect team to test Notre Dame’s ability to run the ball early in the season. The Wolfpack ranked sixth in the nation in rushing defense last year and return their core group of linemen. The pass defense was quite poor, however, and one would expect the Irish to attack them through the air on Saturday. Although this strategy should produce points, it won’t answer the main questions surrounding Notre Dame’s offense. Irish fans are anxious to gauge the progress made by offensive line under new coach Tom Verducci and how this improvement will manifest itself in terms of rushing yardage. Junior tailback Armando Allen is poised for a breakout season and Jonas Gray has emerged as the primary backup over several other talented candidates including exciting freshmen Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood.

Quarterback Jimmy Clausen remains the leader of the offense and could conceivably emerge from the shadow of Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy to take his place among the nation’s elite signal callers. He has an impressive array of wide receivers and tight ends at this disposal, led by starters Golden Tate, Michael Floyd and Kyle Rudolph. The key items to watch are the protection afforded Clausen by his linemen, especially left tackles Paul Duncan and Matt Romine, and Clausen’s own ability to move around in the pocket to deliver the ball while under pressure.
The Wolfpack pass rush is led by ends Kevin Basped and Dontay Moch, each of whom recorded more than ten sacks last season. Sophomore James-Michael Johnson is the best of the linebackers, and free safety Jonathon Amaya leads a group of veterans in the secondary that was routinely torched last season. Obviously, Nevada hopes that experience, however painful, will lead to better results this year.

In order to have a chance at victory, Nevada must try to contain the Irish running game with its front four and drop additional players into pass coverage. If Notre Dame can dominate the line of scrimmage, the game could become a rout. If the Irish linemen struggle to execute blocks as they have the past three seasons, the contest could become uncomfortably close. Notre Dame will not reach its potential this season if its offensive success is based solely on the ability of its talented pass catchers to make plays downfield.

Nevada’s Offense against Notre Dame’s Defense

The Wolfpack offense is balanced and dangerous. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick personifies this diversified attack as evidenced by his 2,849 yards passing and 1,130 yards rushing in 2008. He is supported by a pair of All-Conference rushers in Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott, but his offensive line may not be quite as formidable due to key graduation losses at center and left tackle. The matchup between this group and the young Irish defensive front will be critical to the outcome. If Notre Dame can contain the running game and force Kaepernick to throw, the advantage tilts decisively toward the home team.

The reasons for this assertion are the fact that Nevada has lost its top three receivers from last season, while the Irish secondary is shaping up as one of the best in the country. Only tight end Virgil Green can be considered a legitimate threat in the passing game. Although Kaepernick and his new, inexperienced receivers have spent considerable time getting acquainted in the spring and summer, the Wolfpack aerial show is still very much a work in progress.

Notre Dame will strive to force Kaepernick into passing situations by stopping the run and building a lead on the scoreboard. Nevada will remain competitive only to the extent it can maintain balance on offense and keep the high-powered Irish attack off the field. The matchups to watch will be the Wolfpack offensive tackles and the Irish defensive ends, Kapron Lewis-Moore and Kerry Neal. The latter two will be counted upon to hold the point of attack in defense of the run, which is a major concern of this unit coming into the season.

One wild card element for the Notre Dame defenders is the scrambling ability of Kaepernick. Nothing frustrates a defense more than slowing down the running game and covering the receivers only to have a nimble quarterback take off for first down yardage or buy time to find an open receiver in key situations. The Irish may have to assign a linebacker to spy on Kaepernick to mitigate this risk. A similar approach may also be needed later in the season against Washington’s Jake Locker and possibly others.

Special Teams

The Irish have awarded the kicking chores to freshman Nicholas Tausch, who won the job over previous incumbent Brandon Walker. There has been considerable turnover among the personnel throughout Notre Dame’s special teams, but punter Eric Maust, return man Allen and gunner Mike Anello are familiar faces to Irish fans.
Nevada’s kicking situation is unsettled, and junior college transfer Ricky Drake is penciled in to handle the job after the graduation of four-year starter Brett Jaekle. The punting duties are in good hands with veteran Brad Langley. Taua is the primary return man and could cause problems if he has room to maneuver on punts.

Summary

Nevada’s offense is sufficiently experienced and talented to score points, but the Wolfpack will find it much more difficult to cope with Notre Dame’s own offensive firepower. The teams could easily combine to score more than 60 points in this contest.

Here are a few key questions that will determine the outcome:

• Will Notre Dame’s offensive line avoid the frustrating breakdowns of the past and open holes for its running backs?
• Will Clausen’s performance most resemble his erratic November 2008 outings or his Hawaii Bowl breakout?
• Will Kaepernick escape the Irish rush to make big plays with his arm or feet?
• Will the Irish be demonstrably more physical in the trenches?
• Can Toryan Smith become the run stuffer Notre Dame needs at middle linebacker?
• Can Duncan and Romine protect Clausen’s blind side?
• What impact will a freshman kicker have for the Irish?
• Will circumstances allow Notre Dame to send in the reserves for meaningful minutes?
• Which team will play fearlessly and make the fewest mistakes?

Prediction

Despite putting up impressive offensive statistics in the WAC during the past two seasons, Nevada has not been successful of late against BCS conference teams. They do not figure to threaten Notre Dame on paper, but there is sufficient uncertainty surrounding the 2009 Irish after wildly inconsistent performances last year and numerous changes on defense and in the coaching staff. These unknowns can make certain prognosticators look quite foolish, but Notre Dame’s core players should be experienced enough to turn in a winning performance even if there are a few opening game issues to resolve going forward. Besides, Weis’ job essentially depends on it.

Notre Dame 42 Nevada 23

A Step in the Right Direction

This entry was authored by Chip Lewis, aka SBDomer, who ever since the announcement of the commission to investigate game day issues has been communicating with and giving input to the people involved in the process.

With the announcement of the new game-day policies for home football games, the Notre Dame administration has signaled that it is interested and engaged in changing the course of the Irish Football Saturday experience for fans. As a fan base, we need to match the University’s efforts with our own actions to improve the game-day experience.

Following widespread concern that the University had lost control of the behavior of its game-day policy makers and enforcers, the crucial first step was the appointment of a special committee to study the operations and procedures used by safety, security and hospitality employees at Notre Dame.  This committee issued a report last spring that is now in the process of implementation.  The April appointment of Mike Seamon, as the director of football operations, is a clear indication that ND is serious about improvement.  Seamon is a former football manager for Lou Holtz and very familiar with the passion and excitement that overtakes the campus on a game day.  As a Holtz disciple, Seamon is familiar with the concept of continuous improvement, and you can bet that he will apply that mindset to game-day operations on an ongoing basis.

It is not reasonable to expect that the many controversial aspects of game-day safety and security enforcement issues can be quickly implemented or would be publicly addressed. The job of overhauling the policies in effect and procedures to be followed is better addressed incrementally rather than immediately. It is better to fix the vision behind the policies in order to attain long term improvement. It will be better for fans if Seamon takes his time in addressing the many existing game-day issues. If some of the recently announced changes seem too quick and easy, it’s because they are exactly that, but that’s not a bad start. The quick implementation of certain changes is a reasonable beginning of the process.

As things move forward, the state of the art for game-day safety and security, both inside and outside of the Stadium, will be consistent enforcement of fair and fully-disclosed rules. It will be Seamon’s job to make sure that the major ND football weekend stakeholders—alumni, students and legitimate college football fans—enjoy the electricity and excitement of an Irish Football Saturday in a manner that allows for maximum fun while still addressing safety. While we should not expect that ND will ever condone or encourage underage drinking, we should expect that ND and its enforcement staff and partners will not bust family tailgates while the wild tailgate party with three party vans, refrigerator-sized speakers, a DJ and bottles of booze being passed around among people who are not even attending the game goes unaddressed. Seamon surely understands this, and if nothing else we can expect that he’ll put a stop to law enforcement patrols that view family tailgates as the low-hanging fruit for filling arrest quotas.

When viewed as an on-going process, it is easy to see our role as a fan base in the effort to improve game-day policies and enforcement. We should use the communication tools provided by the University to let them know what we think, game by game. All kidding aside, the crazy drunk who is truly a danger to himself and others ought to be text-reported and removed from the Stadium. The wild tailgate of un-invested people who are not going to the game but treat our campus like the venue for a Grateful Dead-style roaming party ought to be shut down. The trick is to make sure that the right problems are addressed, that the 5 or 50 worst offenders are removed from the Stadium rather than the 5 or 50 people that appear like they’d put up the least fuss.

We must continue our vigilance and be part of the long-term solution. Let’s use the Stadium texts to remove problems. Let’s notify security personnel of outrageous tailgates. Let’s keep them so busy addressing the right problems that there is no time or inclination to go after traditional tailgate activity, the kind that has brought Notre Dame families and friends together for generations. As time goes by, reasonable and fairly enforced rules that we all understand and can follow will improve the game-day experience for all of us.

As in all enforcement situations, there is what is said and what is done. Notre Dame has made the first of presumably many public statements on the plan to improve game-day processes. As this season unfolds, we’ll see what changes have occurred in the area of enforcement. It is up to us to remain vigilant for abuses by law enforcement or usher personnel, and then communicate them to University staff. Notre Dame has already shown by action that it understood there was a problem, so the University deserves our support as the new program is rolled out. We need to respond with cooperation and support to ensure that an Irish Football Saturday remains the outstanding shared experience for the Notre Dame family and friends that is has always been.

Adult Swim

My dad was a Notre Dame graduate, and before he spent 12 straight years paying ND tuition for my brother, sister and me and got a little burned out on the practice, he went to plenty of ND football games. He’d head eastbound on Friday nights or Saturday mornings. Sometimes he’d return in the evenings, and sometimes he got to spend the night at my grandparents’ house in Long Beach, IN, near Frank Leahy’s old place. Either way, he usually returned happy to have spent time with his classmates and friends watching ND football.

As I reached the age of reason, I also reached the conclusion this was something I wanted to be a part of. So I began lobbying my father to attend these games with him. Needless to say, it was not a favor immediately granted. I had to meet a number of conditions, not the least of which was proving I could sit for the requisite period while paying the proper level of attention. The “ooh, something shiny” nature of my personality meant this was much easier said than done. But I was determined to overcome it, and in September of 1980, I found my 10-year-old self in the back seat of my grandfather’s Cadillac on a Friday evening, heading for my first weekend of Notre Dame football with excitement in my soul.

That excitement was tempered a little after dinner Friday night, though, when I got my dad’s version of a pregame pep talk. This trip was something reserved for people who were (or could at least act) grown up, he told me. There would be a lot of walking involved. I would spend a lot of time before the game looking at buildings and other sights on campus. We would be visiting with a number of his friends, and he expected me to act my age (if not older) and treat them respectfully. I might hear “colorful language”, and while such words were not suitable for my use, people of a more mature vintage were entitled to speak however they wished. As far as I was concerned, the words “I’m bored” were removed from the English language for 24 hours. If I was not willing to accept these things, I was told, I could stay at the house with my grandmother. But if I put my butt in that car the next morning, I was on the hook and would be held accountable.

I was no quitter, and had spent too much time proving I deserved to be there. So that car saw my butt in it 12 hours later.

My dad hadn’t pulled any punches. We parked over at St. Mary’s and walked the mile and a half to campus. We said prayers at the Grotto, went over to Sorin to see dad’s old room, and stood for over an hour at the (non-Barnes-and-Nobleized) Bookstore to buy stuff for my siblings who hadn’t made the trip. We walked around the then-closed Fieldhouse to relive some of dad’s track memories. We stopped by Bob Feely’s tailgater in Green Field, mere steps from the student entrance to the Stadium. I tossed a football around with some of the other kids whose parents were in attendance, while the adults wondered if Dan Devine could recapture the magic of three seasons before in his final go-around, and how good this Blair Kiel kid was. They tossed down some beers over the course of our visit, and while some of them got well-lubricated, none of them got profane or out of control ... although I did learn a new word or two.

Kickoff time arrived, and we headed for our seats in Section 36. I’d like to think my reaction walking into the Stadium was similar to Ned Beatty’s in Rudy, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t, given that I was sunburned and a little tired. But I’d committed, and dammit, I was going to see it through. Three hours later, Harry O’s kick crept over the crossbar, ND sent Bo and his boys back to Ann Armpit losers, and I was glad I’d stuck it out.

Having seen one of the greatest games in ND history certainly made an impression on me. But even if the kick had fallen short, the whole thing would have been worth it to me because I’d proven myself worthy of it. As Ara Parseghian said in Wake Up The Echoes, anything in life really worth having, you have to pay a price for. I’d paid my dues by acting like the adult I needed to be to experience Notre Dame football, and it made the experience all the sweeter.

Which is why I’ve never been able to understand (and probably never will) the continued kid-ification of Notre Dame football, the latest example of which appeared in the recently-released list of football weekend improvements. The new “Rally on the Green” area -- itself probably a good idea, given the previous lack of utilization of the space and its ability to connect the new Eddy Street Commons area more solidly to campus -- will include “roaming ‘kid-friendly’ entertainment throughout the grounds.” This follows the inclusion of child-focused areas at the Blue-Gold game, including things like jumping jacks. The goal of a more “family-friendly” Notre Dame has been cited as justification for changes ranging from pep rally location and content to the overzealous rule enforcement by Indiana state law enforcement, Cappy Gagnon and some of his ushers that prompted the backlash and resulting “improvements list” in the first place.

While places like LSU and Miami and Michigan seem to pride themselves on creating an antagonistic atmosphere seemingly from the moment you exit your car, that’s too far in the other direction, and doesn’t represent a solution to me. So I have no problem with ND making an effort to keep things civil.

There's a lot of space, however, between civil and where the administration is pushing things. When you buff out the rough edges, you detract from what makes the experience special, and that lessens Notre Dame in the process. Zero-tolerance isn't a solution either, and a generation of kids who used to be content tossing the pigskin around apparently now have to get non-stop protection and stimulation, even if it costs long-time fans in the value of their experience.

Part of what made that Michigan game in 1980 special for me was that I’d earned the right to attend. I’d proven no one outside or inside the Stadium had to change their behavior simply because I was there. It didn’t give them license to act like idiots, but it didn’t mean they had to bend over backwards special just for little old me. They could participate in the experience just as they always had, and I would be along for the ride and experience it with them.

How much cheaper would that experience have been for me if I would have spent the hours jumping around in an inflatable, or getting my face painted, or other things I usually saw at the parish carnival? Would I have been as impressed by the tens of thousands sitting in their seats and clapping politely for three hours as I was by the fact we spent at least half the game and most of the fourth quarter standing up and yelling ourselves hoarse?

My father spent enough time catering to me the other 360 days of the year, so I hardly begrudged him the five ND football games. I was included there when I proved I didn’t need the catering. I guess I don't understand why that is now a bad thing.

Charlie, Leadership and the Secret Sauce

(The Rock Report ) -

“Every victory is won before the game is played.” ~ Lou Holtz

I was out having some drinks and ran into a player on the 1988 team who recounted the back story that led to the Irish’s inspirational thumping of Rodney Peete and the Trojans that year (pardon any lack of clarity here, we were a few pints deep.) A game that, to this day, remains one of my favorite Irish victories because the Irish simply beat the crap out of the Trojans.

To set the scene, USC was number two in the country, but a favorite over the number one ranked Irish. Before the game Holtz asked the team to assemble, waited until the entire team had joined and then walked in. He announced that Ricky Watters and Tony Brooks had been continually late to meetings and that he could suspend them, but that it was up to the players to decide what to do with them (to suspend them or let them play.) Holtz walked out and put the decision in their hands. A debate ensued and one of the players stood up and said that this was the game that would define their lifetimes, that they couldn’t let the opportunity slip away and that they should let Watters and Brooks play. But as the debate continued and while players agreed that it was too important an opportunity to lose… they also started thinking that if they believed enough, they didn’t need Watters and Brooks, that they could win without them. They voted to leave them behind (Holtz later admitted he had made the decision already.)*

The result was a physical ass kicking of the Trojans that was the last real hurdle to the 1988 championship. Holtz found a way to turn a negative into a positive just as he had done when he led Arkansas to their memorable Orange Bowl demolition of the Sooners.

“Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated” ~ Lou Holtz

Every good coach has specific strengths, but the one thing all great coaches have is the ability to lead other coaches and players… and make them believe. Schematics are important. Recruiting is vitally important. Player management at the college level is critical. Coaching management at the highest level is equally critical.

What makes great coaches successful is not the just the ability to sell an idea but to lead their organizations through the tough times to get there. It's easy to forget that the criticism of Holtz was ear-splitting at times during his career, yet Holtz led through adversity and won.

“As a leader your attitude has a powerful impact on others. You have an obligation to develop a positive attitude, one that inspires the people around you to achieve the impossible” – Lou Holtz

What struck me about Brian Kelly at Cincinnati (calm down, in no way do I think he was ready to take over the Irish in ‘09) is that he had a horrible QB situation, actually worse than Notre Dame had in 2007, and he was able to work through it, make the players believe and turn in a very impressive BCS season for Cincinnati.

Was the quarterback situation a real and dire problem? They played five different quarterbacks during the season, of course it was.

Just like talent was a real problem and coaching changes are problems. But Kelly was able to not just sell the idea that success was probable/inevitable, but lead them through the tough times. Bearcat QB Tony Pike wasn’t even on the depth chart to start the season, but he said that Kelly made him believe he could and would win.

"He's a salesman, is what he is," says Grand Valley State coach Chuck Martin, who was Kelly's defensive coordinator at the school. "Whether it's Grand Valley State or Central Michigan or Cincinnati, he has kids believing they can move mountains. His No. 1 strength is offense. His No. 2 strength is how good he is politically at getting people to believe in his program. He sells it door to door, which not a lot of coaches will do.

"I remember at Central Michigan, somebody asked him how long the rebuilding cycle would be. He said, 'About 10 seconds.'"

“Yes, I know that you feel you are not strong enough. That's what the enemy thinks too. But we're gonna fool them.” – Knute Rockne

How does this relate to Charlie? Weis is a tough egg to crack, because he gets the problem and he can sell an idea, but what from what I’ve seen, is not a great manager of the team day to day through the tough times and or adept at keeping them motivated and believing. That’s where real leaders separate themselves. I’ve heard stories of Charlie motivating through fear (you won’t have my NFL endorsement) to encouragement (be yourself), but what is striking to me is that he doesn’t really know how to do it and that’s a problem.

“It is a fine thing to have ability, but the ability to discover ability in others is the true test.” - Lou Holtz

Urban Meyer is an asshole. Some of his players hated him even at Notre Dame, but he gets them to play at a high level. Charlie can be an asshole too, but his secret sauce hasn’t worked with either his assistants or the players to date. In 2006, his second year, we had players dogging it on the field in what was supposed to be a possible National Championship run.

“Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you’re willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it.” ~ Lou Holtz

That, to me, was a major sign of impending failure. He had others as well, such as sticking to his scheme beyond all rationality, going for it in absurd 4^th down situations and always taking the kickoff when you knew we’d be beaten down.

The problem is that Charlie doesn’t yet have the secret sauce. He’s guessing. He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. And the frustrating thing is that he’s smart, he knows the game, he can sell, he cares and he works hard.

But it’s not enough.

You have be able to make everyone around you believe and that’s not a trait normally found in nature. A top level college coach needs that leadership intangible. Some guys are brought up that way in their families, others have an intuitive sense and pick it up, some have mentors and still others work at it and eventually get it or are thrust into circumstances that somehow draw it out of them. Charlie had a mentor in Bill Belichick, but I’m not sure Belichick would win in college and Charlie doesn’t seem to have that innate ability.

And even if you have the secret sauce, it’s not enough. You also have to be a good cultural fit for the position. Since Lou, Notre Dame's had two carpet-baggers and a believer without the secret sauce.

ND is primed for a run at the championship the next two seasons, but we need a coach who not only has the boxes checked, but also the secret sauce. Right now Charlie seems to be failing schematically, in coaching motivation and in player motivation. He appears to be a very classic case study in failure and what happens when you elevate a technical expert to an upper-level leadership position. Technical experts in leadership positions have an inclination to "go insular" when things go wrong and try to figure it out in their comfort zones, that's usually a recipe for failure. Leaders are highly engaged. It’s certainly not impossible for him to succeed, but he hasn’t done most of the job before, so he’s guessing. The hope is that the coaching changes would create the secret sauce, but that’s a guess. Notre Dame needs someone who has it. Whatever it is. Someone who can coach schematically, recruit and make his players and coaches believe.

I hope that Charlie gets it this year, but the odds, at this point, are not in his favor. Given his background, his inclination will be to run back to what he knows best and focus on schematic advantages, but that may not serve him. If I were Charlie I'd limit the schematic analysis and concentrate on having the toughest, most in shape, fundamentally strong team in the country; one that believes they can win regardless of schematics. Being able to win Rocks, Papers, Scissors doesn't matter much if the other guy can punch you in the mouth. There are no awards for cleverness. When LSU beat Florida two years ago, they did it by controlling the line of scrimmage. Florida did the same to Alabama last year. That control of the line is key to making any well-called play work.

There was some leadership analysis recently that showed that the most powerful way a leader can use his/her time, in order, are to 1- show the team the road map for success, 2 - put in place a mechanism/process/resources to make sure everyone feels they can achieve those goals, 3 - manage the day to day effectively and 4- inspire them to achieve.

To be sure, there were signs that Charlie may have started to figure it out in the Hawaii game, where Weis adjusted his approach and the team responded in fairly dramatic fashion, but a look back at the abysmal run from Pittsburgh to USC last year should give anyone pause. That written, winning can do a lot to change a coach's and team's perceptions and a rising talent base, softer schedule and rejiggered coaching staff will give Weis a tailwind he hasn't had since 2005. I think it's fair to say that all but a small minority are hoping Coach Weis puts it together this year and, if he does, he'll likely pull in another top class and his coaching comeback story will become part of Notre Dame's lore.

*There's a very good chance that the pints changed the story a bit.

**Please save the "you want Charlie to fail" or "just another excuse for Charlie" comments that seem to accompany every article that seem either pro or anti-Weis.

It's Time to Expect to Beat Southern Cal

(The Rock Report) - There has been an ideological debate on NDNation over whether coaching or talent was responsible for Notre Dame's two year plunge. The answer is both and when you have two factors with that much impact, it's hard, if not impossible, to determine ultimate causation.

As we've covered before (ad nauseam) Weis is learning on the job and the weighted talent level fell off the table the last two years. That combination led to the worst year most of us can remember in 2007 and an embarrassing collapse in 2008.

Unfortunately that has many fans "lowering the bar" heading into 2009. Most have already chalked up a loss to Southern Cal and would consider making the BCS a turnaround for the program.

I suggest that bar is too low.

It's now year five of the Weis era, Notre Dame is elite in terms of upper tier talent (our talent level in 09 will be higher than Florida's last year) and Weis is dealing with a full allotment of coaches chosen by him after careful selection. Notre Dame has as veteran an offensive line as there is in the country, a full array of weapons and a five-star junior quarterback who's now been been on campus for three springs that was coveted by everyone in the country including USC.

There's no reason to assume a loss to Southern Cal is a fait accompli; in fact, there's reason to believe Notre Dame should beat the Trojans this year.

USC loses its entire starting linebacking corps, all but one of its starting defensive linemen, two star defensive backs and likely first round pick Mark Sanchez at quarterback. To be sure they're filling in the holes with five-star spackle like Everson Griffen who started as a freshman, but Notre Dame will be playing USC relatively straight-up from a mature talent standpoint. (ND-USC Steele Rankings )

The big worry is USC's offensive line matched against Notre Dame's very green defensive line, but every other match-up is close enough, assuming coaching and player development, for Notre Dame to win. If Notre Dame's defensive line isn't blown off the ball by USC, Jimmy Clausen's experience and home field advantage should be the difference.

If Notre Dame is going to return to the elite of college football, 2009 is the year. A top ten finish with top ten talent after three years of coaching under-performance should be a minimum goal. At some point, you have to prove you can get the Ws and this is that year for Weis.

Whether or not Weis deserved another year is now a moot point. If Weis is a truly a championship coach, we should expect to beat USC or come so close (as in 2005) that there's no doubt the rising Irish talent is being coached by a staff can lift them to excellence.

It's time to ditch the "Hold Me I'm Irish" mindset that has perpetuated mediocrity in South Bend and expect and demand excellence on the field.

It's time to beat SC.

Talent, Coaching and Chemistry

(The Rock Report) - Talent

At this point, nothing matters but performance. But as the chart on the left shows, Notre Dame will emerge this year from the upper level talent dearth that is finally working its way out of the system in 2009.

This chart, based on WTF68's analysis, is an updated analysis of our talent weighted by the seniority of the class. The method used was a star rating by scout multiplied by a "seniority factor" a percentage weight applied to the star rating based on the seniority of the player. So a 5-star like Clausen would only be worth 3.5 stars his sophomore year, but over 4 stars his junior year and 5-stars his senior year. The idea behind the madness is to weight the star rating (which is really potential) by maturity and development, which varies by position. Offensive Linemen, Defensive Linemen and Quarterbacks usually take the longest to develop, so their "seniority factor" is lower than the norm. The "seniority factors" are in the table below.

	5th	Sr	Jr	So	Fr
OL	100%	100%	90%	70%	50%
DL	100%	100%	95%	75%	55%
QB	100%	100%	95%	70%	50%
All else	100%	100%	100%	85%	60%

It's pretty similar to the method I've used before, except that analysis focused just on impact players by class. The stories are remarkably similar. (And when others use this methodology, just remember who brought it to you first.)

Essentially this method adjusts for how old a player is. For example, Trevor Laws didn't really excel until his 5th year, so even a highly regarded recruit like Laws, like most players, takes at least three years to reach his potential. These kids are literally still growing and filling out. As promising as, say, Rudolph is (and he still is skinny,) he was still a liability blocking for most of the season.

Some commentary from WTF68:

- I do not offer this model as an excuse for our poor play in 2007 and 2008. However, I do think it helps to argue that lack of experienced talent played a part in our struggles. No excuse in 2009, and certainly none in 2010.

- We'll be stacked in 2010. We really should contend for the national championship.

- On this basis, Urban Meyer did a hell of a job at Florida in 08. Their
experienced talent was good (roughly equal to ND in 2005), but not great.

- If anything, I think the percentages probably understate the value of
having a bunch of tough, smart, seniors and 5th year guys on the field.

I was talking to an ex ND player the other night and he was complaining that we have all of these 5-star recruits, but they weren't playing like it. Now part of that is coaching, but a lot of it is age. Our best recruits were sophomores and freshmen last year. In fact, every skill player on offense, Allen, Clausen, Floyd, Tate and Rudolph was a sophomore or younger. I liked BGS's talent analysis, but what was missing, IMO, was the age factor. You have to account for teams that have maturing talent, like Penn State in 2008. Their talented recruiting classes came to a head last year. The same was true of Notre Dame in 2005, as Quinn's talented class finally matured.

You've seen this argument before, the bottom line is that there's no talent excuse to be had in 2009 and we'll have "USC level" talent in 2010.

That orange line? That's Urban Meyer's Florida team from last year. The red line? That's USC from last year. Clearly the bar is high, but as Urban showed, good coaching can dramatically improve the raw material and make it "mature" faster.

That's where the coaching part of the equation comes in.


Coaching

And the last two years have been a coaching disaster. We hung on to Oliver and Latina a year too long and ND has paid the price for that. Mike Haywood wasn't someone who meshed with the rest of the staff either and he certainly had no business being an Offensive Coordinator or calling the plays at ND. That said, very happy he found a great job to move on to.

By adding Verducci, Hart, and Young and subtracting Latina and Oliver, Notre Dame should see an immediate payoff in 2009. If those lines can even improve 20%, there's no reason ND won't be BCS bowling in 2009. Frankly, if we're not, Weis should go.

You'll know if the coaching has improved when you see average or forgotten players start to make an impact. One thing I've noticed over time is that when a good coach comes in the middle rises. Take a look at USC and Florida's rosters and you'll notice they have a lot of five-stars, but also a lot of no-names (see Clay Mathews) that dot the roster. I would expect to see players like John Ryan, Mo Richardson and Scott Smith contribute significantly. Not necessarily those specific guys, but players who are in their positions.

Chemistry

You hear this word all of the time, but what does it mean? It means that players and coaches are aligned in their goals (they believe they're on the same team,) they trust each other, they have skin in the game and they believe they can win. From what I've heard, ND pretty much struck out on all of these the last three years. Another framework that's pretty popular in the corporate world is the Five Dysfunctions of Team, which are:

1. Absence of trust among team members.
2. Fear of conflict.
3. Lack of commitment.
4. Avoidance of accountability.
5. Inattention to results.

Some say those five describe the ND administration on the whole, but that's another article...
Now that Weis supposedly has a group of coaches that are on the same page, he should better be able to replicate the give and take in the coaching offices that he experienced at New England.

If the coaching was really that dysfunctional, no surprise the the players were rumored to be as well. There was a dearth of leadership in the upper classes (this year will be the first year that no Willingham signees are on the team.) Of course, that's not an excuse either as Carroll and Meyer were able to bridge this gap quickly at USC and Florida.

Summary

There's reason to believe that the Talent, the Coaching and the Chemistry will all be improved in 2009 and so there's reason to hope and possibly believe. Weis has shown he's capable of learning, but this year will be his biggest challenge.

The believer in me looks at all of these improvements and thinks, we have to improve to a BCS caliber team given all of the factors that have changed. The skeptic in me thinks that, as omahadomer says, you pretty much are what you are by your fourth year and that if Weis is still learning on the job, we'll probably discover three more things he has to learn after this year.

The skeptic in me right now outweighs the believer, but the believer is a hell of a lot more fun in the meantime.

I choose to believe.

Until the season gives me a reason not to.

Opportunities Abound

The dawn of a new year is the time of hope. People make resolutions to do better in their lives. They see an opportunity for a clean slate, and want to take advantage of the benefits that slate can give. Some folks have Opportunity knocking at their door today. If they take advantage, it could mean a very prosperous 2009 -- and beyond.

The Line on the Color Bar

The most obvious opportunity is that for Mike Haywood. After biding his time and plying his trade for a number of high-profile programs, he's getting his shot to be the top dog at Miami University. Haywood has served under a number of outstanding coaches, and hopefully has learned at least a little from all of them. He'll now get to show the college football world the results of his schooling, and since you can't have enough Fighting Irish alums in the coaching world, we wish him all the best in his well-earned posting.

But an even bigger opportunity is in the hands of Floyd Keith and the Black Coaches Association. They now have at least three examples -- Haywood, Buffalo's Turner Gill, and DeWayne Walker, who has interviewed strongly for a number of positions and is reportedly the leading candidate at New Mexico State -- they can show to their membership and say, "See, this is how it should be done. This is how you need to do it."

There are far too few African-American head coaches in Division 1A (or the FBS or whatever goofy moniker is used for it these days). The solution, however, is not forcing unprepared candidates into positions and having them flame out. The solution is for African-Americans who want to coach to be given the same opportunity to follow the typical coaching development path as their Caucasian counterparts.

Look at the resumes of Haywood, Gill and Walker, and note the similarities:

All three men got their Bachelor's degrees. Haywood got his the old fashioned way at ND. Gill and Walker went in a slightly more roundabout fashion, but both are in possession of sheepskins. Such degrees are critical for college coaching advancement. So perhaps instead of focusing on the (admittedly poor) low percentage of African-American head coaches, the BCA should focus on the (even more reprehensible) low percentage of African-American football players who finish their eligibility with a college degree. Plantations like Arizona and Michigan and Texas and Georgia, with their horrible performance in graduating African-American football players, especially in comparison to their Caucasian counterparts, should be called on the carpet. That's how you start -- by increasing the pool of available candidates, and letting them get an early start on their coaching careers instead of spending two or three years getting the degree they should have been earning during their playing days.

All three men have experience at multiple levels and multiple positions. Haywood was an assistant for 20 years, progressing from a position coach at Minnesota and Army and Ball State to a Special Teams coordinator at LSU and Texas. Gill was a 17-year assistant at North Texas, SMU, and Nebraska, with the Huskers winning three National Titles during his stint there. Walker has also prowled sidelines for 20 years at places like Oklahoma State, BYU, Cal, USC, and UCLA.

One could argue it should have taken them less than 20 years, but one could also argue there are Caucasian assistants who sometimes wait that long. Pete Carroll's first job as an assistant was in 1973 but wasn't hired by the Jets as HC until 1994. Mark Richt started as a QB coach at FSU in 1985, and it wasn't until 2001 that he got a top job. Bob Stoops started in 1983 and didn't get to Oklahoma until 1999.

All three men have held leadership positions as an assistant. Haywood was ST coordinator twice and then OC at Notre Dame. Gill was Assistant HC at Nebraska. Walker was the DC at UCLA. They had experience overseeing large groups within the team, coordinating recruiting, game-planning, the works. Along with the graduation rates, the BCA should be counting the number of college coordinators of color, because those are the most direct seeds from which head coaches grow.

All three men started (or will start) their head coaching careers at a learning stop. Gill is already turning heads at Buffalo, where he has reformed one of the losing-est programs in recent memory into a MAC threat. Haywood will start at Miami, another MAC school with a strong tradition where a new coach can afford to make teeth-cutting mistakes without it making a bad first impression. Walker is looking at NMSU, and probably will find it easier to learn the intricacies of the HC position in the WAC rather than the spotlight of the Pac-10.

The Line on the Green Bar

Charlie Weis also has an opportunity, one he's been offered before. You don't always get a second bite at the apple, but here we have Weis with what might be his third chance to broaden his horizons on offense.

It remains to be seen which current Notre Dame assistants (if any) will accompany Haywood to Oxford, and it remains to be seen what other current assistants (if any) are relieved of their duties. But change is needed on the offensive side of the ball, and this may be Weis' last opportunity to make it.

The running game remains abysmal. Not to be lost in the otherwise-satisfying 49-21 thrashing of the Warriors in Honolulu was the net 73 yards gained by Irish players on the ground during the contest. While an 85 percent completion rate for your quarterback is a great thing, it's also not something dependable or even usual, and less than 100 yards on the ground against a team of UH's caliber does not bode well.

It's time for Charlie to truly become the leader a head coach needs to be. Leaders hire other leaders, and what Notre Dame needs now is a leader on offense not afraid to tell Weis it's time to run the ball well and not give up on it at the first sign of trouble. By all means, continue to utilize the weapons at QB and WR and TE. But an offense that is not a threat to run eventually falls because teams can sell out to stop the pass, as we saw to our chagrin down the stretch this season.

Weis has to replace his departing OC, and should replace his OL coach whether that departure is voluntary or not. A quality hire of someone(s) with a balanced viewpoint at both positions -- someone like a Mitch Browning, perhaps -- can revitalize the (truly) offensive side of the ball, and with a continuation of improvement on defense, could lead to the results we're looking for in 2009.

Anything else might lead to an opportunity for someone else.

Pat Fits? Don't Think So

I was working on the (very tardy) headlines this evening when a Sun Times entry caught my eye:

PAT's no irish tap dancer

The folks at the Kiddie Paper, as my grandfather used to call them, aren't really good at indicating what their articles are about via the headlines, so I opened it up to see if I needed to link it. All I saw was a blurb about an alleged recruiting visit Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald took to Notre Dame in 1992.

I say "alleged" because I had a hard time believing any of it ever happened. Coach Fitzgerald's father recounts a young man who had "done his homework" asking whether there was a rule at Notre Dame that forced you to live with the people you were assigned until graduation, unless you "got married and moved off campus". When Lou Holtz and his assistants "tap-danced around the answer", the young Fitzgerald decided Notre Dame was not the place for him.

Let's be clear: the forced living arrangement described by Mr. Fitzgerald was not a rule at Notre Dame when I graduated in 1991. It was not a rule at Notre Dame when my father graduated in 1966. So if this represents the depth of "homework" young Pat did before his visit, in true Crossian fashion, I give the assignment an F.

While I obviously was not at this alleged meeting during the alleged visit, I fail to see why the coaches would have to "tap dance around the answer". The answer is simple: No. Perhaps they tap-danced around what even asking such a question says about the intellectual capacity (or the agenda) of the questioner, but the answer is an easy one and the coaches in the room were not fools. I can't envision a scenario where "tap-dancing" would have been required.

Questionable fact-checking aside, I couldn't figure out what would lead Jim O'Donnell to write such a thing in the first place. Obviously he had done an interview for a banner story with the old man and this was some kind of sidebar, but why would ND be relevant? My only clue lay in the first paragraph:

In recruiting myth and lore, Pat Fitzgerald crafted his Hall of Fame linebacking career at Northwestern only after Notre Dame declined to offer him a scholarship.

Google is, as always, my friend, so I punched in "Pat Fitzgerald Notre Dame" and looked for news. A good number of the links on the first page sent me back to the Sun Times, links suggesting the existence of a brou-ha-ha regarding Pat Fitzgerald being considered by Notre Dame for the head coaching position.

Huh?

Sure, more than a couple names came up in the wake of the Syracuse and Southern Cal debacles, but Fitzgerald's wasn't one of them. Northwestern certainly had a nice season in a very down Integer this year, but if there is a list in Jack Swarbrick's drawer, Fitzgerald would be lucky to make page two.

From whence did this come? Best I can tell is one of two places.

Another of O'Donnell's articles quotes Beano Cook as saying Fitzgerald was under consideration. Beano, who is still waiting on Ron Powlus' first Heisman, is still trying to make money in the prognostication business. Google failed me on anything written down, so the best I can guess is he blorphed it out during a video segment.

Meanwhile, or perhaps in response, Sun Times scribe Rick Telander threw something together saying he thought Fitzgerald would be a good candidate. We had linked the article when it came out, but I'd missed the Fitzgerald reference at the end. O'Donnell interpreted this as a "growing chorus" saying Fitzgerald should take the job, the Northwestern Scout kids wet their pants over it, and it took off from there.

I remained flummoxed. Beano Trelawney is who he is, of course, but what's Telander's game, and why is O'Donnell riding saddle with no horse like this? Better yet, why is he writing about non-existent Notre Dame rules in a newspaper, even the Sun Times?

And then, epiphany. 17 days early.

Northwestern is one of the few schools out there that, like Notre Dame, knows academics is not a four-letter word when it comes to athletics. Their high standards are laudable, but, as ND fans know, come at the price of a shallower talent pool from which to draw. When ND is running on a full mixture, like Duke in basketball, it tends to dominate that pool.

This certainly is a detriment to Fitzgerald, especially with Notre Dame coming into Illinois and grabbing players like Steve Filer, Darius Fleming, Robert Hughes, and Sergio Brown. Even walk-on-cum-special-teams-monster Mike Anello bears a Land of Lincoln pedigree. Northwestern doesn't recruit nationally to the extent ND does, so the Fighting Irish cherry-picking Chicago talent would hurt Fitzgerald sooner or later.

How to fight against it? If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Notre Dame is thinking about hiring this guy? Hey, I should just go play for him now if ND thinks he's that good!

Telander's a Northwestern alumnus, and there'd be no point in destabilizing his alma mater's coaching staff for something as ephemeral as this Fitzgerald-to-ND garbage, especially considering he was one of the people who created it out of whole cloth. Ah, but if he knows there's little chance it's actually going to happen and can couch it in such a way that makes Fitzgerald look good at Charlie Weis' expense? That's gold, Jerry.

O'Donnell's the beat writer, he wants access just as much as anyone else does. What better way to get it than to do the boss man a favor and suggest some non-existent "rules" at ND along with a non-denial denial. As long as he doesn't actually lie and say it's true, he's well into the safe gray area. We Catholics call that area a "sin of omission".

Dragging dear old dad into this farce is borderline reprehensible on all of their parts. But as a dad myself, I know you want to see your kids succeed, so I don't blame him too much.

Rising above it all, the young Pat gets to be magnanimous, talking about how he'd be "honored if ND considered him" (easy to say when they're not). Now he can walk into recruits' living rooms and shake his head ruefully about the "rumors" (started in a hometown paper by an alumnus and the beat writer) and what that might "say" about the quality of his coaching and the stability at Notre Dame.

Well done, boys. Very well done.

If only any of it were true.

Set the Tone

I decided to drag out a Mike Brey-ism for this one.

I realize things both on this blog and on Rock's House and Cartier Field have trended very negative, especially since the Syracuse debacle and everything that's happened since. I've contributed to it, both here and there, and have decided to take a mini sabbatical until things cool off. We're in a slow news time anyway.

But before I go, my question to the readership: What do you expect us to do in this situation?

A commenter to Vannie's entry from earlier this evening requested we stop being negative, saying he responded this way in the hopes that my fellow Ops and I would "read this message and those like it enough times you'll quit crying and go back to being a good resource for those who love Notre Dame and its football program".

The problem is, we're trying to be a good resource, and we don't think we're doing our job by pretending everything is fine when it's not.

Things are bad, and have been bad to varying degrees for the better part of 15 years. Plenty of people on campus want change desperately, including a lot of the players. We have yet to see strong leadership coming from under the Dome, or any indication they're going to get this fixed. We're left to hope for this and have faith in that and pray for the other, but have precious little evidence any of it will happen. It's very possible we may be sitting here next year in the exact same position with the exact same problems. History has shown us that tends to happen.

We've warned of the dangers. We've suggested solutions. We've encouraged people to share their thoughts with the school admin. We've given examples of what other schools are doing and what we think needs to change. But all we're getting in response is blow-back that we're "whining" and "being too negative".

You're our readers, you tell us. What are we supposed to do here?

Polar Football?

Ever since the move to Conference Championship Games Brought to You By AllState Because You Could Die Tomorrow Just Like John David Stutts, it seems the college football schedule has crept later and later. The Pac10 and Big East, not saddled with a made-for-TV event, followed ESPN's financial siren song and now consider the first weekend of December a viable date for games. While on the good side, it's allowed teams like USC to fiddle with their schedule and move the UCLA rivalry game to the very last weekend, why anyone would want to sit in a place like Piscataway and watch horrific football in the chill is beyond me.

The ACC, SEC, and BigXII teams that aren't in their title game are handcuffed, so there's plenty of broadcast space looking to be filled. Ending your season on Thanksgiving weekend has almost become an anachronism, and ending it before that puts you at a competitive disadvantage (as the Integer is finding out).

So the question becomes: Should the Fighting Irish get into the act?

Spending Thanksgiving in California (or someplace else warm) has become almost a tradition in and of itself for Notre Dame. But now we have this extra weekend hanging out there, and given its possible use to create a beneficial bye week during the meat of the season, perhaps ND should think about this a little.

I'm not suggesting they play in South Bend in December. Late November games are bad enough. If they're going to do this, they'd end up on the road two weeks in a row.

Warm-weather destinations, though, are attractive. The "barnstorming" plans call for games in places like Orlando and New Orleans. Is it possible a decent Big East or Pac10 team could be coaxed into an appearance somewhere like that?

Indoor destinations are another possibility. Indianapolis has a beautiful new facility just down the road. Detroit could use something like a Notre Dame game as a financial shot in the arm.

If Miami weren't locked up in the ACC, it'd be a natural to sign a four-year deal with them. Games in Miami, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Houston on the first Saturday in December would be financial and ratings winners.

Perhaps the readership could come up with a suitable opponent.

Hold Your Mud

Someone used that phrase on the boards today, and I resolved to add it to my lexicon. And it's applicable now, because given the events and my writings of the last couple days, I want to make sure an important point doesn't get lost here.

I still want Charlie Weis to succeed.

I have no reason to dislike the man personally. I've had two interactions with him in the four years he's been on the job, and both have been (at the very least) cordial. I've got no dog in any hunt for his failure, as I've no reason to gloat or personal scores to settle.

I have no reason to dislike the man professionally. As I've said numerous times, his work ethic laps the combined efforts of his two predecessors. He certainly has more of a personal connection to the school than Davie or Willingham did, and if I can't root for a member of the Family to succeed, what's the point?

That's what makes this all so hard. There's nothing I'd like more than for Charlie to get this turned around. I just can't see my way clear to predicting it with any reasonable certainty.

Next season is shaping up to be a very good one. With the recruits coming in and the talent on hand, we should be incredible on offense. Weapons at both the WR and RB position, with the TE contributing both in the blocking and attacking modes, and two five-star QB's to get the ball to them. The one thing that can stop it is if the OL continues to grossly underperform.

Defense looks to be improved as well. The young turks in the front seven will be seasoned and ready to contribute. Walls will be back from his missing year, making a strong position (DB) even stronger. If the backfield and front seven can stay on the same page, this may be the strongest defense ND has had since Davie left.

The schedule is favorable, with only four true road games, and one of those at Stanford. Nevada is tough, but not so tough they should give ND a game. Michigan is still rebuilding. MSU and BC lose a lot of their good players from this season and will have to come to South Bend, and Purdue and Washington will have both talent issues and will be breaking in new coaches. Wazzu set futility records this year, Navy is one more year removed from Paul Johnson, and Pitt and Stanford are Pitt and Stanford. On paper, Southern Cal is the true question mark, and after four top-10 recruiting classes in a row, we're as prepared as we're ever going to be to give them a game, particularly at home.

These are the kinds of opportunities great Notre Dame teams of the past have taken advantage of. These are the kinds of seasons great Notre Dame coaches have used to build their legacy.

The question becomes: What will Charlie and this team do?

I want to predict great things. But I look back on the last four seasons and see critical problems not addressed. Our running game has looked average at best, and awful the last two years. The OL is not in sync and is not tough. The S&C program leaves a lot to be desired, as our players look neither strong nor quick. And Charlie is still trying to figure out, as he called it, "this head coaching thing".

The 2009 season is hanging out there like a big ol' eephus pitch, just begging to be knocked out of the park. Those opportunities don't come around every season, and we haven't had a good swing in over 15 years. I don't know if my psyche can take it if we not only miss the ball, but end up turned around in the dirt.

I want Charlie to succeed, and if he does, I'll be happy for him. But if he doesn't, that's going to be it, for both him and for Jack.

It Just Goes to Show

Show what, I'm not at all sure.

Nothing, it seems, has been what it seems for the last couple weeks. Charlie Weis was fired, and then he was not. Jack Swarbrick was meeting with him next Monday, then it became last Tuesday when both were jetting around four time zones on the left coast. A presser became a release. Status quo became buyout financing became "responsible stewardship of university resources", and now Weis gets a continuance.

The inveterate straw-grasper in me sees plenty of lawyer-speak in that link. The release doesn't say Charlie Weis will be ND's coach in 2009, only that he will "continue" in the role, with Swarbrick "examining every aspect of the program" and making changes where he "think[s] they are needed". Plenty of ambiguity there, or at least enough to keep my soul from sinking, and we still have an epic tilt against the likes of, as Lou would say, the University of Rice to look forward to over the holidays before all's said and done.

Could this be the most Machiavellian approach to the AD chair we've seen since Gene Corrigan was in the house? Perhaps. Was retaining Charlie Weis truly the best option, based on a lack of a "home-run hire" being available? Maybe. Does Charlie know enough to, once again, go into the off-season ready to correct the errors of the previous fall? I guess.

Trouble with all that is, when you've had to dip the bucket into the well of patience as many times as ND fans have in the last 15 years, eventually all you hear is the thud of it hitting the sides. I'd love to give Jack Swarbrick and Fr. John Jenkins the benefit of the doubt here, but 50 times bitten, 51 times shy, I suppose.

At the moment when Swarbrick seemed truly to be examining all his options while waiting on a December 8th appointment, the entire process short-circuited, resulting in a piece of paper issued from the Joyce Center. It's hard not to think about how we've seen all this before. Look kids, Big Ben ... Parliament ... you noticing all this plight?

We should, I suppose, be grateful for small mercies. Swarbrick's predecessor would have attempted a press conference, and it doesn't take a lot of imagination to visualize the train wreck Mr. "Sunday through Friday" would have wrought. But that's cold comfort as I sit in the December chill wondering how the Decided Schematic Advantage is going to be realized, knowing I most likely am going to spend the next 11 months refereeing online fights about what "real ND fans" do/think/want or don't.

But hey, I'm all about chances, right? As of this typing, Charlie Weis is ND's football coach next year. So it's time to stop talking about what could happen and start talking about what damn well better happen, including some capital-R Realizations:

Number one, a head coach is not a special teams helper or a quarterbacks coach or a play-caller. He's a head coach, and he has other people on his staff to handle those other responsibilities. Notre Dame is not a place for those skills to be learned, but rather honed, and if you can't delegate what needs to be delegated, you won't do anything well.

Number two, what works in the NFL doesn't necessarily work in college. When you're not limited to 20 hours a week with your charges and aren't required to provide tutelage in fundamentals as well as scheme, you can get a hell of a lot more done. If you can't dumb it down and have it still work, you need to bring someone in to help you do it.

Number three, you're not going to get anywhere unless you listen. Not give lip service to listening, really listen. As the saying goes, A-level folks hire (and, by extension, listen to) other A-level folks. B-levels and below are afraid to "look weak" or otherwise allow themselves to grow, so they won't have themselves challenged. I don't know whether he needs security or patience or what, but the days of my-way-or-the-highway have to go, because this highway is leading us right to the gates of Hell. Find staffers willing to challenge you and put new ideas out there, and show you're willing to consider what they say.

Fourth, it's time to put your money where your mouth is. So much talk about the sizable buyout keeping you shackled to South Bend, are you willing to walk the walk and announce you've reached an agreement with ND to waive the buyout as of September 1, 2009. You're asking the fans to work without a net here in trusting you can change. How about inching out onto that limb with us?

That's a level of self-evaluation that must happen here, because without it, none of my requirements for 2009 will be met. What are those requirements? Glad you asked.

Win whatever third-tier bowl game ND ends up in this year. I'd also prefer some evidence it's going to be a good long time before we have to worry about a win or the venue, but I'll settle for Weis not becoming the first coach ever to have back-to-back losing seasons and still stay in his job.

Keep the recruiting class together, and add the likes of Xavier Nixon, Manti T'eo, and Jelani Jenkins. If recruiting truly is saving his behind, it'd better keep up.

Create an OL that could successfully block my grandmother, both on the ground and in pass protection. I don't give a damn what our pass/run play call mix is, but in situations where we absolutely have to do one or the other, we need to be able to do it successfully. A decent running game would have meant at least two more wins this year and two more not-so-close games. Lack of depth and stars isn't the case anymore.

On the raw W/L side, 11 wins, at least 10 of them in the regular season. Devil-like details would include no losses by more than 10 points, and that includes Southern Cal, and at least three wins by more than 21 points. It's time for the championship recruiting classes to become a championship team, and Weis is in the red on mulligans as it is.

If he's going to stay, that's what he needs. Otherwise, Swarbrick should spend the next 11 months getting the Tier-One hire on the line, because like it or not, Jack's now inexorably tied to Weis. Will he take him to new heights or pull him into the abyss with him? Only Weis' hypothetical knee doctor knows for sure.

It's Time

This one really hurts.

The last two didn't hurt, but this one does.

Okay, the last two hurt, but not in the same way. The last two times we fired guys, they were guys who didn't really care about ND as a place and decided to treat it as a career way-station on their planned route to College Station, TX, or the NFL. The losses and ineptitude that brought us to their dismissals were painful, but the solution was not.

This solution, however necessary, is different. Charlie Weis was a lot of things, but carpetbagger certainly wasn't one of them. When he told a recruit about the special aspects of the Grotto, he spoke from the heart. He spoke from the soul. He connected to Notre Dame and connected with us, and in doing so, brought hope things would turn around.

That connection kept Weis' head above water last year during a horrific 3-9 campaign that was as much his own doing as caused by his predecessor's recruiting shortfalls. But at 6-5, in the wake of one of the worst losses in Notre Dame football history and staring down the barrel of a top-10 team in Los Angeles that needs style points if they wants to play in the BCS championship game, that connection is dragging us down with him.

It's time to cut the connection before we all drown.

There really is no alternative. For the second consecutive season, ND will finish with a worse won-loss record than its talent would indicate. For the fourth consecutive season, ND will look worse in its last game than it did in its first. John Walters ran the numbers, and Charlie Weis sits today after four years with the exact same win percentage his two predecessors had on the day they were fired. It wasn't good enough then, and it's certainly not good enough now.

Weis said it himself: We didn't bring him here to go .500.

Dylan over at BGS described Jack Swarbrick as, "having barely opened his office door, has found the whole place to be on fire". Fair or not, football coaching hires are how AD's are judged, and it's Swarbrick at the bat, or with the fire extinguisher at least.

In a perfect world, he would have been sounding out potential replacements early to make this as seamless as possible. I'm willing to bet a lot of money that hasn't happened. But fear not, such things are still possible, and time remains.

Weis, in retrospect, was a poor hire. But I gain hope from the hiring track record of the current administration since that day. On the academic side, Tom Burish seems to have been a good get at Provost, there are a number of excellent candidates on the short list for the Law School, and even the most curmudgeonly curmudgeon on Rock's House applauded Marianne Corr's hiring as General Counsel. On the athletic side, Jeff Jackson prowls the blue line in the Joyce Center after taking Notre Dame to its first Frozen Four.

Good hires of people more than capable in their field seem to have been made in recent years, all without the word "residentiality" being uttered. This tells me the people involved know how to hire. If they all of a sudden can't get it done in football, that will tell me a whole list of other things, none of them good.

But in the spirit of hope springing eternal, I think it's important to remind all my gentle readers of the things all previous successful ND coaches since Rockne have had in common:

All were very experienced as a college coach. Elmer Layden had coached for nine years prior to arriving in South Bend. Ara Parseghian had 13 years' experience. Dan Devine and Lou Holtz both coached their 17th season in their first year at ND. The only exception to this rule was Frank Leahy, but he got quite a bit done in his two years at BC.

All had coached at the top levels of college before coming to ND. Duquesne was a strong program when Leyden was there. Ara coached in the Big 10, Devine in the Big 8 (now Big XII), Lou in the SWC and Big 10. Again, Leahy stands out with BC being an independent, but also again, what he did there makes up for it.

All had coached at least one major college team to an undefeated season, a top-10 ranking, or a major NYD bowl. Layden's 1929 Duquesne team went 9-0-1 and his 1933 team went 10-1 and won what is now called the Orange Bowl. In two years at BC, Leahy's teams went to the Cotton and Sugar bowls. Ara had Northwestern ranked #1 during his career, an unheard-of achievement in those days. Devine had an undefeated season at ASU, and had four top-ten finishes and went to three Orange Bowls and a Sugar Bowl at Mizzou. Lou was an Orange, Fiesta, and Sugar Bowl veteran by the time he arrived in South Bend, and had four top-10 finishes to his credit to boot, including one at NC State.

So it can be conclusively proven that Notre Dame has had success when led by an experienced, known-commodity coach. The myth once perpetrated by a former administration official that "Notre Dame makes coaches, not the other way around" is just that, a myth.

Unfortunately for us, however, these men also had two other things in common:

They were not in good coaching situations when they were hired. Notre Dame represented a step up or a dream come true for all of these men. Layden and Leahy were alumni. ND was a bigger stage and could give more than the Integer outlets at which Ara and Lou toiled. Devine was coming off a failed attempt to coach the Packers.

It definitely takes more moxie than the norm to woo a top coach away from what might be considered a cushy job. But we are, as the commercials during the game tell us, the Fighting Irish, and I expect a fight no matter who we end up hiring. What was the title of Charlie's book? No excuses.

They weren't saints. This has been a strong refrain of NDOldTown in recent days/weeks, and in this, he is absolutely right. All these men were ethical and good people. But they also were winners, and were willing to do what it took while following the spirit of the rules to get there. They worked hard and so did their players. If they saw an advantage, they took it. And they certainly didn't have people in their job interview talking to them about the importance of Catholicism and other tertiary concerns. There's a reason the Boy Scouts don't have a football team, and as long as we aren't treating players like pieces of meat and we ensure they graduate with meaningful educations while keeping our noses clean, it's all good.

These are the times that try men's souls, times when people who aspire to be Notre Dame legends have an opportunity to prove their worth. Fr. Jenkins and Jack Swarbrick have such an opportunity now, and it may be their last. Make it count, gentlemen.

In Search of Wow

(NDNation.com) After a year and a half in purgatory, it's clear to all but the Ostriches that the Notre Dame offense will be a force for the next two years at least.

Clausen will be at least as good as Brady Quinn and has started to blossom (I hate that word) now that we can finally pass block with some success, but right now we can't run with consistency and we're missing the Wow.

The Wow : A player who makes the defense hesitate by creating a moment of indecision that allows for big plays and breaks open the field.

Wow players like Rocket, Tim Brown or Reggie Bush (coincidence that SC has no titles without him?) changed game plans. When they were on the field, defenses had to think about more than just their assignment and always had to account for "that guy." They were players who put you back on your haunches and kept you honest because you knew if you didn't, on mistake could mean a long run or a touchdown. They open up the field and change the game through fear. Many forget that Reggie Brooks developed into a Wow before he left South Bend.

We've got some very good players who have speed and skill, but right now there's no lightning strike. Golden Tate has shown speed, but even better ball skills and hasn't been that dynamic with the ball in his hands. Michael Floyd is a great receiver already (some pups bite ya early,) but hasn't shown the ability to generate significant yards after the catch. Armando Allen has a great burst, but still hasn't broken any really long runs despite many touches.

So all of this has Irish fans wondering if Cierre Wood will be the next Wow. Wood ran for 20 yards a carry on nine carries and 180 yards last weekend giving him 62 carries for 969 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season. You do the math.

This offense will be productive and score enough points for the Irish to win a lot of games the next two seasons (and given our defense we have to,) but if ND can add the Wow we could see an historically great Irish offense.

Here's a new Youtube clip of Cierre (old runs - turn the volume down.)

Fits, Starts, and Quicker Picker Uppers

(NDNation.com) Whenever my kids try my patience, I threaten to embarrass them on the Internet. Given the amount of posting I do, it's no idle threat.

Today, I was thinking about our ordeal toilet training them. Neither of them made it at all easy. Just when we thought they had it, there would be an accident and it felt like we were going back to square one.

It drove us mad. We knew they could do it because we watched them do it multiple times, sometimes up to a dozen trips in a row. But then there we'd be with the paper towels, muttering words under our breath we didn't want them repeating.

Why did that come to mind? I was sitting in my basement watching the Fighting Irish play in Chapel Hill on Saturday.

This team, in contrast to the one which preceded it, has been a joy to watch. The offense flows effortlessly. Michael Floyd plays like someone with multiple seasons at the college level under his belt, and has since he first hit the field. Golden Tate's is developing more each game, sometimes more each play. Armando Allen, since his installation as the feature back, has been tearing it up. The defensive backs haven't been afraid to challenge top-flight wideouts. Mike Anello continues to play inspired football as the gunner on special teams.

But then, the puddle and guilty look. Javon Ringer, held in check for the most part the entire game, rips off a 73-yard gallop enabling Michigan State to turn a close game into what looks, to the casual observer, like a handling. Jimmy Clausen, perfect for 10 quarters, throws an interception for a TD going the other way and follows it up with a laws-of-physics fumble. Floyd sheds his mature personna and makes a freshman mistake trying to do too much (seconds before the officials did the same).

It's maddening. But it's to be expected. Youth begets success in fits and starts. They look like world-beaters one minute and pud-beaters the next.

So, too, is the coaching staff. They're not young chronologically but they're definitely young philosophically. Michael Haywood is taking the reins for the first time, and while that means a bit more diversification in the offensive portfolio, not all the picks have been the right ones. Even Charlie Weis is still getting used to the college game after getting his hubris handed to him in last year's 3-9 debacle, but we're seeing the changes manifesting themselves in more physical practices and flexibility in things like deferring the ball until the second half.

But it's tough getting down with those paper towels knowing what we saw last season and the promise we're seeing this year. When, Lord? When's gonna be our time?

That's the trouble with the puddles. They get you down. But eventually, you realize you haven't seen one in a while. And then it becomes so commonplace you don't even think about it anymore.

But you're richer for the experience.

At least that's what I'm telling myself. Where's the Bounty?