Friday, October 21, 2011

Irish Blogger Gathering: Converting the Unconvertable


Domer Law brings the questions this week and I bring the answers from an Einstein Bagel in Chicago while I wait for my ride to South Bend/Tailgate-a-geddon/Notre Dame-Southern Cal. Let's get to it.

1. I'm taking an old friend of mine to the USC game. They were born and raised in South Bend near Notre Dame, and developed a dislike for the University at a young age from dealing with the frustrations and messes that come from Notre Dame home football weekends. She's never been to a Notre Dame game before (she's an Ohio State fan). We're going to go tailgate and do all the usual tailgating stuff. Any suggestions on what I could do to help her let go of her animosity towards Notre Dame?

I hate to be the one who breaks this to you, but she’s a Buckeye fan. She’s not salvageable. But for the sake of denial, let’s pretend she can be saved. Take a trip to The Grotto (soften the heart out of the gate) followed by a raging tailgate where she can bond with Irish fans over a mutual hatred of Michigan. Finding things you have in common breaks down barriers. My boys and I will be under the giant “Yard Sale” flag next to Legends with all the Michigan hate in the world to share with her if you need a hand.

2. On a related note, do you have any suggestions for improving the Notre Dame game weekend experience generally? Are there traditions lost that you'd like to see restored, or new ideas that you'd like to see implemented to improve the gameday experience?

I love gameday at Notre Dame, but my biggest beef with the experience of the entire weekend has been the completely obliteration of the pep rally. The “Rally on the Green” is indescribably horrendous and embarrassing. The administration has officially waved the white flag on having students play a role in it or caring an iota about it. It’s catered to little kids—which is not the way it should be—and it’s outdoors—which is terrible.

One of the best moments of the weekend used to be when the band flooded into the JACC through the tunnels blasting the Victory March. In my eyes it officially kicked off a Notre Dame football weekend. It was worth sitting through the rest of the rally—no matter how good or bad it was (and it was usually bad)—just for those two minutes.

3. (a) USC is (and always will be) our biggest rival. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? And if you agree, why do you feel that this is such an important rivalry? (b) Rank your top 10 college football rivalries and provide justifications for each.

There will be others that arise in spurts that will be more meaningful in the moment than Southern Cal (ex: Miami in the late 80’s), but over time the Trojans will always be our chief rival. The history runs incredibly deep, laced with heartbreaks and glorious triumphs on both sides. Memorable contests cement great rivalries and there isn’t another opponent in Notre Dame’s long history that’s delivered as many as Southern Cal. The Irish victories in ’73 and ’77 are two of the most celebrated victories of all-time while the ’64 and ’05 losses are almost undoubtedly the two most heartbreaking losses in school history.

Top 10 Rivalries

These are the ten rivalries that I'll go out of my way to make sure I watch every year:

Army-Navy...I mean, come on.
Ohio State-Michigan...Far and away the biggest game in the Big Ten.
Texas-Texas A&M...Always an entertaining contest on Thanksgiving weekend. Way to ruin it, Aggies.
Oregon-Oregon State...Love the Civil War.
Alabama-Auburn...Roll Tide.
Clemson-South Carolina...There is an underrated amount of hate in this rivalry which is so necessary.
UCF-UConn...brought to you by the braintrust of the Big East Conference.
Georgia-Georgia Tech...Any game called "Good Ol' Fashioned Hate" is worth watching.
Oklahoma-Oklahoma St...Bedlam.
Oklahoma-Texas...Loses points because it's always at a neutral site.

4. Southern Cal is 5-1, with their only loss on the road at Arizona State. They are unranked, sitting right behind us in the "also receiving votes" category. How good is Southern Cal this year? How do you see this game playing out?

They’re very middle of the road, way down by Southern Cal standards. There are still studs on both sides of the ball, but for the first time in over a decade Notre Dame has a clear advantages in the trenches on offense and defense. If both teams play their best game, the Trojans cannot keep up with the Irish. It felt so good to type that.

That being said, Notre Dame displayed an otherworldly ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the first two weeks of the season. Southern Cal is far better than South Florida and Michigan and is more than capable of walking into Notre Dame Stadium and leaving with a victory.

That’s not happening on this night though.

As much as I’d like to see Notre Dame blow the doors off Southern Cal and rub Lane Kiffin’s face in the turf, I think it’ll be a close game where we get down early due to a stupid mistake or two and have to claw back. David Ruffer snaps back and drills three field goals that prove to be the difference. Notre Dame 23, Southern Cal 20.

5. It appears that with a win over USC, we'll re-enter the Top 25 rankings. Now that we're halfway through the season and have some actual evidence available to us from real games, how do you see the rest of the season playing out? Predict:

(a) Notre Dame's final record (indicating where we will lose if at all) – 10-2…I think Stanford is overrated and that’s the only team other than So Cal that can scare us.
(b) Notre Dame's bowl destination, opponent and outcome – Fiesta Bowl vs Boise…Notre Dame 34, Boise State 33
(c) The BCS Championship game and result – Alabama 31, Oklahoma 13
(d) Notre Dame's final AP ranking – #6
(e) The winners of the major awards, including:
(i) Heisman Trophy – Trent Richardson
(ii) Home Depot Coach of the Year - Dabo Swinney
(iii) Davey O'Brien Award (best QB) – Kellen Moore
(iv) Doak Walker Award (best RB) – Trent Richardson
(v) Fred Biletnikoff Award (best WR) – Ryan Broyles
(vi) Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player) - Donta Hightower

Saturday, October 15, 2011

THE BODOGS ARE BARKIN: WEEK #6





Week 5 Results



Chuck: -$103. Hinkle: -$71. Mattare: $66. Mikey: -$92.



Standings thru Week 5.



Chuck: $44. Hinkle: -$38. Mattare: -$19. Mikey: -$314.


Mattare


USC -3 over Cal $33 to win $30


Ok St. -8 over Texas $33 to win $30


Alabama -27 over Ole Miss $33 to win $30


Oregon -14.5 over Arizona St. $33 to win $30



Hinkle



You be the judge on this rapid chain of events....




A. Josh moves to Tucson



B. Josh goes to see the U of A vs. Oregon



C. Josh decides the U of A should dominate Oregon State and makes it his biggest bet of the year to date.



D. Arizona loses

E. Mike Stoops if fired....think about it

On to the winners:

USC-3 vs Cal $44 win $40

BYU Oregon State OVER 51 $55 win $50

Georgia -11.5 vs Vandy $22 win $20


Oregon -14 vs Arizona State $22 win $20




Chuck




Arizona st over Oregon $22 to win $20

Penn st -11.5 over Purdue $22 to win $20

Georgia tech -7 over UVA $44 to win $40

RG III +9 over A&M $22 to win $20


Mikey


If I win out I'm probably still in good shape...riding the postitive train this week.

Penn St. (-11.5) vs. Purdue $22 to win $20

Penn St. has looked terrible all year so natually I'm picking them as a double digit favorite. Purdue asking for a letdown game after a big home win.




Florida St. (-13.5) vs. Duke $110 to win $100

I continue to ride the Seminole train even though they've been burning me all season. This time I'm going big to recoop all the previous losses




Georgia Tech (-7) vs. Virginia $22 to win $20

I saw UVA play at Indiana a few weeks ago and it was damn ugly. Thinking G Tech can go in and run all over them so laying the TD should be no problem.




Arizona St. (+14) vs. Oregon $22 to win $20

Ducks are banged up and I'd love to see them go down on their home field. Think this one will be very tight.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

GAMEDAY: CHECK YOUR TONE, BOY

The Irish put together a solid all-around effort last week against a horrendously terrible Purdue squad. Air Force presents a different, tougher, and more interesting challenge. Bob Diaco would go a long way in silencing the remaining critics if his defensive unit squashes the Zoomies' ground attack today.

Air Force's defense is banged up and out-manned, especially on line. ND delivers today and reminds the mouthy Tim Jefferson that the Irish are on their way to becoming a force.

Have fun digging yourself out from the turf Manti Te'o is going to bury you in, Timmy.

Notre Dame 34
Air Force 13

THE BODOGS ARE BARKIN: WEEK #5

Week 4 Results

1. Chuck: $16
2. Hinkle: $14
3. Mattare: -$29
4. Mikey: -$68

Standings thru Week 4

1. Chuck: $147
2. Hinkle: $33
3. Mattare: -$85
4. Mikey: -$222

Chuck

Game #1: Virginia Tech (-7) over Miami...$33 to win $30

Game #2: Northwestern (+7.5) over Michigan...$110 to win $100

Game #3: Wake Forest (+10.5) over Florida State...$22 to win $20

Game #4: Oklahoma (-11) over Texas...$22 to win $20

Hinkle

Game 1: Boise State -20.5 @ Fresno State (Pinnacle) 33 win 30

Saw this game in person last year. Fresno has no idea how to cover the deep ball and Kellen Moore's play action ability left their defense looking like a bunch of chickens running around with their heads cut off. Boise's defense has played very well this year and it is overhsadowed by their Heisman candidate QB on the other side of the ball. I look for Boise to explode on offense and keep the Bulldogs under 17 points.

Game 2: Arizona -2.5 @ Oregon State 88 win 80

Poor Nick Foles. This Cat puts up huge numbers week in and week out but his friends on defense tackle worse than a flag football team. They had a brutal opening schedule playing top notch schools back to back to back weeks and had their top WR out for one of those games. They showed life once again at USC last week but falling behind early killed them. I think the Wildcats finalls "Bear Down" on defense enough to cover this low number behind Foles and the explosive O.

Game 3: Auburn +10 vs Arkansas 33 win 30

I was not a believer in Auburn week 1. They have showed some heart and played solid throughout the past several games. This is going to be a tough SEC game and we all know anything can happen in those games. I will glady take two scores in what is sure to be a quality matchup to watch.

Game 4: Oklahoma/Texas Over 56.5 20 win 20

Its called a Shootout for a reason....

Mattare

Game #1: Army (-2) over Ball State...$44 to win $40

Riding the cadets again.

Game #2: Iowa-Penn State (UNDER 45)...$33 to win $30

Just a gross, gross game. Ew.

Game #3: LSU (-14) over Florida...$33 to win $30

Florida might have less than 150yds of total offense.

Game of the Week: Oklahoma (-11) over Texas...$55 to win $50

Beatdown.

Mikey

Another week and more lost money, if you're fading me congratulations on the small fortune you must now possess.

Game #1: Texas (+10.5) vs. Oklahoma...$44 to win $40

Game #2: Florida St. (-10) vs. Wake Forest...$44 to win $40

Game #3: Florida (+13) vs. LSU...$44 to win $40

Game #4: Arkansas (-10) vs. Auburn...$44 to win $40

Saturday, October 1, 2011

GAMEDAY: STRESS RELIEVER?

The Boilers are not a good team, far and away the worst of the first five teams we've faced (I know, it's hard to believe someone is worse than Michigan). The Irish should roll in this game but I and most ND fans have been conditioned to expect our boys to do everything in their power to make games as stressful as possible no matter the talent gap.

Two years ago the Irish left Ross-Ade Stadium with one of the most dramatic victories in school history. It won't take any late game heroics this time around. The offense takes a step forward and commits only one turnover (someone gag me that I'm excited for that stat), but the story of the day is the defense which completely suffocates the Boilers.

Stars: Manti Te'o gets the first interception of his career, Gary Gray snipes one as well, Aaron Lynch gets two more sacks, and Theo Riddick has a Michigan State 2010-esque statline on offense.

Say it with me: a nice, relaxing victory...a nice, relaxing victory...a nice, relaxing...

Notre Dame 27
Purdue 10

THE BODOGS ARE BARKIN: WEEK #4


Week 3 Results

1. Chuck: $108
2. Hinkle: $24
3. Mattare: -$51
4. Mikey: -$79

Standings thru Week 3

1. Chuck: $131
2. Hinkle: $19
3. Mattare: -$56
4. Mikey: -$154

Chuck

Game #1: Florida (+4) over Bama...$44 to win $40

Game #2: Clemson (+7) over Va Tech...$22 to win $20

I just made the first contribution to IPTAY to erect the Tajh Mahal.

Game #3: ND (-12) over Purdue...$22 to win $20

Curb stomp special.

Game #4: Wiscy (-10) over Nebraska...$22 to win $20

Hinkle

3-1 last week but the "1" was a killer. I got to see Oregon in person and I have NEVER seen a human in person as fast and shifty as Mr. James. He is silly good. I am in the process of moving into my house this weekend so things are crazy and write ups will be short. I already missed my play of the week on Pitt so I feel this could be a bad week. Positive thoughts!

Game #1: Navy (-3.5) vs. Air Force...$33 win $30

I absolutely loved Navy and they way they played at South Carolina. Who doesn't love a white QB with wheels? Give be the Middies all day. Remember this pick come a few weeks. Just sayin is all...

Game #2: Toledo (+8) vs Temple...$33 win $30

Temple played very well last weekend. Toledo has played great the past 3 weekends. They have been battle tested losing a close one at Ohio State, losing at home to Boise in a turnover plagued game, and then last week on the road at Syracuse on a blown call. Toledo has something to prove and they will play a great game this weekend.

Game #3: Texas/Iowa State OVER 50...$55 win $50

Ton of offense. ALL GAME LONG! This game hits the 70's.

Game #4: Wisconsin/Nebraska UNDER 57...$33 win $30

RED OUT in Madison. That will go for the crowd and for the offenses. Both teams are going to have a ton of pressure on them to prove their worth. Who is the king of the Big Ten(ish)? Nebraska has not played a team like Wisconsin and I do not think they will run up and down the field like normal. I see the first having moving somewhat fast with alot of ground game action and little points. It is going to open up in the 2nd half but not enough to cover this number.

Mattare

Game #1: Alabama (-4) over Florida...$77 to win $70

Florida hasn't seen a defense like Bama's. The Tide rolls in The Swamp.

Game #2: Baylor (-4) over Kansas State...$33 to win $30

Tricky game for the Bears, but RGIII drags them to a victory.

Game #3: Mississippi State (+7) over Georgia...$33 to win $30

Have people really soured on the Bulldogs that much?

Game of the Week: Nebraska (+10) over Wisconsin...$33 to win $30

Way too many points to be laying. I think the Badgers win but it'll be more in the mold of a 24-20 win.

Mikey

This is just getting worse and worse, time to start throwing darts:

Game #1: Michigan St. (+3) vs. Ohio St...$22 to win $20

Time to let the buckeyes burn me for the 2nd straight week.

Game #2: Virginia Tech (-7) vs. Clemson...$44 to win $40

Clemson's going through a brutal stretch right now, can't see them taking down Va Tech to end it.

Game #3: Florida (+3.5) vs. Alabama...$44 to win $40

Gotta win home games in the brutal SEC, think floridas got this one.

Game #4: Wisconsin (-10) vs. Nebraska...$22 to win $20

Wisconsins on fire and this is nebraskas 1st big 10 road test. Good luck huskers.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

GAMEDAY: PITT STOP


Last time the Irish rolled into Heinz Field it was the first game of the Charlie Weis Era. Things have changed a bit, huh?

The Irish won 42-21 that day. Almost de ja vu today as Michael Floyd goes bezerk.

Notre Dame 41
Pitt 17

GO IRISH

THE BODOGS ARE BARKIN: WEEK #3


Good bounce back from the boys in week two. Let's see if they can keep the momentum going in week three.

Week 2 Results

1. Hinkle: $109
2. Mattare: $87
3. Mikey: $67
4. Chuck: $6

Standings thru Week 2

1. Chuck: $23
2. Mattare: -5
3. Hinkle: -5
4. Mikey: -$75


ON TO THE PICKS!

Chuck

Same problem as last week. Don't judge me. Here are some winners.

Game 1: BYU -2.5 vs Ucf 77 to win 70

Trevor Matich told me to do it.

Game 2: Ok st +4 @ aTm 33 to win 30

Game 3: Arkansas +12 @ bama 22 to win 20

Game 4: Lsu -5.5 @wvu 33 to win 30

Mattare

Another big week on deck.

Game #1: Notre Dame (-7.5) over Pitt...$55 to win $50

The Irish are starting to hit their stride. Watch the national hype start to build up again after dismantling the Panthers today.

Game #2: Texas Tech (-16) over Nevada...$33 to win $30

Colin Kaepernick is not walking through that door.

Game #3: Southern Cal (+2.5) over Arizona State...$33 to win $30

Count me among the Arizona State unbelievers.

Game of the Week: LSU (-6) over West Virginia...$77 to win 70

LSU rolls.

Hinkle

Welcome to the world of gambling. ND vs Michigan seemed to be an easy obvious W in week 1. Nope. Pitt vs Iowa seemed to be an awful analysis by me and a loss in wekk 2. Nope. That's how the gambling Gods roll. Ill take hitting both big games last week and getting the ball rolling in the right direction. Let's keep it going.

Game 1: ND/PITT U 55 (44 win 40)

I am really surprised by this total. I saw this being more of a game in the 40's. ND tightened up on defense last week and Pitt has done a fairly good job of holding opponents down as well minus 4th quarter collapse at Iowa. I think both teams will rely heavy on the run game which should drain the clock at a fairly good pace. Throw in the fact that I liked this game at 53 and the public is pounding the over I will roll the dice even though I hate betting big on totals. Come on kids!

Game 2: PSU/ Directional Michigan East U 46 (22 win 20)

PSU is currently favored by 28.5. They have shown me nothing this year to prove they have the ability to score at will and blow a team out. The fighting Larry Birds had their first winning season since the Clinton administration (4th and Inches crew that is two references this week if counting) last year so beating them up does not count. They looked awful last week. What is going to click this week? Do they have a QB yet? Is Joe Pa alive? PSU football is depressing right now.
30-12.

Game 3: Turtle Helmets -8.5 vs Temple (66 win 60)

Temple put it all on the line last weekend. They almost owned the state for a year but lost it in the end. Letdown on the road as the Terps will rebound from a disappointing loss to the Mountaineers. Temple gives up 8 points a game but they have played not a soul. Villanova is not the same 1-AA powerhouse that they are this year. Akron is barf, just look at my pick last week, and PSU is more like a 1-AA in their own right. Terps come out chucking the ball all over the field and light up the scoreboard. 44-23.

Game 4: LSU -6 at WVU (33 win 30)

LSU is good. Real good. They are in the elite class of teams that I would really like to see my Broncos play to see how credible of a team they are. Their defense is solid. Their speed is off the charts. They play in the toughest league in the world next to the LVC. I mean Death Valley is no Rockne Hall but still. Do you think Mountaineer Stadium will shake the Tigers? Their size and speed will match that of the WVU WR corp and make it a long night for the potent offense. I see WVU realizing that the Little East is nothing compared to an elite SEC school who has already played two top 25 opponents and looked impressive in both. 24-13 Tigers

Mikey


Muuuuch better week last week going 3-1 and nearly 4-0 if FSU could've taken advantage of their 2nd half opportunities. Either way feeling alot more confident heading into week 3 and ready to lay all these picks down at a sportsbook in Vegas this weekend. Time to get after it:

Game 1: Penn St. (-29) over Eastern Michigan $22 to win $20

Penn St had an awesome 4 point win over Temple last week and left everyone impressed. Seriously though, the Lions can't be happy right now and they have Eastern Michigan on a tee to try and make them feel better. I don't see EMU putting up even one point while Penn St will be running up and down the field all day. 29 just ain't enough.

Game 2: Maryland (-9) over Temple $55 to win $50

Maryland proved me right last week by going down to WVa, and I'm going to try and cash in on them again. Temples coming off an emotional loss to Penn St and going on the road this week won't help them get over it. The terps will bounce back big against the owls at home.

Game 3: Colorado (+15) over Ohio St. $22 to win $20

This may be a bit of an overreaction to Ohio St getting pounded by the U, but I just don't think they're very good this year. Its going to take some time for them to recover from tattoo-gate 2010 and I think this season may just be a bit of a wash. Not really sure what Colorado's story is but chalk this up to education if they get blown out.

Game 4. West Virginia (+6) over LSU $22 to win $20

LSU gon win this game 5-0... now onto the Bellagio!!!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Conference Armageddon Roundtable

Instead of worrying about the Mexder futures that were expiring for my trade desk this afternoon, I was embroiled in a heated debate consisting of lengthy emails debating the pros and cons of Notre Dame joining a conference amongst former members of my dorm. Below is a transcript of those emails. My thanks to all those who unknowingly contributed to this column.

For the sake of privacy, the names have not been changed.

Shuttlecock (10:22am)

"ACC anyone?"

La Bamba (10:48am)

"The thought of not being independent is tearing me up inside. It looks awful. I can't go up against 'Cuse again and lose on the reg. They're just too stong. Too good."

Mattare (11:19am)

"Notre Dame still does not have to join a conference based on what's transpired over the past few days. Swarbrick needs to be proactive in finding a good landing spot for our olympic sports, but football absolutely can stay independent if that's the path we want to continue on. The notion that our hand has been forced at this juncture is completely false."

Panzer (11:23am)

"As far as landing spots for olympic sports, I think the pool would work best for the diving team and a sand pit would work well for all long jumpers/triple jumpers. As for the other sports, its not so much the landing that I'm worried about."

Mattare (11:25am)

"That logic is infinitely wiser than any Kevin White used during his tenure."

Sharky (11:42am)

"Say the Olympic sports find a way to work themselves out (landing in pools/sand pits etc) without the need for football to join a conference (is this even possible?).

I still dont think you can say at this juncture anymore we 'can absolutely stay independent', just like Texas can no longer 'absolutely' keep their network without some concessions. I think there are too many variables at play just to say we can remain with our status quo. I think it would be best to get our number one pick at a conference, rather than risk the whole landscape changing with us on the outside. I guess the counter argument could be the BCS right now is the the 6 conferences + ND, why couldnt it be the 4 Conferences + ND. I just think we've lost some sway in the past 15 years of mediocre football/slipping ratings."

C-Loss (12:03pm)

"Setting aside the ND part of this, I don't get why there have to be 416 team superconferences. Because some sportswriter wrote about it? 16 teams makes no sense at all for football, there's only 12 games a year. What's the point of a conference where you play barely half of the other teams in a given year? Why stop at 16, why not 20 or 25? I don't get this magic 16 number.

ND should do everything it can to stay independent in football. My biggest concern is scheduling... If they go to 10 conference games there will be less opportunities for the other teams to schedule out of conference games with us. But a 12-0 ND team is not getting shut out of an 8 team playoff just because they aren't in a super conference. And if they stick with the current 2 team playoff (BCS Champ game), we're not getting shut out unless there are 2 other undefeated teams or we run into major scheduling issues where we have a Boise like schedule since no one wants to schedule ND anymore. I don't think this is likely at all."

Mattare (12:29pm)

"In terms of football: Notre Dame hasn’t been relevant in the national championship race for 15+ years, but we’ve still got more sway than any other school because we still make other schools fistfuls of money. We’re the only sellout at Stanford every other year. We’re one of the only guaranteed sellouts at Purdue, Boston College, and sometimes even Pitt. We just drew over 110k for Michigan. We sold out Penn State (108k?) and North Carolina when we were HORRENDOUS. You realize the Pac-12 has a Notre Dame provision written into its bylaws to provide exemptions so that Southern Cal and Stanford can continue to play the Irish in November (because other Pac-12 schools aren’t allowed to schedule out of conference games after the third week of the season moving forward). Why? Because we make them money and provide big exposure on the opposite coast. You could argue they’re allowing the preservation of the ND-Southern Cal rivalry, but you certainly can’t make that claim about Stanford who we only started playing every year in the mid-to-late 90’s.

Glad C-Loss chipped in on the schedule before I sent this. The scheduling myth is just like the academic standard myth. We will always be able to find teams to play us as long as we’re willing to do home-and-homes for the aforementioned reasons (money and exposure). The Pac-12 has us written into their bylaws to accommodate our November games in California and I bet there will be provisions to allow Oklahoma and Texas to at the very least maintain their current contractual arrangements for games with ND if not permit it moving forward. Northwestern just broke Big 10 protocol and scheduled us in November because we were willing to do a home-and-home. I bet other Big 10 schools would as well. You’re telling me Boise State wouldn’t jump at a home and home whenever we wanted it? Same with everyone who’s left from the Big 12 and ACC. Even look at the SEC: Tennessee played us in November twice in ’04 and ’05. It can be done. It’s going to take work and creativity, but Swarbrick has already shown he’s adept to putting together compelling schedules moving forward and there’s no reason to believe that wouldn’t be possible with these new realignment shifts.

Texas has some sway, but it pales in comparison to ND’s brand—that’s not hubris or arrogance, that’s just reality. Swarbrick needs to operate knowing that which would be a stark contrast to White’s approach, which led to be bullied and come out on the wrong side of a deal with—of all schools—Purdue. We can maintain independence, it’s just a matter of whether we want to go to the necessary lengths to ensure it. There’s always going to be a spot for us in the Big Ten if “Armageddon” finally comes. We’re never going to be completely left out in the cold because we would bring too much value for people to just freeze us out—money rules everything and we’re the golden goose. Plus, it’s not like even if it goes to 4 16-team super conferences that a playoff is going to suddenly arise. In order for that to happen the 64 teams would have to break away from the NCAA which isn’t going to happen in this lifetime.

In terms of Olympic sports, that’s the much tougher riddle to solve and where Swarbrick will earn his money. Does he take the bull by the horns and try to spearhead a new conference? Does he attempt to slide into the Big 12/Big East mess? I think that colossal fustercluck is weak enough that ND could flex its muscle and join in everything but football. That obviously isn’t an option for any other major conference, but it’s certainly worth trying in this instance. One intriguing (albeit farfetched) idea was presented a couple years ago on the blog Domer Law.

http://domerlaw.blogspot.com/2010/04/conference-talk.html

I could absolutely live with that conference (with minor tweaks…get out of here Loyola, Chicago) for our Olympic sports. It would require us nuking the A-10 and poaching some other schools as well, but it still intrigues me and most importantly gives us a legit conference with 15 schools that have no D-I football team. Added bonus: the conflict CLoss (a die-hard Hawks fan) would deal with when ND played St Joe’s in basketball."

Sharky (2:34pm)

"You guys keep mentioning money, money, money, but is independence really the catalyst in providing all that money. Without really searching too deep, I feel like our NBC tv deal gives us less in TV revenue then each individual team in the big conferences (Again this is something I've heard, I dont have the facts on that). If you search Forbes most valuable football teams, we are no longer number 1 (It seems like Texas has clearly overtook us in that regard).

Scheduling: I agree won't be a problem, plenty of teams will always want to play us
Brand: Yes I believe we are still number 1, but again, is that really an independence thing?

I think the best thing to do would be to join a 'independent' conference with Texas, Oklahoma, BYU, etc, where we are affiliated with them (meaning we play these teams every year, but there's no conference) and each team does not have to share their revenue. But, it seems Texas is set on joining a conference.

So basically, which I think was my original email way back when today, do we join a 'weaker' conference for our 'olympic' sports, just to remain independent in football. I personally wouldnt, and that's also because I really don't see the perks of staying as an Independent any better than joining a conference. I dont see Independence as meaningful as it once was to ND. The money is in conferences now, and if we could maintain relations with NBC and the ACC, i bet it creates more revenue. Branding: I believe playing in a conference championship game against FSU, ontop of still ending the season with USC would be a huge boost to the ND brand.

The only drawback to the conference is we are maxed out at scheduling 2 awesome Non-Conference games (it would be USC, Navy, one other good team). But within conference play, if it is ACC (we woud play FSU, Miami, VATECH) every year, and if we join Big Ten (We'd play Mich, OSU, Nebraska, Penn State) every Year. I feel like both schedules are ridiculously good (whether its our independent or conference schedule)."

Mattare (3:46pm)

"I’m talking about money for other teams, not us. Money is driving all of this but it shouldn’t govern what we choose to do. You’re correct, the NBC contract makes us significantly less money than how much Big 10 schools allegedly make off the BTN and it’s less than the newly negotiated major conference contracts as well. But we’re not hurting for money and there comes a point where passing up dollars to preserve “the brand” in a specific way becomes more valuable in the long-term.

A good example is Augusta National with The Masters. AN probably makes ¼ of what they could off of The Masters because they want control of every last detail from the times the tournament is broadcast to the camera angles used to the graphics on the telecast even all the way down to terms used on the air to describe fans (patrons) and rough (2nd cut). They could bid out that tournament and come away with an ungodly television contract. Instead they have a one-year contract every year with CBS. They could sell PPV packages that would allow tv viewers to see every shot of every round that could make them an absurd amount of money. They could charge more than $1.50 for a pimento cheese sandwich on the property. They could have more than 2-3 sponsors every year.

Now it’s not a perfect comparison, but I think it works. Notre Dame would stand to make way more money than we do right now if we were in a conference, but we don’t need it. We’d stand to make more money by having seven or eight home games like OSU every year, but it’d be at the expensive of having a good, national schedule. We’d make more money by bullying schools like Wake Forest and Northwestern into playing at neutral sites instead of their home stadiums, but you can argue that’d be at the expense of some code of ethics. How much money could we make by allowing a sponsor to advertise in the Stadium? There’s a reason we don’t.

The Forbes list has us as the #3 most valuable football program (behind Texas and OSU), but if I remember correctly it was somehow weighted to favor schools with bigger enrollments (I’m not quite sure how that makes sense in terms of value, but I do remember someone doing a calculation of money generated per student in the school and ND’s was still the biggest…maybe it was just the effect of the football revenue? I don’t remember, but regardless we still make an absurd amount of money).

I’d love for Texas to join us as an independent, I just don’t think they have the cajones or desire to do it because conference membership is all they’ve ever known.

We’ll have to agree to disagree about the value of being independent. Notre Dame’s national popularity was forged by being an independent. Right now we basically set our own course in terms of scheduling, television deals, BCS provisions, etc. Once you give an inch of that up you can never get it back (see: Kevin White’s beyond moronic BCS concession in 2004 that has to date cost us $8mil). If we regionalize ourselves by jumping in a conference—and that’s exactly what joining the Big 10 would do over time—you kill a huge part of what made ND unique. Instead of sitting at a table of one making decisions that are best for the university and it’s football/athletic programs, we’d be sitting at a table of 16 with 1/16th the power. Sure, we’ll be allowed to keep our NBC contract on this go-around, but when it expires who says the remaining members can’t go “you have to give it up or we’ll boot you and all your other teams from the conference”? Then we’re completely screwed. We still have a ton of leverage and clout right now. That’ll dissipate as soon as we join a conference.

This entire process of realignment is created and sustained by greed. Conferences with 16 teams each and essentially zero geographical ties make little to no sense for just about every sport (the ONLY way they make sense in football is the fact that it makes more money…in every other regard it’s pretty terrible). Why not try to fight this and carve out a niche for all of our other sports that makes sense on every level while maintaining football independence? Swarbrick was a huge player—if not the most influential—in calming the seas last year. It’s time for him to step up and be even more pro-active this time around."

Sharky (4:45pm)

"I still dont think you are painting a picture of why independence has greater value anymore than joining a conference. You wrote: "scheduling, television deals, BCS provisions" as the main three reasons, as well as forging our popularity back in the day, and leverage at the tables.

I think scheduling is still fairly even being in a conference as and independent. Maybe even conference has the edge because its a higher probability we have bigger games during the middle and end of the season, plus a conference championship game.

Television Deals: I'm not good at arguing this point. I just feel like being on 'NBC' doesnt really have as much sway as it did 15 years ago. If our games are on ESPN2, B10 network, yes it doesn't sound as cool, but I feel like more people are going to tune into the b10 network to watch us play Wisconsin, then NBC to watch us play W Michigan. I think matchups dictate ratings now that for the most part. It is cool having inside stories on ND (like our professor, more interviews with our players that nbc has access too), but I dont know if most people really care about that. So my belief is go for the better deal when it comes to tv. I think that should be dictated by money (isn't that originally why we signed up with NBC?)

BCS provisions: You acknowledged our deal sucks now, so joining a conference won't hurt that.

More popular: Yes, being independent back in the day made us more popular. A big reason is because it allowed us to travel across the country. Again, thats not an advantage we hold over others now. Many choose not to play games coast to coast, but really the only way to get more popular is to win nowadays.

I'm just not convinced ND joining a conference ruins our uniqueness. We are unique because we are Catholic (that won't change), we have the most storied history (that won't change), we graduate our players (that won't change), we have a national fanbase (that won't change), we dont have naming rights on our stadium/jumbotron (that won't change), we consistantly have a tough schedule (that won't change). What conference votes will there be made that might not be best for our univesity (scheduling night games/adding a 10th conference game/splitting revenues (but ND doesnt care about the money suppposedly).

Joining a power conference is better for other sports, but that doesnt seem to be much of the focus here. If you are worried about geography, join the Big 10 over ACC."

Julie (5:36pm)

"Do any of you have real jobs?"

La Bamba (5:38pm)

"With 99 weeks of unemployment? Absolutely not. It's called "finding myself."

Mattare (6:10pm)

"I’ll dissect your thoughts piece by piece.

I still dont think you are painting a picture of why independence has greater value anymore than joining a conference. You wrote: "scheduling, television deals, BCS provisions" as the main three reasons, as well as forging our popularity back in the day, and leverage at the tables.

I think scheduling is still fairly even being in a conference as and independent. Maybe even conference has the edge because its a higher probability we have bigger games during the middle and end of the season, plus a conference championship game.


Look at our schedules from the 90’s look at our schedules for the next five years. Ignore the ones drawn up by Kevin White. Teams we’ve played and are scheduled to play: Texas, Washington, Georgia Tech, Southern Cal, Arizona State, LSU, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, Miami, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Florida State, UCLA…talk about nationwide, compelling schedules. Kiss that goodbye in a conference.

Television Deals: I'm not good at arguing this point. I just feel like being on 'NBC' doesnt really have as much sway as it did 15 years ago. If our games are on ESPN2, B10 network, yes it doesn't sound as cool, but I feel like more people are going to tune into the b10 network to watch us play Wisconsin, then NBC to watch us play W Michigan. I think matchups dictate ratings now that for the most part. It is cool having inside stories on ND (like our professor, more interviews with our players that nbc has access too), but I dont know if most people really care about that. So my belief is go for the better deal when it comes to tv. I think that should be dictated by money (isn't that originally why we signed up with NBC?)

We have our own national television network. There is one school that has an entire major network devoted solely to it and it’s Notre Dame with NBC. That’s pretty powerful, it’s just that we’ve been so mediocre to crappy over the past fifteen years that we haven’t really taken advantage of it. This is once again about branding, not necessarily grabbing for the biggest wad of money. Was money the original reason for signing with NBC? It was certainly a big factor I’m sure, but it also provided us exposure that had never even been fathomed previously. Things have changed since then (obviously), but I think the NBC deal suits us just fine right now and will be extraordinarily valuable when we start posting top ten finishes consistently again.

BCS provisions: You acknowledged our deal sucks now, so joining a conference won't hurt that.

Kevin White is an idiot. That being said, we still have a specific automatic qualifier provision for ND written into the BCS despite White handing away our boatloads of potential cash. That disappears in a conference.

More popular: Yes, being independent back in the day made us more popular. A big reason is because it allowed us to travel across the country. Again, thats not an advantage we hold over others now. Many choose not to play games coast to coast, but really the only way to get more popular is to win nowadays.

Agreed that winning is the most important thing. But the fact that we “barnstorm” and play all over the country is something that’s unique and once again distinguishes us. Does it help recruiting that we can tell recruits moving forward that we’ve got a game in Texas, California, and Florida (that will be monsters if we’re good) over the course of their four years? You can debate that, but I say it can’t hurt in a world where we need every last inch in recruiting battles.

I'm just not convinced ND joining a conference ruins our uniqueness. We are unique because we are Catholic (that won't change), we have the most storied history (that won't change), we graduate our players (that won't change), we have a national fanbase (that won't change), we dont have naming rights on our stadium/jumbotron (that won't change), we consistantly have a tough schedule (that won't change). What conference votes will there be made that might not be best for our univesity (scheduling night games/adding a 10th conference game/splitting revenues (but ND doesnt care about the money suppposedly).

I don’t know what to tell you if you don’t see how it cuts into our uniqueness. Right now the college football world has provisions in everything that

Independence is a huge part of our identity and that “storied history;” abandoning that moving forward will change how future generations view the history we write from this day on. In terms of conference voting: don’t put your fate in someone else’s hands when you have the ability to completely control your own—which we still do. Joining a conference is the lazy way out. If the spineless Monk Malloy along with an incompetent AD (Mike Wadsworth…though not to the level of Doc White, White has a Phd in incompetence) could stand up to the Big 10 like they did in ’99, then someone with the juice of Fr. Jenkins accompanied by someone with the smarts of Jack Swarbrick can navigate this turmoil and bring us out the other side of it in a way that preserves everything we value.

Joining a power conference is better for other sports, but that doesnt seem to be much of the focus here. If you are worried about geography, join the b10 over acc.

I mean, this entire plague known as super-conferences has nothing to do with other sports. If it did then one of the top five college basketball programs of all-time (Kansas) wouldn’t be sitting on the sideline completely helpless as the new landscape takes shape. What good does this new realignment really bring fans or the student-athletes? Nothing, it’s a giant money grab. There are some delusional people that see this as the next step toward a playoff, which is completely ridiculous.

Notre Dame should fight against what’s become a ridiculously non-sensical trend of super-conferences. Once we take the plunge into them there’s no going back and we head down a path of becoming “just another school.” No, we’ll never devolve into an also-ran and the name will always carry weight, but it will lose something—and that’s something we should fight against tooth and nail."

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Dear Diary...Notre Dame - Michigan State

The running diary is back for another dance with the state of Michigan, coming to you live from the Lehigh Valley. Last week’s epic collapse in The Big (and Not So Loud) House provided a boatload of fodder for the trolls to come over and unload in response to the running diary. I tip my cap to the more than 7,000 people that made it over from the MGOBlog, Michigan Rivals, and Michigan Scout sites. You win this round…but your team is still terrible.

Now, let’s move on to Sparty. I’m surprisingly upbeat and optimistic about this game. The law of averages says there’s no way we can continue to completely implode with turnovers....right?

Don't answer that. Let's just get to it.

3:38 And Tom Hammond is back in the booth close talking Mike Mayock in a way that has to result in therapy. Uggggggggggggggh.

3:41 ND will receive from a Michigan State kicker that has a nice, developed beer belly. Or maybe he’s pregnant.

3:44 Notre Dame converts a 3rd and 2 out of the gate with a quick swing pass out to Michael Floyd.

3:45 Cierre Wood rips off a 15-yard run to pick up another first down. It was a little delayed hand-off where he had acres of room to work with—great playcall.

3:47 Cierre Wood picks up another big gain on a quick pitch and he’s already rolled up 37 yards on five carries.

3:48 TOUCHDOWN IRISH!!!!!!!!!!! LADIES AND GENTS, WELCOME TO THE CIERRE WOOD SHOW! GREAT RUN THAT HE BOUNCES OUTSIDE FOR 22-YARDS AND HITS PAYDIRT TO PUT THE IRISH ON TOP! Six carries, 59 yards on the first drive alone. Yeah, that’ll do. 7-0 IRRRRRRISSSSHHHH!

3:51 Tom Hammond comments on Brindza’s fluorescent green shoes. Really? Green?!?!?! You can see that those things are yellow from space! Maybe he was blinded by the glow of our silver helmets? Meanwhile Brindza beats it through the back of the endzone.

3:53 Notre Dame intercepts Cousins’ first pass but it’s coming back due to a holding on Blanton. Damn.

3:55 Three more plays for Sparty and they get absolutely nothing. I’ll chalk that up basically as a three and out. The team and stadium both seem about ready to explode—there’s a lot of pent up rage from the first two weeks of the season that’s hitting a levee pretty hard right now. Irish take over.

3:58 NBC shows a replay of the fake field goal that won the game for Michigan State last year. Speaking of pent up rage…

4:00 Very nice run by Jonas Gray has ND over midfield. That’s three carries and 27 yards for Jonas. The Irish are rollllllling on the ground right now, dominating the line of scrimmage.

4:01 Tommy Rees is sacked and fumbles. Michigan State ball. He was completely lit up from the blindside. The turnover train is running right on schedule.

4:06 NBC flashes a stat that ND hasn’t allowed a third down conversion in the first half through two games. That’s a pretty amazing stat. Remind me how the hell we're 0-2 again?

4:06 FUUUUMMMBBBLLELEEEE AND THE IRISH RECOVER!!!!!!! AARON LYNCH COMES BUSTING IN FROM THE BLINDSIDE AND DESTROYS COUSINS FOR THE FIRST SACK OF HIS CAREER! Notre Dame takes back over at the Sparty 49. I LOVE IT BABY!

4:10 Interception Spartans and it’s returned deep into Irish territory. This turnover problem is like a virus that won’t we just can’t shake. If Rees puts air until that throw it’s a touchdown. Come on defense, step up again.

4:13 Three plays, four yards for the Spartans. They trot out the placekicker and split the uprights on a field goal to cut the deficit. Notre Dame 7, Michigan St 3.

4:16 TOUCHDOOOOOWWWWNNNN IRRRRRRIIIIISSSSHHHHH!!!!!! GEORGE ATKINSON TAKES THE KICKOFF TO THE HOUSE FOR SIX AND THE IRISH ARE BACK IN CONTROL! HOW ABOUT THESE FRESHMEN MAKING AN IMPACT!?!?!?! 14-3 IRRRRRRRISH!

4:22 Great catch by Cunningham picks up a third down conversion for Michigan State. The quarter draws to a close and at this point you’ve got to be thrilled with how things are going for Notre Dame—with the obvious exception of another two turnovers to add to our gaudy and disgusting total for the year. I know I’ve probably said this 15 times over the last three seasons, but I’ll say it again: LET’S STEP ON THEIR THROATS AND BURY THEM.

4:25 Another completion on a slant to Cunningham picks up another first down and Michigan State is at the Irish 27.

4:27 Cunningham again for 15 yards and Michigan State is knocking on the door of the red zone.

4:28 Sparty’s got some rhythm going and they’ve got first down at the 11.

4:29 Touchdown Michigan State. Freshman Troy Niklas fell down and got beaten by the tight end. I can practically feel the fifty posts on Rivals going up about switching to field turf. Ugh. Notre Dame 14, Michigan State 10.

4:35 Three and out for the Irish. Guess what? Ben Turk is coming out to punt. Guess what he does? He unleashes a crappy punt. Imagine that. I give up. Tell me how Brindza can be worse? Michigan State ball at their own 45.

4:40 The defense holds and forces a punt. Lynch and Ethan Johnson get in to disrupt Cousins on third down and force a bad throw. The Irish get the ball back inside their own 10 with 8:25 to go in the half. Let’s put together a nice little drive here, shall we?

4:45 Notre Dame gets bailed out with a pass interference call on third down. We look completely out of sync. This happened a lot last year too; we get out of rhythm on offense and go into a funk for 3-4 drives. Come on, snap out of it.

4:47 Rees converts a big third down with a pass to Eifert on 3rd and long. The drive continues with about six minutes left in the half.

4:51 Big completion from Tommy Rees to Michael Floyd for 33-yards and Notre Dame is into Spartan territory.

4:52 Another big run on first down by Jonas Gray for 13 yards and suddenly the Irish offense is rolling again.

4:52 First down at the five yard yard line after Rees completes a dart to Tyler Eifert. Great throw. First and goal.

4:53 TOUCHDOWN IRISH! CIERRE WOOD BULLS INTO THE ENDZONE WITH AUTHORITY! The play is reviewed and confirmed. Ruffer rips the extra point through the uprights and the Irish go 92 yards to extend the lead to 11 with 3:36 to go. Notre Dame 21, Michigan State 10.

4:59 So for whatever reason Brindza bounces a short kick and Sparty responds with a 42-yard return. I’m just kind of confused. Michigan State ball at their own 47.

5:01 On the first play of Sparty’s drive, a Michigan State offensive lineman gets his leg rolled up on by…Louis Nix. If there was a fill-in-the-blank that started “Of everyone in the entire stadium, I would not want my leg to be rolled on by ________,” the name Louis Nix would probably be #1 on my and most people’s lists. Tough break for the kid.

5:06 Cousins completes a 21-yarder and the Spartans are driving inside the Irish 20. Come on defense, tighten up.

5:09 Notre Dame holds the Spartans and forces a field goal attempt from the 2-yard line with 52 seconds left. I guess I should say “apparent field goal attempt” when dealing with Michigan State. They call timeout.

5:11 Michigan State attempts the fake and it’s STUFFED. TAKE A SEAT DANTONIO. Kelly would’ve been fired on the spot by about 1.4 million Notre Dame fans if we would’ve given up another successful fake field goal. Irish ball.

5:15 Notre Dame takes a couple knees and we’ll head to half leading 21-10.

As a Notre Dame fan you’ve got to be very happy with the first half. Offense and defense both look good, though once again we’ve turned the ball over twice. For the most part we’ve locked down the Spartan attack—and stopped a fake field goal that would’ve given me a stroke had they converted—and have moved the ball pretty effectively.

Yet again the Irish will have a chance to bury a team. Don’t let them hang around—it’s time to just put them away and restore a modicum of confidence not only within the locker room but in the stands as well (which is more important than some people realize…a toxic environment outside the locker room is only counterproductive).

5:39 Notre Dame forces a three and out on Michigan State’s first drive. Good start! The anti-Joey Getherall fair catches the punt and the Irish take over at their own 29.

5:42 TJ Jones converts a 3rd down on a quick slant. Good throw, good catch.

5:43 A nice little completion to Theo Riddick is good for seven yards and it’s followed by an offsides by Michigan State, which means another first down for ND.

5:45 Another third down conversion, this time 22 yards to Michael Floyd.

5:46 TOUCHDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWN IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TJ JONES REELS IN THE TOMMY REES CATCH AND THE IRISH JUMP OUT TO A 28-10 LEAD. BUUURRRRYYYYYYYYYY THEMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!! TJ Jones is whacked with an absolutely absurd penalty when he puts his gloves up to signal to the fans. That's the dumbest call I've ever seen that didn't happen in The Big House.

5:54 Michigan State picks up a big third down. Dan Fox was there but was worried about getting there a little early for pass interference and didn’t tackle him.

5:55 RJ Blanton with a sack on the corner blitz, loss of 11. BOOM BABY!

5:56 Lynch draws an offsides on third and a mile, making it third and a mile and a half. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Tuck 2.0.

5:56 Michigan State is forced to punt. Goodman tries to return it, which naturally turns into a negative play. Whatever. Let’s turn this bad boy into a BEATDOWN.

5:58 While serving me my fourth margarita of the game, my Dad informs me that he’s three margaritas ahead of me. When I call bullshit, he responds that he’s just stating facts. Challenge accepted. You definitely won’t regret this one, Dad.

6:01 The Irish are rollllling. Another first down to Michael Floyd, described by the HD Gremlin as “an easy 13 yards.” I love 13 easy yards.

6:03 Alex Flanagan randomly lets us know that Michael Floyd was in trouble this offseason and now lives on-campus. Yes, that was completely appropriate at this juncture of the game and season. Go pound sand, Alex. Seriously.

6:04 Notre Dame is forced to punt. It’s hard to complain when you’re up by three possessions, but I sure would’ve loved to have driven home the dagger on that drive. If there’s anything we learned from last weekend it’s that three possession leads aren’t always safe.

6:09 In the blink of an eye Sparty is punting once again. Lovely. After blasting it into the endzone the Irish will take over at the 20 with another opportunity to drive the final nail in the coffin of this game.

6:13 Three and out for the Irish takes us down to the end of the third quarter. Annoyed that we couldn’t officially away, still pleased to be up by 18 points.

6:16 Ben Turk lets loose a 44-yard punt that Tom Hammond describes as ugly. If the HD Gremlin describes something as ugly then God-DAMN it’s probably really ugly.

6:17 Friend of the blog and former O’Neill Hall resident Farva chips in with the text of the day: “I want to waterboard Mr. Turk.” I can’t say I disagree.

6:22 Michigan State has a ho-hum drive that ends in a field goal. Notre Dame 28, Michigan State 13.

6:26 Tommy Rees is picked off buuuuuuuuuut that’s going to be pass interference because the defensive back was basically molesting Michael Floyd. Give us all 15 of those yards and a first down, thank you very MUCH.

6:29 Notre Dame’s drive stalls, which means it’s time for the Ben Turk Experience…and he lays down a BEAUTIFUL coffin corner kick that pins Sparty on the 1! LOOK AT YOU, BEN! WELL DONE!!!!!!

6:35 Alex Flangan lets us know that Kirk Cousins is an internet sensation because he has a video on YouTube that has 110 hits. #headexplodes

6:41 Michigan State is forced to punt with 4:30 left…and John Goodman fumbles. You have got to be KIDDING me. YOUR ONLY JOB IS TO FAIR CATCH PUNTS, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!? I FEEL LIKE PUNTING MY DOG. NOT A BIG PUNT, JUST AN AVERAGE BEN TURK PUNT…SO 28-YARDS OFF THE SIDE OF MY GODDAMN FOOT. Michigan State ball knocking on the door of the red zone.

6:42 Quick throw has Michigan State first and goal inside of the 10-yard line. You’ve got to be kidding me.

6:44 INTERCEPTION ROBERT BLANTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEEEEEEEESSSSSIIRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE TAKES IT BACK ALL THE WAY TO THE MICHIGAN STATE 12. PUT THIS GAME ON ICE BABY!!!!!!!!

6:48 Notre Dame chooses to go really, really conservative and just take three points. Ruffer rips it through the uprights and the Irish lead 31-13. Boo-yaaaaaah baby!

6:57 Michigan State is slowly working down the field as Aaron Lynch terrorizes Kirk Cousins basically every time he drops back to pass. Sparty is inching toward the goal line but they’re running out of time

6:59 Michigan State turns the ball over on downs and THAT my friends, is the ball game. WELCOME BACK NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL!!!!!

7:00 QUEUE ME UP SOME JOHNNY DRAMA…

7:01 Oh my God, disappear Alex Flanagan.

7:03 LOOOOOVE THEE NOTRE DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME! People who hate on the alma mater at the end of the game and say it's too dreary or melancholy obviously don't know what it's like to belt it out after a victory. I'm not saying there have been all that many opportunities to belt it out after W's over the past few years, but it's great when it happens. Thumbs up to Weis for starting this.

7:04 Oh God, I love this exchange between Robert Blanton and Dr. Alex Flanagan so, so much:

Dr. Flanagan: You played a great game. Was it the best game of your life?

Blanton: (Pauses and thinks)...No. No m'am.

(More pausing)

Dr. Flanagan: Have you heard about Kirk Cousins' video on youtube? It has 110 hits. It's an internet phenomenon.

(Aaron Lynch blindsides Flanagan with a steel chair...student body goes wild as the band plays the angry, aggressive drum cheer that happens after big defensive plays)

Alright, well at least the first three lines of this encounter happened in real life.


Great win. It'll be nice to head into work with a bounce in my step Monday. One down, nine to go...

GO IRISH

Saturday, September 17, 2011

GAMEDAY: BACKING AWAY FROM THE LEDGE

The Irish are a better team than Michigan State.

I think that. Brian Kelly thinks that. Vegas thinks that.

I want to think this will be an explosion of Utah-esque proportions where ND just drops the hammer on Sparty, but I know better than to expect that out of this game. It's always close, which is why I shied away from the -5 ND line.

Look for another big day from Michael Floyd, only two turnovers (ugh), the first Aaron Lynch sack of the year, and a successful play action pass on 3rd and 1.

It's going to be stressful, it's going to take a year or two off our lives (if you calculate how many years have been taken off my life since 2009 it means I have about...four years left to live...crap), but Notre Dame brings its season back from the brink today.

Notre Dame 34
Michigan State 28

GO IRISH

THE BODOGS ARE BARKIN: WEEK #2

As a Notre Dame fan, I know all about brutal starts. And damn, was last week a brutal start for The Bodogs...

Chuck is the only one who survived the weekend in the black. The quartet of degenerates tries to dig out of a hole and answer the bell in round two.

Week 1 Results

1. Chuck: $17…Winner of the tallest midget award this week.
2. Mattare: -$92…Two epic collapses by ND and UVA submarine a potentially good week.
3. Hinkle: -$114…Rough start for the Mouth of the South(west).
4. Mikey: -$142...The logic behind his picks was so sound...how did this happen?

Week 2 Pick Summary

Hinkle: Boise > Tol, Iowa > Pitt, Akron > Cin, OU-FSU (Over)
Mattare: Army > NW, GT > Kans, Az > Stan, OU > FSU
Chuck: Mia > OSU, Az > Stan, Navy > SC, FSU > OU
Mikey: WV > Mary, ND > MSU, Stan > Az, FSU > OU

ON TO THE PICKS!

Chuck

I won't lie to you. I'm too hungover to come up with detailed analysis. Don't I get a free pass after last week's gem? So glad I had such a huge start last week to stake this big lead.

Game #1: Miami (-2.5) over Ohio State...$33 to win $30

If there's any justice in the world of NCAA, these two schools should be known as Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the time the infractions committee gets through with them.

Game #2: Arizona (+10) over Stanford...$22 to win $20

Nick Foles. So hot right now. Nick Foles.

Game #3: Navy (+16.5) over South Carolina...$22 to win $20

A vote for America and a vote against the terrorists at the same time. Sounds like a plan to me.

Game of the Week: Florida State (+3.5) over Oklahoma...$22 to win $20

Because Corso has picked the correct headgear in week three on College Gameday 13 years in a row. Guess who he's picking today.

Mattare

Woof. Brutal week on every level. Special thanks to the 7,000 Michigan fans who stopped by this week to tell me burn in hell among other things. There were some winner comments that made me laugh out loud...though the funniest comments were the ones that inferred Denard is a good passer. You're all loooooccccoooooo.

Tryin' to get that BACON money this week.

Game #1: Army (+9.5) over Northwestern...$44 to win $40

I'm a big believer in Army's head coach Rich Ellerson. The Black Knights lost a heartbreaker last weekend at San Diego State and the general thinking seems to be that Northwestern has this game in the bag (to the point where people are speculating as to whether they should rest their starting quarterback Dan Persa). Don't sleep on Army. They may not win this game outright, but they'll keep it tight in the home opener on the Hudson.

Game #2: Georgia Tech (-14) over Kansas...$55 to win $50

The Yellow Jackets are going to absolutely shred Turner Gill's Jayhawks. Kansas gave up over five yards per carry last week against Northern Illinois. Paul Johnson's triple option attack is already clicking on all cylinders which means bad, bad things for the visiting team.

Game #3: Arizona (+10) over Stanford...$33 to win $30

Give me the home-dog points. It's just a matter of time before Stanford slips up without Jim Harbaugh.

Game of the Week: Oklahoma (-3.5) over Florida State...$33 to win $30

There's still a pretty big gap between these two teams. Florida State appears to be on its way back...but it's not there yet.

Hinkle

Well that was an interesting start to the year. I think I went less than .500 once last year and it was not until late. Alabama turned out nice. Point went flying on the board Stillwater on Thursday then trickled. Hard to spot Auburn 14 points in 2 minutes at home and then try to cover, although it was close with an opportunity at the end. AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD NOTRE DAME! At worst should have been 2-2, maybe 3-1 but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades so time to put the pieces of the puzzle back together and get in the black. Here we go:

Game #1: Boise State -20 @ Toldeo...$55 win $50

I know what you are thinking...shocker he is taking Boise. "Not so fast my friend"!!!! I rarely take them because I think their spreads and totals are usually outrageous and I hate betting on my own team, but I really do like them in this spot.

Toledo gave one heck of an effort last week at Ohio State, almost coming away with a monster victory but they fell short at the end. Many of their opportunites came off of Buckeye mistakes due to sloppy play. Fundamental mistakes that the Broncos will not make.

Next, Boise was put on probation this week for silly violations in tennis and giving kids a floor to sleep on and not enough money to put 5 gallons of gas in their car. BCS Busters need to pay for that! Auburn, OSU, and THE U should be given about 100 years probation for all of their crap but were not. You think the underdog will have an even bigger chip on their shoulder this week? I do.

Game #2: Iowa (-3) vs Pitt...$77 win $70

Pitt struggled for most of the game versus Maine last week and did not look great against Buffalo the week before. Iowa on the other hand has played "real" games like the one last week where they were in a battle against in state rival ISU. They have proven they can put up points and yards. Pitt is giving up almost 23 points a game to teams you cannot even name 1 player on their roster. I think both institutions will score points, but Pitt will give up much more than the Hawkeyes. Iowa 38 Pitt 24.

Game #3: Akron (+35) @ Cincy...$33 win $30

Cincy blew out Austin Peay and then got rolled at Tennessee. Akron lost at Ohio State 42-0 and then only scored 3 vs. Temple last week. At some point they have to score points (right?). Having the ability to see two weeks of game film on an opponent has to give them the benefit of exposing some sort of weakness. Something worked for UT to put up all those points. Do I think they will win? No! Do I think they will put up one heck of a fight against another in state opponnent and try to get their offense rolling? Yes. I see this one being competitive early on with Cincy pulling away late.

Game of the Week: FSU vs Oklahoma (OVER 55)...$11 win $10

Game of the Week should be a great one. Two solid teams early on. I would much rather be a "fan" than a "handicapper" for this one because to be quite honest I see this game going 1 million different ways. With that being said, let's hope for an ole fashioned shootout. FSU 67 OK 66 5 OT!

Mikey


Off to a beautiful start at 1-3 (and should've been 0-4) but it's early in the season and there's still plenty to learn about every team in D-1. Let's continue the education:

Game #1: West Virginia (+1) vs Maryland...$55 to win $50

Not even knowing West Virginia's roster this season I guarantee they have an incredibly fast running back and a mobile QB, or maybe they've switched to the West Coast offense. The Mountaineers are a rock solid program and will be looking for a marquee out of conference win before they begin play in the Big East. Maryland beat a depleted Miami team in a game that I actually watched a few weeks ago and wasn't that impressive. I think a full WVa squad can go on the road and stomp the terrapins before conference season begins.

Game #2: Notre Dame (-5.5) vs Michigan St...$33 to win $30

Yes I'm a big hypocrite for going with ND this week, but you've got to be in the land of college football. Situations change so drastically week to week that it's possible for a terrible team to go on the road and take down a giant given the right circumstances (see USC/Stanford 2007). The Irish have showed great flashes of talent this season and it's really been turnovers that have led them to an 0-2 hole. Michigan St. is a solid team but going on the road in a mini rivalry game will be an extremely tough test for Sparty. ND has got to bounce back in a big way from those 2 crushing defeats and I think they make a statement this week by protecting the football and stuffing Mich St.'s O all afternoon.

Game #3: Stanford (-10) vs Arizona...$22 to win $20

Stanford may have been the best team in the country last year (needless to say I got screwed after picking Andrew Luck to win the Heisman preseason in 2010 and it going to that fraud from Auburn) and may be again this year. I was at the game where they squashed Notre Dame into oblivion and made my wallet a little lighter for betting on the Irish. No more. I'm riding the Cardinal starting this week and into the future as they have a real chance to go undefeated and play for the national title.

Game o the week: Flo-rida St. (+3.5) vs Oklahoma...$33 to win $30

I just can't see any way that this game doesn't go down to the wire. Florida St. is an incredible defensive team and will be fired up playing at home in their biggest game in recent memory. The Sooners haven't been tested yet so they've had to be looking forward to this one for a while.Couple that with Bob Stoops being as good in big games as the Buffalo Bills and the only way this is a blowout is if OU is the one getting trounced. Either way I'll be at Oktoberfest in downtown Cincinnati and trying to find a bar around 8 PM to tune into this one, I suggest everyone else do the same.