Irish Blogger Gathering: I’m Officially Spooked

One Foot Down threw down the questions this week as we look forward to a game played at night in unfamiliar territory on Halloween. Spooky. Hey, everybody, guess what Biscuit once dressed as for Halloween when we were in college. Hint: He was entirely green.

1. The 7-4-1 scheduling model has been the subject of much heated debate amongst Irish fans since it was first announced back in 2006. This week the Fighting Irish will play the first neutral site “barnstorming game” in said model so now is as good of a time as any to weigh in on the controversial subject. What do you think about a) 7-4-1 as a whole, b) the neutral site/ barnstorming game in general and c) specifically playing Washington State in San Antonio.

   A) I think it’s not only un-Notre Dame. It’s un-American. b) This is only a neutral site game. It is most decidedly not a “barnstorming” game. Look up the word in the dictionary. Barnstorming requires theatrics. Barnstorming requires hype. This game doesn’t have theatrics or hype. It’s just a home game for the Irish where both teams have to make adjustments to their academic schedules in order to play. It’s just a dumb pain in the rear, and C) it’s against Washington State! In Texas! Hey, let’s go play the Japanese National team in Prague next!

2. I have personally had this game circled on the schedule for quite some time as the one “sure thing.” After the last few games I have really been looking forward to a drama free victory. As luck would have it I started looking at the Cougars more closely this morning and it appears that freshman quarterback Jeff Tuel went 28 of 42 for 354 yards and 2 TD’s in a losing effort against Cal over the weekend. With the Irish secondary still struggling to get it together what are the chances that yet another freshman signal caller makes this one way more interesting than it should be on Saturday night in San Antonio?

   Well, that depends. Notice the move of Kyle McCarthy to the starting Free Safety this weekend? Yep. That’s right. That’s not a typo in the depth chart. One of the surest tacklers on the team wont be creeping up to the line of scrimmage to help shut down the run anymore. But does that mean our woes in making sure Irish DBs are in the right place against the passing game will come to an end? Should this move work, look for the Irish DBs to look much, much better – not just against WSU, but for the remainder of the season. But pray it wont come to the humiliating detriment of the relatively strong Irish rush defense. That said, I think the coaches had to make this move. You either do it against the 116th ranked rushing offense in the country, and make it work, or the season is lost. Mark it: If this experiment looks like it’s not working, the Irish are in for 2 more losses this season. Anyway, to answer the original question: No. This QB wont get much done against the Irish.

3. Assuming that the Fighting Irish are able to take care of business and put this one away early what non-starters would you most like to see get some reps this week? Why?

   I want to see more of the linebackers who are waiting in the wings. I want to see what promise next year holds for that group whether or not T’eo takes his mission.

4. With the game being played on Halloween Night chances are that if you are not traveling to San Antonio you most likely have a scheduling conflict. Whether you are supposed to be at a party dressed as Fat Elvis, taking your kids trick-or-treating or just dealing with your doorbell ringing nonstop how do you plan to watch the game? If you are going what are you most looking forward to?

   I have a toddler, and after she started to yell and point at a television anytime she sees anyone playing football on it, I’ve stopped watching the games as they happen with such an active interest. I’ll be quite happy to answer the door while wearing my t-shirt that says, “This is my scary costume,” and hand out candy to the kiddies while intermittently checking on the score. Then once all is said and done, all the candy should be gone, and I’ll watch the entire thing dispassionately via the DVR. My heart will thank me.

5. Trick or Treat? Predictions please.

   Trick. We’ve been looking for the absolution of Charlie Weis since week 1 and haven’t found it. Why start now? WSU is probably the weakest team in a BCS conference this year. No good will come of this game. I predict an injury to a key player that will make us all hate that we played freaking WSU in freaking San Antonio. And I predict the Irish will win but wont reach 40 points.