Rock on, Killers. Okay, so this may be a little unexpected, but I’m not all that upset about the result yesterday.  Last night? I was depressed. Sick even. But, I’ve come around. I’m seeing the sunny side of things now. Â
Let’s look at the good stuff here for a moment…
1) ND played a solid first half, and it actually felt like the game would be a good, close battle. CW figured out the LSU D midway through the first quarter and started swinging Darius outside. That opened up some things for Quinn, and without a few (lame) dropped passes, he would’ve had a sweet first half and ND would’ve been up by 7. The team showed speed, the team showed poise, and I think it proved that ND CAN play with the big boys. Just not consistently (due to lack of depth, talent on the D, but those are not Brightside thing so I will save them for another post). The defense did a great job in the first half, tightening up when it had to. The second half was the non-bright-side so I will not discuss it here. Later maybe. When it hurts less. Sniff.
2) We finished 10-3, in a BCS bowl game 2 years in a row, with our only losses this season to Top 5 teams.  Granted, each of those losses were ugly, but losing only to Top 5 teams is something ND hasn’t done in a long time. We beat the guys we were supposed to beat this year, and that’s improvement.
3) Recruiting is on a roll, and it WON’T be hurt by this game. Charlie knows the kids he wants, and he’s getting them.  This loss exposed ND for what it is – a program in transition and growing/improving. And it’s CLEARLY improving. Two years ago we all would’ve KILLED/MAIMED/DESTROYED for back-to-back 10-win seasons. The early hype this year made this kind of feel like a disappointment, but that’s just not the case. The program has turned around, and we’re a solid Top 15 team this year. Can we beat the Top 5? Obviously not. Can we beat #10-25 teams? Absolutely. Which means there’s been great improvement and the momentum is strong, but we’re not all the way there yet. What’s missing? Athletes.  The secondary getting smoked all day long is getting old, and CW is addressing this through his recruiting. Why do you think we’ve landed, or are in the running for, some of the best CB’s and LB’s in the country? And yes, those kids watched last night. And what do you think they saw? A bad loss that turned them off from the program, or a potential starting job THIS FALL? I’d say a good number of them saw the latter. They know they’ll be playing for an NFL quality coach, with a guaranteed kickass offense.  They also know that the ND Defense is struggling to find players/an identity, so they have a good, great, GRAND, WONDERFUL (no yelling on the bus!) chance to play, and possibly start, early on. Combine all that with the academics, tradition and national exposure and ND is not a tough sell. We won’t get them all, but we’ll get some, and that will be enough.
4) Ty Willingham is no longer at ND. Neither is Bob Davie.
This was a good season for the Irish. Maybe it fell a bit short of expectations, but those expectations were rampantly out of whack anyway. I felt we were a pre-season top 10, and I think we should end up in the Top 25. Last night showed that we’re not quite there. The kids played well this year, gave it their best, but the program is just not where the LSU’s and USC’s of the world are right now. But, it’s changing. Players are looking at ND that haven’t in years, and CW is scooping them up. I have no idea what next year will look like, but I know that we will have a lot of 5th Years coming back to provide leadership and a few C-dub recruiting classes to provide speed and athleticism. It may not come next year, but it’s coming.
It’s coming…
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Don't take me, yourself, or life so seriously. This is supposed to be fun.
Biscuit co-founded HerLoyalSons in partnership with his ND roommate (Dillon Hall baby!), MQ, in 2006 and has been ranting about ND Football and everything Notre Dame since. He strongly believes in the mission of ND and its football program. Biscuit expects logic and data in arguments and will absolutely crush you if you come to a debate missing one or the other. He despises everything Michigan, and his favorite pastime is mocking Purdue.
- (Re)Introducing: DANCING LEPRECHAUNS - August 29, 2019
- Ticket Auction: ND vs USC - August 22, 2019
- No Respect! - December 14, 2018
You felt good about the game in the first half? Really? I felt like LSU could pretty much score at will. The time of possession was so skewed because LSU was biting off 40 yards at a time and taking 3-4 plays to march the length of the field.
Also, I respect massive brass balls as much as the next guy, and far be it from me to question Weis, but that fake punt was DUMB DUMB DUMB.
I agree with Bad Kermit. I was bummed so much time was left on the clock when we tied it up in the first half (I think it was about 2 minutes). That meant LSU could probably score again.
The fake punt was dumb, and it’s Travis Thomas’ audible. Credit for wanting to make a play. Lost credit for poor timing. And you’ll never hear Weis mention it was the player’s call.
the fake punt was horrid, but that’s just a bad play call. bad choice, etc. and that set up the first TD. given all you guys said, with Shark not losing that pass in the light we go in at half tied up 21-21. and our eating up the clock kept their O off the field, which, had we maintained that, would’ve kept the game close.
yes, they could score at will pretty much, but we buckled down and made a few stops too. had the game continued like the first half, it would’ve gone to the wire.
and you guys are on the dark side, obviously, so get off my post.