Possibly the biggest individual perk of Notre Dame’s football independence is the school’s ability to create its own unique schedule every year. In theory, Notre Dame could schedule itself a cakewalk 12 wins a year by playing only cupcakes, or it could go the complete opposite and pit itself against the most brutal gauntlet of all time. While both of those scenarios have yet to come to fruiting, most fans would acknowledge that Notre Dame is closer to pursuing the latter.
Yesterday, Notre Dame’s 2012 slate was ranked #1 “Toughest In the Country” by CBS’s Bruce Feldman. This opened the annual “schedule is too difficult/insane/unmanageable/impossible to win a championship” debate among fans. But I am here to tell you that 2012’s lineup of games is just perfect.
(Note: Throughout the week my fellow HLS writers will be detailing how I am crazy, how the schedule is far from perfect, and why it is bad for ND. Call this week the Good, Bad, and the Ugly of Notre Dame’s football scheduling. Stay tuned.)
1. Notre Dame has plenty of chances to prove itself — One of the big knocks against Notre Dame for a while now is that the team has lacked “signature wins” to hang its gold helmet on. With a home night game versus Michigan led by senior QB Denard Robinson, a road tilt with Oklahoma led by senior QB Landry Jones, or the final act of the season at USC who is led by senior QB (and #1 ranked draft prospect) Matt Barkley, Notre Dame will have several chances to add huge wins to their resume. In general, signature wins trump bad losses, and if a team shows that they are ultimately able to compete with the big boys, they find themselves in BCS Bowls.
2. The Irish could weather a potential loss — For many schools, it is one and done in college football season. That is, lose one game and you vanish from the National Championship hunt. However, the SEC (and some others, of course) has proved time and time again that you can lose a game, or even two, and still make the BCS National Championship game. Strength of Schedule is a huge factor that is taken into account all year, and if you have the hardest schedule in the country, you have the ability pick yourself up after a loss and still obtain the coveted title trophy. If the 2012 schedule plays out as tough as it looks, there is no doubt that Notre Dame qualifies here.
3. Exposure — Notre Dame is the only team in the country that finds itself on national TV each and every week. Not a single fan can say that this isn’t a huge benefit. But to keep viewers around the country watching, you need to give them something they want to see. It is no secret that West Coast fans like to see us play USC, Midwest fans like to see us play Michigan, and fans out East like to see the Irish battle with Pittsburgh. We play those matchups almost every year. But 2012 is even better because we keep the Floridians happy with our Miami matchup, the South Central natives love the Oklahoma matchup, and even our friends across the sea get to see some American Football. To be able to hit literally every major area in a given year is HUGE for brand recognition.
Going hand-in-hand with exposure is the fact that Notre Dame is a national recruiter. We are very unique in the regard, because, while the other big schools can pull talent from across the country as well, they all have home-grown talent to fall back on (see Texas, Florida, Ohio State, USC, etc.), where we don’t. Indiana has not exactly been a hotbed for college football recruiting in the past, so we need to make sure that high school kids everywhere are paying attention to the Blue and Gold. Having 5-7 marquee matchups allows them to tune in to interesting games (and often 1 great game is all it takes to sell a school), and with multiple neutral site games each year, we are showcasing more non-traditional Notre Dame things than ever that catch the eyes of recruits. The Shamrock Series jerseys and helmets are going to be the yearly example of this moving forward.
4. It fits in with our identity — People don’t choose to go to Notre Dame because it is easy. They choose to go to Notre Dame because it has great, but extremely tough, academics. They choose to go to Notre Dame even though they can’t be as unruly and immoral as their state-school friends (yeah, we ALL hate ResLife). They choose to go to Notre Dame for its commitment to service and making a difference, even though to do so requires a hell of a lot of time, work, and dedication. Notre Dame isn’t about taking the easy way out, and that is apparent in the football schedule as well. What would you Fight for?
5. Good, Old-Fashioned Fun — What happened to the days of “to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best”? What happened to “Notre Dame will play anybody, anywhere, and still EXPECT to win”? I know that I would much rather watch us play ridiculously tough games week-in, week-out than see us absolutely run through terrible teams. There is just not as much fun in that.
Also, don’t forget that all of these teams have to play Notre Dame. WE are supposed to be the tough matchup, not the other way around. Every year, I think that Notre Dame is the team to beat in each game, and that expectation isn’t changing in 2012, or in the foreseeable future. Go Irish.
Love it/Hate it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or tweet me @GrantlandX
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kyndfan
One of the best things about this schedule is the first 2 games. Literally warm up games. Our new QB #Golson will have these 2 games to find his rythim.
I expect ND to win every game and I’m happy to see this is still the mindset of the student body. Oklahoma, scUM, USC, MSU- they all have to play ND. “Here Come the Irish!” is starting to ring in my head. Is it September yet?
Aeroscorp
You’re assuming that Tommy Rees won’t be starting, despite all of his negative qualities. I don’t trust Kelly enough to make that assumption.
kyndfan
None of us know what BK is thinking so, yes I am assuming Golson will start because I believe he is the best choice.
Trey
LNIII looked at this lineup and thought it was a practice schedule
DomerBill
2012 Football Schedule (This is a balanced schedule)
Three easier games
S01 vs. Navy, S08 vs PURDUE & N17 vs WAKE FOREST
Three good games
N03 vs PITTSBURGH, N10 @ Boston College & O20 vs BYU
Three tough games
S15 @ Michigan State, O06 vs. Miami & O13 vs STANFORD
Three elite games
S22 vs MICHIGAN, O27 @ Oklahoma & N24 @ Southern Cal
Notre Dame will win the easier and good games. The three tough game will be close but winnable and we must win one or more elite my vote is MICHIGAN
Giving ND a 10-2 record before the BCS game
2013 Football Schedule
Three easier games
A31 TEMPLE, S14 @ Purdue & N02 NAVY
Three good games
O05 ARIZONA STATE, @ Air Force & N16 BYU
Three tough games
S21 MICHIGAN STATE, N09 @ Pittsburgh & @ Stanford
Three elite games
S07 @ Michigan, S28 OKLAHOMA & O19 SOUTHERN CAL
fossilman
I agree the schedule is tough. It always is and will continue to be diffficult. What a great way to stay up and get ready to play is to have zero cake games on the schedule. We have great tradition, fabulous athletes, an enormous fanbase and a glorious history. It’s time to man up and show everyone why we are ND! I believe the only thing that can stop us this year is ourseleves (turnovers). Take care of the ball and the rest will take care of itself! Come on ND fans believe this is going to be an unforgettable year. DO YOU BELIEVE???
Brian
I agree that the schedule is perfect. Easy for me to say but I’d rather a gauntlet than a cake-walk.
Re: East Coasters enjoying the Pitt game, really? Does ANYONE enjoy this game? I’m from NE PA and would much rather see the Irish take on PSU every year. I find the Pitt series a complete yawn.
…and kyndfan is correct, Golson will take the first snap in Dublin.
Grantland-X
Brian, I agree that PSU would be a better series than Pitt, but I’d be wary of having too many Big Ten opponents. I do like having a little bit of balance among the conferences we schedule.
Trey
I’d trade Purd-yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn for PSU if you’re worried about that. Also wouldnt mind telling F*** Michigan to go f*** themselves for 5-10 years and schedule Texas A&M or Baylor
Theo
I live in NE Pennsylvania, also, and I agree that playing Pitt is nothing to look forward to. Every year we get excited for the season to start, then it’s the same feeling after week one or two. A loss. Notre Dame needs to get through the month of September without any losses. This never seems to happen anymore. They need some momentum to build instead of the negativism that occurs early each season. I hope Robinson takes his lumps before ND plays him. Each year he is fresh when the Irish have Michigan on their schedule.
Dazed and Confused
BCS? This year? Are you kidding me? Not with this Coach. He’s still trying to figure out how he’s going to start Rees in Dublin. He’s probably trying to get a Presidential pardon as we speak.
HerringBoneSports
You sound like a guy who loves watching college football! The optimism is oozing out my man!! Keep it in check, we’ve got a few more months until kickoff!
HerringBoneSports
I really enjoy the national, brutal schedule and 2012 is simply a year where the majority of the traditional rivals (USC, Stan, Mich, MSU) all appear very solid in the pre-season and the non-traditional powerhouses on the slate (Miami, Oklahoma) both appear to be good as well. People forget these schedules are solidified many years in advance and there are never guarantees that programs won’t fall off temporarily and it might coincide with the year ND plays them.
I mean, when was the last time SC-Stan-Mich-MSU were ALL pre-season top 20 in the same season? Seems like forever. Whether ND goes 6-0 or 0-6 versus the teams I listed, it would seem all these games are really going to matter in some regards and that’s worth something … right?
Whatever the case, it’s absurd to label any game in May 2012 as “unwinnable”. Notre Dame has shown the ability to hang with the elite in the game under BK and Grantland is right that we’ll get multiple opportunities for that “signature” win.
fossilman
I don”t get all the negativity in regards to BK. He has the same record as Lou Holtz did after his first three years except for the loss in the bowl game. Yes we have lost some games we absolutely should have won. (South Florida) Give BK some time to recruit his kind of players. Our talent level and depth is way better now than prior to his arrival. I know we need to win and win now but a revolving door of coaching is not the answer.
Scranton Dave
I’m in the middle in regards to Kelly. On one hand, we have seen things we havent seen since Holtz, notably great offensive line play and stud DE recruits, even though one of them left. On the other hand, his awful handling of the QB situation last year and his baffling infatuation with Tommy Rees leaves me cold. If Tommy Rees starts the first game Kelly will have lost me probably forever.
Scranton Dave
I agree on the schedule. 9-3 with this schedule probably has us in the top 15 or maybe even top 10 and maybe a BCS Bowl. The talent is there. One thing I like about this year as opposed to last year is there doesnt seem to be the expectations of making a BCS Bowl, at least from the outside and nationally. The weight of the expectations, along with the Gray fumble on series 1 were just too much and I believe the team never recovered. That led to Kelly panicking and benching Crist for Rees, which was an awful decision. I think this year the Irish may just sneak up on some people………. provided someone other than Rees is the QB.
irishfanatic
I agree, this IS a perfect schedule. Are we supposed to gain any recognition or respect for beating teams that are considered patsies? I don’t think so, and neither does anyone else. We are ND, and we schedule to some of the best teams year in and year out to display our excellence. Granted, we’ve not been as excellent as of late, but this program is in the process of returning to it’s rightful place at the “elite” level. There is not one game on this schedule that is not winnable. I have no idea who will be under center come September in Dublin, but when I look at this team even with that question mark in play, I can’t help but to be excited about the opportunity to play these teams that make our schedule so “difficult”. Or should I say…..”perfect”.
drenier
Talk to me by the end of October when we’ve lost at least 3 games. The schedule won’t seem so perfect then. Notre Dame has not been competitve for an entire season since 1993. With an inexperiened quarterback and the most difficult schedule in the country why would anything change this year?
Are you actually saying you would rather lose 3-5 games each year and play a “perfect” schedule than be 11-1 or 10-2 and play more winnable games?
crinionje
I am a high school football coach, and I am a big fan of scheduling the best competition possible. Why not play the best? Why would you ever “settle”?
John Wooden defined success as “peace of mind which is a direct result of sel-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable”. How can you achieve that is you are never truly tested? This schedule is an opportunity for these coaches to find out what these young men are really made of, and focus on truly developing them as successful producers to society. More can be learned from a loss than a win.
Tony LaRussa used to say, “Pressure only exists when you find yourself in a position in which you are not prepared”. This coaching staff should relish the fact that they can prepare these young men to play some great football against the best of the best and make a real name for themselves as a team.
I am not a believer in BK yet. When you have a guy with the character of Dayne Crist, you make him your starting QB. You don’t replace him after a half with someone who eliminates a lot of your playbook. BK may be a winner at previous programs, but we need a Holtz who was willing to discipline at the risk of losses (Arkansas vs. Oklahoma, ND vs. USC). If Kelly goes light on Rees (the “leader” of the team) it is a mistake.
PMac
Perfect? Perhaps. Hardest in the nation? No chance, not even close. There are 12 SEC schools with harder schedules by virtue of playing an SEC team every week.
The “Irish can weather a loss” Did I really read that. Did someone really write that; think that. They’ve had 3 or more losses every year since 1996.
The Irish have a lot to prove to themselves and others before we should start counting wins and losses. And it better happen soon, or their independance will cost them their ability to get a spot in a playoff in a sport that is increasingly dominated by power conferences with no love loss for ND.
I’m as big an Irish fan as their is, and i’m hopeful; however, i’m frustrated. I’d like to see them start hitting like men again – start pushing people around – start bullying their opponents and playing with hate. They should have enough disgust to rely upon. It shouldn’t matter who is QB if you play physical. Look at the QB play between LSU and Bama last season. It was pathetic. But they pushed people around all year. Someday, the Irish will start being bullies again. Thanks be to God.
Brian
Please tell me which SEC team has a more difficult schedule than the Irish. Take a realistic look, game-by-game and you’ll be surprised. This is no indictment of the depth of the conference but simply an analysis of their teams’ schedules. You might be able to make that case that Auburn (Louisiana-Monroe?) or Ole Miss (Central Arkansas?) are ALMOST as difficult, but definitely not more so. Simply playing LSU or Alabama once a year does not make a schedule difficult.
I too hope ND will soon start pushing other teams around. …but without the blatant over-signing, pay-for-play and D-II scheduling that is rampant in the SEC.
NDtex
Help me out, is the SEC the same conference that had half of its members finish .500 or below?
Tell me more about this super conference.
AOATS
I echo PMAC’s comment above. We need toughness and a burning desire in the gut to win. The 1988 team was loaded with tough players who wanted to win more than anything. Pritchett, Stams, etc.