Purdue Still Has a Long Way to Go

Quick, name the only Division I-A team in the state of Indiana that has participated in eight straight bowl games? Answer: Purdue!

Now, quick, try to find a Notre Dame fans who cares.

Yes, I'm aware of the fact that the Boilermakers have gone to thirteen bowls in their entire history and eight have come under Tiller's watch. Fantastic. Just one little thing...

...that means, historically, you have sucked.

I think Kansas State has a solid program. I respect that they have become a solid program. But, over the past one hundred years, they are God awful. Beyond God awful. Getting your head caught in a shredder, awful.

Playing well for eight years does not mean you have any reason whatsoever to be anything more than proud of yourself. Acting as though you are great because you have suddenly become good for less than a decade is pretty ridiculous. That's like expecting yourself to be treated like a Rockefeller simply because you have made some money.

Pedigree is earned, not hijacked.

Purdue fans are quick to point out, though, that since 1997, they have played in more bowls than us (mind you, they have played in zero BCS bowls). Congratulations. Where were you guys while we were winning eleven national titles?

Oh, that's right, you were terrible.

I respect the fact that Purdue is good. I really do. They deserve that respect for being a winning program (and beating us for the past two years). But, other than that, they are still nowhere near our level, and never will be. Maybe in another 100 years they will compare. Have to wait and see. Or, maybe they could win a national title? Just one. Or, get to 10 wins. Something, anything, to back up their puffed up attitude (other than losing the Sun Bowl to an Arizona State team playing with their back-up QB).

Nothing is less flattering than an inferiority complex.

But, then again, Purdue wears it so well.

A Few Washington Game Notes

Notre Dame originally considered spotting the Huskies four touchdowns to make the game more interesting, but then remembered that Tyrone Willingham, the coach they just fired, was in charge of the team. The offer was increased to 700,000 points.

According to the media, Tyrone Willingham is not white. He was also, apparently, "not given enough time at Notre Dame," and that was, "unfair." Wow. All news to me.

Washington lost to Air Force in Seattle. Notre Dame would likely beat Air Force by 30. With Marty Mooney at quarterback. While drinking vodka instead of water. And, eating a Twinkie every time Air Force ran an option play.

Washington is very, very good at beating Idaho.

ABC will reportedly cut to a continuous shot of the Space Needle while UW is on offense. They might intercut some shots of Keith Jackson catching a Chinook at the Fish Market to "keep it real".

Tyrone Willingham prefers to wear a very thin mustache, as opposed to one that completely covers his upper lip. No one knows why, except Willingham, and that's the way he likes it.

Kent Baer thinks it is funny that Charlie Weis has his defensive play book. I wonder how funny Baer will find it in the Fourth quarter on Saturday. "I think it is hilarious that Weis's offense treated my defense like a street walker in fish net stockings." Kent Baer also finds it amusing that thieves have the security code to his home.

This is the first Irish game I will not TiVo in years.

I plan to drink every time Willingham crosses his arms in disgust. Hopefully, I will not have to visit the ER, but if I do, I have excellent health coverage...

Is it too late to replace UW on the schedule with Seattle's Bellevue H.S.?

Irish to Face Washington Huskies in the Least Exciting Game of the Season

I have never been excited about the Notre Dame-Washington series. I wasn't last season, and I'm even less exicted this season. I might even throw up in my mouth and suffer anal leakage a few times between now and Saturday afternoon.

One would think because former Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham is now coaching at UW that suddenly everyone who follows the Irish should start doing flaming vodka shots. Not the case with me, even though the "Return of the Dawgs" is imminent (according to Washington's media blitz).

Let's face it. Washington is not a good team. This game is the equivalent of Notre Dame playing Akron back in the days following Gerry Faust's firing. No one would have been running around screaming, "I can't wait until the Irish face the Zips!!!!!!"

Sure, Willingham's dismissal from Notre Dame was controversial, but only to those who had not watched the Irish recruit and try to play football in 2003 and 2004.

Tyrone is a nice guy who plays too much golf, and lacks any and all ability as an X's and O's overlord. He had a few nice seasons at Stanford, but at the time the PAC-10 was about on par with today's MAC conference. Willingham will struggle at UW moving forward. Not to mention an executioners row of a future out of conference schedule (scroll down).

The Irish could win this game by 270. I would yawn.

The only thing I am looking forward to is the Willingham era finally coming to a close.

Depression Officially Over

After Jason Teague crossed the goal line in OT on Saturday, I sat in stunned silence--just like the crowd at the game--and had the same look on my face as Charlie Weis: disbelief. The game couldn't possibly be over, could it? After a furious come back that had John L. Smith looking like Notre Dame just ran over his dog, we lost?

How could it be?

Well, there are a number of factors that contributed to this loss. But, the one that sticks out in my mind is simple, and explains everything. We are still a little soft. Now that's not to say we won't lay a lick on someone. We will. On that final play in O.T. Brandon Hoyte put a pounding on Drew Stanton that explained in one moment why the option was run in limited fashion on Saturday (and why Stanton had chosen to keep the ball on previous option calls).

The kind of soft I am talking about is mental.

Charlie Weis might say otherwise, but on Saturday this team was not ready to play. We might have had a dazzling week of practice, but this team was not ready to play. We might have come back from 21 down, but this team was not ready to play. We might have had almost 600 yards in total offense, but...

Well, you get the point.

Saturday's loss was painful. Five times in a row we have lost to Michigan State in our house. But, the fact that it happened yet again demostrates my point. We play arguably 8 or 9 teams every season that are capable of beating us if we don't show up ready to fight. The exceptions being Navy and possibly Stanford (especially this year since The Cardinal just lost to UC Davis). That kind of schedule calls for serious focus. It calls for serious effort. It calls for the kind of overall preparation that does not depend on luck. Because when you face 8 or 9 bowl teams a season, you cannot rely on breaks.

When I woke up on Sunday I had a feeling that the Irish, once they got over it, would take something positive away froom this loss. They now know that playing for two or three quarters doesn't cut it.

Bad analogy: the Willingham Era was kind of like being sprayed by a skunk. If this has ever happened to you, you know what I'm talking about. The unfortunate part is, it might take a few tomato baths to get rid of it, but at least our boys are in the tub.

So, in the end, it was a tough loss, but the stink is starting to wash away.

I can live with that.

Irish Finally Home

Well, for a week at least. Weis must be pumped for his first home game. Look for the Irish to take care of business and move to 3-0 (and up in the polls to at least #8).

A few notes on this glorious Saturday (every Fall Saturday is glorious). I think it's fanatastic that Lou Holtz will forever be thought of as a Notre Dame football coach. And, one of the greats. Certainly he had success elsewhere, but when you think of Lou (even non-ND fans), does one think of N.C. State, or Arkansas (or Minnesota, South Carolina?). Lou was destined to arrive at Notre Dame just as Charlie Weis was. Just as Ara was. Many others have simply been at Notre Dame, but Lou, Ara, Weis--they belong at Notre Dame. Ara and Lou might not have attended ND, but don't you feel like they did? I do. Anyway, cheer, cheer for Lou.

In my lifetime, I would love to see Lou in bronze outside the stadium (Ara as well), just so I can look up and tell my children, grandchildren, "Lou was one of the great ones." Hopefully Weis will still be roaming the sidelines. "Charlie might be the greatest," I'll hopefully say. Or, at least, I would love to be able to say that.

By the way, can BC fans come up with anything original? Watching Game Day, I nearly spewed my omlette all over the coffee table when I saw a "Catholics vs. Convicts" banner in the background. Yeah, Eagle fans, that was funny, like, fifteen years ago. Miami actually runs a pretty clean program these days. Larry Coker is a good guy. It's like someone telling you a bad joke that's been around for twenty years. "I have a great one for you, man. Okay. Duck walks into a bar, orders a beer and says..." Put... it... on... my... tab...

And, what is up with ESPN showing Notre Dame footage every time they show footage of BC? 1993, 2002, 2004... every F-ing time. Didn't BC beat Miami back in 1984? Show Flutie completing his stupid Hail Mary, will ya?

A couple of picks, just for the heck of it: Vandy beats Ole Miss today to go 3-0 for the first time since the Roman Empire.

Oregon State will not "upset" Louisville (not really an upset, but UL is ranked #11 and playing at home) today. The Cards get the offense rolling and probably end up 11-0, even though their schedule is a laugher.

BC upsets FSU, then loses to Clemson the next week in typical Tom O'Brien fashion.

Washington beat Idaho by a field goal and Willingham is happy because his only goal is to win. He doesn't care how poorly his team plays during the win. Or, if they lose ten times this season because they play poorly. Just as long as they beat Idaho this week.

Would love to see Tulane get win.

I won't be at the Michigan State game today, but I will be screaming at my television like a lunatic, hoping to send positive vibes.

Go Irish.

Spartans Riding Wave of Beating Two Patsies

Drew Stanton is fourth in the nation in passing efficiency. That's great for Drew, but honestly, Jessica Simpson would be fourth in the nation in passing efficiency if she faced Kent St. and Hawaii.

For the record, I think Stanton is a good quarterback. He has a nice arm, and above average wheels. But, he plays in a spread offense. Spread offenses simplify reads for the QB making it easier for them to pass. It also makes attacking a defense with their feet easier because the opposition is forced to cover the entire field and play in space.

I like the spread. It's an excellent way to give your team a chance to win against superior talent. But, if you're being realistic, it is difficult for spread QB's to pick up more complicated pro schemes at the next level. Ask Alex Smith.

Stefan Lefors was a great QB in Louisville's offense as well. There were times when he looked like the second coming of Steve Young.

So, certainly Stanton's performance in his first two games in this particular offense is impressive, but let's not give him excessive praise.

The spread makes him look much better than he is, and the two teams he has played are horrible.

This will be an excellent test for Notre Dame's defense. I have a feeling the Spartans score some points, but Stanton struggles against some of the looks Minter and Lewis throw at him.

The difference in this game will be competition. As in, Notre Dame and Quinn have actually played teams with guys they wanted, and MSU and Stanton haven't.

No wonder MSU typically loses three or four Big Ten games a year. They are not ready for the pounding (ask Minnesota about loading up on cup cakes early, and faultering down the stretch).

They won't be ready for it on Saturday either.

Look for Stanton to drop a bit in the rankings after his visit to South Bend.

Washington hopes to get a win over Idaho on Saturday

You know your program is in deep doo doo when you hope to get a win over Idaho. Remember when Bob Davie said, we're just trying to beat Navy? That's when we knew Snot Rocket needed to be handed a pink slip. If you're just trying to get a win over Navy, you might as well start packing your bags. And, your belongings. And, hope you can get a job at ESPN by selling you past exploits (like, "architect of the Wrecking Crew defenses at A&M," or "Pac-10 Coach of the Year," or "once played 36 holes on the day of the USC game."

Making things even more interesting, while I was cruising NDNation the other day, I read a post that brought up UW's out of conference schedule for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. I almost choked on my own saliva. The Vicous Animals will start the 2006 season with San Diego State, Fresno State, and Oklahoma. 2007 starts with San Diego State, Oklahoma, and Ohio State.

I'm not talking about Oklahama Tech, or Ohio State School for the Hearing Impaired.

What in God's name gave UW the impression that Tyrone Willingham was the right guy to get UW through this biker bar of a schedule? Tire irons are not optional when you're playing a slate like this. I would also bring a switchblade. Threatening someone with Willingham is like wielding a sugar spoon.

Better, what was Tyrone thinking taking this job? Wasn't New Mexico State hiring? Surely, NMSU would have picked UnWillingham over Hal "I Am Not Interested in Paying Attention to NCAA Regulations but I Have a Rad Offense" Mumme.

So, will UW be Willingham's ticket to a broadcasting booth? I would say so. And, he'll be a lot more impressive when he isn't getting beat by 40 at home against Cal. Which Cal did with their back-up QB. By the way. Not trying to rub anyone's nose in it (yes I am).

Like Kenny Rogers said in The Gambler, "you got to know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em."

At least Bob Davie realized his luck had run out, and hasn't realistically pursued another coaching gig.