savvyandsassier said:

I know. He''s gotta be a finalist, or at least a semi-finalist for whatever they call that, the asst. coach of the year. Our defense is dominant, in spite of being injury riddled, and we're banging on the door heading into the post season. Apparently we pay top dollar now for coordinators, so I don't know how much higher we can go, but we definitely got to hold on to him if we can for a few more seasons. If he does want to HC again, you'd think he's going to get another shot. Because we're fixing to go on a run, and maybe win ND's next championship in the coming seasons, no joke. IMO, that's how good things are going right now. So we gotta lock Denbrock and Golden up!

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Golden yes, Denbrock....not really

sjb75 said:

Surprised you didn’t include Jagusah.

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Why would I ? He's still an unknown quantity from an actual playing standpoint and coming off a tough injury. Still way too small of a sample size for me. In the mix for sure.

chaseball said:

It looks like a space suit/astronaut

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F+ has them ranked #1

savvyandsassier said:

Yeah? I think they suck, and lack aesthetic quality. The lettering and logos look like something you'd see on a costume. In the wardrobe at your local playhouse. But that's UA. They're usually over the top florid and full of unnecessary flourishes and embellishments, and just plain ugly, though mercifully they've largely discontinued those garish Maryland uniforms, at least I think they have. And this is UA's design team trying to be understated and dignified. And they just can't do it.

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ok whatever, I like them

chaseball said:

Isn't the goal to win an NC?

ND has been ranked 5th-7th before ... (in fact they've been ranked three times in the top 4 under BK in the FBS postseason)

the goal shouldn't be to "host a playoff game" but to win the playoff.

Just kind of getting tired of the "hosting" rhetoric that seems to be going around ND nation right now.

I can see it now

"2024 was successful bro, we hosted a playoff game"

you get nothing for hosting a playoff game or winning the first 3 rounds in the playoff.

you think the top dogs in the BIG10 and SEC are hyping up "the chance to host a playoff game" ? no .. they got their minds dead set on bringing home a national title victory to their fans.

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Pathetic and absolutely false.

IrishMike409 said:

Give me proof.

Who specifically is saying that a home game is the ultimate goal for this team?

You're manufacturing this narrative.

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I dont really have any specific links or resources on this one.

I follow a lot of ND outlets on x/twitter. I listen to a lot of podcasts. And everybody is talking up "hosting a playoff game" as this ultimate achievement at Notre Dame or something. Its talked about as if it would define a successful season. I think Notre Dame/ND PR/ND insiders are trying to set this expectation/narrative.

"Hey we might not be bama/georgia/osu/texas/oregon/etc. (the new modern powers in college football) but we hosted a playoff game this season!"

My instinctive response when i hear this rhetoric is an eye roll so hard that my eye balls feel like theyre going to come out of their socket.

At ND its no longer about recruiting the best talent from coast to coast in the top football states, developing consensus all americans, winning heisman trophies, graduating first round talent to the NFL in bunches, and competing for the most prestigious hardware the sport has to offer.

Modern ND is about scooping up the tier 1s castoffs/rejects/Plan Bs & Cs (on the cheap because of "ideals" and "values"™ ), watering down the schedule vs crap teams in the ACC & G5, finishing the season with the most hollow 10+ win season possible, "hosting a playoff game", and then happily getting smoked by a modern power in college football that is actually investing in a top tier product.

But hey, I hear the girls fencing team is top notch at ND these days

Get Nasty said:

Pretty awesome for football. But, I don't understand why Texas would do this unless the heads of these major programs know of some changes coming to the CFP moving forward.

If A&M had played a cupcake instead of ND to start the season, they would be top 5 or 6 right now with a chance to get in even if they lose to texas.

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FightingIrish44 said:

It’s good to try to separate yourselves from your conference. A big win out of conference is a resume builder. If you lose, you get some credit still and can still win the SEC. Georgia has a trump card by beating Clemson and probably beating Ga Tech. Ole Miss only played Wake Forest.

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With all of the two loss SEC teams they need a way to differentiate them. A major OOC win can do that. That is one reason why UGA is making the playoff if they don't lose, their blowout of Clemson.

My understanding is that Denbrock used that game to practice passing plays for Leonard and thus he instead of taking the available rushing yards.

Just keep em from transferring. We need the depth to be elite.

sjb75 said:

I’ve followed Lane since he was an OC at USC and being fired as a head coach at USC.

Great comeback story, and IMO, a damn good head coach.

He’s perfect for a place like Oxford, Mississippi.

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Lane is out once he gets a better job offer; maybe not Tennessee.

FightingIrish44 said:

That’s awesome that ND is still ahead of Bama and Georgia. There’s even a little buffer with Miami there between Bama and Georgia/Ole Miss.

As it stands now, three SEC teams are coming up north. Would love that.

It’s a shame that espn is parading that phony strength of schedule around. It’s a sham. Hopefully the committee isn’t using that.

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the computers love the SEC and I don't think they are biased.

Come on guys...
Woulda, coulda shoulda, ...

or rather wouldn't, couldn't, shouldn't

I swear I don't understand how so many people, fans and the like of CFB just can't understand how people still think this is many years ago.

Assumption and presumption with the fans, pollsters, etc is still in full force..

but that is dead and gone. Parity is an all time high. Kids want to play now! Right now! The portal has allowed them do that.

Allow me if you will...

moons ago a middle of the road team like NIU can show up at ND stadium and play flawless and ND has a bad game...
ND still wins that game by 10 points, maybe 14.

Today...
NO!
Today... If NIU shows up and plays a near flawless game and the opposition is in a quagmire of sorts and nothing is going right...
I give you an upset loss.
Every team has dealt with that near loss, or actual loss to a team they never would've lost to days of yore. It's ridiculous to think it's 1975 or 1985 and teams just show up for a drubbing.

Talent is littered throughout all of CFB now and if everything goes right and the other team is just OFF for that day these moments will happen.

ND played a lousy game...Learned a lot about what Riley can't do (throwing by way of NEED) and NIU got some luck and beat us.

It's not earth shattering nor earth moving. It's not a I just can't believe moment in sport.

NIU might be playing bad at present but on that day they played better than we did and have just enough good material to pull off the upset.

chaseball said:

If any of those programs outside of Clemson won their conference but didnt win an NC or at least get to the playoff final .. all of those fan bases would be pissed off/feel let down .. hell it might even cost coaches on their staff their job ... it would be enough to get those programs to expand their talent budget and bring in some more stars to get them over the top.

At ND the local media people are already setting the expectations for its fans "hey we hosted a playoff game...what else do you want you entitle ND fan!?" and fans like you lap it up.

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Give me proof.

Who specifically is saying that a home game is the ultimate goal for this team?

You're manufacturing this narrative.

sjb75 said:

“A blessing.”

LMAO.

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Fortunately for us, the loss really had no effect on the seasons outcome (we can't be seeded higher than 5).

I think that it got the Team focused or maybe refocused.

It also provided some clarity for the staff: "This is what we are, and this is what we are not". The staff then reacted, almost perfectly.

Look how well Leonard has played after that loss. He's been awesome since that game.

chaseball said:

If any of those programs outside of Clemson won their conference but didnt win an NC or at least get to the playoff final .. all of those fan bases would be pissed off/feel let down .. hell it might even cost coaches on their staff their job ... it would be enough to get those programs to expand their talent budget and bring in some more stars to get them over the top.

At ND the local media people are already setting the expectations for its fans "hey we hosted a playoff game...what else do you want you entitle ND fan!?" and fans like you lap it up.

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Dude, get a life. There are far more important things in life than college football. I want ND to win a National Championship, but I have zero control over the team, the athletic department and the school itself. You post on here like a 12 year old. When I was 12 I'd get pissed if my teams didn't do well, now there are far more better things to enjoy in life than to get frustrated over something you have zero control over.

chaseball said:

Isn't the goal to win an NC?

ND has been ranked 5th-7th before ... (in fact they've been ranked three times in the top 4 under BK in the FBS postseason)

the goal shouldn't be to "host a playoff game" but to win the playoff.

Just kind of getting tired of the "hosting" rhetoric that seems to be going around ND nation right now.

I can see it now

"2024 was successful bro, we hosted a playoff game"

you get nothing for hosting a playoff game or winning the first 3 rounds in the playoff.

you think the top dogs in the BIG10 and SEC are hyping up "the chance to host a playoff game" ? no .. they got their minds dead set on bringing home a national title victory to their fans.

Click to expand...

I'm looking forward to hosting for the following reasons:

1. I'll be at the game. Can't wait to take it in.
2. We should be able to protect home field and advance to Rd 2
3. Recruits will attend,
4. If we play an SEC Team or Miami....I think they'll have a hard time playing in snow and cold temps.

1 game at a time Chase. Secure home field for Rd 1, and go from there.

NDinNJ said:

So answer the question, why is the goal of Alabama, OSU, Oregon, Clemson, Georgia, insert any conference team to win their conference? Shouldn't it be to win NC's?

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If any of those programs outside of Clemson won their conference but didnt win an NC or at least get to the playoff final .. all of those fan bases would be pissed off/feel let down .. hell it might even cost coaches on their staff their job ... it would be enough to get those programs to expand their talent budget and bring in some more stars to get them over the top.

At ND the local media people are already setting the expectations for its fans "hey we hosted a playoff game...what else do you want you entitle ND fan!?" and fans like you lap it up.

chaseball said:

its fans like you that perpetuate the mediocrity at Notre Dame.

ND is the big bad wolf of college football ... when did it become acceptable to be the perpetual underdog/Cinderella program of college football ?

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So answer the question, why is the goal of Alabama, OSU, Oregon, Clemson, Georgia, insert any conference team to win their conference? Shouldn't it be to win NC's?

NDinNJ said:

Why does it seem like you are a complete loser, and not a real Notre Dame fan?

Why do teams in conferences have a goal of winning the conference championship. Shouldn't the goal be NC's?

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its fans like you that perpetuate the mediocrity at Notre Dame.

ND is the big bad wolf of college football ... when did it become acceptable to be the perpetual underdog/Cinderella program of college football ?

Why does it seem like you are a complete loser, and not a real Notre Dame fan?

Why do teams in conferences have a goal of winning the conference championship. Shouldn't the goal be NC's?

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“A blessing.”

LMAO.