This one’s for @smcnd

There is a line from a Beatles' song for every occasion. Here is one for the B.C. game.

"No, no, not a second time!"

Login to view embedded media

He's injured and won't play. No other absences on the two deep.

You're right Vince. What in the hell IS going on out here? By looking at some of the final score predictions I'm guessing that folks around here don't think too much of ND's #2 ranking, or they think a 5 - 3 Boston College team is better than it really is, or somehow think what happened nearly 30 years ago will have some sort of impact on this game.

I've never quite embraced this so called rivalry. The only thing that I can make a connection with is they're both Catholic schools. Maybe @ClearTheWay @irishnatty or @SDS123 can better explain this to me. Is BC a bad football team? The answer is no. I've watched them play a few times this year, and they play hard, but besides the Clemson game where they were extremely fortunate to get every break imaginable, I just don't see how this team matches up real well with ND.

Offensively, Notre Dame, just like it did last week will need to focus on what it does well, and that's to run the ball. We didn't see a lot of fancy things last week, and that's mainly because of what the Clemson defense was trying to get us to do. The outside run game wasn't going to happen with the way their LB's were coming off the edge, and the same holds true with any end-arounds or reverses. It was also nearly impossible for ND to run any sort of screen game. What it did was get yardage up the middle and took it's shots downfield, and it served them well.
BC isn't very complex when it comes to defense. They are going to be in a 4 man front, and they are going to rely on their 2 LB's to make plays. Currently Richardson leads the nation in tackles and McDuffie is third. ND needs to impose it's will up front, and it's about as simple at that.

Defensively, nothing about this BC offense concerns me. For me personally it starts with the run game. They have a nice big back in David Bailey, but he's rushing for less than 4 yards a carry. ND on the other hand is allowing less than 3 yards per rush. Feeling a little suffocated BC? If ND totally shuts down the run game like I expect it to do, then BC is going to have to make it's living through the air, and I should note that the QB from Clemson along with his receivers won't be at the game this week.

Great football weather, that's for sure. At kick-off expect it to be 49 degrees and sunny with winds at 9mph. By the 4th quarter, it should dip down to 42 degrees with clear skies and winds at 7mph. No rain in the forecast.

The keys to the game for me are simple. ND needs to get out to the LB's and put a body on them. When BC brings their LB's they play a tight man on the receivers and Book needs to recognize this and allow McKinley and Skowronek to go and get the ball and make plays. I do however think this defense is going to force Book to make throws, and limit his scrambles. They play off coverage a lot of times, and only rush 4 or 5, so it's more about being smart with the ball and incorporating your running back and TE into the passing game.
Make BC one dimensional. If ND can do this, and have a bunch of third and longs, then I think it's going to be a long afternoon for BC.
This is one more step towards the prize, and I don't see any sort of let down this afternoon. If anything, I expect ND to come in with a little swagger after knocking off #1. As always, play smart and limit the mistakes, and ND cruises.

Good Luck Everyone

GO IRISH!

This is assuming that David Abiara will not be in the class.

Somebody lost a bet....

Login to view embedded media

The Irish are 13-4-1, most recently defeating Wake Forest 28-7 at home in 2015.

Bronze Medal, 1987: A year after losing 28-10 at Alabama for the first time, No. 7 Notre Dame romps past the No. 10 Crimson Tide, 37-6, on Senior Day for Tim Brown and others to improve to 8-1. Both Mark Green and freshman Ricky Watters score on 70-plus yard runs in the second half.
Login to view embedded media

Silver Medal, 1964: No. 1-ranked Notre Dame's Cinderella season continues with a 34-7 win at home versus Michigan State — ending a school record eight-game losing streak to the Spartans dating back to 1955. On ND's first play Nick Eddy romped for a 61-yard touchdown, and scored another first-half TD, a two-point conversion and had a 78-yard dash called back.

Gold Medal, 1992: In the "Snow Bowl" on Senior Day at home versus No. 22 Penn State, No. 8 Notre Dame defeats Penn State 17-16 when Rick Mirer finds a diving Reggie Brooks in the end zone for a two-point conversion with 20 seconds left. On fourth down the previous play, Mirer found Jerome Bettis on what was supposed to be the two-point play, but had to use it to have a chance. Brooks was the fourth option on the game-winner. Earlier, the Irish had a goal-line stand, and Bobby Taylor blocked an extra point that would prove crucial.
Login to view embedded media

Top 25 Liberty at 7-0 is playing 0-0 Western Carolina

How in the hell did Penn State get so bad? They are a terrible terrible football team in 2021?


Thoughts?!

A couple have been close but I don't expect him to lose his first one today.

Playing this game at BC brings some focus that might have been missing a bit if it was at home.

Yes BC led Clemson 28-10 at the half. They scored 0 points in the 2nd half. I'm not even sure if they got any deeper than the Clemson 40 yard line. I'm betting that Clark Lea is looking at what the Clemson Defense did differently in the 2nd Half.

I may have to watch with no sound so I don't have to hear 1) all the references to the '93 game and 2) all the talk about Jurkovec transferring from ND last Spring.

The 1956 Heisman recipient was one of the most versatile players ever on the field, and as colorful as anyone off it.
https://notredame.rivals.com/news/notre-dame-legend-paul-hornung-passes-away-at-age-84

A column from Todd Burlage on conference membership

Where does K. Williams 65 yard TD run rank on ND running TD’s in your life? I got Penick’s 85 yard TD run vs SC # 2 Tony Rice 64 yard TD run vs SC # 3 Kyren Williams 65 yard TD vs Clemson # 4 Rocket Ismail 44 yarder vs Tennessee #5 Dexter Williams 45 yard TD vs Stanford on his return to action in 2018. Lou , your top TD runs ?

Some top topics for this afternoon's meeting between No. 2 Notre Dame (7-0) and 5-3 Boston College. Game telecast on ABC begins at 3:30 p.m. ET.
https://notredame.rivals.com/news/notre-dame-boston-college-countdown-10-to-1-1

Getting absolutely boat raced at home by Iowa. PJ Fleck’s stock dropping like a rock

Apologies if he’s been discussed recently, but has anyone heard how he’s progressing? Any feeling right now that he’s on a trajectory right now where he could challenge for the starting job next year if Book isn’t back?

Lou
Paradoxically Paul Horning and Sonny Jurgenson were two of Vince Lombardi’s all time favorite players. One would think that both guys cut against the grain with Lombardi. However when asked about Paul Horning during Green Bay’s halcyon days under Lombardi. He replied

“When the game gets tougher so does he”!

One of my favorite quotes of all time.

I watched the first two episodes last night. It's good and worth a watch if you following recruiting.

Anyone watch this yet on HBO?

Here's the trailer
Login to view embedded media

Story from Todd Burlage

Vs Boston College. We were undefeated. There was no underdog mentality going into that game. Was there a reason given at the time?

I’m very excited about Lorenzo Styles joining the Irish in short order, but last night he and his Pick Central Tigers were DEMOLISHED by my St. Xavier Bombers 44-3 for the state championship. Proud of my alma mater, had to give them a shoutout. Go Bombers!

how many times have you watched the last two minutes and overtime of the game?
me 4

In the first NCAA Division I men’s college hockey game of the season, Wisconsin defeated No. 20 Notre Dame 2-0 on Friday night at the Compton Family Ice Arena.

Wisconsin goaltender Robbie Beydoun earned the 25-save shutout, while Linus Weissback scored in the first and Dylan Halloway added a power-play tally in the second for the visitors.

The Fighting Irish had chances, including a pair of shots off the crossbar by freshman forward Grant Silianoff down the stretch. Notre Dame finished 0-for-2 on the power, with the second opportunity coming with 1:42 left in the third period, while Wisconsin was 1-for-2 on the man advantage.

Senior Dylan St. Cyr made 20 saves for the Irish, while freshmen Silianoff, Landon Slaggert, Ryder Rolston and Zach Plucinski each made their Notre Dame debuts.

The teams close out their season-opening series on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the Compton Family Ice Arena. It will be televised by the NHL Network and NBC Sports Philadelphia+.