There are 100 things to say about the ND/Louisville game. I will refrain from dragging it out as myself, and I'm sure everyone just took a deep breath and were just thankful that a "W" came from that display of ineptness. Not you, defense. Not you, RBs. Not you TEs. Not really you, WRs, but being that you hardly get thrown to, you gotta catch the scraps that come your way. And finally, Not even you OLiners. See where I'm going here?
That's right. Ian Book. Dismal or abysmal depending on how much you imbibed to numb the pain. It always seems that we have to say, he did enough to win, and the ensuing yada yada yahoos will offer things like, "He's 327-6" He's got the 3rd longest winning streak at home in the country, yada yada. Or maybe even that old standby that's usually reserved for BK, who would you use in his stead?" Right? Well for one thing, we lost Phil Jurkovic who was what, a high 4*? We see the apologists and the praisers continuously proclaim the merits of mediocracy simply because he beats the teams he's supposed to beat. BK seems happy to finish a career with a good winning percentage and total number of wins. He says you come to ND to win Championships, but after 10 years, we know that is just lip service that he knows he needs to say for everyone to be happy.
But, hey, WHAT'S WRONG WITH US THE UNSATISFIED? We're 4-0!! Right?
We get teased every year. It's like Lucy pulling the football away when Charlie Brown goes to kick it. We know it's coming, but there's just a liiiiiiittle bit of hope that maybe this will be the time that we will be able to kick that darn football. The dread as we take that walk back 10 yards in readying for the kick. The ball set upright seemingly held in innocence awaiting it's fate. The adrenalin that begins to build in wanting to crush that ball. We begin the first few steps. The ball? Still there. We start the full pace of killing that footballlllllll....annnnnnd...WHAMMO! It's not there again. A big whiff and tumble.
Such is that Notre Dame climb to respectability. So freaking close. And then a Clemson, or Alabama, or OSU shows up on the other sideline, and we see that, yet again, we aren't in that stratosphere.
It really just comes down to the QB and the coaching. The defenders will say, Oh, the Covid! Oh, the Monsoon! Oh the academic requirements! Our boys can't be expected to overcome those obstacles as other schools do!
We've seen it. It's a Yada thing.
Now onto the game stuff.
Drew White. I think I lit a fire under his belly last week. Yes, I believe for sure some players read this board, and probably some coaches are told to keep an eye on the pulse of the ND fandom. And thereby, Drew White took umbrage at my post last week saying all those players that would be better than Drew, including Jonathon Doerer. I'm sure he got some ribbing. They read this stuff. And so guess what? He actually played with his head up, looking for the ball this week! Congrats Drew. You were better than average, and you have an easy road to show continuing improvement. The bar was low.
Bracey 28, was good again. He's a tough mother.
Kyren Williams - a joy to watch play the game we love.
Mike Mayer. Please, Please throw him the ball 10x a game. He is the only guy they have that will grab those 50-50 balls. I would send him 30-35 yds (our deep balls) because he is fast enough, as well as that 50-50 guy you need. He'll be exhausted but, I think he will love it. Get him the damn ball often!
Chris Tyree is very good. That thread of "Most Underrated Domer"? He is on his way to earning that moniker. I hope he never wins it because that would mean underutilization of this tough runner.
Oh yea, BK, will you please, for the first time in 2 years, DEFER to the 2nd half if you win the toss? I think he believes that by taking the ball first, you can only tie at worst, in number of possessions you might get. So, in essence, he is figuring for the worst in that every game will be will be that close that this would matter. Nevermind that this year our Defense is very good and would be less risk to be scored upon on an opening drive. How many times have we seen in the last 2 yrs, our defense being on the field at the end of the half, only to start the 2nd half on defense, again. There's something to be said for momentum starting the 2nd half, coach.
Lastly, the attacks on IIO (and he and I won't be getting together for coffee anytime in the near future, I'm pretty sure) should stop. Y'all (and you know who you are) are making it personal, and that's just stupid. Stop it. He's a Notre Dame fan. We come in all shapes and sizes, and countries. Please already.
Alright, I think that's a good enough place to stop. I will be in my office should you need extra help.
That's right. Ian Book. Dismal or abysmal depending on how much you imbibed to numb the pain. It always seems that we have to say, he did enough to win, and the ensuing yada yada yahoos will offer things like, "He's 327-6" He's got the 3rd longest winning streak at home in the country, yada yada. Or maybe even that old standby that's usually reserved for BK, who would you use in his stead?" Right? Well for one thing, we lost Phil Jurkovic who was what, a high 4*? We see the apologists and the praisers continuously proclaim the merits of mediocracy simply because he beats the teams he's supposed to beat. BK seems happy to finish a career with a good winning percentage and total number of wins. He says you come to ND to win Championships, but after 10 years, we know that is just lip service that he knows he needs to say for everyone to be happy.
But, hey, WHAT'S WRONG WITH US THE UNSATISFIED? We're 4-0!! Right?
We get teased every year. It's like Lucy pulling the football away when Charlie Brown goes to kick it. We know it's coming, but there's just a liiiiiiittle bit of hope that maybe this will be the time that we will be able to kick that darn football. The dread as we take that walk back 10 yards in readying for the kick. The ball set upright seemingly held in innocence awaiting it's fate. The adrenalin that begins to build in wanting to crush that ball. We begin the first few steps. The ball? Still there. We start the full pace of killing that footballlllllll....annnnnnd...WHAMMO! It's not there again. A big whiff and tumble.
Such is that Notre Dame climb to respectability. So freaking close. And then a Clemson, or Alabama, or OSU shows up on the other sideline, and we see that, yet again, we aren't in that stratosphere.
It really just comes down to the QB and the coaching. The defenders will say, Oh, the Covid! Oh, the Monsoon! Oh the academic requirements! Our boys can't be expected to overcome those obstacles as other schools do!
We've seen it. It's a Yada thing.
Now onto the game stuff.
Drew White. I think I lit a fire under his belly last week. Yes, I believe for sure some players read this board, and probably some coaches are told to keep an eye on the pulse of the ND fandom. And thereby, Drew White took umbrage at my post last week saying all those players that would be better than Drew, including Jonathon Doerer. I'm sure he got some ribbing. They read this stuff. And so guess what? He actually played with his head up, looking for the ball this week! Congrats Drew. You were better than average, and you have an easy road to show continuing improvement. The bar was low.
Bracey 28, was good again. He's a tough mother.
Kyren Williams - a joy to watch play the game we love.
Mike Mayer. Please, Please throw him the ball 10x a game. He is the only guy they have that will grab those 50-50 balls. I would send him 30-35 yds (our deep balls) because he is fast enough, as well as that 50-50 guy you need. He'll be exhausted but, I think he will love it. Get him the damn ball often!
Chris Tyree is very good. That thread of "Most Underrated Domer"? He is on his way to earning that moniker. I hope he never wins it because that would mean underutilization of this tough runner.
Oh yea, BK, will you please, for the first time in 2 years, DEFER to the 2nd half if you win the toss? I think he believes that by taking the ball first, you can only tie at worst, in number of possessions you might get. So, in essence, he is figuring for the worst in that every game will be will be that close that this would matter. Nevermind that this year our Defense is very good and would be less risk to be scored upon on an opening drive. How many times have we seen in the last 2 yrs, our defense being on the field at the end of the half, only to start the 2nd half on defense, again. There's something to be said for momentum starting the 2nd half, coach.
Lastly, the attacks on IIO (and he and I won't be getting together for coffee anytime in the near future, I'm pretty sure) should stop. Y'all (and you know who you are) are making it personal, and that's just stupid. Stop it. He's a Notre Dame fan. We come in all shapes and sizes, and countries. Please already.
Alright, I think that's a good enough place to stop. I will be in my office should you need extra help.
