You want to know the real reason ND has lost 9 straight bowl games? Because they play in bowl games that they have no business playing in because they are ND. They are in a BCS game this year against a legitimate BCS team because they are ND not because they were a legitimate BCS team. They will continue to loose bowl games untill they are a legitimate BCS team. They played three Legitimate BCS teams this year and got smoked all three times. Thats simply the facts. They are ND and they bring the fans to the game and to the TV screen. The fact is ND is a fraud. They play a weak schedule peppered with a couple of high profile games. Michigan and USC. They get smoked in both games. They load up on UNC Air Force Navy and the likes and get there 10 wins. Then they play a BCS calibre team and get exposed for what they are. Brady Quinn was so hyped it is ridiculous. These are just the facts. ND will snap their bowl game streak as soon as they are fairly treated and put in a bowl game that they deserve. Untill then the streak will continue.
Been,
NU beat ND the last time they played so i'm sure that ND is no rush to put them back on the schedule.
Also, there is an argument to be made that Michigan is borderline hamburgers as well. Who did they beat? Their claim to fame was not losing to Ohio State by a lot of points. Nobody seems to remember that they were really never in that game and never really threatened to take the lead, much less win.
NU beat ND the last time they played so i'm sure that ND is no rush to put them back on the schedule.
Also, there is an argument to be made that Michigan is borderline hamburgers as well. Who did they beat? Their claim to fame was not losing to Ohio State by a lot of points. Nobody seems to remember that they were really never in that game and never really threatened to take the lead, much less win.
quote:2007 Notre Dame Football Schedule
Sept. 1 GEORGIA TECH-HAMBURGER
Sept. 8 at Penn State-GOOD TEAM
Sept. 15 at Michigan-GOOD TEAM
Sept. 22 MICHIGAN STATE-HAMBURGER
Sept. 29 at Purdue-HAMBURGER
Oct. 6 at UCLA-HAMBURGER
Oct. 13 BOSTON COLLEGE-HAMBURGER
Oct. 20 USC-GOOD TEAM
Nov. 3 NAVY-HAMBURGER
Nov. 10 AIR FORCE-HAMBURGER
Nov. 17 DUKE-CHEESEBURGER
Nov. 24 at Stanford-HAMBURGER
So NCAA DI football programs GTECH/BC/UCLA/MICH ST/PURDUE are Hamburgers and USC/MICH are just good.
Just to be clear here I totally agree that ND gets preferential treatment by the BCS because of who they are and what they generate in terms of TV revenue. However, to say they play a patsy scheduled every year is absurd IMO.
quote:Originally posted by NYdad:
However, to say they play a patsy scheduled every year is absurd IMO.
You can rationalize it, spin it, whatever you want to do with it but Navy, Air Force, Duke and Stanford ARE PATSIES!!!! That's 1/3 of their schedule.
quote:You can rationalize it, spin it, whatever you want to do with it but Navy, Air Force, Duke and Stanford ARE PATSIES!!!! That's 1/3 of their schedule.
Beezer, they are but what about the rest of the schedule, i.e. the HAMBURGERS!
For the most part they all have a few patsies on their schedules.
I don't know what ND ever did to you Beezer, but this is getting laughable. Ever team in the nation plays a few "patsies", ND just does it later in the year than most because they don't have a conference schedule.
According to one of the rankings that ESPN.com uses to make their BCS and strength of schedule rankings, I found a few numbers for you. I can't remember the site (I googled it).
Strength of Schedule
2005 preseason #1
2004 preseason #7
2003 preseason #6
2002 preseason #8
2001 postseason #16
2000 postseason #25
1999 postseason #4
I don't know what else needs to be said.
According to one of the rankings that ESPN.com uses to make their BCS and strength of schedule rankings, I found a few numbers for you. I can't remember the site (I googled it).
Strength of Schedule
2005 preseason #1
2004 preseason #7
2003 preseason #6
2002 preseason #8
2001 postseason #16
2000 postseason #25
1999 postseason #4
I don't know what else needs to be said.
NYdad / Spinedoc - Both of you said "every team plays patsies". You're both correct. The difference between most of the teams and Notre Dame is that USC, Ohio State, Texas, etc. get their "patsies" via their league whereas Notre Dame knowingly schedules them.
Another argument can be made that when schedules are made years in advance, you never know who will show up 2, 3, 4 years down the road. But there's a distinct difference between trying to schedule a solid program (like Arkansas & Nebraska as USC did) and scheduling Duke. You're right about one thing...it most certainly IS laughable.
If they want to be an elite football program again, they need to drop the service academies, Duke and Stanford from their schedule and pick up teams from the Pac 10, SEC, Big 12, etc....and win against ranked teams.
I'm not sure why you're all bent out of shape at me. I'm merely stating the obvious. And I don't have anything against Notre Dame. I'd be proud as a peacock if my son attended ND. What I do oppose are ND fans who down their nose at everybody else.
Another argument can be made that when schedules are made years in advance, you never know who will show up 2, 3, 4 years down the road. But there's a distinct difference between trying to schedule a solid program (like Arkansas & Nebraska as USC did) and scheduling Duke. You're right about one thing...it most certainly IS laughable.
If they want to be an elite football program again, they need to drop the service academies, Duke and Stanford from their schedule and pick up teams from the Pac 10, SEC, Big 12, etc....and win against ranked teams.
I'm not sure why you're all bent out of shape at me. I'm merely stating the obvious. And I don't have anything against Notre Dame. I'd be proud as a peacock if my son attended ND. What I do oppose are ND fans who down their nose at everybody else.
First off I am a big Notre Dame fan. I told my high school coach after my senior season, that unless ND came calling I was hanging up my helmet. They didn't call. Last year's Fiesta Bowl, this year against Michigan, USC and the bowl showed just how far ND is behind. They are not a BCS bowl team. But the determining factor with ND getting a BCS bid is $$$$$. ND travels well and their fans spend alot of $$$$$. That's is why they played LSU Wednesday night. The NCAA once again sold out.
A couple of thoughts.
1. Calling ND's schedule soft is ridiculous. At least 7 teams on next fall's schedule played in Bowl Games. Someone above ranked USC as a good team. Good? Pete Carroll might win the next three.
2. ND has been down for awhile. Lack of talent, lack of speed. But Charlie has been playing with someone else's recruits. When was the last time ND's recruiting class was ranked very high?
3. Get your licks now while you can. Charlie is bringing in the troups and will once again make ND THE place to play. Maybe not next year or the year after but they will be back. And he will do it with student-athletes, adhering to ND's strict admissions policy.
Shake down the thunder
PS Only 5 weeks until pitchers and catchers.
A couple of thoughts.
1. Calling ND's schedule soft is ridiculous. At least 7 teams on next fall's schedule played in Bowl Games. Someone above ranked USC as a good team. Good? Pete Carroll might win the next three.
2. ND has been down for awhile. Lack of talent, lack of speed. But Charlie has been playing with someone else's recruits. When was the last time ND's recruiting class was ranked very high?
3. Get your licks now while you can. Charlie is bringing in the troups and will once again make ND THE place to play. Maybe not next year or the year after but they will be back. And he will do it with student-athletes, adhering to ND's strict admissions policy.
Shake down the thunder
PS Only 5 weeks until pitchers and catchers.
quote:also, there is an argument to be made that Michigan is borderline hamburgers as well.
and I thought the holiday's have passed
It's one thing to judge strength of schedule on reputation and quite another on results. Two years ago, how many of the alleged "good" teams on ND's schedule ended up ranked? One. This year, how many? 3, and Georgia Tech just slipped in at 25. Don't give me the "seven bowl team" nonsense. All it means to be a bowl team is that you won half your games.
As for Michigan, I ask again, other than beating up on an obviously poor ND team and squeaking out a win at home early against Whisky, who did they beat?
As for Michigan, I ask again, other than beating up on an obviously poor ND team and squeaking out a win at home early against Whisky, who did they beat?
Bottom line, if your not Ohio St or USC your Hamburger! End of discussion
quote:Originally posted by Holden Caulfield:
As for Michigan, I ask again, other than beating up on an obviously poor ND team and squeaking out a win at home early against Whisky, who did they beat?
You are proving my point exactly. Everyone cries about ND playing a weak schedule, when a team in a major conference like Michigan didn't have to play anybody at all to basically guarantee a 10 win season. The only team that I respect (not like) for playing everyone that they can is USC, and they still get to play the bottom half of their conference. And back to what I said earlier, ND is playing Penn State and Michigan while Ohio State is playing Northern Illinois and Cinnci. Everyone has cupcakes, ND just does it later in the season because they don't have a conference schedule. The day that every BCS bowl participant plays 10 top 25 teams is the day that this argument will hold any water with me.
And Holden, as far as how many of the ranked teams that ND had scheduled not panning out 2 years ago, are you telling me they should be held responsible for not being psychic now too. When they scheduled the games these teams were supposed to be tough. I guarantee you that Ohio State thought that Iowa, Penn State and Minnesota were going to be better than they were this year as well.
quote:Maybe not next year or the year after but they will be back. And he will do it with student-athletes, adhering to ND's strict admissions policy.
Gees...I've been an ND fan every since Sister Mary Margaret gave all of the 8th grade altar boys free tee shirts.
Beautiful campus. Great worldwide reputation.
In my opinion...Definitely doesn't belong in college football elite for the past 5 years. I'm sure that ND has plenty of "non-predictors" admitted on their football skills alone. The only football players that likely don't get admitted because of "...ND's strict admissions policy" are those that can't count to 14 or can't color two pages of a coloring book. Simple as that.
I agree with you that Weis will do fine the next couple of years. That is why I posted the schedule. Heck, my high school buddy (former high school football coach, John _______) and I could go 9-3 and 10-2 with their schedule for the next 2 years.
Reality without rose-colored glasses.
Hey ND fans, my beloved Hokies just found a neat way to wash away the "Stunk Up the Bowl Game Blues":
Final in ACC basketball, at Durham, in overtime:
Hokies 69
#5 Duke 67
Four weeks from right now, opening day for my guys is on. Bring on the baseball season!
Final in ACC basketball, at Durham, in overtime:
Hokies 69
#5 Duke 67
Four weeks from right now, opening day for my guys is on. Bring on the baseball season!
It could be argued that the only team that almost assuredly plays a tough schedule every year is the team that wins the SEC. I wonder how many of those teams would be ranked every year if they didn't beat up on each other all season.
Having said that, I note that the Big 10 is 2-0 against the SEC so far, although they didn't deserve to win either game.
Having said that, I note that the Big 10 is 2-0 against the SEC so far, although they didn't deserve to win either game.