where's Rudy when you need him
Isnt Rudy broadcasting ND games on satellite radio ????? And Howard Stern is doing "color".
howard stern and Notre Dame. Now there's a combo that would wake up the ghosts at South Bend. 
Actually I think Rudy is a motivational speaker and has spoken most everywhere except at Notre Dame, from a story I recently read. I think he even spoke recently at an SC alumni club meeting, as if the Trojans need more energy with Coach Carroll around-man is that guy upbeat.
Kidding aside, this may be one of N.D.'s problems. My understanding is that of late they have not embraced their past, not having previous players invited to functions, games, used for recruiting etc.
The old cliche in SoCal (between USC and UCLA at least) is that you are a Trojan for life and a Bruin for 4 years and it is pretty true.
Ken Norton, Jr. former UCLA player is now an SC coach and recruiting coordinator and sings the praises of SC's family spirit. Parents are encouraged to attend practice, old players (except OJ) are encouraged to participate, come to games etc. and it does create an amazing sense of family and commraderie. It has all spilled over to other campus activities, student enrollment etc.
Actually I think Rudy is a motivational speaker and has spoken most everywhere except at Notre Dame, from a story I recently read. I think he even spoke recently at an SC alumni club meeting, as if the Trojans need more energy with Coach Carroll around-man is that guy upbeat.
Kidding aside, this may be one of N.D.'s problems. My understanding is that of late they have not embraced their past, not having previous players invited to functions, games, used for recruiting etc.
The old cliche in SoCal (between USC and UCLA at least) is that you are a Trojan for life and a Bruin for 4 years and it is pretty true.
Ken Norton, Jr. former UCLA player is now an SC coach and recruiting coordinator and sings the praises of SC's family spirit. Parents are encouraged to attend practice, old players (except OJ) are encouraged to participate, come to games etc. and it does create an amazing sense of family and commraderie. It has all spilled over to other campus activities, student enrollment etc.
ND's problem is they haven't produced enough players since 1990 or so that 05's or 06 's have even heard of. It wouldn't matter if they were brought in for functions or not.
Todays recruits don't remember last national title at ND - they remember the Bob Davie & Ty Willingham eras of lots of losses, bowl snubs and disappointments, stodgy offenses and team speed equivalent of a mid major.
Looong way to go before that program returns to glory and it will never happen if academic standards aren't loosened up.
'
Todays recruits don't remember last national title at ND - they remember the Bob Davie & Ty Willingham eras of lots of losses, bowl snubs and disappointments, stodgy offenses and team speed equivalent of a mid major.
Looong way to go before that program returns to glory and it will never happen if academic standards aren't loosened up.
'
Funny we are talking about ND on a USC thread, beings they are such big rivals. But ND problems are very simple, they absolutely refuse to take JC transfers, and their Freshmen admission standards are impossible. So, they never truly are on a level playing field with other schools. They seem to have a very difficult time recruiting the "athletes", yes they still continue to get the great linemen, but that has even tappered off in recent years. Before, it really didn't matter who coached ND, they always had the talent. Now, not so much. And to think Randy Moss, was once going to ND, but a Drug charge changed all that, times have really changed.
" their Freshmen admission standards are impossible." Baloney!
Agree with you, Denis, 100%.
No one really cares about ND anymore except for the alums. The '40's and '50's glory days are gone forever. Only so many times you can play Army, Navy, Air Force, Purdue, Washington, BYU, and Syracuse on a weak sister schedule. When they got pounded by Miami regularly, they just dropped them.
No more nuns and priests in Catholic grammar and high schools and therefore no one pushing kids to go to ND. Nuns left the order in record numbers and have not come back. Priests, too, are gone.
Beautiful campus and quality education.
Glory days of dominating football team are gone for a long, long, time. Should win 8 of their 11 games next fall with their schedule. We'll see.
Agree with you, Denis, 100%.
No one really cares about ND anymore except for the alums. The '40's and '50's glory days are gone forever. Only so many times you can play Army, Navy, Air Force, Purdue, Washington, BYU, and Syracuse on a weak sister schedule. When they got pounded by Miami regularly, they just dropped them.
No more nuns and priests in Catholic grammar and high schools and therefore no one pushing kids to go to ND. Nuns left the order in record numbers and have not come back. Priests, too, are gone.
Beautiful campus and quality education.
Glory days of dominating football team are gone for a long, long, time. Should win 8 of their 11 games next fall with their schedule. We'll see.
Given that, as a Trojan, the only team I like less than UCLA is Notre Dame (well maybe Stanford too 
) I'm sorry I participated in taking this thread in the direction of the Golden Domers .
Back to things that matter- September 3, 2005 USC opens the defense of their Championship at Hawaii and on to a 3-peat. Hmmmmmmmm, September 3 in Hawaii (any travel agents on this Board)
Go Trojans. Fight on.............
) I'm sorry I participated in taking this thread in the direction of the Golden Domers . Back to things that matter- September 3, 2005 USC opens the defense of their Championship at Hawaii and on to a 3-peat. Hmmmmmmmm, September 3 in Hawaii (any travel agents on this Board)
Go Trojans. Fight on.............
Notre Dame plays a serious schedule.
2004 Schedule:
BYU (Great football tradition)
Michigan (Rose Bowl) Final ranking #12
Michigan State (Good football tradition)
Washington (Very good football tradition)
Purdue (Sun Bowl)
Stanford (Fairly good football tradition)
Navy (Emerald Bowl) Final ranking #24
Boston College (Continental Bowl) Final ranking #21
Tennessee (Cotton Bowl) Final ranking #15
Pittsburgh (Fiesta Bowl)
USC (Orange Bowl). Final ranking #1
Notre Dames schedule included 4 teams that played in 4 of the 5 most prestigious bowl games.
Next years schedule looks about the same.
The highly regarded Utah coach took the Florida job instead of going to Notre Dame. Smart Guy!!!! Truth is Florida is a much bigger hotbed for recruiting than Indiana. The weather is obviously much better. Academic requirements are easier and the pressure at Notre Dame is second to none. He decided the Florida job was better than the Notre Dame job. All things considered it probably is.
It seems that football is becoming a warm weather sport, though not as much as college baseball. The Southern and West coast teams are starting to dominate. In a way, it’s kind of interesting watching famous programs like Nebraska and Notre Dame go through tough times. If Notre Dame has fallen on tough times, Nebraska has hit the bottom! Penn State is floundering, too. Perhaps Ohio State is next with all the problems they’re having!
It’s kind of fun talking about football for a change.
2004 Schedule:
BYU (Great football tradition)
Michigan (Rose Bowl) Final ranking #12
Michigan State (Good football tradition)
Washington (Very good football tradition)
Purdue (Sun Bowl)
Stanford (Fairly good football tradition)
Navy (Emerald Bowl) Final ranking #24
Boston College (Continental Bowl) Final ranking #21
Tennessee (Cotton Bowl) Final ranking #15
Pittsburgh (Fiesta Bowl)
USC (Orange Bowl). Final ranking #1
Notre Dames schedule included 4 teams that played in 4 of the 5 most prestigious bowl games.
Next years schedule looks about the same.
The highly regarded Utah coach took the Florida job instead of going to Notre Dame. Smart Guy!!!! Truth is Florida is a much bigger hotbed for recruiting than Indiana. The weather is obviously much better. Academic requirements are easier and the pressure at Notre Dame is second to none. He decided the Florida job was better than the Notre Dame job. All things considered it probably is.
It seems that football is becoming a warm weather sport, though not as much as college baseball. The Southern and West coast teams are starting to dominate. In a way, it’s kind of interesting watching famous programs like Nebraska and Notre Dame go through tough times. If Notre Dame has fallen on tough times, Nebraska has hit the bottom! Penn State is floundering, too. Perhaps Ohio State is next with all the problems they’re having!
It’s kind of fun talking about football for a change.
Definitely agree that ND plays a tuff schedule. SC also always plays a strong schedule and many conferences are tough in and of themself-SEC for example.
Alot of this is very cyclical and much to do about the Coach. Florida was historically a zero until Spurrior came around. Washington was a power until the Neuheisal debacle. Notre Dame has just not found the right fit since Holtz left. BYU was a national champion contender until Lavell Edwards left and they blew off Norm Chow. Stanford with Bill Walsh was a force and not really again since etc. etc.
Not sure the weather, location are the same factor as in baseball.
SC was dominant in the 60's and 70's with McKay and the first go around with John Robinson. After that with Ted Tollner, Larry Smith, John Robinson II and Paul Hacket
SC lost about 13 years in a row to Notre Dame and 8 years in a row to UCLA in the 80's to 90's under those clowns from Tollner on.
Carroll (with Chow as his right hand man) has been the right guy in the right place at the right time and he is most definitely the difference. The right coach is HUGE and gets the ball rolling in every other respect for a program.
In baseball, USC lost its pitching coach and main recruiter a few years ago (John Savage) and haven't been the same since. Now Savage is at UCLA and they just announced one of their best recruiting classes ever (and that's not to take anything away from former UCLA coach Gary Adams who is as fine a man and coach there is, but maybe Savage just has some magic touch). without Marquess at Stanford, where might they be in baseball? the same goes for many, many other schools.
Back to football, Michigan has remained strong, 100,000+ every Saturday in the Big House and always at the top of the big ten and its pretty cold up there. they've had solid coaching. Penn State has gone in the other direction as Joe Pa is just past his prime and won't admit it.
they always say that you should pick the school and never the coach - they come and go- but it really is about the coach at the bottom line. If and when Pete Carroll leaves USC -
He's a key to all their success. SC's facilities ain't much and the stadium they play in is a dump. top notch coach is everything.
Alot of this is very cyclical and much to do about the Coach. Florida was historically a zero until Spurrior came around. Washington was a power until the Neuheisal debacle. Notre Dame has just not found the right fit since Holtz left. BYU was a national champion contender until Lavell Edwards left and they blew off Norm Chow. Stanford with Bill Walsh was a force and not really again since etc. etc.
Not sure the weather, location are the same factor as in baseball.
SC was dominant in the 60's and 70's with McKay and the first go around with John Robinson. After that with Ted Tollner, Larry Smith, John Robinson II and Paul Hacket
SC lost about 13 years in a row to Notre Dame and 8 years in a row to UCLA in the 80's to 90's under those clowns from Tollner on.
Carroll (with Chow as his right hand man) has been the right guy in the right place at the right time and he is most definitely the difference. The right coach is HUGE and gets the ball rolling in every other respect for a program.
In baseball, USC lost its pitching coach and main recruiter a few years ago (John Savage) and haven't been the same since. Now Savage is at UCLA and they just announced one of their best recruiting classes ever (and that's not to take anything away from former UCLA coach Gary Adams who is as fine a man and coach there is, but maybe Savage just has some magic touch). without Marquess at Stanford, where might they be in baseball? the same goes for many, many other schools.
Back to football, Michigan has remained strong, 100,000+ every Saturday in the Big House and always at the top of the big ten and its pretty cold up there. they've had solid coaching. Penn State has gone in the other direction as Joe Pa is just past his prime and won't admit it.
they always say that you should pick the school and never the coach - they come and go- but it really is about the coach at the bottom line. If and when Pete Carroll leaves USC -
He's a key to all their success. SC's facilities ain't much and the stadium they play in is a dump. top notch coach is everything.
HeyBatter,
Gotta agree with the coach is everything... Baseball or football or basketball for that matter.
We've been lucky to have a couple real good football coaches at Iowa in Hayden Fry and Kurt Ferentz. So long as Ferentz is here, Iowa football will always be a lot of fun. Ferentz, Dan McCarney (Iowa State), Barry Alverez (Wisconsin), Bill Snyder (Kansas State), Bobby Stoops (Oklahoma)and a few others were all on Hayden Fry's staff at Iowa.
In Basketball Lute Olsen came to a terrible Iowa program and immediately turned them around. Even took them to the final 4. Arizona was the worst team in the Pac 10 when he took over there. They won one game in the Pac 10 the year before he got there. He immediately turned them into a national power and they have been ever since.
Regarding Chow...
Who is the smartest guy in the world?...
It is the guy who hired him!
Speaking of coaching... Someone should pay close attention to what's going on with Vanderbilt, Santa Clara and U of Virginia baseball.
Gotta agree with the coach is everything... Baseball or football or basketball for that matter.
We've been lucky to have a couple real good football coaches at Iowa in Hayden Fry and Kurt Ferentz. So long as Ferentz is here, Iowa football will always be a lot of fun. Ferentz, Dan McCarney (Iowa State), Barry Alverez (Wisconsin), Bill Snyder (Kansas State), Bobby Stoops (Oklahoma)and a few others were all on Hayden Fry's staff at Iowa.
In Basketball Lute Olsen came to a terrible Iowa program and immediately turned them around. Even took them to the final 4. Arizona was the worst team in the Pac 10 when he took over there. They won one game in the Pac 10 the year before he got there. He immediately turned them into a national power and they have been ever since.
Regarding Chow...
Who is the smartest guy in the world?...
It is the guy who hired him!
Speaking of coaching... Someone should pay close attention to what's going on with Vanderbilt, Santa Clara and U of Virginia baseball.
Leave it to TR, come on yes the fumble was a momentum changer, but even if it didn't happen, we would of caused another momentum changer! And the final result would of been the same. While I do not believe any college team could beat even the worst NFL team, the talking heads were right, SC would give the Niners a scare and run for their money!
And all that and with out the greatest college receiver not being allowed to play by the holier than though NCAA hypocrites!
Nice post HeyBatter you beat me to the punch. How's your son, and what was the final outcome?
FIGHT ON! FIGHT ON TO VICTORY!
And all that and with out the greatest college receiver not being allowed to play by the holier than though NCAA hypocrites!
Nice post HeyBatter you beat me to the punch. How's your son, and what was the final outcome?
FIGHT ON! FIGHT ON TO VICTORY!
Growing up as a kid Notre Dame was college football. Having them back at the top would be great for the game as they still are America's team. There are ND fans all across the country unlike other programs whose fan base is much more concentrated.
They seem to lack the so called "skill" position players of late. Rather ironic since ND does have a distinct advantage when recruiting in that every game is on national TV thanks to their contract with NBC. No other program can offer such exposure.
As starved as college baseball is for TV exposure, could you imagine the impact on recruiting if a sole baseball program were to sign a contract with say ESPN.
They seem to lack the so called "skill" position players of late. Rather ironic since ND does have a distinct advantage when recruiting in that every game is on national TV thanks to their contract with NBC. No other program can offer such exposure.
As starved as college baseball is for TV exposure, could you imagine the impact on recruiting if a sole baseball program were to sign a contract with say ESPN.
Beenthere...maybe I misspoke, freshmen admission standards are not impossible, they are very tough. Maybe that is a better word, apply to USC and apply to Notre Dame with decent grades and see which one takes you. They never take JC transfers, like other programs do, and probably play the toughest schedule in the nation. Do they still have the luster...I think so! If there admission standards were the same as everyone else, they would get the quality athletes, and be right back on top. Does Notre Dame take the same type student/athlete as say Miami or Florida State? NOPE. This also makes the Stanford baseball program all the more impressive, because they too don't have the same admission standards as say a California State college, yet they remain at the top of the heap year in and year out.
The great USC baseball coach who is now retired (Rod Dedeaux) after being complimented on what a great coach he was said, "good coaches coach and great coaches recruit". 
Dad...I have no problems with ND. I'm still a big fan though not as big as I once was.
Little tougher to get in than some state schools but they have all types of "support" programs on the campus for the marginal athlete/recruit.
If you can speak a grammatically correct English sentence and you're a football player, they'll try to get you into the school.
Don't know why so many people criticized Paul Hornung...he of the old football helmet school...when he "told it like it is"...some time ago.
Just keep on scheduling hamburger schools and you'll be invited to a bowl game...More made-for-tv-bowl-games now than every before. 6-5 and your in a bowl game nowadays.
I remember when the Big Four were: Rose; Cotton; Orange and Sugar. If you didn't play in those games you s......d Now, they think it is some kind of "big deal" to be in a bowl game. I don't think so.
Everything is "watered down" because of the television dollar and need for programming. Virtually any kind of programming.
Was channel surfing earlier today. Why do you think they don't "pan" the "crowd" at Big 10/11 women's basketball games? Why? BEcause they have 500 people in the stands. If they can't convince people to go see their own teams on campus, how can they expect to have a television audience? Amazes me. Where are the marketing reps in the hsbaseballweb.com crowd? How does this happen?
Happy to see that there is now a college sports network unfolding. Pretty soon you're going to see competitive college badminton and skulling on tv. Wow! Can't wait.
Money feeds everything. As an earlier poster mentioned....When ND decided that they would sell their football telecasts to NBC, they created their own problems. Now, no one cares about ND and what they do in football. Same sentiment from about 20 former ND fans that I know in the Chicagoland area that had nothing to do with ND but cheered for them. As fans, they are gone and ND will never get them back.
Rechecked their schedule for next year. 8-3 easy. How many of the men that made the decision to get rid of Willingham ever coached a major college game? Anyone know? If I was a black kid, I wouldn't go to ND because of what they did to Ty. They should have let him fill out his contractual term. 6 cupcakes and 2 hamburgers next fall. 3 likely losses. Stands will be filled to capacity. That is why they don't really care. Television revenue direct deposit...win or lose.
Little tougher to get in than some state schools but they have all types of "support" programs on the campus for the marginal athlete/recruit.
If you can speak a grammatically correct English sentence and you're a football player, they'll try to get you into the school.
Don't know why so many people criticized Paul Hornung...he of the old football helmet school...when he "told it like it is"...some time ago.
Just keep on scheduling hamburger schools and you'll be invited to a bowl game...More made-for-tv-bowl-games now than every before. 6-5 and your in a bowl game nowadays.
I remember when the Big Four were: Rose; Cotton; Orange and Sugar. If you didn't play in those games you s......d Now, they think it is some kind of "big deal" to be in a bowl game. I don't think so.
Everything is "watered down" because of the television dollar and need for programming. Virtually any kind of programming.
Was channel surfing earlier today. Why do you think they don't "pan" the "crowd" at Big 10/11 women's basketball games? Why? BEcause they have 500 people in the stands. If they can't convince people to go see their own teams on campus, how can they expect to have a television audience? Amazes me. Where are the marketing reps in the hsbaseballweb.com crowd? How does this happen?
Happy to see that there is now a college sports network unfolding. Pretty soon you're going to see competitive college badminton and skulling on tv. Wow! Can't wait.
Money feeds everything. As an earlier poster mentioned....When ND decided that they would sell their football telecasts to NBC, they created their own problems. Now, no one cares about ND and what they do in football. Same sentiment from about 20 former ND fans that I know in the Chicagoland area that had nothing to do with ND but cheered for them. As fans, they are gone and ND will never get them back.
Rechecked their schedule for next year. 8-3 easy. How many of the men that made the decision to get rid of Willingham ever coached a major college game? Anyone know? If I was a black kid, I wouldn't go to ND because of what they did to Ty. They should have let him fill out his contractual term. 6 cupcakes and 2 hamburgers next fall. 3 likely losses. Stands will be filled to capacity. That is why they don't really care. Television revenue direct deposit...win or lose.
I don't think black/white or indifferent was the reason Ty was fired. He was fired because he was stuck with previous recruits, tried to institute his offense and defense, and make those kids play his style. Didn't/wouldn't work now or ever. Black kids shouldn't go to ND because they fired Ty before his contract was up? Puhlease. In this day and age, a coach isn't guaranteed anything, you don't win, you don't coach. For coaches to sign long term contracts, and then ask for permission to move on, and go where the big bucks are, oh well. Coaches are moving now at alarming rates, simply for the lure of big bucks and larger programs. So, if they get fired before their contract is up, then so be it. Ty was not ND's first choice, or their second choice. He knew what he was getting into when he accepted their offer. Besides, he wasn't out of work long, a week I think! They should have payed John Gruden whatever he wanted, and hired him away from Tampa Bay. 8-3? Hmmm, don't think so, maybe in the past, but I think the only game they should win easy is Navy, the way ND plays now, the rest could go either way. I think other colleges should be lined up to play ND now, large payday, on TV, and a real shot at beating them down. Just my opinion, which doesn't mean much.
Just wanted to congratulate Matt Leinart on his decision to stay in school for his senior year and lead USC to a 3-peat.
Without much of anything left to prove, Matt apparently decided that his love for the college game and his coaches and teammates was enough for now and the NFL millions can what.
Go Trojans- fight on.
... and hey there Trojanx2 thanks for asking about my son, he's doing great. I'll send you a pm
Without much of anything left to prove, Matt apparently decided that his love for the college game and his coaches and teammates was enough for now and the NFL millions can what.
Go Trojans- fight on.
... and hey there Trojanx2 thanks for asking about my son, he's doing great. I'll send you a pm
The Trojans are like the Patriots they are the best untill someone proves they are not. They were the best team last year and they were the best team this year. Yes I would have liked them to play LSU last year and Auburn this year but the fact is they were better than Auburn. No way Auburn does that to Oklahoma. They might have beaten them but not like that. Im not a USC fan Im a Tarheel. But I am also a realist and they have it going big time. They have the best QB in the nation, one of the best coaches in the nation, the best offensive coordinator in the nation, and a recruiting base that is unmatched.
It all comes down to the system in place and the staff implementing it--- if the system and staff are right then you do not need supertsars you need players who buy into the syatem and execute as asked to
Just look at the Patriots---and USC-- and you also need a bit of Lady Luck along the way as in all sports--the well drilled teams get the lucky bounces
Just look at the Patriots---and USC-- and you also need a bit of Lady Luck along the way as in all sports--the well drilled teams get the lucky bounces