...until September 19th at least. While the games are played on the field and not in the polls, remember Appalachian State, the SI Magazine arrived with the good news today. Stewart Mandel has Notre Dame ranked 52nd in front of Michigan in the 54th spot. That still means nothing.
We play San Diego State in our first game which is ranked 107th of 119 ranked schools. So what does this all mean? Well, for one, the Irish will finally ease in the season compared to the last years where they would have the toughest part of the schedule early on so that the conference schools could go back to Division play afterward.
If you look at the last 3 years, in their first 3 games of the season, ND faced @ Pittsburgh, @ Michigan and Michigan State in 2005, @ Georgia Tech, Penn State and Michigan in 2006 and Georgia Tech, @ Penn State and @ Michigan in 2007. No Appalachian State, no San Rosa of the Calvary Girls High Schools. All big schools, all big programs, all schools with great winning histories.
With a lighter schedule in the first week, thanks to a weakened Michigan that only returns 2 starters on offense and you are allowed like me to envision a 2-0 start. Depending on how the offensive line plays and how much time Clausen has to play with, we could see some explosive scores that would carry the momentum to the Michigan State face off.
The defense, that now benefits from Corwin Brown 3-4 scheme and the ideas of Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator John Tenuta(joined in off season), will have gained experience and we will hopefully see less of the embarrasment on the field. Returning stars Mo Crum at linebacker and David Bruton at free safety will lead the defense on the field.
If you think that at this point I am ready to predict the full season, go drink a keg, send me an email, and wait, I will reply right away. You can forget the prediction right after you read it. I will commit to 7 wins though. Just don`t ask me which ones yet.
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I was gonna say, perfect? You would have to be the ultimate homer. Nice blog.
(Cincy)
Jamestown, OH
Total Comments (10951)
They lost some key players as in Brady Quinn and Jeff Smardzija, so I'm definitely hoping things go a bit better then last year. Nice work.
Foxy's Back
Total Comments (11879)
Seven wins for the Irish seems attainable. I also think Mich. will win 7 or 8 games this season but I do think the Wolvrines are a much bigger question mark than the Irish are this year. About Stew Mandel picking Mich. so low, his alma mater [North Western] has only beaten Mich 3 or 4 times in the past 25 years so I think he has a soft spot in his heart for the Wolverines.
norka
Bubba Spot, GA
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Thanks for the feedback guys. As for Stewart Mandel being from Northwestern, that is a very interesting nugget!!
michelchiasson on…
Moncton, NB
Total Comments (69)
No Appalachian State, no San Rosa of the Calvary Girls High Schools. All big schools, all big programs, all schools with great winning histories.
Appalachian State beat Michigan. You are playing overrated teams from the last century. Fitting isn't it.
charliewewe
Washington , DC
Total Comments (1)
To respond the last post, ND is one of a couple BCS teams that has never played a I-AA or I-AAA teams ever. Granted, they play the academies but, at least, those are games of honor. ND does not play Eastern Washington (like WV did in 2006 and TT this year), Youngstown St, Eastern Carolina (?) or GA Southern. If ND would predict when they needed a "soft" schedule, last year they would have play only against I-AA, bottom pit teams. They did not and their inexperience showed.
This year it will depend on how they fare in the first two games. A relatively easy win against SDS and a clear victory over Michigan could open a very promising season. Let's see
Comefierros
Total Comments (30)
Every team plays their own lot of softies. Ohio State has Youngstown, Ohio and Troy on their schedule. And Troy plays in the Sun Belt along with San Rosa of the Calvary Girls High Schools. Those who slag Notre Dame for their schedule just need to look at their own teams schedule and you'll see the same weak teams.
notredude99
Turlock , CA
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