FanNation - The Republic of Sport

This game may define not only this year, but also this team in the next couple of years. They let the NC and Pitt games get away from them, how they respond to this latest let down will be telling. It is the job of the coaching staff to not only get these guys ready for the games, but to see that they finish them as well. Throughout the 2nd half they should have felt the team lacked the urgency the situation demanded and should have corrected the mistake. But, this is a young team and they need to learn how to put teams away when they can and not let them back in the game.

I look at a 17-14 Irish win. I just think God likes us more than BC. Guess we'll find out.

MrMiyagiJr, always, always love the comments....and I agree that the coaching staff has such a role in the last losses. The talent, as we have seen, is definitely there. Getting that intensity to be sustainable, somehow, has eluded the coaching staff. If they can do it for one half, they can do it for one game but the adjustments are just not there at halftime. Since it is a catholic showdown, I hope that the gods that show up are pulling for us as well. Regardless of the score, which I hope favors the Irish after the final whistle blows, I hope it is a great game.

Mike, just wondering, what you consider the bigger rivalry, ND-BC or ND-USC?

Personally, I would say USC...it is clearly the one that has produced the most drama in recent memory, as in 05 memory...the Bush push...
Going back to the mid 20's I believe, the USC-ND rivalry does elevate itself to the coaching staff and the fans. We don't like each other. Period. And we have played spoilers to each others programs attempts at national championships or winning streaks ( as in USC winning streak that is..)...which one do you consider biggest rivalry Keith?

Hey Mike, as a gesture of friendliness and proper perspective on things, I'll take a look at my 2008 USC Media Guide (the thing is a friggin catalog) and write here when I get the chance the complete USC-ND results through the years. (Either my own blog or your comment space here depending on timeliness).
Personally I think the ND-USC rivalry is much bigger than ND-BC. For one thing BC is buried in a media and fan market that worships the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics (last year being a perfect example). So how much interest is there on the BC side of things. I'm no expert on BC athletics, so someone correct me if I'm off here.
Yes I "strongly dislike" Notre Dame, but then again with Coach Rick at UCLA and the BS antics he already pulled with the LA Times this summer, I think that rivalry may get a little more heated out west.
Anyway, the calendar suggests we'll be "talking soon". Until then enjoy football...

I would say USC as well, so much history and tradition on both sides makes it a great rivalry. And USC fans are pretty cool. Sat next some of them in South Bend when USC was kicking our butts, had a great time going back and forth, hope it's that way there as well.

watching this game, it is in the fourth quarter and realizing that we're just not that good yet....it is very obvious that against a good defense, we couldn't compete tonight. It could be a case of the chicken and the egg....are we stopped because we are afraid of their d-line or is the d-line that good and that we really need to work on next year to have a winning season?

Bad day for ND. Just could not get the offense going.

I am just wondering under what circumstances could the offense have been going today.....maybe we are 2 years out before we can compete again....usc, while they struggled to the last 5 minutes to beat Cal is going to have a field day against ND.....I just wonder why is there such a "peaks and valley" effect .....

If they keep playing like this I may take a pottery class or something! Although we do have talent on the way there has got to be enough to be more competitive than they are. At times this offense can breeze down the field, other times there is no creativity and the play calling becomes almost predictable to the average Irish fan. Besides the obvious depth issues, Both of our lines have to get bigger and bader, they lack the meaness it takes to compete for all four quarters and still have the energy to tell the guy you dominated all day what you're gonna do to his mother after the game! And from the recruiting analysts, ND has some guys who really like to hit coming to South Bend so things should get interesting. I just wish we didn't have the lapses we have on offense and defense, they really seem to have made the difference in some close games.

I didn't watch the entire ND-BC game but the bits I saw gave me the same feelings I have had watching them all year - 1. Charlie/and or his staff haven't a clue about offense whether he's calling the plays or not; 2. Clausen is not a leader type of player and always seems to be on his own cloud during games.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 10:56 AM ET  11.10 by EastCoastKeith

Clausen is not a leader type of player and always seems to be on his own cloud during games.

What does this even mean? Pretty insightful considering you only saw "bits and pieces" of the game.

MrMiyagi, watch the way Tebow, Bradford, McCoy, or Sanchez conduct themselves during a game, on the field, in the huddle. In my observations, these are guys who conduct themselves like they are in control of the huddle, and confident of their teammates around them. Clausen appears to me to be a loner, in his own world, with little emotion or support for teammates. Not saying I'm right, but I can't help but make that observation more than once this year. Maybe the kid is miserable at Notre Dame (can't blame him).

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 05:06 PM ET  11.10 by EastCoastKeith

MrMiyagi, watch the way Tebow, Bradford, McCoy, or Sanchez conduct themselves during a game, on the field, in the huddle. In my observations, these are guys who conduct themselves like they are in control of the huddle, and confident of their teammates around them. Clausen appears to me to be a loner, in his own world, with little emotion or support for teammates. Not saying I'm right, but I can't help but make that observation more than once this year. Maybe the kid is miserable at Notre Dame (can't blame him).

Just came out that he had the flu.

Clausen has had the flu all year?

Sure, all year. I'm really amazed that you can make all these observations of a kid you've never met. How insightful you must be, we are all lucky you post here. There are all types of leaders. You never saw Joe Montana jumping around like a cheerleader did you?