Throwdowns > Closed

williewilliejuan said 08/17, 08:38 PM
Rick Reilly doesn't speak for ESPN; he speaks on ESPN. When he wrote the things he did about Notre Dame, he was merely voicing his opinion, which, coincidentally, is his job. The fact that his opinion got you stirred up enough to create this TD means he did his job particularly well this week.

Moreover, I think you missed the point of his article. It isn't just about the NBC deal. It's this whole mystique that somehow Notre Dame Football is still relevant and deserving of special treatment. It's about the fact that Notre Dame has special rules and rights carved out for itself in the BCS - rights no other independents or non-BCS schools enjoy.

It's about the media (which admittedly he is a part of) figuratively wetting themselves each year they start the season with a win and seeking to announce that season the season Notre Dame regains its old football glory. However, for the last 20 years or so, that glory has eluded them and college football has passed them by. The media just doesn't want to admit it.

Reilly isn't a hypocrite. He's just a guy willing to say the emperor has no clothes - and Notre Dame football no longer deserves special treatment.

williewilliejuan said 08/19, 11:17 AM
Let's start with the really important part of your second argument: If anyone wants to pay me to TD, I accept cash, credit, Paypal, and post-dated third party checks...

Second, I think you are misreading Reilly's article. He isn't blaming Notre Dame. He's blaming those who enable them and saying he isn't going to be a part of it any longer. He's saying it's time for Notre Dame to stop getting special perks like getting paid a bowl bonus even if they don't play in a bowl. Who else gets that? What has Notre Dame done lately to deserve that?

He's saying it's time for Notre Dame and its followers to stop living in the past and be honest about what the team is today. It's not a bad story. They are no longer a football powerhouse because they have tougher admissions requirements than a lot of other schools. They should embrace that. They may not be in the same league as some of the teams in the SEC when it comes to football, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

It isn't hypocritical to try to give some tough love to someone you care about. Reilly started his article by saying he grew up a Notre Dame fan. He just wants people to be honest about what they are today.

williewilliejuan said 08/20, 10:56 PM
With all due respect, Dave, you completely missed the point of Reilly's article. He didn't talk about the Texas or USC deals because he wasn't talking about Texas or USC. He wasn't talking about TV contracts (although trying to compare the exposure Texas will get on the Longhorn network to the exposure ND gets on broadcast NBC is, frankly, a little silly). He was talking about Notre Dame.

He's saying he doesn't want Notre Dame to turn into the Blanche Dubois of college football: a faded beauty trying to live off her past and descending into madness as details of her more recent history come to light. Notre Dame has a rich football history. They are a storied program. However, their recent history endangers the brand.

He wants Notre Dame to take action to protect its legacy. He didn't deny their marketing appeal. He questioned their ability and willingness to put a good football team on the field. He questioned whether they were still worthy of all of the perks they get, because those perks come with a responsibility to be better than they have been.

He isn't a hypocrite; he's just a fan that wants a team to earn its accolades.