No Day But Today
At the very least, all of humanity goes home a winner because we never have to sit through another game where Tom Hammond attempts to set a Guinness World Record for number of times referencing "The Streak" in the course of a game. I lost count went he hit triple digits some time in the second quarter.
As for the game, what can you really say? It was a game Notre Dame could've won, probably should've won, and they didn't. Charlie Weis said he didn't think his kicker could make a 41-yarder into the wind with 45 seconds to go. Even so, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. More to the point, Weis' whole coaching staff shoulders the burden of that botched sequence. It's like Van de Velde at Carnoustie or Mickelson at Winged Foot - sure all the heat goes to the guy on the stage, but what about the caddy? Where the hell was the caddy telling Jean not to pull out his 2-iron? WHY DIDN'T LEFTY'S MAN TELL HIM TO STICK THE DRIVER BACK IN HIS POCKET!?!? And finally, why didn't somebody tell Weis "We don't need to do this, let's take our chances with the 3-point try."? WHY GOD, TELL ME WHY!!!!
There are many questions and next to no answers, even for the guy who thinks he's got all of them. We could all write a book at this point with all the things we'd like to have back and changed in this season. But when I read about the Hughes family, or the news about Ryan Shay, I cease to think that a triple-overtime loss to Navy is as bad as it gets. I know we all hate being told "to keep perspective", but whatever may be with regards to Fighting Irish football, it's only one piece of the bigger puzzle. Personally, with a writer's strike set to potentially deal a crippling blow to the workplace I inhabit, I would love for my biggest problem in life to be that Notre Dame lost to Navy. While I'm rolling on this topic, I want to point someting out - people will consider this "an upset" or "a disgrace" or whichever labels they choose because of the names and numbers involved. Notre Dame, Navy, 43 straight, blah blah. It's the best and worst part of Irish football - the attention and scrutiny that goes with the team win or lose. Put it another way: only when Notre Dame is involved could a 4-4 team "STUN!" a 1-7 team. This was an average team outlasting a bad one in triple overtime. This wasn't the #1 team in the country losing to a 41-point underdog on its home turf, or anything even remotely in that vicinity. It's 'stunning' to the extent that most fans think Notre Dame should never have to worry about Navy (pay no attention to those numerous times under Davie and Willingham when the streak should've ended only for the Irish to be bailed out by a lucky spot or a DJ Fitzpatrick field goal).
So, how was your weekend?
posted by George @ 4:42 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I am tired. I am tired of this crap. I can't stand to go on NDNation and the like sites and see people frustrated over the fact that they didnt't start the fire Charlie Wies.com website. I am sick and tired of people sitting back and critiquing playcalling for a game they never played.
Does anyone realize the fact that Notre Dame has played the hardest schedule in the country? Does anyone realize that Notre Dame returned 30 letterman, the third least in the country. Hell, half those letter man played special teams last year.
Yes they lost to Navy, but we saw this coming. Reading message boards, listening to the media, I'd think Notre Dame football as we've known it is done. I am sad to call myself a Notre Dame fan when I read this digust. Basically, we lost to a good group of men, most of which won't ever sniff a down a football again because they will be defending our country. We should have lost to them atleast twice in the past 10 years. Beating Navy this season wouldn't have marked progress of any sort.
In fact, is anyone more upset about the loss this week than the one 2 weeks ago. I am much more troubled by the fact that we didn't show up against our greatest rival. Losing by 38 to a team having a "down" year really hurts. It shows how far we have to go to reach the peak again.
And is it just me, or did Charlie Weis all of a sudden become a bad coach? Listening to the media and reading the thoughts of ND fans, you would never guess that this guy has won 4 Super Bowls and lead a group of Notre Dame men to a BCS game the last 2 years. Wow, he really sucks as a coach. We should fire him and go out and get a guy like Paul Johnson. He's really shown that he knows how to call 5 plays a game. Honestly, if you want to cast Charlie Weis aside now you're nuts. Recruiting is at an all-time high (signing day can't come soon enough) and the current young players are starting to show signs of greatness. Look at the guys who played well today, Allen, Aldridge, Kamara, all Weis guys. You almost get the feeling that Weis is trying to show the media and world that Sharpley does indeed suck and that he was right starting Kimmy as he did.
Yes Weis has stuggled, but he isn't exacltly working with a full cubbard. The kicking game is inexcusable. They need to find someone who can kick the ball into the end zone and be counted on to make a 40 yard field goal. Hell, our men's soccer team was ranked number 2 in the country 2 weeks agon. You're telling me Joseph Lapira can't kick the ball into the end zone. So there have been some errors on Charlie's part this season, but I am not willing to write him off. First of all, who the hell else are they going to get, and secondly, do they forget that they went to two BCS bowls the last two years?
I am tired of the negatives. Yes ND is struggling. Yes we lost to Navy. Yes the coach has made some mistaks. But give him a chance. Things will turn around, and the rest of the fans will be soon to hop on the bandwagon.
PS: Mike Brey will screw his team over more than Weis ever could. This team should be special, but just wait and see....
Wow, I was pretty drunk when I wrote this.
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