temptation

What’s there been to hate for the last three decades? To quote my favorite coach: “Whose got it better than us (Notre Dame in this case)?” About 10 programs.

Brand? Sure. Football program? Eh…

This sorta makes your point I guess… (This was coming into this season.)

Washington and Michigan both lost their entire offense to the NFL draft and turned over their entire coaching staffs. The Huskies were unranked in the preseason and most publications had them as a mid-tier Big Ten team. Michigan also turned over its staff, lost 10 starters and had 15 drafted last April. They were ranked highly in the preseason based on name recognition and their elite defense which took time to gel under a new coordinator and lost its best player in week 7. Anyone with a functional brain knew these two would take a step back Once again, not IU’s fault but still factual.

1. I think I agree but ND would be a close second. Franklin has a Michigan/OSU problem…he is the opposite of Freeman, in that he usually beats who he is supposed to whereas Freeman is good for 1-2 head scratchers annually. 2. I expected the Michigan game to be that close…because Michigan was by far the best defense they had played up to that point in the season and that still remains a fact. Michigan’s JV QB was their Achilles heel. But help is on the way.

Never said that. I agree that they are likely top 4 though I’m not as convinced they are superior to Penn State as you are. Look, in an 18 team league where you only play 9 conference games, someone is going to get a break. I know I will get roasted for saying this, but in 2024 it was IU. Last year it was Michigan. I’ve stated repeatedly, it’s no fault of their own but it’s still a fact. Next year they have road trips at Oregon, Iowa and Penn State for starters. We will see how they “reload” when the rubber hits the road and the program has expectations. You think IU is 11-1 and in the playoff with Michigan’s schedule? vs Texas, vs Oregon, @ Washington (night), @ Illinois, @ Ohio State… This IU team is likely 3-2 AT best in those games (and more than likely 2-3). Just sayin. He’s also probably a single, mid 30s liberal with wire rimmed glasses and purple hair.

“We're talking about the most iconic football program in America here.” A highly controversial opinion here on its own.

No, not at all. But when you haven’t won a high level postseason game in 30+ years and when given a HOME game against INDIANA with a FIRST YEAR head coach, you have to capitalize if you are going to change the narrative. Nothing wrong with losing to the Ohio State’s (even though I don’t remember what it feels like to lose to them), LSU’s and Bama’s of the world but when given INDIANA at home, you HAVE to capitalize. All I am saying.

Tell me more about this 1B tier…

If you have to go back that far to make a point, you've lost Bob. I said what I said. A Notre Dame loss in this game would be ultimate schadenfreude for so many folks.

IU at home, followed by a UGA team likely starting their backup QB, James Franklin and then a shot at whomever survives the blood bath that is the top of the bracket. ND’s path is very negotiable…

Uh Bob, I’m not sure who the coach of a team 42 years ago is the flex you think it is. If you have to go back to 1982 to prove some sort of point, you’ve lost the argument. Michigan fans used to do that type of stuff…until we WON THE NATTY 340 days ago. Just take care of IU and win a December game for the sake of god.

I need to know what time frame we are talking before officially entering the conversation. Michigan is one of a handful of programs that has a winning record against ND all-time and is 6-4 (6-3 if you wanna take away the vacated ND win in 2012) all-time against the Irish. Two of UM's worst coaches in program history (Brady Hoke (2-1 (2-2 if you wanna give ND 2012)) and Rich Rodriguez (2-1) even beat Notre Dame.

Day got the dreaded vote of confidence from Bjork today… His advice? ”We have to approach things a little differently on our path to the goal of winning a championship.” Translation: “We have to realize that winning the Michigan game is just one small part of the process and not the end all be all.” Soft.

Another data point: Mike Kirschner coached at both places (BD from 2007-2017) and Warren from 2021-2024. Between 2010-2017 (the decade referenced above), he had a .760 winning percentage at BD. Had a stop at Mount Vernon in the middle (2018-2020) and won at a .789 clip. He won at a .578 clip at Warren. Did the man forget how to coach?

In the 2010's, Ben Davis posted a winning percentage of .706...in 2020-2024 they are winning at a .623 clip. In the 2010's, Warren posted a winning percentage of .758...in 2020-2024 they are winning at a .545 clip. Their enrollments have pretty much held steady, the same.

I mean, it depends on what you are looking at. In the current format, Warren will get a trophy every year as their sectional is weak but that is not the goal at Warren. It is title or bust (as it should be). I think that people get to caught up in the moment as opposed to taking a long term outlook at things. Every major metropolitan city experiences the urban sprawl that is spoken about often. 30 years ago, Center Grove/Westfield were not thought to be threats in big boy football. 20 years ago, folks would have laughed at New Palestine being a football powerhouse. The suburbs are rapidly growing as Marion County deteriorates. Some folks were surprised when Jayson West (football) and Garrett Winegar (basketball) left Warren for Franklin Central and Fishers respectively. Not me. Its a long term vision as trends don't lie. The Marion County mega schools (BD and Warren specifically for football) will continue to compete at a high level due to their enrollment advantage. But they are not the powers they once were. The numbers don't lie.

Warren, for now. Now, replace Homestead with Carroll in your question and I may reconsider my answer.

If its a valid point then don't claim to be "tired of people dismissing Indiana." Its sorta warranted. Good part is they can shut everyone up in 8 days.

Found this interesting… Potential second round matchup versus UGA according to Draft Kings. IU +6.5 ND -2

If so, I’d be their 5th choice…first three said “no thanks.”

Apparently this isn't the job people think it is...

Yep, not their fault.

Always get into this debate but should all 4 years of a players’ career be taken into consideration since it’s a senior only award? This year it’s hard to overlook Geske for the reasons you mentioned.

Fair point but winning HAS to matter. I know they play a difficult schedule but a 4/5 star recruit should be a game changer at the high school level which means he has the ability to put the team on his back and almost single handedly win games. I know football is the ultimate team sport and Mark would be deserving but this is my opinion.