Irishman

The problem is one of optics. For this round of classifications, we are the smallest 4A school with around 900 total students. While our boys team pulled off a HUGE upset for the sectional title beating Homestead last year, it is not a common thing. Homestead has about 2,000 students. The Regional opponent was going to be Carmel before the cancellation hit. Even though it is a cut sport, the size of the talent pool does matter. To have a school of 900 competing against a school of over 5,000 looks off. Eliminate another class, and that number becomes more drastic.

It really is too bad though that he is just a mediocre coach. Orgeron is the type of character that is great to have around.

Just saw on ESPN the final coaches poll came out. Dabo ranked Ohio State 11. 😄

I think they should still show up and play...and be well prepared to play. When I see snubs like this, I think of teams that fall into the trap of being too upset they cannot focus on the next opponent. I think of K State playing Purdue in the Alamo Bowl. K State players and media were still talking about being snubbed. Oklahoma playing Boise State comes to mind as well.

That is true, but osu still seems to attract a large number of five star recruits.

Interesting quote from Dabo: "Absolutely, Notre Dame deserves to be in — because they're daggone 10-1," Swinney said after Saturday's game. "They've played 11 games. They lost to Clemson, all right? They stepped in the ring with Clemson twice — won one and lost one — and there was, obviously, didn't go their way tonight but that's football. They played 11 games and absolutely they deserve to be in. Ain't no doubt about that. No way would I punish someone for playing more games. That's what we see. We're rewarding people for playing less games, punishing people for playing more and I don't get that. There's no doubt in my mind Notre Dame should be in."

That may be part of it. But those schools invest more financially in their programs. They also take in higher levels of contributions so that even assistants are making what some other head coaches make. As temptation says, the kids at Notre Dame and Northwestern are student athletes first. There are not many five star recruits that take the student part too seriously. And then there is the unmentionable.......players and families are getting a LOT more cash at those schools. The coaches can claim plausible deniability, but word of mouth from players to recruits is all that is needed.

Absolutely

There are a lot of nay sayers who will make ridiculous comments like ND was overrated, should have never been where they were, etc. But the fact is that you can plug any team into the 4th spot in the CFP rankings, and they face the same outcome. The gap between those 3 top teams and everyone else is so wide, it does not matter if it is Iowa State, ND, Florida, etc.......any number of teams, they will get throttled by any of those top 3 programs. The reality was that ND earned this spot. Another fact is that ND was exposed as far as just how wide the gap from the top 3 to the rest is.

In my opinion you have 1. Bama 2. Clemson 3. Ohio State 4. Texas A&M Had Notre Dame been competitive in the ACC Title game, they may have been able to hang on to the 4 spot. As @temptation said in the ND thread, there are just 3 teams in the top tier (the 3 I have ranked above). Anyone else is lucky to be close. The disparity in the number of 5 star recruits is obvious on this level. The rest are just scrambling for that top spot in tier 2.

True.. speaking of which....Dabo has shown tonight the coach I have seen over the years that I dislike. I have never seen him bitch so much about calls, and so many of his coaches on the field after every play yelling at officials about something. And Dabo wanting a targeting call on the blind side hit? As kids say....gtfoh with that.

Irish need a Christmas miracle in this one. Offense is non existent. I do not understand wanting to go deep so often. Clemson will not let up, nor should they. This will knock the Irish out of the playoff.

I would not say they were embarrassed in 2018 like they were in 2012. The 18 game against Clemson was closer than the Clemson Alabama game. Clemson looked MUCH more dominant against Bama than they did against ND. On another note, if the Irish beat Clemson, I don’t see a two loss team getting in, especially when the losses are against the same team.....who also happens to be in the playoff. To me the potential of a third game between the two in that scenario bugs me. The idea that Clemson could lose two to ND and win just 1 out of 3 and win it all just does not sit well at all. My guess is that the scenarios around a3rd matchup between the two have been and are being discussed.

Ok...maybe number 5......it occurs after the Ball State sideline comes on the field.

You're a relative of @Coach Nowlin??? 😄

I agree.....the ONLY chance there could be a 3rd match up is if Clemson wins. I emphasize "could". If the Irish win, there is no way you can include Clemson in the playoff in any way.

I brought this up on the other topic about this....prior to the fumble, number 3 was hit while in possession, and his helmet came off as he fumbled. Could/would/should that also cause the play to be dead.

This will be a great addition to the o line for IU https://twitter.com/jsales77/status/1338560800261353472?s=21

I am not sure if they are considered a small market team or not. He in NE Indiana, we are part of their viewing audience, so we get all of their games. They have had just one prime time game, a Thursday night game in Tennessee.

So, how does a team that is 9-4 get so little attention? Even here, a football site in Indiana....nothin I am not sure anyone can beat the Chiefs. The Steelers remind me of the Packers team from a few years ago that started the season at 13-0, and lost at KC.....bad. And they were quickly bounced from the playoffs. The Steelers have been close a lot. I just don’t see them doing much in the playoffs. When it gets cold and the weather gets messy, Derrick Henry is the best player to have on the field. The Titans made noise last year and had KC dazed before letting it get away in the playoffs. I like the Colts as a dark horse, just like I think the Vikings are in the NFC. Both teams are very similar.

The Packers beat the Lions to clinch the NFC North; the 20th time they have claimed it. Making the day better, the Vikings lose and the Saints lose. Packers hold the tie breaker with the Saints for the 1 seed. The Vikings loss and the Cardinals win leaves the Vikings outside looking in for now. But in my mind, they are a serious threat in the NFC. They destroyed Green Bay with the run game in the last meeting. While Tampa played well, they are really inconsistent. I really thought the Vikings were coming back to take the lead late in the 3rd quarter.

Full schedule https://wpta21.com/2020/12/13/bucket-game-back-on-as-big-ten-unveils-unexpected-slate-for-final-weekend/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_ABC21_WPTA&fbclid=IwAR287PhPVoRLWG8mTT5dvHakfI6egVmBlfrmZmZpjYPZtGPABf3sQB6xnmg Oh yeah, I forgot....Go Wildcats!!!!!!

It looks like that has changed now. I think the title game will be the only one at LOS. IU vs. Purdue will be in Bloomington....not sure of the other matchups.

That was the original plan with the matchups of 1 v 1, 2 v 2, etc.

If the play is alive through the entire length of that clip, I am guessing Ball State got a penalty for players leaving the sideline. HOWEVER....prior to that, at about the 20 second point of the clip, number 24 throws the ball across the field. That was a forward pass, and the second one on that play. There is a flag that is thrown shortly after that. Based on your post in another topic, apparently the game ended there. So something I am missing was called, or there were no offsetting penalties. Edit: I missed this earlier, and just saw it.....Number 3 was hit while he had the ball, and his helmet came off. That means the play is dead; correct?