BTF

Good stuff. Props.

Lol, at this point I'd be fine with 7-5. With Buchner: 75% chance they go 8-4. And 25% chance they go 9-3 Current situation: 50% chance they go 7-5 and 50% they go 6-6.

Stetson Bennett was surrounded by more 5 and 4 stars than Ian Book was. Book was a good college quarterback, just not good enough to win a playoff game with his supporting cast. A guy like Trevor Lawrence could have gotten Kelly his statue.

Book was the best in Kelly era in my opinion. Unfortunately he was just good enough to lead a team into the playoffs and nothing more. If Kelly had a clone of Brady Quinn, there's a solid chance he'd have his statue erected on the outside of the stadium. Can we agree that a national champion needs a VERY high performing quarterback and average just doesn't cut it no matter how good the team is? I consider Book to be high performing, not VERY high.

It's looking like Northwood out of the North. Unfortunately New Pal will blow through this class untouched. The Dragons would be a favorite to win it all in 6A.

That's how close FREEMAN was to 0-4 is what I meant to say.

That's how close Notre Dame was to 0-4.

Rees was a major asset last year. But I'm sure Kelly had a firm grip on how the offense was being run. A seasoned coach like Kelly isn't going to give a young man like Rees total control. Speaking of steps. Last night was a step in the right direction for Kelly. Everyone said Mississippi State was going to be one of the teams to beat in the SEC this year. Well, Kelly and LSU beat them.

Doesn't surprise me in the slightest. Normally when I make a bold prediction, it backfires. Marshall experienced the same emotional letdown yesterday that the Irish experienced the week before.

I've been picking on Zionsville a bit this year, but 39-7 over Noblesville? I think I'd switch Merrillville and Chatard. Then you could take 11 through 20 and throw them in a blender.

Offense looked like a well oiled machine without RB1. But they need to get better. Weeks 1 & 2 of the tournament last year left a lot to be desired. Defense will be dangerous if they clean up the penalties. Lots of talent on that side of the ball.

Good lineup of games this week. I'm curious though. What makes Whiteland/Perry Meridian a key game?

Was Saban one of them when he took them to the title? More southern than Kelly, sure. But damn, do you want to win football games or not? Who cares where your coach is from. If you don't want someone, then don't hire them.

If the LSU community has any brains whatsoever, they'll support Kelly at all costs. Work with him and they'll have their champion caliber team. Work against him and start all over with a lesser caliber coach.

You don't see the logic in anything if you're not the one who came up with it. Are you an attorney by chance? PM me privately if you are. I do like the fight you have in you.

Good ideas for Rodney's weekly hot takes in the upcoming weeks.

I think most Notre Dame fans appreciate what he did for the football program for the past 10 seasons. If anyone questions his ability to coach, then they are flat out brain dead. And he left the program in damn good shape. It was how he left that had most scratching their heads. I think a large part in Freeman's hiring had to do with the pissing match they were engaged in with LSU. The Tigers were pissed that Notre Dame won the services of Freeman when both schools were making him offers to leave Cincinnati. So a year later LSU goes after Notre Dame's head coach with the assumption that Kelly would bring Freeman with him. Double whammy right? Wrong. Notre Dame wasn't about to let LSU have both Kelly and Freeman, they just weren't going to let that happen. HUGE win for Notre Dame not allowing LSU to get Freeman too. Not to mention ND thought highly of Freeman in his ability to lead this program.

Who's giving me 7.5 wins?

Congratulations on feeling so much excitement this early in the season with ND at 0-2 and Michigan at 2-0. Currently, I have the Irish as underdogs to Clemson and USC. BYU is looking about even to me. Freeman is off to a rough start, but I think Notre Dame is being underestimated. It takes a pretty good team lead Ohio State 10-7 after three quarters. I'm not going to let their emotional letdown last week damper my hopes that they can still win 9 games.

I have no qualms with someone who supports multiple schools. It's like Temp said in a previous post............fandom. I've been to Assembly Hall, Purcell Pavilion, Mackey Arena, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Worthen Arena, and the Hilliard Gates Center. I've been to Notre Dame Stadium, Ross Aide, and Memorial Stadium. And each one of those universities was grateful for my support money.

Without taking the time to go back and look, weren't you on record a couple of weeks ago saying that Notre Dame was a 10 win team this year?

Can't speak for you or anyone else outside of Northeast Indiana. But growing up in the 80's and early 90's, it was pretty easy to root for a team that was relevant on a national scale. That being Indiana basketball and Notre Dame football. Notre Dame is easily closest in proximity for a fan from Fort Wayne to watch a college football game. Michigan and Michigan State are a close second. With regard to Indiana, they bear the states name. That's the reason why Boiler country consists of a pocket in West/Central Indiana and the rest of the state belongs to the Hoosiers. It also helped that IU was winning national championships. Let's not come down hard on the fans. Fans are the reasons Universities are worth what they are. Take away the fans, take away the glamor.

No one is doubting the connection between Notre Dame and Chicago. The debate is whether it's justified for an Indiana resident to claim it as an Indiana school. Most fans, who don't have a degree themselves (and some who do), identify with the University closest to them in proximity. Lol, all this just to justify why a resident in Northern Indiana can root for Notre Dame football and Indiana basketball? I doubt the universities care. All they care about is the revenue.

Why wouldn't they jump on the bandwagon? The university is in their backyard and an easy drive for a game. What is Indiana about them other than being situated in Indiana? All of their employees are Indiana residents. Anyone who supports the university supports the Indiana economy, not Illinois economy. I would also wager that Indiana has the largest percentage of fans inside the 80,000 seat stadium on Saturday. Let's remember, without the fans, Notre Dame isn't what they are today. I get what you're saying about parks and medical facilities, and if engaged in a debate, Indiana and Purdue would qualify as "more Indiana" than ND. Is Stanford not California? Good luck explaining that one to California residents. Duke isn't North Carolina? You'll have an uprising there. Vanderbilt isn't Tennessee? Georgetown isn't DC? Tell LA residents that USC isn't California, you'll have anarchy. I can keep going if you like. Last but not least, if you send a letter to the university, it goes to Notre Dame, IN. Not Notre Dame, IL.

It all comes down to the football program. Notre Dame wouldn't be a national brand otherwise. I'm sure Chicago residents flocked to their neighboring state in droves back when Rockne was turning Notre Dame into a national football power.