BTF

2 hours ago, MonkeyButt said:

New Pal is the favorite, but it is difficult for any team in their situation to stay focused. There is a lot of conference play yet and a lot could happen. If NP stays healthy, can finish conference play with running clocks, and Coach Ralph can keep them humble and eyes on the prize, but not looking past the Friday opponent up next, you are right no one can beat them. But 4A has some of the toughest competition out of all the classes. Roncalli is first and foremost the biggest challenge. Arguably an O line just as good as New Pals. I see them as the team to get out of that sectional. New Pal's section is a repeat of conference play which is always difficult to run through again. Honestly, New Pal is an extremely balanced team with few weaknesses. They have the traditional New Pal ground and pound run game behind probably the best O line in the state. They have a passing game that is just as good. They have a suffocating defense that is a turn over machine. New Pal's biggest opponent will be not beating themselves week in and week out.

 

Are New Pal's best guys playing both ways as usual. Sorry if that's a redundant question. I feel like it was discussed in another thread. 

3 hours ago, Yuccaguy said:

I'd like to offer a rebuttal to the bolded response.....  But I think you are absolutely on point!  

And sadly, I really don't see any FW team doing anything in 4A this post-season.  "Thanks for your participation FW"   

Lol, agree. I thought maybe Wayne would be a contender in the north, but now I'm not sure they can get past Leo or East Noble. 

2 hours ago, temptation said:

In that case, you need to change your definition of “really good.”

I’ll bail you out.

Since 1887, 111 different quarterbacks have started at least 1 game under center for Notre Dame.

Of those 111, 13 started at least 25 games and ONE (Tony Rice) has a higher career winning percentage than Ian Book.

So yeah, “really good.”

Good stuff. Props.

3 hours ago, temptation said:

You should be thrilled with that based on what I’ve seen.

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. 

1 hour ago, temptation said:

I mean, Stetson Bennett was a walk on, was booed early in his tenure at UGA and doesn’t exactly have eye popping stats.

He was much better late in the season last year but it helps to be surrounded by 15 future draft picks.

Book got ND to the playoff after all…

Other than that I can’t think of too many other examples to argue your point.

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. 

2 minutes ago, gonzoron said:

0-3

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

14 hours ago, Irishman said:

If you have not seen the end of the App State Troy game, you need to see this
https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401426333 

 

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

13 hours ago, temptation said:

Rees was not a major problem last year was he?

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. 

9 hours ago, Footballking16 said:

Just lost to 0-2 Bowling Green. Bowling Green lost to FCS Eastern Kentucky last week.

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. 

2 hours ago, psaboy said:

Yes, I watched game last night and liked what I saw from both sides of the O & D. If they can make it out of sectional it will be interesting to see how far they can go. Sectional 12 winner likely looking at Mishawaka and then that regional winner either Merrillville or Valpo

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?

29 minutes ago, temptation said:

Real recognizes real though.  He's not one of "them."  His southern drawl only lasted about 15 minutes.

He screwed himself at halftime of that basketball game and deserves all of the hatred he is receiving.

As the Scott Frost situation showed you cannot be a bad human being AND a bad football coach and expect to last long.  One or the other?  Sure.

See Urban Meyer.  Dude is like a squirrel.  Always lands on his feet.

 

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.

41 minutes ago, Boilernation said:

The guy wins at every level. Literally. 

Grand Valley State: 13 seasons. Won at least 8 games in 10 of the seasons. He was the Division 2 Runner-Up in 2001 and the Division 2 Champion in 2002 as well as 2003. 

Central Michigan: 3 seasons. From 4-7 in 2004 to 2006 MAC Champion

Cincinnati: 3 seasons. 10-3, 11-3 and 12-0

Notre Dame: 12 seasons. At least 10 wins in 6 of his last 7 seasons with ND. 

The guy can clearly coach despite how much people love to hate on him. I would not be the least bit surprised if he broke through and won a National Title at Baton Rouge.

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. 

6 hours ago, Footballking16 said:

Is there some kind of embedded rivalry with LSU that I’m missing here? ND promoted Freeman to head coach so LSU couldn’t lure him away as a DC? I don’t see the logic. 

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. 

8 hours ago, Bobref said:

How do you feel about a runner going out of bounds to avoid a tackle? A QB throwing the ball away to avoid a sack?

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

2 hours ago, Footballking16 said:

This is why I don’t understand the grief Kelly took. Say what you want about his recruiting abilities, he’s a damn good X’s and O’s coach, one of the best in the country, and won 10+ games the last 5 seasons. 

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?

9 minutes ago, temptation said:

Yep.  Never been more excited to potentially be wrong in my lifetime.

They are now decisive underdogs in at least 3 (BYU, Clemson, USC) of their remaining games.

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. 

4 minutes ago, Irishman said:

The 70's were pretty good too for both IU and ND. 

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. 

10 minutes ago, temptation said:

(I will never be more happy in my life to lose money...(I was on record all summer stating the over on ND wins at 8.5 was a lock)).

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?

4 minutes ago, Boilernation said:

Let's be clear, it also comes down to results. I'm fairly confidant the reversible jacket IU/ND fan that likes them for "being Indiana teams" choose them over Purdue becuase of historical success. I was a huge ND football fan in Middle School and High School. I was at Soldier Field for Ron Pawlus' first start as QB1. I just started caring less and less about ND the more connected to Purdue I felt. 

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. 

1 minute ago, Irishman said:

There is a special connection between the school and Chicago. Don't forget though the West Point cheating scandal helped Leahy significantly in the 40's. That really is what moved the program to another level. 

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.