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2007 Preview: Notre Dame (Football)
Fox Sports ^ | 16 July 2007 | Pete Fiutak

Posted on 07/16/2007 3:08:44 PM PDT by GOP_Raider

By almost any standard you want to set, Charlie Weis has worked out extremely well over his first two years in South Bend. Yeah, Notre Dame has the cozy deal with the BCS, but to get to two straight big money games is still a noteworthy achievement. Considering the concern among many Irish fans that the program had sunk during the Ty Willingham era, what Weis has done has been remarkable. Now the Irish must start to actually win the big games to go along with all the attention and adulation.

Everyone who jumped on the Notre Dame bandwagon early last year quickly abandoned ship at the end after blowout losses to USC and LSU. Most ignored the horrible secondary and the potential for a bad year from the offensive line when setting the national title expectations; it was almost like many were trying to will Notre Dame to greatness. Now the hype and focus has swung the other way. Now it's become fashionable to rip on the Irish.

Yes, Notre Dame was overrated; however, it just couldn't beat the best of the best of the best teams in America. Of the six losses in the two years under Weis, one came in an overtime stunner to Michigan State in 2005, while the other five (USC, Ohio State, Michigan, and LSU) came against national title-level squads that would've beaten roughly 110 other teams like a drum.

Now Notre Dame wants to be one of those national title-level good teams. It's not going to have one this year.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.foxsports.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: fightingirish; football; ncaa; notredame
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This should get a few responses. :)
1 posted on 07/16/2007 3:08:46 PM PDT by GOP_Raider
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To: ABG(anybody but Gore); aft_lizard; Archie Bunker on steroids; Auntbee; Bad~Rodeo; Bat_Chemist; ...
Notre Dame Stadium and Touchdown Jesus
The FR College Football Ping List
FReepmail GOP_Raider to be on or off this list

2 posted on 07/16/2007 3:11:05 PM PDT by GOP_Raider (FReepmail me to join the FR Idaho Ping List.)
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To: GOP_Raider

Just forwarded the link to a coworker of mine. I can feel the heat coming through the walls.


3 posted on 07/16/2007 3:11:58 PM PDT by vpintheak (Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked. Prov. 25:26)
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To: GOP_Raider

Six weeks from Thursday!!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2792610


4 posted on 07/16/2007 3:13:28 PM PDT by Perdogg (Cheney for President 2008)
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To: GOP_Raider

Sullivan; the sixth best player on the team??? that’s laughable...almost as much as Zbikowski, probably the most overrated player in the nation, listed as the team’s top player....


5 posted on 07/16/2007 3:15:21 PM PDT by God luvs America (When the silent majority speaks the earth trembles!)
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To: Perdogg

You got your date wrong. Opening day for REAL football is Thursday, September 6.


6 posted on 07/16/2007 3:15:57 PM PDT by Terpfen (It's your fault, not Pelosi's.)
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To: GOP_Raider

know what team they are playing in that picture??


7 posted on 07/16/2007 3:16:25 PM PDT by God luvs America (When the silent majority speaks the earth trembles!)
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To: GOP_Raider

8 posted on 07/16/2007 3:19:21 PM PDT by MarkeyD (Just another country bumpkin looking forward to Fred!)
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To: God luvs America

The uni’s of the opposing team are Red and White, so my first thinking was Stanford.


9 posted on 07/16/2007 3:19:33 PM PDT by GOP_Raider (FReepmail me to join the FR Idaho Ping List.)
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To: GOP_Raider

” the program had sunk during the Ty Willingham era”

I like Charlie Weis because I eat,drink and breath NE Patriot football and Charlie had a lot to do with the Pat’s success,however I think Willingham is getting a raw deal here. Ty inherited a Bob Davies program that was a mess and in a couple years started to turn the team around.Weis is a great coach though and he’ll keep the Irish interesting !!!


10 posted on 07/16/2007 3:22:23 PM PDT by Obie Wan
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To: GOP_Raider
8 wins???try 7..and more likely 6..

ND has had some very good recruiting classes, and next year's (2008) freshmem look loaded, based on early signings..

However, there is one element that ND has lacked, and seemingly will continue to lack, and oddly enough (or not?) isn't mentioned in the article...and that is S-P-E-E-D..

No, not crystal meth..but FAST atheletes..

11 posted on 07/16/2007 3:23:02 PM PDT by ken5050
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To: GOP_Raider
My Own Notre Dame Preview

Once again, Notre Dame will be incredibly overrated and play a bunch of Big Ten teams, some of them also overrated. They'll kick the crap out of the service academies in order to become bowl eligible and get thoroughly stomped by USC. The difference will be the remaining games on their schedule which they will win upsets a few times causing the national media to proclaim Charlie Weis a genius and whomever is quarterbacking the team an instant Heisman front-runner.

They will make it to a major bowl because, after all, they are Notre Dame where they will be stomped ruthlessly by some team that has twice as many actual NFL prospects as the Irish do.

(Just keep repeating this preview every season until Weis resigns or is fired and it will be true every year).

12 posted on 07/16/2007 3:23:02 PM PDT by Tall_Texan (Global warming? Hell, in Texas, we just call that "summer".)
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To: GOP_Raider
Charlie Weis fights the fight for daughter Hannah

The Notre Dame football coach ventures far and away to raise money for children, like his own, who have special needs.

July 8, 2007

As strange Southern California invasions go, this ranks right up there with red tide and rain.

He is the Notre Dame football coach, and tonight he will enter USC country with hat in hand.

He will show up at a swank Beverly Hills hotel. He will step to the front of the room. He will make a speech.

He will ask for money.

You will wonder, how?

How can tight-jawed, chill-glaring Charlie Weis travel to the middle of a Trojans neighborhood in the middle of a Trojans dynasty and expect a gift that doesn't include a jeer or a gesture?

You will wonder, what is he thinking?

This is where he will really surprise you.

That jaw will go slack. Those eyes will go soft. His wallop becomes a whisper.

13 posted on 07/16/2007 3:23:26 PM PDT by gubamyster
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To: GOP_Raider

"WE'RE BAAAACK!!!!"

14 posted on 07/16/2007 3:23:35 PM PDT by dfwgator (The University of Florida - Still Championship U)
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To: Tall_Texan

I know what you mean. ND could be 0-8 and still be in the running for the national title.


15 posted on 07/16/2007 3:25:40 PM PDT by JackDanielsOldNo7 (On guard until the seal is broken)
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To: God luvs America
Good catch.

Fight On!

16 posted on 07/16/2007 3:27:55 PM PDT by The Blitherer (What would a Free Man do?)
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To: MarkeyD

Funny you should “mention” that...

My brother and I were chatting about BSU’s chances and looking at their schedule, I would be surprised if they won fewer than 10 games. Granted, whomever ends up getting the starting QB job between Tharp and Hamdan will be an “issue” but I look at the current WAC and I don’t really see anyone right now that is anywhere close to them.

Then again, if they go up to Seattle and beat Washington, all bets are off.


17 posted on 07/16/2007 3:28:15 PM PDT by GOP_Raider (FReepmail me to join the FR Idaho Ping List.)
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To: ken5050

However, there is one element that ND has lacked, and seemingly will continue to lack, and oddly enough (or not?) isn’t mentioned in the article...and that is S-P-E-E-D..

Ha,ha,yeah and the reason they have trouble getting those athletes with speed is ND actually expects those “students” to go to class,AND PASS THEM !!!


18 posted on 07/16/2007 3:34:56 PM PDT by Obie Wan
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To: GOP_Raider
Notre Dame is by far the best college football team in the country. Unfortunately, there are a number of semi-pro teams playing for educational institutions that do not require their athletes to also be serious students that are a tad better.
19 posted on 07/16/2007 3:36:22 PM PDT by Natural Law
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To: The Blitherer

Mark it down, Florida vs USC in New Orleans.


20 posted on 07/16/2007 3:39:05 PM PDT by dfwgator (The University of Florida - Still Championship U)
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