2007 Preview: Notre Dame (Football)

Fox Sports ^ | 16 July 2007 | Pete Fiutak

[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.

[GOP_Raider]

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.

Remember when Rick Mirer and Ron Powlus were supposed to win 2 or 3 Heismans apiece back in the 90's? I'll also never forget the '95 or '96 season when the Sporting News College Football preview magazine picked ND to win the national title and they finished 6-5-1 and got rolled by Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl.

Those were the days, my friend...da da da da..da da...damn, now I have that song stuck in my head.

[Dysart]

Your Heisman Winner

[Tall_Texan]

Cheer cheer for old Notre Dame
We think that we invented the game
Get the best recruits to play
Whine when the breaks don't go our way
Whether the lead be great or be small
We'll run it up to impress the polls
While we're raking in the millions
Coming from N-B-C

[GOP_Raider]

And possibly next year’s #1 overall pick in the Draft if he decides to come out.

[The Blitherer]

Mark it down, Florida vs USC in New Orleans.

Yup...that is, if neither one has a brain-fart and screws up, like USC at UCLA last year. Man, it still kills me that USC coulda won the NC last year if they hadn't decided to take a vacation when they played the Bruins. But if USC had won, the Gator's wouldn't have gotten into the NC game, and they certainly proved they deserved to be there.

[vetvetdoug]

WE'RE BAAAAAK!!!!

Florida has got to get through the Southeastern Conference schedule first...Then they can play against the second tier teams for the National Championship.

[dfwgator]

I think our offense is going to be awesome this year, although probably not quite what it was in the glory days of the “Fun and Gun.” It’s our defense that could be the issue, they are pretty inexperienced, so hopefully we can outscore the opponents, while the D gets up to speed as the season progresses.

But I think USC is the team to beat.

[Man50D]

The offense takes a big hit losing eight starters. Weis has to find a replacement for Quinn among four quarterbacks. The defense has a new coordinator. They do have linebacker Maurice Crum returning from his 100 tackles last season. ND has a tough schedule with four of the first six on the road.It will be hard for them to make a BCS appearance. It’s amazing they have lost an NCAA record nine straight bowl games.

[Ronaldus Magnus Reagan]

Now, now, don't get too full of yourselves. Your precious Florida Gators win one football championship and you already start pounding your chest. We Hurricane alumni would like to point out that the University of Miami has won many football (and baseball) championships. We have a long history of pounding on the Gators. I think you have a lot more to prove before you can act pompous.

[razorback-bert]

Yes and ND can have nutt.

Please somebody take him.

[squirt]

But I think USC is the team to beat.

Huskers will take care of that.

[Drango]

Q: Why do they have artificial turff at Notre Dame Stadium?

.

A: To keep the cheerleaders from eating the grass.

[rabidralph]

Navy will take them out of the bowl picture this year.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Fight on for old SC,
Our men fight on to victory.
Our Alma Mater dear
Looks up to you:
Fight on and win for old SC,
Fight on to victory,
Fight On!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Dream on. Please see post #34.

[jayef]

Mark this down. You’re not beating LSU in Baton Rouge. Not no way . . . not no how!

[NittanyLion]

It’ll be a shame to see Notre Dame get smacked on September 8th, and probably on the 1st and 15th as well.

[Ax]

The author of this piece is just asking for a Fatwa to be issued.

[NittanyLion]

The author of this piece is just asking for a Fatwa to be issued.

Yep, and I know just the guy to lead the jihad. ;-)

[Hebrews 11:6]

I don’t know about a Fatwa, but a Fight On was issued—see #34.