National Championship

[lksteve]

Originally Posted by Sdiver

Why......Florida should be #2 behind Idaho State, who went UNDEFEATED and played one heck of a bowl game.

hoss, Idaho State didn't make it to a bowl game...Boise State, on the other hand...

[Sdiver]

Originally Posted by lksteve

hoss, Idaho State didn't make it to a bowl game...Boise State, on the other hand...

Thank you sir, for the correction. Shows you just how much I dislike the BCS. I can't think straight when discussing that "organization".


Boise State....should be #1

[AMP]

I feel your pain JMI. I am a ND fan and watching that ND/LSU game just about did me in. That was ugly.

[JMI]

Originally Posted by AMP

I feel your pain JMI. I am a ND fan and watching that ND/LSU game just about did me in. That was ugly.

ND does not belong in the BCS. They didn't for awhile now. They need players and they just do not have them. No way they matched up to LSU. Honestly I do not think they could have kept up with Rutgers or Louisville, that is how much I think they lack in talent. Give Weis a couple years (if he stays like he says he will) and they compete with the top programs. They are through living on the past.

Their problem is they have had better negotiating skills than coaching and recruiting skills and hopefully that era is over. They were assured a BCS if they were in the top 8 in the BCS, and if they fell below that they still had a shot. No wonder they're 0-9 the last 9 bowl games. They need to play their way back into contention. These crappy assbeatings against teams that are better than them just for an $11 milllion paycheck is getting old.

Get it done or miss out on the paycheck. Problem is we're a great draw for TV and the tickets. "Hey everyone who wants to see us get our assess handed to us by LSU?" It is like an unlimited sellout, and to be honest I am sick of the "sellout," in every sense of the word.

[Goggles Pizano]

JMI,

I've had this argument with ND fans for years. Their favorite defense of losing is the "tough" schedule they play. When that is debunked they immediately revert to the recruiting issue since it is so difficult for the players to maintain a 3.0 average ND requires to the 2.5 that the rest of the NCAA requires therefore it is more difficult to recruit quality athletes. That is so much bunk! ND used to be considered a football factory. Did athletes become less intelligent over the last 20 years, or have ND's recruiters relied upon name recognition for too long to draw kids? Notre Dame loses consistently because they prepare for the beginning of the season, then coast until USC (usually a loss since USC plays in the PAC-10 a very tough conference as is the Big-10 and SEC et al). Yeah you have Michigan, Penn State, MSU, and UCLA but then it's....Navy? Air Force? Stanford? North Carolina? ARMY???? Everyone plays tune up games early it's how you finish, and until you play at least 8 tough games toward the end of the season you will lose in a bowl regardless of the coach. Just my two pfennigs.

Side note-your schedule appears to toughen next season (and they moved SC up to October), but you no longer have St. Brady. Enjoy!

Go Lions!

[JMI]

Originally Posted by Goggles Pizano

Did athletes become less intelligent over the last 20 years, or have ND's recruiters relied upon name recognition for too long to draw kids? Everyone plays tune up games early it's how you finish, and until you play at least 8 tough games toward the end of the season you will lose in a bowl regardless of the coach. Just my two pfennigs.

Athletes becoming less intelligent over the years is up for debate. No question that it can be tougher to go after kids because of the academic standards. But I have never used that argument. I think if you read my post you will see that I agree with you - ND has done a better job of selling the name than they have been at recruiting and coaching.

ND consistently has one of the tougher schedules in the nation. But so do the other top teams. We need players, plain and simple. I am not sure it matters where you play the tough teams, in the beginning or towards the end. And who plays "8 tough games" towards the end of the season? Not Penn State.

Side note-your schedule appears to toughen next season (and they moved SC up to October), but you no longer have St. Brady. Enjoy!

Coach Weis did a great job preparing Brady Quinn, and with Clausen coming in next season I am sure he will have him prepared as well. Every team loses players to the NFL. The key is replacing the talent. Our problem has been lack of overall talent. Like I said go get players that can compete in a BCS game and don't just rely on placing 8th in the poll.

[Goggles Pizano]

Originally Posted by JMI

ND consistently has one of the tougher schedules in the nation. But so do the other top teams. We need players, plain and simple. I am not sure it matters where you play the tough teams, in the beginning or towards the end. And who plays "8 tough games" towards the end of the season? Not Penn State.


.

So THE Ohio State University, Michigan, MSU, and Wisconsin are not tough enough for you out of the last eight? We have creampuff games too but JEEZ stop with the "toughest schedule in the nation" thing already!

[JMI]

Originally Posted by Goggles Pizano

So THE Ohio State University, Michigan, MSU, and Wisconsin are not tough enough for you out of the last eight? We have creampuff games too but JEEZ stop with the "toughest schedule in the nation" thing already!

I was trying to clarify what you meant. That is 4 games, and I thought you said:

Originally Posted by Goggles Pizano

at least 8 tough games toward the end of the season you will lose in a bowl regardless of the coach

Now I know ND plays a tough schedule every year, but 8 "tough games" is asking a lot. No?

Some teams play their tough schedule later in the season after they have dined on their creampuffs. ND opens the season against Michigan and MSU. That can be just as tough, especially now that USC has come back from the dead to give us a game at the end of the schedule.

The fact still remains that they need to recruit better players - preferably some with speed at the skill positions and size on the O Line.

[Goggles Pizano]

Originally Posted by JMI

That can be just as tough, especially now that USC has come back from the dead to give us a game at the end of the schedule.

.

JMI your friendly neighborhood SC fanatic will be along shortly to address this egregious violation of college football (at least in his eyes ) decorum. Say two Hail Mary's and two Our Fathers and beg for leniency.

Oh and GO LIONS!