Sth Bend, IN 2008 college football thread

I know it's only July, but college football is my favorite sport by far and I'm really anxious for the season to begin. Although VIO is MIA, I will bravely carry the MSU flag around the board this year.

So here's a news item to get things started - the national media has picked up on a Blue & Gold Illustrated article from last week that said:

...Weis is privately projecting anywhere from nine to 12 victories this year. And yes, a 12-1 mark would equal the biggest turnaround (+8.5 games by Hawaii from 1998-99) in major college football history. But given the schedule, it?s not unrealistic. The only regular-season game in which Notre Dame figures to be a serious underdog is the finale at USC, so Weis could conceivably have an 11-0 team heading out there if everything comes together.




I must admit, the schedule doesn't look that bad on paper, but...c'mon.

09/06 SAN DIEGO STATE
09/13 MICHIGAN
09/20 at Michigan State
09/27 PURDUE
10/04 STANFORD
10/11 at North Carolina
10/25 at Washington
11/01 PITT
11/08 at Boston College
11/15 at Navy
11/22 SYRACUSE
11/29 USC

 

is weis supposed to say "we should have a win well before game 10 this year"?

 

Yeah, I think that either:
1. this mysterious quote is false
2. it is Weis' New Jersey confidence/cockiness
3. it is false hope from a guy who knows he will be fired if he has another season like the last

 

I just hope for 7 wins, that would be nice. It should be interesting to see how much the new talent will come in play with the season. There are a lot of stud players coming in on the freshman year that could make a major impact (Floyd).

Secondly, if we had 11 wins this year, it would be a miracle.

GO IRISH.

 

It will be interesting to see what happens if they end up with only 4-5 wins, especially if they get off to a slow start. Might be especially dangerous for Weis with a new AD coming in.

 

Remember, if the fire the guy, and then ND would have to buy out a large contract!!!

 

That's right, I forgot about that big contract extension. Oh well, it's only money, right? And what else would they do with it, increase the budget of the university's IT dept?

These big programs are so fickle, none of them have any patience for "down years" anymore. The media always talks about the unrealistic expectations at ND (national championship every year or bust), but it's getting to be like that everywhere now. You'd have to be crazy to want to be a coach; there's no job security and no room for error. Although I suppose most of these guys have the egos to override that (you'd have to).

 

If Notre Dame loses one game, and then the Championship is over.

 

Cute little feature on ESPN - ranking the 25 toughest college stadiums, based on EA Sports' upcoming NCAA Football '09 game. Good eye candy; the stadiums look awesome.

ND is 15th; MSU is not ranked

 

I know this isn't college football news, it is big news in men's hoops.

Packer out at CBS, to end Final Four run after 34 years

Guess I can finally start watching the Final Four with the sound on (I'm obviously not a Billy Packer fan).

 

That was sad to hear.

 

packer never kissed izzo's butt. you probably also think he was biased against msu?

 

Couldn't say...I haven't watched much of the men's tourney for the last few years, particularly the Final Four, mainly because of Packer. I'll tell you who I do like - Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery. Al Maguire was awesome, too.

Funny I got off track on this subject just before the MLB All-Star game. The home run derby was fun to watch (mostly) but Chris Berman is just too much. I just cannot stand his act, fortunately he's not a significant part of college football.

 

Keith Jackson was awesome..

 

Indeed, loved him with Bob Griese on ABC. One of the best.

 

dude, enough already

 

I predict a big stomp on by the Irish on the 9/20 game. Crush'em they will!


Go Irish!


(That should hopefully stir the pot.)

 

I am ready to go to the game this weekend.

 

In the absence of VIO, I guess it's up to me to carry the MSU flag around here. A minor setback to Cal last weekend, but tune-ups against the Eagles and Owls the next two weeks will have the Spartans flying high and primed for another win against the Irish. Unfortunately, since the game is in E. Lansing this year, MSU won't be able to add to their winning streak at Spartan Stadium South (=ND Stadium).


stir, stir, stir

 

*burns the flag and the pot*


MSU will burn to the ground.

 

speaking of

stir stir stir

and I am not a big sports fan (big SW fan instead

The current BIG TEN standings have IU in first place (by some miracle)

GO IU

http://www.bigtennetwork.com/sports/football/BigTenstandings.asp


I think IU plays Michigan? Yes? No?

 

IU plays my beloved Michigan State Spartans this season but not the Univ of Michigan, which is too bad because that would have been a win for the Hoosiers.

They also have a late season game against a MAC team (Central Michigan). I don't recall other Big Ten teams playing a team from the MAC so late in the season, although I think others (not all) are doing so this year.

August 30 - Western Kentucky
September 6 - Murray State
September 20 - Ball State
September 27 - Michigan State
October 4 - at Minnesota
October 11 - Iowa
October 18 - at No. 24 Illinois
October 25 - Northwestern
November 1 - Central Michigan
November 8 - No. 11 Wisconsin
November 15 - at No. 19 Penn State
November 22 - at Purdue

 

The Hoosiers has a good season last year. Don't be surprised if IU goes to a bowl again.

 

I think that's reasonable. And it's always good to see Big Ten teams do well; I get sick of always hearing about how great the SEC is.

 

A sloppy win for the Irish yesterday, but I'll take it. Bring on Michigan!