As crazy as these last few weeks have been for the Irish and for your favorite most hated reputable Sergeant at Arms for the Irish bloggers, I still have found a moment to answer the call for the IBG.
This weeks IBG is hosted by The Brawling Hibernian, who you may remember as the guy who made Subway Domer blush in the Subway Domer recruiting spectacular. We hope he comes back for seconds. And, uhh- by the way Mr. Hibernian… I never got an email. I hope you dine in hell.
I’ll be serving veal Marsala. On to the IBG!!!…
1. Coming off a very difficult loss to a rival that has now beaten them eight straight times, Notre Dame faces another that’s beaten them six straight. Can Notre Dame end the losing streak against BC or will the combined weight of the USC loss and recent history against the Eagles be too much to overcome? Explain.
If you would have just asked me who is going to win this game a couple of weeks ago, without a doubt I would have said Notre Dame. Boston College was looking like shit, and the Irish kept finding ways to win a game. Now, after studying up a bit more on the 2009 Eagles, I am a little more hesitant to call for an Irish blowout.
However, I think change is in the wind in South Bend. Weis is doing a much better job of handling his “shrink” duties as the Head Coach and the team has yet to look flat or out of sync emotionally this season. That’s great news considering the Irish are too explosive offensively for the Eagles to handle.
Oh wait. Did I forget about the question? That’s because as soon as the ball is kicked off, if not sooner, the Fighting Irish will have completely forgotten about U$C, and the streak with BC, and will be ready to kick some ass.
2. Not unlike Notre Dame’s defense, BC’s offense has been pretty erratic this season. While in their most recent win, they rolled up 480 total yards and scored 52 points; in their two losses, they’ve averaged 109 yards and 11 points. Which BC offense and which ND defense show up on Saturday? Why?
Just because I anticipate a better performance from the defense- doesn’t mean it happens. Notre Dame will probably give up a lot of yards, but not as many points as the yards will dictate.
Why? Because that’s how they roll.
3. Does anyone seem primed to have a Robby Parris-like breakout moment against the Eagles? If so, who is it and why?
No, probably not. Maybe Goodman, but I think most of the “breaking” has been done already.
I hate to leave it at that, but I just don’t see it.
4. It’s been an and up-and-down year for Boston sports. After a strong start, the Red Sox folded in the second half of the year. The Patriots, meanwhile, seem to be on the upswing after a 59-0 dismantling of Tennessee. For their part, Boston College has seemed as though their season could go either way. Ultimately, will the Eagles be the Sox or the Pats?
Now I’m just being problematic, because I don’t agree with the premise. I don’t think BC started well, or is really on an upswing. I think they are a mediocre football team, and I say that with the kindest meaning. They will be physical though, and will be emotionally geared up to play ND. How about the Patriots… circa 1994.
5. While most Irish fans refer to BC as “Fredo”, tell me to which other cinematic character you would compare the Eagles.
John and Russell from stripes. They are almost always the underdog- yet they still beat Russians basically by themselves.
I am imagine most of their pregame speeches are as such:
