Ahh… The Irish Blogger Gathering, or better known as the IBG. After a week off that consisted of gin and tonics, deep-fried strips of cobra, and raising an eight-month old, the IBG creeps back into my heart like a warm piece of liver with horseradish sauce.
This week, the IBG is hosted by OC Domer. What a freaking coincidence! His use of actual stats is mind-blowing to me- as are some of his pictures of the Song Girls. I promise my readers that I may be as liberal with the photos, but as far as actual stats go- the Crown Royal and moonshine I had a little bit ago, make that prospect a longshot.
We better get started…
1. The weather forecast for Saturday’s game (as of this writing) has the high temperature in the mid 40’s with some chance of rain (or snow?). What weather would give Notre Dame the best chance to beat USC? Why?
I think everyone makes too big of a deal about the weather thing. Yes, the weather does affect many a football game, but to suggest that any player on ND’s roster is really praying for this mess- may be a bit speculative. I played ball in Northwest Ohio, and I hated this shit. I like it around 60 and dry, and to be honest most people do too.
To answer the question, 55 and dry. This is a precision offense, not a power running attack, unlike the Trojans who I think would benefit from the inclimate weather. Cool, clear, and smooth sailing.
2. Irresistible Force or Immovable Object? Notre Dame’s offense is ranked #10 in yards (470 per game) and #27 in points (32.6 per game). USC’s defense is ranked #6 in yards allowed (238.6 per game) and #4 in scoring allowed (just 8.6 points per game). In 2008 Notre Dame had just 91 total yards against USC. Will the Notre Dame offense be able to move the ball on Saturday? If so, how?
Yes, I think the Irish will move the ball against $C. However, I don’t see every drive being a 70-82 yard drive. We are going to need a bit of field position to help us out. With that said, I think with the right mix of pass, run, screen, Wild Leprechaun, and a lack of penalties. Use Rudolph, use him like a cheap skank that you are tying to piss off your ex-girlfriend with. The point being: spread the ball out and PROTECT JIMMY’S ASS.
However, moving the ball won’t mean shit if the Irish don’t punch the ball into the endzone. This is not a “fieldgoal” game like the Washington game. Weis knows this- be ready for a few risks on 4th down.
Editor’s note: After chasing the shine and Crown with a fair amount of Keystone Light- I’m going to bed. I’ll continue this in the morning.
I’m back…
3. USC’s offense is #22 in yards (430.6 per game) and #53 in scoring (28.8 points per game). Notre Dame’s defense is #100 in total defense (403.2 yards per game) and #59 in scoring defense (allowing 23.8 points per game). Will the Notre Dame defense be able to slow down the USC offense? If so, how?
Notre Dame certainly has the ability to shut a offense down, and if this Trojan offense could be what the doctor ordered. No, I’m not crazy. I have seen our defense and how bad they can be at times, but they are bad for different reasons. The Irish defenders are getting to the ball carrier quick enough, but they are failing to wrap – which has their tackling being a failure. Stick-em and wrap-up. If the Irish are able to slow the running game down and force the hand of Matt Barkley, than I really think we are in good shape.
So in review: T-A-C-K-L-E.
4. In 2008, with Michael Floyd unable to play due to injury, Golden Tate had 2 catches against USC for a team-high 15 receiving yards. How do you expect Golden Tate to play against USC this year?
I expect Tate to play balls out as usual. However, as much as we need Golden to get his “touches,” Weis and Notre Dame can not get too predictable in their attempts. Tate has put up some really good numbers thus far, but it’s obvious that Notre Dame hasn’t faced a defense like Southern Cal’s either. I’ll say 8 receptions for 99 yards 1 TD rec. 3 Carries for 44 yards and 1 TD… or something like that.
Tate will have a big impact, but the Irish really need players like Kamara, Parris, and freshman Shaq Evans to step up and play the best game of their career, to help open the whole damn flood gate.
5. Jimmy Clausen has started to get some Heisman buzz. In your opinion, which Notre Dame player is the most deserving of Heisman attention, Jimmy or Golden Tate? Why?
I hear the Golden Tate argument, but until he returns a couple of punts for touchdown… he isn’t really in the same race as Clausen for the Heisman. Yes, Golden is making some spectacular plays- but Jimmy is feeding him the rock. Heisman winners don’t have a game like Michigan, where a series of drops that were uncharacteristic for Tate, helped lead to the only loss for the Irish.
Jimmy on the other hand is not only winning, he is the #1 rated passer in the country and has added drama to the mix with the worlds most famous toe. After the Irish win Saturday- Clausen will be the leader of the pack.
6. Overrated or Underrated. Notre Dame cracked into the AP Poll at #25 this week. Are they overrated or underrated at #25? Where would you put them in your poll?
It’s funny you should mention this. As a Blogpoll voter, I have the Irish ranked #15. They have one loss. So do a lot of other teams. They are not my highest ranked one loss team. However, almost everyone is against me on this topic. This week in the Blogpoll Top 25 commentary, The Subway Domer won the homer award for placing the Irish at #15- and I won that by a very large margin (I’ll post this later today).
So “biased” at ranking ND at #15, I caught the wrath of CW at Rakes of Mallow. This is the email that I received from him yesterday:
Please stop voting Notre Dame so high. The CK Award is not to be messed with, and it already got us against Michigan, and now you got it again right before the biggest game of the year. Couldn’t you have just waited to start tossing us that high? Please stop it.
Thank you.
So in short: Underrated with a bullet, and I am not apologizing for it.
7. USC Song Girls: Ambassadors of Collegiate Goodwill or Anachronism from a bygone era of oppressive sexist stereotypes?
I’ll make this one short as well… AmbASSadors. Here is a short little memoir of a personal encounter with the song girls:
In 2007 I attended the game in South Bend. I was sitting in the student section a few rows up from the Vonage desk on the field. At half-time, the Song Girls made a lap around the stadium shaking their asses and waving to the crowd. When they passed us and the Irish cheerleaders in front of us, the Irish cheerleaders were eating a brown bag lunch.
I’m not knocking are own cheerleaders, but I am only acknowledging the Song Girls for doing what they do best.
8. Green Jerseys? There’s a lot of “green” talk coming from campus this week, and it raises the question of whether the team will be wearing green on Saturday. Do you want to see the green jerseys or not? Why?
Weis has gone on record, saying that we won’t be wearing the Green Jersey’s. I want them. Everybody is flipping out against them saying they are now bad luck, or we don’t need them, or whatever. Whatever is right. it’s U$C at home and we are a 10 point underdog. Wear them.
9. Name the next number in this sequence: -3, -20, -38, -35, _______. Explain.
+4. I was going with a 3 point win all week, but I am changing my mind. Irish 28 – U$C 24. Instead of FG’s, Notre Dame will finish the drives inside the Slanted Lines, with the final score being in the theme for this year. Clausen to Robby Parris (the burly veteran) for a 7 yard TD pass with 54 seconds remaining seals the deal.
