Appologies are required. One of my goals this season was to make certain that above all else, the Anti-Preview and Hangover posts would be done for each game. I was as absent for the Tulsa game as common sense was from Brian Kelly’s head. My bad.
So welcome, welcome to your Anti-Preview for Utah. Friends, The Subway Domer and KGG are heading to South Bend for the game this week. This may not be the best sign for a victory for the Fighting Irish, as the last two trips for your Emperor ended in losses to PITT (2008) and UConn (2009). If you see me, don’t blow me any shit about it, unless you want your balls punched. (I play dirty).
The Fighting Irish are hurting in more ways than one. After starting the season off with a 1-3 record, and then fighting to get themselves up to a 4-3 mark, the Irish have dropped their last two games to Tulsa and Navy. Both of those losses were penciled in as wins by 99% of the fanbase, and it would at least have Notre Dame bowl eligible- right now. The loss of a classmate has made the dark cloud, darker, and no one can stay healthy.
Daunting is the task ahead for the Golden Domers to make a bowl game as they must now win 2 of their last 3 games against Army, U$C, and…
Utah. Utah got flat-out embarrassed last week, at home, against TCU, 47-7. Despite that, the Utes bring a very balanced and very powerful offense. They average 245 yards passing and their top two receivers are very close statistically. (DeVonte Christopher: 32 rec. 572 yds. 5 TD & Jereme Brooks: 40 rec. 460 yds, & 4TD).
Their rushing offense is equally powerful and balanced. Utah averages 175 yards on the ground with 23 touchdowns. The top two rushers are even more balanced then their WR cousins (Eddie Wide: 107 car. 523 yds. 9 TD & Matt Asiata: 110 car. 515 yds. 6 TD).
Look, Utah is a very, very good team and they are coached well. Their defense has been outstanding (save last week) and despite the 47 points TCU put up on the Utes, Utah is ranked 14th in the nation in scoring defense. Physical. Mutant. Gorilla. Ninjas.
What should you be drinking? This was tricky. I really wanted to force you pansies to drink Zima. But how does one drink that which can not be found? Interesting, I know. Instead, I started to think about the Ute’s. Indians. Native Americans. Nomads… from Asia… GOD DAMN MONGOLIANS!!!!
The Mongolian Motherfucker
- 1 oz. vodka
- 1 oz. gin
- 1 oz. rum
- 1 oz. sloe gin
- 1 oz. 151
- 1 oz. Triple Sec
- 1 oz. Southern Comfort peach liqueur
- 1 oz. Grenadine
- 1 oz. Orange juice
- 1 oz. Cranberry juice
Mix all ingredients in a pitcher with with some ice. Stir well. Serve chilled… break down some fucking walls.
BONUS POINTS: Massive points will be given to any reader that I run into on Saturday that has this drink available upon request.
What should you be eating? As physical as this Utah football team is, you are gonna need to eat like a man. An animal-raping, shit-stomping, man. Steak and potatoes should be on the menu, but that doesn’t mean you have to cook it like an asshole.
Diced Red Potatoes
Take some red potatoes, chop ’em up (with skin on). Place contents on a large sheet of aluminum foil. Salt and pepper to taste. Splash with some olive oil. Sprinkle with some minced garlic. Wrap up the potatoes inside the foil, and place on the grill a full 20 minutes before you throw on your steak.
About that steak… grab your favorite cut and cook it the right way:
Irish Stew: Give some mad props to the seniors. Forget the wins and losses, and recognize that these boys are Domers, and deserve a little respect. They have had a wild, and grueling road to ride in their time, and I can respect the fact that they are still here trying to win.
With that said, I do have a burr up my ass. This schedule is a farce. How in the hell do we have our seniors play their last home game- with two games to go afterwards? I thought we were independent and able to schedule in our favor. Every year, we end up playing our last game in California, and for what, recruiting? Fuck that. Our players deserve to play their last regular season game, AT HOME.
What’s in a name? It didn’t take long for me to pick this one out: Shaky Smithson, WR, #1. This kid not only has the “shake” but he has some jets too. He is the 3rd leading receiver on the team with 243 yards and 3 TD’s, PLUS he threw for a 32 yard TD as well. However, Smithson isn’t just known for his receiving, or quarterbacking skills- he is the nations top punt returner with an average of 22.8 yards per return with 2 TD’s. DANGEROUS!
A close second was a running back named, Sausen Shakerin. Shakerin has the longest score from scrimmage for the Ute’s this year with a 76 yard run for a TD. It begs the question; How much salt can they shake, in Utah. (Stop laughing!)
Offensive MVP: Tommy Rees… could it be anybody else? I suppose we could of gone with Michael Floyd, but instead, it has to be the man that gets him the ball. Notre Dame’s chance at beating Utah, and its future bowl hope, rests squarely on the shoulders (and more directly, the arm) of Tommy Rees.
Tommy Rees certainly has some weaknesses that were laid out in front of all who watched the game against Tulsa. However, for being just a freshman with only like 9 passes under his belt, he came off the bench with a tremendous amount of poise. He made some mistakes, but he also made some good plays.
I would have loved to put Armando Allen here, but sadly, Allen has seen his last action in a Notre Dame uniform after a season ending hip injury. Because of that, I just don’t see the ground game making much of a positive difference in this game. Nope. It’s all Tommy. He has the poise and the “football IQ” to run this offense, but he has to find a way to stretch the field vertically, to open up the other 95% of the passing plays. Let’s hope for a nice senior day surprise from the freshman.
Defensive MVP: I could go a variety of ways here too, and I could always plug in Manti Te’o, but not this week. This week, a senior- a 5th year senior gets the call; Darrin Walls. Walls came to Notre Dame with a lot of hype and a lot of talent. Unfortunately, Walls has been unable to shake off some of the things that have held him back from being a great corner.
Until this year. Walls has played physical, and he has been more than solid in pass coverage. Utah presents a number of challenges for our defense, but the Ute’s solid receiving corps and an accurate quarterback could be deadly. Walls will need to do his part as the top dog in the secondary and shutdown whoever lines up against him, in his last game in Notre Dame Stadium.
I’ve always liked this kid, and I respect him for overcoming all the challenges that he has had to face during his time in South Bend. This senior will get the job done, and I have a hunch that he gets it done with a few style points.
Something else to watch for on Saturday: After Notre Dame started the season 1-3, myself, and a lon list of others, pleaded for patience. “We will judge what this team does in November,” was my battle cry. Little did I know, that the injury list would be as long and as full of starters names as we now have. However, they still have to get the job done. I want to see how physical this team can play with its back against the wall as they play a team well-known for its physical style of play.
At the end of the day, Notre Dame finds a way to win for its seniors, on senior day, for the first time since they beat Duke in 2007. After losses to Syracuse in 2008, and UConn in 2009, this day has had a black cloud of doubt raining on this program. The Irish play balls out and win, 27-20. It will probably be in typical fashion, with the Irish leading late, and holding off a heroic charge from the Utes.
