The Anti-Preview is still a little sore. Life got a little rougher last week after Notre Dame's 41-30 loss to Michigan. The Irish went up to Ann Arbor and looked completely outplayed, outcoached, and outclassed (ouch that last one really hurts to say).
At any rate, the season doesn't end in week two and there are still a lot of things that this team can accomplish. What may be the most important thing to watch this week is how Notre Dame responds to a loss one week later. You would have to go all the way back to 2011, to find the last time Notre Dame had to play a game a week after a loss. That loss was against USC 31-17 in a game that was quite similar to this years Michigan game, and the next game was Navy, where the Irish trounced the Midshipmen 56-14.
The Notre Dame faithful will be looking to repeat a similar performance this week against…
Purdue
The Boilermakers are in deep trouble, and it's not just because the Irish are looking to unleash a whole can of pissed-off whoop ass in West Lafayette. No, the Boilers have much bigger problems and it resides primarily on the offensive side of the ball. The Boilers rank 99th in passing yards, 103rd in rushing yards, and 116th in scoring against Cincinnati and Indiana State. Against the Bearcats Purdue got blown out of the water, and then barely squeaked by FCS Indiana State.
This is a bad football team.
Not only is Purdue a bad football team, but they are just a horrible university that revels in being horrible. Most of you have seen the latest product of loving to be horrible, but that was only the sequel to this:
That's the former Governor of Indiana in that video… I'm surprised he didn't try to outsource the students in that video to a private company.
What Should You Be Drinking?
Time to break out the whiskey. Any kind will do. It's time to get back to business and the best way to do that is breaking out whatever bottle and brand of whiskey that you like. I do have a suggestion of how that whiskey is DRUNKED…
Whiskey Smash
1.5 oz. Whiskey
2 piece(s) lemon wedge(s)
2 leaves mint
0.75 oz. simple syrup
1 oz. water
Muddle the lemon, mint, water and simple syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add whiskey, shake, and strain into a mason jar filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint, and serve.
What Should You Be Eating?
We better go back to eating burgers after a loss like that, but that doesn't mean we have to head to McDonald's to do it (although Purdue TOTALLY would).
Pork Burgers with Sauerkraut and Gruyère
1/2 lb. bacon (about 9 slices)
1 lb. ground pork
1 tsp. caraway seeds, lightly crushed
1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
4 slices Gruyère
1 cup sauerkraut, rinsed and drained
Dijon mustard to taste
8 slices seeded or marble rye bread, toasted
Cook the bacon in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally with tongs, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat. Transfer the bacon to a cutting board with a slotted spoon, let cool slightly, and chop into small pieces. Drain all but 2 Tbs. of the fat from the skillet.
In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the bacon, ground pork, caraway seeds, and nutmeg with your hands. Form into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.
Return the skillet to medium heat. When the bacon fat is hot, add the burgers and cook for 6 minutes. Flip the burgers, cover the skillet, and continue to cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into a burger registers 160°F for well done, about 5 minutes more. Turn off the heat, top each with a slice of the cheese, cover, and let sit until the cheese has melted, about 1 minute.
Meanwhile, heat the sauerkraut in a small saucepan over medium heat until warm.
Spread mustard on each slice of rye toast. Serve the burgers between the toast, topped with the sauerkraut.
What Should You Be Wearing?
Look, West Lafayette smells- it stinks. If you're going to the game, you're going to need a gas mask to be able to sit through the game without passing out.
You can always sport one of these bad boys too, because we all know Brian Kelly is on alert for code PURPLE.
Irish Stew
Normally, this spot is reserved for some sort of funny anecdote, or actual useful information. Because I feel neither funny nor useful at this moment, I merely offer you this video. I suppose there is some correlation here to Notre Dame Football… but I'll just say that there isn't so you don't try to shoot me.
Tweeter
I should basically just rename this to "LOUIS NIX IS THE GREATEST HUMAN BEING ALIVE OR DEAD." Seriously. Nix is awesome.
New iPhone open with your finger print? Haha nice try government. You won't fool me. Smh
— lOUIS NIX III (@1IrishChocolate) September 11, 2013
http://t.co/3y6YkEjMGJ I really did wish I could have flown lol #lovethiscountry #Lovethisvideo
— lOUIS NIX III (@1IrishChocolate) September 11, 2013
Haiku
Reesus rises up;
Shillelagh Trophy ignites;
Big drum stops beating.
Something Else To Watch For
Despite what argument you lean on when it comes to the Notre Dame running game, this game is pivotal for the irish to try and really find its offensive identity with the running attack. What does that mean exactly? Well, I'm not sure, but it should begin with a better balance of play calling as well as a possible shift in carry attempts between the running backs. Will Notre Dame try to work out the kinks on the Purdue defense? I'm curious.
Offensive MVP
Troy Niklas. Whether it be in the passing game or in the running game, Niklas has been huge for the irish so far this year and I expect a big game from the 6'7" 270 pounder. Niklas has made the transition from Eifert a seamless one in terms of production. That was a tall order to accomplish when you look at Eifert being a former Mackey Award winner and first round draft pick… but Hercules is strong. HERCULES IS STRONG Y'ALL.
Defensive MVP
Ishaq Williams. Why not have it be Ishaq this week? Ishaq has played fairly good football this season and as much as he looks like a person who's "switch" has been turned "on" I think he is ready to turn the volume up to an ELEVEN. Notre Dame used him in a spy role last week on the inside and his versatility is coming out due to his freakish athleticism. Something happens this week. Something GLORIOUS.
Bragging Rights
It is simply called The Shillelagh Trophy. It was donated by a merchant seaman and Fighting Irish fan, Joe McLaughlin. He purchased the blackthorn oak club while in Ireland.
The winner of the game has received this trophy since the 1957 game. The winner has its initials put on a football medallion along with the score, and that is placed on the oak stand the Shillelagh sits upon.
The Irish hold a 56-26-2 record all-time against the Boilermakers, making this in-state-rivalry-trophy-game a bit underwhelming for most Irish fans, but it is still the only school from Notre Dame's home state of Indiana that the Fighting Irish play each year.
At The End Of The Night…
Notre Dame is looking to rid itself of the stink of losing o Michigan as it embraces the stink of West Lafayette. I expect a fully focused and hungry team on both sidelines, but Notre Dame is just too talented and athletic for Purdue to handle. Notre Dame gets style points for beating up on a Big 10 chump… IRISH WIN 45-13
