After fighting a severe case of writer’s block, I guess it’s time to get back to basics. So, here begins a preseason preview series. Well… at least my version of a preseason preview. I mean, I say “preview” but what I really mean is a guide for you to use this offseason to track, scout, spy, research- or whatever you call it, when you “investigate” the opponents on Notre Dame’s schedule.
This won’t be very informative normal, but it might be fun.
RICE
What a KABOOM season opener! Notre Dame Football fans may feel a little underwhelmed when it comes to this season’s first game, but I offer you these thoughts that will probably be repeated later in the post:
- The Irish will be breaking in a new
offensive anddefensive coordinator in 2014 and may need a game to ease on into it. - Rice is the defensing Conference USA Champion. The last Conference USA team that the Irish faced was Tulsa in 2010.
- Rice is not Jacksonville State, Citadel, or Western Illinois. Those early season opponents are reserved for Michigan State, Florida State, and Wisconsin, respectively- teams that will be ranked ahead of the Irish in the preseason polls.
3 Reasons To Get Excited
- The return of Everett Golson. I’m not going to buy into any of the talk or speculation that Malik Zaire could be the starter. I’m calling bullshit on that one, and opening up a cold can of Pabst.
- The first home game for the Fighting Irish on FIELDTURF. [waits for Patrick O’Connell class of ’62 to drop dead from a heart attack whilst sitting in the gold seats ] LOOK AT THE MUMS Y’ALL!
- College. Football. Is. Back.
Essential YouTube
There really isn’t a lot to use with this this game, but here is one Patrick O’Connell class of ’62 could get crazy with:
Essential Twitter
Here's a glimpse of the 2014 CUSA Championship rings pic.twitter.com/3bCaoGbzzf
— RiceFootball (@RiceFootball1) April 21, 2014
Super cute! Happy Easter #RiceU RT @ElizabethNStone: My mom decorated this egg for Easter
Essential Reading
Normally reserved for blogs- but Rice only has about 3000 uninterested undergrads.
3 Other Games To Pay Attention To
- Florida State VS Oklahoma State
- Wisconsin VS LSU
- Michigan VS Appalachian State YES YES YES
Last Thoughts As An Ending
- Although this game is as sexy as Oprah pole-dancing to Rihanna’s Pour It Up– IT’S STILL OPRAH POLE-DANCING. There will be enough “new” going on to maintain most fans interest.
- Only a decisive and clean victory will be justified. I believe the early spread is around 20 points, so a 38-13 game that was done in the middle of third quarter would work just fine.
- I know next to nothing about Rice, other than this is the 2nd year in a row the Irish face an Owl team and Rice lost it’s best running back.
- There is still time.
