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In the current regime's tenure at ND, there is one constant. It's the ND defense's inability to slow down (forget about stopping) top college QBs. So why the recent support for the Defensive Coordinator? He's not established (that he is able) to deal with Xs and Os and have his guys ready to play against top QBs.

This is an area where we have struggled. While other teams certainly have their troubles with veteran QBs, our biggest problem has not necessarily been defense and stopping them, I think, but our offense's inability to move the ball and score points against these teams. Special teams have also hurt us. Hard to hang the Purdue loss on our D, though.

You cannot stop Kyle Orton; you can only hope to contain him. Our best chance was to try and hold Purdue to as many field goals as possible, and score touchdowns on offense. Purdue has learned its lesson playing us, and protects the ball very well, so turnovers are going to be hard to come by. So, again, contain Orton. Get points on offense.

I thought Kent Baer did a pretty good job of trying to be aggressive. I would have done whatever I had to do play calling wise to move the chains on offense and get points out of every possession.

The offense got half way there--they moved the ball--but, could not score. That has a mental effect on your defense.

We were in Purdue territory a minimum of 6 times, and in the red zone 4 times, and got 16 points. We fumbled at the 2.

When you play a team like Purdue that is very talented, sound, and has a veteran QB (who has yet to throw a pick this year, by the way), you must play a near perfect game.

This team is not, and has not been capable of putting together one of those games.

Speaking of constants, one constant in this regime's tenure has been solid defense. Baer has done an excellent job, but we can't expect our defense to create five turnovers and set up the offense for success every week.

I think Baer has done a good job and deserves praise. I stand by that article.

Until the Admissions Office takes a rational tack on admissions, I don't believe we can compete regardless of coach.

Sometimes I feel very strongly that academics are part of it at ND, and we need to maintain high standards. There are plenty of qualified athletes out there. ND needs to win to get the best players. When ND wins, we are hard to resist.

Then I'll flip, and feel like I would like to see ND make an exception in certain cases, and admit some borderline academic kids like Chris Zorich, and Tony Rice. Those two players in particular are prime examples of how football players with exemplary character can become student athletes.

Where would Tony and Chris be today had they not gone to Notre Dame? Would they be such positive role models in their communities had they gone somewhere else?

Somehow, I'd like to think ND helped them want more from life than to simply be football players.

I go back and forth.

My subject is not giving up early. By early I mean years. I think 2 more years of Ty is the key. If he can't win with his recruits as seniors then he is gone. I hope they at least give Ty the chance.

I'm not disagreeing with you. I like Ty as well. And, there is a very impatient atmosphere out there. But, the flip side of it is that a lot of coaches were on their way to great success by now. Ty has not been able to make consistent progress.

The biggest problem with Ty is the blowouts. They don't sit well with fans and alumni.

The blowouts have been unprecedented in scope and number.

Thought you might like an update on Asaph Schwapp. He plays for Weaver High--a very tough, city school. Apparently, he is a really good student and good kid. This past week, he had 12 carries for 210 yards including touchdown runs of 74 and 62 yards. He is about 6'1" and 245 lbs and is considered the best fullback in CT. He also blocks for one of the best halfbacks in the state (Weaver is undefeated) and, plays middle linebacker!

ND must be persistent in staying on this guy because Randy Edsall and UConn would love to change his mind.

Thanks for the update. Hope you don't mind me sharing with the readers.

I hear Schwapp is a beast, and a great kid. I love that name SCHWAPP. I'm not too worried about UConn stealing him away though. The way our full back position will be looking in 2006 (Powers-Neal and Schmidt will be gone, and Ashley McConnell was suspended), sounds like Asaph will have a chance to compete for playing time as a red shirt Freshman.

Edsall, while a great recruiter and coach, cannot compete with early playing time at ND, in my opinion.

I hope I am right!

Do your readers a favor and point them in the direction of Dan Hawkins, Boise State University head coach, rather than Urban Meyer. Urban Meyer has become every Domer's Rorschach test, i.e., his record means whatever the Irish hopefuls want it to mean. Instead of projecting hopes onto a relatively blank page (Urban Meyer) ND ought to be looking seriously at Dan Hawkins, BSU coach and current holder of college football's longest winning streak.

There is no doubt Hawkins is a fantastic coach. Really, a top program could not go wrong with either Meyer, or Hawkins.

The thing about Hawkins is he inherited a pretty solid BSU program that was rebuilt by Dirk Koetter. However, it is hard to argue with the success Hawkins has had since then.

My choice would be Meyer simply because he has more experience reinvigorating down programs and he was previously a coach at Notre Dame.

Still, where those two up and coming coaches are concerned, you could flip a coin, and get a great one.

What are your thoughts on Chinedum Ndukwe? He appears to be a ferocious hitter. (That hit in the 1st quarter on 3rd and goal sticks in my mind. He knocked that guy out). What type of player is Ndukwe and will he get more playing time? (I read Ty had to "slow him down" in practice. He was being TOO physical?)

My thoughts are that Ndukwe could be our strong safety of the future. There are some who are projecting him to end up at OLB, but I'm not buying it. I think we need him in the defensive backfield. He runs very well, and his experience at WR serves him better when he is at DB. Those hits were impressive, and yes, I also heard Ty had to tell him to lay off a bit. He was dishing out some serious decleaters.

Gotta love a kid who brings the pain like that, but he should save it for the opposition.

The question becomes, if Ndukwe stays at SS, and wins the job, what does a very talented Freddie Parrish do? Having too much talent at DB is a good problem to have, but Ty is going to struggle to keep both of those guys happy.

If I were Kent Baer, I would consider a 4-2-5 defense. That would allow us to play 3 big, fast safeties (like Ndukwe, Parrish, and Zbikowski). We're already in nickel quite a bit of the time anyway.

Please send questions or comments for Todd Carr to nddomehome@hotmail.com