Let’s get it out in the open, Saturday’s game against Wake Forest was ugly. Fourth ranked Notre Dame’s vaunted offense, averaging 494 yards a game, and 7.1 yards per play was held to 282 yards of total offense and save for Josh Adams’ 98 yard gallop into the end zone, the Irish big play offense lacked just that. Not to be outdone in it’s malaise, the defense surrendered 340 yards of offense to a team that came in 112th nationally in that category and was the most on their last five games. Wake Forest also held the ball 11 minutes longer than Notre Dame, and had they been better in the red zone–they were 1-4 on the day, including being stopped at the Notre Dame one yard line, which preceded the Adams jaunt–the contest would have taken a different tenor.
It was sloppy, it was boring, and in the eyes of many Irish fans, it was the last thing Notre Dame needed after being put into the final playoff spot by the College Football Playoff committee in the latest poll. Conventional wisdom was Notre Dame needed to rack up some much needed style points against their two remaining lesser opponents, Wake Forest and Boston College, in order to solidify their standing as a top four team. While the run by Adams was indeed stylish and the two touchdown runs by quarterback DeShone Kizer had a trendy feel to them, the game against the Deamon Deacons was by and large a disappointment. A team that shouldn’t move the ball, moved the ball, and a team that shouldn’t shut down the offense, shut them down.
Notre Dame did not have the look of a championship team, which is exactly what fans wanted to see against the hapless Deamon Deacons. It was easy to envision members of the committee watching at home, shaking their heads as drive after drive stalled for the Irish, and first down after first down was gained by Wake. Irish fans had been calling for dominance in the week leading up to the game, “leave no doubt” was a popular phrase on message boards for those who were looking for the Irish to roll, especially given the 27 point spread. That’s what championship teams do, after all, they crush the teams who are inferior to them. They make statements. Especially teams in the position that Notre Dame currently resides, with one loss, left to impress the group of 14 that will decide their fate.
Luckily, that is a narrative that has proven out to be overblown. Yes, it’s important to make big statements as the eye test is indeed a factor. But, those types of performances don’t need to come against the weaker teams on the schedule (see: TCU winning by 55 in their last game of 2014 and dropping three spots in the rankings), they need to come in those marquee games on the schedule that everyone will be watching. To further illustrate that point, take a look at how Ohio State, the quintessential example of style points last year, ended their regular season in 2014 before their thrashing of Wisconsin in the conference title game. Against teams with a combined 17-20 record, they won their final three games by an average of 13 points, and all those games were within one score in the 4th quarter. In addition, they needed two overtimes to beat a Penn St. team that finished the regular season at 6-6 earlier in the season. Is that making a statement? Is that leaving no doubt? Of course not, but, all the committee remembered was the big game against Wisconsin, which provided all the style points they needed.
Notre Dame will indeed have the chance to make their big statement to finish 2015, on the road against the previously 7th ranked Stanford. Irish fans will lament the Stanford loss against Oregon last weekend, which steals Notre Dame’s ability to beat a top 10 team this regular season. But, don’t forget, Ohio State didn’t beat a single top 10 team prior to the playoffs last year either, and if Stanford is able to handle Cal next week, they will enter the Notre Dame contest with an identical 10-2 record that Wisconsin had last year in their tilt with the Buckeyes. It’s likely that Stanford will enter the game ranked at least in the top 15, and a stomping of them would still look pretty darn good, especially on the road. There is no question it needs to be Notre Dame’s finest game of the year, and if the Irish show big in that game, no one will remember how many yards Wake outgained Notre Dame by or how much longer they held the ball. Now, whether it will be good enough to the Irish into a playoff remains to be seen, as there are other teams who have the chance to stake their claim as well.
Next up for Notre Dame is Boston College, a game that could and should be a blowout in favor of the Irish. Of course, it’s Boston College, and there are demons regarding that school that shall remain unspecified. Yes, it’s quite maddening to see this team struggle against lesser opponents, especially offensively with all the firepower they have. But, it’s easy to forget that last week Notre Dame started a true freshman at tailback, a redshirt freshman quarterback, and a true freshman tight end. Not to mention the fact that two of the offensive lineman, Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey are dealing with ankle injuries. It’s understandable that this team would show some struggles, and if 28-7 victories are the signs of struggles, then maybe this is a championship caliber team after all.
No Shaz, but that is funny. Seeing Mark May in the “suit” singing the alma mater, oh, and NDs 31-0 win over the meatchickens (6) are 2 things I will never tire of.
Notre Damian,
There’s and old saying about ND football…. “either you love em, or you hate em”
As part of his ESPN gig, Lou represented all those who love Notre Dame football.
Mark May…. all those who don’t.
It is nice to know that Lee Corso’s Leprechaun suit was way too small for Mark May and that his
had to be “Taylor Made”
Did you hear the rumor swirling about that on every St. Patrick’s Day M.M. dons the suit and gets shit-faced drunk ?
Shaz, probably true. Mark May made an excellent bad guy.
I still loved that he had to wear a leprechaun suit and sing the ND alma mater when they made it to the NC game in 2012.
Notre Damian,
Things are a bit different now that Lou has retired from ESPN.
Lou was Lou, and May was May. Partnered adversaries.
It was all part of that act. Showmanship, ratings and entertainment.
Throughout history the Entertainment industry has been littered with famous duos, good cop, bad cop, heroes & villains .
If they get fans stirred up on Saturday afternoons then they have done their job and earned their pay.
Sometimes I guess it’s attitude. Mark May may have been correct in some of his criticisms, but the way he comes off makes it clear he was almost happy for the Irish misfortune, and I guess that rubs me the wrong way.
But I’m ok with criticism. I think of Stewart Mandel over at Fox Sports currently. I’ve generally found him to be fair when it comes to ND. He’s not a fan, but not a hater either. To this day he still defends ND being in the NC game against Alabama, despite the result. His argument is valid, ND beat every opponent on it’s schedule, the other teams in contention did not. And ND had a strong schedule that year. For him end of story. Also when a fan sends him a question about how we play Navy every year, he’s said a number of times that ND does play one of the toughest schedules year in an out. But he’s also had criticisms that have been valid, and I’m ok with it because he doesn’t have that Mark May attitude (in fact, he’s actually had some criticisms about May in the past, about how he can single handedly anger half of college football fans with one sentence). There are others out there but I notice his more because I always enjoy reading his mailbag. He is one who seems to think that OK could jump ND if it wins out, incidentally, though he will acknowledge ND would not be a surprise either.
Damian,
Yeah I know what you’re talking about. I think that IF Oklahoma wins out, there would be a controversy. They could “make a case” for sure, but that common opponent (Texas) is a pretty powerful argument, because that and SOS are the only factors to really evaluate, other than “style points” which are very subjective. By style points I mean how Oklahoma and ND win/lose their last games.
I agree about Mark May. It is weird listening to him compliment ND. While it’s pretty obvious that he is no fan of ND, alot of the time he was right about ND in the past. He was saying “they aren’t that good”. He was wrong in 2012, since they went to the NC, but most other years you could argue his “analysis” of ND was on target. This year I think he says the elite talent they have. It’s been a long time since we could say that. When’s the last time we had guys just run right by USC players repeatedly?
JDH. I put Oklahoma at 50-50. Part of that may be the media playing that up, they seem to think the way OK is playing right now the Committee will put them in (plus one thing I do think is they will try to get a Big 12 in there if at all possible since they missed last year). I think the most dangerous thing to happen for our playoff hopes would be for OK to obliterate its next 2 opponents.
Duranko, I think many ND fans have just been conditioned to expect the worse after the D/W/W years. Any bad thing that happens we think it’s the end of the world. Amazingly enough, the media has not really been critical of ND. In fact, as I earlier noted, many times they’ve been positive about ND. Ironically, I’ve noticed NBC is more critical of ND than ESPN. When Mark May sings our praises, you know things must be looking up (though that still freaks me out).
Believe it or not, other teams give scholarships, have demanding S&C programs, hire knowledgeable coaches, watch tape, and devise game plans. By this time of the year, players are exhausted, injured, though playing, want and need a break. Last week’s game WAS Wake Forest’s season, probably the only time they’ll get a national appearance. For ND, it was just another game until the playoffs. It happens….
@duranko. I know what you are saying. Not only witnessing it for decades but also have experienced it first hand. Seriously I know very well that these are kids becoming young men. Having raised 4 and fortunately all college educated at St. Mary’s.(Moraga). No it wasn’t ND but it is good and high expectation school. Pro Ball? No comparison to college ball . Don’t like it. Won’t watch it. As for the bye week. My concern was actually for the “Finals” falling the same week as SC.. Yes I put school before the game and I can’t stand SC. This is nothing new to me. The ups and downs of mental stamina is not unfamiliar. The exhilaration and flats of competition ( when and why) we are familiar with too. So thank you. 45yearfaithful.
RIP Flutie’s
Damian,
I honestly don’t think a 1-loss Oklahoma would jump a 1-loss ND. The committee looks at common opponents. ND destroyed Texas and Oklahoma lost to Texas. Oklahoma State could jump us though if they go undefeated (but I do not think they will lose in the next few weeks).
I do agree with JDH. There is no way to know the future. 15 years ago the Big 10 was THE football conference. 5 years ago the SEC could do no wrong. In 5 years, the ACC could be the conference to beat. They do have some teams that are trying to claw their way back into the mix, Florida State is certainly one, Clemson another. North Carolina is starting to show signs of life and even Duke has shown some life here and there.
At this point the playoff committee is basically telling ND give them a reason to drop them out of the top 4. The Pac 12 is largely out of that, barring something completely out of left field. Now we just need another conference champion to drop off. For now, I’m putting my money on Ohio State to lose a game, hopefully the Michigan State this weekend. Then someone would have to beat Iowa, but I really don’t think Iowa could beat Ohio State, Michigan State or even Michigan.
I think the Big 12 would be a bigger hurdle because we need both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to lose a game (though admittedly in 2012 we needed either Oregon or Kansas State to lose, never did I think both would lose the same night so I guess it’s possible). I have a bad feeling a 1 loss OK team leapfrogs ND. And the Big 12 was left out last year. I think if the committee can avoid it, they will try to keep a spot open for the Big 12.
@RichM: “NDs SOS went from 12 to 27 in last night’s poll.” So? ND’s SOS according to the NCAA is 9. ESPN Power Index (which includes SOS) is 7. ESPN’s SOS specifically is, as you said, 27.
Alabama is at 1. Ohio State is at 69. Clemson is at 26. UNC, who people are talking about for some reason now, is at 71st.
“Except for North Carolina, the ACC is a disaster overall.” Clemson is in the ACC and they are #1 in the nation, with the before-mentioned #26 SOS. Apparently it’s not hurting them, so why is it hurting ND? The committee said ND is “firmly at #4” CF Playoff poll currently. Florida State is in the ACC. Are they a disaster?
“The ACC never will be a football power.” How do you know that? The ACC dominates in many sports. The Big Ten is a “traditional powerhouse conference”, and yet outside of 2-3 teams max per year, they SUCK, and have for a while. The only constant is change.
“A 52-0 or 45 -3 walloping of the Eagles might help to lesson the pain of playing another cupcake at the end of the year.” What other cupcake at the end of the year? Stanford?
If anything hurt ND’s SOS this week, it was Temple ruining their own season by losing to USF. Temple is in the AAC. ND will likely end the year having beaten 4 teams ranked in the Top 25. Other than Alabama, will any other playoff contenders be able to say that?
For 45 year faithful and Damian
I think one of the STRONGEST REALITIES of college football is that it is an emotional game. 1/3 of tjhe roster is teenagers, and if you have or had teenagers, you know. NFL is in cold blood, college football is warmblooded.
Bo Schembechler echoed something Paul Bear Bryant said. You can only get a team all the way up just twice a year.
The inverse of that is that each team has two clunkers a year.
Letdowns happen. I find the concept of “trap games” completely stupid. A “sandwich” game is a different deal/
AFRTER A HUGE EMOTIONAL EFFORT A COLLEGE TEAM WILL HAVE A SUBPAR EFFORT THE NEXT SATURDAY.
it’s the way of the world. Take it, leave it, like it lup it.
Go back and look at the last ten years of scheduling of the LSU Alabama game. How many times did those teams have byes BEFORE and AFTER the game?
Notre Dame’s most brilliant scheduling decision this year was takiing a Saturday off after the USC game. The Irish would NOT have played well.
This year’s UVA game for ND was a classic sandwich. Knuckledheads on this and other sites got all huffy and prissy about “Well, if the Iriish are any good they’ll be at the top of their game” No, it was a SANDWICH game because the world’s greatetst coach, Paul Johnson, with the universe’s most unstoppable offense, was coming in the following Saturday.
Notre Dame was due to a subpar effort afrter the emotional crests of Temple and Pitt0, exacerbated by the Senior Day.
But we’re in clear waternow. There is the combination of the Wake Forest effort and the Shamrock/Green Uniforms/Fenway shtick for BC.
And the game at Stanford has all the motivational tools (including, just like SC, rest afterwards) that heaven allows.
I’ll give you a couple of clues for next year. the Irish will play subpar against Nevada after the trip to Austin and against Duke after the Michigan State visit. Does anybody wonder why the Irish are IDLE the week after playing Stanford on October 15th?
I am highly confident that the nincompoopery, empowered by the web will be out weeping and moaning after the games against Nevada and Duke, but remember, you heard it here first, sot of!
Rich M,
I don’t think they had much of a choice. Swarbick needed a place for ND’s other sports after the Big East imploded. The ACC insisted on the 5 game commitment to allow ND to join while leaving football out as a full time member.
I know some ND football fans say they couldn’t give a rat’s behind about other sports. But Swarbick is the AD. He has a responsibility to run all the sports at ND and other conferences may have not allowed ND “off the hook” for football for only 5 games (many would likely have insisted on full membership).
Basically Swarbick does not have the luxury of only worrying about football. I wish we could have maintained 100% independence in football, but that is just not feasible anymore when taking everything into consideration.
Let’s face it the game was a lackluster performance to say the least. NDs SOS went from 12 to 27 in last night’s poll. I blame the fact that they are stuck planning, I believe 5 or 6 ACC opponents this year. Except for North Carolina, the ACC is a disaster overall. the agreement ND signed with the ACC is coming back to bite them in the ass. The ACC never will be a football power. Yes, Miami at one time was a powerhouse but recently they have fallen on hard times. What’s the remedy? How about punsihing BC this weekend. BC, another school with less then a stellar record, can only hurt ND. A 52-0 or 45 -3 walloping of the Eagles might help to lesson the pain of playing another cupcake at the end of the year.Thanks God, ND played Clemson, yes they lost but a loss to the yndefeated, first ranked by two points in some ways helps ND when compared to Oklahomas loss to Texas, a team ND killed earlier. BC very seldom lies down against anyone and generally plays the Irish tough. Go IRISH!!
Fried meatchickens are the best.
BTW, I still love 31-0. That will never get old. 31-0.
3. Kick back and order up a couple of meatchickens and a bottle of Baaaston Laaaaga !
Oh, How I relish the thought !
We settle in and get 3 scores to go up 21 on a young, inexperienced team that can’t stay with us. It is still in the 2nd Quarter. You are BK. What do you do the rest of the game?
1. You can sit on the ball, don’t show any plays that would give future opponents a glimpse of how you are going to attack a team dropping 7 guys deep, try to avoid injuries, and win the game. When the refs give WF a gift of a TD, turn it back on, thru some deep passes to open them up, score the clincher, and go back in a hole. Don’t waste ‘Getting up” on WF. Play bend, don’t break D. or
2. Start throwing crossing patterns that were successful earlier in the year against a similar D, run some bubble screens, and really attack the WF D.
The meatchicken moniker is so very clever and original, can’t wait to see it in your next 10 posts.
That is one thing I will say about the earlier article by Scott I think it was. That when we are “disappointed” by a 21 point win, that says a lot about how far we have actually come. 45yearfaithful is absolutely right. During the D/W/W years many of these games this year would have been losses and we would have been blown out by Clemson when they went up 14-0. One thing that has improved is BK teams do not quit.
Duranko, I will say, the negativity is mostly just ND fans. ESPN actually has been more positive. I’m shocked, and a little disturbed, that Mark May is actually praising ND this year. He almost sounds like Dr Lou sometimes. There’s something not right about Mark May praising ND, sort of like if Sparty doesn’t take down OSU this week, we’ll all have to root for the Meatchickens. That’s just not right either (I will if I absolutely have too but help us out Sparty, beat OSU).
Duranko, in your article from nov 15th you referred to a “somnambulant” and “diffident” ND team. There are philosophical contradictions here. Sleepwalkers are incapable of being diffident or not. They are not fully conscious. The ND team can appear to be diffident or somnambulant, but they can’t be both simultaneously. Later you wrote that the team did just enough to win. In fact they won by 3 TDs. Now you contradict yourself in this post with all of the hullaballoo about negative comments, etc. I agree with your post now which is simply an ND team that wins by 3 TDs doesn’t need to accumulate 500 yards in total offense. ND won this game handily. Everybody wants to see total domination. That rarely happens. What happens more often is the better team decides to assert itself and wins.
@Duranko. Key words were “The Appearence”. Also noting ” playing up”. As in rising to the occasion. Over the years it has now become (right or wrong) an associated personnality trait. I feel ND plays tough schedules and talented programs. Each and every year. And to this day I believe each team plays ND “Over their Heads.” So just win, and be appreciative of it. Blow outs are few and far between for ND. Plus boring. Thanks.
Say what about playing down to the competition?
We have played five games since Clemson.
In its MILLENNIAL EFFORT and biggest game in its football history Temple stayed within 4.
Otherwise
Notre Dame gave NAVY its only loss, by 17 points
Notre Dame beat USC, aroused by its new coach by 10 points
USC is pole sitter for Pac XII South Champ
Notre Dame beat Pitt, yeah 7-3 Pitt, by 12 points
Notre Dame beat Wake Forest by 21 points
Just squeaking by?
Have we all been so brainwashed by negative posts and ESPN that we have taken leave of our senses?
TEAM 127 is doing its part.
Not all Notre Dame fans are doing their part
Have to agree with Storespook. Just win. Seems like tradition to me now. The appearance of playing up or down to the level of competition. In years past, ND would have come up short in some of these games. A win is a win. I’ll gladly take it. 9-1. I’ll gladly take that too. Screw the Big 12 & the Oklahoma schools. Soft schedules, no defenses, Arena ball, Etc. IF ND wins out, I’ll be both happy and proud for them. Hell, even 10-2. Of coarse much rather see 11-1. Thanks.
There was however an expert who predicted Ga Tech would blowout ND.
The REALITY is the only Playoff poll that counts is the FINAL one. All the chit chat leading up to that poll is MEANINGLESS. If ND loses to BC or Stanford the chit chat will turn to A. What bowl game do we go to and B. Who is the QB for 2016 and will Zaire or Winbush be likely to transfer out. I did not see many Irish fans or football “experts” predicting an 11-1 record for the Irish in August and after TEN season ending injuries to starters in hindsight this has to be a GREAT year in “hindsight” if we win ELEVEN games even if we DON’T make the Final Four.
What’s ugly about 2 sustained drives, a pick-six, a record 98 yard touchdown run by a true freshman, and a 28 to 7 win?
I will skip about ranting about ND beating BC big because you never know which ND team may show up. Therefore, just Beat BC, just score more fricking points than they score, end of story.
Go ND
I agree as well. What disappointed me the most with the Wake Forest game was how nonchalant the team seemed to be. I have resisted picking on the coaching to date but seriously, what did they do for the week prior to the game? I hope they take Boston College a little more seriously.
Go Irish!!!
I do agree with everything in the article. Against many 1 loss teams, ND will be given the benefit of the doubt because of their stronger SOS (Alabama would be an exception, and possibly Oklahoma, though I believe ND has the better schedule and we thrashed Texas).
I think the only scenario ND Fans should really fear are an undefeated Ohio State, an undefeated Oklahoma State, an undefeated Clemson and one loss Alabama. Under that situation, Notre Dame will get left out. I know this weekend I will be rooting for the Spartans to beat Ohio State. If not, then ND fans will be in a position of having to root for the Meatchickens, and there’s just something not right about that.
Re: the Big 12, will the committee leave out the Big 12 again. I think the road will be easier if the Big 10 champ has 1 loss.