Blogpoll Roundtable: Chaos Edition

This weeks Blogpoll Roundtable is brought to us by Big Red Network.

1. Of the four presumed national title contenders to go down this past week--USC, Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin--which team has the best chance to get back in the race by the end of the year?

It has to be USC. The mainstream media is absolutely in love with Pete Carroll and his group of inmates. USC is #9 in the polls and has less ground to make up than the others listed. Also, USC has had 2 bye weeks already and has only played 3 games. If they march through their remaining 9 opponents they should be sitting at #2 or even #1. The fact that the PAC-10 has no championship game helps USC.

2. But what does this mean for Ohio State? Are they back in?

I think the voters in the polls know what they are doing. So, no- I don't think that they are back in it just yet. The voter would love to keep OSU out of the race, but they may have no choice if other top 10 teams keep slipping up. OSU isn't out of it, but they still have a slippery slope to climb.

3. Did the week that was open the door for any of the undefeateds out of some of the non-BCS conferences like the Mountain West or the Big East? (Yup, that's a cheap shot. Thanks, Virginia Tech for not allowing me to make it about the ACC.)

I think we may be jumping the gun a little early here. BYU is ranked #7 in the Coaches poll, but we will have still have to see how the computers shake that ranking up when the BCS rankings come out. There will definitely be a BCS "buster" this year, but they may not be allowed to play for the big prize just yet. That is a shame too. I would put the MWC from top to bottom, up against the PAC-10, The Big East, and the ACC. That is a very powerful conference that will do very well in the bowl season.

Irish Blogger Gathering: Rivalry Edition

Welcome to the first edition of The Irish Blogger Gathering. What we as Irish bloggers are trying to do, is just have a little fun. Please visit the links to the answers by other bloggers in the comment thread below.

If you are a Notre Dame blogger (BGS, HLS, Rakes- ahem, ahem) and wish to join the Gathering, please e-mail me at subwaydomer26@gmail.com and I will fill you in on the details. Also, feel free to answer the questions for this weeks gathering and post your link as well.

This week Notre Dame faces another "rival" in Stanford. Stanford is not what most fans would consider as a rivalry, but there is a trophy that goes along with this game. So lets jump in to a discussion about rivalries.

Here we go...

1. This is Notre Dame. Notre Dame is the game circled on just about every opposing teams schedule. They hate us and want to destroy us. So, it is safe to say that if ND plays a team every year, that game will become a big game for ND and an even bigger game for the opponent. So, pick any team that ND does not currently play and make that team a rival and create a rivalry trophy to go along with your rival of choice.

Penn State. This is kind of an easy one for me. Throughout the last 30 years, whenever ND has played PSU, this game was one of the biggest slated games of the week if not the year. The proximity of the two schools and the fact that both schools recruit a lot of the same players makes this game a great regional choice. I also believe that both schools will continue to play good football and if they would play each other every year, this could be a top 10 matchup in a lot of those years. And I hate Zombie Nation.

The trophy? What else but a huge snow globe with a Leprechaun and a Nittany Lion locked in mortal combat with each other inside of the globe. It can sit on a large oak base with the winner for each year getting an emblem to put on it. The emblems can be a cloverleaf and a paw print or if PSU wishes, a pair of glasses.

This game is the reason why...

2. What current rival of ND (Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Boston College, Stanford, Southern California- all trophy games) would you take off of the schedule and never play again?

Stanford. I have absolutely no hate towards this team and I believe that is a key ingredient in any rivalry game. There are reasons for this game. Stanford alum Charles Schwab donated the money for O'Neil Hall at ND and the school likes to end up on the west coast to end the season for recruiting reasons. And... I don't care. Stanford will never be a very good team for more than a year or two span. I think Harbaugh is doing a great job at Stanford and is recruiting top talent, but he will be gone and the next Willingham will step in and take over. Dump the trees.

3. What entertainment rival (whether it be TV, movies, or celebrity) would you compare to ND and one of its current rivals?

Notre Dame VS. Southern Cal = Victor Newman VS. Jack Abbot. These rivals are fierce and they are out to utterly destroy one another. Like Victor and Jack, ND and USC take turns in dishing out blow after blow for years at a time until it looks like one of the schools is dead and the other is standing victorious for centuries to come. But, as in all soap operas, the action continues and the players keep plotting to destroy one another while sleeping with the others lovers (recruiting).

"I AM Notre Dame. Don't you forget that."

4. List your top 5 historical college football rivalries. After that, list your top 5 college football rivalries as of 2008.

Historical

1. Ohio State/Michigan
2. Notre Dame/USC
3. Army/Navy
4. Alabama/Auburn
5. Texas/Oklahoma

2008

1. Texas/Oklahoma
2. Florida/Georgia
3. Pitt/West Virginia
4. Ohio state/Michigan
5. Oregon/Oregon State

5. There are a lot of rivalry games out there. What is a great rivalry game that may not be as well known as the ones in your top 5 and explain why it so fantastic.

Minnesota VS. Wisconsin. Starting next year when the Gophers get their new stadium, this could be a bad weather game every year. That's sweet. Snow, cold, and oh yeah... a fucking AXE for a trophy. That's badass. A trophy that you could actually go to prison for, if you threw it at someone. In 2003 (I think) the Minnesota kicker kicked a game winning FG as the clock expired and ran over to the Badger bench and took the trophy from them. He was from Australia. If a game can bring out that kind of passion in an Aussie living in Minnesota, it has my vote.

Wisconsin did take it back...

Please post links to responses in comments section below.

I Want To Make Sure Everyone Sees This...

After the South Bend SS took down a college house party and in turn arrested 2 Irish football players amongst 41 others, people were showing their outrage. It gets worse.

Rock's House has a very informative post along with some very insightful comments. They also have a follow up post as well.

Her Loyal Sons is pissed off and letting the University know about it.

Some how and some way, make your opposition to these police state tactics known to anyone that will listen and more points if you write a letter to the University itself.

This has to stop.

It's A Celebration Bitches

Notre Dame players after the victory over Purdue.

The Purdue Hangover... All Bombed Out

CRANK ME UP! Notre Dame found some running plays that actually work and for a couple of quarters, the Fighting Irish looked like the team we all hoped they would be in 2008.

Let's get BOMBED!!!

Jimmy Clausen knows what he his doing. Clausen looked the part of big time college quarterback Saturday. Jimmy was 20-35 for 275 yards and 3 TD's. Great stats. The biggest stat of them all is the donut. 0 interceptions and 0 fumbles for Jimmy. He had a few passes that could have been picked off, but they weren't and for the most part he threw balls that only his targets were going to catch. The team leaned on him to make some big throws early, and he was able to come through for his teammates and ND Nation. Jimmy is no Brady Quinn or Joe Montana. He doesn't have the "Golden Boy" image and quite frankly, he will be a whipping boy for the media until he leaves Notre Dame (and probably beyond). But he is going to be a very good QB and is developing faster than Brady Quinn did as a sophomore. Oh, that's right! Jimmy is still a SOPHOMORE! That's means, watch out bitches, Clausen is only going to get better and that is truly saying something after a very good performance.

Allen benefits from rethinking. It was kind of subtle and may have gone unnoticed. No, I'm not talking about Allen's 134 yards on 17 carries (7.9 APC) and a touchdown. That will get MAJOR notice. The thing I'm talking about, is something that we have all seen before, but not since 2006. It was the style of running plays that we ran. The delays that Darius Walker ran that worked so well in 2005 and 2006 were more prevalent on Saturday. The difference, is that instead of Walker it was Armando Allen weaving and breaking tackles for big gains. Weis has been trying to run these power gut slams and leads, but we are not that team. What ND did Saturday in going back to what has worked in the short history of Weis's regime, using the pass to set up the run and using delays and draws, pumped new life into an electric player in Armando Allen. Notre Dame is just more finesse on offense. Embrace it. And your closing thought on this topic: Armando Allen had 248 all purpose yards and 1 TD, he is starting to break out and break tackles while breaking opposing fans hearts... good.

Robert Blanton is a football player. I remember reading something on a recruiting site last year about Blanton. They tried describing him as an intense, cocky/confident, playmaker without all of the flash of other top DB's. I tried to wrap my head around just what in the hell this meant and then when I saw game tape of him and now after the 4th game into his freshman year I get it. Robert Blanton is a football player. He doesn't wear gloves or tape and doesn't have dreads or a Pat Kuntz mullet. He is a throwback. He plays hard every play and plays with a confidence that I would rather label cocky. Blanton's 47 yard INT return for TD sparked the Fighting Irish faithful and the team itself to get off their ass and get ready for the fight. I like that. I like football players. Robert Blanton is a football player, and one ND will have for quite some time making plays. The future is bright, but it is also now.

The youth movement is officially creating more and more momentum. Once again, the freshman and sophomore classes dominated the game for Notre Dame. Look at this list of big playmakers from these two classes...

• Jimmy Clausen 275 yards 3 TD
• Armando Allen 248 A.P. yards 1 TD
• Robert Blanton 1 INT 1 pass breakup 1 TD
• Mike Floyd 6 catches for 100 yards
• Kyle Rudolph 3 catches for 32 yards 1 TD
• Brian Smith is the heart and soul of the defense.
• Golden Tate 5 catches for 64 yards and 1 TD
• Brandon Walker 5/5 E.P. and a 41 yard FG (I'm feeling generous)

There are a lot more names I could mention as well. We are winning football games while riding the backs of these young guns. I love the future of Fighting Irish football. They have scored all of Notre Dame's 101 points this year with the exception of 6 of them.

Those 6 points belong to David Grimes. Grimes caught a 30 yard TD pass against an all out blitz on Jimmy Clausen. This TD was important for a couple of reasons: First, it kind of sealed the deal and put the Irish up 2 TD's against a Purdue offense that was having trouble getting in the endzone in the 2nd half. Second, it rewarded a player/captain that gets overshadowed by the talented younger players around him. Grimes will not lead ND in any receiving category this year, but because of his willingness to share and help develop the younger guys, Grimes is proving why he is a captain. BTW- Grimes will make a couple of huge plays this year in key moments- give him mad props.

Speaking of props... Golden Tate needs acting lessons. One of the big receptions Saturday, almost wasn't. Tate caught a 38 yard jump ball that was called incomplete and then overturned after review. Tate was unfazed when the official called it incomplete and didn't make any attempt to plead his case. He was quoted...

"I knew I had it in my hands and I knew it was a legitimate catch. Then I hit
the ground and I was thinking I had dropped the ball and it was an incompletion.
I was kind of upset that it got out of my hands."

I'm the coach! I'm the coach! Pat Kuntz pissed Corwin Brown off so bad that Brown went off into a rage and was seen on NBC yelling at the player with wild and crazy eyes. Good. It is speculated that Kuntz was giving Mo Richardson the business after a play and Brown took up for the Junior. Kuntz should be a leader, but Brown putting the player in his place and letting him know that he will handle it, should encourage Irish fans that he is a very capable and passionate coach. Kuntz should just be glad that Tenuta is up in the press box.

Brock Spack is owned. Even after last years loss to Purdue, ND showed that it could put up points against the Purdue defensive coordinator. This guy is OWNED by Weis and it is a little much for Boiler fans to handle. This is probably the last year Spack is employed, but don't cry for him. he has a bright future in the Arena Football League.

The last ride of Tiller? When interviewed by NBC about his impending retirement, Tiller was asked what a perfect day of retirement was. He then went into some dribble that almost put me to sleep. Then after the game, Tiller was asked if he was glad that this would be his last game at ND stadium. He replied:

"No, Coach Weis invited me to come back as a guest coach next year, so I'll
probably be here."

I just hope that he keeps Spack at home.

Mike Anello continues his mission to conquer the world... or some third world country. Dictator Mike made another great tackle on special teams and has Notre Dame ranked #1 in kickoff return yardage defense. As long as this stat stays close all season, Notre Dame will play very well. Long fields help stop points. Period.

Don't call me Rudy, bitch.

Blogpoll Draft Week 5

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Alabama	3
2	Oklahoma	--
3	Missouri	2
4	Penn State	10
5	Brigham Young	2
6	LSU	2
7	Texas	3
8	Texas Tech	3
9	Vanderbilt	3
10	South Florida	8
11	Utah	5
12	Southern Cal	11
13	Ohio State	2
14	Georgia	11
15	Florida	9
16	Oklahoma State	3
17	Boise State	--
18	Auburn	2
19	Connecticut	7
20	Kansas	6
21	Michigan State	5
22	Ball State	1
23	Maryland	3
24	Oregon	2
25	Northwestern	1

Dropped Out: Wisconsin (#9), Wake Forest (#13), TCU (#22), East Carolina (#23), Colorado (#24), Clemson (#25).

Bagpipe Monday... Redemption

Nothing feels sweeter than the redemption of faith. Whether it be in your own faith of God, your family, or in something that you just plain love. On Saturday, Notre Dame restored faith in thousands of fans that were led astray by false hopes and false prophets.

The rebuilding of a program can be a long and hard process and it can be a little more than most Irish fans can handle at times. Keep the faith, as improvement and enthusiasm are overflowing in this team.

The Shillelagh is back home, and in celebration, here is a double dip of pipes:

Eat It!!!

From McStug at Irish Illustrated.

The Greatest Team In The History Of The World Loses... Again

Despite reports to the contrary, USC is just another football team. Just another Trojan that got choked out by a beaver. Happens in L.A. all the time.
Orsen has more at EDSBS. Headlines! Headlines! Read all about it! The Poodle shits himself!

Give Him A Different Number

This was an interesting quote from Charlie Weis at his press conference...

“I’ve had a whole entourage of guys wanting to be the next two-way player, Paddy
Mullen, Pat Kuntz, John Ryan, Brian Smith. There’s a lot of guys that want to be
that guy.”

Brian Smith is the most intriguing name in the bunch. As completely jacked up as he is during the game, I would love to see him line up at fullback and smoke a Boiler defender. I realize that the chances of him changing his number to #2 for this game and playing FB are slim to none, but wouldn't you headbutt your mom if he did?

BTW- He has the genes to do it. His father played FB for the Fighting Irish.

Chris Smith running against Boston College in the Liberty Bowl in 1983.

Blogpoll Top 25 Week 4

1 Southern Cal (65)
2 Oklahoma (3)
3 Florida (3)
4 Georgia (1)
5 LSU (2)
6 Missouri
7 Texas
8 Alabama (2)
9 Penn State
10 Wisconsin
11 Brigham Young
12 Texas Tech
13 South Florida
14 Wake Forest
15 Ohio State
16 Utah
17 Auburn
18 Kansas
19 Vanderbilt
20 Boise State
21 TCU
22 Oklahoma State
23 Clemson
24 Illinois
25 East Carolina


Also Receiving Votes: Colorado(1.9), Nebraska(1.8), Fresno State(1.5), Oregon(1.5), Connecticut(1.3), Virginia Tech(1.3), Kentucky(0.6), Ball State(0.5), Tulsa(0.4), Georgia Tech(0.4), Michigan State(0.4), Miami (Florida)(0.3), California(0.2), Northwestern(0.2), Minnesota(0.2), UNLV(0.1),

Crank Me Up!

I found this picture at The 4 Horseman Lounge on Irish Illustrated by a poster named Bucholtz31. It is the best depiction of what the "Crank Me Up" theme is all about this year- electric.

Think you have a better one? Send it to me at subwaydomer26@gmail.com and I'll post it here at Subway Domer.

A Question For All of You...

Given Notre Dame's lack of depth at TE as of 9/24/08, would you like to see Weis throw #80 on a lineman that isn't starting? For example: Dever, Duncan, Mullen...

Since Kyle Rudolph has shown no real ability to block well as a freshman and they would like to red-shirt Fauria, would it make sense to do this? ND has been keeping a TE in on max protect during passing downs anyways, and I'm sure a lineman would be better suited to run block.

I have Paddy Mullen as a wild-card. He was a TE in HS and would be available.

I don't know, just wondering. What do you think?

Purdue. September 27, 2008

Because Purdue likes to keep with their theme of gay trains, this weeks Anti-Preview is going in a different direction than the previous three. The non-gay direction.

Purdue. The Boilermakers come up to South Bend with a very deceptive 2-1 record. Why so deceptive? Well, I'm not sure how good or bad they really are. They blowout their 1-AA cupcake, they lose a tough game to yet another ranked opponent (Oregon) in overtime, and they escape against Central Michigan because of one juke. By all of those indications I would say that they look pretty good. However, Curtis Painter (QB) is not looking that great. Painter has only 3 TD passes and 3 INT's and has been sacked 6 times. He has had help with Kory Sheets running the ball, but everytime Purdue gives ND trouble it is because the Boilers throw the ball around. Purdue may find it difficult to toss the pig around with ease this time as the Irish have developed their defense into a decent pass stopping unit. Joe Tiller is Wilford Brimley.

What should I be drinking? A boilermaker, right? Wrong fucko. We are the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and they are a school full of future vets and farmers. It's all Irish this week and the drink is none other than the monster killer itself... an Irish Carbomb. The recipe is easy enough: 3/4 pint of Guinness, 3/4 shot of Jameson Whiskey, 1/4 shot of Bailey's Irish Cream. Drop the bomb! Caution is advised while drinking these and I would also recommend an 11 bomb limit unless you plan on shitting yourself in front of your entire family. Another tip: If you are at a bar, order the pint of Guinness and the shot of Jamesons & Bailey's together (less time). Sip your stout for a few minutes, then drop the shot- BOMBS AWAY!!! Make sure you wink and nod at the first girl you see. Works everytime.

What should I be eating? Forget corned beef and cabbage. The true Irish dish had bacon instead of corned beef because of the availability of pork to the common people. Instead, try a stew- Molly Malone Stew. And if you are in South Bend, go check out Fiddler's Hearth Public House for traditional Irish dishes and music. You can get the stew there or you can try their Bangers and Mash. Or put plan "C" in effect and keep drowning in the car bombs.

What should I be wearing? The weather forecast is calling for a gorgeous sunny day in the Bend. So nice in fact, that kilts should be worn. Be a real man and step up to the challenge of setting your balls free from constriction. Be sure to accessorize with a cock knocker and solid footwear. A walking stick is optional. A shillelagh is not- have one for the ass whooping you want to unleash.

What freshman will make the biggest impact (besides Floyd) ? Robert Blanton. Blanton has an extreme amount of confidence that borders along cockiness. Exactly what you need as a cover corner. Blanton's role as a freshman was increased after the departure of starter Darrin Walls. Blanton did not make an appearance against San Diego State, but he has been on the field during key passing downs since the first quarter of the Michigan game. The reports out of fall camp were that Robert was a skilled cover man and was capable of making big plays early in his career. I think he will against Purdue. They throw the ball enough to give the frosh all the chances he will need. The Irish need him, and I think he comes through.

What offensive player needs to step it up? Armando Allen. Since arriving in South Bend, Allen has been hailed as a game breaker and someone who could take it to the house anytime he touches the ball. This has been far from the truth during his first year and a quarter at Notre Dame. What I've noticed is that his vision is not as good as other backs in the country with the same or less speed. Sure, we can blame the offensive line as much as we want, but Allen has to make the right cuts on the plays designed for him. Example: During the first quarter against MSU, ND ran a stretch run to the left and Allen cut inside when if he took it outside it is likely he scores. That has been his biggest problem, he almost always cuts in instead of using his speed and bouncing out. MSU brought the house against ND, and everyone knows that to help slow the rush down you have to run screens and draws effectively. Allen is the guy who needs to be more like Darius Walker and run smarter, and then use his speed for the run to daylight.

What defensive player needs to step it up? Gary Gray. I would have said Terrail Lambert, but after the amount of times I have seen him get burned this year alone, the fifth year senior is more of a liability right now than a weapon. Gray has been touted by most insiders as the BEST cover corner on the team. (That was after the spring game and included Walls). McNeil is more than holding his own on his side, but ND needs two guys on the island to lockdown Boiler targets. We need Gray to play a bigger role and we should see one this week. I am very confident in our defensive backfield when we go to a nickel package, which we should see against Purdue. Mark it down... Gray with 2 picks.

Is there a rivalry trophy at stake? As a matter of fact, yes. (I wouldn't have asked otherwise) Here is an excerpt from an old Subway Domer post on all of ND's rivalry trophy games... the shillelagh theme we next look at the Purdue game. 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 sit upon.

Who's gonna win? The Fighting Irish played like dog shit against a tough opponent last week in Michigan State and they were only down 13-7 with 7 minutes, or so, left in the game. How did they lose? By turning the ball over twice in scoring range and once deep in their own territory, and missing two field goals. I think ND makes less mistakes this week, although I 'm not sure about the FG unit, and really takes it to the Boilers at ND Stadium- Irish 38-20. A bold prediction no doubt, but one that can become reality if ND wins the turnover game and sticks to what it does best... spread it out and throw the god damn ball

(Irish Illustrated's McStug)

Blogpoll Ballot Week 4

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Southern Cal	--
2	Oklahoma	--
3	Georgia	--
4	Alabama	6
5	Missouri	--
6	Florida	2
7	Brigham Young	--
8	LSU	--
9	Wisconsin	3
10	Texas	4
11	Texas Tech	4
12	Vanderbilt	14
13	Wake Forest	4
14	Penn State	3
15	Ohio State	3
16	Utah	3
17	Boise State	9
18	South Florida	--
19	Oklahoma State	7
20	Auburn	4
21	Ball State	2
22	TCU	4
23	East Carolina	12
24	Colorado	2
25	Clemson	1

Dropped Out: Oregon (#13), Florida State (#20), Notre Dame (#21), Illinois (#22), West Virginia (#24), Michigan State (#25).