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36 Days <r>36 days till the Irish start their return to prominence by kicking some SDS butt all over the field! <E>8)</E></r>
http://cfn.scout.com/2/753677.html The Notre Dame preview from CFN seems fairly positive but some of that has to do with the schedule and I agree there are many winnable games. It does say that the Michigan game is key to the season and that ND must win that game to enjoy real improvement. I think if ND wins that game an 8-4 season is a real possibility. Lose that game and even 6-6 is a decent possibility.
I say <r><QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> ********. Pure, high grade ********. One game does not make a season. Anything can happen in an individual game. If we're talking playoffs, then fine.. Its must win.<br/> <br/> Until we have playoffs in college football, these regular season games are anything but 'must win'</r>
Corey, I think they are saying that the rest of the schedule has some pitfalls and ND would get a little breathing room for improvement if they beat UM. Lose to UM and those pitfalls loom larger and the pressure could trip ND up more than they anticipate. I can see the argument.
I see it as well <t>that doesn't mean its valid.<br/> <br/> With a team as young as this, if they gain any real confidence or momentum at all... I can see them beating teams they weren't expected to while losing to teams they shouldn't be within 2 TD of.. I'm just saying, you can't say one game during the regular season carries that much weight before we've even had a single coin toss held.</t>
Momentum can be a big factor especially with a young team. No question beating UM would provide a nice momentum and confidence boost. There really aren't too many "unwinnable" games on the schedule. Only the USC game looks to be a real bear and a win could pop up anytime with rest of the schedule.
When you're coming off a 3-9 season, one game cannot make or break the following season. This is Charlie's team... end to end. Time to put up or shut up. I discount the "youth" factor. Charlie played a lot of people last year so they have more experience than you think. Plus most of them were very highlly regarded coming in. The schedule is favorable to the Irish. 8-4 is extremely doable. Then a bowl win. ANY bowl win. Only then are we on the road back.
I agree with the bowl win as being very important. The Irish need an offseason of feeling good about themselves to regain some of that lost swagger. When Meyer came in at UF and the Gators were able to beat Iowa in his first bowl game that was huge for the development of what turned out to be a championship team the following season.
of course <t>because in Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators, we too can hope to find redemption and hope... FFS<br/> <br/> George,<br/> <br/> Im with you on the youth topic. I guess my point is that experienced sophs with 7 to 10 games under their belt still aren't as experienced as juniors/seniors.<br/> <br/> I'm with you. I don't think anything less than 8-4 saves Chuckles. I want to see that progress that we saw under Holtz' team the year before the NC.. the record wasn't great, but we could all see that was a team on the verge of greatness. Given the debacle of last year, Charlie won't get that buffer zone of a 500 season being good enough while showing positive progress and improved discipline.</t>