I wonder if AJ can do this? <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GZiuzbRj5_I&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GZiuzbRj5_I&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Just when things look really good for the ND icers they ran into Bemidiji St. Ouch! It wasn't even close.
Shocking both ND and Mich get beat badly in their first round games, both were seeded #1 and both expected to be in the Frozen 4.
I know every team in America is looking good this spring, it's the nature of the game. But I do like what I'm reading about our new coaches on the OL and DL. Both seem to be very intense and the players seem to be reacting well to both of these guys. I'm also liking what I'm reading about Kyle Rudolph. Last year he was good at catching the ball but lacked some bulk and strength to function optimally as a blocker at TE. That apparently is no longer the case. He's put on weight and gained strength, he hasn't lost any speed and he's catching the ball even better than he did last year. This should have been Mike Ragones year to shine, and he may yet, but from what I'm reading about Rudolph leads me to believe that barring injury Ragone will be #2 and not really close to #1 at TE. In fact he'll have to fight off Rudolphs classmate Fauria for playing time. It seems like Armando Allen is solid as the #1 TB, with Hughes being the 'big back". I don't know where Jonas Gray will fit, he gets high praise for a lot of stuff but gets nicked when it comes to consistent effort. I don't think Aldridge is going to fit much at TB, he'll be a FB.
Terry, Yeah, you definitely get the feeling that things are falling into place and all the parts are there including the new coaches to be successful now. It's CW's chance to put it all together and have a great year or not. It will take 10 wins and a BCS bowl I'm afraid in order for CW to stay and I really hope that happens. CW has plenty of playmakers all over the field and I just don't see any excuses for less than 10 wins. Rudolph should shine at TE and Allen should have a great season at RB. JC should have plenty of time behind a good OL to show his stuff and I'm positive the defense is ready to step up another notch this year. 8)
I'm starting to really get excited about Rudolph. Here's Busco21's comment from a Irish Eyes premiumn article.
You just wonder if Wil Yeatman looked at KR and decided that trying to stick it out at ND wasn't best for playing time. Hey, it's a possibility. :idea:
I agree Sid, it was time for him to move on to a fresh new place. His troubles were self inflicted for sure, driving a golf cart drunk on a sidewalk is nobody's fault but his and then when granted probation he gets caught drinking (not drunk) underage. Many wanted to blame ND for his plight, and while there is no doubt that his punishment would have been less harsh at many if not all the other schools in the NCAA, still in the end he was at the core of the problem. Good luck to him. Terry
Check this little blurb from an ESPN article by Ivan Maisel.. I didn't realize that he had been offered a position by our good friend UM until I read this. If you read the article, it appears that Alford is trying to improve on pass protection with the RBs, something that shouild have been addressed long before as we have talked about here on the board many times. LINK: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=4032629
LOl.....this will cause Corey to flip out!! Tommy Tubesteak in Blue and Gold! Ivan Maisel on ND 2009 It's a good story you should read it.
Nice article. I read an article in my daily Sporting News email publication that had the same tone......optimistic that we will be greatly improved over the past two years. I don't know, but it's nice to read these things from "unbiased" reporters. I'm going to try to get to the spring game.
Sid, I was a little surprised that Ivan Maisel wrote the article in that when I have heard him in the past he hasn't been all that positive toward ND and Charlie Weis. 8)
Tim, Is it possible that the media thinks ND may be headed back toward the upper tier of college football? It will be interesting to see what other writers say over the next few months.
Terry, Jack O'Brien emailed me some reports right after Tubesteak visited. This isn't a shock to me. I believe Tommy T, Mark Richt and Charlie went on that tour of the men and women serving overseas and formed a friendship. Tommy T's ability to coach defensive football simply cannot be questioned. He's still an A-hole and I really never thought much of him as a HC, but he knows his defense. Sid, I think that any time people who have been taking bites out of you for a period of time begin to circle around you in support, it's time to look for the rope and tree. There's no secret that Charlie needs to win and win big this year. They are setting the bar high this year so there will be no 'moral victories' shy of 10 or 11 wins.