OK moving along. MSU lost in a wild finish to Central Michigan. I guess we could take that as a good sign, but if my memory is correct there is no correlation between how MSU plays the week before ND and how they play vs ND. I remember one year that they got whupped by Oregon 55-0 or something and yet they came back and beat us the next week. Mich State on offense is more conventional so maybe Tenuata's defense will work better than it did on the spread. MSU has a new QB and some new RB's, the new QB looked good in the opener, obviously not good enough vs Central. The little I saw of that game, the MSU RB looked powerfull and had speed so while he's new, he's a good player. I would expect any defense coached by Dantonio to be a tough hard nosed unit. They do have some outstanding players on defense, so I expect we'll have tough fight on our hands, esp if Armando and Floyd are not 100%. Terry
Should be another great college game. Both teams will be licking thier wounds and striving to improve with a win. MSU will play smash mouth football. Be prepared! Don
I think (hope) that the more conventional offense will provide Tenuta's defense with more stable targets to attack. I had a feeling that one of the 2 spread options we started the year with would burn us. I'm glad it was just one... however, it really blows that it was Michigan. The thing we lack is that monster, physical Dline that can go toe to toe with the huge OL of MSU. We're going to have to get into the backfield and disrupt what they want to do. Look for both teams to screen a lot in this game.
Very interesting game here....both teams coming off of a bad beat. Both with higher expectations. Should be a good one....as TOK suggested, I would expect D'Antonio to have his kids ready to play a very physical football game. Charlie will need to do the same....I, for one, am looking forward to this matchup. Good luck to the Irish, but.....Go Sparty!
Hey Corey, as the inevitable talk of whether or not Weis should be retained after this year ratched up following the UM loss, I am seeing people actually talking about Tommy Tubberville as a candidate. What do you think of ole Tommy Tubesteak at ND? It seems to me he's a heck of a Defensive coach and he had some very good teams at Auburn but he is a disaster when it comes to the offensive side of the ball. So we'd probably have a great defense but we'd be screwed on offense...right?
ND <t>I'm afraid to even look over on the ND boards to see what's being said over there and I refuse to contribute to any of it accept here on skybox cause I don't like knowing potential recruits are looking at negative comments by fans. <br/> <br/> Anyway, Tubberville?...no way. And I also don't want to hear any of this talk about Gruden again!!! No way is he a college coach!! IF and that's a BIG if, there is a coaching change I'd probably vote for B. Kelly.</t>
we already hired Bob Davie once, why hire a Bob Davie clone that doesn't have any character or integrity? I'm all about respecting differing opinions. That being said, any person who makes that recommendation in my presence will get called a 'dumb mother******' It took even the most die hard of Tubesteak loyalists down on the Plains to realize that the man is just cancer. He knows football but he's poison. He's a gossip, a liar and a fraud...and yes, I realize some may take that as hyperbole but that's just their right to be wrong. He is a good defensive coach, but we already have 2 better defensive coaches on staff.
I just read in the South Bend Tribune, that the Fighting Irish, have not won at home against MSU since 1993? That really surprised me. Maybe this is the year! Don
Since Lou left Mich State has had the edge on us, while I want to blame it on the fact we always play them right after UM and thus are ripe for an emotional let down...but fact is during Lou's years that was true as well and I don't think Lou ever lost to them. But the 6 game streak at ND stadium is particularily galling. We need the win on Sat for lots of reasons, stopping the streak is just one of them. Terry
ND/msu <r>Terry,<br/> <br/> I lost all my optimism last sat. We'll be lucky to win this one <E</E></r>
Here's something to cheer you up, it's being reported that Chris Martin is talking to USC now. :cry: At one time he was such a solid ND commit that he wasn't invited to USC camps because they didn't want him recruiting players for ND. As far as MSU game, I'm optomistic, I've read some good things that tell me the players have put the UM game behind them, and that we'll be ready for MSU. Our offense is inspite of the loss still very good, the question is will our defense play to the level that we expected them to play before the season started. We'll see. Terry
Tim, Truer words were never spoken. There are a few million Tennessee fans that have that same feeling. :?
Like I wrote earlier games like Sat. have larger remifications that just on the record. The irionic part is that what happend sat. will only make SC stronger so that they can continue to beat up Big Ten teams.
The kid will come or he won't. We'll win, or we won't. It's how you handle yourselves during these times that is your true measure. We'll find out the measure of Charlie and this team Saturday. I don't totally buy into the 'must win' thing.. at some point in time that kicks in but the fact remains that he could drop this game and then run the table... you'd all be happy with a 10-2 year, even with losses to M and MSU. (because it would have come with a win over USC and a bowl game). I'm just sayin... there's room. There isn't a lot of room, but there's room.
sure thing Gipper.....and like they will continue to struggle with everyone else. Well done..... :roll:
Irish 37, Michigan State 17. Just remember, this pick is from someone who is near the bottom in the fantasy contest. PJ in Jersey GO IRISH