ND <t>I'll bet if Rockne was here, he'd be all for the Jumbotron. He was a big innovator in his time and did a lot to get ND quality exposure. As for me, I'm mixed on it but guess I'm for it.</t>
I wish we still had grass, and don't understand why the grass which used to be a point of pride seemingly over the years got worse and worse. Some think it was deliberate that the University didn't try to maintain the grass field and let it go so that they would have justification for putting in artifical turf. I liked the expansion, more seats for guys like me who want to go to a game and it upped my chances. But criticisms ranged from the wrong brick being used to blocking the view of TD Jesus. Maybe valid, never bothered me though. I won't know what to think of the crossroads project till I see it, drawings look nice and maybe all the things that come with it will be worth it to the University. Jumbtrons, personally I can live without them. As implemented they usually bring a bunch of stuff I hate, like the kiss cam and stuff like that along with Taco Bell commercials. I like some of the stuff though, like ingame stats and replays. All across america stadiums are gearing up for the digital age, providing wifi access and better cell coverage. I'm all for that. It's not a deal breaker but I like it. Younger generations demand it. I sit here in Houston where nobody can find the political cajones to tear down the old Astrodome. It sits there like a rotting rusting hulk, serving no purpose other than to shelter rats. Yet everytime somebody says tear it down, somebody else screams..sob I met your mother there, or I went to my first game ever with my dad, and on and on. The County Commissioner is on record as not allowing the Astrodome to be torn down on his watch, it means too much to so many people. Oh yeah well when we had a referendum on that bud it was overwhelmingly voted to tear it down. Sometimes people irrationally hold on to the past, like Sox fans and that barn called Fenway L)
I don't mind the video screens. Quite frankly it would be nice to view replays etc. during those countless, endless TV time outs. I thought that the stadium expansion was warranted. With thousands of new alums every June, the seating was just inadequate. I prefer the upper deck. It a far better view of the game than the low seats and there's more room for my big....you know. I like the way they packaged the new expansion. They play up the classrooms and other additions. It's a sneaky way of adding boxes and screens.
ND built a tradition, not just of winning, but of innovation. We've not always been conventional, but when we're successful we're doing our own thing and not chasing the fad. I think we got stuck in that 'get off my lawn' mentality of an elderly program that had success but forgot how they got there. We seem to finally be turning the corner in the right direction. We can not overlook or discount any further the reality that we are in an arms race regarding facilities with some states spending mind boggling amounts of money on football while their actual state education system suffers. As for the game, we should kick their ass. If Schmidt gives us what he did last year while remaining healthy, we can now use Morgan with a year under his belt in creative ways defensively. We did that a bit against LSU and they had no answer for him. The best player on the field in probably every game we played last year is our Will, Jaylon Smith. Onwalu gives us a nice hybrid of athletic physicality at Sam We have 2 potentially shut down CBs. We have a whole army of Strong Safeties who can play both run and pass. Half of them hit like bullets. We have a Free Safety who should probably face criminal charges after most games and he can run with anyone. Our OL is big and physical, our backs are legit. Our backup RB ran away from LSU's defense like they were jogging. Our QB runs physical and throws a real good ball. The only thing I thought he needed to work on is touch. That comes with experience. I'd stack our WRs up with anyone in the country. ****, we might even have a return game this year. If the freshman kicker doesn't **** his pants, we may make a decent run this year. To hell with Texas, let's do this!
ND <t>Hell, Corey's got me fired up too. <br/> <br/> I'll have a double shot of what he's having myself!!<br/> <br/> Go Irish!</t>
Great win, Zaire looked really sharp and so did the running game. Both freshman rbs looked good. Still to early on the defense, Texas offense is terrible.
Some nice takeaways from our first game. I'll let the resident analysts pick it up from here. Personally, I found my bias toward Doug Flutie melt away during the game. I came to the realization that I was so filled with angst during last year's late season meltdown that I read more into his critical comments than I should have. I can be that way when I'm edgy. I liked his in-game analysis tonight. Apparently, winning makes me a more pleasant person. :wink: Not too early to say it's good. Whether it's better than good will be revealed as the season moves on. Texas is not Wofford or Maine or McNeese State. We beat a major conference program that's down but much more competitive than this week's opponents of several ranked teams.
If healthy, we are a VERY good team. Any losses we endure while at full strength is strictly on the staff for either lack of motivation or strategy. This team is the best team we've had since Holtz chewed the grass along the sideline.
1. Malik Zaire- He was 19/22, for 313 yards and 3 TD passes. No turnovers. In fact, he has NEVER made a turnover in his career and he's now 2-0 as a starter against LSU and Texas. Except for pitching a perfect game or winning the Noble Peace Prize he hasn't done much. 2. Oline- Move over Alabama and Ohio State. I've never seen a group quite like this. Several times they were ALL 20 yards downfield pushing a pile to help a runner who wouldn't go down. On scale of 1-10, these guys are a Wowza! 3. WRs- Texas had no answer for these guys. The DBs kept coming up to smash into the quick out throws. You can't keep doing that without getting torched. All the WRs have to do is run a sluggo......slant and go pattern, and the WR is behind everybody. It was only a matter of time. 4. Irish DL was MUCH faster than the Lhorns Oline.Texas QBs will be seeing those guys in their sleep. 5. My God it's nice to have Joe Schmidt back at middle linebacker. He and Jaylon seemed to be everywhere... 6. DBs blew only one coverage all night and that was when they were caught creeping up to close. The safeties were really hitting out there... 7. Flutie- He's the new Pat Haden. A polite round of applause and stare at him on his way out. 8. Freshmen- Two TDs for Josh Adams. http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090615aaa.html http://ndnation.com/archives/5355
I had the Irish point total spot on. I underestimated the dominance of the... DL: Strong and fast. Sheldon Day toook their stud freshman #55 to sschool all night. Tillery has incredible quickness for 6'7' 315". Okwara and Onwalu off the edges collapsed the pocket all night. OL: Not much to add to JO'Co. They appear close knit and definitely have attitude. Watch #56 Quentin Nelson this year. They spent the whole month of August pulling him off of guys in practice. He's an animal. RB: Folston may have an ACL. If a sprain, 4-6 weeks. If a tear, see you next year. Procise and Adams look very quick and elusive. I would like to see more quick hitters straigt ahead v.the sweeps but hey... QB: Nothing I could say could make Zaire look any better WR: I don't think there could possibly be a better collection anywhere. And we still have not seen half of them. TE: Too soon to tell. Four of them played throughout. K: Newsome looks average on kickoffs. I think he is a better punter. Joon has great mechanics and should develop into a very good kicker. LB: They are three deep across. Fast and hard hitting. Jaylon Smith is a big cut above. DB: Big hitting bunch. A little concerned about deep middle coverage but its the first game and Texas has a poor QB. Coaching: Kelly was solid all night. He has assembled quite a staff. If were the AD, I would be asking Hiestand what it would take to sign a long term extension now.
Zaire certainly had a great night and what a way to open the season! Congratulations. Charlie Strong has some real problems with that Texas offense.
Folston is done for the year. Feel really bad for the kid, this was going to be his year, his time, he was ready. I think we'll be ok with C.J. and Josh Adams, Dexter Williams will get to play and he's a good looking young back. I guess Justin Brent and Amir Carlisle can also be in the mix, although I'd rather not see Carlisle at RB I like him and Hunter in the slot. As far as the game. I didn't expect to beat Texas that bad, the Longhorns looked terrible, Tyrone Swoopes was who he was last year, the rumors of him being much improved in Fall camp were false or based on him playing against the Texas defense. Malik Jefferson the true freshman MLB for Texas was a stud, that kid can play. The rest not so much. Zaire, what's not to like he threw the ball really well and accurately. But I have to keep in mind that the Texas db's were terrible. So maybe last night was not an indication that he's the next coming of Joe Montana. But I do think he's going to be really good. We ran the ball well, even without Folston, so not much to complain about there either. There were a few gafts and we got nailed a couple of times behind the line, but over all the OL and RB's were really good. Again Texas defense was terrible...but maybe they were terrible because we're good don't know...we'll see in Oct. ND defense, looked very good but then again I'm going to wait. Swoopes was so inept that it's hard to tell. If we go on the road and play well and then come home and do well vs Ga.Tech I'll start being a believer. Right now I'm happy for the win and that it was decisive. I look forward to going to UVA, and seeing what improvements happen. Lou always said the biggest improvements usually happen between the 1st and 2nd game. Texas on the other hand is in a bad spot and so is Charlie Strong. If the team goes out and beats Rice handily things will simmer down a lttle and a win over CAL will get some hopes back up. Right now though it's a little more than bleak.