This year all the excuse making will end for Notre Dame football.
The Fighting Irish returns a ton of experience from last year's team.
Depending on which depth chart a person goes by, they will return at least nine starters on offense and seven on defense.
The big question is whether or not this experience will result in more success on the field. Though last year's team took a step forward, the season did not live up to the tradition of the program. When I think of Notre Dame football, I don't think about trips to the Hawaii Bowl and 7-6 records. However, after the debacle of 2007, any improvement must have looked good to fans.
Will Jimmy Clausen blossom into a first-rate quarterback? It remains to be seen. When I watch him, he reminds me a lot of his brother Casey who played at Tennessee. Casey was a solid but underrated quarterback, playing in the tough SEC. However, I don't see Notre Dame fans being satisfied with Clausen becoming just a solid quarterback.
Head Coach Charlie Weis is facing a turning point. All he has proven during his tenure is that he was able to win with Tyrone Willingham's players. With Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer openly saying that Notre Dame is his dream job, Weis has to win this year. Meyer is the best head coach of this decade, if not this era. When somebody of his caliber says that, it gets noticed.
So, what will Charlie Weis become? Will he become the coach that leads the blue and gold back to national prominence this year? Or will he go down in history as another Gerry Faust who was a pretty good coach clearly over his head at Notre Dame?
Here is the schedule:
Sept. 5: vs. Nevada
Sept. 12: at Michigan
Sept. 19: vs. Michigan State
Sept. 26: at Purdue
Oct. 3: vs. Washington
Oct. 17: vs. USC
Oct. 24: vs. Boston College
Oct. 31: vs. Washington State (at San Antonio, Texas)
Nov. 7: vs. Navy
Nov. 14: at Pittsburgh
Nov. 21: vs. Connecticut
Nov. 28: at Stanford
Now is the time for Notre Dame to win nine games.
However, I don't see it happening.
This year all the excuse making will end for Notre Dame football. The Fighting Irish returns a ton of experience from last year's team. Depending on which depth chart a person goes by, they will return at least nine starters on offense and seven on defense.
1 comment:
Your right, its a big year for Weis and ND. SEC fans are hoping Meyer will leave and go there.
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