10/11/05--HERE COME THE IRISH.....HERE COME THE IRISH.....

There used to be a great tradition at Notre Dame home games.  The players come onto the field through a tunnel that seperates two different seating sections.  On one side is the student section.  It used to be..."back in the day"....that as the players would begin to appear in the tunnel...before they would run onto the field....that the student section would begin to slowly chant:

"Here come the Irish.....Here come the Irish....."

I've read an article where one longtime ago opponent said it was one of the most intimidating things he'd ever experienced.  Sort of like being a Christian standing there and watching the lions parade by.  You were getting ready to go at it, but you sort of knew what the result was going to be....and usually, you didn't bet on the Christians--even if you get points.

I have, of course, watched my beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish we great pride and joy so far this season.  I watched them destroy Pitt--and thereby throughly humiliate ESPN "analyst" (broadest use of the term) Mark May's alma mater.  I watched them take apart---DEFENSIVELY--a seemingly better Michigan team, continuing an almost inexplicable streak of head coach Lloyd Carr's Wolverines finding a way to lose to the Irish.  I watched next them have their first stumble, losing in heartbreaking fashion to Michigan State--a team that Notre Dame somehow loses inexplicably to each season--after one of the most dramatic comebacks in school history.  I watched them go out to Washington to confront the former head coach, and hopefully put all the stories about Ty Willingham's dismissal behind them---only to have Ty pull out the worst card of all in a halftime interview.  And most recently, I found them conqueor another demon, the Purdue Boilermakers.  This was, I'm a tad ashamed to admit, one that really had me worried in the pre-season.  But the closer I got to gametime, the more confident I became.  It appears that I was correct, as Notre Dame not only beat Purdue, but they dismantled them.  the final score of 49-28 was in no way indicative of the score.  It was 42-14 sometime early in the 3rd quarter when Charlie Weis called the dogs off.  Watching Joe "The Walrus" Tiller call timeouts with a minute left in the game to get a meaningless touchdown was somewhat laughable.  Unless maybe Joe had some action on the game, but I'm gonna doubt that one.    This was the game that introduced the country to a young kid from Indiana named Jeff Samardzija....who may end up being the best WR in the nation....that's not hyperbole.....that's just the truth.  Check out the effort on his first reception of the evening.....















Man will I be upset if that photo doesn't transfer to my blog.  It was as good a catch as you'll see all year.

And so now....the weekend is finally upon us.  The one that may truly show the character and ability of this year's team.  USC is coming to town.  The 2 time defending national champions sport one great player and athlete after another.
And yet....small chinks are beginning to appear in their armor.  Nothing that appears terribly important on their own mind you....but enough so that it has to begin to take their effects sooner or later.  Suspensions, transfers...early departures for the NFL.
Lou Holtz had a tremendous machine going in the early 90's until those sort of things begin derailing his train.  Little chinks in the armor.

The same kind you're beginning to see in the Trojans of SC.  What kind of game will it be?  I give ND the proverbial "punchers chance".  Their offense is good enough to stay with any team in the country.  The concern of course, will be the defense.  If we have an appearence by the defense that showed up against Michigan....our chances to win go up immeasurably.  If we get the defense that showed up against Michigan State....we're in trouble and may not be able to score points fast enough.  The game may also go a long way to determining whether or not Brady Quinn is a legitimate candidate for some end of the season awards.  It will be interesting, and for the first time since 1996 (ahem....last year of Holtz) I feel we're going into the game looking like we have the coaching edge--that's the sort of confidence that Charlie Weis inspires.  A college head coach who's won 4 out of his 5 games has the edge on the guy with the two national title rings.  We'll see though, as the countdown to kickoff continues to draw closer.....if you listen....you'll be able to hear the students.....

"HERE COME THE IRISH.....HERE COME THE IRISH....."

Later,
Jeff