APBut, heck, I don't have any problem slapping that label on the Irish's 2007 campaign. Anyone who doesn't believe this is a rebuilding year is delusional and should go back to their ND message board.
How can anyone look in the mirror and feel Notre Dame doesn't display all of the telltale signs of a program that's primed for growing pains?
Still not convinced? OK, follow along. I'll wait for you to put down your glass of Blue-and-Gold Kool-Aid before starting.
Brady Quinn is gone. So are Jeff Samardzija, Rhema McKnight, Darius Walker and three offensive line starters.
A maligned defense that ranked 65th in the nation last year and 75th in 2005 is being overhauled. Coordinator Corwin Brown was brought in from the NFL to install a 3-4scheme. Good thing, because Notre Dame has a frightening dearth of defensive line talent -- among other problems.
What's it all mean? As I've said before, Weis should dance a gig if his Irish win eight games this fall. Honestly, I wouldn't be shocked if ND finished .500.
Let me put it another way: If you looked at Notre Dame's debits and credits heading into this season -- and you didn't know it was the Irish's resume -- you'd predict a gloomy fate.
But since this is Notre Dame, well, you know how the thinking goes.
It all should cause you to look hard at what Weis has accomplished in South Bend and compare that to the roses that get thrown at his feet for his coaching "genius."
How many big games has he won?
Impressed?
THIS is a team that deserved to go to back-to-back BCS games? I think the thumping ND took from Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl and LSU in the Sugar Bowl says it all.
Knowing all of this, do you really, deep down in your heart, think ND would have had a much worse record had Ty Willingham remained coach?
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Regardless, the truth of how magical a coach the confident -- and cocky -- Weis is will be revealed this fall. We all know he says this isn't a rebuilding year. So, anything less than another BCS bowl must be considered a flop, right?
I can hardly wait to see how this unfolds.
After Notre Dame's Blue and Gold game, it appears to be a three-way race for the starting QB position. Keith Arnold breaks down this race and each area of the offense as he projects the opening day starting lineup.
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Notre Dame 2011 schedule See when all the big matchups will take place with Notre Dame's 2011 schedule. NBCSports.com |
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