What changed during the end of November through the end of December? Was there a transformation of physical abilities? Or was there a change in attitude? Maybe the weather allowed for QB protection? Or maybe the laid back atmosphere provided for better field-vision? Could it also be the long trip gave our athletes time to reflect back on second-half, blown, double-digit leads?
The islands might have some aerial magic in them. It seems that QB’s have their best games here. Chang, Brennan, and then passed on to Clausen–could this just be an anomaly? Or is there more to the story? Maybe the artificial turf gives better grip for cutbacks and blocking?
I think the one thing missing in the last couple of years, and some of you have mentioned this as well in the General forum; is a leader who invokes fire and team unity. Could the presence of Charlie Weis scare this type of behavior off? And does our team play scared and nervous wondering if they’re going to be yanked and reamed a new one? I think there’s some credence to this belief.
I remember playing basketball in high school and having a Norman Dale-type of coach, who scared most guys on our team to underperforming. He would use scare tactics to get what he wanted. If the star didn’t have 30 paint touches, then the team (minus the star) would be running or doing a thousand boards. This, from my experience, only works for the kid who needed discipline; the bad egg so to speak.
Is this the same type of emotional-kidnapping that Notre Dame is facing with a heavy-handed, domineering coach? It very well could be–and yes I’ll point to the Hawaii’ game for reference. I think it’s more than happenstance that Corwin Brown is learning to be the on-field communicator; or the assistant coach who’s trusted by Charlie to be able to call the shots. The injured legs will provide Charlie with wiggle-room to make this bold move.
I think Charlie will be up in the box. I think that all of this smoke about being a coach on the field is just another one of his Belichick-learned behaviors; to out-fox his opponents, never giving any type of an edge to his opposition–I should say “perceived” edge. I think that Maura knows what she is talking about. To you who feel a head coach should be on the field, well you’re probably right. But we don’t have that type of dynamic, that personable coach. What we have is a strategist whose asset is best implemented while in the box. So think inside the box. Think about what we have and not what we should have. We don’t have a Pete Carroll running along the sidelines, high-fiving and slapping players on their asses. We have a Norman Dale who’d be better wrapped in glass. And like Hoosiers, maybe it’s a coincidence that our coach’s star player is named Jimmy? Let’s hope it yields the same result!
