I gave out some end of season grades on my blog if anyone is interested.

John feel free to use that on the site if you like.

 

http://ndirishblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/colonials-end-of-season-grades.html

I am always interested Colonial

colonial...you hit the nail on the head pretty much. cant say i disagree with any of that

Very nice.

 

I liked your criticism of the fans and media.

Fair-weather indeed.

great write up

QB C- what did you want them to do?? They had no protection. I know you gave a low grade for the o line, that is obvious... but a C- for QB As for the fans??? Maybe you are the F- fan, wow..

 

My grade for Heart.....A

How do you grade our strength and conditioning and explosiveness? Very underrated part of the football program, imo.

How do you grade our strength and conditioning and explosiveness? Very underrated part of the football program, imo.

 

That's a great question Will. I agree that the strength and conditioning is often overlooked. The defense was definitely at the top of their conditioning, there's no doubt about that. To be on the field as often as they were and still be flying in the final quarter (most of the time) says something about their strength and conditioning.

 

I would probably give the S&C a grade of B right now. I think the O-line had some defficiencies in the conditioning department, which is the only reason I wouldn't offer a grade of A just yet.

 

Let's see what the S&C coaches can do with the O-line and some of the younger players in the off season and that grade could soar as high as A+.

 

Thanks for reading everybody, I appreciate the feedback.

Great post. Going to ND's games this year was tough.... not because the team was bad, because my brother and I were the only one's cheering in our section when the D was on the field. When a large group of fans decided they are not going to cheer they can ruin an entire section which seems to domino around 75% of the stadium. I wish I could say our bad season was the main cause, but I went to last years UCLA game and it was just as bad. Until that final touchdown our whole section sat down and shut up.

 

I really hope this tough season makes some of the silent ND gamers to take a long look at what being an Irish fan is: a privilege. If you don't want to make Notre Dame Stadium one of the hardest to play in, in the country: turn in your season tickets, I'll take your fan card and get the hell out

 

Go Irish!

I guess it's a team and it is unfair to single out individuals such as the QB. Collectively, they all run off each other. If there is no passion in the huddle then you can blame the QB. Of course we all know what happened to our QB this year and all his poundings he took so we can blame the o-line. Then we can blame inexperience. Then we can blame blitz-"pickup" or the lack there of. We can blame the coaching for putting certain playere in positions they're historically bad at. There is so much blame for this season I will shoulder some of it. I could've been a better fan and less of a "homer". I guess my point is this: individual grades are so hard to give out when a domino-effect definately took place this season. Maybe as a whole as would rate them as unsatisfactory . So mark that down for me, a big "U" with higher expactaions for next year.

Colonial, thanks for the read. A few things I noted:

I agree with others, hard to grade the qbs based off their protection, I'd give them an incomplete based off of that....can't really be certain what potential is there as I would be good play, busted play, busted play, good play......IMO grades are out until we get some consistantcy. This follows into my next point, grading the coaches. I'm not sure Charlie can be graded separately from the staff, it's his job to have them inline and working in a unified fashion. I think a C is a little generous given the QB situation and the lack of having an OL whatsoever for a big chunk of the season...I'm still a Charlie guy by the way, just hope he learned some serious lessons this year and will keep them in mind moving forward.

 

As for the fans, I have to admit I'm out of the loop living in Cali, however I'd have to give our real fans major props for keeping things positive and in stride when possible. I guess that F would factor in posters as well, not many from DD though. I give our real fans A+ for remaining loyal......I give the other so so fans a major pat on the back for helping cleanse our fanbase, it evidently was needed based off of what I've read on many boards, we don't need whiners on the field or in the stands at ND. Hopefully these jerks will frequent SC or OSU boards from now on, good riddance.

 

Anyways, good read and thanks for taking the time. GO IRISH!!!

DJones. I have written many article on the silence of fans or lack o support... Witness The white outs for JoePa. I do not see wise Weis can get on the PA system and shame them for lack of support. I personally shame the alums and admin with more or less their free tickets when more enthusiastic fans are closed out. Shame them. They sit on a godld mine and don't give a damn

DJones. I have written many article on the silence of fans or lack o support... Witness The white outs for JoePa. I do not see wise Weis can get on the PA system and shame them for lack of support. I personally shame the alums and admin with more or less their free tickets when more enthusiastic fans are closed out. Shame them. They sit on a godld mine and don't give a damn

 

Don't link all the alums and administration for some bad seeds. You also have to put the blame on corporate sponsors too. They get a good share of tickets as well. Believe me, I know. My roommate from college has his wife working in the ticket office.

How do you grade our strength and conditioning and explosiveness? Very underrated part of the football program, imo.

 

That's a great question Will. I agree that the strength and conditioning is often overlooked. The defense was definitely at the top of their conditioning, there's no doubt about that. To be on the field as often as they were and still be flying in the final quarter (most of the time) says something about their strength and conditioning.

 

I would probably give the S&C a grade of B right now. I think the O-line had some defficiencies in the conditioning department, which is the only reason I wouldn't offer a grade of A just yet.

 

Let's see what the S&C coaches can do with the O-line and some of the younger players in the off season and that grade could soar as high as A+.

 

Thanks for reading everybody, I appreciate the feedback.

 

Well then I agree with you on most everything.

 

I felt we looked slow, unexplosive, and sloppy especially our trench players. I'm hoping we look for a new S&C coach this off season.

Will I totally agree with you. I think we need to send the Ole Miss connection of Latina and Mendoza packing. They were horrible.

Colonialhead good job on the blog.

 

Would add a few notes........

 

The student section hung in there to the end every game and are to be congradulated, big big A+

 

The Band of the fighting Irish deserve a big A+++ this year because most games they were the only ones who came to play. Props to Dr Dye and staff and the kids.

 

A big A+ to all the fans who continued to wear and proudly display the blue and gold across the country........ We took a beating this year.

 

And finally a big A + for Domer Domain for being the one site I could visit and not get sick of all the negative stuff after 5 minutes.

Thanks so much for the feedback everyone.

 

SMC, you're right, I should have made bigger mention of the student section. I did make sure to separate them when I talked about my disappointment with much of the fan base but they would have been worthy of their own individual grade.

 

And the Band! How could I forget the band!

DJones. I have written many article on the silence of fans or lack o support... Witness The white outs for JoePa. I do not see wise Weis can get on the PA system and shame them for lack of support. I personally shame the alums and admin with more or less their free tickets when more enthusiastic fans are closed out. Shame them. They sit on a godld mine and don't give a damn

 

Lack of support? I saw 35,000 people all the way out in Pasedena that would probably like to challenge that statement. Also, white t-shirts don't constitute support. Remember those same white t-shirt wearing, rude, crude, and embarrassing fans were the same people that were booing JoePa 3 years ago, calling for his head, and putting a "For Sale" sign in his yard. Not to mention, the ND crowds showed undying support for this team this year as abismal as they were. Miami couldn't sell out the Orange Bowl when they were the #1 team in the nation playing #2 FSU. If you want to say that they entire stadium isn't jumping around and rocking the place then that is true and I doubt it will ever be like that. But I just can't see saying ND fans aren't supportive.

Couldn't agree more dome... I was at the UCLA game and there were ALOT of fans 30,000+ and we were 0-4?

 

Hey Colonial you gave an F for the fans??? 30,000 for an away game for a crappy team? What did you need 60,000? 100,000?

I think the whole issue is with a certain stereotype of Notre Dame fans. It seems as though old money is still old and it's harder to get season tickets and one would wonder why after this season. I know first hand, like a lot of you do, that there are a number of fans who don't stand at all or show any emotions during these games. (take my grandfather for example. He had polio and it's hard for him to stand) Now I normally stand when the guys in front of me stand, but I can't see standing for no reason in the middle of a sitting ocean. I think I can see how that might be protrayed as being rude. I hope this conflict is because of our current struggles but that still shouldn't be accepted. I will note that we do have a very respectful fanbase though.

i agree the sponsors need to share in some blame , the students also , but to be totally honest i have to say that Charlie has to share some blame ,, along with his staff including coach brown who has done a good job , but the defense was asked to do a lot this year, so some of the blame has to go to the line coach , i don't know how many times the QB was blind sided when the defense man wasn't touched , I think that there should be a little more enthusiasm from the staff and the bench , all this plays into possible wins . got to get back to smash-mouth football like lou had . thats my opinion charlie has to get much better and produce or the alum will be looking for replacement. Don't get me wrong charlie has done a good job of recruiting , Now he has to produce . what say you ?