I think we can all agree that we are a much better team than last year. However, I honestly believe our "unrealistic" expectations are preventing us from seeing the true progress of such a young team of very talented players. Did you really expect a program that finished 3-9 last year to win every game this year? I hate losing like everyone else, and the team/coaches appear to hate losing even more then we do, but we really need to keep things in perspective. Despite the 5-3 record thus far, I am confident this season is the start of something special. If this team has improved this much over the course of one year, imagine how good we can be in the next two years! The way this team fights and plays together should not be overlooked. From this point forward, I will predict the following:

 

1) We will never get blown out again under the Weis era. Never. Even against USC.

2) We will finish 8-4 and go to the Cotton Bowl.

3) We will be in the BCS championship hunt next year.

4) We will finish with yet another top 10 recruiting class this year and next year will be Charlie's best class ever.

5) Charlie WILL win a national title at ND by 2011.

 

Seriously, I can only think of one other coach in the world that I would rather have coaching ND other than Weis -- Nick Saban. But I just don't see that scenario ever happening. I still have faith in Charlie, and will continue to as long as we show progress and continue to recruit well. A great head coach can gameplan well, build a relationship with the players, and can recruit well. Weis can do all three things very well. Many posters (ndnation in particular) are in melt-down mode believing we need a change at head coach, but is there a better head coach for ND right now than Weis? Consider Mike Leach for instance. He is a MASTER gameplanner/X and O's coach, but do you honestly think he could recruit well at ND? I think not. Leach would do very well with Charlie's recruits during his first couple of years, but his lack of recruiting would eventually catch up to him, much like Coker at Miami recently. Leach might be in the perfect situation for him at Texas Tech.

 

All I am saying is we need to have more patience in Charlie. The ingredients are there for our program to be great again, and I am 100% confident Charlie will get it done. We can already see the positive results of Charlie's decisions to go to physical practices among other things. Davieham left this program in shambles, and it may take 5 or more years to get it back to the level that meets are expectations.

 

The best thing we can do as fans right now is support this team....the future is bright.

 

BELIEVE fellow Irish fans BELIEVE.

Agree lawton!

 

As I posted this in another thread before I read yours:

 

http://www.domerdomain.com/forum/showpost.php?p=152682&postcount=3

 

We are fine.

I agree... I hate every time this team loses because Irish fans embarrass me when they start calling for people's heads. It's a loss that we expected! I mean, it sucks losing, but you have to understand the situation. I see why the media rips us, because I would rip us, too. Its like being a room with 100 jack russell dogs who all get pissed at once. Relax and have a little class! Yes, there are problems, but I have confidence they'll be cleaned up by next year. Hell, look at our special teams. While they came out slow yesterday, they did a 180 from last year to this year. The offense has gotten better, but certainly has room to improve. The Defense is awesome considering the fact that our D-Line is tiny. Crum has earned his stripes, so while slow, will finish his career as a starter at ILB; but then the young studs will come in and improve us there. We just need to relax. We're there. We're close! I mean, MSU was closer than the score looked, we should have beaten UNC, and we should have beaten Pitt. We are in games with teams that are contending to top of their conference. This is a marked improvement from last year.

I agree Speedster...100%

I agree wave, we are better and getting better. That's an improvement in my eyes. I did not expect some miracle out of the sky after last year. It's a grinding process, painful and takes time.

I hate every time this team loses because Irish fans embarrass me when they start calling for people's heads..................

 

I mean, it sucks losing, but you have to understand the situation. I see why the media rips us, because I would rip us, too. Its like being a room with 100 jack russell dogs who all get pissed at once.

 

Relax and have a little class!

 

Nicely posted wave- that is why I stay away from the game day thread. No one puts a filter on their idiotic expectations we all get during the game when we think we should score on every drive and never give up a point.

 

It is embarrassing how some people lose it and think they can call better plays, execute better than players (ie. run through holes, catch every pass, make every block, make every tackle, pick off every pass, stay with every receiver...) and all from the benefit of their warm couch or stadium seat.

 

Replays and 20/20 hindsight is a great thing to have. But real coaches don't have them on the sideline.

I agree... I hate every time this team loses because Irish fans embarrass me when they start calling for people's heads. It's a loss that we expected! I mean, it sucks losing, but you have to understand the situation. I see why the media rips us, because I would rip us, too. Its like being a room with 100 jack russell dogs who all get pissed at once. Relax and have a little class! Yes, there are problems, but I have confidence they'll be cleaned up by next year. Hell, look at our special teams. While they came out slow yesterday, they did a 180 from last year to this year. The offense has gotten better, but certainly has room to improve. The Defense is awesome considering the fact that our D-Line is tiny. Crum has earned his stripes, so while slow, will finish his career as a starter at ILB; but then the young studs will come in and improve us there. We just need to relax. We're there. We're close! I mean, MSU was closer than the score looked, we should have beaten UNC, and we should have beaten Pitt. We are in games with teams that are contending to top of their conference. This is a marked improvement from last year.

 

Wave, lawton...great posts. Wave, I am right there with you in regards to the negativity that follows our losses. It's hard when we lose...no question about it. But I am a fan and will unconditionally support this and every Irish team...period. But...some of us are more extreme than most. I have to respect their need to sound off, regardless of how negative they may seem. I don't agree or like it...but will respect them nonetheless.

 

lawton..."The best thing we can do as fans right now is support this team....the future is bright. BELIEVE fellow Irish fans BELIEVE."

 

Well said brother. Great post, but this sentence sums it all up.

 

Speedster...while I am sensing a grea support for our team from so many (Grizz, GWood and IrishChris to name but many) here...I am sincerely feeling your optimism. I hear your fustration...but dedication to our cause. Keep it coming bro.

WERE MAKING STRIDES , WE JUST HAVE TO PUT IT ALL TOGEATHER , THIS WILL COME NEXT WEEK AT CHESTNUT HILL AS WE TANGLE WITH Boston college, who always give us a hard time , i predict that we will get this one with a 27-17 score if the weather is not to wet. go Irish , tough loss, but that happens we have to learn from that . go Irish

Charlie has just got to get his team fired up after halftime.. we wont win another game (but syracuse) if they come out flat all the time

just got back fro the game and three things really stood out. 1.) we are still really, really young and it shows. pitt rushed three downline men all game and kept continuous pressure on clausen. kudo's to floyd. the kid is amazing. 2.) our special teams are just plain awful. period. innaproriate blocking schemes on kick and punt returns, still can't kick it past the 10 etc, etc, etc.... lip service is not getting it done. please, would someone talk to lou holtz already and have him give you some pointers????? 3.) we desperately need some size on the D-line. we get zero pressure up the gut. this needs to be priority one in recruiting. otherwise, i was proud that they never quit. they may have been gassed, but they never quit...............

just got back fro the game and three things really stood out. 1.) we are still really, really young and it shows. pitt rushed three downline men all game and kept continuous pressure on clausen. kudo's to floyd. the kid is amazing. 2.) our special teams are just plain awful. period. innaproriate blocking schemes on kick and punt returns, still can't kick it past the 10 etc, etc, etc.... lip service is not getting it done. please, would someone talk to lou holtz already and have him give you some pointers????? 3.) we desperately need some size on the D-line. we get zero pressure up the gut. this needs to be priority one in recruiting. otherwise, i was proud that they never quit. they may have been gassed, but they never quit...............

 

What does ND being really young have to do with the OLine allowing pressure? Isn't the OLine made up of all juniors?

I agree with everything you said, except the NC hunt. This team right now is mediocre with some very good players. Our OL and DL will NOT improve by next season to put us in contention for a BCS. In order for ND to be in the so called "Hunt", we can only lose one game at the most. That my friend is unrealistic. I think this team will be very good next season, but a one loss team. Hmmm. I continue to see an 8-4 to 9-3 team in our near future.

Needs next season: OL coach

It just totally hit me. We were 3-9 last year and these guys are mostly freshman and sophomores... wow, i feel better already. I lost sight of actually how bad we were and how young we still are.

 

GO IRISH!!!

Right on Joe! We will be fine. Charlie is a tireless worker and will get our issues fixed.

 

That ndnation board is unbearable to read. No disrespect to those who post there too, but some of those posters are simply idiots.

What does ND being really young have to do with the OLine allowing pressure? Isn't the OLine made up of all juniors?

nothing actually. you have just made point 4 you douchebag. thanks for the input................

One thing we can say is.. We won't go away and will be back.. (eviil laughter,.)

Hate to be the realist here guys, but what I saw on Saturday at the stadium and again today when I re-watch it on TV, I can see....

 

1) USC is going to kick our teeth in.

2) We may finish 8-4 but we sure don't want to go the Cotton Bowl. We don't want to have to play anyone out of the top half of the Big 12.

3) If Latina and Mendoza are on the coaching staff next year, we'll never see a BCS game. Our team is soft and out of shape and anyone that decides to play physical against us, will beat us.

4) Probably won't have a top 10 recruiting class, but a very good class all the same, probably top 15.

5) see point 3

i think alot of you guys are too understanding-- i see it as a very back handed compliment to say the team is" young "-- the team is" Improving" we "expected too much"--i agree the team is young and vastly improved etc etc but expecting too much--- sometimes being realistic does not mean accepting bad outcomes as just a learning process--we have the best group of recievers i think i have ever seen at ND and ive been around a very long time-- a QB that is already playing better then rick mier did as an upperclassman-- we have a coach with super bowl rings-- we have top 100 running backs right down the line-- and a scrappy defense-- fine we dont belong in the BCS-- fine we dont belong in the top 15-- but dont tell me i should accept these last two losses as a learning process -- two huge leads blown-- one team we were obviously better then north carolina-- and another thats headed to national fun now -not because they are better then us- but becuase we let them off the hook at home-- sometimes you just have to call it for what it is-- the team is BETTER then its 5-3 record--thats the coaches fault-- the team should be able to win a game it takes control of early--we need higher expectations-- we need to demand them or we will get this again next year--there are only so many years to develop a team-- do we say next year well we beat that one good team so its ok we are 7 and 4 we can win 8 and a bowl we are improving-- i say screw that thinking-- if you guys want to win a title with this team it has to start now not next year or the year after -dont MOLLY CODDLE the coaches -- they are grown men and they know they blew it-- the players have to get out of that looser mentality very very soon or we will waste alot of talent--the team reflects the coaches --and the confidence that we can --and that we will WIN these kind of games is missing in a coaching staff that has won 1 count em 1 out of the last 14 games against teams that ended with a winning record going back to 2006--that is not what we recruit to do--the staff and the team dont need encouragment IMHO-- they need tough love and a good glass of ice water in the face-- they are good coaches and very good players-- its time we see the results! CHARLIE seemed genuinely concerned about the mentality and emotional trauma to the young boys-- but i think he should worry less about them they will be fine-- i think its him and his staff that need to get a grip on what they are doing and who we are as a team

Hate to be the realist here guys, but what I saw on Saturday at the stadium and again today when I re-watch it on TV, I can see....

 

1) USC is going to kick our teeth in.

2) We may finish 8-4 but we sure don't want to go the Cotton Bowl. We don't want to have to play anyone out of the top half of the Big 12.

3) If Latina and Mendoza are on the coaching staff next year, we'll never see a BCS game. Our team is soft and out of shape and anyone that decides to play physical against us, will beat us.

4) Probably won't have a top 10 recruiting class, but a very good class all the same, probably top 15.

5) see point 3

 

Understood Fanatic. Still can't help myself...but understand nonetheless.

i think alot of you guys are too understanding-- i see it as a very back handed compliment to say the team is" young "-- the team is" Improving" we "expected too much"--i agree the team is young and vastly improved etc etc but expecting too much--- sometimes being realistic does not mean accepting bad outcomes as just a learning process--we have the best group of recievers i think i have ever seen at ND and ive been around a very long time-- a QB that is already playing better then rick mier did as an upperclassman-- we have a coach with super bowl rings-- we have top 100 running backs right down the line-- and a scrappy defense-- fine we dont belong in the BCS-- fine we dont belong in the top 15-- but dont tell me i should accept these last two losses as a learning process -- two huge leads blown-- one team we were obviously better then north carolina-- and another thats headed to national fun now -not because they are better then us- but becuase we let them off the hook at home-- sometimes you just have to call it for what it is-- the team is BETTER then its 5-3 record--thats the coaches fault-- the team should be able to win a game it takes control of early--we need higher expectations-- we need to demand them or we will get this again next year--there are only so many years to develop a team-- do we say next year well we beat that one good team so its ok we are 7 and 4 we can win 8 and a bowl we are improving-- i say screw that thinking-- if you guys want to win a title with this team it has to start now not next year or the year after -dont MOLLY CODDLE the coaches -- they are grown men and they know they blew it-- the players have to get out of that looser mentality very very soon or we will waste alot of talent--the team reflects the coaches --and the confidence that we can --and that we will WIN these kind of games is missing in a coaching staff that has won 1 count em 1 out of the last 14 games against teams that ended with a winning record going back to 2006--that is not what we recruit to do--the staff and the team dont need encouragment IMHO-- they need tough love and a good glass of ice water in the face-- they are good coaches and very good players-- its time we see the results! CHARLIE seemed genuinely concerned about the mentality and emotional trauma to the young boys-- but i think he should worry less about them they will be fine-- i think its him and his staff that need to get a grip on what they are doing and who we are as a team

 

Aside from there being no paragraphs and therefore I only made it through about half, this is an excellent post. Why do we have to settle for mediocrity or "what we expected" just because we are young? There are MANY teams out there doing more with a lot less talent than we have.

 

When I went to school at ND 15 years ago 8-4 was a disappointment. I know times have changed and I know we are rebuilding, but part of being a good coach is being able to win games you shouldn't. I haven't seen that under Weis. I hope he proves this analysis wrong.

nothing actually. you have just made point 4 you douchebag. thanks for the input................

 

Sorry for wanting some consistency in your points