This team is probably going to lose this year.

 

They are probably going to lose twice in the regular season (see my "Probability" thread if you don't believe me).

 

Notre Dame is playing quality competition almost every week. Yes, Stanford, Oklahoma, and USC are all beatable; but those three teams are a combined 12-3. Each of those three aforementioned teams are capable of beating any team in America based on their talent, experience, and coaching (maybe the verdict is still out on the coaching part).

 

Add in BYU, 4-2, with the 3rd ranked defense in the nation: that gives you four tough games ahead. We also play BC, Wake Forest, and Pitt. Those teams are not very good so far this year; but sometimes teams like that, especially teams with new coaching staffs, make big improvements throughout the year. If we sleep on them or lose our focus for just a couple hours one Saturday, we very well might wake up watching an opposing kicker with the game in his hands and no time left for a comeback.

 

http://www.bc.edu/publications/chronicle/meta-elements/jpg/TheKick.jpg

 

We still have a sophomore quarterback who is still going to make sophomore mistakes. Oh, he is very very gifted, but he also has his liabilities. Do not confuse Everett Golson, version 2012, with Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin, version 2011.

 

http://www.siamsport.co.th/_PicOther/O120906F2U1N.jpg

 

Will I be disappointed if/when ND loses? Well... alright, I admit that yes, I will be.

 

Can I see that there is a possibility for ND to win every game and a National Championship? I do, and I freely admit that the possibility is better than, for example, my chance of winning the lottery (which is why I don't play the lottery BTW).

 

Am I excited about the hype? To a point I am, because it is good for America, good for sports in general, good for college football, and good for Notre Dame. On the other hand, I know a lot of people are waiting for just one or two losses to rub their nasty little hands together and say, "ND is not back, suckers; I told you so."

 

http://shop.sportsworldcards.com/ekmps/shops/sportsworld/images/washington-redskins-mark-may-255-rookie-card-topps-1989-nfl-american-football-trading-card-37608-p.jpg

 

So here is what I am doing. I am calling to mind the understanding we all had in the summer: our year will be 2013. I do that, not with a view toward giving up on a season almost at the halfway point when we are still undefeated, but with a view toward putting this season in perspective.

 

That perspective is: we have already accomplished a lot just by being consistent enough to win against 3-4 quality teams. Our last four opponents are a combined 14-8, and 14-4 if you take out their losses to us. This Notre Dame team has already shown that it is maturing very nicely, it is showing the characteristics necessary to win 10-13 games per year, and it is doing the things that should make a fan base proud.

 

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/666/918/hi-res-153682989_crop_650x440.jpg?1349987534

 

We are going to lose a game or two or three this year. Yes. We are also going to win 10 or more. Yes, I'll take it.

 

For those haters who have already decided to criticize the Irish when we lose our first game, no matter how that outcome unfolds; I will be completely unfazed by their evil sophistry.

 

I am not expecting a loss because I do not believe in this team. I am expecting it to happen because I know that not every great team can win every game.

 

There is usually only one undefeated team at the end of the season, only one team that gets to hoist the crystal football, only one National Champion. There are also always a few more teams who can feel like they persevered, like they accomplished something important, like they won even if they did not win them all.

 

Notre Dame will lose, but Notre Dame is winning now. Notre Dame will continue to win. Let that realization be the one that overrides the fear, the hesitancy, and the doubt. Let that knowledge power us.

 

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Edited October 12, 201212 yr by 2lakes

Less worried about this year than 2013.

 

We lose the heart and soul of our team when Te'o graduates...

Nope. At this point I am expecting Golson to finish his career 51-0, besting Kellen Moore all times win record as a starter of 50.

 

This would be easier had he not been late for that meeting, then he could lose one in the next four years, but oh well.

 

Will ND lose eventually? Sure. I just don't expect it for at least 4-5 years.

The team is in a tough spot this year, because if they lose a game then the media will turn on them. It will be the same old crap "ND is overrated/ Same old ND/ blah blah blah." The only way ND can get any respect this year is to basically win them all. It's not fair, but it's the reality they face. What's funny is USC and Florida State's rankings, if we lose to Stanford we will be behind both. That math just does not add up for me.

The team is in a tough spot this year, because if they lose a game then the media will turn on them. It will be the same old crap "ND is overrated/ Same old ND/ blah blah blah." The only way ND can get any respect this year is to basically win them all. It's not fair, but it's the reality they face. What's funny is USC and Florida State's rankings, if we lose to Stanford we will be behind both. That math just does not add up for me.

 

They could lose a close one in a BCS game and probably still be media darling...

 

Heck, it might make next season's wait unbearable for allt he sappy gushing we'll have to endure...

They could lose a close one in a BCS game and probably still be media darling...

 

Heck, it might make next season's wait unbearable for allt he sappy gushing we'll have to endure...

 

Yep. One win out of the Stanford, Oklahoma, USC games and a good showing in a BCS bowl and ND opens in the top 10 next year.

 

Two wins out of that group and a BCS win? Top 3 for sure with at least a handful of #1 votes.

This post was created because 2lakes already doomed this team to lose with his Tuesday Prediction thread.

Top 3 for sure with at least a handful of #1 votes.

 

Laughing because I just laughed and got goosebumps...been a lot of years since we even flirted with this type of success and admiration. Forgot how good it feels.

 

But one frickin' game at a time...

Laughing because I just laughed and got goosebumps...been a lot of years since we even flirted with this type of success and admiration. Forgot how good it feels.

 

But one frickin' game at a time...

 

We don't need to take it one game at a time, we're fans.

 

The last time we deserved a first place vote was 2002, because even though it was smoke and mirrors, eight and oh is eight and on.

This post was created because 2lakes already doomed this team to lose with his Tuesday Prediction thread.

 

No, it's on you for resurrecting the bad karma twice now...

 

http://iacmusic.com/uploads2/68267_-_bad_karma.jpg

No, it's on you for resurrecting the bad karma twice now...

 

http://iacmusic.com/uploads2/68267_-_bad_karma.jpg

 

The three sisters of fate do not fault me for your transgressions. You can't just put the toothpaste back in the tube once you've squeezed it out.

I don't like this thread!

 

this group collected enough losses last year.

I don't like this thread!

 

this group collected enough losses last year.

 

Oddly enough I think that last year built the foundation for why this team has been so successful this year. So much adversity to face every game it seemed last year, there isn't a situation this years team could get in that they haven't already been in before.

I am not going to hate on this, 2lakes said what all of us have given a thought to since the beginning of the season: what happens when we finally do lose?

 

We all want this climb back to credibility to be real and we want the media attention to continue, to the extent that we aren't hearing "I told you so" every week from Mark May and the hate patrol. We are going to lose at some point. I am not going to say it is this year, or next, or the next for that matter, but it will happen again. I have read the opinion that this year is our one shot because of the talent we are losing, I have read next year we will be mature.

 

I thought 2005 was our year. I was concerned when Brady graduates and Jeff and Rhema left as well. I thought that we had missed our window. I thought that again when Golden and Jimmy left early for the NFL. I also had a sense of dread when Floyd graduated.

 

All of those issues were non-issues though because ND keeps stocking talent and Brian Kelly (And I say this as someone who has been critical of BK in the past) is a great coach and is building a great program. He IS getting the recruits, win or lose. He IS improving the offense and the defense schematically. He IS developing players and making them into winners. He IS sticking with a redshirt freshman QB and not knee jerking out. He IS developing a freshman secondary.

 

That means that the next four years we are going to see a lot of talent developing. Manti is a great player and he wants ND to succeed so much that he is teaching everyone on that defense how to be a leader. When he is gone someone else will step up and take his place. Believe it.

 

With that said, I would like to get through the season without a loss because I can't bear to read ESPN the day after a loss and read all the smirking writers talking about ND being overrated. But when the time comes and we do drop a game (I was actually already super butthurt when Morris ran in for that TD on Saturday, bitching about our first rushing TD being given up, thank God it was called back) I am going to try to take a step back from the ledge and realize that there is no window of opportunity for a good team, every year is a new shot. ND is on the rise.

I am not going to hate on this, 2lakes said what all of us have given a thought to since the beginning of the season: what happens when we finally do lose?

 

We all want this climb back to credibility to be real and we want the media attention to continue, to the extent that we aren't hearing "I told you so" every week from Mark May and the hate patrol. We are going to lose at some point. I am not going to say it is this year, or next, or the next for that matter, but it will happen again. I have read the opinion that this year is our one shot because of the talent we are losing, I have read next year we will be mature.

 

I thought 2005 was our year. I was concerned when Brady graduates and Jeff and Rhema left as well. I thought that we had missed our window. I thought that again when Golden and Jimmy left early for the NFL. I also had a sense of dread when Floyd graduated.

 

All of those issues were non-issues though because ND keeps stocking talent and Brian Kelly (And I say this as someone who has been critical of BK in the past) is a great coach and is building a great program. He IS getting the recruits, win or lose. He IS improving the offense and the defense schematically. He IS developing players and making them into winners. He IS sticking with a redshirt freshman QB and not knee jerking out. He IS developing a freshman secondary.

 

That means that the next four years we are going to see a lot of talent developing. Manti is a great player and he wants ND to succeed so much that he is teaching everyone on that defense how to be a leader. When he is gone someone else will step up and take his place. Believe it.

 

With that said, I would like to get through the season without a loss because I can't bear to read ESPN the day after a loss and read all the smirking writers talking about ND being overrated. But when the time comes and we do drop a game (I was actually already super butthurt when Morris ran in for that TD on Saturday, bitching about our first rushing TD being given up, thank God it was called back) I am going to try to take a step back from the ledge and realize that there is no window of opportunity for a good team, every year is a new shot. ND is on the rise.

 

If it's this weekend, then the only course of action is to blame 2lakes.

If it's this weekend, then the only course of action is to blame 2lakes.

 

Agreed. You stuff the effigy and get the torches, I will sharpen the pitchforks and pick out a good field for burning.

If it's this weekend, then the only course of action is to blame 2lakes.

 

Please refer to the "Wedding" thread.

Agreed. You stuff the effigy and get the torches, I will sharpen the pitchforks and pick out a good field for burning.

 

Too much trouble, I'll just hunt him down and piss on his trousers...

Agreed. You stuff the effigy and get the torches, I will sharpen the pitchforks and pick out a good field for burning.

 

Oh, but what a handsome effigy that will be, Mr. Smee.

Too much trouble, I'll just hunt him down and piss on his trousers...

 

That's just payback for the video of you dancing with everybody at your party...

Oh, but what a handsome effigy that will be, Mr. Smee.

 

When you put it that way I will make sure to get a big floppy hat with a feather for said effigy. Might be tough to come up with a hook hand on short notice, though.