1. We showed them absolutely nothing this week. We ran off tackle, never challenged them on the edge (except the touchdown to Atkinson), and they didn't even see Golson.

 

2. Best defensive front 7 OU has seen all year. Make no mistake. Tuitt and Nix have arrived, KLM is playing the best of his career, Manti and Fox are both peaking, especially in pass coverage. OU is accustomed to being able to run on people. We have the best chance of anybody of stopping the run.

 

3. Offensive Line is truly emerging at the right time. The new system stymied us for a bit. Golic is only getting one penalty a game now as opposed to 4. If we protect our quarterback and can run on OU, then we can beat them.

 

4. Pressure is on OU. This is their make or break game. Gameday is there. Lots of distractions and they think they are the best team in the country. They are not the best team in the country. How will they handle things when things get really tough?

 

5. Golson's break out game? He plays better on the road. He seriously has trouble at home. He is mad. He wants this game. A cool front is coming in for Saturday. It was 85 degrees here yesterday. The game is at night. OU will have a lot of tape on Tommy Rees. This game will be Golson's game.

 

6. We are healthy. Golson should be 100%. I don't think we took any major hits. Bennet Jackson~~is he ok??

 

7. History. We have beaten Oklahoma 8 out of 9 times. The ball is bouncing our way this year. Face it~~we won over past decades when we should not have won. We were sent great coaches and when the Big 10 shunned us we went on the road and made Notre Dame famous.

 

We were innovative in changing things offensively with the forward pass and confusing alignments. There is no way this little Catholic university should be sitting on top of the college football world. If we are headed back to that pinnacle nobody can stop us. Not other teams or bad refs. What we achieve this year we owe it to the Lady on the Dome. Our Lady of Victory. Pray for Us !!!

We've also been battle tested. We have faced the 4th(BYU), 5TH(MSU) and 10th(scUM) ranked defense.

Hmm, this was one of the two losses I foresaw this year and I'm still not totally convinced we have all the tools to win yet. -ND has come ALOOONG way!

 

1. Our corners have definetly proven they can play, at least adequate football, but do we have enough of them? Can Shumate, Baratti, Brown, Atkinson, Mcdaniel cover on an island? Do they have enough experience?

 

2. How often will our dominant front "7" be on the field. OK will not simply run I-formation and pound us. They will spread us out and try to pick us apart. Do we want Fox, Spond, Shembo, and Williams covering slot receiver and TE's the whole game? This is not MSU or Purdue style spread, they have better athletes at the skill positions than those teams.

 

3. I know our O-line looks good, but it's only when we have a size advantage we dominate, Navy and BYU. When we don't then it's hard sledding. I'm not going to say we arrived just yet in this area. Run it easily against OK and I'll be convinced.

 

4. Our receivers. Do we catch more than 3 balls a game by them. Not the TE, RECEIVERS. I see TJ and then, that's it. OK will double Eifert this game. We need somebody to really step up. A creative gameplan may help here. BK may have something up his sleeve.

 

5. Lastly, Golson. Will he be ready? Will he step up this game? He hasn't really had a break out game so far. This might have to be the game he does it. He can't have games like Michigan or the first half of Stanford. Back to back 3 and outs will hurt us I believe this game.

 

Now, I'm no negative Nancy. I predicted a 10 win season way before the start of the season. This game has scared me more than any other on our schedule. I agree, we do have a penchant for defeating OK in Norman. We have risen to the challenge each week. I do think this game will be close. I just hope it's in ND's favor.

We've also been battle tested. We have faced the 4th(BYU), 5TH(MSU) and 10th(scUM) ranked defense.

 

And that doesn't include Stanford, which may be the best of the bunch.

 

One thing I like us Ok's defensive strength seems to be the secondary. Very few sacks, middle of the pack rush D.

 

If ND can establish the run, chew up some clock, connect on a few big plays, capitalize in the red zone, they have a good chance.

 

If we are counting on Golson to throw to win, could be a long night.

And that doesn't include Stanford, which may be the best of the bunch.

 

One thing I like us Ok's defensive strength seems to be the secondary. Very few sacks, middle of the pack rush D.

 

If ND can establish the run, chew up some clock, connect on a few big plays, capitalize in the red zone, they have a good chance.

 

If we are counting on Golson to throw to win, could be a long night.

 

I will promise you, we see at least 2 shots deep to Daniels or Brown from Golson. I expect an offensive game plan similar to Michigan State with a little more zone read.

1. We showed them absolutely nothing this week. We ran off tackle, never challenged them on the edge (except the touchdown to Atkinson), and they didn't even see Golson.

 

2. Best defensive front 7 OU has seen all year. Make no mistake. Tuitt and Nix have arrived, KLM is playing the best of his career, Manti and Fox are both peaking, especially in pass coverage. OU is accustomed to being able to run on people. We have the best chance of anybody of stopping the run.

 

3. Offensive Line is truly emerging at the right time. The new system stymied us for a bit. Golic is only getting one penalty a game now as opposed to 4. If we protect our quarterback and can run on OU, then we can beat them.

 

4. Pressure is on OU. This is their make or break game. Gameday is there. Lots of distractions and they think they are the best team in the country. They are not the best team in the country. How will they handle things when things get really tough?

 

5. Golson's break out game? He plays better on the road. He seriously has trouble at home. He is mad. He wants this game. A cool front is coming in for Saturday. It was 85 degrees here yesterday. The game is at night. OU will have a lot of tape on Tommy Rees. This game will be Golson's game.

 

6. We are healthy. Golson should be 100%. I don't think we took any major hits. Bennet Jackson~~is he ok??

 

7. History. We have beaten Oklahoma 8 out of 9 times. The ball is bouncing our way this year. Face it~~we won over past decades when we should not have won. We were sent great coaches and when the Big 10 shunned us we went on the road and made Notre Dame famous.

 

We were innovative in changing things offensively with the forward pass and confusing alignments. There is no way this little Catholic university should be sitting on top of the college football world. If we are headed back to that pinnacle nobody can stop us. Not other teams or bad refs. What we achieve this year we owe it to the Lady on the Dome. Our Lady of Victory. Pray for Us !!!

 

You forgot one big one:

 

8 ) They don't call them Choklehoma for no reason

 

"Big Game" Bob tends to under-estimate opponents.

You forgot one big one:

 

8 ) They don't call them Choklehoma for no reason

 

"Big Game" Bob tends to under-estimate opponents.

 

Actually the saying around here is the 'Poke Choke'. OSU is the Oklahoma team constantly accused of choking. Not OU. I know Oklahoma will spread us out, but Tuitt and Shembo will have less resistance to get to Landry. Landry does not play near as well if you get him to running around. He loves to sit in the pocket and throw all over the field. OU's receivers are peaking. The transfer from Penn State was a huge boost to their offense. This game won't be easy, but we can win this game.

you all forgot one of the biggest matchup problems that favors us... Our pass rush against their Oline that lost 3 starters at the beginning of this year.

ND has exceeded expectations this season so far. I AM NOT conceding anything. Reason we will win would be play ND Football. Make it ugly, low scoring and close at the end. Run the ball, control the clock, get a few plays from Golson..

 

Don't get in a track meet with Oklahoma, Play ND football.

I wouldn't be surprised if they really start running golson and whip out that portion of the kelly offense. If golson establishes himself as a threat in the spread option, OK will have had no way to prepare for it and it will open up the whole field for everybody else.

 

That being said, OK's offense is about the worst matchup for our D imaginable. Plays to our weakness and their strength.

I wouldn't be surprised if they really start running golson and whip out that portion of the kelly offense. If golson establishes himself as a threat in the spread option, OK will have had no way to prepare for it and it will open up the whole field for everybody else.h.

 

This.

That' s how KState beat em, Optimus Klein chewed them up

We didn't show OU anything against BYU. Watch the game film that Faith has put up in his thread. (OU Kansas State) Our quarterback must run. This is not vintage OU defense. Their strength is in the secondary. George Atkinson could be a major factor if we will just give him the ball. I have been looking forward to this game. I also dread it. Daughters in both bands. Going to be a big weekend starting Friday with the pep rally at the Myriad Gardens. Cool front is coming in that could hurt OU. Playing at night it could be in the 40's. They played in the 80's mostly if not 90's.

I think this one sets up pretty nice from a mental standpoint as well.

 

OU is coming off three big wins, they are all talking about how well they are playing, how they are rolling, Gameday in town etc.

 

Meanwhile, ND comes off a win that felt like a loss to them, going on the road, chance to shock the world, 8.5 point underdogs, etc.

 

I think that gives ND the advantage in the mental game.

We didn't show OU anything against BYU.

 

Unfortunately, we did show some plays that had Golson running against Stanford and OU will have that film as well.

I remember the old west virginia spread with pat white----yes they threw , pat white was a pretty good passer---and when they threw it was often intermediate & deeper routes---BUT THATS NOT HOW THEY MOVED THE BALL__THE IDENTITY OF THAT OFFENSE WAS AS A RUNNING TEAM!---They ran & ran & ran----spread em out & run---

 

I think this should be our GAMEPLAN for the rest of the season including OKLAHOMA!

 

Lets not expect Golson to all of a sudden start throwing for 300 yards and 4 TDs---thats just not in the cards---

 

I am looking for 65 plays----45 runs & 20 passes----

 

We add Golson & you can't sleep on our running game cause everett can throw---you also have another runner coming out of the QB spot---

 

We have a three headed monster--WOOD/THEO/GA3---ADD GOLSON AND ITS A FOUR HEADED MONSTER THAT RUNS AT YOU FROM EVERY DIRECTION----And if you key on the run and cheat up to the LOS --WATCH OUT Golson can burn you----

 

Lets embrace who we are on offense--A DYNAMIC RUNNING TEAM THATS LOADED___Let Everett be the compliment to that---keep us unpredictable-keep us running nifty with pitches and fakes---and then throw on the run just to screw with them---

 

NAVY we were a dominating running team---

Miami--we were a dominating running team hardly passing in half two

BYU--we had no QB we were simply a running team and we beat up a strong run defense

 

 

AT OUR BEST WE CAN BE & ARE A DOMINATING RUNNING TEAM____

LETS NOT FIGHT IT--LETS WALLOW IN IT----

 

The Big 12 plays a certain kind of football these days---and being pounded on by a very strong running team and harrassed by a very strong defensive line IS NOT BIG 12 FOOTBALL!!---

 

We can wear them down--we can take the time of possession-- we can win this game--IF WE DON'T TRY AND BE SOMETHING WE ARE NOT!____

 

ALOHA's--go irish!

I remember the old west virginia spread with pat white----yes they threw , pat white was a pretty good passer---and when they threw it was often intermediate & deeper routes---BUT THATS NOT HOW THEY MOVED THE BALL__THE IDENTITY OF THAT OFFENSE WAS AS A RUNNING TEAM!---They ran & ran & ran----spread em out & run---

 

I think this should be our GAMEPLAN for the rest of the season including OKLAHOMA!

 

Lets not expect Golson to all of a sudden start throwing for 300 yards and 4 TDs---thats just not in the cards---

 

I am looking for 65 plays----45 runs & 20 passes----

 

We add Golson & you can't sleep on our running game cause everett can throw---you also have another runner coming out of the QB spot---

 

We have a three headed monster--WOOD/THEO/GA3---ADD GOLSON AND ITS A FOUR HEADED MONSTER THAT RUNS AT YOU FROM EVERY DIRECTION----And if you key on the run and cheat up to the LOS --WATCH OUT Golson can burn you----

 

Lets embrace who we are on offense--A DYNAMIC RUNNING TEAM THATS LOADED___Let Everett be the compliment to that---keep us unpredictable-keep us running nifty with pitches and fakes---and then throw on the run just to screw with them---

 

NAVY we were a dominating running team---

Miami--we were a dominating running team hardly passing in half two

BYU--we had no QB we were simply a running team and we beat up a strong run defense

 

 

AT OUR BEST WE CAN BE & ARE A DOMINATING RUNNING TEAM____

LETS NOT FIGHT IT--LETS WALLOW IN IT----

 

The Big 12 plays a certain kind of football these days---and being pounded on by a very strong running team and harrassed by a very strong defensive line IS NOT BIG 12 FOOTBALL!!---

 

We can wear them down--we can take the time of possession-- we can win this game--IF WE DON'T TRY AND BE SOMETHING WE ARE NOT!____

 

ALOHA's--go irish!

 

Precisely. I truly believe we can run on them. They don't have the dominating defensive tackles like in year's past. Even Barry Switzer said that a couple weeks ago. I wish we had a big back like that guy from Stanford, but we have exceptional backs.

 

I sure do want to see Hendrix in the red zone. Keep Golson healthy to get us down field and then use this 230 pound battering ram at the goal line. It's so much more effective when they have to cover the whole field and then we run on them.

I haven't been this hyped for a game six days away in a long time. We can win this game. Let Nix blow up the interior OL and get Tuitt and Shembo on the edge rushing. Landry does not handle pressure well. If we don't get pressure on Landry, he will pick us apart. I think Diaco has a good gameplan up his sleeve; IMO we will see Te'o blitzing up the middle more than usual.

I think we're going to want it more. I don't have anything at all to back that up, it's just a gut feeling.

I really think BK is keeping stuff for certain games, like he is holding back and then saving it for certain teams. Gladly it hasn't cost us a game this year but maybe he brings everything out for this game. Toughest game of the year I'd say but would not be surprised the least if we win.

I'm sorry, but I just don't get where all of the optimism is coming from. The way I see it is that OU is really starting to play well on both sides of the ball. The got beat early in the year by KSU who we now know is really good so that loss doesn't look bad at all. Ou's offense is really peaking right now and we haven't faced any QB that can really throw it all over the field. I think our secondary is going to get exposed. Furthermore, our offense has been so simplistic and anemic that I see no way possible for us to s ore enough points to remotely keep us in this game. Unfortunately I see OU winning this game handily by 15+ points.

 

I think we have had a great season so far and it has been a blast. But we just aren't good enough yet to go in there and win this game. I think we will be 10-1 going into SC and will have a great chance at winning and going 11-1.

Your pessimism is over the top KID GLOVES----"we are going to be beaten handily by 15-20 points you say"---and you WONDER where the optimism is coming from???---

 

How about the fact that no team has reached 20 points against us yet--and only one made it to 15--so predicting an easy15- 20 point win is a real measured reaction, for an SOONER fan!---

 

The optimism comes from a few things

 

1st)--We are an ELITE defense---one of the nations best---we have at least 6 players on this defense that will be playing on SUNDAYS!

 

2)---Nobody has scored big against us

 

3)--We have one of the best stable of running backs in the country

 

4)--We are higher ranked then Oklahoma & 7-0!!!

 

5)--Oklahoma has already been beaten!

 

Yes Oklahoma is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to beat at Norman---but we are EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to score alot of points against.

 

Landry jones is a fine QB--but he is only a 60% passer that DOES NOT LIKE PRESSURE and has "never"--thats "never" faced a defensive front seven as good as ours!

 

Florida A&M---Texas el paso--& kansas---would all be beaten by NAVY our weakest opponent---

 

Yes Oklahoma played well against texas--but the longhorns did not play ANY defense---and are a mess of a team, and a program in distress---

 

Everyone understands how difficult the challenge is----nobody is disputing vegas setting us up as 8 points dogs---and we all know we need a complete game to have a decent chance.

 

BUT ANY FAN WHO HAS WATCHED OUR DEFENSE & OUR TEAM FOR ALL SEVEN GAMES AND THEN PREDICTS AN EASY WIN FOR OKLAHOMA OF NEARLY 20 POINTS---well what can i say--that sounds alot more like an OKLAHOMA FAN that an ND Fan---

 

aloha's go irish!