Daniel asked:




Notre Dame -1 vs. Purdue

All those good feelings around the Notre Dame program following a 2-0 start evaporated last week with a 23-7 loss at Michigan State where the Irish offense again did very little.

And again, it’s the running game that is the culprit. The Irish rank 111th in Division I-A in rushing and average just 78 rushing yards a game. Their opponents average 144.3 yards.

Against the Spartans, Notre Dame rushed for 16 yards on 22 carries and allowed 203 on the ground.

“In the first three games we’ve had more success throwing than we have running,” coach Charlie Weis said (the Irish rank 69th in the country by average 208.7 yards passing per game). “You can’t make a living just being one-dimensional. You can address it by scheme, but a lot of it comes down to working your (behind) off fundamentally to make an improvement. That’s one of the main focuses we’re doing this week.”

Notre Dame resorted to an empty-backfield formation often in the second half against Michigan State, with QB Jimmy Clausen in the shotgun.

That empty-backfield offense managed just one touchdown against Michigan State, but the Irish’s yards-per-play jumped from 3.5 in the first half to 4.8 after halftime. There were 51- and 57-yard drives that ended in miscues.

So why not go to that more often?

“The problem is if your identity all stems around passing first,” Weis said. “You’re exposing yourself to a lot of problems that you’d like to avoid. If a defensive team could just pin their ears back and come after you, you’re opening yourself up for pressures, sacks, quarterback hits, interceptions.”

Clausen does have six picks this season (matching his freshman total in 149 fewer attempts) and the Irish have turned the ball over nine times. So perhaps their decision-making isn’t ready for the spread-type offense.

“I’ve forced the ball a few times and taken too many chances in the past three games and that’s one of the things that I’m working on during practice,” Clausen said. “If something is not there, if it’s not wide open, check the ball down to the backs. After watching the film where I’m throwing interceptions, the backs are wide open. I’ve just got to stop taking as many chances as I have.”

Purdue is last among Big Ten teams in total defense and 103rd among 119 major college teams, allowing 427 yards per game, so look for Notre Dame to go more to that shotgun formation this week despite what Weis has said. Coaches may lie, but numbers don’t.

Purdue, which is a 1-point underdog this week on WagerWeb.com, is 1-4 in South Bend under coach Joe Tiller and 11-26 overall.

InSpin.com



TOREZ

Chuck Berkley asked:


The Browns have said Anderson will stay in the starter position in 08-09 season, but as nature has portrayed it, a lot can change on any given Sunday.

Now, despite the fact we’ve posted articles mentioning injuries in the NFL for 2008 everywhere, we do not wish or hope that Derek Anderson get’s battered or bruised for the next games, but then again, even the best gets hurt and if it happens to Anderson, then we’ll probably see the best of Brady for 08-09 campaign.

Let’s go back a couple of years, at the start of the 2006 NCAA football season; Brady Quinn had opportunity and faith on his side. He was the master contender for the Heisman Trophy. He was set to make a run at a national championship with his Notre Dame Fighting Irish teammates and quite possibly be the first general selection (a college player dream) in April’s NFL draft. Then something took place.

During the last months of that season, the Irish welcomed illustrious rival Michigan into South Bend for the third game of the year. During the game, on the second pass attempt of the contest, Wolverine linebacker Prescott Burgess stepped in front of a sinful Quinn throw and took the interception 31 yards for a Michigan touchdown.

This was just the beginning, of an ugly day for Quinn, who threw three touchdowns, but also three interceptions in a 47-21 Michigan walkover. Due to fact that they were in the middle of the season, the loss dropped the Irish 10 spots in the board, from second to 12th. Notre Dame and Brady never seemed to recover, the loss ended up being a rock in the shoe, wounding the heart out of the season for both the Irish and Quinn.

While Quinn didn’t sure enough lose out on the Heisman that day, it didn’t help his foundation. He ended third in the reckon award to Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith and Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden. Notre Dame went on to lose to the University of Southern California in the final game of the regular season, immersing the Irish all the way to 17th in the tables.

The final curse to Quinn and Notre Dame came at the hands of Louisiana State University in the Sugar Bowl when they went in a 41-14 beating. During the game, LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell completely humiliated Quinn, sending a message to the NFL scouts and recruiters that maybe Russell and not Quinn, was the better pro prospect for the draft.

Now, we are not saying Quinn had an awful senior season or career with the Fighting Irish, not in the least. He threw for 3,426 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2006, his fourth and final year at Notre Dame. For his career, Quinn will end up being one of the most productive passers in the school’s history, owning 30 school records including nine career and nine single campaign marks.

However, the stats favored Russell, who was taken first overall to the Oakland Raiders while Quinn dropped out of the top five all the way to the top 22. His free fall was remindful of current Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers back in 2005.

Quinn will always remember April 28th, 2007, in which he received great news and marked his future career path for the years to come. Brady was drafted by his favorite dream team, the Cleveland Browns.

Even if Quinn warmed the bench his entire 2007 rookie season, we’ve seen him taking notes in silence since the 08-09 season opened and if Anderson get’s traded or injured during this campaign, Brady will for sure get the job done!!



RUTTY

Daniel asked:




Michigan - 2 1/2 vs. Illinois

 

Just when you count them out, Michigan (2-2) (1-0) makes you pay.  Michigan Stadium’s 500th Game was one of the most thrilling in the stadium’s 80-plus year history.  Things could not have gotten worse after the first half in Ann Arbor.  Only one team in the Great Lakes State gets booed off their home field and that is the Detroit Lions, not the Michigan Wolverines, but that is exactly what happened last Saturday.  Then everything changed.  Trailing 19-0, Michigan scored to make it 19-7 and then incredibly scored two touchdowns in less than 10 seconds to take the lead they would not relinquish from the shell-shocked Wisconsin Badgers.  Can Michigan, written off after their turnover, in addition to rain-drenched debacle in South Bend two weeks prior, be a player in the Big Ten this season?  With the Wolverines knocking off the top team in the conference, and #9 team in the country, this is certainly possible.  But the big test will be this week when the Fighting Illini come calling for the 501st game at Michigan Stadium.

Illinois (2-2) (0-1) had Michigan right were they wanted them last season: on ABC in Primetime and in Champaign.  It didn’t work out so well for the Illini however, despite all the hype of Juice Williams and the resurgent Illini, the Wolverines beat them much like they usually do, 27-17.  Illinois may have more famous rivals like Northwestern or Missouri, but their hatred for the Maize and Blue is powerful and why not?  Chicago has a large Michigan alumni base which roots for Michigan and not the school at the other end of the state and the Illini is 21-66-2 since the series began way back in 1898.  Their last win came in 1999.  Last week, despite trying to fight back numerous times, the Nittany Lions had the right answers.  Illinois has got to get back on track and no better than in this game in Ann Arbor.  They must take advantage of their bitter rival in a perceived down year for them.  If they can steal a victory out of Ann Arbor, look for the team to really take flight with games against Minnesota, Indiana, Iowa and Western Michigan in a stretch of five games that includes Wisconsin.

For Michigan, a win against another quality Big Ten opponent will go a long way to giving the young team some confidence in a wide-open conference.

InSpin.com



HESLIN

Matthew Mulligan asked:


Each season brings a wealth of disappointing events to almost every fan of college football. After all, there is only one champion. Dealing with disappointment is difficult for most, but is a way of life for football fans that happened to attend a school that dedicates itself to basketball. Disappointments are especially difficult for fans of those teams who are used to beating up on everyone else. Following upset losses, these fans find themselves in a dither and have trouble ordering their morning Starbucks.

It is reasonable to be disappointed after one’s favorite team loses. It is unreasonable to throw rocks at the ref’s car. Some folks have dedicated themselves to football and when football lets them down, they go into a deep emotional free-fall called Over Dedication.

Signs of Over Dedication include acute depression when the favorite team loses. Individuals endure this, but occasionally, entire states mope around for weeks and can’t function after their team lays an egg on the field. Ohio State, Penn State, Nebraska, Texas and all the major programs have failed in their own expectations at some point. The teams get over a loss, but the fan’s emotional attachment to the team suffers such damage that every day life becomes a challenge.

The San Andreas Fault might run through the Cal Bears home field, but the real earthquakes took place earlier this season thousands of miles away in central Michigan. The bomb crater that was the Big House is still smoldering. Not far away from that, in South Bend, IN more tremors are occurring as the once invincible Fighting Irish rose to achieve a stunning 1-7 mark.

The cloud that still hangs over Ann Arbor smells of smoke and stale beer. Michigan needs a good wind. Michigan fans need help. Recovering from the embarrassment of losing unexpectedly and doing so in front of a television audience is a difficult task. Following their spectacular loss to someone called Appalachian State the Blue and Maize treated their fans in the subsequent week to another great public failure - this time to a team dressed too poorly for words (Oregon). This proved too much to bear. Coping skills have gone undeveloped in Ann Arbor. Inability to deal rationally with football failure raises questions of judgment and mental balance – which curiously enough, applies to winners as well as losers.

The following is a 12 Step Plan for the Over Dedicated Fan. These steps are the keys to enjoying life after a particularly disappointing loss. These steps involve increasing levels of difficulty. So follow along, learn from the descriptions and regain control over your life! This plan has been crafted to work in one week, so don’t give up!

1. Admit to being powerless over my football team — Admit that my life is unmanageable.

If you are in this position, your life is unimaginable. Witness those that paint body parts in team colors. Why would anyone do this – especially on cold autumn evenings? Most university infirmaries are half way houses dressed up as clinics where you can’t tell which half most of the residents are heading for. Inviting pneumonia isn’t good for the GPA and beer doesn’t make it better. Alums don’t handle this any better than students as many really didn’t want to graduate anyway.

Powerlessness over football passion is a threat to one’s well-being. Not spending the rent at the bar has always been a challenge – especially for Illinois fans. One must depend on one’s friends to spend their rent money on you at the bar. Then go home. This is a necessary life skill.

2. Belief in a power greater than myself that will restore sanity.

Usually, this power arrives in the form of a police officer. The officer is restoring sanity for everyone in your section, your dorm, your block or your house. This allows the recovering fan to receive a little time for quiet reflection along with some really big compatriots – one of whom is named Bucky.

3. Stop controlling and live in the moment.

You didn’t throw the interception. You can’t command the kicker to miss the extra point. You can’t get that cheerleader to look at you. So give it up. You have bigger problems – like getting a C on the English Comp paper that is due at 8 am Monday.

Alums have similar problems. Attending business meetings with a hangover is poor lifestyle choice. Alums also can’t get that cheerleader to look at ‘em. So unless you can pass better than Brady Quinn, sit in the stands and enjoy the game!

4. Assess your personal ethical strengths.

This is a quick step. Most fans check their moral inventories at the stadium gate. It is a short list anyway. And when they pick it up on the way home, its a whole lot shorter.

Assess what you value in life. Honestly ask yourself ‘am I a good person?’ When was the last time I bought a round down at the Stadium Inn? So if you hang out at the Stadium Inn, share the load.

5. Shine the light of day upon my wrongs.

Shine all you want.. You are in the stadium with 50,000 other people doing the same thing. Why does the TV Cameraman keep pointing at me?

Asking questions is healthy. Not answering them is dangerous. For Alums that can’t get tickets anywhere but the student section this is doubly dangerous. Holding the **** over your head and passing her off to the guy behind you only invites tough questions from the wife. Don’t do anything that you would be embarrassed about if it showed up on Action News at 11.

6. Throw away all deficient characteristics.

Right when I leave the stadium. Or… right after I leave the bar. Or… forget it I’m going to bed.

Character flaws reveal themselves all at once during football season. The combination of heat, cold, liquor, noise and good looking college co-eds causes most male sense to get booted right through Touchdown Jesus’ arms. Unfortunately, this scores no points and is a possible source of extortion when one finally wants to settle down and get married. This also allows female companions a useful opportunity to gain promises of future actions – not for things like cutting the lawn, but for big stuff like long vacations in exchange for allowing one to watch his team uninterrupted for a couple hours. Southern girls have this down to an art. If they go to a game, they don’t bring any money.

7. Implore the Supreme Being to remove all defects and shortcomings.

Right after he removes the shortcomings of our running game! Is God watching this? If he was, he’d hit that O-Line with a 2 by 12.

Asking God to remove one’s shortcomings is a job He’ll probably drop right back on your sunburned bald spot – and He’ll most likely laugh as you stumble through the exercise. You dug the hole, now you fill it in. If you want to watch Penn State play Slippery Rock instead of working on your Physics homework, your call. But save your breath come pop-quiz time. This applies to Alums who need work but only make it as far as the ESPN Zone.

8. Make things right with all that have been harmed.

Do referees count? How do I make it up to all the families in section 202?

Recovering fans really have to work at this. It is impossible to right the all wrongs of the season opening game. Everyone who heard your utterances while leaving the Big House last Saturday were thinking the same thing, though. Why should you be punished for saying what everyone else was thinking? The answer: because your conscience is buried in the closet with a bagel from last week, half a can of flat Miller Lite and your Black Sabbath tapes.

9. Provide reparation to those that have been wronged.

The Recovering Fan himself is included in this. This part of the process frequently goes bad for the RF as attempts to apologize only reignite the passions that caused the problem in the first place. Making an apology to a girlfriend while trying to climb up to her balcony is risky business – especially after the liquid required to gain courage for the venture.

10. Maintain personal ethical and moral standards and when wrong, promptly own up to it and correct any error.

Most Recovering Fans have to schedule this like a regular class. Alumni frequently have to re-enroll in this course and all tend seek the assistance of others. Others tend to have better observation skills towards our own actions. If not carefully selected, these “others” can actually be honest and cause you to have to do some real work. So it is important to choose a Recovering Fan who is crazier than you.

11. Meditate to improve relationship with the Supreme Being, not asking for outcomes, but for guidance.

Most prayerful moments on campus do in fact take place either at the football stadium or near Sorority Row. They are inspired pleas and impassioned prayers and for better or worse, are at least honest. Don’t worry about this one. Scholars are wrong when they say religion is gone from our college campuses. Prayer is an active part of campus life.

12. Keep the new-found peace close to your active, conscious self.

By the time most Over Dedicated fans get to this part, it is Friday evening and the gang is headed down to the local pub to psych up for tomorrow’s game. By Friday evening, it is difficult to raise the moral standards to a higher consciousness, so the standard practice is to lower one’s consciousness to the level of whatever moral state one falls into at the end of the week. This may be done at the Stadium Inn.

So have a good time on Saturday, but don’t do anything that will cause moral stress or anxiety should your team come out on the short end. And if Michigan tanks at home again this season, send a care package.

For more wit and wisdom, please visit http://firstworst.com - where losing comes first!



ANDRESEN