Maybe it says more about the current state of Notre Dame football than we care to admit, but seldom have the Irish been better in defeat than they were on Saturday. They took the best punch that the nation’s best football team could give them and they were still standing and ready to fight back.
You hear the trite comment that “(fill in the blank) didn’t lose, they just ran out of time.” Sometimes it’s actually true. Saturday, for instance.
In a battle that either proved that USC is overrated and a shaky successor to it’s back-to-back national championship teams, or that Notre Dame is much better than previously thought. Sure they were 4-1 heading into the game, but the wins over Pitt, Michigan, Washington and Purdue would seem bigger if the records of those four teams weren’t in the tank. The “experts” made USC an 11.5 point favorite and that seemed about right.
But Charlie Weis is worth the hype, and apparently 8.5 points. The game was great, if not greatly played. It was hard hitting, it had big plays, huge fourth down conversions on both sides and in the fourth quarter it took on a “the last team to have the ball wins” aura about it. You can’t blame the Irish for going ahead with two minutes left. Teams that intentionally try to milk the clock before scoring the go-ahead points, more often than not run time off the clock, then don’t score.
The huge fourth down play that Matt Leinart made says more about him, and the fact that he didn’t win that Heisman for nothing, than it does about anything else.
It was a great game. Notre Dame did themselves proud and USC showed why they have the winning streak they currently enjoy. If Weis and Pete Carroll stay in their jobs for another decade or so, there will be another decade or so of games much like this one.
And you don’t even have to remind Charlie that this is the only time he gets to lose the game and have it be somewhat acceptable.
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Even after seeing the Bears in person, I have no idea what to think of them. The defense is clearly very good, even if the Vikings seemed to have no discernable game plan to attack it.
What is even more apparent in person than on TV is how great Brian Urlacher is. It’s become trendy to call him overrated. It’s also just wrong. He impacts every play the other team runs. They try to run at him because to run away from him is to have him run you down from behind and maul you. But running at him is no great treat because he makes those plays, too.
Twice yesterday the Bears paired an Urlacher up the gut blitz with a stunt of their two tackles that opened a huge hole for Brian to run through. The first time, you could see Daunte Culpepper catch a glimpse of Urlacher running, untouched, through the line and Daunte threw it away immediately. The second time, Daunte didn’t even have a chance to do that, as Urlacher was slamming him to the ground before Daunte could react.
In the fourth quarter, Culpepper threw an interception to Chris Harris that was the direct result of Urlacher covering a receiver almost 40 full yards down the field. Most linebackers can’t stay with anybody that long, much less stay with them and play the pass in the air like a cornerback.
Offensively, Kyle Orton continues to overachieve and underwhelm at the same time. When he’s in a rhythm he’s a good passer. His passes are accurate and have a lot of life, but he also can go long stretches where he appears to have no clue. I suppose this is the lot in life of any rookie.
It’s a good thing Thomas Jones was able to go yesterday. I’m convinced Cedric Benson will be a fine NFL running back, but right now the best you can say about him is that he’s no Thomas Jones.
I was impressed with the number of guys who wore boat captain’s hats to the game in Fred Smoot’s honor. That’s a joke that might never get old.
Coach Meathead says that the boat scandal may be distracting the team. Gee, ya think?
Charlie Weis is proud of his team, but not happy. Charlie gets it.
Mike Sweetney has Eddy Curry in two areas. He’s more productive and he’s much, much fatter. Sweetney’s shorts are so big that if the Bulls’ charter plane ever starts to go down, the guys can ride those babies to safety.
Ken Rosenthal jabs at the bickering Cardinals. Good stuff.
Paul DePodesta is looking high and low for a new Dodgers manager. But he has brains enough not to look in Sacramento for a guy on a boat with a toothpick in his mouth and wristbands on, fishing with his son and dad. Since Dusty loves to fish so much, is there any way we could get Scott Peterson out on furlough long enough to take him out for a couple hours?
There is good news though, for Cubs’ fans. The Brewers are adding the unintelligble mutterings of Grady Little to their bench.
Former Rockford TV news lady (and hottie) Michelle Kosinski in in trouble for this hilarious report about flood ravaged New Jersey. Just watch it. You’ll see why she’s catching crap for this.
America’s finest news source with a story about how tired Peyton Manning’s wife is of his “audibles” at the “line of scrimmage.” That and his gay fondness for Kenny Chesney.
Ever since I said the Sox wouldn’t win another game this season, they’ve gone and won 12 of 13
My head is about to explode
I first learned of the magic word (c-sucker) that gets you tossed from Ron Luciano’s “The Umpire Strikes Back” before “Bull Durham”
He’s dead now.
BTW– how many ejections do you suppose Dave Pallone doled out in his career?
Cubs are going to acquire Luis Castillo, Derek Lowe, and Milton Bradley this offseason. It’s going to be great. My source told me.
I swear this happened. During a report in Anaheim last night for channel 7, the reporter there found a bottle of champaigne and started pouring whatever was left of it on the ground. When it went back to the newsdesk, whoever the black female anchor is said something to the effect of “pouring that champaigne is like a south side tradition of pouring some on the ground for the folks that couldn’t be there”
I swear this happened. During a report in Anaheim last night for channel 7, the reporter there found a bottle of champaigne and started pouring whatever was left of it on the ground. When it went back to the newsdesk, whoever the black female anchor is said something to the effect of “pouring that champaigne is like a south side tradition of pouring some on the ground for the folks that couldn’t be there”
I swear this happened. During a report in Anaheim last night for channel 7, the reporter there found a bottle of champaigne and started pouring whatever was left of it on the ground. When it went back to the newsdesk, whoever the black female anchor is said something to the effect of “pouring that champaigne is like a south side tradition of pouring some on the ground for the folks that couldn’t be there”
Those internal server errors are annoying…
Yelling “pussy” at Cuzzi as I went back to the clubhouse was in the full spirit of discussion and not at all antagonistic.
Never, EVER go to the clubhouse alone with Jim Edmonds, especially if the clothes you wear from home are covered in dog hair.
I’ll try to stand for the game tonight. If I need to grab some bench, I think Renteria may have left his “sitting donut” behind. I’ll use that.
It’s hard to believe a year that started out so much in favor of the Cubs, what with me getting elected to the Hall, could end up so awful, what with the Sox getting in the Series. I hope whoever goes to the Convention brings all of their bitterness and venom and directs it at McPansy, Hendry, Dude, and his staff of idiots
By “it”, you mean spit in the corners of my mouth, right?
Who cares if you bad mouth Hendry and company, your still there and will wet yourselves over getting to talk to Will Ohman. Your a pathetic bunch. Then Wrigley will sell out again, (even more seats, which is all they’ve done since 2003) market their losing ways and at the end of another losing season we will all say “if only so and so had not gotten hurt”. This is all getting old. If the Sox win it all, we should be happy we got to see a Chicago team win the world series, and then get a life!!!
Dear 12,
Your and you’re–not the same thing. And it was a nice touch how you went from “your” to “we.” Don’t lump us in with your inbred bunch.
“..We have a late report that the White Sox are chartering two cruise boats for all their fans this winter up in Minnesota. Besides the entire roster of players and coaches, Mayor Daley, his son (who is known for throwing kick ass parties), several ex- Black Panther alderman and South Side congressmen will be on the ‘fun’ boat. The rest of the anticipated flock of Southwest side Polish-American tradesmen will be in the ‘boring’ boat ice fishing….”
I’m on the fun boat, right? Have any Catholic School Girls you can fly in? Have I won the lottery or what?
It is kind of touching that Cub fans are being offered the opportunity to jump on the bandwagon. I’ll take a pass, however. But give me a call if they talk Minnie Minosa into another pinch hitting opportunity during the Series.
Let me know if Minnie Driver is on that bandwagon. I’d rather see her than Minoso.
Yeah, thats it #12.and we also got Krusty back and his idiots too.