Wednesday, September 24, 2008

ND Season Decided in the Next Two Weeks

The next 2 weeks will determine if this ND team will merely meet expectations (7-5 or 8-4) or exceed them (9-3 or 10-2 ). We have to defend our home turf against 2 teams we should beat.
I had MSU as a loss in my 9-3 prediction starting the season and they didn't do anything that dissuades me in that prediction.
MSU was just too big and pushed ND around on both sides of the ball. However, ND's 2 turnovers deep turned the tide from what could have been a close game. As Floyd progresses this year, we'll see fewer and fewer mistakes like that and more and more great plays. It is so good to see ND with a couple gamebreakers (Floyd & Tate).
Purdue will try some of the same pushing around, but they don't have the same talent this year as in past years, but ND will need to score points.
That means pass first and set up the run!
ND-31; Purdue-17

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Mr. Payments Last Game



This was shared on Rock's House this week:


"When I was a kid, before the days of the NBC contract, Notre Dame games were on cable more often than they are now. My parents didn't get cable, so I watched all of those games at my neighbor's house, Mr. Payment. He was an Irish-Canadian immigrant and loved Notre Dame football as much as anyone I know. Some of my best memories as a kid were watching those games with Mr. Payment. He would always "send me in" to the game. If there was a big offensive play, he would ask, "can you get in there and throw a block, Joe?" I'd say I could, and if the play worked, he'd congratulate me.


Now, I send my kids in the game.


When I was a teenager, Mr. Payment's son was my confirmation sponsor. I don't remember why, exactly, but Matt couldn't be there on the day of my confirmation, and Mr. Payment stood in for him. We were in the parking lot of the church listening to the ND-Tennessee game on the radio, and the confirmation mass was starting, with ND driving at the end of the game. I asked Mr. Payment what we should do, and he said, "It's Notre Dame. God'll understand." ND missed the kick to win the game, and I missed part of my confirmation. I'm glad I did.


Mr. Payment has been dying of cancer, and I went over to his place this week to watch the Michigan game with him. I asked him if he could get in there and play, and he said he'd run the defense. He did a stellar job. I held his hand during the alma mater, and he cried during it. He new it'd be his last one. He was right. Thank you, team, for winning this game. It means more to me than every other ND game I've seen put together, because it was Mr. Payment's last one.


You sent him out with win."

Posted by The Rock at Thursday, September 18, 2008

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Time for the Michigan Sweep


A very good friend of mine from Rotary, Judge Mike, was an ND grad and always celebrated here in the Land of the Skunkbear when the Irish vanquished both Michigan teams in a 2 week period.
Though I have vowed to carry on the tradition, I have had scant few opportunities as Sparty has had ND's number in South Bend.
Two years ago, my son Charlie and I saw a great ND victory in East Lansing when the Irish came back in a furious 4th quarter rally to beat Sparty.
Sparty was so concerned that the Irish were as classless as them that they had already prepared for defeat and had posted "guards" on the 50 yard line to prevent the Irish players from performing a similar classless ritual as they had performed in South Bend the year prior. Of course, the Irish came directly over to their fans and saluted them, then sang tha alma mater.
This is an image that will always define Sparty for me.
ND-31; Sparty-21.
GO IRISH!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

I'm Voting Democrat Because...


I'm voting Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would.

I'm voting Democrat because freedom of speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.

I'm voting Democrat because when we pull out of Iraq the bad guys will stop what they're doing because they now think we're good people.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that people who can't tell us if it will rain on Friday CAN tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if I don't start driving a Prius.

I'm voting Democrat because I'm not concerned about the slaughter of millions of babies so long as we keep all death row inmates alive.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. They need to break even and give the rest away to the government for redistribution as they see fit.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe three or four elitist liberals need to rewrite the Constitution every few days to suit some fringe element who would NEVER get their agendas past the voters.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that when the terrorists from over there come over here, I don't want to have any guns in the house to fight them off.

I'm voting Democrat because I love the fact that I can now marry whatever I want. I've decided to marry my horse.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 15% isn't.

Makes you wonder why anyone would ever vote Republican, right?!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

You Go, Girl!


So, the Dems had the first shot last week at their convention and all we heard was, " Evil George Bush and his buddy John McCain" from one speaker after another...including BHO, who really surprised me with how much time in his speech he took to take shots...below his dignity as a Presidential candidate, but I guess that comes with experience (oops, there's that word again). How many days until we get the good old morphing faces commercial from the Dems or Move On . org?

And now, the party of great platitudes and their minions in the press have nothing to say except to spout off half truths about the VP nominee. Harry Reid even referred to her as "shrill," not a word he has used about any man. And questioning whether she has the time to run with children at home...gimme a break, the gender police would skewer a Republican if he/she said that, but Dems get away with it. (Same way JoeB got away with his "clean and articulate" remark)

The Dems are scared to death, especially after she did so well last night and with the teleprompter operator continually screwing up. She actually did better than Rudy under similar circumstances and he's supposed to be a veteran. I loved a number of her quotes and it is worthwhile to watch the speech if you can.

They'll have a tough time connecting her to PRESIDENT (by the way) Bush as she has sued his administration numerous times over 10th Amendment issues.Go, Sarah, Go. She is going to Washington to serve the people. Amen!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

ND Opponents Have Mediocre Week One


Irish opponents had a mediocre week one at 5-6:


Cal Poly 29 – San Diego State 27 (SDS had no running game, but still should beat anyone with Polytechnical in their name for crying oput loud);


Utah 25 – Michigan 23 (It'll be one long year for the skunkbear);


California 38 – Michigan State 31 (MSU actually played a quality opponent tough);


Stanford 36 – Oregon State 28 (Nice start for Harbaugh with a conference win);


North Carolina 35 – McNeese State 27 (NC should beat McNeese State worse than this);


Oregon 44 – Washington 10 (Gee, is there a coaching problem in Seattle?);


Bowling Green 27 – Pittsburgh 17 (Wannstadt will be gone at this rate before we face Pitt);


Boston College 21 – Kent State 0 (Pretty lackluster game and crowd);


Navy 41 – Towson State 13 (Middies show their one dimensional offense is enough for Towson);


Northwestern 30 – Syracuse 10 ('Cuse is bad again this year);


USC 52 – Virginia 7 (SC is loaded and Sanchez looks like the real thing);


Purdue didn't play as the MAC was all tied up with the rest of the Big Ten.


Although some have criticized this schedule as weak, I would point out that 10 of 12 opponents are from BCS Conferences (Navy and SD State are the only non-BCS Conference Opponents). In addition, there are NO Championship Division opponents (that used to be 1-AA).

As a contrast, Skunkbear only plays 9 BCS Conference Teams (their Big Ten schedule and ND) and OSU plays a 1-AA (Youngstown State) and 2 non-BCS opponents. I maintain that a BCS team should be penalized for playing a 1-AA opponent. It is a tainted win at best.


Year in and year out I'd put the ND schedule against any in the country.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Hubba, Hubba, Hubba!


I can only quote a great American on this brilliant choice of VP:
"Babies, Guns and Jesus...Hubba, Hubba, Hubba!"