ND’s Vital Signs: Schedules

I didn't agree with much Kevin White did, but, I did like the way he scheduled for success in football trying to get 7 home games a year. Heck, most of the superpowers nowadays have 8. No reason to over schedule, especially when you are averaging just 7 wins a season over the last 15 years.

I believe it was sweet Lou himself that did an article several months ago that summarized that when ND has a good team and plays a tough schedule, the results are more positive. Conversely, when ND has a good team and plays a so-so schedule, the results aren't as positive. Is that about right Lou; or am I off base.

Good article again Lou. Thank you for keeping us grounded in reality. If they execute on the field it will all fall into place. Also better to get Miami now rather in 2-3 years when Golden has had time to work his magic.

Does anyone remember the rumor several weeks back that Swarbrick was being courted for a new job? Obviously, he hasn't taken a new job. Just wondering if the possibility is still there or if that position has already been filled.

“If we want to be there, we better be able to make the argument that no one in the country played a tougher schedule, and so that's how we're going to build them."

-- Notre Dame is writing its own obituary. The new BCS format is likely going to be the top 3 conference champions plus a wildcard which will go to the otherwise highest rank team. Conference teams are going to in effect have 2 shots at getting into the final 4 whereas Notre Dame will have one. Meanwhile, conference teams will ease into their schedules with light teams and/or have a light team before or after the big game. ND will be forced to play Big 10 teams at the beginning of the schedule -- again -- and the big 10 can lose and still win a conference championship but when ND loses it basically screws itself out of the final 4.

I understand why ND wants to represent itself at the BCS table; I would too. But there are pretty much 2 things that are going to happen for the next 10 years assuming this model goes forward:
1. Notre Dame will never be in the final 4
2. Notre Dame will be a perpetual 3,4,5 game a season loser because of its brutal schedule.

Notre Dame needs to decide if it wants to win. All this bravado of "we'll just have to win it the hard way" is hollow. Notre Dame still makes its kids go to school, get good grades, stay disciplined, and is still based in Northern Indiana. These things don't make players tough -- these things make them tired from studying, stressed and burned-out. Meanwhile their opponent will have Notre Dame circled on their calendar - whether it is Michigan, Michigan State, Navy, Purdue, USC, you name it. At most of those schools, the kids don't worry about studying late at night.

Stay independent. Fine. But continue to be mediocre. Because that is what will happen. An independent Notre Dame will never play in the final 4.

dheinen,

That article you speak of doesn't ring a bell. There used to be a period under Lou Holtz when they would do better when they were under-ranked prior to the season (1988, 1993 or 1995, and then not as well when the expectations were higher like in 1990, 1992 or 1996), but I don't know if that's what you are referring to.

Either way, as nd4life4 pointed out, Notre Dame has not been excelling against top competition for a long time. It has lost nine straight to a top-10 team (a school record), with the last such win coming at Michigan in 2005, Charlie Weis' second game.

line um up will play um i love being independent for that reason getting the chance to play the top teams is what we are about.

Even Knute Rockne's first consensus national title team with the Four Horsemen and Seven Mules started off with Lombard and Wabash.

Irish Cedar....
My feelings exactly.
We need to have you present your case to the highers ups....if they listen we may have a chance down the road.

Well stated!!