Rockne's Roundtable

IFR,

Absolutely, I gave a rating of the 10 best in Notre Dame history halfway through the year with three criteria:
• How long and how bad had the program been slumping prior to the turnaround?
• How much did it struggle a year earlier.
• How dramatic was the season.

My top 5, from 5 to 1, were 1957, 1913, 1929, 1988 and 1964. I'd probably have it in the top 3 right now. If you get an 11-2 finish, I'd probably have it 4th or 5th. If it is 12-1, definitely top 3. And if it is 13-0 with a national title, it goes to the top. If 13-0 without the national title (but still a BCS win), that becomes a little less clear just based on strength of schedule. That 1988 national title team defeated four teams that finished in the top 10 (Michigan, Miami, USC and West Virginia).

Agreed, I had us no better than 8-4 in August if everything went our way. It has been a special ride.

GO IRISH!

The mountain moved against Oklahoma but I have a feeling Kelly is getting ready to move something a little bigger come January

It has been a great season; I had us at 8-4; I have spent a lot of time hunting and on a trip to Ireland; so I have missed many of the games. Good thing I was gone so much, I think I would have had a heart attack!

Also, IFR, I know I have been gone for a long time; had a trip to Afghanistan, and I didn't ask, and I have no clue what it is, but I joined the Gringo Mafia; cause I thought it sounded cool I hope you don't mind. If you do mind, have a drink, take a deep breath and take some time with Mr. Wilson.

As a historian who specializes in the miitary, I second that GIGA!

Before the season started, I posted that this would be our best team since 1993. However, that didn't mean we'd be as good as that team. I believed we had the talent and coaching to beat any team on the schedule, but that the inexperience at QB and in the secondary would cost us a game or two here or there. So, I was really expected a nine or ten win season, but with the hope that a little magic could carry it to 11 or 12.

My bottom line is that this is much like 1988. No one thought that would be a championship year for Notre Dame. All signs pointed to '88 as the year to take the final step toward the championship runs in 89-90. So, yes, this is a kind of "out of the blue" WOW! Still, now that we're 10-0, anything less than 12 regular seasons wins will be a disappointment. That doesn't mean I would be disappointed in Kelly; just that I now KNOW we can beat USC, and will be crushed if we don't dominate both lines of scrimmage. There's a difference between winning a game and beating your opponent, and I want our guys to beat, to punish, to whip and to literally hurt and rip every last ounce of heart out of the Trojans. Play after play after play, I want them to punch USC in the mouth until the little sissies go running home to mama. I want the world to see how Lane Kiffin's lack of character has stripped it from his Trojan players, and how Kelly's abundance of it has built it in his. I want USC to be flat out scared every time they take the field against the Irish for the next 10 years. And, I am supremely confident that after next week, they will be.

^^^This - well said, Mr. Rice!

No need to even ask - anybody who does what you currently do for this country joins when/if he/she feels like joining. Military members even get to skip the case of beer that is due to each member when a new member joins. And the $99.99 entry fee. And I completely agree with GIGA - your sig should be Gringo Mafia General In Charge Of Football Negotiations.

Welcome aboard, sir. And I can't thank you enough for your service to this country.