Rockne's Roundtable

My prediction is 6 games too; I have said many times this year's schedule is pure idiocy and is designed to kill coaches; and we have not been relevant for 20 years. Am I a hater?

9 minimum

Sad to say this has been going on for a number of years now--ESPN, and
others, such as SI, writing and talking about ND and "relevance." Obviously,
ND is "relevant" and just as obviously, ND has not been the subject of
much discussion when the national championship, premium bowl bids
and post-season hoop-la takes place(with rare exception) since the end
of the Holtz era. Like it,or not, we have to start to win games--the recent
thread initiated by Lou on winning them all at home, beating Michigan-
Michigan State, beating USC or once again, landing some "touted"
recruits was timely and telling. Since Holtz left South Bend in 1996,
we are approximately 107-78, including BK's 16-10.

That's 78 losses!! 78 times in 16 years or 4.875 losses a year, year in
and year out, with precious little to get excited about after September
in most seasons. The problem is, "one of the most powerful fan bases"
feels impotent, impotent to put an end to the mediocrity, impotent to
create a climate where losing at home is anathema, impotent to prevent
the snatching of losing from the jaws of victory, impotent to prevent
turnover after turnover, inopportune penalty after inopportune penalty,
impotent to have DBs that look for the ball, impotent to prevent fumbles
from turning into 98 yard touchdowns for our opponents and, perhaps,
above all, impotent to create that feeling that one can sit down and
tune in with some degree of confidence that ND-Michigan, ND-USC
and ND-Oklahoma will once again be magical.

If ND isn't relevant, then why does ESPN telecast any Irish games? And why do so many teams want to play ND in prime time?

It's interesting Ware is talking about relevancy, he hasn't mattered since he won the Heisman.

I'm going with a 9-4 record this year.

The whole 'relevent'/'irrelevent' shtick is so old and worn down. It's a topic made for ESPN.com comments sections. If they only talked about football teams relevant to the National Championship then they may as well change 'College Football Live' to 'SEC Football Live'.

This is the 76th time I have said this
11-2/10-3 this season, with he bowl game being the decider. I do not think we come out against OK alive or U$C(just being honest, don't kill me with down votes) but we have a really shot, with confidence and talent, to really kick butt this season.
Floyd is gone which hurts alot but even Kobe couldn't win without a big man, or d-wade. No team succedes without other players contributing in a major way. Maybe Floyd leaving will let us focus on other players and open the field.
Every team with a big name WR hasn't gone far cause the coaches are so focused on getting him the ball. As soon as you have 5-6 "no-name" guys, the teams starts humming and egos are fed just a little more.
GO IRISH!

Andre Ware, now that's calling the kettle black. He hasn't been relevant for years.

Sounds like the Cubs!?