Not only are your favorite baseball teams working out in Arizona or Florida getting ready for the season, but your favorite college football team is probably also getting ready to begin their own version of Spring Training. Probably not much of a secret, my favorite CFB team is Notre Dame (a very “mixed blessing” for sure). The Fighting Irish usually hold 4-5 weeks of practice starting in March that culminates in the annual Blue-Gold game at ND Stadium in April.
In past posts this winter, I have voiced an opinion about what the Irish MUST to do in ’09 in order for head coach Charlie Weis to keep his job heading into the 2010 season. Given ND’s maturing talent in the Soph thru Senior classes, what appears to be a favorable schedule in ’09, and the exodus of assistant coaches whose units were terribly underperforming, I’ve been opining that ND MUST go at least 9-3 in the regular season …. and LOOK GOOD doing it. In other words, 9-3 cannot include getting squashed again by USC, or anyone else for that matter. If we even have 3 losses, they better be of the unlucky last second variety. I can definitely reason out an expectation of a 10-2 record and a potential BCS bid. Again, the talent is there and they now have the experience and strength gained from 2-3 years of college training. It’s up to Weis now. There are no more excuses … 2009 sets up perfectly for a VERY GOOD season. If ND fails … he’s out.
Apparently, “The Rock” over at NDNation.com feels the same way. Here’s an article “No Room for Error” recently posted over there:
https://www.ndnation.com/articles/2009/02/no-room-for-error.html
Oh … and while we’re sort of on the subject of coaches on the hot seat, ND’s basketball team was heading into ’08-’09 under the same type of premise … or Mike Brey was. At least that’s my opinion. He’s been there for 9 years!!! Either deliver a great season and at least a Sweet Sixteen appearance … or get lost! If ND hoops fails to make the NCAA tournament, I believe Mike Brey should be shown the door …. or at the very least put on triple-double probation.
From Wally’s World … have a great weekend!
Given ND’s win over Providence Saturday, Brey & Co can probably earn an invite to the Big Dance if they:
1) Win 3 of their following final four games (Rutgers, @Conn, ‘Nova, and St Johns). This would make them .500 in the conference at 9-9.
2) Win at least their first BE Tournament game.
3) Succeeding with 1&2 above would put the Irish at 19-13 overall with an approx Top 8 standing in the Big East. I think 8 BE teams will make it.
4) Texas’s win over Oklahoma was good for ND. ND’s win over Texas early on is one of their few resume builders. A win over ‘Nova or UConn would be nice to add.