Note: Mike Kane is an IrishSportsDaily.com customer and Notre Dame fan writing a weekly column about the lighter side of college football.
I’m sure many of you remember some of the great Lou Holtz quotes from over the years. Lord knows he had plenty of them, but one of my favorites was: “Men, this game doesn’t have to be close.” I had that feeling last Saturday evening as the Irish rope-a-doped their way out of Las Vegas with a 28-20 win over BYU. ND was clearly the superior team on both sides of the ball but found ways to keep the Cougars in the game much longer than need be. That all being said….
This team is getting better. Whatever was said or done at halftime of the Cal game has seemed to have lit a fire in the boys and they are starting to look like what we thought they could be. Case in point, they should have beat BYU by 20+ and most of us (we’re ND fans, it’s our MO) were a little cranky after the game. Did anyone think after Marshall we could even beat BYU let alone feel it should have been a blowout? I’m just glad to be pissing and moaning after wins again.
What did we learn this past week?
A couple weeks ago an ISD reader said I should back off Brian Kelly since he’s not affiliated with Notre Dame anymore. I see the logic behind that, but when you lose that bad at home in an SEC game, I just might have to mention it. LSU was completely dominated in front of the Baton Rogue faithful on Saturday afternoon and a harsh reality had to hit BK: they can’t play with the Big Boys of the SEC. Not enough RKG’s, culture beating scheme, and adhering to spread principles are at play and if these things don’t improve, LSU fans may have to simply get use to these kinds of beatings.
I remember this time last year the specter of facing UVA and Brennan Armstrong was unnerving. They were putting a crazy amount of points and winning ball games. Matter of fact some of the people in ISD land were hoping he might enter the transfer portal and look at South Bend as a possible landing spot. He did stay at UVA and looks nowhere near the QB he was before he was injured last season. That isn’t all on him as he’s playing for a new coach in Tony Eliot with a different playbook and not much to work with in terms of playmakers. UVA wore another one this weekend at home to Louisville. The race is on to determine who the worst team in Virginia is: UVA or Virginia Tech.
Speaking of the state of Virginia: James Madison is undefeated and in the Top 25, five games into their first season of D1.
“Dabo, hellllllllp!!” That was the cry coming from the Oklahoma locker room after the Sooners were completely dismantled by just a “meh” Texas team on Saturday. Maybe there’s a reason the Brent Venables has never been a head coach, and it’s taken five games to show up? Losses at home to K-State, then being blown out at TCU and by your archrival are not good looks. I think back to great coordinators from the past: Bud Foster, Monty Kiffin, Norm Chow (yes, I realize he spent a few years as a head coach) and they knew to stay in their lanes and knew they weren’t head coaches. I’m starting to think that’s what this may end up to be.
For the 15 or so Northwestern fans out there, they must be about done with Pat Fitzgerald. This time losing at home (not like that’s an advantage) to Jim Leonhard in his first game as HC at Wisconsin by 35. Fitzgerald has done an admirable job in his time there, but the program is stale, and this year (and last year for the matter) is more evidence of that. A few weeks back Northwestern announced that they are building a new stadium. Do they really want this guy still running the show when that place opens up?
Lots of good games this weekend. Let’s take a gander…..
Michigan is finally playing a team with a pulse for the first time this season as they play host to Penn State. I’m actually looking forward to seeing how good Penn State is right now as well. They’re toughest game of the year was against mighty Purdue, while the Corn and Blow’s toughest was against an Iowa team that would have a hard time getting to 20 points against your local Pop Warner team. I would say this game is fairly evenly matched, and it may come down to coaching at the end. It pains me say this but give me the Khaki Krusader over Pierre McGuire (you hockey guys will dig that reference) in a close, boring Big 10 game. UM 24-17.
Speaking of teams that are playing a real opponent, USC finally gets a tough one going on the road to Utah. The Utes were smoked last week at UCLA (fabulous pick on my part taking the Utes) but seem to be a different animal in Salt Lake. I love the contrast in styles as SC plays their wide-open, chuck and duck offense, where Utah wants to slam it down your throat and play physical football. Styles make fights and I think we’ll see that here. Utah gives Lincoln Riley his first loss with a FG at the horn. Utah 28-27.
I’m really looking forward to Saturday afternoon as Alabama travels to Rocky Top to take on the Vols who have been outstanding so far this season averaging over 550 yards a game. Alabama really has looked ordinary all year, and there hasn’t been that one game yet that they’ve looked the machine we’re use to seeing. If Bryce Young is out they have a major problem on their hands, and frankly if he does play they’re in for a tough one. Is this the year that UT gets over on Nick the Di….Saban? Until I see it, I’m going with the Tide. Bama 31-29.
Sneaky good one in the Big 12 as Oklahoma State travels to upstart TCU. Sonny Dykes has quietly done a fantastic job so far, and the Frogs are playing terrific football. OSU just does what they always do, namely win a lot of football games that nobody seems to notice or care. They should take notice since they are an explosive offense that can score on anybody and play enough defense to go with it. OSU does it again. Pokes 34-27.
Last but not least, the Irish welcome Hall of Fame whiner David Shaw and his band of smart guys known as the Stanford Cardinal to town for a night game in the Bend. Anyone who has read my gibberish over the past few seasons knows I have a special disdain for David Shaw, and anytime he loses I firmly believe an angel gets it’s wings. That being said, there are four new angels in the past four weeks as Stanford has been reeling after an opening week win against Colgate (congrats boys, you beat toothpaste.) The last time out the Cardinal blew a 14-point 4th quarter lead against an average Oregon State team at home in front of dozens of people.
I’d love to see ND come out for 60 minutes and play all gas/no brakes for once and just take this team out early and keep their foot on their throat as they have the last three seasons. Nothing would make me happier than to see an Angeli to Merriweather connection for six in the 4th quarter as Dave looks on with his smug grin, shaking his head. Injuries along the defensive front are a concern, and if guys like Cross and Foskey can’t go, this might make this interesting for a while, but in the end, ND simply has more talent across the board, are more physical, and take another step in the right direction with a night win at home. Irish 41-17.
Beat Stanford.
