The Back Corner Fade
Back when I picked the Irish to go undefeated back in August, I figured USC would be a hard fought game and it would go down to the wire and the season would be on the line. We’ll just go ahead and hit the “B.S. Alarm” right there. At the start of the season, I figured 9-3 would probably be a pretty safe bet and 10-2, maybe even 11-1 if a break came here and there. Like the vast majority of you, I just didn’t know if the offense could consistently produce enough points to play at a championship level. Having a brand new offensive line, unproven receivers, and being very uneasy at QB, were very valid concerns. We knew that the defense was going to be solid personnel, but we also had a first year coordinator coming in so there were plenty of unknows in that department as well.
Fast forward 13 weeks later and I think it’s fairly safe to say that we had our questions answered in spades. Yes, Ian Book played well when he had his opportunities last year, but did anyone see this coming? This kid was a “Red Hat Raider” for a the first quarter of the season and has come on to lead this offense (and possibly Chip Long to a big pay day) to a different level. Dex Williams showed some flashes, but his inability to block air and off the field issues left one to assume that he was going be in Kelly’s Kennel and he might help us some, but couldn’t be counted on as the go-to guy. Who thought Myles Boykin was going to have a Will Fuller type year this season? Sure “the catch” against LSU was terrific, but what else had he really done to that point in his ND career?
How about the defense? We knew that they’d be good, but this??? Under 17 points a game and Lea has turned good players into great players. This is as good a defense as I can remember in South Bend and my recollections go back to the early 80’s. They’re damn good.
Finally, Brian Kelly. Did anyone see this kind of coaching job coming from this man? 9 years in town and he’s had some great moments, some not so great moments, and a lot of close but no cigars. Granted, the mission is yet to be complete, but this has been a masterful piece of coaching. Love him, hate him, there is no debating the job he’s done this season (and really, the majority of last season.)
All this adds up to a very memorable year and a trip to the College Football Playoffs. Has it sunk in yet?
What did we learn last week and have to look forward to this weekend? Well plenty, and the picture is becoming more and more clear what the final acts of the 2018 season are going to look like.
Well, the “Revenge Tour” took a slight detour in Columbus and now America’s Team got their hands properly on the steering wheel now at 10 and 2 and looking from the outside, actually way outside, looking in. Personally, I find it hilarious. Michigan beat Penn St., who else? Don’t say Northwestern. If we would have showed up in the 2nd quarter of that game it would have been a 24 point route. I dare say if we would have played them again with Ian and Dex, we would beat Michigan by 17-21 points.
You guys have all seen “The Natural” and probably remember the scene when Roy Hobbs gas pieces “The Whammer” outside of the train station. Barbara Hershey stares at old Wham-O in shock then her gaze slowly looks at Hobbs as if to lock on to a different target. The “Lady on the Train” is ESPN and OSU is now Roy Hobbs. Prepare yourselves for a week-long Buckeye love fest from the Boys from Bristol. Just one week ago the Buckeyes were a bad throw to a wide-open Maryland receiver from their second loss, and now they’re the darling that could get the 4th golden ticket for the right to get the living hell beat out of them by Alabama.
To do that, they’ll have to jump Oklahoma who plays in the Big 12 title game against Texas. Ok, let me just give a quick thought on the Big 12: it reminds me of Pro Wrestling. Sure it’s fun to watch from time to time for about fifteen minutes, but at the end of the day you really can’t take it seriously. Hell, you might as well scrap having Maria Taylor or whatever network lady interview the coach at halftime or before the game Just get Mean Gene up there floating the softballs. I’d love to see Lincoln Riley come out with Ray-Ban Aviators on ala Ric Flair talking about being a Rolex wearing son-of-a gun and what he’s going to do to Texas when he gets him on the field.
Hopefully Tom Herman can take a break from his Twitter War with Zach Smith to have his boys ready. It’s going to be high scoring, we know that. First one to 50 wins.
No, I don’t think Pitt can beat Clemson, but I also think Pitt can be a pain in the backside to Clemson for the majority of the game. I see Clemson slow-roasting these guys, and beat them by 14 to 21 points. They’ll never be in any danger of losing this game, but it’s going to be ugly football and a body blow performance by the Tigers.
Washington and Utah in the Pac-12 Title Game. Is there anyone outside of these two fan bases that actually cares in the least what happens in this game? I’m sure the Pac-12 brass is just beyond excited to have these two as the “faces of the conference.” Washington should take care of this one, like Clemson, in the 14-21 point range.
Just a random thought: At the start of the season, if I would have told you that only four of the eleven opponents (VT still has one more to play) would not be bowl eligible, would you have guessed SC and FSU would have made up two of the four?
Finally, the big one in Atlanta, which really was a foregone conclusion in my opinion since day one features Alabama and Georgia, or in some sections of the Southeast United States, is considered the “real” National Title game. I expect Georgia to play them about as well as anyone can. They’re loaded all over the field with athletes, and frankly, would probably be favored against any other team in the country other than Alabama. Like a broken record though, I won’t believe it until I see it, and think, once again, the Tide rolls. Bama by 12.
This time next week, the Irish will know their fate and the destination that their playoff game will be. I’m sure you’re all just as excited as me to know where and when we’ll get to lace up the gloves and take our shot.
Last year, after the mind-numbing loss on The Farm, Irish fans had to wait to hear which 2nd tier bowl they were headed to. Two years ago, we were waiting to hear if Brian Kelly was even going to be our coach. I like this “limbo week” a whole hell of a lot more than the two previous seasons. I could sure get use to this.
Love thee Notre Dame!