Notre Dame (football only discussion)

[Gatorubet]

Skunk bears beating Domers 21-7. Midget QB running for bunches of yards. Domer qb out and some Montana kid is in

 

[Jake]

Their TE Rudolph is very good. Looks like NFL quality.

The defense, on the other hand...

 

[buckeyes_rock]

Their TE Rudolph is very good. Looks like NFL quality.

The defense, on the other hand...

There's a reason we've always called them NoD.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Reason #1 why the domers want no part of a Big Ten schedule. Over the last twenty years (and four coaches), they are 33-27-1 against Big Ten teams.

9/12/2009 @ Michigan (5-7) L 34 38
9/19/2009 vs. Michigan State (6-7) W 33 30
9/26/2009 @ Purdue (5-7) W 24 21

9/13/2008 vs. Michigan (3-9) W 35 17
9/20/2008 @ Michigan State (9-4) L 7 23
9/27/2008 vs. Purdue (4-8) W 38 21

9/8/2007 @ Penn State (9-4) L 10 31
9/15/2007 @ Michigan (9-4) L 0 38
9/22/2007 vs. Michigan State (7-6) L 14 31
9/29/2007 @ Purdue (8-5) L 19 33

9/9/2006 vs. Penn State (9-4) W 41 17
9/16/2006 vs. Michigan (11-2) L 21 47
9/23/2006 @ Michigan State (4-8) W 40 37
9/30/2006 vs. Purdue (8-6) W 35 21

9/10/2005 @ Michigan (7-5) W 17 10
9/17/2005 vs. Michigan State (5-6) L 41 44
10/1/2005 @ Purdue (5-6) W 49 28
1/2/2006 vs. Ohio State (10-2) L 20 34 @ Tempe, AZ Fiesta Bowl

9/11/2004 vs. Michigan (9-3) W 28 20
9/18/2004 @ Michigan State (5-7) W 31 24
10/2/2004 vs. Purdue (7-5) L 16 41

9/13/2003 @ Michigan (10-3) L 0 38
9/20/2003 vs. Michigan State (8-5) L 16 22
9/27/2003 @ Purdue (9-4) L 10 23

9/7/2002 vs. Purdue (7-6) W 24 17
9/14/2002 vs. Michigan (10-3) W 25 23
9/21/2002 @ Michigan State (4-8) W 21 17

9/22/2001 vs. Michigan State (7-5) L 10 17
12/1/2001 @ Purdue (6-6) W 24 18

9/16/2000 vs. Purdue (8-4) W 23 21
9/23/2000 @ Michigan State (5-6) L 21 27

9/4/1999 @ Michigan (10-2) L 22 26
9/11/1999 @ Purdue (7-5) L 23 28
9/18/1999 vs. Michigan State (10-2) L 13 23

9/5/1998 vs. Michigan (10-3) W 36 20
9/12/1998 @ Michigan State (6-6) L 23 45
9/26/1998 vs. Purdue (9-4) W 31 30

9/13/1997 @ Purdue (9-3) L 17 28
9/20/1997 vs. Michigan State (7-5) L 7 23
9/27/1997 @ Michigan (12-0) L 14 21

9/14/1996 vs. Purdue (3-8) W 35 0
9/28/1996 vs. Ohio State (11-1) L 16 29

9/2/1995 vs. Northwestern (10-2) L 15 17
9/9/1995 @ Purdue (4-6-1) W 35 28
9/30/1995 @ Ohio State (11-2) L 26 45

9/3/1994 vs. Northwestern (3-7-1) W 42 15 @ Chicago, IL
9/10/1994 vs. Michigan (8-4) L 24 26
9/17/1994 @ Michigan State (5-6) W 21 20
9/24/1994 vs. Purdue (4-5-2) W 39 21

9/4/1993 vs. Northwestern (2-9) W 27 12
9/11/1993 @ Michigan (8-4) W 27 23
9/18/1993 vs. Michigan State (6-6) W 36 14
9/25/1993 @ Purdue (1-10) W 17 0

9/5/1992 vs. Northwestern (3-8) W 42 7 @ Chicago, IL
9/12/1992 vs. Michigan (9-0-3) T 17 17
9/19/1992 @ Michigan State (5-6) W 52 31
9/26/1992 vs. Purdue (4-7) W 48 0

9/7/1991 vs. Indiana (7-4-1) W 49 27
9/14/1991 @ Michigan (10-2) L 14 24
9/21/1991 vs. Michigan State (3-8) W 49 10
9/28/1991 @ Purdue (4-7) W 45 20

 

[ulukinatme]

Good data, but why would ND want nothing to do with the Big 10's schedule? Wouldn't they quit scheduling them if that were the case? Is this referencing the on again, off again speculation of ND joining the conference? Notre Dame's record against the Big 10 hasn't been stellar, but if we look back at their performance since the mid 90s, it's been up and down (Mostly down) across the board for all opponents, Big 10 included.

 

[TheIronColonel]

Because they're 0.541 against the Big Ten over that span, which would be the 6th best conference winning percentage over that span. ND doesn't want to join a conference and find themselves sitting at the bottom end of the top half of the conference.

 

[ulukinatme]

Again, Notre Dame has been up and down, but mostly mediocre at best since the mid 90s despite not being in the Big 10. If they did move to the Big 10, it would probably be a lateral move at best schedule wise. They would still have some elite opponents, they would still have some average match ups, and you'll still have some cupcakes, not much different than what they have now I wager. Nebraska coming over could change things for the future though, that was a strong pickup as they're on their way back up. It's not the schedule that's keeping Notre Dame out of the Big 10.

 

[Zippercat]

Because they're 0.541 against the Big Ten over that span, which would be the 6th best conference winning percentage over that span. ND doesn't want to join a conference and find themselves sitting at the bottom end of the top half of the conference.

Is it valid to project their record against, for the vast majority of their listed B10 games, only the same 3 teams teams to what their record might be with a full conference schedule? I'm not a stats expert but that seems to be a bit of a stretch......

Every team seems to have certain opponents that, for whatever reason, are always a tough game, even if that opponent is in a down year. Might that be part of what's behind ND's Big 10 record?

 

[TheIronColonel]

Oh it's not a good extrapolation at all. There's zero statistical validity to it. However, ND was only routinely playing 1 team that was any good at all (UM). They dodged Iowa, OSU, Wisconsin, and (mostly) State Penn, while racking up wins against MSU and Purdue. I think that they missed an equal number of bad and good opponents (give or take), and that it's probably a reasonable first order approximation to put them somewhere between .500 and .600 in conference play over that span. That's still not very damn good. But there's no good statistical basis for making that statement.

 

[jwinslow]

It is a good selection of teams. Nd woule be in um / msu's division, ans purdue is a lot easier than nebraska or iowa, let alone wisconsin, psu, or osu.

Is it valid to project their record against, for the vast majority of their listed B10 games, only the same 3 teams teams to what their record might be with a full conference schedule? I'm not a stats expert but that seems to be a bit of a stretch......

Every team seems to have certain opponents that, for whatever reason, are always a tough game, even if that opponent is in a down year. Might that be part of what's behind ND's Big 10 record?

 

[jwinslow]

Assuming the big ten remains stupid and keeps the same divisions, nd would surely join their division. Let's look at their typical schedule:

Neb - USC - very comparable over the long haul.

Nd's average schedule does not match up with osu or psu's inclusion. They occasionally play an iowa or minnesota type (glen mason era) in pitt, unc or ucla, but they do not face an osu type other than bowls, and those rarely turn out well for the irish.

Um, MSU, and probably USC are a given. Then you are left with Iowa (comparable current opponents ), and a 50% chance of facing OSU, Wisky and PSU. That is where the nd schedule would face a huge upgrade.

They face enough iowa and northwestern types, but almost never face squads like those oh top of um and USC. They may face a 9-4 psu type, but not a 10-12 win BCS bound version of those.

Again, Notre Dame has been up and down, but mostly mediocre at best since the mid 90s despite not being in the Big 10. If they did move to the Big 10, it would probably be a lateral move at best schedule wise. They would still have some elite opponents, they would still have some average match ups, and you'll still have some cupcakes, not much different than what they have now I wager. Nebraska coming over could change things for the future though, that was a strong pickup as they're on their way back up. It's not the schedule that's keeping Notre Dame out of the Big 10.

 

[WolverineMike]

read an article today that said Crist finished that opening drive with blurred vision. The one that they scored on. Fully healed now and ready for MSU. Glad to see it wasn't serious.


BUT, what's that say for the Michigan D AND the drop off at QB behind Crist at ND that a half blind kid could lead them down the field and score but neither of his backups could.......


and gatorubet, compared to Tate, Denard is a giant.....

 

[BB73]

read an article today that said Crist finished that opening drive with blurred vision. The one that they scored on. Fully healed now and ready for MSU. Glad to see it wasn't serious.

They were giving him smelling salts on the sidelines. I was surprised they put him back in there in the same game in which he got his bell rung hard enough to have to come out, needed smelling salts and had blurred vision.

But apparently the ND medical staff believed that Crist suffered an 'ocular migraine', rather than a concussion.

Chicago.now

...

Instead, Crist is said to have (though I haven't been able to source it, and really shouldn't trust anyone anymore) had an ocular migraine, a bizarre little affliction that is temporary, isn't related at all to concussions, usually goes away after an hour, and commonly features vision problems in a single eye. That's right, Dayne Crist losing vision in a single eye was more normal than if he had lost it in both. Heh, what a sport.

While ocular migraines can be brought on by stress, lack of sleep, missed meals, and all sorts of other things that might afflict someone thinking too much about their first game against Michigan, like regular migraines, their recurrence--if it recurs at all--varies a great deal from person to person. Some people get migraines once a month, I personally get them about once every two years. Hopefully Crist gets them once a college career at the most. Either way, his health still probably projects better than Denard Robinson running 30 times a game while not even weighing 200 lbs for the rest of the season.

Cont'd ...

 

[ulukinatme]

I question putting Crist back into the game after hearing some of the reports. At one point Crist was in a huddle on the sideline and told the Offensive Coordinator that he just didn't remember what a certain play was. Thats when they decided to pull him. The blurred vision was gone after an hour, but he had some good swelling on his face Sunday I guess. They say he'll be 100% for MSU Saturday, but they better have Montana or Rees more prepared from here on out. One thing is for sure, in it's current state this offense is pretty ineffective without Crist currently.

Back to scheduling, Notre Dame's list of opponents hasn't been as stellar as it used to be. Some of this has been drop offs with teams like Tennessee and UCLA, and some of it has been catering to Big East ties and adding cupcakes the last few years. Kelly has been pushing for a return to a tougher schedule however, and reviving some of the old rivalries. He's talked to the AD about getting back to teams like Alabama, and they're already slated Oklahoma and Miami for future games. Theres already been some talks that ND will be having regular games scheduled with BYU in November as BYU has gone the independant route.

As far as Notre Dame and the Big 10, IronColonel mentioned that ND has routinely only played one Big 10 team that was any good in Michigan, while racking up wins against MSU. I gotta point out that Notre Dame has been routinely playing crappy against MSU and isn't racking up anything on them :) I think if you go back as far as '97, Notre Dame has only had 4 wins against Sparty in '02, '04, '06, and '09. I don't think Bob Davies ever beat them. The only other team that was similar in strength to Notre Dame and beats them down as often is BC, the Irish always play horrible against them. Maybe it's because Michigan State usually falls after the Michigan game, coaches have said it's tough to get going after an emotional high like that. In any case, the Irish have had less problems with Michigan, which is strange. If they did join a Big 10 conference with UM, MSU, and Purdue it probably would be pretty similar to what they have currently if Nebraska continues to rise back up. It would all depend on their out of conference games though.

 

[GoodLifeSean]

If it was in fact an occular migraine that makes his play impressive. I get those every once in a while. I can't do anything but lay down in the dark b/c I can't see. Impressive.