I am dedicating the month of February to the Big East because in my opinion, it figures to be the most exciting conference with multiple teams on the bubble or hanging on to tourney hopes by a thread. Now, I am not saying it's the best conference this year (that belongs to the Big 12), but there are many teams who need a big February to be dancing come March. Let's look at these teams.
Marquette Golden Eagles (13-8, 4-5)- Best win: vs. Georgetown, at 19. UConn Worst defeat: at DePaul. Hardest games left: a three-game road trip versus two bubble teams potentially a third. Cincinnati, St. Johns, and Seton Hall. Outlook: I think they will be a solid position going into the Big East Conference Tournament likely needing one win to help their cause and another to solidify it. In addition, they cannot drop a home game to South Florida or DePaul. CHANCES: Probably
Cincinnati Bearcats (14-7, 5-4)- Best win: vs. Vanderbilt, vs. Maryland Worst defeat: at St. Johns Hardest games left: Ending the year at 6. West Virginia, vs. 2. Villanova, and at 8. Georgetown. Outlook: They still have to play Cuse and Nova albeit it both at home, also add in the other two top 10 teams. It could be shaky for the Bearcats come March. If they could win one of two against the Orange or the Cats, they would be in great shape. CHANCES: Maybe
Louisville Cardinals (14-8, 5-4)- Best win: vs. Cincinnati Worst defeat: at Seton Hall Hardest games left: home/away with 4. Syracuse Outlook: Also the Cards have to face Georgetown, UConn, Marquette, and the Orange to end the year. Likely, if they can come out 3-1 in that stretch and win the games they are suppose to, they may become locks for the tourney. CHANCES: Not Likely
Notre Dame Fightin' Irish (15-7, 4-5)- Best win: vs. West Virginia Worst defeat: at Rutgers Hardest games left: at 8. Georgetown Outlook: They have some tough games like Marquette but only two ranked teams left in Gtown/Pittsburgh on their schedule with a variety of road/home games. The Irish cannot afford any more hiccups on the road like last Saturday. CHANCES: Probably
South Florida Bulls (15-7, 5-5)- Best win: at 8. Georgetown Worst defeat: vs. Central Michigan Hardest games left: at 2. Villanova Outlook: The Bulls might be the suprirse team of the season now winning five straight games, they face one ranked team left plus the equal amount of home/road games. I think this team needs to split those four road games for them to be a factor. CHANCES: Maybe
UConn Huskies (13-9, 3-6)- Best win: vs. (then) 1. Texas Worst defeat: at Louisville Hardest games left: at 4. Syracuse, at 2. Villanova Outlook: The Huskies have a ton of tough road games left and with the uncertainty of Jim Calhoun, it doesn't look promising for UConn. CHANCES: Not good.
If you are scoring at home, I think the two teams who can control their own destiny are Marquette and Notre Dame. In addition, I think South Florida and Cincinnati both have chances to make some waves of their own. When it's all said and done I think the Big East only gets seven teams in.
-Charlie.
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Showing posts with label Notre Dame Fightin' Irish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Notre Dame Fightin' Irish. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Friday, December 11, 2009
Brian Kelly Lands in South Bend
When the Notre Dame saga first began I told my editor and good friend Mach that "No way does Kelly take the job, he likes where he is at and I have a hard time seeing him going there." Mach's response... "No, Chuck he is taking the job." He reminded me about this on Facebook last night and it's a good call by Mr. Mach.
Once again like John Wall who we covered last night, everyone on ESPN loves this hire and I am starting to warm to the idea of Kelly being the head coach of Notre Dame. I like the fact that he knows how to win football games no matter who is at quarterback or the situation that puts it in front of him. Tony Pike and Zack Collaros are not even on the depth chart last year when Kelly had to use them for this season due to the injury. If you do not remember, Cincinnati is 12-0 right now with those two quarterbacks. In my opinion, Kelly knows how to win. Let's not forget that Kelly completely changed his offense after a Big East championship year because he didn't have the right guys to run that sort of offense. Honestly, this is guy is as big of a winner as anyone in the football field.
The other thing I love about Kelly is the fact he knows how to control the media better than most coaches. He has that sort of smart-ass attitude that a Bill Parcells, Rex Ryan, and any other coach that seems to bite the media with one-liners that people can respect. Kelly demands the respect of his players and the media, which is huge. No longer will the media bully around the head coach of Notre Dame like they did with Charlie Weis. If you listen to his press conference, he ignores the media consultant and speaks from the heart instead of doing the "Wade Phillips."
Some felt that the Fightin' Irish should have gone with more of a defensive-minded such as Bob Stoops (they couldn't get him for all the money in world). But Joe Schad of ESPN said on Twitter that Kelly coached seven years on defense before switching over to offense. Once again, this goes back the 'he is just a football coach'. I think Weis was only an offense guy, knew how to recruit/coach offense but he couldn't understand the concept of defense to save his soul.
The one thing people should worry about Kelly is the fact he coached at Cincinnati. A place that doesn't require much education to get into Cincinnati. Trust me, all you have to do is look at their basketball team in the past twenty years and then if I show you the reactions (Note: Much more toned-down then ones of SportsCenter this morning, those were bad) of the players. These guys aren't Rhodes Scholars and not that the Figthin' Irish recruits genius-worthy guys, they still need to bring in smart athletes off the field.
Looking at the schedule, my prediction for Kelly is he wins 8-9 games. I doubt he has a 6-6 year and if he does, it will only be because the players arent there yet.
-Charlie.
Once again like John Wall who we covered last night, everyone on ESPN loves this hire and I am starting to warm to the idea of Kelly being the head coach of Notre Dame. I like the fact that he knows how to win football games no matter who is at quarterback or the situation that puts it in front of him. Tony Pike and Zack Collaros are not even on the depth chart last year when Kelly had to use them for this season due to the injury. If you do not remember, Cincinnati is 12-0 right now with those two quarterbacks. In my opinion, Kelly knows how to win. Let's not forget that Kelly completely changed his offense after a Big East championship year because he didn't have the right guys to run that sort of offense. Honestly, this is guy is as big of a winner as anyone in the football field.
The other thing I love about Kelly is the fact he knows how to control the media better than most coaches. He has that sort of smart-ass attitude that a Bill Parcells, Rex Ryan, and any other coach that seems to bite the media with one-liners that people can respect. Kelly demands the respect of his players and the media, which is huge. No longer will the media bully around the head coach of Notre Dame like they did with Charlie Weis. If you listen to his press conference, he ignores the media consultant and speaks from the heart instead of doing the "Wade Phillips."
Some felt that the Fightin' Irish should have gone with more of a defensive-minded such as Bob Stoops (they couldn't get him for all the money in world). But Joe Schad of ESPN said on Twitter that Kelly coached seven years on defense before switching over to offense. Once again, this goes back the 'he is just a football coach'. I think Weis was only an offense guy, knew how to recruit/coach offense but he couldn't understand the concept of defense to save his soul.
The one thing people should worry about Kelly is the fact he coached at Cincinnati. A place that doesn't require much education to get into Cincinnati. Trust me, all you have to do is look at their basketball team in the past twenty years and then if I show you the reactions (Note: Much more toned-down then ones of SportsCenter this morning, those were bad) of the players. These guys aren't Rhodes Scholars and not that the Figthin' Irish recruits genius-worthy guys, they still need to bring in smart athletes off the field.
Looking at the schedule, my prediction for Kelly is he wins 8-9 games. I doubt he has a 6-6 year and if he does, it will only be because the players arent there yet.
-Charlie.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Jimmy Clausen Sees the $$$$
In a move as expected as somebody getting punched in Jersey Shore, Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame cocky quarterback and Golden Tate, wide receiver decided to go pro after their coach Charlie Weis got the axe. I personally feel that Clausen will be a great quarterback and here are a couple of reasons why...
1. He's a winner- Some of you might say Charlie... that is the dumbest thing you said since last week where you called Duke, the best team in the nation. No, here is the reason why he didn't win 4-7 wins because their defense was completely horrendous. Clausen had nothing to do with how their defense did and he would always make an attempt to drag his team back despite being down. I felt the Fightin' Irish could win the game with Clausen at quarterback. He led ridiculous amounts of comebacks in the past couple of years and I believe he is a great leader
2. Great accuracy- I think he finds his receiver better than most quarterbacks do. Granted, he does have sick wide receivers but at the same time, always seem to place the ball where it needs to be. Clausen has a sweet delivery especially down in the red zone. Clausen always has a way to find someone in the corners of the end zone. B-squared hates him but there are not many quarterbacks who throw a better deep ball on the outsides.
3. Makes things happen- Thats kind of vague but think of what Aaron Rodgers does when he scrambles around finding his receivers when it seems like nothing is there. Give Clausen a couple years, and honestly think he will do the same sort of things on the football field. In addition, I think he scrambles pretty good for what could be considered a pocket-passer.
One big thing...
He needs time- Clausen cannot be thrown into the mix right away. He needs to work on his progression as a player like Rodgers did. Trust me the parallels between Rodgers and him are scary. If Clausen is a starter right away, it will have bust written all over him. Washington I am talking to you.
-Charlie.
1. He's a winner- Some of you might say Charlie... that is the dumbest thing you said since last week where you called Duke, the best team in the nation. No, here is the reason why he didn't win 4-7 wins because their defense was completely horrendous. Clausen had nothing to do with how their defense did and he would always make an attempt to drag his team back despite being down. I felt the Fightin' Irish could win the game with Clausen at quarterback. He led ridiculous amounts of comebacks in the past couple of years and I believe he is a great leader
2. Great accuracy- I think he finds his receiver better than most quarterbacks do. Granted, he does have sick wide receivers but at the same time, always seem to place the ball where it needs to be. Clausen has a sweet delivery especially down in the red zone. Clausen always has a way to find someone in the corners of the end zone. B-squared hates him but there are not many quarterbacks who throw a better deep ball on the outsides.
3. Makes things happen- Thats kind of vague but think of what Aaron Rodgers does when he scrambles around finding his receivers when it seems like nothing is there. Give Clausen a couple years, and honestly think he will do the same sort of things on the football field. In addition, I think he scrambles pretty good for what could be considered a pocket-passer.
One big thing...
He needs time- Clausen cannot be thrown into the mix right away. He needs to work on his progression as a player like Rodgers did. Trust me the parallels between Rodgers and him are scary. If Clausen is a starter right away, it will have bust written all over him. Washington I am talking to you.
-Charlie.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Charlie Weis Nice Knowing You
I remember someone saying last November that it was Charlie Weis' job to earn or lose. He obviously lost it. Now, he is 18 million dollars richer but unemployed for now. Notre Dame is left searching for answers and cannot keep a head coach to save the program.
Weis never did it with his own recruits if they waited on Tyrone Willingham, he might be the one getting let go this season instead of Chuck Weis. Brady Quinn wasn't a guy that Weis bred into a first-round quarterback. It helped that Quinn had the two good years of his career under Weis that earned him that fatter than Weis 10 year multi-million dollar contracts.
The other thing that we can agree on is that Charlie Weis is an offensive coordinator, not a head coach. Weis brought in guys like Jimmy Clausen, Michael Floyd, Golden Tate, and Armando Allen. But he couldn't convince any good defenders to play for Notre Dame. Like I said last year, Romeo Crennel would have been the perfect answer for this team. Obviously trying not to sound like John Madden, if they cannot stop an offense, they will not win most games.
I hope Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate do not come back for their senior year. Now its likely Clausen off to the NFL, his parents sold their house in South Bend, which would be the writing on the wall. Then, it will be the same sort of thing that happened when Weis took over. Start fresh, let whoever the new coach to create his own team like Rich Rodriguez has been doing at Michigan. Like I said earlier, if they do not win next year, RichRod is out of a job.
People have been buzzing like Adam Schefter, Joe Schad, and others say that the Bob Stoops rumor is pretty legit. Stoops, a Catholic, Midwesterner, and I believe is from Indiana. Also there are Notre Dame Boosters who are from Oklahoma. Finally the other thing is he is defensive-minded. Big part of this people may forget is Stoops cannot win a big game lately something Notre Dame failed to do in the past ten years.
My dad had a great suggestion that I will steal... Pat Fitzgerald from Northwestern. They are 8-3, on the rise and can recruit smart guys. Fitz is also a young coach with a ton of energy and might like the idea of making the step up to Notre Dame.
-Charlie.
Weis never did it with his own recruits if they waited on Tyrone Willingham, he might be the one getting let go this season instead of Chuck Weis. Brady Quinn wasn't a guy that Weis bred into a first-round quarterback. It helped that Quinn had the two good years of his career under Weis that earned him that fatter than Weis 10 year multi-million dollar contracts.
The other thing that we can agree on is that Charlie Weis is an offensive coordinator, not a head coach. Weis brought in guys like Jimmy Clausen, Michael Floyd, Golden Tate, and Armando Allen. But he couldn't convince any good defenders to play for Notre Dame. Like I said last year, Romeo Crennel would have been the perfect answer for this team. Obviously trying not to sound like John Madden, if they cannot stop an offense, they will not win most games.
I hope Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate do not come back for their senior year. Now its likely Clausen off to the NFL, his parents sold their house in South Bend, which would be the writing on the wall. Then, it will be the same sort of thing that happened when Weis took over. Start fresh, let whoever the new coach to create his own team like Rich Rodriguez has been doing at Michigan. Like I said earlier, if they do not win next year, RichRod is out of a job.
People have been buzzing like Adam Schefter, Joe Schad, and others say that the Bob Stoops rumor is pretty legit. Stoops, a Catholic, Midwesterner, and I believe is from Indiana. Also there are Notre Dame Boosters who are from Oklahoma. Finally the other thing is he is defensive-minded. Big part of this people may forget is Stoops cannot win a big game lately something Notre Dame failed to do in the past ten years.
My dad had a great suggestion that I will steal... Pat Fitzgerald from Northwestern. They are 8-3, on the rise and can recruit smart guys. Fitz is also a young coach with a ton of energy and might like the idea of making the step up to Notre Dame.
-Charlie.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Who Gets Fired First?
Two storied college football programs. Two struggling college football programs who haven't found the way yet. Two coaches who collectively should be worried about any call to the Athletic Director's office in the coming weeks. Who goes first... Michigan's Rich Rodriguez or Notre Dame's Charlie Weis?
The arguments for Rich Rod is that you have to give a guy time to recruit and build a program his way before letting him go. I agree with this concept but programs like Michigan want success at all times therefore they could give two shits about that, just see Kentucky Basketball if you need an example. The Wolverines are once again hitting the cellar after two big losses to Illinois and Purdue. Two teams I would argue they should probably beat and now Rich Rod needs to spilt Wisconsin and Ohio State. If he beats the Buckeyes, I think no doubt about it, his job is safe. Michigan could be 1-10 but if that one win is against Ohio State, all is forgiven. I believe a big road win against the Badgers would also help his resume even if he dropped the game against the Buckeyes.
For the Fightin' Irish, the arguments aren't there. The Irish higher-ups know if they keep Weis around that maybe Jimmy Clausen will stay another year and the Golden Domers will have another chance at winning the big one. Because I guaran-damn-tee if Weis were to get fired, and Clausen stays that next coach will get the same sort of hype Weis got at the beginning of his tenure. Some feel that the Navy loss was the last stand and that the writings officially on the wall. Although if they can win out winning against two ranked teams on the road, could earn them a January 1st bowl plus the prospects of Clausen returning could help things out. Who knows though with the Fightin' Irish.
-Charlie.
The arguments for Rich Rod is that you have to give a guy time to recruit and build a program his way before letting him go. I agree with this concept but programs like Michigan want success at all times therefore they could give two shits about that, just see Kentucky Basketball if you need an example. The Wolverines are once again hitting the cellar after two big losses to Illinois and Purdue. Two teams I would argue they should probably beat and now Rich Rod needs to spilt Wisconsin and Ohio State. If he beats the Buckeyes, I think no doubt about it, his job is safe. Michigan could be 1-10 but if that one win is against Ohio State, all is forgiven. I believe a big road win against the Badgers would also help his resume even if he dropped the game against the Buckeyes.
For the Fightin' Irish, the arguments aren't there. The Irish higher-ups know if they keep Weis around that maybe Jimmy Clausen will stay another year and the Golden Domers will have another chance at winning the big one. Because I guaran-damn-tee if Weis were to get fired, and Clausen stays that next coach will get the same sort of hype Weis got at the beginning of his tenure. Some feel that the Navy loss was the last stand and that the writings officially on the wall. Although if they can win out winning against two ranked teams on the road, could earn them a January 1st bowl plus the prospects of Clausen returning could help things out. Who knows though with the Fightin' Irish.
-Charlie.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Charlie Weis Still Employed
Notre Dame announced earlier today that Charlie Weis will be back for another year at the helm of Notre Dame football.
This is a great choice by Notre Dame to keep Weis for another year because they give Weis a chance to either earn/lose his job with some of his best players coming back for next year and they no longer look like a carousel of coaching. In addition, with an easy schedule coming up next season, they could find themselves in a BCS bowl once again.
Look at the players that are coming back for sure... Starting quarterback Jimmy Clausen, running backs Armando Allen, and Robert Hughes starting wide receivers Michael Floyd, Golden Tate. That alone looks promising plus they have 84 underclassmen.
In my opinion, they should try to bring Bill Callahan back to the college game to coach the offensive line or someone that could make a difference for that line. Also assuming Romeo Crennel gets fired from the Cleveland Browns, do you think Weis calls up his old buddy to see if he wants to coach defense in the college game?
Also some guy in the conversations of ESPN posted Notre Dame's schedule for next year...
Sept. 5 NEVADA
Sept. 12 at Michigan
Sept. 19 MICHIGAN STATE
Sept. 26 at Purdue
Oct. 3 WASHINGTON
Oct. 17 USC
Oct. 24 BOSTON COLLEGE
Oct. 31 vs. Washington State (at San Antonio, Texas)
Nov. 7 NAVY
Nov. 14 at Pittsburgh
Nov. 21 CONNECTICUT
Nov. 28 at Stanford
There two hardest games are at home right in a row and I think Rich Rod still is one year away in Michigan. They could easily only lose two games but at most I think they will lose four games.
As I said earlier, it's Weis' job to win or lose now.
-Charlie.
This is a great choice by Notre Dame to keep Weis for another year because they give Weis a chance to either earn/lose his job with some of his best players coming back for next year and they no longer look like a carousel of coaching. In addition, with an easy schedule coming up next season, they could find themselves in a BCS bowl once again.
Look at the players that are coming back for sure... Starting quarterback Jimmy Clausen, running backs Armando Allen, and Robert Hughes starting wide receivers Michael Floyd, Golden Tate. That alone looks promising plus they have 84 underclassmen.
In my opinion, they should try to bring Bill Callahan back to the college game to coach the offensive line or someone that could make a difference for that line. Also assuming Romeo Crennel gets fired from the Cleveland Browns, do you think Weis calls up his old buddy to see if he wants to coach defense in the college game?
Also some guy in the conversations of ESPN posted Notre Dame's schedule for next year...
Sept. 5 NEVADA
Sept. 12 at Michigan
Sept. 19 MICHIGAN STATE
Sept. 26 at Purdue
Oct. 3 WASHINGTON
Oct. 17 USC
Oct. 24 BOSTON COLLEGE
Oct. 31 vs. Washington State (at San Antonio, Texas)
Nov. 7 NAVY
Nov. 14 at Pittsburgh
Nov. 21 CONNECTICUT
Nov. 28 at Stanford
There two hardest games are at home right in a row and I think Rich Rod still is one year away in Michigan. They could easily only lose two games but at most I think they will lose four games.
As I said earlier, it's Weis' job to win or lose now.
-Charlie.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Charlie Weis on the Hotseat?
Hard to believe but indeed that's a fact.
Despite the one of the biggest contracts in all of college sports, Charlie Weis can find himself on the hotseat after his Notre Dame team got embarrassed by Boston College 17-0, which lead to Weis being 1-15 in his last sixteen against teams that are above .500. That doesnt sit well with the Irish faithful who are expecting results.
Granted I think they have all the right to be upset at Weis but what they have to realize is they have a crop of talent coming through the ranks right now. Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd are three superstars of the college game in the next couple years and they have some talented players all over the field who are just young. They will figure out how to win and I think Weis is the right coach to do it.
Also another thing even how rich the Irish are, I dont think they can afford the buyout that Weis will get. I mean these numbers will be about as large as Weis himself and I think the Golden Domers will have to wait at least two years to fire Weis but you never know with Notre Dame, this was the same time they got inpatient with Bob Davie, and Tyrone Willingham.
-Charlie.
Despite the one of the biggest contracts in all of college sports, Charlie Weis can find himself on the hotseat after his Notre Dame team got embarrassed by Boston College 17-0, which lead to Weis being 1-15 in his last sixteen against teams that are above .500. That doesnt sit well with the Irish faithful who are expecting results.
Granted I think they have all the right to be upset at Weis but what they have to realize is they have a crop of talent coming through the ranks right now. Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd are three superstars of the college game in the next couple years and they have some talented players all over the field who are just young. They will figure out how to win and I think Weis is the right coach to do it.
Also another thing even how rich the Irish are, I dont think they can afford the buyout that Weis will get. I mean these numbers will be about as large as Weis himself and I think the Golden Domers will have to wait at least two years to fire Weis but you never know with Notre Dame, this was the same time they got inpatient with Bob Davie, and Tyrone Willingham.
-Charlie.
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