Thanks to Subway Domer for taking charge of the Irish Blogger Gathering: Sun Bowl Edition. The original questions posted by Subway Domer, links to answers written by fellow Fighting Irish bloggers, and an interactive poll that allows all fans to weigh in can be found here.
Q1: What is your biggest “FEAR” going into the bowl game?
a.) Tommy Rees will look like a freshman QB.
b.) Our running game gets shut down.
c.) Jacory Harris decides he is a good player, and proves it.
d.) Losing to a coachless team.
e.) Other.
A1: b.) Our running game gets shut down.
Unless Tommy Rees has aged dramatically over the past month, he will still look like a 12-year-old instead of a freshman QB. All joking aside, he played like a freshman at U$C and we still won when our defense bailed us out. Remember the game winning drive of that game? Kelly "put the fight back in the Fighting Irish" with some good old smash mouth football featuring Robert Hughes as he ran over Trojans left and right. As Kelly has already said, we will need a similar effort in order to beat the Hurricanes, who boast a defense that is ranked second nationally against the pass and first in tackles-for-loss.
Q2. True/False: Michael Floyd and Kyle Rudolph will enter the 2011 NFL draft.
A2: Other
Assuming there will be an NFL draft in 2011, there are still far too many variables to choose a definitive answer at this point. I believe Floyd when he says that he is 100% focused on beating Miami right now, and will weigh his options after the bowl. As for Rudolph, campus rumors have it that he did not enroll in spring classes. Even so, I’m holding on to hope that he will be back in Blue and Gold next year.
Q3. True/False: Duval Kamara did not make the trip for personal reasons. This is very bad.
A3: False
Whatever personal reasons are keeping Kamara out of the game are by definition personal and none of our business. The recently resurgent receiver will be missed, but TJ Jones and Johnny Goodman will be able to step up in his absence.
Q4. Which senior will have the bigger game?
A1: b.) Our running game gets shut down.
Unless Tommy Rees has aged dramatically over the past month, he will still look like a 12-year-old instead of a freshman QB. All joking aside, he played like a freshman at U$C and we still won when our defense bailed us out. Remember the game winning drive of that game? Kelly "put the fight back in the Fighting Irish" with some good old smash mouth football featuring Robert Hughes as he ran over Trojans left and right. As Kelly has already said, we will need a similar effort in order to beat the Hurricanes, who boast a defense that is ranked second nationally against the pass and first in tackles-for-loss.
Q2. True/False: Michael Floyd and Kyle Rudolph will enter the 2011 NFL draft.
A2: Other
Assuming there will be an NFL draft in 2011, there are still far too many variables to choose a definitive answer at this point. I believe Floyd when he says that he is 100% focused on beating Miami right now, and will weigh his options after the bowl. As for Rudolph, campus rumors have it that he did not enroll in spring classes. Even so, I’m holding on to hope that he will be back in Blue and Gold next year.
Q3. True/False: Duval Kamara did not make the trip for personal reasons. This is very bad.
A3: False
Whatever personal reasons are keeping Kamara out of the game are by definition personal and none of our business. The recently resurgent receiver will be missed, but TJ Jones and Johnny Goodman will be able to step up in his absence.
Q4. Which senior will have the bigger game?
a.) Brian Smith
b.) Harrison Smith
c.) Robert Hughes
d.) Ian Williams
A4: a.) Brian Smith
Not to take anything away from our other senior leaders, but I ran into BSmith at Jamba Juice (best thing to happen to ND since Brian Kelly) and I can tell he is primed to leave a lasting impression in his last game playing for the team and university he has loved his whole life. As Kelly said after the win over U$C, he is also coming off the best performance of his career. Look for #58 to make sure we all remember his name.
Q5. Vegas has us as a 3 point dog.
A4: a.) Brian Smith
Not to take anything away from our other senior leaders, but I ran into BSmith at Jamba Juice (best thing to happen to ND since Brian Kelly) and I can tell he is primed to leave a lasting impression in his last game playing for the team and university he has loved his whole life. As Kelly said after the win over U$C, he is also coming off the best performance of his career. Look for #58 to make sure we all remember his name.
Q5. Vegas has us as a 3 point dog.
b.) They are horribly mistaken.
A5: a.) That's about right.
Nothing good ever comes out of being the slight favorite in a bigtime game. The Notre Dame Football legacy was built off of big wins against favored opponents, and it wouldn't be right to have it any other way as we renew our rivalry with Da U. Plus, Clashmore Mike, our first mascot, was a dog.
Q6. Does Notre Dame NEED this bowl win for a good start to 2011?
A6: YES
Our defense is rolling right now. Our whole team is brimming with confidence. If we can add Miami to our recent kill list of Utah, Army, and U$C then our momentum will carry over into spring practice and fall camp. With this win, the Fighting Irish might never look back.
Q7. Notre Dame will:
A5: a.) That's about right.
Nothing good ever comes out of being the slight favorite in a bigtime game. The Notre Dame Football legacy was built off of big wins against favored opponents, and it wouldn't be right to have it any other way as we renew our rivalry with Da U. Plus, Clashmore Mike, our first mascot, was a dog.
Q6. Does Notre Dame NEED this bowl win for a good start to 2011?
A6: YES
Our defense is rolling right now. Our whole team is brimming with confidence. If we can add Miami to our recent kill list of Utah, Army, and U$C then our momentum will carry over into spring practice and fall camp. With this win, the Fighting Irish might never look back.
Q7. Notre Dame will:
a.) win big
b.) win close
c.) lose big
d.) lose close
e.) other
A7: b.) win close
With 15 practices under his belt since the win over U$C, Rees will have learned enough to manage the offense throughout what should turn out to be a tough battle. Look for the Fighting Irish to take control if we can establish the ground game with a one-two punch of Hughes and Wood. Overall, our rejuvenated defense will carry the day with clutch performances out of Brian Smith and Ian Williams, who will both be suited up in Blue and Gold for the last time.
Enjoy the building hype as the Hyundai Sun Bowl approaches, and check back with Irish Creed on December 30 for our final game-notes and score predictions. If you are looking for a great read in the mean time, check out Jeff Carroll's book Perfect Rivals: Notre Dame, Miami, and the Battle for the Soul of College Football
.
A7: b.) win close
With 15 practices under his belt since the win over U$C, Rees will have learned enough to manage the offense throughout what should turn out to be a tough battle. Look for the Fighting Irish to take control if we can establish the ground game with a one-two punch of Hughes and Wood. Overall, our rejuvenated defense will carry the day with clutch performances out of Brian Smith and Ian Williams, who will both be suited up in Blue and Gold for the last time.
Enjoy the building hype as the Hyundai Sun Bowl approaches, and check back with Irish Creed on December 30 for our final game-notes and score predictions. If you are looking for a great read in the mean time, check out Jeff Carroll's book Perfect Rivals: Notre Dame, Miami, and the Battle for the Soul of College Football
.
Right on, Go Irish! Beat hurricanessss baby!
ReplyDelete