Touchdown Jesus to start Sat.

[jtk1519]

Jimmy Clausen will be thrown to the wolves against a very good Penn State defense... in Happy Valley. :eek:

[BDB]

the self-implosion of notre dame is almost complete. i would like to thank pat forde, ty willingham and charlie wiess for their efforts to topple one of the greatest football programs in history.

throwing clausen into happy valley is going to be sad. i actually cringe thinking about it.

[Texasfrog]

One name comes to mind.. Ron Powlus.;)

He was another one of the great Notre Dame recruits that was suppose to win 2 or 3 Heisman while he there on campus.:rolleyes:

[mad_fan]

I like the move...
The first step in recovery...is hitting bottom...the second...admitting you have a problem...
And I don't want to see two or three QB's...start and finish the game...it aint preseason...

[PeterGibbons]

As much as I HATE Notre Dame... I actually feel bad for the kid. Not REAL bad, but a little ;)

[FarmerFootballPlayer]

Wow... He gets his first start on a crappy team on the road against the one legit team in the Big Ten... Fun for him.

[yallerjacket]

One name comes to mind.. Ron Powlus.;)

He was another one of the great Notre Dame recruits that was suppose to win 2 or 3 Heisman while he there on campus.:rolleyes:

Exactly what I was going to post. Only I don't think Clausen has nearly as much talent (or talent around him) as Powlus did.

[Texasfrog]

Exactly what I was going to post. Only I don't think Clausen has nearly as much talent (or talent around him) as Powlus did.

Ya, the Powlus Notre Dame teams were much more talented from top to bottom.

I think Clausen is a decent QB but he'll be thrown to the wolves this season in hopes of getting him the quality game time experience he needs so next year he'll be 100% ready to go.

But, I do think he is a NBC marketing "hype machine." I remember this past Army All-American game where it should of been named the freaking Clausen All-Star game because he was on tv every freaking 10 seconds one way or another.

The sad thing is Ryan Mallett played like 4 times better in that All-Star game but only got token notice.

[SLC93]

I saw Clausen play three times last year, including that Army game. In 2 of those games, he wasn't the best qb on the field, imo. After his behavior & performance in their state game last year, I'll root against him for the rest of his playing days, wherever they may be. He's a petulant, overindulged punk. Showing up to your state game in a limo & not with your team? Screaming at your teammates on the sidelines when it's your poor performance that has kept the other team in the game? I'd have popped this kid in the mouth long ago. Did anyone hear him speak after the state or Army games? If not let's just say there's a reason he's a 20 year old freshman. Ryan Mallet wiped the floor with Clausen at the Army game. He will not deliver on all the hype & some of that won't be his fault but alot of it will be. Please do not compare him to Powlus. At the very least, Powlus was a good kid who did not help create his hype machine.

[SLC93]

the self-implosion of notre dame is almost complete. i would like to thank pat forde, ty willingham and charlie wiess for their efforts to topple one of the greatest football programs in history.

throwing clausen into happy valley is going to be sad. i actually cringe thinking about it.

Don't blame Willingham. At this point he's produced everybit as much as Weiss, if not more, & there was no 10 year extension for him. Somebody needs to tell Weiss to stop tucking in his shirt. He's huge and that second gut of his, the one that forms below the belt, should be banned from public television. Seriously, ND games should come with a parental advisory rating.

[blueandpurple]

I find it hilarious that the reasoning behind Weis's extension was a loss... close loss to USC at home, but didn't USC have many close wins that year including a 1 point home win vs. Fresno State?

[78 Spartan]

When we last saw the Irish take on a top-flight team (LSU), they were exposed as a team that would be second division in the SEC. Notre Dame was like a batting practice pitcher to LSU's Barry Bonds. Now this.

Here's what really takes the cake: Georgia Tech goes into South Bend and demolishes Notre Dame in their season opener and NOBODY as a result puts Georgia Tech in their Top 20. It is not even considered a major accomplishment anymore.

Let's look how far Notre Dame has fallen:

1. Notre Dame would get beat now by average teams in most of the BCS conferences.
* Does anybody think Notre Dame will beat Michigan State?
* How about Texas Tech?
* How about Alabama?
* How about Boston College?
* How about Oregon?

2. Notre Dame would struggle to be a champion in a mid-major conference.
* Does anybody think Notre Dame would beat TCU?
* How about Boise State?
* How about Southern Mississippi?
* How about Bowling Green?

3. Is this the year that Navy finally beats Notre Dame? (After, what 40 something losses in a row? Not since Staubach was at Navy?) They could go into that Navy game with an 0-8 record -- take a look at the schedule!! If they don't beat Purdue in week five, they are staring at 0-8. How will NBC ever promote that?

4. Notre Dame would not be favored to win the Division I-AA (whatever they call it now) championship tournament.
* Does anybody think Notre Dame would beat Appalachian State?

Notre Dame's arrogance has really cost them. They thought they were just one big-name coach away from being back on top, and it isn't happening. Eventually they are going to have to admit that their decision to stay independent is killing them. They'd be much more competitive if they were in the Big Ten. This go-it-alone attitude has them in deep kim-shee right now. It's making them irrelevant to recruits. And yes, Charlie Weis' ten year extension is looking pretty silly right now. Imagine how it will look if at the end of the year they are sitting at 4-8 (very possible, maybe even probable that they won't win five games).

I've always been a Ty Willingham fan, and when Notre Dame hosed him it took away all of my sympathies for the Irish and their rabid Golden Domer fans. Ty was all class and never complained about ND's highly restrictive admissions policy, which is the other thing that is killing them. I guarantee you by the end of the year you're going to hear Weis placing the blame on the admissions office.

[LGVAg]

Did anyone else see this similarity?

http://www.sportsrumblings.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/emu.jpg

http://www.sportsrumblings.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/jimmy-clausen.jpg

[SLC93]

That's awesome, just awesome!:D

[SLC93]

Weiss better figure this thing out, quick. Sooner or later the alums are gonna realize they've been outscored 118 to 41 in their last three games. Notre Dame is the single most over rated program of the last 15 years. Period.

[SLC93]

I've always been a Ty Willingham fan, and when Notre Dame hosed him it took away all of my sympathies for the Irish and their rabid Golden Domer fans. Ty was all class and never complained about ND's highly restrictive admissions policy, which is the other thing that is killing them. I guarantee you by the end of the year you're going to hear Weis placing the blame on the admissions office.

Truer words have never been spoken.

[mad_fan]

Weiss better figure this thing out, quick. Sooner or later the alums are gonna realize they've been outscored 118 to 41 in their last three games. Notre Dame is the single most over rated program of the last 15 years. Period.

Not this year...;)

[mad_fan]

When we last saw the Irish take on a top-flight team (LSU), they were exposed as a team that would be second division in the SEC. Notre Dame was like a batting practice pitcher to LSU's Barry Bonds. Now this.

Here's what really takes the cake: Georgia Tech goes into South Bend and demolishes Notre Dame in their season opener and NOBODY as a result puts Georgia Tech in their Top 20. It is not even considered a major accomplishment anymore.

Let's look how far Notre Dame has fallen:

1. Notre Dame would get beat now by average teams in most of the BCS conferences.
* Does anybody think Notre Dame will beat Michigan State?
* How about Texas Tech?
* How about Alabama?
* How about Boston College?
* How about Oregon?

2. Notre Dame would struggle to be a champion in a mid-major conference.
* Does anybody think Notre Dame would beat TCU?
* How about Boise State?
* How about Southern Mississippi?
* How about Bowling Green?

3. Is this the year that Navy finally beats Notre Dame? (After, what 40 something losses in a row? Not since Staubach was at Navy?) They could go into that Navy game with an 0-8 record -- take a look at the schedule!! If they don't beat Purdue in week five, they are staring at 0-8. How will NBC ever promote that?

4. Notre Dame would not be favored to win the Division I-AA (whatever they call it now) championship tournament.
* Does anybody think Notre Dame would beat Appalachian State?

Notre Dame's arrogance has really cost them. They thought they were just one big-name coach away from being back on top, and it isn't happening. Eventually they are going to have to admit that their decision to stay independent is killing them. They'd be much more competitive if they were in the Big Ten. This go-it-alone attitude has them in deep kim-shee right now. It's making them irrelevant to recruits. And yes, Charlie Weis' ten year extension is looking pretty silly right now. Imagine how it will look if at the end of the year they are sitting at 4-8 (very possible, maybe even probable that they won't win five games).

I've always been a Ty Willingham fan, and when Notre Dame hosed him it took away all of my sympathies for the Irish and their rabid Golden Domer fans. Ty was all class and never complained about ND's highly restrictive admissions policy, which is the other thing that is killing them. I guarantee you by the end of the year you're going to hear Weis placing the blame on the admissions office.

It's not considered a major accomplishment...BECAUSE IT'S NOT...
As for the admissions office...it's NOT a football program with an institution...but the other way around...

[SLC93]

Not this year...;)

:D :D :D

[jtk1519]

I find it ironic and somewhat disturbing that at this point in their careers at Notre Dame, Willingham and Weis have almost identical accomplishments. Willingham's reward was a pink slip. Weis' reward was a fat contract extension.

[78 Spartan]

I find it ironic and somewhat disturbing that at this point in their careers at Notre Dame, Willingham and Weis have almost identical accomplishments. Willingham's reward was a pink slip. Weis' reward was a fat contract extension.

It's impossible not to notice that. Hey, but don't you know that racism only exists down here in the south? ;)

To be fair, I don't think the university is averse to an African American running their football program. I don't even think they were really unhappy with Ty.

I think what was going on is that they developed a serious case of p**** envy when shortly after hiring Ty, they saw their alum Charlie Weis having all that success with Tom Brady at New England. Then, when Ty lost a few games, instead of standing by their man, they let the alumni destroy him to clear the way for Weis.

Which is sad, because Ty was a great recruiter and his personal standards of ethics were exactly what Notre Dame should aspire to.

The alums desperately wanted Weis, and now they've got him. I don't think he recruits very aggressively or very well, and meanwhile now his program is no longer considered one of the nation's elite. So between Weis and his offensive focus, and ND's admissions standards, and their two straight humiliations against southern programs (LSU and Ga Tech), I think the lack of athleticism on defense will be a chronic thing. ND will have to face the fact that they are going to have to go to the Big Ten in order to catch up to the advances in the game. It's only in a "slow" conference like the Big Ten that ND could compete right now anyway. And the Big Ten needs a twelfth program and ND has been their wet dream for years. And now, they can do it on Big Ten's terms and not on ND's terms.

Oh well, so sayeth Nostradamus upon Avon .........

[KT2000]

I'm in agreement with 99% of that post 78. However, Willingham is not known as a great recruiter. He didn't make the waves there that ND hoped for and that certainly contributed to his firing. He wasn't enough of a PR machine for the folks in South Bend. He is a no nonsense coach. I don't think he was given enough time.

Weis said all the right things and has certainly made the PR waves ND was looking for, but that honeymoon is quickly coming to an end with the recent on-field performances Notre Dame's turned in. How much time will they give him?

Another question I have is why do people's names get shorter as they elevate in status? Willingham was Tyrone at Stanford and then became Ty when he was hired at Notre Dame. Is he Tyrone again now at Washington? (serious question)

[jtk1519]

Willingham was fired because he was boring and not doing enough to get the blue hairs excited, while Weis, the mastermind behind the Patriots offense, was the flavor of the week and best yet... a Notre Dame alum. They saw Weis as somebody who could excite their fan base and take Notre Dame up a notch in the national consciousness... all of which he did. The problem is that with that increased exposure comes increased criticism and now the nation is starting to see that the media-induced hype may have been unrealistic.

[78 Spartan]

I'm in agreement with 99% of that post 78. However, Willingham is not known as a great recruiter. He didn't make the waves there that ND hoped for and that certainly contributed to his firing. He wasn't enough of a PR machine for the folks in South Bend. He is a no nonsense coach. I don't think he was given enough time.

Weis said all the right things and has certainly made the PR waves ND was looking for, but that honeymoon is quickly coming to an end with the recent on-field performances Notre Dame's turned in. How much time will they give him?

Another question I have is why do people's names get shorter as they elevate in status? Willingham was Tyrone at Stanford and then became Ty when he was hired at Notre Dame. Is he Tyrone again now at Washington? (serious question)

He was Ty when he was an assistant coach at Rice about 20 years ago. My father knew him because he was an SWC official and Ty Willingham handled the evaluation of game officials for Jerry Berndt. I think his name for the media purposes is Tyrone, but I know for a fact that those who know him call him Ty.

Anyway, I'm not sure I agree with you that he's a poor recruiter. What he is all about is hard work and personal responsibility, going to class and graduating. Maybe not every 4- and 5-star recruit who thinks he's the next Terrell Owens wants to hear this message. However, I am convinced he'll rebuild UDub and get the Huskies back to competitive status in the Pac-10 ..... and he'll do it the right way.

He was perfect for Notre Dame, but the alumni had no patience whatsoever, and as I said, the Charlie Weis deal was a pure case of p**** envy. They are reaping what they sowed and ND's reputation for professional integrity has really suffered as a result.

The coaching fraternity loves Ty Willingham. He's a first class coach and a first class human being. He's the kind of guy you'd want your son to play for. I'd love to have him coaching at my alma mater (SMU), but we'll never be lucky enough to get a sniff of his resume.

[SLC93]

I'm in agreement with 99% of that post 78. However, Willingham is not known as a great recruiter. He didn't make the waves there that ND hoped for and that certainly contributed to his firing. He wasn't enough of a PR machine for the folks in South Bend. He is a no nonsense coach. I don't think he was given enough time.

Weis said all the right things and has certainly made the PR waves ND was looking for, but that honeymoon is quickly coming to an end with the recent on-field performances Notre Dame's turned in. How much time will they give him?

Another question I have is why do people's names get shorter as they elevate in status? Willingham was Tyrone at Stanford and then became Ty when he was hired at Notre Dame. Is he Tyrone again now at Washington? (serious question)

Serious or not, that's a funny observation.:D

[LoneRocket]

Willingham was fired because he was boring and not doing enough to get the blue hairs excited, while Weis, the mastermind behind the Patriots offense, was the flavor of the week and best yet... a Notre Dame alum. They saw Weis as somebody who could excite their fan base and take Notre Dame up a notch in the national consciousness... all of which he did. The problem is that with that increased exposure comes increased criticism and now the nation is starting to see that the media-induced hype may have been unrealistic.

Remember Weis was not even their first choice after they screwed Willingham, they wanted Urban Meyer and Meyer left them high and dry for Florida. They are getting what they deserve.

[KT2000]

The coaching fraternity loves Ty Willingham. He's a first class coach and a first class human being. He's the kind of guy you'd want your son to play for. I'd love to have him coaching at my alma mater (SMU), but we'll never be lucky enough to get a sniff of his resume.

I like Willingham as a coach also. I was one of those talking up the move to Notre Dame when it happened. I thought it was a great hire. I don't think he's a poor recruiter either, just not someone who's going to pull in top 5 classes annually from what I've seen. He is the kind of coach who refuses to put up with a lot of what we're seeing today from recruits, and that probably hurts him as far as pulling in all of the top guys. He's certainly not a Mr. Charisma type such as Mack Brown or Pete Carroll. Not that I've seen anyway. But I do think he is a damn good coach.

[78 Spartan]

I like Willingham as a coach also. I was one of those talking up the move to Notre Dame when it happened. I thought it was a great hire. I don't think he's a poor recruiter either, just not someone who's going to pull in top 5 classes annually from what I've seen. He is the kind of coach who refuses to put up with a lot of what we're seeing today from recruits, and that probably hurts him as far as pulling in all of the top guys. He's certainly not a Mr. Charisma type such as Mack Brown or Pete Carroll. Not that I've seen anyway. But I do think he is a damn good coach.

If I were a university president and I had a choice of running a Top 5 program with the kind of people that Mack is recruiting to the Forty Acres, or a Top 25 program with first class people who will not win the national title but will not embarrass the program either, I'd personally choose Door #2.

The obvious question about Willingham is can he get Washington back to the Top 25. I believe he can. Just not overnight. I think you'll see a major step in the right direction this year.

Problem at Notre Dame is they want both, and I believe the two universes are just mutually exclusive. The admissions office is not compromising, and there just aren't enough 4- and 5-star athletes who can be the kind of citizen/scholar/worldclass athlete that ND is looking for. But the alumni want nothing less than national championship-level teams. And they all want it run as an independent so the greedy b@st@rds don't have to share a penny of it with other schools.

I have no sympathy.

[SLC93]

Remember Weis was not even their first choice after they screwed Willingham, they wanted Urban Meyer and Meyer left them high and dry for Florida. They are getting what they deserve.

:D :D :D

[drgnbkr]

Don't blame Willingham. At this point he's produced everybit as much as Weiss, if not more, & there was no 10 year extension for him. Somebody needs to tell Weiss to stop tucking in his shirt. He's huge and that second gut of his, the one that forms below the belt, should be banned from public television. Seriously, ND games should come with a parental advisory rating.

We call that a BIF....a butt in front....Bill Parcells also has a BIF....

[SLC93]

We call that a BIF....a butt in front....Bill Parcells also has a BIF....

:puke :D

[slorch]

gee, I bet he wins as many Heismans as Powlus did.

[green day]

gee, I bet he wins as many Heismans as Powlus did.


The University of Notre Dame... folks, it's a helluva university and understandably, going thru tough times on the gridiron.. ever hear of them compromising for a few more wins... ever hear much on their grads running into trouble after they leave...would you want your kid to go there?..love 'em, hate 'em, they stand for something very special, in my opinion... have your way when they're down... I still respect and love all that is the Fighting Irish!!

[jtk1519]

ever hear of them compromising for a few more wins... ever hear much on their grads running into trouble after they leave...would you want your kid to go there?

You do of course realize that the young man who is the subject of this very thread ran into trouble with the law just last month. Not to mention Derrell Hand who was arrested several days prior. Kids do stupid things. Unfortunately, no school is immune.

Notre Dame has done a fine job over the past decade, but IMO, a lot of that has to do with the fact that Bob Davie and Ty Willingham are very classy gentlemen who truly would not sacrifice the university's image for wins. Weis does not strike me as that kind of man. Weis is not above reaching on players with questionable character.

[mad_fan]

When Touchdown Jesus becomes the savior...I expect you all to post nice stuff...

Signed,
GOD

[jtk1519]

When Touchdown Jesus becomes the savior...I expect you all to post nice stuff...

Signed,
GOD

Okay, fellas.

http://beefthoughts.com/Jimmy%20Clausen.jpg

[SLC93]

You do of course realize that the young man who is the subject of this very thread ran into trouble with the law just last month. Not to mention Derrell Hand who was arrested several days prior. Kids do stupid things. Unfortunately, no school is immune.

Notre Dame has done a fine job over the past decade, but IMO, a lot of that has to do with the fact that Bob Davie and Ty Willingham are very classy gentlemen who truly would not sacrifice the university's image for wins. Weis does not strike me as that kind of man. Weis is not above reaching on players with questionable character.

Of course he's not. He spent too many years in the NFL where compromising is competing.:eek: :D

[SLC93]

Okay, fellas.

http://beefthoughts.com/Jimmy%20Clausen.jpg

I just threw up a little in my mouth. Tell me why I should believe this kid's the savior, again.

[jtk1519]

I just threw up a little in my mouth. Tell me why I should believe this kid's the savior, again.

You dare to question the savior?

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1737/untitledhz4.jpg

[KT2000]

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1737/untitledhz4.jpg

Is this the youngest Clausen?

[jtk1519]

Is this the youngest Clausen?

Maybe. He looks a lot like Jimmy...

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/648/cheddarbob1nu6.jpg

[pack0808]

Wow... He gets his first start on a crappy team on the road against the one legit team in the Big Ten... Fun for him.

Yeah Wisconsin and Ohio St are not legit? :rolleyes: Both legit top 10 teams! Watch out for my Hawks.

[jtk1519]

Yeah Wisconsin and Ohio St are not legit? :rolleyes: Both legit top 10 teams! Watch out for my Hawks.

Pink locker aggy?

[pack0808]

Pink locker aggy?

Let me think Iowa has finished in the ap top 10 3 times this decade while aggy has not finished in the ap top 10 in foreeeeeever. Hardly aggy. I figured that you would absolutely love the pink locker's jtk! Hell, I bet you would even like to redecorate it.

[jtk1519]

Let me think Iowa has finished in the ap top 10 3 times this decade while aggy has not finished in the ap top 10 in foreeeeeever. Hardly aggy. I figured that you would absolutely love the pink locker's jtk! Hell, I bet you would even like to redecorate it.

Well, now that you mentioned it, I think it could use a little lace and maybe a nice crown molding to really bring it all together. Maybe a nice carpet of soft pastels with natural pine contrasts.

[pack0808]

Well, now that you mentioned it, I think it could use a little lace and maybe a nice crown molding to really bring it all together. Maybe a nice carpet of soft pastels with natural pine contrasts.

LOL

[SLC93]

You dare to question the savior?

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1737/untitledhz4.jpg

Now I see it! Who could deny the flames of victory burning in those eyes?:D

[SLC93]

Maybe. He looks a lot like Jimmy...

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/648/cheddarbob1nu6.jpg

All hail Chicken Head, the future of quartback salvation!:D

[BDB]

All hail Chicken Head, the future of quartback salvation!:D

chicken chicken! bwak bwak! chicken head.

[SLC93]

chicken chicken! bwak bwak! chicken head.

Kneel at the feet of Chicken Head!:D