No More Excuses

I have told people that I do not have expectations for this year because I don't want to be let down as I have been the past two seasons. However, being a Notre Dame Football fan for all my life it is impossible not to have expectations for the team, especially this team. So how many wins will the Irish have this year? I honestly will say that I will be disappointed with less than 10 wins. I know I'm being pretty ridiculous but with our schedule the way it is and the talent we have, 10 wins is the number for me. I do not think we have an easy schedule as the whole world says, but we also don't have a hard one. I would call it manageable. People say Nevada will be tough which it might, but our players didn't choose between Nevada and Notre Dame. These recruiting classes have had to make decisions to turn down the likes of USC, Florida, Oklahoma, and Ohio State. Therefore, it is time for them to show it on the field. Yes, Michigan State, Pitt, Purdue, Michigan, and BC are always tough games, but these are tough games the Irish NEED to learn how to win and I expect them to win this year. For those who have been able to watch ESPN, Kirk Herbstreit said one of the biggest games will be Michigan. Yeah, I get Michigan is never easy and there is a lot of uncertainty with this years game. I think Rich Rod is a good coach and his teams always have a chance to win. However, I do not think he is that good to win with players not built for his system let alone two freshman QBs. With that said, there is now way this team should lose to Michigan with their lack of a personnel and with recent events of practice violations. This is a perfect opportunity for ND to learn how to curb stomp an opponent while they're down. I would nothing more than a 38-0 victory. Navy, Nevada, UConn, Wash, Stanford, and Wash ST. should be no doubters. Maybe the Trees from Stanford could be a tougher game than I am expecting, but we still should win. Now, onto USC. This should be the year we compete if not beat the trojans. I'm not saying that because they have a freshman QB. He is going to do well and I am willing to bet he won't look like a freshman when he arrives in South Bend. I think I could play QB for them when they have all 10 returning starters and one of them is Joe McKnight. I'm saying it should be a close game because we have competed with USC for the past four years on the recruiting trail. If we get blown out, I'm going to be disappointed with the season even if we do win 10 and make it to a BCS. Reason being is because USC is where ND wants to be. Yes, I said it. I want to be like USC. I want ND's program to always be in constant conversation for the championship. If we don't make it to the championship, I want to win the BCS bowl game we're in. When that happens, then I know we're back. However, if we get beat bad by USC, all that says to me is that we can't compete with the big boys. All that says is that we will get to another BCS bowl and get our hopes up only to get blown out by the likes of Ohio State and LSU. Unless we play the winner of the Big East....there are no Big Boys in the conference this year. There is no room for slip ups this year. Yeah, Florida had a slip up last year and won. USC has had a slip up the past couple years. If and when we get to the status of Florida and USC, I'll accept a slip up because I'll know that we can compete with the top schools. Right now, I have no idea whether we can compete. That is why we can't slip up. That I why a good season for me will be 10 wins, which can be done with the talent we have. I know I sound like Lou but I really think we should win at least 10 games. No excuses this year.

We have recruited with the big boys and this season is the year we show we can play with the big boys. GO IRISH!!!!!!!!!!