[bigboydan]

this years Irish team is totaly stacked from top to bottom with upper classmen. QB Brady Quinn comes back for his senior season, along with 8 other starters on the offensive side of the ball.

the ND defensive squad also has a ton of returning starters comming back this year. leading the pack on this defense is Victor Abiamiri there sack specialiest.


but as ND as seems to do since the post Lou Holtz era, they just can't seem to win the big one, and this year is no exception IMO


heres the schedule:

Sat 09/02/06 Georgia Tech Atlanta, GA
Sat 09/09/06 Penn State Notre Dame Stadium
Sat 09/16/06 Michigan Notre Dame Stadium
Sat 09/23/06 Michigan State East Lansing, MI
Sat 09/30/06 Purdue Notre Dame Stadium
Sat 10/07/06 Stanford Notre Dame Stadium
Sat 10/21/06 UCLA Notre Dame Stadium
Sat 10/28/06 Navy Baltimore, MD
Sat 11/04/06 North Carolina Notre Dame Stadium
Sat 11/11/06 Air Force Colorado Springs, CO
Sat 11/18/06 Army Notre Dame Stadium
Sat 11/25/06 USC Los Angeles, CA

my projection for Notre Dame this season is 9-3

[Wassymac]

Just as I started a thread on ND's season win total. Sorry about that...feel free to move my post over here.

[bigboydan]

no biggie bud... i guess we were both starting a thread about them at the same time.

but seriously, i feel they really overachieved last season.

[Wassymac]

The fact that their schedule turned very mediocre last year didn't hurt them either. Their defense will have to be much improved IMO for them hit double digit W's.

[koko]

Originally Posted by Wassymac

The fact that their schedule turned very mediocre last year didn't hurt them either. Their defense will have to be much improved IMO for them hit double digit W's.

When has their schedule been anything but mediocre or worse?

They always have AT LEAST 3-4 cream puffs on the schedule and they can't use the "conference commitment" excuse, since they are an independant.

[isetcap]

Cupcake schedule. They go up against 3 service schools?!?! It's a good thing the Marines and the Coast Guard don't suit up. Only two tough games on the road and only 5 road games overall. Once again this team could win 10 games, be utterly overrated, and get thouroughly dominated for the New Year. Fine with me. I always love taking the easy money off the ND squares.

[Illusion]

ND played one of the toughest schedules last year and in years past their schedule has always been one of the toughest in the country. Do they the service, yes, but that doesn't mean they do not play a tough schedule.

[Jelly Phillips]

Jesus U surprised some people last season but that will not happen this season. That is a much easier shcedule this time and if they do not win 10 then all that senior talent will not mean shhit. 10 wins probably means a automatic BCS bids this time and they will get there asses handed to them then.

[bigboydan]

the ND fans will not be happy with there season unless they win the national championship. i know fans of every team are that way, but the ND fans are the worst bunch of cry babbies in the NCAA imo

[Wassymac]

Originally Posted by Illusion

ND played one of the toughest schedules last year and in years past their schedule has always been one of the toughest in the country. Do they the service, yes, but that doesn't mean they do not play a tough schedule.

On paper before the year started I agree their schedule looked tough. But when it was all said and done I think they played a total of 2 teams with winning records. Thats not a knock on ND...just how the chips fell.

[isetcap]

Originally Posted by Illusion

ND played one of the toughest schedules last year and in years past their schedule has always been one of the toughest in the country. Do they the service, yes, but that doesn't mean they do not play a tough schedule.

I'm not talking about last year, I'm talking about this year. It's not an accusation, just an observation. They'll be overrated because the Big 10(11) is always overrated and then they'll be embarrassed in a bowl game.

[Illusion]

Originally Posted by isetcap

I'm not talking about last year, I'm talking about this year. It's not an accusation, just an observation. They'll be overrated because the Big 10(11) is always overrated and then they'll be embarrassed in a bowl game.

Glancing at their schedule this year I would agree it that is pretty weak compared to the last several years.

[isetcap]

Last year they played a lot of big name teams that were big flops.

[Orion]

What exactly was tough about Notre Dame's schedule last year? They played one tough game, at home against USC, and they lost. Their only marquee win was on the road against a Michigan team wrecked by injuries and in the midst of its worst season in years.