tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55975593168844612062024-02-21T02:13:50.771-05:00Bad TradeYou know, just because sometimes you manage to be clever and you have a nice smile does not mean that you are not full of ****.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.comBlogger154125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-60383142007377177192010-12-29T10:31:00.000-05:002010-12-29T10:31:45.347-05:00Are You Ready For Some Sun Bowl?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3amW-wp9AmS4H9pCCZI8Mw7DXW-MeHUypfhBJwp1VfhN-4ptYk0BJiQIysaBpeFBQnLgpIB5t8sZ0PR7X-dFErxQgjpIAjnpYU3Wwtt9MRcmOM5uDrcs4p9gLvbY4BTY9ueKYnqjY7dj/s1600/Choppy+as+Football.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3amW-wp9AmS4H9pCCZI8Mw7DXW-MeHUypfhBJwp1VfhN-4ptYk0BJiQIysaBpeFBQnLgpIB5t8sZ0PR7X-dFErxQgjpIAjnpYU3Wwtt9MRcmOM5uDrcs4p9gLvbY4BTY9ueKYnqjY7dj/s320/Choppy+as+Football.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Getting ready here! Sadly, I won't be attending (thanks to a failure of friends who can afford to go), but I will be off to Chicago to watch the game with friends. Should be fun!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-45001126991826734992010-11-28T12:10:00.000-05:002010-11-28T12:10:57.103-05:00MotivationThe last time I posted was on July 27, 2010 (which is obvious if you just look at the next post down, but I am a captain of stating the obvious, so I'm doing it).<br />
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It's not like I have some great excuse for not posting. While I did change jobs in that time period, I have had the time to post. I've had the good fortune to attend several games this season. I might have even had some stellar insight (though that's probably unlikely). What I haven't had is the motivation to post. Really, it has been like this for a couple years. I was just tired of losing, of not having hope that things were going to get any better. And the beginning of the season didn't help matters. It was easy for me to just ignore my blog, to find an excuse not to post. I couldn't build up the enthusiasm to even post links, as easy as that is.<br />
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But, after last night's win over USC (exactly four months after the day I last posted), that motivation is back. Thank you, Irish. See you in Orlando (or wherever) - and I can't wait to be there with you!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-29433557945345428562010-07-27T08:56:00.004-04:002010-07-27T09:00:09.572-04:0039 Days...And the Grotto Goes Up in FlamesWell, maybe not so dramatic as that. But evidently <a href="http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/Grotto-at-Notre-Dame-catches-on-fire--99275974.html">the grotto caught on fire</a> Monday night, 40 days before the first game. That has to be a sign of something...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-23610744650137374912010-07-23T12:42:00.003-04:002010-07-23T13:02:45.865-04:0043 Days And Counting...Where will you be in 43 days? I'll be somewhere on the Notre Dame campus, having a beer (take that, Excise Police!) and a brat.<br /><br />So close...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Edit: If you're looking for something to enjoy today, check out </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Video-Michael-Floyd-gets-struck-out-by-a-girl-?urn=ncaaf-257809">this video</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> of Michael Floyd playing some softball against the ND Ladies - suffice to say, I'm pretty sure Golden Tate would have done better.</span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-85626090397609832922010-05-14T20:42:00.001-04:002010-05-14T20:44:10.814-04:00Look Who Is At The BallgameTurned on the television to watch the White Sox game, and look who's sitting behind the batter:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHc4J9cBiBMJoEWrfOOGXwVRspxviZTtf5wQhsjustgS2NvRAps4S18vBqBifRb2aMdFoL9YPKinBufBUfl1uhyy1TlJMTfziZ7F7L8cumv_CzbJKwMsGv5CHtpq6SIC7trafZYGCUTehm/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHc4J9cBiBMJoEWrfOOGXwVRspxviZTtf5wQhsjustgS2NvRAps4S18vBqBifRb2aMdFoL9YPKinBufBUfl1uhyy1TlJMTfziZ7F7L8cumv_CzbJKwMsGv5CHtpq6SIC7trafZYGCUTehm/s320/002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471290894264636130" /></a><br />Coach Weis! It's quite distracting.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-77003815581116487262010-04-19T09:43:00.000-04:002010-04-19T09:44:27.106-04:00Welcome to Blue Gold Week!Headed to ND at the end of the week for the festivities, but, barring work intruding (a real possibility), I will have multiple posts over the course of the week - all involving tailgating and tailgating recipes, as I attempt to come up with some new tastes for parking lot cuisine.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-17803427748524155032010-03-25T10:25:00.004-04:002010-03-25T10:34:55.872-04:00Is It Friday Yet? - And Getting Amped Up for UtahI woke up this morning super excited about it being Friday and the start of spring football...yeah, needless to say (but I will anyway), when I realized it was Thursday, I was quite disappointed. On the plus side, less than a month until Blue Gold!<br /><br />A quick link this morning, via <a href="http://www.thewizofodds.com/the_wiz_of_odds/2010/03/reporters-notebooks-8.html">The Wiz of Odds</a> - it appears that people in Utah find northern Indiana to be an enticing <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_14741615?source=rss">November vacation destination</a>, as Utah has way more requests for tickets to the ND-Utah game than they have actual tickets. But my fave part is when the school hits up their donors for more money:<br /><blockquote>"This is turning into the biggest road game in the history of the program," Knuth said. "There are a lot of good things going on with the program and people are excited."<br />Fans who are worried about getting tickets to the game can still better their chances by donating more money before the May 15 deadline, Knuth said.</blockquote> Always nice to see fans of other teams being the ones hit up for the bigger donation.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-70025198498552435762010-03-09T14:34:00.001-05:002010-03-09T14:35:52.077-05:00Swarbrick's Conference Comments Posted Without CommentSwarbrick's <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4979435">comments</a> on ND joining a conference for football, as reported by ESPN.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-71504581876252932152010-03-09T10:10:00.001-05:002010-03-09T10:12:04.119-05:00Soldier Field, Here Come the Irish!It appears that the Irish <a href="http://www.670thescore.com/pages/6531616.php">will be playing</a> at Soldier Field in a couple of seasons.<br /><br />Why is my first thought upon hearing this to wonder whether they will be serving beer at the concessions?Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-81198799105235742892010-02-24T08:00:00.001-05:002010-02-24T10:58:44.788-05:00TwitteringSo, I am on Twitter (@bluegoldheels), but I rarely use it. I live in the cell phone dark ages, with a phone that barely text messages, let alone allows me to update Twitter, so I can only update when I am online. I may, however, start paying more attention to Twitter.<br /><br />You see, to go along with my last post, Ozzie Guillen is now on Twitter. You just <span style="font-style:italic;">know</span> that there will be tweets from Ozzie that would get any other manager fired as the season progresses. Plus, it is easier to understand him when he is writing, not speaking.<br /><br />Already, Ozzie is saying things that are not exactly what one would like to hear from a manager. For example, yesterday he tweeted: "3 day of Spring Training and im already boreddddddd." <br /><br />Nice attitude there, Skip. And yet, this just makes me all the more happy to be a White Sox fan.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-63453082864731160632010-02-19T16:05:00.003-05:002010-02-19T16:08:36.233-05:00Things to Do in the Long Off Season - Even More ThingsNow, I love my Irish, but there are other teams in my life. Most notably, I love my White Sox. Now, even if you don't like baseball, if you have ever heard Ozzie Guillen's wonderful insanity, you know that the idea of a reality show in which he stars is either the most brilliant or most horrifying idea ever. Either way, it's a train wreck waiting to happen, and Major League Baseball seems to have realized this, and on July 4, the MLB Network is going to premiere a show called <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100219&content_id=8098734&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws&partnerId=rss_cws">The Club</a> that will follow Ozzie, among others.<br /><br />My off season just got a lot more amusing.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-84767228593629205332010-02-17T08:00:00.001-05:002010-02-17T10:33:34.287-05:00Another Way to Get Through The Long Off SeasonWatch any and all video of the new coach you can find. Over at Irish Sports Daily, <a href="http://www.irishsportsdaily.com/football/1939-brian-kelly-2-16-10">a video</a> of Coach Kelly at the Baseball Dinner.<br /><br />I haven't had a chance to watch it yet, so I have no insight for you (like I would have insight even after watching it). Still, it is one more thing to get me through the off season.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-14167577629253844682010-02-15T18:00:00.001-05:002010-02-15T18:00:01.819-05:00The Long Off SeasonIf you have ventured to this website, I am sure you are one of those individuals who marks the overly long college football off-season in smaller, more palatable increments. There's Signing Day (oh, glorious day when my obsession with boys in high school could probably border on the arrestable), Start of Spring Practice Day (when I start obsessively watching 15 minute videos of men stretching and doing other assorted exercises that teach me nothing, though it would be helpful if they would teach me that I need a better, more productive hobby), Blue Gold Game (or, as some have come to mark it, "Sit in the parking lot, drink, and accidentally miss the game. Again." Day), etc.<br /><br />Next weekend marks an event that, thanks to a new subscription to DirecTV and the presence of the NFL Network on said dish, I can now add to my off-season list of events: <a href="http://www.irishsportsdaily.com/blogs/christians-blog/1920-combine-schedule-set">The Combine</a>. Yes, I will be spending significant portions of next weekend watching fat men do things like take their shirts off and get weighed. And I will enjoy it far more than anyone should enjoy something like that.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-27268173709886305692010-01-11T19:27:00.003-05:002010-01-11T19:31:48.293-05:00Alumni Sports Weekend SightsI headed off to Notre Dame for the weekend. Guess who was there?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRfgysqoL17hFmzF5I-85suRANBzUsFJtEVFI6YN3efyVz-wMM0zvOXU9vR-F5SC7c7Q9pSi0ym-Q3LL1SU26zoKRnbOXgjvmTWDs2WaptlRVQTfB8tIjejU3KKne34ev9lrtkAuKwHNJ/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRfgysqoL17hFmzF5I-85suRANBzUsFJtEVFI6YN3efyVz-wMM0zvOXU9vR-F5SC7c7Q9pSi0ym-Q3LL1SU26zoKRnbOXgjvmTWDs2WaptlRVQTfB8tIjejU3KKne34ev9lrtkAuKwHNJ/s320/005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425643744211695410" /></a><br />That's right - the Amazing Christopher!<br /><br />Oh yeah, I was on a Stadium tour and saw this other guy:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNfRCaBXwcyzP5yqksFwzXbgkBnHx4GywBz5slngkFwTaLqWeMwS-ZzwkuK6vyEPMVp91p0HlSEXkdBi1nWseYgHItnlt0z0x0LymAruQF6c8yIaavj9zOz0SaGuf5AUlX8X_zEtHjli0/s1600-h/029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNfRCaBXwcyzP5yqksFwzXbgkBnHx4GywBz5slngkFwTaLqWeMwS-ZzwkuK6vyEPMVp91p0HlSEXkdBi1nWseYgHItnlt0z0x0LymAruQF6c8yIaavj9zOz0SaGuf5AUlX8X_zEtHjli0/s320/029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425643747728103842" /></a><br />He offered no insight into next season. Must have known I would post it on the internet...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-49106283471631173282010-01-05T17:00:00.001-05:002010-01-05T17:00:00.381-05:00The Things Women Go Through...<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,581893,00.html?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a4:g4:r1:c0.000000:b0:z5">Sad news</a> for those of you not of the female persuasion.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-37812810678861767452010-01-05T16:00:00.001-05:002010-01-05T16:00:00.891-05:00Don't Ever Leave Us, Coach PearlIf you did, we wouldn't have gems like <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/50387/bruce_pearl_our_favorite_unintentional_comedian">this one</a>.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-64234251792292640862010-01-05T14:00:00.002-05:002010-01-05T14:00:03.136-05:00Why Didn't I Know About These at Christmas?<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/If-these-sons-of-Italy-can-t-get-you-back-into-b;_ylt=AqpyI.Lv1OgPWmUP7W.RhyE5nYcB?urn=mlb,211871">Link</a>.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-34093678592939634412010-01-05T13:00:00.002-05:002010-01-05T13:00:00.679-05:00Just Made Someone's College Career Relevant.<a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/50394/john_henson_still_getting_the_hang_of_losing_gracefully">Link</a>. And yes, I corrected the tweet's grammar.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-91838564413240659112010-01-05T12:00:00.002-05:002010-01-05T12:03:27.836-05:00Bring me some salsa, pleaseYou WILL bow to your tasty new <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Tostitos-achieves-logo-saturation-in-every-frame?urn=ncaaf,211855">Tostito overlords</a>.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-21196192617061517652010-01-03T15:31:00.001-05:002010-01-03T15:32:48.820-05:00Next Up, USC FootballA gal <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncb/news/story?id=4792634">can hope</a>, right?Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-80966332484310967342009-12-31T15:01:00.002-05:002009-12-31T15:03:27.450-05:00Happy New Year!OK, so I am a day early with that sentiment.<br /><br />I have lots of things to say about all of the recent/not-so-recent news on ND, but not today. Today, a video:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JbgJrIq2mAM&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JbgJrIq2mAM&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Maybe I should resolve to post more this year...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-8309521010410087722009-11-20T09:20:00.003-05:002009-11-20T09:48:48.541-05:00Irish Blogger Gathering: Better Late Than Never EditionSo, I am hosting this week's Irish Blogger Gathering, and yet I still can't get my act together to post until Friday. I just can't seem to get myself motivated about this team any longer - and I think that will be reflected in my answers.<br /><br />So, without further ado, the questions:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. The Pitt loss: give me something good about it, something bad about it, and something ugly about it.</span><br /><br />Something good: I had fun in Pittsburgh. Other than the game, I mean. That part sucked.<br /><br />Something bad: The game.<br /><br />Something ugly: The game. (Hey, I didn’t say that these had to be different things)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />2. UConn this week. Does the sellout streak end? Do you care if it does end? And if it does, does this have any meaning beyond it being the end of yet another ND streak during the Charlie Weis era?</span><br /><br />I think the streak ends. And I kind of do care, even though it is something that should be meaningless. This is a team that people wait their whole lives to see just once at Notre Dame Stadium. There should never be any doubt about the stadium selling out legitimately, and there should never be a game that someone attending Notre Dame Stadium for that one time in their life should think is sub-par. Yet, with the asinine scheduling of opponents and the lack of quality on the part of Notre Dame recently, that is exactly what has happened.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. UConn is coming off of a bye week, with three losses just before that, including close losses to West Virginia and Cincinnati. The last time they won was just before cornerback Jaspar Howard was killed. These factors - along with ND's sorry performances recently - suggest to me that UConn is a dangerous team for a Notre Dame team that could really use a win going into Stanford. Should I be worried about this game? And what should I be worried about?</span><br /><br />I am worried. Frankly, if we were playing Washington State this weekend, I would be worried. It is not so much about Uconn for me, but about Notre Dame. They just don’t seem to show up until it is almost too late, or too late, in the game. Put that together with a team that is desperate for a win, and it’s a recipe for disaster.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4. Notre Dame will be seeing a familiar face in UConn quarterback Zach Frazer. Is there anyone who transferred out of Notre Dame, or who the Irish nearly got in the recruiting process, that you think would have made a significant difference on this year's team?</span><br /><br />I don’t think that there is one particular player that would have put Notre Dame over the top. However, I do find myself regularly wondering whether a few more guys on the defensive side of the ball in those early classes would be the difference between us still referring to Charlie as a genius, and us referring to him as a former coach.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />5. I, for one, was very optimistic at the beginning of the season. Now, at 6-4, I am nearly disgusted with this team, and I admit to some actions regarding Notre Dame football that I never thought I would engage in. I can't imagine I am alone. Have you done anything this season - turn off games at halftime, leave early, not watch at all, etc. - that smack of desperation and disgust with this team?</span><br /><br />This weekend, I am doing something unthinkable - I am not only not going to the game at home, but I am choosing to go to another football game entirely (Wisconsin vs. Northwestern). And, this is the part that makes it even worse - the games are at the same time, so I won’t even watch the Notre Dame game until I get home on Sunday and watch it on TiVo. And you know what? I am perfectly fine with this decision. I never thought I would get here, but here I am.<br /><br />And I never want to be here again.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Other IBG Posts:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.onefootdown.com/2009/11/irish-blogger-gathering-last-home-game.html">One Foot Down</a><br /><br /><a href="http://domerlaw.blogspot.com/2009/11/ibg-i-promise-im-not-doing-this-at-work.html">Domer Law Blog</a>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-43453448462774101932009-10-14T17:57:00.002-04:002009-10-15T11:50:45.926-04:00Irish Blogger Gathering: The Feels Like 2005 All Over Again EditionAfter taking a hiatus for a few weeks (as always, work life intrudes), I am back with this week’s IBG, hosted by <a href="http://ocdomer.blogspot.com/">OC Domer</a>, a poor man stuck in USC territory. Somehow, in between obsessive weather checks, constant perusing of the internet, and prayers for Michael Floyd’s immediate health and return to the field (I love USC week), I managed to get this thing knocked out. So, without further ado, the questions:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />1. The weather forecast for Saturday's game (as of this writing) has the high temperature in the mid 40's with some chance of rain (or snow?). What weather would give Notre Dame the best chance to beat USC? Why?</span><br /><br />I was originally tempted to ask for rain, but thanks to my crack detective skills (read: watching Conan O’Brien), I have discovered that it has been raining in Los Angeles. So, even with rain this week in South Bend, a rainy day on Saturday would be a wash in terms of preparation for the weather (haha, get it? A wash? Wow, I really need to stop working so much).<br /><br />The other obvious answer is snow. But no one is prepared for snow this early in the year (except for maybe North Dakota), so any advantage ND might have on that front at the end of November is not there right now.<br /><br />So, what I really want is what the weather forecast for Saturday actually is: sunny and very cold (well, very cold for mid-October). Anyone who has lived in a cold climate knows how deceiving a sunny - but cold - day can be if you are not prepared for it. One aspect of this is under-dressing. Sure, it seems like a good idea not to wear something with sleeves under the uniform when you are in the locker room, or even while you make the quick trips between hotel and bus, and bus and locker room, but once you get on the sidelines, waiting while Jimmy makes a long drive down the field, it could be a regretted decision.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2. Irresistable Force or Immovable Object? Notre Dame's offense is ranked #10 in yards (470 per game) and #27 in points (32.6 per game). USC's defense is ranked #6 in yards allowed (238.6 per game) and #4 in scoring allowed (just 8.6 points per game). In 2008 Notre Dame had just 91 total yards against USC. Will the Notre Dame offense be able to move the ball on Saturday? If so, how?</span><br /><br />The one thing I don’t worry about with ND is moving the ball. Rudolph and Tate provide two constant and legitimate threats, and I have been steadily gaining confidence in the run game to provide at least some alternative to the passing game. Of course, I would feel about ten times more confident in these statements if Michael Floyd were involved. As was posted by “Brad” in the comments over at Blue-Gray Sky:<br /><br /><blockquote>I say Floyd miraculously heals overnight, takes the field against Southern Cal, scores on passing plays of 72,65,83,42, and 24, and after the game we find out the whole 'broken collarbone' thing was really just a separated shoulder and was done in anticipation of screwing Southern Cal over! Parties erupt, craziness ensues, insanity reigns, dogs and cats living together.</blockquote><br /><br />That’s kind of my inner hope.<br /><br />Back to reality, though, my one big worry is that the turf toe will be bothering Jimmy, and he won’t be able to make the passes he needs to make, or scramble when USC comes after him. Hopefully, the bye week and the adrenaline of USC week will erase most of the problems here, but it’s still my number one worry.<br /><br />I still hate the wildcat, though. If you don’t think USC is salivating to take Jimmy out if he lines up at receiver - penalties be damned - then you think much more highly of the Poodle and company than I do.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. USC's offense is #22 in yards (430.6 per game) and #53 in scoring (28.8 points per game). Notre Dame's defense is #100 in total defense (403.2 yards per game) and #59 in scoring defense (allowing 23.8 points per game). Will the Notre Dame defense be able to slow down the USC offense? If so, how?</span><br /><br />Answer two weeks ago: Yes. With magic.<br /><br />Answer today: Bring some of that energy and skill brought to the Washington goal line stands to the game. Get the crowd fired up while USC is still in the huddle so they can’t hear themselves think, let alone what others are saying. Figure out how to fully execute the blitz. Force turnovers.<br /><br />And a little magic wouldn’t hurt, either.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4. In 2008, with Michael Floyd unable to play due to injury, Golden Tate had 2 catches against USC for a team-high 15 receiving yards. How do you expect Golden Tate to play against USC this year?</span><br /><br />I have many, many hopes for this game. Among these is the hope that Golden Tate plays out of his mind on Saturday. And, it being USC week, I have managed to convince myself that he WILL play out of his mind on Saturday. Do I have any good reason? Not really.<br /><br />Also, please, Golden? No random dropped passes.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />5. Jimmy Clausen has started to get some Heisman buzz. In your opinion, which Notre Dame player is the most deserving of Heisman attention, Jimmy or Golden Tate? Why?</span><br /><br />No question in my mind. Jimmy. While I appreciate Golden stepping up big time in the absence of Michael Floyd, he’s still not the person I want to trust when the game is on the line. At the Purdue game, as Jimmy began the last ND drive of the game, I texted a friend, “Brady would do this.” Turns out, Jimmy did it. Repeat at Washington (including the text). On Saturday, if it comes down to that last drive, the person I want to get the ball is not Golden Tate, but whoever Jimmy Clausen decides is the right person to have the ball. (And, even though the person who I was texting will be sitting with me on Saturday, I WILL be texting him the same thing if it comes down to one last drive. Don’t mess with success, even on the level of superstition).<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />6. Overrated or Underrated. Notre Dame cracked into the AP Poll at #25 this week. Are they overrated or underrated at #25? Where would you put them in your poll?</span><br /><br />Underrated. I would have them in the mid- to high-teens, mostly for playing all D-I teams of generally decent abilities.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />7. USC Song Girls: Ambassadors of Collegiate Goodwill or Anachronism from a bygone era of oppressive sexist stereotypes?</span><br /><br />If you’re looking for the female participant to call the Song Girls an Anachronism from a bygone era of oppressive sexist stereotypes, you’re dealing with the wrong woman. I wish I had the ND version of the song girl outfit. Speaking of, that might not be a bad thing to look into...<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />8. Green Jerseys? There's a lot of "green" talk coming from campus this week, and it raises the question of whether the team will be wearing green on Saturday. Do you want to see the green jerseys or not? Why?</span><br /><br />I love the green jerseys, and if I see them at the beginning of the game, I will not be upset. However, the way I really want them employed is like this: All week long, the coaches drill it into the heads of the players that they have the skills to win this game, they don’t need any help from higher powers, they don’t need to resort to any gimmick-y jerseys. Then, the team comes out, and, if the game is close or the Irish are winning at half, break them out. Even with it drilled into their heads that they don’t need them, a little boost can’t hurt.<br /><br />Plus, I can imagine that the stadium - especially the students - would go nuts if they came out at half. And keeping the crowd into the game for the second half on a cold day can only boost the Irish.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />9. Name the next number in this sequence: -3, -20, -38, -35, _______. Explain</span>.<br /><br />+5. I’m not sure my heart can handle another close game - especially against USC - but I don’t see the Irish beating the Trojans by a large number. I fear that my heart will have to deal with the Cardiac Catholics for at least another week.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-50334266903844977972009-10-12T14:55:00.003-04:002009-10-12T15:01:19.002-04:00Cheeseburgers Have Been Eaten...Bring on USC!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixM02885PWNFECGgxgN1AvougTcSDOcwZ1OkyBukcgPDrNY5gXtYjjYG4bs_im_UVKmk1Bin4K5IyBjdfF2qB3ceykn5vuOYixA94AUn258nW8OwOJ2SyQt8LcekGZull7Uqg4UC2A6zY0/s1600-h/Kitten+Date.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixM02885PWNFECGgxgN1AvougTcSDOcwZ1OkyBukcgPDrNY5gXtYjjYG4bs_im_UVKmk1Bin4K5IyBjdfF2qB3ceykn5vuOYixA94AUn258nW8OwOJ2SyQt8LcekGZull7Uqg4UC2A6zY0/s320/Kitten+Date.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391790408455699986" /></a><br /><br />(Because <a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/2009/09/09/funny-pictures-all-da-time/">lolcats</a> are definitely the way to start out USC week).Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597559316884461206.post-21290158671522233182009-09-26T13:32:00.003-04:002009-09-26T13:33:39.602-04:00Go Irish!Go Irish!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYiyXbDGWj9ce12JmCTkTcrMJhASKdb13WP4lh7XOg8X_mfSP-XK9ew4eVLA6ZUj-c70655jHxHVDX-BmMUJBQrTxQopaf11t5FriQuJV4OKl7TufgHHWP_PbqXIYn8wkTRrtaHBNLVjv/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYiyXbDGWj9ce12JmCTkTcrMJhASKdb13WP4lh7XOg8X_mfSP-XK9ew4eVLA6ZUj-c70655jHxHVDX-BmMUJBQrTxQopaf11t5FriQuJV4OKl7TufgHHWP_PbqXIYn8wkTRrtaHBNLVjv/s320/001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385830495534895762" /></a><br /><br />And yes, I have enlisted the dog to help me drink.Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543196622359557690noreply@blogger.com0