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Domer: All That Glittered Wasn't Gold

John Walters — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:54:00 EST

Filed under: Georgia Tech, Nevada, Notre Dame, USC, Daily Domer

FanHouse writer John Walters is living in South Bend, Ind., during one of the most pivotal seasons in Notre Dame history. Check back daily for his dispatches on the Irish.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- It was just moments after Notre Dame obliterated Nevada, 35-0, in the season-opener and before the band had yet to strike up the Alma Mater. I stood next to WNDU-TV's Jeff Jeffers, who has been covering this program for more than three decades. Each of us incredulous, we gaped at one another.

"Did that just happen?" I asked.

"Did it?" he replied.

Have you seen Nevada lately? The Wolf Pack are 7-3. They are fifth in the nation in scoring offense -- that's right, the same team the Irish shut out, Notre Dame's lone shutout of the Charlie Weis era -- is averaging 39 points per game. They're No. 1 in rushing offense and it isn't even close. Nevada is averaging 353 yards per game on the ground. The next most prolfic rushing attack, Georgia Tech's, averages 314 yards per game.

Did that 35-0 win really happen? Whoever the Irish were on September 5, they are but a shadow of that team today. Hope and enthusiasm have been replaced on the depth chart by regret and diffidence. For me the nadir came after Saturday night's loss, when Weis actually said, "When we're on the road, you have to consider the crowd and the tempo of the game and I thought we were doing pretty well when the score was 3-3."

You've got Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate and Michael Floyd in your huddle and you're content to be tied at 3-3 at halftime? To quote a brazenly self-assured coach I used to know, "That's not good enough."

Nevada has evolved. Notre Dame, for the second consecutive year, sleepwalks through the final month of the season, donning its gold helmets as if they are the world's heaviest hairshirts. Believe it or not, there used to be a time when the idea of playing football at Notre Dame seemed fun. And not just for the final two plays against Georgia Tech.

The players deserve better. Each week the Irish happen upon an opponent who appears more eager to play, and to win, than they do.

The coach, too, deserved better the previous two weeks. For all the grenades being lobbed at Weis of late, he has been the victim of his players' failing to execute even the simplest of duties. If only Mike Ragone were able to catch a shuttle pass that travels all of three yards in the air, for example. Or if right guard Dan Wenger knew better than to chopblock a defensive tackle whom center Eric Olsen, a player who has yet to allow a sack all season, was handling just fine, thank you.

Except that when enough of these errors accumulate (Eric Maust's punting, drops by Floyd and Theo Riddick in addition to Ragone's, etc.) and with frequency, then you have to point to the head coach. He did entitle the book "No Excuses," after all.

Where's the Killer Instinct?

The tragedy of this season, one that will likely cost Weis his job, is not that the Irish were not good enough to go to a BCS bowl. The tragedy is that they did not play well enough to go to a BCS bowl. There's a difference.

In Lou Holtz's inaugural season the Irish finished 5-6, but five of those six losses were by a total of 14 points. And three of those five opponents were ranked in the Top 10. The Irish, despite the 5-6 record, overachieved.

The 2009 Irish have lost four games by a total of 18 points (USC, in contrast, has lost individual games by 27 and 34 points the past three weeks, albeit to stiffer competition). That's not impressive, though, because Notre Dame has won four of its games by a total of 17 points. As talented as the Irish are, they lack a killer instinct. They have only themselves to blame for all the drama on the field, which has led to all the drama off the field.

You Gotta Have Heart

The designated mantra of the coaching staff and the players, when asked to make an assessment whose candor might portray the team in a less glorious light, has long been, "I'll have to take a look at the tape."

No, you don't. The answers are not in being outschemed or failing to pick up a block or making a poor read here and there. Those are the symptoms.

The answers have long been in the intangibles. In unquantifiable attributes such as spirit and heart and togetherness.

In passion.

Notre Dame has, in three of its past five games, never led. Not for a second. And yet in all three of those contests the Irish had the football with a chance to tie the score in the final three minutes. The Irish never give up at the end, but they never show up at the beginning. Why is that?

The Price You Pay

Here's hoping that, however these final two weeks of the season play out, one year from today Weis is a much healthier human being.

After Saturday's game at Heinz Field, Weis walked into the interview room and spied the podium where he was supposed to stand. It was situated on a platform that required a step up of about a foot, and Weis uttered a quick, "Uh-oh." With his knees such an feat becomes almost herculean. Weis briefly considered leaning on a Notre Dame media assistant for support, but then thought better of it (the metaphor potential was simply too rich). Instead, he had the microphone brought over to him.

At the age of 53, Weis has more knee problems than most of his peers who actually played college football. His budget-deficit in terms of sleep is worse than the federal government's fiscal version. This season would be giving Weis nightmares if only he could get enough winks to actually have them. His weight does not appear to have decreased since he took the job. And you can only imagine what his blood pressure must be like.

Seeing a man of Weis's not-so-advanced years actually look daunted by the prospect of having to step up to a foot-high platform was sobering. The physical toll. The constant nationwide hostility and schadenfreude from both fans and media. The sleep-deprivation. There's gotta be an easier way to make a seven-figure income.

Domer: All That Glittered Wasn't Gold originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily Domer Gameday Liveblog: Notre Dame Opens Against Nevada

John Walters — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Nevada, Notre Dame, Daily Domer

FanHouse writer John Walters is spending a season in South Bend to chronicle the 2009 season. He's in the pressbox for the Irish's opener against Nevada. Follow his Twitter live blog below:

More Coverage: Pre-Game Primer

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Daily Domer Gameday Liveblog: Notre Dame Opens Against Nevada originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turkey Legs to Go: Humanitarian Bowl Travel Guide, Maryland vs. Nevada

Will Brinson — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Maryland, Nevada, ACC, WAC, Campus, Coaching, Fans, Bowl Games

Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the Humanitarian Bowl (Boise, Idaho), which pits Maryland against Nevada.

Overview/Matchup: You would THINK that a Maryland - Nevada matchup would get the old ticket sale - juices flowing, right? Yeah, you would be wrong. Because the Terrapins have sold all of SIXTEEN tickets. SIXTEEN! In other words, people in Maryland are none too fond of having to travel all the way up to Idaho and watch their team play. And since Nevada's only slung eight tickets, well, yeah, this might not be the most crowded game. Good news for you = easy hotel reservations!

Hotels: There isn't much in Boise in terms of world-class accommodation, but there are a number of good-quality hotels and budget rooms within easy driving distance of the hotel. Although the nearby Hotel 43 is a competitive alternative, we recommend The Grove Hotel for well-heeled travelers. Just across the river from the stadium and offering a popular on-site restaurant, and even more popular on-site sports bar, the Grove is also probably the best all around value for any bowl traveler. For those who would feel more comfortable in a traditional midrange, try the Courtyard by Marriott. It's also located just across the river from the stadium and has reasonable rates and consistent service. Budget-minded travelers should try the Best Western Airport Inn. Located just two blocks from the airport, the hotel offers rooms for US$79 per night. However, keep in mind before booking that rooms at the Courtyard are only a few dollars more and the location is far superior.

Restaurants/Nightlife: As for dining, there's plenty to eat in Boise, but we recommend you focus on the brewpubs. Much like Asheville, North Carolina, and Big Sky, Montana, great microbreweries seem to follow young outdoorsy types. Tablerock Brewpub & Grill is a must visit, but also keep an eye out for Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery, Bitter Creek Alehouse and Ram Restaurant & Brewery.

Turkey Legs to Go: Humanitarian Bowl Travel Guide, Maryland vs. Nevada originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Humanitarian Bowl Ticket Sales In The Dozens

Brian Cook — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:26:00 EST

Filed under: Boise State, Maryland, Nevada

No, seriously.

Buried at the end of a positive article on the Humanitarian Bowl "hoping for a big turnout" that matches the whopping 26,000 that showed last year is this stark reminder of what happens when your bowl game is played in Boise, Idaho:

As of Monday afternoon the University of Maryland says it's sold about 16 tickets to the game. The University of Nevada says it's sold 8 so far.

"About" 16 tickets? How can the word "about" ever be followed by the number 16? If I worked in the Maryland ticket department I would at all times have a completely accurate number of tickets sold in my head: 16.

It will remain 16 until the game, at which point it will remain 16 for all time. If I run in to someone who worked at the Maryland ticket office in 2088 I will immediately query them about the number of tickets sold to the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl and if I do not get the answer "16" I will pull the mask from their face, revealing the supposed Terrapin to be a googly-eyed alien invader. This, I predict, will save the planet.

You're welcome in advance.

(HT: ONBUG)

Humanitarian Bowl Ticket Sales In The Dozens originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCAA Football FanHouse

Domer: All That Glittered Wasn't Gold

Daily Domer Gameday Liveblog: Notre Dame Opens Against Nevada

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Turkey Legs to Go: Humanitarian Bowl Travel Guide, Maryland vs. Nevada

Humanitarian Bowl Ticket Sales In The Dozens