We Have a Bowl Game Winning Streak!

A lot to like and some things to ponder out of today’s not-as-close-as-the-score Irish 33-17 victory over the Hurricanes.

At halftime, up 27-3, I said to myself, “we didn’t play very well”. Getting 3 INTs on successive series definitely made for a lopsided half, and I knew they’d replace Jacory Harris at QB. Good decision for Miami—Stephen Morris completed 2/3 of his passes for over 280 yards. Fortunately for us, they didn’t start scoring TDs until it was too late.

A very vanilla defense today; we mostly just rushed the base 4 linemen, didn’t blitz much at all. When you get that big lead early, it leads to just playing a “hold” defense. But I guess I can’t argue with a defense that kept Miami out of the end zone until 10:30 left in the game.

At that point, though, I wrote “we need a drive”. Momentum was slipping a bit, and we’d had FG/missed FG/3-and-out so far in the second half. We didn’t score on the next drive, but we burned four minutes on just 7 plays, which put the game into “too far of a reach” for the Hurricanes.

Give Miami credit; they definitely could have packed it in at half time, but they didn’t. They fought hard, especially on defense (good defensive line) to keep the game from getting totally out of control. We were less than inspirational at blocking up front in the second half; although Robert Hughes and Cierre Wood combined for 169 yards on the ground. Tough running for most of it. I count 12 runs for losses; not usually a good sign.

We did have good pass protection; don’t see a sack on the ledger for Miami. On the flip side, our vanilla defense didn’t really force the Miami QBs to do much they didn’t want to do.

We finally saw a missed field goal by Daivd Ruffer. I believe he hurt his left knee on the kickoff previous to that. Looked like he planted a little funny, and I think he was a little gimpy coming off the field. The announcers didn’t notice/say anything. Although Ruffer didn’t kick the last one, so there’s probably something there.

We’ll have to see what happened to Mantei’s knee, and who knows what’s up with Michael Floyd? Seems like Rees’ knee was OK after that shot he took before half time.

Other random notes: Looked like the band actually had seats in the stands. 13 of TR’s first 23 pass attempt were to Floyd. Crowd was too bundled up to make a lot of noise, but it sounded mostly pro-Irish. Correct? We play Miami again in 2012 at Soldier Field. Hard to believe it had been 20 years since we played. We had seven plays from scrimmage of 20 or more yards, including two of our TDs. No turnovers for the Irish. Miami was one of the most penalized teams this year and that definitely showed up today. We were only penalized three times, all in the first half, two were on our first possession.

Too early to start prognosticating about next year. Let’s see what Floyd and Rudolph decide about playing or not next season before we do win projections. As I noted on my Facebook page, however, only 246 days until the season starts, on September 3rd, when we host ND grad Skip Holtz’s University of South Florida Bulls. They won their bowl game today, by the way…

HAPPY NEW YEAR! AND GO IRISH!!!!! BEAT BULLS!!!!

The Colonel

In Under the Wire

Can't disagree with anything Godfather says below. The key will be our offesne, I believe. If we look "15 practices better", I think we win by 10 or 14. We were starting to gel in November, and if we extrapolate forward progress, that bodes well. Never a good deal having to play in an "interim coach regime", so I don't see the Canes rallying around that.

As I'm sure Godfather knows, it's 34 degrees in El Paso 30 min before game time, with 16 mph winds. Looks like they even got an inch of snow in the last 24 hours! Benefit--IRISH, in a big way. Toto, I don't think we're in Coral Gables any more.

So I'll be a stupid optimist and give us a 10 point victory: IRISH 27, CANES, 17.

GO IRISH!!!! BEAT CANES!!!

The Colonel

Should be a Good One

Expecting a very good game this Friday. Have to get the prediction in today as we are off to Texas tomorrow for the bowl extravaganza.

First a bit of news, Linda Battista, our drum major of the 1980 season is in the El Paso paper. She was a good one, I hope we get a chance to see her. You can read the article here:

http://elpasoinc.com/readArticle.aspx?issueid=318&xrec=5996

So on Friday we have two 7-5 teams that may be a bit better than their records indicate but on paper you have to like Miami in this one and that is why they have earned a 3 point spread. There are a lot of x-factors in my mind for this game. How will Miami respond to an interim coach and the upcoming change of head coaches (usually not good)? How will ND improve and learn the Kelly system with the additional 15 practices? How will the return of Ian Williams and Theo Riddick help the Irish? Will Tommy Rees continue to improve and cut down on the dumb throws? Will cool weather (forecasted high is 49 degrees) throw a chill into the poor Miami players? Can the Irish build on a great November and win one that sets up the early over optimistic forecast for the 2011 season? I hope so.

I think Miami is a lot like USC this year in term of speed on both sides of the ball and talent in general which means we are going to have our hands full. I expect both defenses to play well and this to be a relatively low scoring game as was the case for USC. Turnovers will be a big deal in this game should either team get one.

I am guessing the interim coach, new coach factor will tip the scales in ND's favor so I am going to go with the good guys but only in a squeaker.

ND 17, Miami 14

GO IRISH! Beat Canes

We Made a Record Once...

Hey friends. Some time during my tenure, we cut a record with the Marching Band, and in addition to the Victory March, I thought we did the National Anthem. Can anyone confirm that? If so, does anyone have an electronic (vice wax) version of that? I'd like to use the National Anthem recording at my retirement luncheon on January 5th if possible.

Just taking a shot in the dark here.

Thanks and Merry Christmas!

The (soon to be former) Colonel

Another National Title!

This time it's for the band.  The ND Marching Band just received the Sudler Trophy.  According to the Sousa Foundation, "The purpose of the Sudler Trophy is to identify and recognize collegiate marching bands of particular excellence that have made outstanding contributions to the American way of life.  The Sudler Trophy will be awarded biannually to a college or university marching band which has demonstrated the highest of musical standards and innovative marching routines and ideas, and which has made important contributions to the advancement of the performance standards of college marching bands over a number of years."

Not too shabby!  The award was given to the band today at the Midwest Clinic - an international band and orchestra conference that's held in Chicago every year around Christmas (my dad used to go every year!).

Congratulations to the Notre Dame Marching Band - Go Irish, Beat Hurricanes!


Can you tell I'm a proud band mom???

My Retirement Ceremony

Hello All

As I told you in September, I'll be retiring from the Air Force in January. My retirement ceremony will be on Friday January 7th at 2 PM, at Los Angeles AFB in El Segundo, CA.

I most sincerely invite you all to attend my ceremony. I also most sincerely don't expect any of you to drop your real lives to be here. But if you're looking for an excuse to come to LA during the winter, this could be it! We'll have the ceremony Friday afternoon, a reception on the base after that, and an "open house" at a local resort hotel on Saturday.

So, let me know if you might swing out here. Jill and I would love to share the occasion with any and all of you.

GO IRISH!!! BEAT HURRICANES!!!! (THAT SOUNDS SOOOOO GREAT!)

The Colonel

Anyone going to El Paso?

Should I try to order tickets for you? We won't be getting to Texas this bowl season.

National Champions!!!

No, not your men's football team. But the Irish women's Soccer team just beat previously undefeated and #1 Stanford 1-nil to win the national championship! I watched a bit of the first half, then taped the second half on my way out to church. I'll try to watch it later today after boss' holiday party and church gala, at which I get to sing and play timpani, bells, bongos and conga. Not all at the same time, but sometimes it seems like it. Onward, and congrats to the Lady Irish!!!

The Beauty of College Footbal

Good Evening, friends. We love to hate USC, but I just have to say, there's a beauty in watching USC/UCLA, at the Rose Bowl, with both teams wearing their home jerseys. They'll get fined by the NCAA for that, but they've agreed that it's a fine worth paying, and I agree. I must admit that watching these teams play each other was always something I enjoyed growing up. Of course, it's easier to watch these days when one is on probation and neither are going to bowl games!

And say goodbye to the Oklahoma/Nebraska rivalry. I'm sure the Big 12 (or whatever they'll call themselves next season) were VERY happy to see Oklahoma pull out a win today and not have a Big 10 (or whatever they'll call themselves next season) bound Nebraska take the conference championship trophy with them to points East.

So let's see what Phil Knight cooks up for Oregon's BCS Championship Game uniforms. Today their dominant color was grey, which was a bit odd. I'm sure the Green and Yellow will be prominent on 10 January. I'm glad we'll have a contrast in colors with Auburn. Don't know who will be the "home" team, but I'd love to see Auburn in their dark blue jerseys and Oregon working some yellow with green accents. Nice clash!

Have a good week all.

The Colonel