The Ghosts of Musco

The Godfather, as usual, is spot on in his assessment that this is a "State of the Program" game. All the momentum from last year's streak has fizzled. We failed at home in our season opener, largely in part due to mistakes that a veteran team should not make. Can you really believe we gained over 500 yards of offense and lost to a lesser team? Amazing. As Michaleen Oge Flynn would say, "It's Homeric!"

That would not portend a favorable outcome walking in to The Big House for the first night game ever against probably their greatest non-Big 10(12) rival.

OK, how many of you got the title reference? 29 years ago, in the first night game at Notre Dame Stadium, we, with the help of Musco Lighting, beat Michigan 23-17. It was a dangerous day--the only time in my four years the band was able to tailgate!

(Aside: good thing we never did midnight drummer's circle. Consciousness would have been a plus, yes?)

OK, enough fun. How can we win, and will we win? Those seem to be the key questions facing our boys in white tomorrow evening.

Don's post definitely covered several points. The two I focus on are: win the turnover battle, and contain Denard Robinson. In one way I'd differ with Godfather--I want Tommy Rees to play to win, not play to "not lose". He has to avoid getting laser eyes for Michael Floyd on every pass play, so distribution will be key for him.

On defense, containment is the absolute key. Linemen must "stay home", in their assigned lanes. No stupid late hit penalties, either in bounds or on the sidelines.

WE CAN AND SHOULD WIN. If we lose tomorrow, I won't predict victory again until after we actually win a game!

Wait, wait, do you see my final score prediction coming???

IRISH 23, WOLVERINES 17. September 18, 1982 Redux.

GO IRISH!!! BEAT WOLVERINES!!!

The Colonel