Let's Get This Party Started!

Once again the seemingly eternal off-season is drawing to a close and it is finally time for college football again! Despite my lack of preparation and research, I have decided to share my full season prediction in detail below. This will allow the Colonel to poke holes in my logic and choose a season record that is 2 games less optimistic than mine. Bring it on Donny!

I must start with a couple factoids for all you band nerds out there. Nina and I made our annual pilgrimage to watch the first ND Band Camp march-out this morning and had a chance to gather a couple insider tidbits for you. Turns out there were 40 guys signed up for the 4 open spots on the Irish Guard, but only 20 showed up today. I gather the seniors figure out they have no shot at it and drop before camp begins. I always enjoy watching those big guys lumber along out of step on the first march out but have to say today's bunch was particularly poorly coordinated. Will be interesting to see how they whip the new guys into shape. The "manager" team of 6 needs 3 new people and 7 have applied to try out. That thankless property job of moving the ladders and the water and the props (can you say fire extinguisher?) around takes an upbeat personality and willingness to live in the shadow of the musicians but it is very important to the overall band operation. The drummers looked like they know what they are doing. I imagine that section will be a tough cut to make as it always is these days. Here is wishing all the newbies the best as the try to make the 2013 Band of the Fighting Irish! SIX games (band going to Michigan and Purdue) in a row for the band starting next Saturday so they have their work cut out for them.

Well on to the football team. My headline for this coming season is we will continue to be good because the program has built some depth and some guts in the Kelly era. Probably not going the National Championship this year, but we could have had an outside shot if dunderhead Golson had done his homework. Instead we are stuck with old reliable Tommy Rees and I figure that will cost us a couple wins. The defense will be stellar again and hopefully the offense protects the ball and scores once in a while to get us the wins. Once again we face a challenging lineup and here is how I see it.

Laughers (5-0):

We should beat Temple, Purdue, Air Force, Navy and Pitt handily this year. That puts 5 W's in the bank.

Interesting (3-1):

MSU at home - they always play us tough, ASU in Dallas - the Sun Devils will give us a game but I expect the Shamrock Series helmets will carry the day, BYU at home - we should win but we barely got by these guys last year and we are not as good. USC - I think we have them outmanned again, but hey it is USC.

Trouble (1-2):

I have a bad feeling about another Michigan night game, particularly since they fall off our schedule in a couple years. Oklahoma is looking for revenge (though I think we will win). I have to pick Stanford in the final game - they are looking very strong and will be looking for revenge.

So add that all up sports fans and we will earn a 9-3 record. 10-2 not out of the question, either way we will be in the mix for another BCS bowl or top tier contest in the post-season.

I am totally psyched to get crackin'. Temple score prediction next week!

GO IRISH! BEAT OWLS!