Party Like it is 1993?

There has been a lot in the press this week about comparisons between tonight's game and the epic 1993 ND-FSU battle.  I had the privilege to attend that game in 93 and it is certainly one of my favorites for impact and excitement.  I still think the 1993 Irish were the best Holtz team and had they not blown it all against BC clearly would have notched another National Championship; probably should have anyway since we finished #2 to FSU - weird.  Maybe today will be a small sort of revenge.

We could win today, but I don't think we will.  When you peel back the covers on the stats and talent, FSU is much better on paper and I think they will be too much for us but it should be epic again.  The Irish have not really had a true road game yet (kind of amazing at this point in the season) and the remaining ones against FSU, ASU and USC will all be tough games.  Remember this is still a pretty young team and we have flirted with giving away a couple games in recent weeks.  There is some possibility that it will all come crashing down tonight.  But I do thin the Irish have some intestinal fortitude and speed to stick with FSU that may make it interesting.

Keys to the game in my view are as follows.  We have to have a solid and consistent run game to keep FSU off the field.  Golson must not turnover the ball - that alone is the most important thing.  On defense, limit the big plays of course and keep Winston from scampering about too much.  I think if we have a methodical approach on both sides of the ball and hang around for a while FSU might have a brain cramp that provides the opportunity to steal one.  I don't think we have a chance in a shootout like last week.

Article I read today indicates this is sort of  "playoff round one" in the new system with ND needing the win to get consideration for a playoff.  Our pre-season scary schedule has not turned out to be that bad so far which is hurting us a bit.  But the good news is we have our destiny in our own hands.  If we win out we will be in the playoff, no question.  Even some one loss scenarios are possible depending on what others do. 

So we give them a game but fall short.  Latest spread is 12 points for the bad guys.  I say we cover.

ND 21, FSU 30

GO IRISH!

The Godfather