[NDIrish]

We share much of your confusion and frustration.  What is clear is that Stanford at home is 4-0 and a top-10 team, beating then #9 Washington, and handily beating Oregon, UCLA, and ASU, while Stanford on the road is a mediocre team, at best, beating Oregon State (barely) and Utah, while losing to U$C, Washington State, and San Diego State.

Thankfully for us this game is at home, where I have ever hope that we will give you a run for your money.

I guess my biggest question for you, and sorry to make you re-live your nightmare, was... what happened on Saturday?  Was it just a question of a good team having itself a bad day against another good team, or did Miami expose a fundamental weakness?

BC

O, im not sure if we will really know what saturday was until after Stanford... I think ND is a good team, but not a top 5 team.  And i really thought that before the miami game.  But Saturday, was just awful.  They weren't prepared and just went out their a laid an egg.  I think (or at least like to think) on a different day, that is a competitive game.  I have never seen a team fold like that due to the environment its in.  And once things started to go a little bad, there was no recovering from it.  IMO, the gap between the two teams was no 33 pts.  But that is the way the game played out, so now it will be a question if they can swallow that and move on, or if they are going to let it ruin their season.

There were a lot of flaws exposed as well.  Although, i think most people who could look at that team honestly could identify them before.  The Lt, mcglinchey, who has been anointed a top tackle in this draft, got beat all day long.  If you want the games through out the year though, it shouldn't come as a surprise.  He is really good against the run, but if you have a speed rush on the outside, he is not fast enough.  Also, this defense wins by fundamentals, not skill.  The issue is their lack of skill leaves the middle of the field open, either for QB run or pass.  Miami was very good at all the things ND struggled with.  Now if you get a team that can't do those things very well, i.e. michigan state or usc, then ND goes out and looks like a top team.

[NDIrish]

We share much of your confusion and frustration.  What is clear is that Stanford at home is 4-0 and a top-10 team, beating then #9 Washington, and handily beating Oregon, UCLA, and ASU, while Stanford on the road is a mediocre team, at best, beating Oregon State (barely) and Utah, while losing to U$C, Washington State, and San Diego State.

Thankfully for us this game is at home, where I have ever hope that we will give you a run for your money.

I guess my biggest question for you, and sorry to make you re-live your nightmare, was... what happened on Saturday?  Was it just a question of a good team having itself a bad day against another good team, or did Miami expose a fundamental weakness?

BC

O, im not sure if we will really know what saturday was until after Stanford... I think ND is a good team, but not a top 5 team.  And i really thought that before the miami game.  But Saturday, was just awful.  They weren't prepared and just went out their a laid an egg.  I think (or at least like to think) on a different day, that is a competitive game.  I have never seen a team fold like that due to the environment its in.  And once things started to go a little bad, there was no recovering from it.  IMO, the gap between the two teams was no 33 pts.  But that is the way the game played out, so now it will be a question if they can swallow that and move on, or if they are going to let it ruin their season.

There were a lot of flaws exposed as well.  Although, i think most people who could look at that team honestly could identify them before.  The Lt, mcglinchey, who has been anointed a top tackle in this draft, got beat all day long.  If you want the games through out the year though, it shouldn't come as a surprise.  He is really good against the run, but if you have a speed rush on the outside, he is not fast enough.  Also, this defense wins by fundamentals, not skill.  The issue is their lack of skill leaves the middle of the field open, either for QB run or pass.  Miami was very good at all the things ND struggled with.  Now if you get a team that can't do those things very well, i.e. michigan state or usc, then ND goes out and looks like a top team.