(09-19-2015 08:29 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(09-19-2015 08:00 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I think my first big take away from today is how impressed I am with Notre Dame. Wow. I think this may be the best ND team I've seen in maybe 20 years. This ND team would have beaten the 2012 ND team by 3 TD.

Not bad for a team using its third string Quarterback and third string running back from its June depth chart.

ND did lose its 2,000th player to season ending injury today, though.

Depth may be an issue as the season grinds on.

Folks were asking me on the Big Ten board why I took them over Georgia Tech in our Pick Em. I thought immediately after seeing Notre Dame earlier this season that they were a very impressive team in terms of athleticism and speed. That was Notre Dame's problem against Alabama in their last Championship game. I don't see that being a problem for Notre Dame this year nor do I think that the replacement quarterback is garbage.

When he took over last week, that touchdown pass of his? His work in the pocket was masterful and he allowed that pass route to develop. He may be the better quarterback in all actuality.

Somebody beat Notre Dame. Please?????

My guess is that the Irish will lose at least two as injuries catch up to them.

That should make some people happy.

In the meantime, it is fun to enjoy the ride (while it lasts) and imagine the anti-ND folks fume.

Temple will beat Notre Dame.

(09-21-2015 11:51 AM)ken d Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 11:09 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 08:47 AM)ken d Wrote:  I think my biggest takeaway is that we can't, or at least shouldn't, just look at recent on field performance when considering which G5 teams are good candidates for a call up to the big leagues.

It's not just a 2-3 year stretch of good football teams. Look for sustained success through different coaching staffs, probably including multiple CFP bowl berths, good-to-excellent performance in other sports, and athletic budgets among the top 5 or 10 non-P5 schools. That's what Louisville, TCU, and Utah had in common before they were in a P5 conference.

Exactly. And I would add strong fan support, as evidenced by consistently high home attendance (not just in the years the school is winning big).

Yeah, but packages that include all of the above are hard to come by.

Ex: Georgia Southern....school with long history of success in football across multiple divisions. Strong fan base that travels well and has with great home attendance(per stadium size), with decent Olympic sports. Is small as far as P5s would be concerned with a horrid athletic budget. Although not the best fit at this time, my point is that most of these things develop to suit the conference the team is in, including the next round of call ups.

(09-22-2015 01:21 AM)EagleNationRising Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 11:51 AM)ken d Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 11:09 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 08:47 AM)ken d Wrote:  I think my biggest takeaway is that we can't, or at least shouldn't, just look at recent on field performance when considering which G5 teams are good candidates for a call up to the big leagues.

It's not just a 2-3 year stretch of good football teams. Look for sustained success through different coaching staffs, probably including multiple CFP bowl berths, good-to-excellent performance in other sports, and athletic budgets among the top 5 or 10 non-P5 schools. That's what Louisville, TCU, and Utah had in common before they were in a P5 conference.

Exactly. And I would add strong fan support, as evidenced by consistently high home attendance (not just in the years the school is winning big).

Yeah, but packages that include all of the above are hard to come by.

They are, which is why the teams that do get there stand out. But IMO, within the next 10-15 years, a few more stand outs will have checked off all of those boxes.

(09-22-2015 01:35 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-22-2015 01:21 AM)EagleNationRising Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 11:51 AM)ken d Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 11:09 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 08:47 AM)ken d Wrote:  I think my biggest takeaway is that we can't, or at least shouldn't, just look at recent on field performance when considering which G5 teams are good candidates for a call up to the big leagues.

It's not just a 2-3 year stretch of good football teams. Look for sustained success through different coaching staffs, probably including multiple CFP bowl berths, good-to-excellent performance in other sports, and athletic budgets among the top 5 or 10 non-P5 schools. That's what Louisville, TCU, and Utah had in common before they were in a P5 conference.

Exactly. And I would add strong fan support, as evidenced by consistently high home attendance (not just in the years the school is winning big).

Yeah, but packages that include all of the above are hard to come by.

They are, which is why the teams that do get there stand out. But IMO, within the next 10-15 years, a few more stand outs will have checked off all of those boxes.

The only schools right now are Boise State, North Dakota State and South Dakota State who have more than one sport that have been pretty good. San Diego State, Wyoming and UAB last year in football and basketball. I don't think Wyoming will go anywhere.

I forgot Memphis and Cincinnati on the list with more than one sport.

(09-19-2015 08:09 PM)stever20 Wrote:  think one thing- Ezekiel Elliott has fallen behind on the RB list.... his numbers so far this year- 61 carries for 331 yards and 4 TD. Good stats- but not Heisman level IMO.

look at 2 others-
Chubb, Georgia- 56 carries for 468 yards and 4 td
Fournette, LSU- 47 carries for 387 yards and 6 td

to me, the numbers that Chubb or Fournette have are kind of what you need for a RB to win the Heisman.

ESPN has a Heisman Poll weekly...

Right now-
Fournette is a run away #1. Chubb #2. Elliott is #4...

The big difference between Fournette/Chubb and Elliott is yards per carry. Fournette/Chubb are up at 8 yards per carry. Elliott is "only" at 5.4.

(09-21-2015 11:21 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  Somebody beat Notre Dame. Please?????

Clemson in 2 weeks

(09-21-2015 01:49 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(09-19-2015 08:29 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(09-19-2015 08:00 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I think my first big take away from today is how impressed I am with Notre Dame. Wow. I think this may be the best ND team I've seen in maybe 20 years. This ND team would have beaten the 2012 ND team by 3 TD.

Not bad for a team using its third string Quarterback and third string running back from its June depth chart.

ND did lose its 2,000th player to season ending injury today, though.

Depth may be an issue as the season grinds on.

Folks were asking me on the Big Ten board why I took them over Georgia Tech in our Pick Em. I thought immediately after seeing Notre Dame earlier this season that they were a very impressive team in terms of athleticism and speed. That was Notre Dame's problem against Alabama in their last Championship game. I don't see that being a problem for Notre Dame this year nor do I think that the replacement quarterback is garbage.

When he took over last week, that touchdown pass of his? His work in the pocket was masterful and he allowed that pass route to develop. He may be the better quarterback in all actuality.

you've got to like the Notre Dame's schedule as well....after Clemson, it's all downhill.....they get USC at home, and they end with a road trip to Stanford. I think both those teams are beatable though...

I don't think they'll beat Clemson, but I think they've got a great chance to make the playoff with an 11-1 record

(09-23-2015 03:48 PM)EvilVodka Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 01:49 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(09-19-2015 08:29 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(09-19-2015 08:00 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I think my first big take away from today is how impressed I am with Notre Dame. Wow. I think this may be the best ND team I've seen in maybe 20 years. This ND team would have beaten the 2012 ND team by 3 TD.

Not bad for a team using its third string Quarterback and third string running back from its June depth chart.

ND did lose its 2,000th player to season ending injury today, though.

Depth may be an issue as the season grinds on.

Folks were asking me on the Big Ten board why I took them over Georgia Tech in our Pick Em. I thought immediately after seeing Notre Dame earlier this season that they were a very impressive team in terms of athleticism and speed. That was Notre Dame's problem against Alabama in their last Championship game. I don't see that being a problem for Notre Dame this year nor do I think that the replacement quarterback is garbage.

When he took over last week, that touchdown pass of his? His work in the pocket was masterful and he allowed that pass route to develop. He may be the better quarterback in all actuality.

you've got to like the Notre Dame's schedule as well....after Clemson, it's all downhill.....they get USC at home, and they end with a road trip to Stanford. I think both those teams are beatable though...

I don't think they'll beat Clemson, but I think they've got a great chance to make the playoff with an 11-1 record

Yep, I agree.

yeah, ND at 11-1 would have a great shot. Especially if GT and Clemson have big years in the ACC.

(09-23-2015 03:42 PM)EvilVodka Wrote:  

(09-21-2015 11:21 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  Somebody beat Notre Dame. Please?????

Clemson in 2 weeks

L yeah. That game could prove to be for a playoff spot.