Andy

Ok, Weis needs to be done tomorrow. He's staying in California all week to recruit (it really sucks that a guy clearly trying as much as he is just plain can't do the job), and after that, see ya, and after that, Brian Kelly. That is what must happen. I didn't even watch Saturday's game, I was off freelancing for a newspaper in the area for the first time.

He doesn't put up the requisite stats to get the award, but there is no one more valuable to anyone than Steve Smith to the Panthers. It seems like half the time we have no offense other than "Jake throws up a prayer and Smith makes an incredible catch". That was a completely miraculous win. Right up there with the Bears win as one of the most undeserved wins we've ever gotten. And since opponents forget how to play football against Tampa (thanks for that throw into triple coverage in a tie game with 2 minutes left, Drew Brees), we need every win we can get.

You won't. I love what Ball St. has done this year, but I believe that this year's Boise team is better than the team that won the Fiesta Bowl two years ago. I really don't think that game would be much of a contest. Before today I would've disagreed, but 61-10 speaks volumes. Still, if it's between a) playing Boise and b) beating Wisco or Minnesota to go 14-0 and have people still saying we weren't tested, I'll take the former.

I somehow managed to get a media pass to the MAC title game next Friday even though I applied on behalf of the Web site I write for, which probably is the first time that site has ever been given a media pass. Now I just need to get off work to go 'cover' it.

I'm giving it two hours before Meph comes up with some numbers that claim Florida has dominated five opponents more than Ole Miss dominated today.

Tennessee always seems to just have a very large basketball team. Even the guards seem big. Georgetown is not as good as I'm used to them being.

I come to realize that people will simply hate good teams. And Alabama is a good, soon to be great, team. And the hate on this board against Alabama will make me smile. Careful there - this sounds oddly like what I was saying about Notre Dame two years ago. That didn't work out so hot.

ESPN.com's Graham Watson, who's essentially been the site's Ball State beat writer this year, speculates today that a bowl game matching up an undefeated Ball State and an undefeated Boise State is within the realm of possibility.

The sad part is, it isn't disrespect. Between our flaws and our remaining schedule, a freefall (if we lose to GB) is not just possible but likely. Especially since Tampa refuses to lose.

I know he hasn't been back long, but I don't know how anyone can figure he's not 100 percent or pretty darn close after what he did last night.

I can't decide what sucks more: that a team that was 8-2 a week ago could ever be considered a candidate for "an inescapable freefall", or the fact that I totally agree with the description. Other than Denver, Green Bay is the worst team left on our schedule. We HAVE to win.

I want Brian Kelly for ND. He's a Catholic, did a fantastic job at Central Mich and has done a great job at Cincy. The only question is whether he could recruit to the level ND needs to recruit to compete, but I'm sure with the right staff he could make that happen.

Lost 102-87. I was hoping ND would be more competitive but I am not shocked. The story for the Irish is McAlarney, who dumped in 10/19 3-pointers (most of those attempts came after the game was pretty much in hand) to break his own school record of nine triples. He had 39 points overall. Naturally, Harangody was sick and was upchucking before the game. He did not play well (or make good decisions). Luck of the Irish. But it was a good thing in that the Irish will know they have more work to do if they want to reach their goals.

Since I'm the only big-time Big East homer on this board, I might as well talk up Seton Hall's win over USC, Syracuse's win over Florida last night, and Syracuse leading Kansas right now, and UConn destroying Wisconsin last night, and ND over Texas. There, I'm done, I promise.

Better lucky than good. But it's LFH, so all is possible. Win or lose, getting to play UNC will be a nice boost to our SOS. Need to shoot FTs better, that was supposed to be our biggest strength last year.

45-22. One more to the MAC title. No BCS can't put a damper on this freaking amazing season.

Watching tonight at a friend's. Let's go 12-0, Cards.

SIU and UNI's first-round playoff games have been added.

Brey always leaves the starters in longer than I would. I'm not sure if it's extra caution or what, but I guess it's better than taking them out too quickly. Tomorrow's game with Texas will be huge and a great measuring stick for the Irish.

Should be a good game. We should've won last year (blew a 17-point lead, which turned out to be one of 11 losses by seven points or less that year), and are 2-1 so far this year, but both were home wins over bad teams. If we win, it'll be because Jarrod Jones has another good game. He's been a nice surprise to start the year.

Charlie Weis starts every day before 5 am and has recruited three straight great classes to Notre Dame. But yeah, he's lazy. I'll just assume you have some inside info, but what does getting up at 5am have to do with anything? The results speak for themselves. With all the supposed talent he can't win. My "inside information" is the 60 Minutes profile on Weis that they did during the 2006 season. The man works his ass off, but for some reason it's not clicking with him.

Charlie Weis starts every day before 5 am and has recruited three straight great classes to Notre Dame. But yeah, he's lazy.

I like Dumes. He's got some moves.

Notre Dame looks great today. They're dominating IU without much help from Luke Harangody. Tory Jackson is much improved offensively.

Weis's little schematic advantage comment ignored that he has no idea how to handle young men. He can't motivate. This doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot but I've never seen ND play with a lot of emotion. The only exceptions were our comeback wins in 2006, the UCLA game in 2007, and to some extent the USC game in 2005. The Irish trotted out of the tunnel last Saturday with all the intensity of a team whose season was over, and that was supposed to be Syracuse's job. If you can't get your team up for a senior day game, with a possible New Year's Day bowl bid on the line, you can't get the job done. He has yet to show any ability to develop freshmen - Jimmy Clausen has gotten worse since mid-October, Golden Tate still has not gotten a chance to do anything other than run go routes, and Michael Floyd is only incredible because he's damn near already a finished product. Weis did a fantastic job developing Brady Quinn, Samardzija, Walker, etc. because they were already hardened from not only two years of competition but the Willingham soap opera as well. I'm not sure he can do the same with this current group. There's no reason Notre Dame shouldn't have won 9 games this year with their schedule, and yet they are lucky to have won six. If not for David Bruton's miraculous forced fumble at the goal line against San Diego State in the opener, this is probably another 2007.