Whoa-whoa, Georgia
Georgia
No peace, no peace I find
Just an old, sweet song...
Dateline: Chicago, IL
Saturday night, Jerrence found himself in a Lincoln Avenue bar, waiting for good friend and confidant, Raymond Volk, Esq., to walk in. They were attending a T-Bone Burnett show at The Old Town School of Folk Music and it was his favorite music venue in the city.
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| "...there are still those who only play for the love of the game." |
This is freaking GREAT, Jerrence thought.
And all it once it reminded him how much he truly loved bars. And not your trendy, fern-laded establishments with $18 a pop craft cocktails. No, his preference remained the ones with dark and warm wooded walls, weathered bartenders who've heard stories that would blow your hair back and fellow patrons engaging in personal, convivial banter. Chicago was loaded with them. And though he never really had a neighborhood pub that he frequented while living in London, Jerrence was experiencing the same vibe: total comfort.
Unlike how Notre Dame football games made him feel this season. He reflected that perhaps the source of this tranquility just might've been driven by not having watched the 2nd half of the Georgia Tech game -- he spent that time driving into the city -- and therefore avoiding the frustration / stress that the 1st half always seems to elicit.
Quote of the Week
Unlike most of ND Nation, Jerrence has never entirely hated Geno. Clearly, he and Muffett have (had) a history where the Connecticut - Notre Dame rivalry got really heated, when both teams were pretty easily the two best in the country. And yes, it was always delicious when Notre Dame beat those teams of his. UConn almost never lost and when they did, it was usually only to ND -- and one loved seeing them brought down a peg.
But I always respected how he seemingly never brooked any divas on a team that was invariably loaded with exceptional talent. And now, at age 70, clearly in the "I don't give two f*cks" stage of his career, he's just saying what everybody already is witnessing -- the death of the amateur athlete.
Good for you, Geno. Even if you know you're not going to be around for any solution that ultimately gets enacted. It's nice for someone to say this out loud.
Word of the Week
So why did things immediately look... off? Not right. Uncomfortable even?
Oh yeah, it was those f*cking white pants.
Jerrence had thought he'd been quite overt to the football gods (and therefore presumably, Notre Dame leadership -- didn't they have a direct link?) on this issue.
Had his cri de coeur not been clear?! Jerrence thought himself fairly progressive regarding the evolution of the sport... was willing, historically, to give a philosophical 'hall pass' on the wacky Shamrock Series uni's, recognizing perhaps those fashion choices were more about throwing the school's young athletes a bone. You know, kids being kids.
But this was different. This was a straight up, mid-season game and Jerrence wondered, "Win or lose, why can't we at least LOOK like a Notre Dame team?"
And he reeled at even the thought of what Stephanie Cummings would say. The fashion statement condemnation would be brutal.
Game 7 Thoughts
All you need is Love...
Ironic that one is feeling we are (I am) hitting the dog days of football analysis, where I begin to bore myself even as the midwestern autumn weather is at its most spectacular. Should be inspirational and yet, not.
So take the following with that in mind...
2. Riley. This feels like a broken record but he is getting better as a passer. Perhaps not on the deep throws 😱 but the short, 10-15 yard stuff looks pretty good. I'm beggin you, coach Denbrock, be content with the 10 play, five minute TD drive philosophy.
3. LB's. I love these kids, as you'll see in the Buddy's Buddy section but... one observation that probably has a lot of relevance for the upcoming game... is that offenses that use a lot of motion give them a lot of trouble.
Which is to say, other than "I've likely seen it all" Jack Kiser, the Bowen - KVA - Ausberry triumvirate are super aggressive (and extremely quick) but perhaps prone to over-commitment?
They're clearly getting better every week but the Navy 'O' is a unique animal...
4. Bad form? Beauty -- or poor sportsmanship -- is often in the eye of the beholder. And ND's running the fake punts and FG's has gotten advocates on both sides of the argument. Personally speaking, when the score is only 24-7 and one's offense is as inconsistent as ND's, it didn't seem like an egregious attempt to run up the score.
That said, one wonders why one chose to reveal the trick plays in a game that appeared largely in hand. Might've that been held for a more opportune surprise later in the season?
5. Freeman. Life doesn't typically afford people a lot of second chances. For Freeman, with Notre Dame is on the verge of re- entering the national conversation after checking out against Northern Illinois, it would seem he's getting a great (and highly visible) shot at redemption. Is he (and the team) able to take care of business? Say what you will about Navy's grittiness, attention to detail and assignment-sure discipline, there's still a wide disparity in talent. ND simply shouldn't lose.
In sum, if one wishes to responsibly manage one's blood pressure, Notre Dame's game management can be distilled down to the viewer embracing these expectations of how the team engages their opponents:
Let's just hope the Q1 somnambulance doesn't catch up with them. Navy is probably not the team you want to fall behind by too much.
Indiana U. Apropos of nothing, the Hoosiers might be the best football team in the state.
Buddy's Buddy
It's probably worth getting back to recognizing the 'on the field' performances, yes?
And yet, there's always the possible establishment of a Buddy curse -- ala the Sports Illustrated cover which always seemed to portend someone going down after making it on their front page.
And with so many ND players showing great promise, trending upward, suggesting a high profile breakout -- who can forget Benjamin Morrison's 96 yd pick 6 vs. Clemson as a freshman?
And while there hasn't been anything that dramatic by a newbie yet, one doesn't want to get too far over of their skis in anointing someone The Next Big Thing.
At least for this past game, let's hear it for the pride of NW Indiana, Drayk Bowen.
MLB isn't necessarily a position where one can prove one's exceptionalism via stats alone but last Saturday in Atlanta, Bowen -- who's started every game this year as a true sophomore -- was a physical presence all over the field as he registered nine tackles in just 30 plays, while also breaking up a pass.
It'll be interesting to see to what extent he's used vs. Navy, a team where experience having seen their offense before is a major asset.
But the kid is showing himself to be really good.
RE-PETE (A shameless, illegal lift of Pete Sampson's weekly mail-bag)
Believe it or not, when I mine (read steal from) Mr. Sampson's fortnightly Mailbag column, I attempt to identify questions that I perceive to make you, dear reader, smarter... more well informed... possibly even more popular at the cocktail parties you attend, offering you bon mots to toss around while swilling your favorite northern California varietal... pithy, esoteric insights that suggest an erudition most of you, candidly, do not actually possess.
But hey, dare to dream.
This week, I found most of the questions, well, stupid. Simplistic. Beneath my audience's acumen, such as it is. Except for one that seems to be an ongoing thorn in the side of ND Nation.
Why does Notre Dame consistently fail to recruit a wide receiver coach who can recruit wide receivers? — Joseph L.
It’s too soon to render a verdict on Mike Brown considering he’s in his first cycle with Notre Dame, although the early returns deserve a side eye.
Notre Dame’s staff would have told you a year ago that this year’s wide receiver board was not promising in the numbers of fits, other than Derek Meadows. Notre Dame needed to close the deal on the elite prospect from Bishop Gorman, and it failed — for now — to finish that deal. Of course, you know who else wanted to land a 6-foot-5 wideout with good grades and unlimited upside? Everybody else in college football.
The problem for Notre Dame is less the recruiter and more the product. The Irish don’t have a compelling pitch for big-time wideouts, and that’s only become worse since Marcus Freeman became the head coach. Freeman talks about being an “offensive line and defensive line driven program” because that plays to his vision of Notre Dame football. It’s the most sustainable way for a school in the Midwest to win a lot of games. You’ve probably noticed that when Notre Dame is great, it’s winning on the lines of scrimmage first. What happens at wideout is a sidebar. The last time Notre Dame went to the CFP, its top receivers were Ben Skowronek and Javon McKinley.
Brown’s recruiting pitch for Notre Dame is coming to a school where freshman receivers rarely play (other than in desperation) and the leading wideout has 26 catches for 317 yards and one touchdown. Last year, the leading wideout (Rico Flores) had 27 catches for 392 yards and one touchdown. And in Freeman’s first year, that WR1 (Lorenzo Styles) stat line was 30 catches for 340 yards and one touchdown.
That adds up to 83 catches for 1,049 yards and three touchdowns in two-and-a-half seasons. Last year, Malik Nabers put up 89 catches for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns at LSU … which is where Meadows committed.
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock can build a pass-heavy offense that features its wide receivers. He did last year. But it hasn’t happened this year with Riley Leonard. That probably keeps Notre Dame in the portal to add wideout talent, which will be on Brown to figure out. This year’s portal imports have been middling as a group. Yes, high school recruiting has been a heavy lift 10 months into the job for Brown. But it’s too soon to make a final assessment.
Source: The Athletic
October 24, 2024
Cocktail of the Month
Let's keep this week's offering very straightforward.
ND played in Georgia.
Jerrence likes Literature.
Ergo, Georgia + Literature = ___.
Did I lose anyone?
Flannery O'Connor's Coca-Cola Plus
1925-1964
Though she published only two novels and 19 stories before she died from complications related to lupus, O'Connor is largely regarded as the master of the short story form; she cemented a memorable reputation as an enthusiastic proponent of Catholicism, the ironic voice of the rural South, and an eccentric, darkly comic figure who once gifted her mother a mule and was known to enjoy a Coca-Cola mixed with coffee.
* 2 oz. coffee, room temperature or cooler
* 1 1/2 oz. spiced rum
* 2 oz. Coca-Cola
* lemon wedge for garnishing
Combine coffee and rum in a collins glass. Add ice. Top with Coca-Cola and garnish with the lemon wedge.
Source: How To Drink Like A Writer
Writing by Margaret Kaplan
Schedule 2024
August
31 @Texas A&M W
September
7 Northern Illinois L
14 @Purdue W
21 Miami (OH) W
28 Louisville W
October
12 Stanford W
19 @Georgia Tech W
26 Navy
November
9 Florida State Night game - accepting couch viewing bookings
16 Virginia
23 @Army (Yankee Stadium) McSorley's anyone?
30 @USC
December
20 1st round playoff game at ND Stadium -- see you there.
Wager 2024
Seven down, five to go.
The weather crashes down
What's lost cannot be found
The night is closing
But it's not too late...
Wins | Director - ND Equivalence | Domer |
12  Christopher Nolan | The Nick Saban of the film world - Nolan is Mr. Swing For The Fences Big Idea Guy, even if every effort isn't always a home run. But they are undeniably ... epic. Just like a 12-0 season. |
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11  Martin McDonagh | Hello, he's Irish! Solidly predictable for always being really, really good. And as his reputation has been burnished, the star talent in his cast has followed. Sound familiar? | Jerrence, Daryl Jim S, Tim C. Jerry C, Mike C. Greg R., Bob S. George, Raz, Ted, Bob J. Peter, Tim S., Dave M |
10  David Fincher |
Pretty much a stud in both film and TV formats. Always interesting, albeit with palpably dark undertones... one is never sure how the story is going to end up. Much like a 10 win season will feel like. | Pat B, Mike B. Bill, Jim B. Sloane, Alex Phillip, Randy Mike G., Jerry P Gutsch, Mark Jim T., Brian W |
9  Yorgos Lanthimos | Do I always understand what's going on his films? Nope. | Alvin, Garrett |
8  Richard Linklater | Perhaps the product of recency bias - I quite liked 'Hit Man' - Linklater's films fall for this blogger into the "nice-fun-I see an interesting insight" category. They just don't feel especially memorable. Like we'd view an 8 win season. | |
7  Wes Anderson | When does quirky/idiosyncratic become tiresome? When you feel like you're watching - again - an inside joke that you're not included in. Anderson attracts an an all-star cast that no longer seems to add up to the sum of their parts. In a word, disappointing. | |
6  Lars Von Trier | Uncomfortable. Unpleasant. Disturbing. Often off the rails, his films might be 'art' but it's tough to call it many people's definition of entertainment. | |
Schadenfreude of the Week.
I love it when someone...
...Anyone
In this case, the media...
...does my job for me.
------------------------------------
Okay, a couple comments...
1) One journalist wrote that Illinois honored the 100th anniversary of Red Grange's six TD game vs. Michigan. And the Wolverines reciprocated by showcasing a 1924 era passing attack. 😎
2) This is quickly becoming a nightmare first season for Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer. First, he lost to Vanderbilt. Now he's on the wrong end of the Tide's earliest 2nd loss since Nick Saban's first season, in 2007.
For those of us keeping score, that's 17 years.
Ouch.
Terry's Tools.
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| The few, the proud... |
But perhaps I wasn't paying attention. Probably because I kept returning to the thought of wishing I could be there the next time Lini ordered an Arnold Palmer.
And envisioning that the server would be a woman -- who'd just smirk at him... with an "in your dreams" expression on her face.
Texas fans / Officiating / Texas Jumbotron . Take your pick as who you want to call out as the biggest tools. (Option D, "All of the Above," is an acceptable answer.)
A summary from last week's latest 'game of the year':
1. Texas intercepts a Georgia pass.
2. Texas gets called for PI, negating the INT.
3. Texas Stadium Jumbotron replays the turnover, clearly showing it was a bad call.
4. Texas fans channel their Philadephian and start throwing stuff (mostly water bottles) on the field.
* Eagles fans watcH the game and seeing not one projectile aimed at a ref, think, "Amateurs."
5. Game gets stopped.
6. Lo and behold, the play gets reversed.
Postscript: Not only does Texas still get waxed in the game, they get fined $250k for the unruliness.
Chicken-gate. Rarely does one update this section but these are special circumstances -- recall last week's chicken bullying debacle? Well, Mean Girls, guess what...
You used to laugh about
How you used to dish it out
But hey, who's laughing now?
The sheriff is back in town. And the new chick has some serious protection.
And while you're at it, girls -- you've been here for, what, five months? Time to start putting out.
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| Defarge. Bodyguard AND therapist. |
Name of the Month
To be honest, I had to go on to the Rice University football website to make sure this athlete's name was really true.
Apparently, yes.
Bravi to parents with a keen vocabulary-based sense of humor. Or someone else down the line who saw the linguistic opportunity. (His full first name is, in fact, Mohammed.)
And FWIW, he's an All Conference academic kid -- at a school that takes it seriously (or at least, more seriously than most.)
You go, Moh!
Moh Bility
Final Thought
Navy - color me nervous, that is, more nervous than this game usually makes me as, apparently, they've discover the forward pass.
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