Tim CottrellSports Writer/Designer
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In honor of the day we celebrate America, we preview America’s team, Notre Dame, with Preview No. 18. Previews of all 65 BCS conference schools, plus Notre Dame and state schools, in no particular order, will run daily through Aug. 22.
Notre Dame fans should thank heavens NBC agreed to let the Irish ease their schedule down just a little bit.
That’s not to say Notre Dame is terrible again, because they aren’t, but this team has a much better shot at a big season than it would against a schedule like, say, this one.
But this ND squad is without question the best since Brady Quinn left town three years ago, and they had better get results if Charlie Weis wants to keep his job. If he doesn’t win eight games, he absolutely should be fired.
Quarterback Jimmy Clausen is back, and assuming the residual effects of the beating he’s taken his first two years on the job isn’t too bad, he should have a big year. He has all his main targets in wide receivers Michael Floyd and Golden Tate and tight end Kyle Rudolph. He also has lots of running backs, though none of them have been particularly strong.
That might speak more to the offensive line, which has been horrendous the last two seasons. After finishing dead last in rushing in 2007, they were only 100th last season. Four of five starters are back, so assuming a lot of guys realize their potential and start playing well the offense might actually be explosive this season.
Defensively, there are some problems. The defensive line lacks playmakers and toughness. Defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta is apparently working hard on that unit.
The secondary will mostly be new as well.
The linebackers, however, despite not returning a lot of starters are loaded with talent. Brian Smith leads the group from the outside, and guys like Manti Te’o, Toryan Smith and Darius Fleming will find their way to the ball.
It’s unclear if Notre Dame will ever find its way back to being the premier program in the country, or even one of them. But they’re definitely back to being a competitive program, and their new, lighter schedule will allow them to get themselves in the title picture from time to time.
Here’s the schedule:
Sept. 5: Nevada
I really can’t believe NBC agreed to broadcast this.
Sept. 12: at Michigan
This game is dangerous, but the Irish should be experienced and battle-tested enough to win over this green group, even on the road. That’s really the only variable here.
Sept. 19: Michigan State
While MSU is rebuilding just a tinge, they haven’t lost in South Bend since 1995 and I kind of have a feeling they’ll extend it.
Sept. 26: at Purdue
The Boilermakers are just not very good right now.
Oct. 3: Washington
Well, at least Weis won’t have to deal with Willingham comparisons this time around.
Oct. 17: USC
There’s a decent chance ND will come into this game undefeated. At worst they should have one loss. Having USC at home gives them a chance, but the Trojans are just too tough. Look for this game to be hyped well out of proportion to its actual significance, though.
Oct. 24: Boston College
Look for the Irish to snap their six-game losing streak to Boston College (WHAT? It’s true. Look it up. I’m not lying).
Oct. 31: vs. Washington State (at San Antonio)
I really can’t quite figure out why this game is being played in Texas. I kinda can, but this whole thing just makes my head spin.
Nov. 7: Navy
The Irish make it 45-for-46 in the series.
Nov. 14: at Pittsburgh
This game might be the difference between a BCS bowl and the Gator Bowl (Here’s a hint: The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce will be rooting for Wannstache).
Nov. 21: Connecticut
ND signed some sort of nine-for-one deal with UConn a year or two ago. Luckily for them, the first game of it comes with the Huskies down just a bit.
Nov. 28: at Stanford
This game could be a disaster in the waiting. But ND has more talent.
Well there you have it. The possibility is there for an 11-1 season with this schedule, maybe even undefeated if they can somehow beat USC (don’t hold your breath). But this team is just too shaky. I’m calling for 9-3.
Tim CottrellSports Writer/Designer
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We go to Oregon State for Preview No. 17. Previews of all 65 BCS conference schools, plus Notre Dame and state schools, in no particular order, will run daily through Aug. 22.
Oregon State has been a very, very weird team over the years.
They almost always start slow, then suddenly pull off an upset and finish strong.
The same was true last year. After losing to Stanford and getting blown out at Penn State, the Beavers beat USC and would have won the Pac-10 if they could’ve beaten rival Oregon in the season finale.
This year, much of the offensive corps is back, but they’ve got problems on the offensive line and even bigger problems on the defense.
Quarterback Lyle Moevao had offseason surgery, but is expected to be back in time for the fall. Backup Sean Canfield is capable, so they should be OK there.
They also have shifty little running back Jacquizz Rodgers back. He was named the conference offensive player of the year as a true freshman after rushing for more than 1200 yards and receiving for nearly 250.
The wide receivers are a little untested, but capable.
The offensive line returns three starters, but lost several capable backups. That might not be good when you’re protecting a just surgically repaired quarterback.
Defensively, things are ugly.
Only three starters are back. Three-fourths of the defensive line and all the secondary will be new.
The Beavers will have to outscore people, at least early. But the early schedule shapes up well before a brutal conference schedule.
Here it is:
Sept. 5: Portland State
Next
Sept. 12: at UNLV
A tricky game, but one they should win. Unless of course they pull their early season hijinx again.
Sept. 19: Cincinnati
The Beavers got torched in Cincinnati two years ago. They might return the favor this time.
Sept. 26: Arizona
The Wildcats are back to respectability. This might go into the toss-up category.
Oct. 3: at Arizona State
Tough road trip to a team that should be improving.
Oct. 10: Stanford
Another one that won’t be easy. They should get the win though.
Oct. 24: at USC
The Trojans should be licking their chops for this one.
Oct. 31: UCLA
The Bruins might be starting to hit their stride around this time, but having them at home should be enough for a win.
Nov. 7: at California
The Beavers got a big win over the Bears at home last year. Don’t look for them to repeat it on the road.
Nov. 14: Washington
First surefire win in a while. I never thought I would write that sentence in regards to Oregon State beating Washington.
Nov. 21: at Washington State
It will be cold and OSU will roll.
Dec. 3: at Oregon
Weird things happen in this series, like OSU allowing 65 points at home to the Ducks last year. OSU will have a good shot to win this one.
With a more experienced defense this could actually be a really good season. But with those conference road trips and the areas they’re going to have to replace, it’ll probably be yet another 7-5 or 8-4 season.
Tim CottrellSports Writer/Designer
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We go to the artists formerly known as one of college football’s premier programs, Michigan, for Preview No. 16. Previews of all 65 BCS conference schools, plus Notre Dame and state schools, in no particular order, will run daily through Aug. 22.
Last year’s Michigan team may have been one of the best examples ever of Murphy’s Law in college football.
Everything that could have possibly gone wrong did, and did so spectacularly.
They lost to Toledo. They ranked 109th in the NCAA in total offense and 67th in total defense. They lost by 35 to Ohio State. Were it not for a miracle comeback win over Wisconsin in the fourth game of the season they could have easily been 2-10.
But here’s the thing: They also could have pretty easily been a .500 team, despite how bad they actually were.
The transition to Rich Rodriguez’s spread system was incredibly painful, and will remain painful for at least this year, if not more. But, if all goes as planned, the program will be much better off in the long run for it.
This year’s team should be a lot better, possibly even significantly so, but a lot has to break right.
The most important area is, of course, quarterback. Nick Sheridan and the rest of last year’s pupu platter were beyond awful. Sheridan is back, but isn’t exactly likely to be the one seeing the field.
Hotshot fresman Tate Forcier was in for spring practice, and despite his lack of experience will probably be the guy. Fellow freshman Denard Robinson will probably see the field as well.
Whoever is under center has plenty of weapons: Running backs Brandon Minor, Carlos Brown, Michael Shaw and Vincent Smith will all get plenty of carries. And all the wide receivers, though they were not very good, are back as well, and should improve with another year in the system.
Four of five starters are back on the offensive line.
The defense is probably going to struggle, though. Only five starters are back from last year’s group, which was actually not all that bad but wore down because the offense was so unspeakably horrible (sound familiar, Auburn fans?). New defensive coordinator, former Syracuse head coach Greg “Gerg” Robinson, should help out quite a bit, but he’s going to have his work cut out for them.
The goal for this year, as crazy as this is to say for a team that had 40 straight winning seasons, is to get to a bowl. And it’s within reach, but they’re going to have to pull a mild upset somewhere.
Here’s the schedule:
Sept. 5: Western Michigan
The Broncos aren’t a bad team, so sleepwalking through this isn’t an option (the Wolverines really don’t have that option anywhere this year). But they absolutely should win here.
Sept. 12: Notre Dame
The Irish are a better team, but Michigan, assuming they improve as much as I think they should, will have a shot here.
Sept. 19: Eastern Michigan
W
Sept. 26: Indiana
It’s crazy to think Michigan is closer to Indiana than Ohio State, but they should get the win here.
Oct. 3: at Michigan State
Little brother gets a second win in a row in the series.
Oct. 10: at Iowa
Assuming the Hawkeyes aren’t all in jail they should win this one.
Oct. 17: Delaware State
Delaware State actually forfeited a game it had previously scheduled to get this paycheck. The hilarious thing would be if they pulled an Appalachian State (don’t bet on it)
Oct. 24: Penn State
The Nittany Lions finally got over the hump in beating Michigan last year. Barring something weird happening, they should make it two in a row.
Oct. 31: at Illinois
A win here is possible, but the Illini are probably too fast right now for a team in rebuilding mode like this.
Nov. 7: Purdue
The Boilermakers just aren’t very good.
Nov. 14: at Wisconsin
If Michigan wants to make a bowl, they have to win this one.
Nov. 21: Ohio State
Ohio State is a much, much better team. But, if Michigan does improve, if they hit their stride over the course of the year and if everything breaks right, a win here is a slight possibility.
If Michigan is going to get to six wins, they’re going to have to beat Notre Dame or Wisconsin. And I think they can beat one of them.
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