SHORT TAKES on Irish Comings, Goings, Doings

There is a lot of bad-mouthing the Irish, vis-a-vis, a certain BCS bowl bid. That's a bunch of BS. The quacking to a large extent is coming out of Eugene, where the Oregon Ducks are nested. The question I have is why would the boys in the pukey green uniforms get a top bid with their schedule and results? Sure, they gave USC a good game for one-half, then got shot-down 45-13, but the Irish gave a better performance against the Trojans. Oregon beat two turkeys: Houston and Montana, and were not that impressive . They edged California and Arizona by a touchdown; Washington State by three; and Fresno State by a field goal. Yes, they best Washington and Stanford, but, so did the Irish. And, they did not have to play UCLA this year.There is something foul in flaking these fowl. Bring on Ohio State vs Notre Dame..... Word among the national coaching cadre is that John Latina, the very fine offensive line coach of the Irish, is still being courted by Kansas State University and other Division I schools for the top mentor position. He has already withdrawn from consideration for the vacant Temple University post. There will be others for sure over the next few months. It would be a big loss to lose Big John. Athletic department insiders believe he will stay in South Bend at least until he gets a national championship to bolster his resume.....The January 7 U.S. Army All-American game between the best preps from the east and west will feature a bevy of ND verbals and one or two more to come. Chatter all year has been about Zach Frazer and Demetrius Jones and who will make the grade at ND. This all-star game could give us a small hint. It also could settle once and for all Frazer's so-called soft commit. Many faithful fear he may not be up to the challenge of taking on Jones and high school Junior Jimmy Clausen from California, who really likes ND and Charlie Weis. Our sources believe the real sleeper and the real deal will be Mike Paulus, the big Junior QB from Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, NY. This kid could lead the Irish to the top pinnacle for four years once he comes aboard. Don't believe the small talk that he will join his brother on the Duke campus.....JeffSam, Notre Dame's good-hands-man, has made it impossible, according to an inside selector, to keep him off the major All-America first team. Yes, the two receivers will be Samardzija and Dwayne Jarrett of USC. Sounds good to me.

--Old Shillelagh

The Arizona Fiesta Awakens Irish's Siesta

Father Jenkins must have been breathing hard, gripping those rosary beads tightly, while visions of at least $14 million dollars were "passing" out of his reach in the final minutes of the ND-SU game.

And, now that I have taken a deep breath too and had the opportunity to appreciate Saturday night's Irish win over the Stanford Cardinal, it feels good to say bring on the BCS bowl baby! Watching the game, mostly on the edge of their seats you can be sure, were three reps from the Fiesta Bowl. Executive director John Junker, was asked about Notre Dame receiving an invitation to play in that particular BCS bowl. This is what he had to say: "Despite all the projections and everyone writing things in pen and ink, we're really in a holding pattern until all the games are played. "Notre Dame is certainly a great story this year."

The Stanford game was closer than it should have been, but ND did show some poise and focus to get the job done. In all seriousness, the Irish secondary is very very weak in pass coverage. I contemplated whether I should say that after the bowl or just say it now. I have chosen to say it now and will look for energy and better play to show itself at the bowl. The weakness has been there throughout the season and yes, there have been some nice moments of play but all to frequently that weakness becomes evident.

The defensive line has not been a dominating force through 11 games. There has been chunks of play that show promise but that certain force that an Irish D-line should be was not there. I want to point out that Victor Abiamiri played extremely well against Stanford. He was in the face of the QB by way of some speed and some nice moves. One thing that was great to watch about Victor was the pursuit of the QB while on the run. All too often during the season the
D-line including Abiamiri would follow the QB while in pursuit and not wrap up or dive as a response. That was not the case against the Cardinal for big Vic. Abiamiri leapt and brought down the QB. This lad on the loose finished with 10 total tackles (6 unassisted and 4 assisted) and 4 of them were for a loss worth 43 yards. Hey Victor, 4 sacks on the night is not bad, not bad at all! Thats what we like to see, way to go!

The offense of the South Bend 11 came through. There were moments for concern, but calm prevailed. Brady Quinn shook off his errant throws and finished strong. He was 25 for 38 passing with 3 touchdowns. Despite his 2 interceptions he passed for 432 yards and added 21 yards on the run. Jeff Samardzija, regardless of one uncharacteristic drop, had a wonderful night bringing in 2 TD's and grabbing 9 passes totaling 216 yards. Mo Stovall added 136 yards on 7 snags and 1 TD. Anthony Fasano took in 3 passes but was big time in blocking. That O-line was stout and Darius Walker showed how strong by racking up 186 yards.

Ouch! Calling all ND kickers: please show us some leg. Kick-offs could use a little something in the way of strength and accuracy. That will be worked out, but to miss an extra point and 2 field goals is inexcusable, injury or no injury. Fitzpatrick has done fairly well throughout the season, and with the importance of the Stanford game, to accept being out there and coming up lame just won't cut it. Could have been very very costly! The bowl game will prove to be better, I'm sure.

Coach Weis and the rest of the coaching staff were not going to let this one slip away. Glad to see that they had the composure to see it through and come up with the win.

All in all it was enough to get the BCS stirring. Great win Irish! Now I say, where to next? Hmmm, could it be I'll bring the salsa and you bring the Tostitos?

--Wee Leprechaun

Irish Will Be Dressed To The Nines

Ahh, the number 9. No, we're not talking about Tom Zbikowski. In fact we are talking about Stanford. With a win Saturday, Notre Dame would have nine wins and would thus be BCS bowl elgible. Many of you have asked about how all this flushes out.

There are 16 teams remaining that have a possibility to play in a BCS bowl. What it comes down to is how can they get there (or not get there). Here is the break down: Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech from the ACC; Pittsburgh, South Florida and West Virginia from the Big East; Colorado, Iowa State and Texas from the Big 12; Auburn, Georgia and LSU from the SEC. Any of those teams would be BCS worthy by either winning their conference or receiving an at-large berth. Now remember, there are only 2 at-large berths taken. This is where Notre Dame comes in.

Rounding out the 16 teams are Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon and UCLA. However, these four teams can only be BCS elgible at this point by way of an at-large berth.

The way it works for the Irish is nine games must be won and a ranking within the top 12 of the BCS poll has to be attained. The lads are ranked at number 8 in the BCS poll and the only thing missing now is that ninth win. Here come the Irish!

If ND gets past the Cardinal, then a BCS bid is a sure thing. It won't be the Rose Bowl, as that is reserved this season for the BCS National Championship game, but the Nokia Sugar Bowl, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl or the FedEx Orange Bowl will all be clamoring for the Irish. They are well aware of the fan base nationally for Notre Dame football.

So, on to Palo Alto and the Cardinal number 9.

--Wee Leprechaun

ND-SU: Quick Take From The Small Screen

NEWS UPDATE (11-21-05): Boston-area prep star Barry Gallup, the speedy wide receiver--4.4 time--and one of Notre Dame's earliest verbals, has been selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American game January 7. His participation brings to eight the number of ND verbals who will play in the coveted East-West contest.
XXXXXXX

Notre Dame beat Syracuse 34-10. Actually, they did not beat them, whip them, or crush them. They simply had more points on the board than did the Orangemen.

The Irish should be embarrassed. Hopefully, the BCS pollsters won't hold this tepid victory against the lads from South Bend.

They were flat for the most part in a most uninteresting game.

Brady Quinn, who broke a few more passing records during the game, did not distinguish himself--overthrowing, underthrowing, and widelythrowing many times. He didn't have it today, "obviously" saving a great effort for the Stanford Cardinal. Neither did JeffSam, who uncharacteristically bobbled a few. Quinn-to-Samardzija seemed to be out of sync for the most part. Anthony Fasano was virtually nonexistent. Offensive Line, mediocre.

There were moments.

Darius Walker got his 100+ yards and put some good blocks on blitzers. It was good to see Nate Schiccatano lay the lumber on a Syracuse runner, Marty "I throw it-I Catch it" Mooney run the offense and hit Michael O'Hara for a nice gain. Mooney to O'Hara. By God, that's Irish, for you. Leo Ferrine showed good instincts and quickness in snatching a mishandled pass for a touchdown. Mo Stovall looks more and more like a first-round pick. The Defense, especially the linebackers, stepped up in the second half.

My great delight was dashed when Anthony Vernaglia moved quick to a fumble and muffed the errant ball for what surely would have been a touchdown for the seldom-playing Californian.

Perhaps the best thing about this contest is that it ended in time for this ancient one to watch the closing seconds of the Washington-Washington State game, with the Cougars besting the Huskies and sending Ty Willingham to the locker room with a 2-9 record for this season.

Stanford is going to be a tough opponent. I trust the Syracuse game got rid of all the bugs before the Irish head for Palo Alto.

--Old Shillelagh

REFRESHER: Prep Recruits as of 11/18/05

To bring ourselves up-to-date on high school seniors who thus far have announced to attend Notre Dame next year and play for the Fighting Irish, the following is a list of those prep stars.

Quarterbacks:

Zach Frazer - 6'4 215 Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Demetrius Jones - 6'3 192 Chicago, Illinois

Running Backs:

James Aldridge - 6'1 215 Crown Point, Indiana
Munir Prince - 5'10 175 St. Louis, Missouri
Luke Schmidt - 6'3 230 Jasper, Indiana

Wide Receivers:

Barry Gallup - 5'11 175 Wellesley, Massachusetts
Richard Jackson - 6'2 195 Clermont, Florida
Robby Parris - 6'4 185 Cleveland, Ohio

Tight Ends:

Paddy Mullen - 6'5 265 St. Louis, Missouri

Athlete:

George West - 5'8 172 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Kicker:

Ryan Burkhart - 5'11 185 Wakarusa, Indiana

Offensive Linemen:

Eric Olsen - 6'5 300 Brooklyn, New York
Chris Stewart - 6'5 365 Klein, Texas
Bartley Webb - 6'7 290 Springdale, Arkansas

Defensive Backs:

Sergio Brown - 6'1 184 Maywood, Illinois
Jashaad Gaines - 6'0 202 Las Vegas, Nevada
Leonard Gordon - 5'10 195 Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Raeshon McNeil - 6'0 175 St. Louis, Missouri
Darrin Walls - 6'0 172 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

LineBackers:

Morrice Richardson - 6'2 228 Atlanta, Georgia

Defensive Linemen:

John Ryan - 6'5 240 Cleveland, Ohio
Kallen Wade - 6'5 220 Cincinnati, Ohio

NOTES: Twenty-two (22) so far, with either 3 or 5 spots to go, depending on how your math flushes out early entries, etc. If tight end Konrad Reuland verbals at the Army All-America Bowl, as many think (hopefully, not wishful), he will be the first California prepster to do so in two years.
It does look good for Matt Carufel of Minnesota to come aboard--another big OLineman.
It's 50-50 for that fine center from Florida, Dan Wenger, and about the same odds of getting his teammate, Sam Young.
The Irish could use another defensive linemen and one or two linebackers in this class.
Will Yeatman, another Californian, who will come to South Bend on a lacrosse scholarship, plans to play football for ND, as well. He is a big, tough TE/DE, and could shore-up the defensive line at just about any position, it is said.

--Old Shillelagh & Wee Leprechaun

The 'Cuse is Loose--Still No Excuse; 42-0

Well, well, what do we have here? It's almost Saturday and that means the final game at ND Stadium for the season. Tears, I say, they might be a fallin'. How sweet it would be to see a nice good ol' butt kickin' of the Orangemen. Syracuse is in town for a visit to Notre Dame which last happened in 1961. This will be the fifth time these two have matched up. The series began in 1914 with an Irish victory 20-0. The contests have yielded two wins for each side. The most recent game was in 2003 and it was ugly for the Lads. Ugly indeed! The Orange was ripe as the South Benders took a beating 38-12. Talk about acidic! Talk about poor coaching.

Times--and coaches--have changed, thank goodness. Oh, and the Orange, it has gotten rotten! I will not dismiss the importance of having respect for the opponent, as well as the preparation and focus that the Irish must have for this game. Now, having said that, I also must be sensible and truthful in saying that Syracuse is a very poor team for 2005. They are 1-8 on the season and they show why on the field. For new coach Greg Robinson, this game against Notre Dame will leave no doubt as to just how bad his season will soon end. This game should not be close, good or bad weather. Still, SU is looking forward to playing a highly ranked team. The Orangemen are chillin' as they say; "loose" is the team attitude.

That's all good and well, and let Coach Weis cover for them--but at least a 6 touchdown margin on the part of the Irish will turn these "loose" Orangemen into a bunch of "stiffs." It would be great to watch ND back-ups and all graduating seniors--especially Nate Schiccatano--play a full quarter or more.

Prediction: ND 42 SU 0.

--Wee Leprechaun

Short Takes from the Cheap Seats (11/16/2005)

NEWS ALERT(2): 11/17/05--Richard Jackson, one of Florida's finest high school receivers, has given his verbal to Notre Dame. The 6'2 195-pound pass-catcher is the 22nd prep star to announce for the Irish football team.

NEWS ALERT(1): 11/17/05--Chris Stewart, the jumbo offensive lineman from Texas, has announced his intention to play at Notre Dame next season. The 6'5 365-pound prepster also has been selected to play in the U.S. Army All-America Bowl, January 7, bringing to 7 the number of Irish-bound seniors so far named to either the East or West squad.

* Morrice Richardson, the very good linebacker from Georgia has committed to the Irish. He becomes the 20th verbal for ND. He is listed at 6-2, 230 pounds and can run a 4.54 in the 40 yard-dash. He has this to say about himself: "I just know the game. That is a strength of mine. I can make plays happen. I can find the ball real easy and fight blocks well too." Make no mistake, this is a big catch! NDs future linebacking crew and defensive secondary are looking better and better.


* Konrad Reuland the talented tight end out of California took an official visit to Notre Dame this past week and also took in the ND-Navy game. He was very impressed with the campus and the Irish, and now has the Domer in the lead to get his commitment. Our campus contributor allows as how Anthony Fasano is leaning/heading toward the NFL and the young Reuland has been made aware of that. If so, Konrad could move right into the starting post, he is that good...and self-confident, like a "golden-locks" player of yesteryear: Paul Hornung. John Carlson to back-up and either Joey Hiben or incoming Paddy Mullen--both big hulks--moving to either offensive tackle or defensive end; probably Mullen. ND will have a solid TE tandem, as usual. ( Not So Fast Fasano: In the event you are still pondering the next-level move, consider the numerous quality TEs who are sure to be drafted, led by the great Mercedes Lewis of UCLA. Another year of seasoning and the national championship?).


* It is now confirmed that James Aldridge who has given his verbal pledge to play football for ND, will be on campus and enrolled for the spring semester. Aldridge said "everything should run smooth." If it should be anything close to the way Aldridge runs on the field, then there is no doubt. Hopefully, Chris Stewart will sign on the line and join Aldridge for an early arrival to South Bend. So much for senior proms. Think about it: RBs Aldridge, Walker, Thomas, Prince, and Schmidt (shifted to fullback). We're afraid that Hoskins might bail out--as well as QB Evan Sharpley, whom a source says will move on if he opts not to play on NDs fine baseball team.


* Brady Quinn is now in fourth place in the Heisman voting. His chances of winning albeit, are small, but what is of huge significance is the possibility and probability that he will have a seat at the presentation. Who would have thunk-it going into the season? And, yes, he will be on the cover of virtually all of next year's college football magazines as the leading Heisman candidate, even if Texas' outstanding QB Vince Young decides to stay another year. You can bet on that!

--Wee Leprechaun

INSTANT EDITORIAL: Green Jerseys Vs Orangemen

William of Orange, the great foe of Catholicism, fell off his horse and onto his death in 1702. God alone knows what would have happened to the faithful over the long term had he been allowed to spread Protestantism far and wide. Ah, there are many up north from the Emerald Isle who still carry on his cause and curse, carrying the colors of that round juicy citrus fruit. Yuk!

And, this coming Saturday a band of Orangemen from Syracuse, New York, will descend on the sacred ground of Notre Dame stadium with one goal in mind: To make a first down, you say? Please. These lads would love to ruin NDs season and their standing in the BCS poll. Let's face it, that's nonsense. That is in the same realm of probability as booking a roller derby at the Sistine Chapel. The Fighting Irish should win this game by at least 45 points.

What better way to go against The Orangemen--and also break a curse--than wearing o' the green. Jerseys, that is.

It's time to win with Green Jerseys and keep the string going at all home games. Yes?

--Old Shillelagh

ND-Navy: Short Take From A Cheap Seat

The Notre Dame student body, indeed the Irish football team, showed lot of class, respect and deference to the Navy squad and, in effect, to the Annapolis academy and sailors world-wide before and after the Saturday game.

NDs gridsters showed a little too much "deference" to the Middies during game, in my judgement, allowing the option, smash-mouth running up the middle and, yes, the wobbly pass to work pretty damn effectively--garnering 21 points. But, what the hell, Navy always plays inspired ball against the Irish, and I'm glad they do and glad they will remain on NDs schedule for a long time to come. Paul Johnson is still in the top-five coaches category.

Brady Quinn, Maurice Stovall (better and better each game), and Derek Landri deserve the big performance kudos. Anthony Fasano wasn't bad either. I have this sinking feeling that he will head for the NFL trenches.

At the end of the day, there was much to be thankful for: Alabama lost, Georgia lost, Clemson kicked FSUs butt in the Bowden Bowl, and let's admit our delight that Urban Meyer's Gators went down to defeat. It does make me feel, however, that the Gamecock's Steve Spurrier is getting close to winning Coach of the Year honors. I thought it might be between JoePa and the Great Weis Hope, but now am not so sure.

--Old Shillelagh

Army Recruits Irish "Verbals"

The war in Iraq has taken its toll on military service recruiting efforts nationwide down to a trickle, but the upcoming U.S. Army All-American Bowl has attracted the country's finest high school recruits who will launch their college careers next year.

This year's edition of the showcase prep football game (January 7 at 1pm EST NBC) will feature at least a half-dozen Notre Dame recruits, possibly more when new commitments are announced and the rosters are completely filled for the East-West teams.

Word passed on to us indicates that the Irish-bound seniors include RB James Aldridge of Indiana (if he doesn't enroll early); Zach Frazer, QB, Pennsylvania; Demetrius Jones, QB, Illinois; Raeshon McNeil, CB, North Carolina; Darrin Walls, CB, Pennsylvania; and Bartley Webb, OL, Arkansas--the lone West all-star. There still remain many vacancies on both rosters, especially the West.

Chances are strong-to-slim that at least one of the following selected all-stars also may be in an Irish uniform next year: Matt Carufel, OL, Minnesota; Dan Wegner and Sam Young, OL, Florida; David Ausberry and Terrance Austin, WR, California; and Konrad Reuland, TE, also from the Golden State. By the way, no state comes close to the number of selections (13 to date) garnered from California--a state that ND should be recruiting more aggressively, methinks.

Our "wishful thinking" suggests that Carufel and Austin will don ND caps at game breaks to announce their intentions.

Stay tuned to this space to find out if any other current ND verbals are selected for the big game.

--Old Shillelagh

Navy Out to Torpedo NDs BCS Bowl Dreams

Let's be honest. When you get right down to it, after the x's and o's, the talent on the field and the over-all play capability, Notre Dame should defeat Navy easily on Saturday. If only easily was that easy! Don't expect Navy to lay down for this game. The Midshipmen are a tough, schematically strong football team. Add in a big dose of desire and ND could have a challenging game on its hands. Navy has come close, real close in some games in recent years.

The Middies are 5-3. Hey that's not bad. Consider their coach--he is very good; wasn't named Coach of the Year the last season for nothing. His name is Paul Johnson, and he will have Navy up and ready for the Irish. Take a look at his very recent comment about the ferocious atmosphere of playing at ND stadium: "Oh, it's going to be tough. It would be tough for us to play Notre Dame if we played them in the parking lot of K-Mart. They have a good team. That's not going to be a factor."

How's this for desire: A win over ND would make the Middies bowl eligible. Navy wants a bowl bad, very bad. It would be a school record three straight. Not to mention that the Irish have whipped the Middies 41 in a row!

Navy has done some very interesting things this season to garner victories. For example, look at their past game against the Green Wave of Tulane. They ran the ball 71 times. Yes, thats right, 71 times for 418 yards. Whoa! Navy is a running team, you think? Think that might tire some defensive linemen or maybe some linebackers? Now don't think that the Mids don't pass, because they do. Look at the Stanford game( by the way, ND takes on the Cardinal in a little over two weeks). Against Stanford, Navy ran the ball 54 times for 210 yards. Then they passed the ball 29 times for 248 yards. I'd say they can both run and pass. Over-all, after eight games, they average 5.3 yards per carry and 19.2 yards per grab. Their total offensive average is at 409.9 yards a game and they are right at 504.1 all purpose yards a game.

So who are the ones racking up this big yardage? Well there is a list. Let's begin with Lamar Owens. He is the QB and is also the leading rusher on the team with 585 yards. He has shared snaps with Brian Hampton, though the bulk has gone to Owens. He also has 936 total passing yards on the season. Something to keep in mind is the rotation of the QB. Owens will see the field the most, with the possibilty of Hampton or even a different face such as Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, sneaking in there to create some confusion(as if pronouncing his name isn't).

Jason Tomlinson is pulling in some yards for the Mids. He has 22 grabs for 413 yards after eight games. Navy has utilized seven different receivers to this point in the season and they are all capable of making plays and getting yards. The option play will be on display on Saturday and ND will have to be prepared for it. Navy runs it as a form of the wishbone with the deviation of having two slot backs, and they run it very well. Look out for Matt Hall. He is a fullback that is used as a slot back or "A" back. He is averaging five yards per touch for a total of 483 yards and he has 6 touchdowns. Trey Hines and Adam Ballard are two others to look out for as slot backs. They both also line up as single backs. Also worth mentioning is Marco Nelson. He is in on the action as both a runner and receiver as is Reggie Campbell. Nelson is averaging around 20 yards a catch and 7.6 yards a carry, while Campbell gets about 21 yards per grab and 9.0 yards a run.

The Naval Academy allows 341.6 total offensive yards a game. Of that total, 159.4 yards come on the ground and 182.2 yards come through the air. Thats 3.7 per carry allowed and 6.7 per pass with 11.1 per catch. The second quarter has been a losing quarter for the Academy in points allowed. Notre Dame has enjoyed a strong second quarter throughout the season. Keep an eye on that second quarter. The Mids like to mix up their schemes. They will show a 3-4 with interchanges from odd to even. They will shift a lot, for example the defensive end will jump out and play outside linebacker. Inside linebacker Rob Caldwell has 96 tackles total on the season, 41 solo and 55 assisted. He is 11th in the country in tackles. Jake Biles is also inside and has 71 total tackles(31 solo, 40 assisted). Together, these two will look to make it a very difficult day for ND QB Brady Quinn and the Irish backfield. Outside linebacker David Mahoney will need to be kept at bay as his efforts have led him to 7 sacks. Also, keep a look out for Tyler Tidwell opposite Mahoney. He has pounded opposing quarterbacks for 5 sacks. Watch for Tidwell to shift to defensive end with those interchanges. Navy's defense has created 17 fumbles but only has taken 5 away. They have 9 interceptions with corners Keenan Little and Greg Thrasher taking two each.

Navy has had some good play on special teams. The Irish shouldn't have a problem with coverage on punts. The Middies have returned nine punts all season for a total of 63 yards. Kick returns could be another story. They have had some good returns from several on the unit, though Karl Whittaker stands out. He has 15 returns for an average of 25.2 yards. ND's coverage had better be on the ball. Speaking of coverage, get this, Navy is seventh in the country in yards allowed on punts at 4.2. We'll see Zibby! We'll see! Coverage on kick returns is allowing 18.9 yards; might the Irish unit of David Grimes and Don Juan Hord see the endzone? It seems as if they have been close on a few. It would be nice to see a run back for a touchdown on a kick off. Mids punter Eric Shuey averages 38.7 yards. Matt Harmon has taken over kick off duties and is averaging 60.4 yards a boot. Field goal kicker Joey Bullen is 7-10 on the season with his longest being from 46 yards out.

Navy is not a bad looking team. Their technique on both offense and defense along with special teams is sound and Notre Dame will need to be careful not to allow points early or at all for that matter. ND possesses offensive strength that Navy has not seen in any of their opponents so far this season. When combined with the Domers defense and special teams, it is easy to imagine Navy being overwhelmed. But, oh yes...the but, the Midshipmen are feisty and the South Bend game is of importance to them for bowl reasons, and simply put, well, it's Notre Dame. Irish beware!

Figuring that the Irish will be prepared and ready to continue their path onward towards a possible BCS bowl, there are no excuses for not coming out with a win.

--Wee Leprechaun

Short-Takes From The Cheap Seats

* Charlie Thumps Mo's Tub. Coach Weis noted in his press conference, following the Tennessee game, that the Irish victory was due in no small measure to the downfield blocking of wide receiver Maurice Stovall, who has blossomed this year in all phases of his responsibilities. We had the chance to catch additional tape coverage, and it was plain to see his sterling performance, running his routes always closely guarded and laying out defenders so his fellow receivers could go the extra yards. And, yes, he made an eye-popping touchdown catch. His stock continues to rise among the NFL draft pickers.

* Aldridge Is Going To Be Alright. Indiana prep star James Aldridge, an early verbal to the Irish, was a Big Man on Campus. Big man, indeed. Our South Bend contributor was stunned by the physical proportions and presence of young Aldridge up close and personal, who he likened to an NFLer in street clothes, not a high school senior--one we expect to be an early Notre Dame enrollee. We can tell you that he compares favorably, among those of us who have seen him play, with Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma's fine running back. It is going to be hard for Charlie Weis to keep this lad on the sidelines next season.

* The Quinn (Heisman) Watch. His chances are slim--but, should they be? That is the question we raise with those in charge of the Heisman Trophy about ND Qb Brady Quinn, whose season totals to date are 195 for 299--2,647 yards--23 TDs and only 4 INTs. Hell, thats more impressive than the passing stats of Vince Young of Texas, USCs Matt Leinart, and Marcus Vick of Virginia Tech. Young, however, has put up some good rushing numbers, as well (and no losses, so far). We do believe that the Longhorn QB deserves the nod over USCs Reggie Bush, who has about 200 more rushing yards, and of course, none through the air. Prediction: Brady Quinn will be among the finalists in the Big Apple ceremony. How long has it been since a Notre Damer graced that stage?

* Parting Shot: The U.S. Naval Academy, the Irish opponent this Saturday, showed its usual class by giving Hurricane-ravaged Tulane an extra $50,000 to cover expenses for their trip to Annapolis and the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, where the Mid's generosity ended with a 49-21 drubbing of the Green Wave from New Orleans. Remember it was many, many years ago when Navy took in and housed Notre Dame students when the latter's facilities burned to the ground in a massive fire. That's why Navy has always and will continue to be on NDs football schedule.

--Old Shillelagh

No Need for Volunteers--Irish Can Do it Alone

The NotreDame-Tennessee game for Irish fans was one of highs and lows, exhilaration and impending doom, peaks and valleys, back-patting and head-shaking. By God, we're on our way to a big win; My God, they're going to overtake us and win this damn thing.

And, then, as if by design, the ND offensive coordinator told Brady Quinn, in effect, this game is in your hands to win, and he led the lads to victory. A big victory. The defensive unit also must have been told that the "bell tolls for thee," for they stopped the Volunteers in their tracks from ever mounting a comeback once BQ took over.

It was a helluva contest: great clutch-passing by Quinn (he'll be in New York as a finalist for the Heisman), marvelous game-breakers by Tom Zbikowski (now, if he would only stop tackling late and too high); the ongoing brilliance of Jeff Samardzjia (he'll end up on a few All-American teams); solid all-around performance by Anthony Fasano (if he stays, a first-team AA next year) and possibly the little noticed but superb down-field blocking by Maurice Stovall (he'll go high in the NFL draft. It was good to see DJ Hord bring back a 35-yard kickoff return, too.

And, yes, God bless him: The Great Weis Hope. Charlie never wavered and pulled a few nifties out of his offensive trick bag when his boys on the field needed a lift. Indeed, good coaching all around when it counted. They found a way to win.

I have only one complaint, and it is ongoing. Why can't they move that damn scoreboard a few feet to the right so that Touchdown Jesus is not partially obscured for TV viewers (including parents of potential recruits)? If the image-conscious Jesuits were given the task, there would be no argument. It is the logical thing to do!

--Old Shillelagh

LEVITY 101: Continuing Education Course

(From time to time we take a break from the gridiron and into the Irish Brogue classroom, always knowing that a word to the wise is sufficient. Herewith follows a lesson in philosophy that you should keep in mind the next time you either hear or are about to repeat a rumor, especially from one of the Notre Dame message boards.)

Socrates and Gossip.

One day Socrates came upon an acquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"

Socrates replied, "Before you talk to me about my student, let's take a moment to test what you are going to say.

The first test is Truth. Have you made sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually, I just heard about it."

"All right," said Socrates, "So you don't know if it's true or not. Now, let's try the second test, the test of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, " you want to tell me something bad about him even though you're not certain it is true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued. "You may still pass though because there is a third test--the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really..."

"Well, " concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True, nor Good, nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"

The man was defeated and ashamed.

This is the reason Socrates was regarded as such a great philosopher and seeker of the truth.

It also explains why he never found out that Plato was banging his wife.

(Now back to the business at hand: Preoccupation with tomorrow's game with the Vols)

--Old Shillelagh

Irish Air Force versus.Vols Brute Force

Notre Dame is certainly not in need of any extra motivation or even insight for the Tennessee game. The Domers might have received an earful nonetheless. It seems that the Volunteers defense thinks that they can put a big orange crush on Irish quarterback Brady Quinn and the rest of the ND offense.

Kevin Simon is a Tennessee linebacker, and it is his belief that not only will ND lose to the Vols, they will also drop the Irish signal caller from Heisman consideration. Simon had this to say about the ND QB: "Brady Quinn is in the Heisman race. We want to take him out of the hunt, that's the mentality on defense all our 11 guys have." The Vols defense need not be knocked for lack of performance, they are one of the finer defenses in the country, and Simon has 63 tackles to date for this tough D. Smash-mouth football is their calling-card.

We must take into consideration that Quinn is playing the best football thus far in his college career. He will play smart on Saturday, Weis won't have it any other way. Quinn will not be surprised when he sees the Knoxville guys thumping after him. He knows they want him to be hurting, stopped and down. Quinn is impressed with the Vols defensive line and made it clear when he said: "Really, from looking at the D-line, they bring a ton of athleticism, a ton of speed. Those guys could play almost any other position on the field as fast as they are. It's almost fun to see. By far, they're the best defensive line we'll face all year." No need to worry, Quinn won't be cheerleading the Vols to victory and the only fun he should have on Saturday is watching the Irish score big. Say a prayer.

Do not doubt that Tennessee will show up ready to play. They are 3-4 on the season, but their disappointment will be ND's opponent when this game kick's off. The Vols are angry and frustrated and the meeting with the lads in South Bend poses a nice opportunity to beat some Irish butt and add a big dose of sweetness to their sour season. Simon pointed out "It's going to be a pride game. Nobody is laying down." Watch out laddies!

Irish grand master Weis is complex and yet so simple at the same time. It has been said that he is unpredictable and impossible to figure out. Uh-oh, it seems that Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis has got Charlie all figured out. Let's all calm down, take a deep breath. What exactly was it that Chavis said, well here it is: "They're gonna run the football, but ultimately when it's all said and done ( Weis) wants to throw the football. They've got two great receivers, the play-action pass is a thing that sticks out in my mind the biggest because they're gonna get you in situations where it'll be one on one." Ahhh..., maybe its Chavis that is the genius.

Let's all think blitz. Tennessee will blitz and show a mix of zone. But wait, maybe I should leave this to Chavis.

The Vols will be ready to play tough football against the Irish, might even show up to play their best of the season. Will it be enough to win? According to Simon, here is how its going down: "I think our defensive line has an advantage over Notre Dame's offensive line. If we get to the quarterback and make some things happen, it's going to be to our favor." All eyes should be on the Irish O-line!

As this game approaches and imaginations are running wild, game plans are being looked at and looked at again. Focus and desire will play a big part in the outcome. One team will be better prepared and that team will show it by playing smarter than the other. One team will play with more desire and when it is all said and done the better team will win. Simple.

Here's to some fun on Saturday!

--Wee Leprechaun

HELP: ND Needs Volunteers to Bolster Big Bowl Bid

Charlie Weis' new contract is wonderful news, and it is great to know that he will be leading the Fighting Irish for years to come. Was there ever any doubt? Now the question that begs an answer is how will ND respond to Saturday's game. This game is against the same team that many figure to have fallen on hard times and unable to extricate from the abyss. The same team that as of Monday morning is without an offensive coordinator because of Randy Sanders' resignation amid serious struggles on offense. This battered team is the once-proud Tennessee Volunteers and, believe me, they will be looking to put a damper on the Irish's winning season. The Vols can afford to let it all hang out!

After two weeks off, ND should be rested, healed, and eager to play football. Master Weis will have the Irish focused and prepared. There will be no excuses for a let-down or for letting up.

Tennessee will certainly be looking to mix up the play-calling. This task now will be a collaborative effort from the offensive coaching staff. The Vols began the season with a very high ranking, and their hopes of winning the National Championship have quickly gone sour. Tennessee wants to avoid a losing season and will be inspired by their gone-south performance, new personnel and play-calling, and the formidable opponent they have in ND. The Vols want to play their best football of the season.

The Irish defense will need to belt down and make plays. Volunteer quarterbacks Erik Ainge and Rick Clausen could possibly share time in this game, with a remote possibility that there could be a new voice calling plays as well. Vols quarterbacks have struggled throughout the season, and there is no reason why the Irish defense should allow them to look like Heisman candidates. Filling in for injured tailback Gerald Riggs Jr., is redshirt freshman tailback Arian Foster. Foster had 148 yards on 25 carries in Tennessee's losing cause last week against South Carolina. ND's run defense should prove to be stronger than the Gamecocks. Pressure from the line, along with assistance from Brandon Hoyte and the rest of the linebackers, will contain Foster, while also forcing the Vols QB(s) to pass. The secondary must come through to continue Tennessee's offensive woes.

Offensively, Notre Dame will need to do what they have been very good at--time of possession. They must score points often and not waste opportunities. With a victory, this game can position the Domers to finish in winning fashion and looking at a BCS bowl. Quarterback Brady Quinn is coming off a record-breaking performance against BYU. Quinn will see a defense that is ready to smack him full of Orange. He will need to be consistent and focused if he is to throw a touchdown pass against Tennessee. Defensively the guys from Knoxville have shown that they are the strength of the team. They have done quite well against the run and Darius Walker will have his work cut out for him. ND's offensive line will need to create space for both Quinn and Walker. Their protection and management on the line will allow Quinn to find his receivers and Walker to pick up the yards. Could Walker once again scamper for 100+ yards? Knowing how important this game is and with two weeks to prepare for it, it would be easy to assume that ND has a game plan ready to confuse the Vols defense, as well as dismantle their offense.

Phillip Fulmer, coach of Tennessee, had this to say about meeting the Irish: "Have we played our best football of the season yet? No, I don't think that we have. If we put all the pieces together and play really well, we'd certainly hope to go into Notre Dame and turn this thing around."

Might the Fighting Irish have a winning response for that?

--Wee Leprechaun