Vegans Can't Make Burgers, Irish Can't Close Winners

"Balls," cried the Queen, "if I had two I would be King."

While the Irish defense and faithful were waiting and looking for Michigan State's overtime field goal attempt to go awry, it was as if the Spartans had another ball looping lazily down the field, not thru the goal posts but into the waiting arms of a receiver. Touchdown. Game over. Take me to Pukesville. I need to vomit.

It was said after the game that Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly learned something.

We don't know what he learned, but we learned that The Fighting Irish are 1-2 and will face the toughest team on their schedule next Saturday---the Stanford Cardinal. We also know, it's confirmed, that the "luck of the Irish" is bad luck; fleeting at best.

It seems to be a given that ND upholds a tradition created by Charlie Weis: Come from behind, grab the lead, don't hold the lead too long, lose it in the waning minutes of the last quarter (and by no means don't play in overtimes).

For those of us who thought Notre Dame would go 9-3 or 8-4 at worst on the year's schedule, let's get real.
That has about as much of a chance as Jack Swarbrick booking a roller derby around the Grotto.

There really isn't much to say about the ND-MSU game. Crist and Floyd almost won it, but also contributed to the loss by separate miscues at critical times. The defense rose to the occasion except deep in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line. Returns by special teams on punts and kickoffs were anemic. Kelly grimaced a great deal. Te'o missed some key tackles. Ethan Johnson made one tackle. Lewis-Moore didn't make any. Cierre Wood lost his rushing skills after the Purdue game.

And, of course the overtime.

"Gutsy Call."

--ScottB