Comments on: Undefeated Notre Dame http://patterico.com/2012/12/03/undefeated-notre-dame/ Harangues that just make sense Fri, 24 May 2013 15:45:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: peedoffamerican http://patterico.com/2012/12/03/undefeated-notre-dame/comment-page-3/#comment-1130149 peedoffamerican Fri, 14 Dec 2012 03:25:33 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=71577#comment-1130149 (LOL) (LOL)

]]> By: MD in Philly http://patterico.com/2012/12/03/undefeated-notre-dame/comment-page-3/#comment-1124963 MD in Philly Sat, 08 Dec 2012 04:20:13 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=71577#comment-1124963 Alvarez always seemed to be a successful game day tactician. From my POV the Big Ten seems to often be out-coached with the game day plan of attack and mid-game adjustments. In fact I have never been impressed with this aspect of Bielema's tenure; but Alvarez always seemed to have the team ready for the challenge, and even in some bowl games where they were over-matched they won or made a much better battle of it than expected. Wisconsin certainly did not have a very impressive record this season, but I found out recently that they lost a lot of assistant coaches prior to the beginning of the season and had some mid-season firings of new hires. Monte Ball had also been beaten up by 6 guys over the summer and wasn't up to par until several weeks into the season. In addition, it wasn't until the end of the season that they found their quarterback, a 5th year senior who had weathered 3 ACL repairs and had not started (played in?) a game since high school. I think OSU was his second start of his college career. I am expecting to see the team that played Ohio State even and dominated Nebraska show up on Jan 1st, with a better coach than they had during the regular season. Alvarez always seemed to be a successful game day tactician. From my POV the Big Ten seems to often be out-coached with the game day plan of attack and mid-game adjustments. In fact I have never been impressed with this aspect of Bielema’s tenure; but Alvarez always seemed to have the team ready for the challenge, and even in some bowl games where they were over-matched they won or made a much better battle of it than expected.

Wisconsin certainly did not have a very impressive record this season, but I found out recently that they lost a lot of assistant coaches prior to the beginning of the season and had some mid-season firings of new hires. Monte Ball had also been beaten up by 6 guys over the summer and wasn’t up to par until several weeks into the season.
In addition, it wasn’t until the end of the season that they found their quarterback, a 5th year senior who had weathered 3 ACL repairs and had not started (played in?) a game since high school. I think OSU was his second start of his college career.

I am expecting to see the team that played Ohio State even and dominated Nebraska show up on Jan 1st, with a better coach than they had during the regular season.

]]> By: mg http://patterico.com/2012/12/03/undefeated-notre-dame/comment-page-3/#comment-1124937 mg Sat, 08 Dec 2012 03:04:55 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=71577#comment-1124937 51- MD I was always impressed with the way Alvarez and his offensive line went about punishing the defense. 51- MD I was always impressed with the way Alvarez and his offensive line went about punishing the defense.

]]> By: NJRob http://patterico.com/2012/12/03/undefeated-notre-dame/comment-page-3/#comment-1124611 NJRob Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:02:47 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=71577#comment-1124611 Comment by Rich Rostrom (553877) — 12/5/2012 @ 1:26 pm ----------------- Then there's all the games versus the Sun Belt conference which is little more than FCS as well. Meanwhile, looking at the Irish schedule, they played all BCS automatic qualifier conference teams with the exception of BYU who is an Independent that has refused to join an automatic qualifier conference. Comment by Rich Rostrom (553877) — 12/5/2012 @ 1:26 pm

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Then there’s all the games versus the Sun Belt conference which is little more than FCS as well. Meanwhile, looking at the Irish schedule, they played all BCS automatic qualifier conference teams with the exception of BYU who is an Independent that has refused to join an automatic qualifier conference.

]]> By: MD in Philly http://patterico.com/2012/12/03/undefeated-notre-dame/comment-page-3/#comment-1124136 MD in Philly Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:11:37 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=71577#comment-1124136 All of the traffic on the other threads is burying my contribution to college football. All of the traffic on the other threads is burying my contribution to college football.

]]> By: MD in Philly http://patterico.com/2012/12/03/undefeated-notre-dame/comment-page-3/#comment-1124110 MD in Philly Fri, 07 Dec 2012 01:30:26 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=71577#comment-1124110 Yes, in many ways Wisconsin does not belong in a major bowl, though they are the best 5 loss team in football, with 3 of their losses in overtime, including to unbeaten Ohio State. But Bret Bielema, who has not shown himself up to coaching bowl games, has done us in Badgerland a favor and has jumped ship, allowing for: <i>Hall of Fame Coach Barry Alvarez is returning for one final game – the Rose Bowl – where he has proven himself as a good luck charm, leading the Badgers to three Rose Bowl Championships.</i> Alvarez was not only great at making a so-so team into a respectable force, but also knew how to coach a winning Big Ten team in the Rose Bowl, multiple times. Yes, in many ways Wisconsin does not belong in a major bowl, though they are the best 5 loss team in football, with 3 of their losses in overtime, including to unbeaten Ohio State.
But Bret Bielema, who has not shown himself up to coaching bowl games, has done us in Badgerland a favor and has jumped ship, allowing for:
Hall of Fame Coach Barry Alvarez is returning for one final game – the Rose Bowl – where he has proven himself as a good luck charm, leading the Badgers to three Rose Bowl Championships.
Alvarez was not only great at making a so-so team into a respectable force, but also knew how to coach a winning Big Ten team in the Rose Bowl, multiple times.

]]> By: Larry Geiger http://patterico.com/2012/12/03/undefeated-notre-dame/comment-page-2/#comment-1123724 Larry Geiger Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:58:08 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=71577#comment-1123724 "Undefeated" Not for long... “Undefeated” Not for long…

]]> By: Roscoe http://patterico.com/2012/12/03/undefeated-notre-dame/comment-page-2/#comment-1123172 Roscoe Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:28:12 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=71577#comment-1123172 Rick - Unless I am misunderstanding I don't think your "wins against winning teams" numbers are right. LSU has four wins against winning teams (Miss St., So. Car., A&M and Washington). Alabama also has four (Mich, Miss St., LSU and Ga.). I haven't looked at the others, but they don't look right either. Rick – Unless I am misunderstanding I don’t think your “wins against winning teams” numbers are right. LSU has four wins against winning teams (Miss St., So. Car., A&M and Washington). Alabama also has four (Mich, Miss St., LSU and Ga.). I haven’t looked at the others, but they don’t look right either.

]]> By: Rich Rostrom http://patterico.com/2012/12/03/undefeated-notre-dame/comment-page-2/#comment-1123139 Rich Rostrom Wed, 05 Dec 2012 21:26:07 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=71577#comment-1123139 Please delete bad version above reff: <i>LSU is the only one of those six who played at least four of the others.</i> Wrong - Florida beat Texas A&M, LSU, and South Carolina, and lost to Georgia. NJRob: <i>What’s their combined records against other teams with winning records?</i> Wins against other winning teams: Florida 5, Texas A&M 3, LSU 2, South Carolina 4, Georgia 2, Alabama 3. So 19 of their 55 outside wins were against winners. The "big six" also had five wins against Missouri and against Tennessee (both 5-2 against others). Include those and they have 29 wins against winners. <i>Heck, just take all their bogus wins against FCS teams out of the equation and that lops off 15-20 wins right there.</i> Wins vs FCS schools: Florida 1, Texas A&M 2, LSU 1, South Carolina 1, Georgia 1, Alabama 1. So only seven such wins. Some of those games were more respectable than others. South Carolina played Wofford (9-3); Georgia played Georgia Southern (9-3); LSU played Towson (7-4); Texas A&M played Sam Houston State (9-3). Alabama, however, played West Carolina (1-10). Please delete bad version above

reff: LSU is the only one of those six who played at least four of the others.

Wrong – Florida beat Texas A&M, LSU, and South Carolina, and lost to Georgia.

NJRob: What’s their combined records against other teams with winning records?

Wins against other winning teams: Florida 5, Texas A&M 3, LSU 2, South Carolina 4, Georgia 2, Alabama 3. So 19 of their 55 outside wins were against winners.

The “big six” also had five wins against Missouri and against Tennessee (both 5-2 against others). Include those and they have 29 wins against winners.

Heck, just take all their bogus wins against FCS teams out of the equation and that lops off 15-20 wins right there.

Wins vs FCS schools: Florida 1, Texas A&M 2, LSU 1, South Carolina 1, Georgia 1, Alabama 1. So only seven such wins.

Some of those games were more respectable than others. South Carolina played Wofford (9-3); Georgia played Georgia Southern (9-3); LSU played Towson (7-4); Texas A&M played Sam Houston State (9-3). Alabama, however, played West Carolina (1-10).

]]> By: Rich Rostrom http://patterico.com/2012/12/03/undefeated-notre-dame/comment-page-2/#comment-1123135 Rich Rostrom Wed, 05 Dec 2012 21:24:11 +0000 http://patterico.com/?p=71577#comment-1123135 reff: <i>LSU is the only one of those six who played at least four of the others.</i> Wrong - Florida beat Texas A&M, LSU, and South Carolina, and lost to Georgia. NJRob: <i>What’s their combined records against other teams with winning records?</i> Wins against other winning teams: Florida 5 Texas A&M 3, LSU 2, South Carolina 4, Georgia 2, Alabama 3. So 19 of their 55 outside wins were against winners. The "big six" also had five wins against Missouri and against Tennessee (both 5-2 against others). Include those and they have 29 wins against winners. <i>Heck, just take all their bogus wins against FCS teams out of the equation and that lops off 15-20 wins right there.<i> Wins vs FCS schools: Florida 1, Texas A&M 2, LSU 1, South Carolina 1, Georgia 1, Alabama 1. So only seven such wins. Some of those games were more respectable than others. South Carolina played Wofford (9-3); Georgia played Georgia Southern (9-3); LSU played Towson (7-4); Texas A&M played Sam Houston State (9-3). Alabama, however, played West Carolina (1-10). reff: LSU is the only one of those six who played at least four of the others.

Wrong – Florida beat Texas A&M, LSU, and South Carolina, and lost to Georgia.

NJRob: What’s their combined records against other teams with winning records?

Wins against other winning teams: Florida 5
Texas A&M 3, LSU 2, South Carolina 4, Georgia 2, Alabama 3. So 19 of their 55 outside wins were against winners.

The “big six” also had five wins against Missouri and against Tennessee (both 5-2 against others). Include those and they have 29 wins against winners.

Heck, just take all their bogus wins against FCS teams out of the equation and that lops off 15-20 wins right there.

Wins vs FCS schools: Florida 1, Texas A&M 2, LSU 1, South Carolina 1, Georgia 1, Alabama 1. So only seven such wins.

Some of those games were more respectable than others. South Carolina played Wofford (9-3); Georgia played Georgia Southern (9-3); LSU played Towson (7-4); Texas A&M played Sam Houston State (9-3). Alabama, however, played West Carolina (1-10).

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