Now I personally could care less about these games tomorrow night, but it's great to have football back in my life. The two teams that I genuinely care about (Notre Dame and Syracuse)kick off their seasons on Saturday.
And now a preview of the Irish and the Orange:
Notre Dame
Last season the Irish followed up their historically bad '07 campaign, in which they went 3-9, with what I thought was a rather unimpressive 7-6 season. They did blow the doors off of Hawaii in the Hawaii bowl to notch their first bowl win since '93, but they lost too many games that they should have won. In fact, they lost 3 games in which they had a double digit lead, including their senior day game at home to Syracuse.
This year Notre Dame returns 17 starters (10 on offense) and has a schedule that looks like this. Hopes are high in South Bend this year (Well, not exactly I guess) for a return to national prominence. Coach Charlie Weis seems to be on the hot seat unless he makes it to a BCS game.
Offense
Gone are the days where the Irish lined up and ran the ball down their opponents throats, but nevertheless the Notre Dame offense should be explosive this year. The abysmal running game of the past two years should improve with a more cohesive offensive line and a more experienced backfield led by Armando Allen and Robert Hughes. Also, Junior Quarterback Jimmy Clausen, once heralded as the savior of the Fighting Irish program, is poised to finally reach his potential and have a monster season.
Clausen's assumed success is largely based on three factors. Charlie Weis has re-assumed the play calling duties (screens & draws). The ND receiving corps is one of the best in the nation with Junior WR Golden Tate, Sophomore WR Michael Flloyd, and Sophomore TE Kyle Rudolph. And it appears that Clausen has matured. In an effort to get a few steps ahead in terms of familiarity, timing and camraderie, Clausen invited his three top targets out to his parents' house in California for a week this summer. A year ago I would have assumed that they all went to Clausen's house to represent ND Athletes in the Beer Olympics or to ride some killer waves, but I've heard that the week was virtually all business.
Defense
We lost a lot of good men out there from a year ago (LB Maurice Crum, Jr., S David Bruton, DT Pat Kuntz), but there is plenty of young talent ready to emerge. Everyone is saying that the strength of the Notre Dame defense is their secondary, yet no one is talking about what I believe to be the elephant in the room. Both of ND's safeties are white! Sure Kyle McCarthy and Harrison Smith are aggressive tacklers, but do you trust them in the Cover 2 against Damian Williams? I don't. The reason I'm not nervous about the defense this year is because of freshman LB Manti Te'o. Te'o, who is from Hawaii (Fun fact- He went to the same highschool as President Obama), is the most hyped Notre Dame defensive recruit since Kory Minor back in the early 90's. I can't wait to see this kid fly all over the field and wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
Prediction
Even though ESPN College Football Analysts Lou Holtz and Beano Cook have the Irish going 11-1 and playing for the National title, I think they'll find a way to beat USC, but still lose 2 games. 10-2 will get them to a BCS game and keep Charlie Weis employed for a more legitimate run at the national title in '10.
Syracuse
Boy has it been a wild off season in the city of hopes and dreams. From the end of the Greg Robinson experience to the media circus that is the Greg Paulus experiment. The Orange have really struggled in the past 4 years going 10-37, but for whatever reason there's that sense of hope surrounding the program this year. New Head Coach Doug Marrone seems to be the right man for the job. He played at Syracuse. He wants to be at Syracuse. He bleeds Orange. Marrone's former stint was as the Offensive Coordinator of the New Orleans Saints so the thought is that he'll be able to light a fire in the Orange offense.
Offense
Aside from the story that has kept the national media's attention on the 'Cuse, which we'll get to in a minute, there's a lot to like. First off, addition by subtraction on the offensive line. Waste of space/talent Corey Chavers will no longer be giving defensive ends free passes to the QB, so that's a plus. Star WR Mike Williams is back after missing all of last season because of an academic issue. Also returning is highly touted RB Delone Carter who smells the endzone like a dog who can smell whether or not a tree has been urinated on recently.
Now toss in the former Gatorade National High School Player of the Year Greg Paulus at Quarterback. Sure the former Duke point guard hasn't taken a snap in over four years, but back then he could have gone to any school in the country and played quarterback. It's gotta be like riding a bike, right? Hell, Paulus was rated right up there with New York Jets starting QB Mark Sanchez. The feel good story even has a hometown angle. Paulus is from Syracuse and two of his former highschool targets are WR's for the Orange. How can this go wrong? Either way, the Orange faithful are buzzing with excitement to see what Paulus can do.
This is the shirt they've been selling in the campus bookstore. Oh, how witty.
In case you don't get it, here's an explanation of the two-pronged reference.
1.) The Devil because he was a Duke Blue Devil (and, not for nothing, largely considered the most hated player in college basketball)
and
2.) The Devil Wears Orange being a play on the Movie/Book title The Devil Wears Prada.
Defense
The Defense is led by the most disruptive force this side of the Mississippi: Arthur Jones. Jones is hungry for some sacks in his senior season and you better believe that he's going to eat. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has Jones as the 12th best prospect for next year's NFL Draft and after the season he's about to have he'll probably go 1st. Assuming anyone gets past Arty (and I doubt that anyone will), former RB Doug Hogue will clean up the mess with his speed at outside linebacker. Also, if Arty can't get to the QB in time, expect FS Mike Holmes to patrol the middle and neutralize the opponents' passing game.
Prediction
Nobody, and I mean nobody, comes into the Loud House and pushes the Orange around. Minnesota better stay at home on Saturday because they don't even know what's going to hit them. Honestly, best case scenario is probably 6-6, but that would be a bowl game and that would be awesome.
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