Tuesday Practice Observations 10-24-06

With a snowfall in South Bend on Monday evening, Notre Dame moved practice inside the Loftus Center for practice Tuesday. Beware, it was a very light load of both snow and observations:

• Sophomore fullback Asaph Schwapp was absent from practice Tuesday after making a reappearance last week.
• D.J. Hord and Brandon Erickson returned to the indoor bikes after a couple weeks of tossing the ball around.
• Keith Penrod also returned -- and spent time with the running backs.
• Athletic Director Kevin White was at practice.

Quick side notes: No one won the prediction contest for UCLA -- although a couple came close with guessing the correct UCLA final score. So, the kitty jumps even higher to Navy. Send your final score predictions to mrothstein@jg.net. First one to get the right score wins a whole bunch of programs, pins, notebooks and whatever else we can come up with.

We're looking for a good Navy tailgate. Either from Navy people or Notre Dame people. Having a tailgate? Invite us. We'll show up and if it is good enough, you'll get a mention or two here.

To answer Craig's question in the comments of our latest BCS prognostication, the Orange Bowl should not leap the Sugar Bowl to get a pick if West Virginia, Louisville or dare we even say -- Rutgers -- gets in the national title game (OK, fantasy on the last one, but how cool would THAT be). The Orange Bowl gets the Big East or ACC champion and since Clemson, Boston College or Georgia Tech aren't going to the national title game, they'd slide in there. Good question, though. Keep 'em coming.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Denis Nolan]

The question should not be whether ND has a chance for the national championship game, but rather if it could beat any legitimate BCS team. The Michigan and UCLA games have shown a slow line, a hesitant runner with no holes, an inability to run outside, and a quarterback susceptable to the rush. And it was the defense which was supposed to be their weakness!!!!

[Christopher Krill]

Kudos for the previous post by Denis. I learned Weis was calling the plays for the UCLA game - while I agree that you keep trying a play until the other team stops you - the QB sneak every 4th and 1-2 was bound to get stuffed at the worst time. Putting in all freshman on the O line would not lose a step at this point in the season either. Quinn remains unsteady on many passes and decisions. Weis needs to understand that covering the spread does impact the polls in college football.