Irish Insights

Men's Hoops: ND-Youngstown State prediction

Since football season is over, we're going to increase our prognostication load to men's basketball as well -- and select women's hoops games.

Notre Dame had a rough week in the Virgin Islands and the margin for error the rest of the way is little.
The Irish will get a more-difficult-than-expected test from Youngstown State, but no way Notre Dame loses three in a row behind another 20-point performance from Luke Harangody.

Our pick: Notre Dame 82, Youngstown State 71.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

ND-Stanford Prediction

Listen to the voices of John Carlson and Trevor Laws after last week's game. The sense of relief of winning at home lifted, the two fifth-year seniors sounded almost like their season was over.

So what is left to play for in the season-finale at Notre Dame? For Laws, he's close to ND's single-season record for tackles by a defensive lineman. For the rest of the players, it's about trying to win two in a row to close the season, something which hasn't been done since the 1992 season.

This will be a close, competitive game. Stanford isn't that good, but neither are the Irish. And this season first-year Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh has proven to be a good late-game, close-game manager (see wins over USC and Arizona) while Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis botched his only close game (Navy).

Talent, we'd give the edge to Notre Dame. Coaching, we're going with the spunky former Indianapolis Colts quarterback.

Our score: Stanford 24, Notre Dame 23.
Second prediction: Laws makes 11 tackles, setting a new single-season record.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

It's A Mailbag! Your comments, thoughts and questions, 11/23/07

It's Mailbag time at Insights, where we take your comments, criticisms and e-mails and answer them or give them props in this space. Questions about anything Notre Dame athletics is fair game. Send your questions to mrothstein@jg.net or leave them in comment boxes below during the week and we'll snatch them up.  If you do ask a question, we ask that you list your name (at least first one) and hometown. And one day, we'll enforce it, too.

On to the questions and comments, which as always come from real readers:

Had dinner with a couple who lived in Fort Wayne for many years and now live in Texas. He still takes the Fort Wayne newspaper. He brought up the subject of Notre Dame and how this reporter for the Fort Wayne paper seems to really love to trash Notre Dame. I knew immediately it was you and he confirmed it. So your negative reports are being read all the way in Texas!
-Bonnie Barbarisi
Tyler, Texas

Bonnie,
Sweet! We've got readers in Texas. And thank your friend for the subscription. However, was this trashing Notre Dame? Or this? But then again, this team is 2-9, so it's not like there are many positive stories to write. Tell your friend thanks for reading!

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Michael,
I truly regret having written a "thank you" e-mail for your coverage of Irish practices. I have been getting more and more irritated with your anti-Irish (stuff) and your predicting Duke to beat ND was the most pathetic of all your pathetic writings. You show a lack of faith and more importantly proof you are not an Irish fan. I hope you will at a minimum acknowledge on your blog that you were way off on this Duke prediction.
I can understand a writer trying to be independent if they are a freelance type writer, but you work for an Irish focused organization, for God's sake. I have added you to the Mark May category of reporters I hate. I hope your Thanksgiving turkey is tough, your heat goes out and your hard drive crashes.
Best of luck to you,
-Mike Parmett

Mike,
Thanksgiving turkey was awesome, actually, because I didn't cook it. Heat's still working. Computer's still up. You're 0 for 3 on your predictions! I was wrong in picking Duke, but where were you after Navy or Air Force or any of the other games this season?
By the way, you're right. I'm not an Irish fan. But I'm not an Irish hater, either. I'm neither. And the Journal Gazette is independent of Notre Dame. Thanks for adding me to the Mark May category, though. Hopefully I can make the kind of money he is.

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You're an idiot. 31-21 Notre Dame
-Gregg Altieri

Thanks! Ask Bonnie. You're not alone.

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its funny. isnt making a win prediction on your own ND site a given? if not, then isnt predicting a loss, placing yourself above the entity? like even if the Irish lose "im smart, look at me, im better than you are. im awesome"
im so impressed you are 9-1 going into this game, with your only loss being our only win... you will be remembered in infamy.
as in mark may, you charleton idiot. my record this year is 1-9 and im damn proud. "enjoy it while you can." rothstien.
-Mike Sheridan

Mike,
I am smart. I am awesome. Just ask Bonnie. Thanks for noticing! And I also know how to use apostrophes when appropriate, like "I'm proud" to be 9-2. Second Mark May reference, too. Join Bonnie and Mark. You guys should get together and start a fan club. By Charleton, do you mean I'm this guy? Or did you mean charlatan? At 9-2, I'm no fraud. Oh, and it's ROTHSTEIN. You wouldn't win a spelling bee.

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ahh, what a surprise, not a single GOOD thing mentioned for ND coming from carr's retirement! rather, as is all too frequent from mr. rothstein, everything is bad in ND-land.
gimme a break...the fact that ANY type of uncertainty hurts any CFB program for at least a year or so and this helps ND recruiting short-term, at the very least!
your near comical desire not to be seen as a "homer" is turning you into a really bad read, mr. rothstein.
-The Genuis

Genuis,
When a team is 2-9, there isn't much positive to write about. And as far as Lloyd Carr's retirement, it depends on their hire, but considering Michigan's recent hiring success (John Beilein for men's hoops), one would think they wouldn't screw it up.

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NUTS! Rothstein has done a splendid job . . . and even shows some affection for the Irish when appropriate. Turning in the Ladz for WNDU promos was a low blow, but he has redeemed himself. He's right about Carr's leaving -- mostly bad news for ND.
-n statler

Statler,
Wow. Someone with something nice to say. Shocked, I tell you.

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So will USC still be able to whine about the grass height?
-Jim Kress

Jim,
No, probably not.

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There is one POSSIBLE advantage to ND with Carr stepping down now: it could keep Corwin Brown at ND a little longer. We won't know for a couple years whether Corwin will demonstrate the same success on the field as he has already done in recruiting. However, assuming he does and had Carr stepped down a few years from now, you can bet that Corwin would have been at the top of the replacement list. He seems very happy at ND (he has stated he would have gone there if offered a scholarship), but you can never underestimate loyalty to your undergrad institution.
-Andrew

Andrew,
Your last point is the most important -- you can't underestimate loyalty to your undergrad institution. Corwin seems very happy at Notre Dame and appears to want to stay for the long term, but who knows what could happen.

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This is Mike Brey of old. Five minutes remaining and three free throws and one field goal to show for it. Play not to lose, and then lose. With the exception of last year, that's his trade mark. This may be equally as shocking a year as was football.
-Michael McAdams

Michael,
The two losses were very similar to 2005-06, but it is early in the season. Brey doesn't seem too concerned about it yet, but it'll be interesting to see what happens. The margin for error is certainly smaller.

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Remind me again, Michael.  How many seasons have you coached at the college or professional level?  You seem to know a lot more than Coach Weis. You should give him a call..
-Leahy

Leahy,
Huh? The answer, by the way, is zero. But then again, I'm not an anonymous blog poster, either. And I don't know more than Charlie Weis about football. Just wanted to clarify that.

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I see what you're getting at with bringing up that Walker seems to have a decent enough leg to make some of the longer field goals (45+). However, one cannot overlook the fact that those kicks you witnessed in practice were indoors without any external factors like wind or precipitation. Personally, I share your sentiment that we should have at least attempted the field goal against Navy, but we can't discount the environmental factors that can play a significant role in the kicking game - perhaps significant enough to warrant not attempting a kick.
-Brian C.

Brian,
There might have been other factors, but we maintain that in that situation, you still kick the ball. That will never change.

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And today's final comment comes from James F. Dougherty:

CALL FOR WHITE AND WEIS TO RESIGN IMMEDIATELY.

James,
We're not doing that. Not even close. We believe both should be back next season.

Thanks for reading, your questions and hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. Even though the season is over, the Mailbag will live on, so please continue sending in questions.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

An interesting take from Bill Belichick

Courtesy of the excellent New York Times college football blog, The Quad, writer Pete Thamel found a transcript from a Bill Belichick news conference that discusses the spread offense. Even more interesting is that Belichick doesn't follow college football that closely -- not that we expect him to -- but it is interesting since Charlie Weis is heading there in the offseason for advice.
Hearing that about Belichick further illustrates our point in today's analysis about Weis seeking out help from more than just the Pats.

As we wrote in the column, we believe Weis should take a few more trips to meet with others, those in the college game, to help refine his coaching.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Tom Crean on Jim Harbaugh

Marquette basketball coach Tom Crean knows a lot about Jim Harbaugh. He should -- he married Harbaugh's sister.
At Big East media day last month, we caught up with Crean about Stanford's first-year football coach.

Insights: Did he go to you a lot before he took the Stanford job to pick your brain?
Tom Crean: "No. We're family."

Insights: Are you surprised at how quickly it looks like he's turning the program around?
TC: "No. Surprised at beating USC? Yes. Surprised at how quickly he's turned the program around? No. He's a great coach and one of the best coaching things I ever saw was watching his game Saturday night (on Oct. 20 against Arizona, a 21-20 Stanford win) and he is really an incredible student of the two-minute offense. He was very good at it as a quarterback. He became the two-minute offensive coordinator from his quality control position with the Raiders, he was in charge of the two-minute offense in the second year. He scored a touchdown right before half against Arizona by utilizing his timeouts the right way and he scored near the end of the game. He did the same thing in the USC game. Those things to me are really good."

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Practice Observations, 11-20-07

Hello, and welcome to our final practice observations for the year as Notre Dame prepares for its season finale at Stanford:

• With the weather icky outside, Notre Dame headed inside the Loftus Center for special teams work.
• Fifth-year senior center John Sullivan was at practice Tuesday, but not dressed in full pads. The rest of Notre Dame's roster was, including hobbled sophomore running back James Aldridge.
• Apparently not-so-limber on Tuesday, wide receivers coach Rob Ianello joined the players in some stretching, mostly working on his hamstrings and calves.
• Brandon Walker's kicking day: Extra Point -- Good; 32 yards -- Good; 32 yards -- Good; 36 yards -- Wide Left; 36 yards -- Good; 40 yards -- Good; 44 yards -- Good; 49 yards -- Wide left (barely, and he had distance). Not to bring up the Navy game again, but clearly Walker has some pop in his leg.
• First team punter was sophomore Eric Maust, who each day seems closer to wrapping up the job for next season. Walker backed him up as the media didn't see fifth-year senior punter Geoff Price attempt a punt.
• Five coaches were helping work on special teams, headed up by Brian Polian. Special teams is one of the issues Notre Dame needs to improve in the offseason, with the exception of punt coverage (otherwise known as David Bruton beating everyone down field).
• Notre Dame oral commit Braxston Cave showed up right after the media portion of practice concluded.

Don't forget about the weekly Mailbag (still on Friday despite the holiday week!) and the score predictions contest for Stanford. Send questions and your final score guesses to mrothstein@jg.net.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Injury Updates

Just a couple injury tidbits to pass along:

• Junior nose guard Pat Kuntz is out with an injured leg.
• Sophomore safety Sergio Brown is also out.
• Fifth-year senior center John Sullivan is doubtful with a leg injury.
• Sophomore running back James Aldridge is still hobbling with an injured ankle, but will practice Tuesday.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

ND is MVP=Most Valuable Program

At least the football team is, according to forbes.com.
The Notre Dame football program is worth $101 million according to the report, topping No. 2 Texas by $9 million. Because the team --and athletics program -- is not separate from the university, it must cooperate in profit sharing ending up in a $21.1 million donation to the school, the report said.
Of course, the $9 million Notre Dame is ahead of Texas by comes from its contract with NBC, which Forbes said pays $9 million.
The Top 20 money-making football programs (money figures in millions):
School             Money Earned       Profit
1. Notre Dame      $101                 $45.8
2. Texas                 $92                  $46.2
3. Georgia             $90                   $43.5
4. Michigan           $85                   $36.2
5. Florida              $84                   $38.2
6. LSU                   $76                   $31.7
7. Tennessee        $74                   $17.3
8. Auburn             $73                   $33.9
9. Alabama           $72                   $31.8
10. Ohio State      $71                   $26.6
11. Oklahoma       $70                   $18.5
12. South Carolina $69                  $28.9
13. Penn State     $69                    $29.4
14. USC                $53                    $13
15. Arkansas         $53                    $19.3
16. Texas A&M     $50                    $20.5
17. Washington    $50                    $19.9
18. Nebraska        $49                    $12.4
19. Michigan State $44                  $18.3
20. Wisconsin       $43                    $14.3

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Depth Chart Notes and changes for Stanford

Last time we're doing this this season, but some depth chart things of note heading into the season finale against Stanford:

• Dan Wenger is listed as the starting center with Thomas Bemenderfer as the backup. Usual starter John Sullivan is listed third, likely due to his leg injury.
• Chris Stewart is listed as a backup at both right guard and right tackle.
• Ian Williams is the starting nose tackle with Paddy Mullen listed at No. 2. Normal starter Pat Kuntz is listed third due to his injury.
• David Bruton is no longer listed as an "OR" with Kyle McCarthy, likely because Bruton is fully healthy.
• At strong safety, Jashaad Gaines is listed as the backup to Tom Zbikowski. Sergio Brown, who had been Zbikowski's backup, has been injured and is listed third on the depth chart.
• Big week for Eric Maust. He's now listed as the starting punter due to Geoff Price's quadriceps injury and he's listed as the No. 1 holder.
• Brandon Walker has also started to take hold. Besides being the team's placekicker, he's now listed as the team's kickoff guy, replacing walk-on Nate Whitaker.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Scheduling in the Big East

One of the more interesting discussions at Big East Media Day was about the 18-game schedule the conference is going with. What it has done is change some of the scheduling philosophies coaches go with, as we outline here.
Our take is that 18 games is good for the conference, but teams still need to schedule smart. Unlike football, which books its schedule years and sometimes even a decade ahead of time, basketball often goes year-to-year with sometimes maybe two-year deals. So what coaches should do is consider what type of team they'll have back and schedule accordingly. If, for instance, you're Louisville, Georgetown or Marquette this year, you take more chances and play more marquee games. Barring injury, you're going to the NCAAs anyway, so why not try to build up the resume with good tests and potentially good seeding.
Last year, Notre Dame did a great job scheduling with a team searching for an identity. Mike Brey went back to the same format this year and now at 2-2, it'll be interesting to see if it works out.

Chances are, scheduling will be a feeling out process as the league acclimates itself to its newer, bigger world.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette