Sugar Bowl: What Can ND Say?

So, we gave the domers a break yesterday. Instead of making note (or fun) of their 41-14 embarrassment versus LSU in the Sugar Bowl, we decided to comment further on USC’s statement in the Rose Bowl and continue our fun with “Wedgygate.” It was a simple choice, actually.

It’s all old news for the “Irish.” A humiliating 27-point loss on national television. Nine … nine … straight bowl game losses – a new NCAA high (or low). An all-time losing record in bowl games, 13-15.

Perhaps worse, ND’s 10 victories in 2006 came against teams with a combined record of 57-70. In its three losses (Michigan, USC, LSU – the only good teams on the schedule) the “Irish” were outscored 132-69. And still, Charlie Weis has no significant wins in two years as “Irish” head coach.

In a backward way, ND’s season also reminds us of Pete Carroll’s second year as our man at USC. As we mentioned, he ended 2002 with a Heisman-winning QB and a BCS Orange Bowl win.

Of course, "Irish" QB Brady Quinn didn’t win the Heisman, and the domers didn’t win a BCS bowl game. But more to the point, while USC was “just getting started” entering Carroll’s third season in 2003, ND and Weis appear to be just starting over in 2007 …

ND is heading into a re-building year, having to replace at least six starters on defense and seven on offense, including Quinn, the team’s best player. Even worse ND will probably start the over-hyped incoming freshman Jimmy Clausen at quarterback.

To be honest, watching the Sugar Bowl, I almost felt sorry for the “Irish” … almost. But posting about their sorry loss seemed like piling on … not that there’s anything wrong with that when it comes to debunking the work of the Domer Hype Machine.

Still, there really is no need to take shots at the second-class state of ND football, since even the east coast biased media is doing that already. As for ESPN.com, a sarcastic and caustic Mark Schlabach wrote this:

Even after Notre Dame lost its ninth consecutive bowl game Wednesday night -- yet another one in ugly fashion with a 41-14 loss to No. 4 LSU in the Allstate Sugar Bowl -- there is hope for Fighting Irish fans.

Even without record-setting quarterback Brady Quinn, receiver Jeff Samardzija and many more of its best players next season, Notre Dame will finally end its postseason drought, now the longest in NCAA history.

The Fighting Irish will end the postseason losing streak that dates back to 1994 because next season they'll be playing in some second-tier bowl game in a nondescript place like Shreveport, La., which is where they should have been playing during much of the last two decades.

Ouch.

Against LSU, Notre Dame once again proved it doesn't deserve to play in BCS bowl games, which have become its birthright because of the school's national stature and ability to draw high TV ratings.

And by shutting out the Fighting Irish in the second half and erupting for 577 yards of offense in the game, the Tigers again proved Notre Dame is no longer capable of beating teams like LSU. Or Ohio State, Michigan and Southern California, which also handed the Fighting Irish lopsided losses in the past 12 months.

Ugh. Talk about piling on. Before the Sugar Bowl, Schlabach quoted Quinn:

"I get tired of hearing how bad we are," Quinn said. "I mean, that's all people seem to be saying sometimes. Notre Dame is one of those universities where it's kind of like either you love it or you hate it. It's tough because you've got to deal with the criticism all the time. So [if] we win a big game against a great team like [LSU], you can't really say a whole lot."

And if you don’t win … which ND hasn’t … there really isn’t much to say, either.

Fight On! Beat the Vandals!
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