Right Kinda Cracks

Right Kinda Cracks
by Kayo (2018-09-06 14:01:46)
Edited on 2018-09-02 11:59:32

The opening question for Brandon Wimbush was “Good win?” His answer was, “Yeah, I loved it.” Me too.

This newfangled pass rush thingy the Irish are trying this year has possibilities.

“Close games and winning close games against really good football teams; that usually lends itself to you've probably got a pretty good football program,” Brian Kelly said after Saturday’s game. Close game performance wasn’t supposed to be discussed a year ago.

Asked about limiting the Irish to 3 points in the second half after allowing 21 in the first half, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said, “I thought we were stopping the run well. Brandon Wimbush made some big plays throughout the game, running the ball, getting out of the pocket. Credit to him. He played a heck of a ballgame. Thought we limited that in the second half.” An offense that relies on broken plays is not sustainable.

Wimbush still needs to work on his throwing mechanics. He still needs to work on reading the option. But this morning the thing he needs most is Ibuprofen.

Pinkel Award nominations for scheduling the most inexcusable patsy game usually go to a major conference team, but sometimes a mid-major team shows that it’s beyond desperate for a win. Case in point, our old buddy Bob Davie’s New Mexico Lobos played Incarnate Word on Saturday. The Cardinals compete in five men’s sports - baseball, basketball, cross country, fencing, and football. I’m pretty sure that last one is flag football.

Another note about Incarnate Word… A splash page displays before one can get to the football home page. Is it really necessary to display an option to skip the splash page permanently?

Brian Kelly wore a mic throughout the game. I suspect he was on a seven second delay.

“First thing I want to do, obviously, is give App State all the credit in the world,” James Franklin said after Penn State eked out an overtime win over Appalachian State. “I don't know what's in the water in Boone, North Carolina, but it seems like they've been doing this for a long time to whoever they play.” Not whoever, Coach Franklin. Just Big Ten teams.

The white shoes the Irish wore on Saturday made them look faster.

On the other end of the uniform spectrum, it will be interesting to see if the new helmets Notre Dame is wearing this season will make a positive difference. I wonder if it helped on the Alize Mac hit.

To refresh readers’ memories, the Hardin Award is earned by citing a nominally true but worthless statistic. It’s named for Drake Athletic Director and former Notre Dame sports information guy Brian Hardin who, unlike the original namesake for the award, wouldn’t mind poking fun at one or two of the dozens of statistics a sports information staff creates each week. Nominations usually go to Athletic Departments staffers, with some schools more prone to citation (Think letters M and N), but Brian Kelly closed the competition for my first nomination of 2018 by telling us Brandon Wimbush won nine games as a starter in 2017 during a pregame interview. That puts a notch Wimbush’s belt for the LSU victory.

What kind of a conference includes Miami and Florida State yet has members that are even more embarrassing? Yes, folks, it’s our very own ACC (for most sports). Both North Carolina and Louisville lost on Saturday, UNC to mediocre California and UL drubbed by Alabama. More please.

Along those lines, I can’t be happier about the way the Chip Kelly era began at UCLA.

Here’s a question that might be difficult for younger Notre Dame football fans to answer… What’s this?

Late in July, Bob's goal was to make it to the Michigan game. He knew that lasting until the USC game wasn't realistic, but one last chance to see the Irish beat Michigan was. Alas, he didn't make it. According to legend, George Gipp said, “I don't know where I'll be then, Rock; but I'll know about it, and I'll be happy.” Bob knows about yesterday’s game, and he’s happy. RIP my buddy. RIP with a smile.

Kayo

Crack Backs Atcha

The opening question for Brandon Wimbush was “Good win?” His answer was, “Yeah, I loved it.” Me too.

Sounds like you, Brandon, and the reporter just had a Michigan-win-a-trois.

This newfangled pass rush thingy the Irish are trying this year has possibilities.

Getting multiple sacks from a 4-man rush sure beats getting no sacks from multiple blitzers (the latter, specialties of BVG and Jon Tenuta).

Are we allowed to discuss blow-outs turning into close games?

Wimbush still needs to work on his throwing mechanics. He still needs to work on reading the option. But this morning the thing he needs most is Ibuprofen.

If Wimbush continues to get 45% of the carries (in addition to the hits he takes after throwing the ball), he’s going to need something a little stronger---horse tranquilizers, maybe.

My kids played Incarnate Word in CYO football. Are we talking about the same team? My nominee is Nebraska, who scheduled their home opener against Akron, a team that is used to earning Pinkel nominations for Ohio State, and who has conveniently named themselves after their likely scoring total in such games. The game was suspended shortly after kickoff because of lightning and violent storms. The storms raged for hours and play could not be resumed. So there you have it, a matchup so shameless that God decided to cancel it.

Another note about Incarnate Word… A splash page displays before one can get to the football home page. Is it really necessary to display an option to skip the splash page permanently?

If the message on the splash page says, “Did you really mean to search for Incarnate Word football?” that would be entirely appropriate.

Brian Kelly wore a mic throughout the game. I suspect he was on a seven second delay.

One second for each word.

As we know, the Big Ten can’t count past ten, so it was fitting that Penn State repeated Michigan’s scheduling error on the 11th anniversary of “the greatest upset of all time.” Too bad they didn’t quite repeat the outcome.

The white shoes the Irish wore on Saturday made them look faster.

So much so that Jerome Bettis, who famously taped his black shoes nearly white, is eager to come back and finish his last year of eligibility.

I’m sure it was as effective as that the perfunctory concussion protocol he went through inside the tent.

Wimbush got the LSU victory? But he didn’t even go 5 innings! My nominee goes to whichever sports information critter does the postgame notes for Tennessee. UT’s recent lackluster play continued as they laid an egg against WVU in a contest called the Belk College Kickoff Classic (the Belk Bowl having not been embarrassing enough). Nothing captures the mail-it-in nature of this exercise for the losing side better than this note: “The Vols are now 9-9 against the Big 12 after Saturday’s win/loss (sic).” I think the next note said, “Whatever.”

We’ve already compromised on strength of character, do we have to throw in the towel on strength of schedule, too?

Along those lines, I can’t be happier about the way the Chip Kelly era began at UCLA.

Here’s a question that might be difficult for younger Notre Dame football fans to answer… What’s this?

Trick question. Women’s basketball wins them all the time.

I’m sorry for your loss and God’s peace to your dear friend, Bob. It’s too bad he wasn’t able to experience his last Michigan game. Where he’s going, it was probably his last chance to run into anyone associated with UM.

Kayo

Bacchus

Craic Back Atcha

The opening question for Brandon Wimbush was “Good win?” His answer was, “Yeah, I loved it.” Me too.

Sounds like you, Brandon, and the reporter just had a Michigan-win-a-trois.

It’s my new “me too” movement.

This newfangled pass rush thingy the Irish are trying this year has possibilities.

Getting multiple sacks from a 4-man rush sure beats getting no sacks from multiple blitzers (the latter, specialties of BVG and Jon Tenuta).

...or simply, Brian Van Tenuta.

Are we allowed to discuss blow-outs turning into close games?

Only in glowing terms.

In fairness, Winbush’s critical conversion on a 22-yard run on 3rd-and-17 was a designed QB draw. But an offense that relies on repeatedly converting 3rd-and-long, as the Irish did all night, is not sustainable, either.

I have to concede that building an offense around one player’s ability to improvise has worked at least once.

Wimbush still needs to work on his throwing mechanics. He still needs to work on reading the option. But this morning the thing he needs most is Ibuprofen.

If Wimbush continues to get 45% of the carries (in addition to the hits he takes after throwing the ball), he’s going to need something a little stronger---horse tranquilizers, maybe.

Long term use does wonders for an athlete’s performance.

Another note about Incarnate Word… A splash page displays before one can get to the football home page. Is it really necessary to display an option to skip the splash page permanently?

If the message on the splash page says, “Did you really mean to search for Incarnate Word football?” that would be entirely appropriate.

I think it did ask that question… in its own way.

Brian Kelly wore a mic throughout the game. I suspect he was on a seven second delay.

One second for each word.

He was fine until he started ranting about the (bleeping) topography.

The white shoes the Irish wore on Saturday made them look faster.

So much so that Jerome Bettis, who famously taped his black shoes nearly white, is eager to come back and finish his last year of eligibility.

If only there were room on the roster for a fullback.

I’m sure it was as effective as that the perfunctory concussion protocol he went through inside the tent.

You have it all wrong. That itty bitty tent is a tardis.

We’ve already compromised on strength of character, do we have to throw in the towel on strength of schedule, too?

The ACC almost makes the Big Ten a reasonable alternative… almost.

Along those lines, I can’t be happier about the way the Chip Kelly era began at UCLA.

No worries. UCLA has a chance to right the ship when they travel to Norman, Oklahoma next week! Actually, it wouldn’t bother me if Chip Kelly became a perennial thorn in the side to USC---especially in recruiting.

I don’t know how many recruiting battles UCLA will win vs USC, but the sleazy recruiting tactics playing field has been leveled.

Here’s a question that might be difficult for younger Notre Dame football fans to answer… What’s this?

Trick question. Women’s basketball wins them all the time.

Not a trick question if you’re a Notre Dame Fencing fan.

Kayo

Bacchus

Kayo