IBG: Pitt problems and dealing with 8-0

Welcome to another episode of the Irish Blogger Gathering. This week, I’m asking Twibby of HerLoyalSons.com some questions, and he’s, in turn, answering them. If you’re into this kind of thing, you’ve got my answers over at HLS, and the Subway Domer and Josh Flynt of Strong and True taking turns as well.

It’s a busy travel day in Inside the Irish land, so without further ado, here goes:

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1. Brian Kelly says that history will have no effect on this team. But if you’re the head coach, do you trot in Ryan Grant (or another member of the ’02 team) and remind this team about what happened the last time the Irish were in this situation?

If I were the head coach, I could promise you one thing: the Irish would not be sitting at 8-0right now.

In all seriousness, though, Kelly has made it very apparent to the media that he is cognizant of making sure this team avoids a letdown. As anyone that has been involved in athletics during their life can attest to, trying to come into a game against a weaker opponent that you should be able to dominate just doesn’t get your blood pumping like going on the road against a powerhouse team that people say you have no business beating does.

While the 2002 and 1993 Irish are certainly not the only teams in college football that have suffered a loss to an inferior team while a perfect season is well within reach, I do think it is important that the current players look back at those games and realize that they do not want Saturday vs. Pittsburgh to be a game that Notre Dame fans are talking about as a disappointment for the next 25 years. Frankly, the current players are well versed in Notre Dame history and Kelly likely doesn’t need to be the one to remind them about what has happened in the past.

2. To me, Notre Dame’s victory over Oklahoma was one of those breakthrough moments. In movie terms, it feels like when Neo learned he could dodge bullets in the Matrix. Do you expect this team to close with a vengeance and play its best football? Or do you think the offense will still go through struggles these next three weeks?

I do expect the Irish to close with a vengeance, and that is mainly because they are led by Manti Te’o. However, closing with a vengeance and playing their best football may not be completely entwined. I definitely don’t expect ND to come out flat footed against Pitt, BC, Wake or USC, but it is difficult to expect them to play at the same level that they did against Oklahoma for the next 4 weeks.  

On the offensive side I absolutely LOVED the game plan that Kelly called on Saturday and I couldn’t believe the poise shown by Everett Golson. Sure, I still yelled every time he ran with the ball swinging beside his body, but overall I thought his decision making was excellent. We had all been waiting for the Golson to Chris Brown bomb to connect since the first attempt during week 3 against MSU, and it couldn’t have happened at a better moment. Golson’s confidence should (deservingly) be at a peak, and I expect him to play well and make good decisions throughout the rest of the season.

As it has been all year, though, the next 4 weeks really hinge on the defense. Even if there are a few road bumps along the way, I expect the Irish to be ready for each opponent and fly into Los Angeles at 11-0 (let’s just hope the players don’t expect to cruise and get lazy in their preparation).

3. Let’s talk about Pitt! Is there anything about this match-up that scares you?

The theme of the first two questions and my responses is all about suffering a letdown, and rightfully so. As fans we are very lucky to be in position where having a letdown is a concern, and that is how I feel about the Pitt game this weekend. I don’t think this Pitt team is as bad as it appeared in a 14 point loss to FCS team Youngstown State, but I do think the Irish are far better in every aspect of the game than the Panthers.

Pitt doesn’t scare me, but the talk of the national championship does. While we can all look ahead and start talking to our friends about plane tickets and hotel rooms in Miami, the team cannot. I don’t expect a blowout, but I do expect a fairly easy two touchdown victory for Notre Dame.