ND vs Rutgers Pre Game Thread:

[purguy12]

Pinstripe Bow. Cant wait for this game. End the season on a good note. We better beat Rutgers. Im going to the game so Im a little fired up already.

Prediction: ND 34 Rutgers 13

 

[poewelch84]

Wish I could go, have a great time

 

[poewelch84]

Purguy what do you think of the Yankees off season spending, I like Beltran but I think they way over paid for McCann and Ellsbury.

 

[Irish7478]

Is not having Nix going to be an issue in this game?

 

[jjc2009]

Is not having Nix going to be an issue in this game?

Shouldn't be. I believe Kona and Jarron Jones can both go, and both should be adequate with this team.

This is a classic, lose-lose situation. We win, no big deal, it won't give us much push in the offseason nor reflect itself in pre-season polls next year (not that I like the idea of pre-season polls, but hard to argue their effect on the season and the height of the mountain one must climb to be in a position to play for all the marbles). Lose and ... well I don't want to think about what a loss to a 6-6 Rutgers team in a cold weather bowl would mean, for recruiting, for the coaches, and for the state of the program.

I hope they go and play focused, and win big, as they should. This team has to show that for all its inconsistency, it errs on the side of being slightly better than mediocre.

Then again, given our bowl history, we're not that impressive in them, especially the major ones. I hope the players and coaches don't get too caught up in the sightseeing and handle their business. Part of the problem with the NC game was, it felt like they were satisfied just to get there and seemed to be tourists in Miami, rather than a team focused on winning. Not saying it would have changed the outcome, but it might not have been the bloodbath that it was. Sometimes I get the sense this team likes to rest on its laurels and thats a problem, given that they haven't won a NC since 1988 and hasn't sniffed one since 1993.

 

[Lillyliverd]

Notre Dame should stomp Rutgers. ND should beat Rutgers by 50 and play backup players in the 3rd and 4th quarters.

I would love to see total domination and our talent alone should be able to put a whoopin' on Rutgers. However, my gut tells me we will see a flat and disinterested Irish team just going through the motions versus a fired up, motivated, 100% effort Rutgers team. I think our ND coaches and players are seeing this game as an easy win and will not be putting forth much effort to prepare. Meanwhile, Rutgers players and coaches will be pouring their hearts and souls into preparing for what is a big game for them.

I think ND will win after a bad start. Predicting an ugly, low scoring game; 24-17 Irish.

 

[purguy12]

Purguy what do you think of the Yankees off season spending, I like Beltran but I think they way over paid for McCann and Ellsbury.

I think they got fair value for McCann. He one of the best Catchers. Ellsbury I think they over paid for him but if they knew they couldn't get Cano then im ok with the move. Not happy with the Beltran signing. We have 6 Ofs now and he is 36 years old. I rather have Choo. 2 year deal would looked better then a 3 year deal.

I don't think they are done yet. I think they will trade gardner for a pitcher or a very good 2nd basemen. I hope its Phillips.

 

[jjc2009]

I think they got fair value for McCann. He one of the best Catchers. Ellsbury I think they over paid for him but if they knew they couldn't get Cano then im ok with the move. Not happy with the Beltran signing. We have 6 Ofs now and he is 36 years old. I rather have Choo. 2 year deal would looked better then a 3 year deal.

I don't think they are done yet. I think they will trade gardner for a pitcher or a very good 2nd basemen. I hope its Phillips.

Beltran to DH?

 

[purguy12]

Beltran to DH?

what about Soriano? I don't think he ever played RF. That is what the problem is. We have 2 Dhs in Beltran and Soriano and then throw in Arod if he plays.

If I was the Yankees I would go all in on Price. Sell the farm. Its not like we have had any luck with our farm team.

 

[ThunderND]

Have fun at the Bowl game. I was at the Stanford game, although it was a loss, the sheer number of ND fans at the game was fantastic fun! New York subway alum should be incredible!

 

[poewelch84]

I think they got fair value for McCann. He one of the best Catchers. Ellsbury I think they over paid for him but if they knew they couldn't get Cano then im ok with the move. Not happy with the Beltran signing. We have 6 Ofs now and he is 36 years old. I rather have Choo. 2 year deal would looked better then a 3 year deal.

I don't think they are done yet. I think they will trade gardner for a pitcher or a very good 2nd basemen. I hope its Phillips.

I'm not a huge fan of Choo myself even if he is younger than Beltran, the guy can still hit, he's also a better fielder than Soriano. I would try to trade Gardner to get a pitcher he and Ellsbury are the same age and both have injury concerns. I'm not sure what they are going to do at 2nd base to be completely honest maybe they can get Phillips but then I doubt they get a guy like Price in a trade as well.

 

[purguy12]

I'm not a huge fan of Choo myself even if he is younger than Beltran, the guy can still hit, he's also a better fielder than Soriano. I would try to trade Gardner to get a pitcher he and Ellsbury are the same age and both have injury concerns. I'm not sure what they are going to do at 2nd base to be completely honest maybe they can get Phillips but then I doubt they get a guy like Price in a trade as well.

I cant believe Yankees turned down Gardner for Phillips. Yankees want Phillips and Homer Bush for Gardner and a prospect.

I agree getting Price is a long shot but I would try and go all in and hope to get that Japan guy and BOOM Yankees are back.

People forget Yankees were just about to spend 25 million a year on Cano for 7 years. They still want to spend that money.

 

[poewelch84]

I cant believe Yankees turned down Gardner for Phillips. Yankees want Phillips and Homer Bush for Gardner and a prospect.

I agree getting Price is a long shot but I would try and go all in and hope to get that Japan guy and BOOM Yankees are back.

People forget Yankees were just about to spend 25 million a year on Cano for 7 years. They still want to spend that money.

I don't know about being back, they still have a lot of holes in their rotation, plus guys from Japan don't always work out. The one issue is the players they are signing are older, they just might be the oldest team in baseball.

 

[purguy12]

I don't know about being back, they still have a lot of holes in their rotation, plus guys from Japan don't always work out. The one issue is the players they are signing are older, they just might be the oldest team in baseball.

In a way they got younger. They lost Mo, Andy. Thats 2 40 year olds.

 

[poewelch84]

Mo could still pitch, so could Andy those old guys were losses that actually hurt the team.

 

[purguy12]

Mo could still pitch, so could Andy those old guys were losses that actually hurt the team.

Nah Andy was done. Mo yes still had another year or 2 left.

 

[socaljim242]

Nah Andy was done. Mo yes still had another year or 2 left.

Dodger fan since I can remember but a huge Mariano fan and I'm glad he left with still some left in the tank and on top.

About your bowl game. I know it's New York and if you live near there I'm sure you welcome the opportunity to see them play a bowl game live but playing a 6-6 Rutgers team sounds like a bummer of a bowl. I heard the players( some counsel of player voted) wanted a warm weather bowl but the brass took the lesser bowl because they were going to pay ND more. That's a tough sell for the coaches. Playing an obviously inferior team in possibly very cold conditions and your players wanted to be some where else is a recipe for an upset or at least a lackluster performance especially with your DC and OC gone. No win situation. You win and you were supposed to beat a 6-6 team and you lose and it's a really bad taste in your mouth for the season.

 

[jjc2009]

Dodger fan since I can remember but a huge Mariano fan and I'm glad he left with still some left in the tank and on top.

About your bowl game. I know it's New York and if you live near there I'm sure you welcome the opportunity to see them play a bowl game live but playing a 6-6 Rutgers team sounds like a bummer of a bowl. I heard the players( some counsel of player voted) wanted a warm weather bowl but the brass took the lesser bowl because they were going to pay ND more. That's a tough sell for the coaches. Playing an obviously inferior team in possibly very cold conditions and your players wanted to be some where else is a recipe for an upset or at least a lackluster performance especially with your DC and OC gone. No win situation. You win and you were supposed to beat a 6-6 team and you lose and it's a really bad taste in your mouth for the season.

You heard wrong. Apparently the players were impressed by their gift package enough to vote for this bowl. At 8-4 and no ACC tie ins this season (those start next year) their bowl options against quality opponents were limited. The players and coaches wanted warmer weather but they are allegedly getting PS4s among other items such as New Era gear, Oakleys Etc.

I don't mind the venue as Nd has a lot of local support but I don't care for the opponent a team that barely qualified. We win and no one cares we lose and we'd have an even bigger problem on our hands. But hey that's what 8-4 gets you. Just hope they show more focus and class than USC at the Sun Bowl. I know that's setting the bar awfully low.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

I will be in attendance. If it's anything like the last game I went to there (ND vs Army) it will be a ND heavy crowd.

 

[purguy12]

Cant wait for 12:30pm next sat. I will be there. Sect 215. lets Go Irish