From: ejohnson@goethe.helios.nd.edu (eric johnson)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college
Subject: Re: lou holtz should be drawn and quartered
Keywords: Holtz, sucks, wimp
Date: 14 Sep 92 14:14:07 GMT
Reply-To: ejohnson@goethe.helios.nd.edu (eric johnson)
Organization: Univ. of Notre Dame

In article <1992Sep14.040848.12093@en.ecn.purdue.edu>, lauson@en.ecn.purdue.edu (Patrick W Lauson) writes:
|> I have to disagree with the poster that said both teams are way overrated.
|> I think you have to take into account that this game was early on in the
|> season, and that both teams were "feeling themselves out."
|> Michigan looked superior to ND, IMO, but Grbac blew it.  If I didn't know 
|> any better I would say that he and Pete Rose have been talking...
|> Notre Dame played well, but they are not MNC material.  Michigan, on the other
|> hand, still has some potential...

I agree that both teams aren't overrated. They both deserve top ten rankings if
for their offenses alone...but until either of them start playing defense with
the intensity of a Miami neither will make a run for the MNC.

My thoughts on the game and being at the game....

I do disagree that Michigan looked superior to ND. If you look at the stats ND beat Michigan in first downs, rushing, total yards, and time of posession. Notre Dame should have been at least two touchdowns ahead in the first half and Michigan should have put the game away in the second half. But of course SHOULD HAVES don't count.

MICHIGAN:

Michigan's defense could not stop the run and there usually potent running game was for the most part stiffled. I was impressed with Alexander the wide receiver: He was covered most of the time by Tom Carter (who is suppose to be a All-American candidate, not after that game) and he made Carter look bad many times. His speed and precision routes make him a threat anytime. I was also surprised Grbac made such bad decisions. In all three interceptions, he had men open and didn't see them...he keyed on one re


ceiver.

NOTRE DAME:

Notre Dame's offense had good balance but they looked like they were playing 
their first game of the year. Penalties, turnovers, miscommunication, use of timeouts, etc. You are suppose to iron those mistakes out in the first game. The O-line had a good game. Mirer had to scramble some but that was due to the good coverage by Michigan. Mirer had his usual good game. Nothing flashly and not many yards. He will never have the stats of a Matthews but he gets the job done. If the Hiesman is based soley on stats Mirer shouldn't even be in the running. I was impressed with ND's run defens


e. They were solid except for a couple of runs. Their pass defense was disappointing. The zone pass defense had too many holes and no one could cover Alexander man-to-man.

THE GAME:

I have no problem with Lou's play calling. He did make some bonehead mistakes that he shouldn't have.

	1. On the last drive, at least two plays should have been called in the huddle. Lou (or Skip) should have been talking to Mirer about strategy as Michigan was driving just in case ND got the ball back. I wasn't looking at the sideline but I don't think that happened.
	2. He should have known about the clock not stopping. The rule had been in effect for two years.

Once the mistakes were made (along with having only one time out) Mirer's hands were tied. They were deep in their own territory with not many options. Even a bomb was not a good call because if intercepted would put Michigan at midfield with some time left.

I was in the student section where many of the boos were coming from. I told a couple of fellow students to shut their trap and acknowledge the team for a good comeback. I was ashamed of the fair-weather fans. Two series ago the fans were
worshiping Lou for making a fourth and 11 which led to a touchdown...and then they boo him at the end. Go figure...

Eric

PS - Although in Domerland I will always be a Husker fan. (no smirks) 

My prediction for the game this week:
	Washington: 24
	Nebraska:   21

The Husker's will play well and gain some respect but will fall short in Seattle. I'm still rooting for them to pull off an upset...GO HUSKERS!!!