Where does ND finish in 2009 ?

Xdolax,

I know we are on the same team but did you just really use the argument that you know talent because you are a 9 time fantasy football champion...really? The Irish lose 3-4 games THIS year. 2009 we will evaluate after THIS season. Lets be real people and concentrate on what is in front of us not a year from now. Do you think the players are thinking about next year...no they are focused on the task at hand.

kerins80,

I see you stopped right before rutgers thier 12-1 season. I hate them too but you have to be fair.

2009 will completely depend on the development of the team over the course of this upcoming year. There's a strong potential that we could be very dangerous on both sides of the ball, but let's worry about this year before next. I'm am optimist, but also a realist and I need to see some results before I'm going to say we're going to dominate the world of college football.

As for 2008, I completely agree with mightymac. We should win all 6 of the games he mentions and win a few of the other 6. As much as I hate to say it, it will be extremely difficult to defeat USC this year. The only thing we have going for us in that game is that it's the last game of the season and if we've had a strong season up to that point, we should have a fighting chance. Of the remaining 5 (Michigan, MSU, Purdue, Pitt, and BC), I can see us taking 2-3 of those. BC and Michigan lost almost all of their offensive production from 2007 and the other 3 should have solid teams, but won't have any more talent than ND although they will probably trump us in experience (vice Pitt...they're very young as well). I don't know that we will win all of them, but it's certainly not completely absurd to say we could win all of those games. Realistically, 8-4 is an acheivable expectation. That's if the O-line actually resembles a D-I O-line and the defensive line isn't completely decimated. If neither the O-line or D-line show up, .500 will be nice.

I will say ND will probably finish around #17.  I think it is going to be slow for us to work up the rankings after last year.

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http://goallineblitz.com/game/signup.pl?ref=4801378

This is the 2009 schedule...

<table border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td> Sept. 5</td> <td> NEVADA</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Sept. 12</td> <td> at Michigan</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Sept. 19</td> <td> MICHIGAN STATE</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Sept. 26</td> <td> at Purdue</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Oct. 3</td> <td> WASHINGTON</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Oct. 17</td> <td> USC</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Oct. 24</td> <td> BOSTON COLLEGE</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Oct. 31</td> <td> Washington State</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Nov. 7</td> <td> NAVY</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Nov. 14</td> <td> at Pittsburgh</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Nov. 21</td> <td> CONNECTICUT</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Nov. 28</td> <td> at Stanford</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

Sorry, guess that didnt really work too well...

Sept 5 NEVADA

Sept 12 Michigan

Sept 19 MICHIGAN STATE

Sept 26 Purdue

Oct 3 WASHINGTON

Oct 17 USC

Oct 24 BOSTON COLLEGE

Oct 31 Washington State

Nov 7 NAVY

Nov 14 Pittsburgh

Nov 21 CONNECTICUT

Nov 28 Stanford

ND fans always have high expectations.  ND has 11 National Championships. They are due for another.  With the talent on the Irish, it is very possible to go from 3-9 to 9-3.  ND will have a huge turn around season and have another Championship withing the next 3 years.  Expectations are high for us fans but those kids have even higher ones.  ND will get it done.

GO IRISH!!!