AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTougher trip: Notre Dame or Duke?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Location, location, location. It matters most in real estate, and while it may not be at the top of the list of considerations when trying to calculate the odds of winning a college football game, it sure rates up there somewhere.
So, road game coming up two days from now for Tech, and I wonder …
Does the efficiency level at which the Jackets will play hinge any more on the fact they will play at Notre Dame than it will when they play at, say, Duke?
Now, before going over a cliff, make sure you understand the question. I know the caliber of competition will be vastly different in Notre Dame, Ind. (home of the Irish, not South Bend, although NOBODY except the Notre Dame sports information department ever makes note of that mailing address) than in Durham, N.C.
That is not my point/question.
My question relates to the “vibe” generated by one’s surroundings.
Are Tech players any more likely to be nervous or mistake-prone at Notre Dame because it’s Notre Dame than at Duke, or at Maryland strictly because of the location and related crowd noise, emotion, etc.?
Or might such a thing work to Tech’s advantage? Might these factors serve to lend greater clarity to the mission at hand?
Might the plusses and minuses mitigate one another?
If there is to be a detectable emotional affect on the Jackets because this game is at Notre Dame, methinks a far more relevant mitigator will be Tech’s collective experience, the number of returning players on both sides of the ball. There are enough veterans and such a paucity of young players who will be counted on significantly that combined with a common-sense suggestion that younger players are more likely to be out of whack, I don’t think it factors against Tech any more than it would another road game.
Just one man’s opinion.
And again, I’m not saying it won’t be louder or more hostile at Notre Dame than at Duke. But I’m not buying the idea that the Jackets will be any more spooked or distracted Saturday than in Durham, one place that for my two cents I could see it being more difficult to focus for lack of clarity. The prize won’t be as rewarding, even though that’s an ACC game.
That’s it for today’s psycho-babble. You may return to life among the sane.
Matt
P.S. If the staff had to pick between Clark and Howard and have one eligible and not the other, Clark would’ve been the pick I imagine. Not to slight the two years younger Howard, who should be able to earn more chances, but having a senior CB go out before the opener at Notre Dame — when there is specious depth at the position — would have been a bad omen, period.
Comments
By loud at Duke?
August 30, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
Hardly!
By Play that Funky Music Whiteboy
August 30, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
Anyone who watches ND football, whether you hate them or love them, has to know that when teams enter that stadium they play their best football. It’s a game that, no matter how good or bad ND is in a given year, that people circle on their schedules (fans, players, families). It’s akin to playing in a tournament at St.Andrews, playing at Centre Court at Wimbledon.
If I were a coach, I would be more worried about my team going to Duke, because there is little to no excitement - you don’t expect any real competition - your team could be very flat. No one is ever flat playing in the House that Rockne built.
By GTVegas
August 30, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this
I think the answer to your question depends greatly on the head coach. If there is any propensity to falter, it is the coach’s job to enstill a sense of focus…for every game and every practice, no matter where it is played.
This team needs to live by two F’s, Focus and Finish. By reliously living the first F, the second will follow.
By JQuig
August 30, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
isn’t ND’s atmosphere more like Blacksburg than Durham?
By ContactBuzz
August 30, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this
ND is nowhere near Blacksburg - VT has a much younger, more energetic crowd because they’re newer to the football scene. ND has all of the history and you know about it going in but a large part of the crowd is aging, fans of the team for many years. I’m not saying one is better than the other - they’re both unique gameday experiences with the “energy” coming from different places. From the fans in Blacksburg, from the “ghosts” in South Bend.
By IrishCane
August 30, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this
JQuig, absolutely not. I am an avid Irish fan, but our stadium does not have an intimidating fan presence as Blacksburg, Swamp, Knoxville, et al. While an 80,000+ bowl, its actually pretty quiet, similar to Michigan’s 100,000+ quiet stadium.
Whether teams get psyched out because of the aura and history, I don’t really buy at all. Teams used to get psyched out by the Orange Bowl in Miami with 58 straight wins, but I think that had a lot more to do with the team they fielded between 84-95 then the stadium. ND stadium will be an intimidating place to play once Charlie’s recruits get old enough to make an impact on the field. Its not coming from the gray haired alumni in plaid pants.
By Joe
August 30, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this
Paraphrasing Keith Brooking before the 1997 ND trip, “Intimidating ? why is that any more of an intimidating place to play football than any college stadium in the South ? I grew up playing football in the South, and fans here are passionate. In fact until I was about 9 years old, I thought Clemson and Auburn were states.”
By Play that Funky Music Whiteboy
August 30, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this
Joe, points well taken and I grew up down here too (although I went to school at ND). Don’t mistake what I’m saying - if you are going into a game against a conference rival where it matters in the conference standings and local bragging rights, etc, of course you are going to be “jacked up” ready to play.
The unique thing about ND is, it’s not a conference game (although Michigan, Mich State and USC could almost claim that since they play every year) the atmosphere around the opposing team seems to be like it is - Do you not think Auburn’s players wouldn’t feel focused and excited knowing they would be playing at a historical stadium, on the ND tv network, on a game everyone would be watching??
Intimidated? I don’t think that happens unless the visiting team is really bad or undisciplined (see Stanford and Duke when they come to ND this year).
By Wrecker1
August 30, 2007 6:08 PM | Link to this
ND has a historical stadium but not a loud, overbearing, intimidating crowd. TECH has played at Va tech, Clemson, Ugag, and Auburn, all places that can get really loud and distracting. As a player once you get past the “thrill” of playing in such a historical site the game is gravy except of course for having to beat the opposing team itself.
By Wrecker1
August 30, 2007 6:38 PM | Link to this
I also meant to say that I tnink playing at Duke can be a lot harder than playing at ND, Ugag, Clemson or a lot of other places. The team shows up and it’s got to feel like a scrimmage to them. When you’re used to playing in front of crowds 2, 3, 4 times larger with some type of energy in the air it can be really hard to focus in a game like that. Check out some of the “really” good teams that go into Durham. They don’t beat Duke as bad as they’ll beat a better team in that team’s home stadium. Why? B/c the focus isn’t there.
By Soloman
August 30, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this
ND is much harder. No Tickle Piles there. At least at Duke we have some people to Tickle Pile with.
By An Inconvenient Truth
August 31, 2007 6:26 AM | Link to this
gt SHOULD beat nd. gt has better talent and an experienced team. If they win then congrats to them. Having said that the TRUTH is nd has a big name but that’s about it these days. So celebrate your win and hopefully your team will go on to have a great season despite the hapless Gailey.
By Dan
August 31, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this
I take it you have never been to a Nore Dame home game. What about the positive “vibe” the home crowd gives the home team? Tech fans are awefully confident this week. Good luck in the game (honestly).