AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 31 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWhere’s Kokomo? And who’s Rudy?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greetings from The Loop, where we’re surrounded by remarkable Chicago weather!
Sometimes, work really stinks.
It’s about 73 degrees, sunny, light breeze. Sweet! Heading to a Cubs game shortly, and no, unlike several Tech fans who’ve blogged in other places that they were drinking en route, I’m dry. Unless you count diet Coke.
Few cuts for space from this morning’s story about the Notre Dame mystique, and then onto a prediction.
I wasn’t kidding when I said Ara Parseghian’s Notre Dame teams were tough at home. They went 51-6-1 from ‘64-‘74 with the first three losses coming to Michigan State (‘65), USC (‘67) and Purdue (‘68) when each was ranked No. 1.
I think by starting to talk about Notre Dame’s history way back in the spring, Gailey’s goal was to work the “big deal factor” to a lower ebb by game time. Philip Wheeler is certain sick of the talk.
By the way, Tech lists its record as 2-16 at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame lists its home record against Tech as 15-2. The disparity? Both teams consider the 1938 game, a Notre Dame win, to have been played away. Dunno who’s right. Tried, preliminarily, to research that, but to no avail.
So what about that mystique, and its affect on opponents?
Sure, in ‘93, No. 1-ranked Florida State visited No. 2 Notre Dame, and drove to the 14-yard-line with a few seconds left and the Irish leading 31-24. FSU quarterback Charlie Ward had a receiver open in the end zone, but did not see him. Notre Dame won, and was in line to play for a national title.
But the very next week, the Irish lost their regular-season finale 41-39 to Boston College on a game-ending field goal - at home.
Does this mean a leprechaun succeeded the first time and failed the second, or that the bottom line is written less by a break or two, and more by players, coaches and the construction of a mind set?
It says here the latter. Ara Parseghian is long gone. The Irish are 23-9 at home over the past five seasons, 46-16 over the past 10. They have a new quarterback(s), RB, WRs, DC, and Tech has loads of experience, and perhaps plenty of bitterness (less over last year’s lost to Notre Dame, I think, and more over the way the season ended with three three-point losses).
Maybe a few jitters early, then Tech rolls, 31-20.
Comments
By JD
August 31, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
Dude, I hope you’re right. Have fun at Wrigley (and may be throw a few back with the bleacher bums).
By ben
August 31, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this
Wrigley Field- still the best place in America to see a baseball game!
By Ryan
August 31, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this
What does Kokomo have to do with this?
By Mike
August 31, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
Rudy was offside.
By Thorpe
August 31, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
Go BC!
By Texas Jacket
August 31, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this
Prediction:
GT - 24 ND - 10
What mystique!
By the way, one of Tech’s ‘08 commits, Embry Peeples, who is on a top 10 6A Florida team, gained 222 yards on 19 carries …. against another top 10 6A team. I’m feeling good about Tech’s future … including the game tomorrow!
By t. hagen
August 31, 2007 6:08 PM | Link to this
You folks in the south just dont know much about ND and you should withhold predictions until you learn about us. ND will win 24-13 because they will want it more. Wait and see, and learn. Go Irish.
By YEA!Reggie'sgone
August 31, 2007 7:00 PM | Link to this
You yankees from the north don’t know much about anything, except arrogance. Ohio State thought they knew what southern football was all about, and the pundits gave UF no chance, but a few minutes into the BCS championship game, and it was “lights out, Yankees.” If Reggie would have thrown the ball to Calvin in the 2nd half last year, GT would have won by 2 touchdowns or more. Hope ND doesn’t fire CW when he goes 5-6 this year….
By kyjacketviaCTGATN
August 31, 2007 7:29 PM | Link to this
Hey Hagen…You folks from the South??? Check out the attendance at Tech. Like ND..It’s got a broad national base. Pretty ignorant and petty of you to try to Regionalize the issue. You’ll lose because we’re better. You don’t Care anymore than we do.
By NDMama
August 31, 2007 9:05 PM | Link to this
I love how no matter what SEC fan you are talking to down here, they all HATE Notre Dame. Its because in the entire SEC conference, you can’t drege up as much history or mystique as Notre Dame.
Ramblin Wreck v Touchdown Jesus? JD wins I can’t even name a GT Building v The Gold Dome Buzz v The Leprechaun? okay, that’s a tie for lame.
ND will win by a touchdown and field goal
By TechWreck
August 31, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this
Two words for you, NDMama:
John Heisman.
Certainly you’ve heard of him, haven’t you? Gotta love how arrogant Notre Dame fans act when it comes to football, and then this one spouts off about GT being in the SEC. That was years ago, mama. You know - back when Notre Dame was actually winning bowl games.
By NDMama
August 31, 2007 11:53 PM | Link to this
Of course I have heard of John Heisman, TechWreck. Notre Dame is tied for having the MOST Heisman Trophy winners, 7. How many GA Wrecks have won? along with that Notre Dame has won more national championships and produced more All-Americans than any other Division I-A school. Notre Dame has the 2nd highest winning percentage in NCAA history and one of the few schools with over 800 wins.We even have two great sports movies. The article was about the mystique of Notre Dame and there is damn good reason for it.
I did not say GA Tech was in the SEC. I said SEC fans HATE Notre Dame. Tech fans can’t even dredge up enough passion to do that.
and as far as our performance in recent years, yes, it has not lived up to Notre Dame standards. But our standards are higher than the rest of the country. Just what has GA Tech done lately? Does Almost Heaven, WEST VIRGINIA ring a bell?
By HateTech
September 1, 2007 12:09 AM | Link to this
Tech lost their opener (to Notre Dame HA!) and their bowl game last year. Won’t be any different this year. They will choke under the pressure of the ND mystique and the knowledge that the entire Bulldawg nation will be laughing at them.
By Southern Irish
September 1, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this
GO IRISH! Play Like Champions Today! WWTJD WhatWouldTouchdownJesusDo?
ND 24 GT 14
By little ben
September 1, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this
You can talk about the “mystique” all you want, but facts are facts, and if you dropped this 2007 Notre Dame squad in the ACC, the team would be competing with a team like NC State to avoid finishing last in the division. Give them a little credit though. I think 6-6 is well within their reach ;) Birmingham is lovely in December, and perhaps an invite to the PapaJohn’s.com Bowl is just what CW needs to finally win a bowl game
By Southern Irish
September 1, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this
The really funny thing is even if this current Notre Dame team totally sucks, its STILL Notre Dame. and it will STILL generate more noise for the teams playing them than any other.
The cool factor of Notre Dame will never be touched by another school in the nation. Ever.
and that p** all y’all off. lol
By Dana
September 1, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this
Matt, Do you truly feel that Gailey is going to let Bond open it up today or play the usual close to the vest offense??
Also what does the starting line look like now that Howard is out??
By Matt Winkeljohn
September 1, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this
Dana,
With Howard being in and out while working to rectify his eligiblity status for weeks, he’s been out of consideration for a starting position for some time.
A.J. Smith began summer camp as the No. 1 RT, but was injured (elbow) pretty quickly, and Jacob Lonowski has been working there almost since the injury. He’ll start, although Smith returned to practice, finally, this week. He’s supposed to be available today, and Gailey even hinted that he could start, but I think that’s just hot air.
That means the starting lineup will be Lonowski at RT, and the other four starters will be the same as last season: LT Andrew Gardner, LG Matt Rhodes, C Kevin Tuminello and RG Nate McManus.
FWIW, Calvin Johnson is here, and you may see him on the sideline if you watch on TV, although I don’t know that for sure.
Beautiful day. About 78, no clouds, a wind of about 7-8 mph. Hot in the sun, but generally very nice.
Campus is packed to the gills. I’ve never been on a campus more overrun with people. I’ve been right at stadiums, or in parking lots near stadiums that were packed, but people were jammed from one end of campus to the other before the game. We went to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, packed. The Grotto, packed. The bookstore, packed like everybody was buying supplies to settle in for a storm, a swarm. Every sidewalk, street, packed. It’s quite something to see.
Inside the stadium, though, it is less impressive than you would imagine. Just a closed bowl, and a good bit smaller than, say Michigan’s bowl. No decks, no suits, two small scoreboards, one at each end. Intentionally modest, I imagine.
New blog to come at halftime.
Matt
By Chris
September 1, 2007 5:36 PM | Link to this
What kind of crap is this? Halftime of the Tech-ND game, and they showcase Peyton Manning?
Not only did he never play at either Tech or ND, he played in the damn SEC! How this is at all relevant to the game being played is beyond me.
I hate NBC’s football coverage. These guys are a joke.
By Chris
September 1, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this
Oh, now I see. Peyton plays on NBC in the season opener. Nice self-promotion there, guys.
By Chris
September 1, 2007 6:33 PM | Link to this
Hey Souther Irish, I’m not hearing very much of that famed ND crowd noise of which you speak.
If a leprechaun doesn’t see his shadow today, does that mean another 4 months of bad ND football?
By Southern Irish
September 1, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
oh i am not shocked. I never said we would win, it is quite obiviously a rebuilding year whether or not Charlie will say it or not.
What i said Notre Dame is the coolest program in the nation, whether they suck or not. EVERYONE wants to be able to say they beat Notre Dame. Not one campus in the nation can lay claim to what Notre Dame offers on a Fall Saturday afternoon. THAT I will argue to the grave. and congrats to T-Bell. Looks like he is back and from the looks of your offense, you are going to need a lot of field goals this year.
By NDSUX
September 2, 2007 8:12 AM | Link to this
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! More DAMN YANKEES that cant play football.