Comments on: UNC 29 Notre Dame 24

By: MJenks

MJenks — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:42:10 +0000

I don’t know what Butch said to your boys at halftime, but they sure came out a different team in the second half. Good read by Sturdivant on that interception. Hopefully, Clausen will look at the game tape and see that a little look-off or some play action, or just a draw play will work better in the future.

Great game, though. I thought–and apparently the ND coaches did, too–that the game was in hand at halftime but your defense came out and tried to set the tone in the second half and, even though we were able to move the ball, they pretty much held ND in check, especially when they needed to. But Sturdivant’s pick six definitely changed the face of the game and energized the entire squad.

It seemed like all the air and momentum that Notre Dame had built was expended on Kuntz’s sack in the second half. After that, they just looked disinterested in playing the game. I guess not stopping someone on 3-18 will do that to you.

I don’t know if there are any plans to keep the series going, but if they’re going to be as entertaining as this one, I’d be all for it. Granted, I’d prefer the opposite outcome, but still, helluva game. Good luck the rest of the year.

By: HeelYeah

HeelYeah — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:57:58 +0000

I hate to sound cliche, but good teams find a way to win. It seems that in years passed we always found a way to lose.

I agree that our defense is giving up too much, but we’ve found a way to make the stops when we need them. I’m more worried about some of the backbreaking penalties we’ve had. It already cost us the VT game, and nearly cost us last night’s game.

And what about Casey Barth? I think he solidified his starting position. I hate that he missed that 52 yarder, but that was a prayer anyway. He did very well, and we will need his leg this year.

By: Wilf

Wilf — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:17:21 +0000

I hate that we blew a couple of interception chances on ND’s first drive, but overall a good job making the big plays. Despite the terrible officiating we manage to win again, but we are giving up way too much on defense and are really lucky to win this one.

By: keithunc

keithunc — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:22:05 +0000

The Refs, Sounds like me after just about every Basketball loss. Does the G-Town game ring a bell or how about the G-Mason game or lets think about all the times we’ve yelled at the t.v. once we’ve figured out that the dOOkies brought their own ref’s.

By: DSchwind

DSchwind — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:09:41 +0000

Four things: 1) There seriously was almost a riot at Kenan tonight. I am not being hyperbolic at all when I say that, if Notre Dame had somehow gotten the ball back on the last play and won the game, the fans in Kenan were going to rush the field in anger. Not to mention the fights that would have occurred between UNC and UND fans in town.

2) That said, I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of obnoxiousness by UND fans. There were still plenty of Fightin’ Irish who had a bad entitlement complex and felt we should consider ourselves lucky to be in their presence, but most of the Irish I experienced deserved a round of applause for their graciousness and pleasantness.

3) Tonight’s game is the sign of a special team. Is our offense great or even good? No. Is our defense great? Not at all. But that’s the thing: They’re winning in spite of that. They’re pulling out games that woudl have been 21-point blowouts during the Bunting years. I’m not saying they’ll go 11-1. But I honestly believe that 10-2 is a chance because Butch has these guys believing.

4) Something needs to be done about the reffing, because that was absolutely abysmal tonight. Seriously, I’m going to say it again. The fans were at near-riot status in the stadium tonight because of some of those calls.