Thursday: Irish bonanza and pennant fever
OUR NOTRE DAME-KINDA-TO-THE-ACC COVERAGE
-My position on the move — that the positives for the ACC far outweigh the negatives — is here.
-Doughty has a story from the ACC perspective here.
-Andy has a story from the Virginia Tech perspective here.
-Berman has a story from the Notre Dame perspective here.
-Doughty gets some thoughts from ACC coaches here.
-If you missed any of the Blog Crowd’s discussion on this yesterday, you can find it here.
PENNANT RACES!
-Nate McClouth’s just-fair double off the wall in the bottom of the ninth gives the O’s a 3-2 walkoff victory over the Rays. Series finale is 12:30 p.m. today on MASN.
-The Yankees get two home runs from Curtis Granderson and hold off Boston 5-4 to stay in a tie atop the AL East with Baltimore. They’ll play again at 7 p.m. today on MLB Network.
-Oakland beats the Angels again and continues to lead the AL wildcard.
-Detroit gets another huge victory over the White Sox and is now one game back in the AL Central. They play again tonight at 8:10, while Justin Verlander opposing Chris Sale. Wish this was on TV too, but it’s not.
-Cardinals lose again and have just a one-game lead on the Dodgers for the final NL wildcard spot.
-Check out the Phillies! They got their seventh win in a row yesterday to move over .500 and are three games back of the Cardinals with 19 games to play (they would also need to leapfrog Pittsburgh and L.A.)
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL
-Berman breaks down this weeks ACC and local games, including those matchups that give us all fits in the Fearless Forecasters, here.
-West Virginia will celebrate “Sam Huff Day” on Saturday at FedEx Field, where they will face JMU.
-Your Thursday night TV games really stink this week: Rutgers at South Florida (7:30 p.m., ESPN), Mississippi Valley State at Southern (7:30 p.m., ESPNU) and Texas A&M Commerce at Midwestern State (8 p.m., CBS Sports Network).
NFL
-Your Thursday nighter is Chicago at Green Bay (8 p.m., NFL Network).
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
-UConn coach Jim Calhoun to retire.
NAME THAT TUNE
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
September 13, 2012 - 8:05 AM
Is it wrong that my first thought when seeing Mark Berman provided the Notre Dame perspective was – ‘leprechaun’?
Maybe the Mississippi Valley State-Southern game will feature commentary during the game and televise the halftime shows. That would make it watchable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eJ6X9GTgEs&feature=fvwrel
DePeche Mode sang the song but I can’t think of the title…
Look out for the Phillies…they get their next 7 games against the Mets and Astros, then they host Atlanta next weekend (I’ll be there!). Given the Braves’ recent history, and the fact that the Brewers are also red-hot, I wouldn’t put it past both the Cardinals & Braves both falling out of the wild card race…
Man, oh man! The O’s just keep on chuggin’. It’s awesome. Charlie’s got the Phils making a push. two weeks a go I’d have siad they were done, but dang, they are within striking diistance. Both leagues have tight wild card races. This will be fun.
LOL @ CR. Still not happy with the ND situation. In for a penny, in for a pound. It’s not a true conference if one member gets special treatment. Also, it ain’t Atlantic anymore. I slammed the Big Least for crossing the Mississippi and the ACC desreves the same criticism for including a team that’s two states away from the Atlantic Coast.
Two questions for AMac and the blog crowd:
1. How soon does UConn beceom ACC member 16 now that Calhoun is retiring?
2. What are the thoughts about MLB having interleague games all season long next year? The talk during the O’s game last night was that it’s a step toward eliminating the AL and NL distinctions.
Enjoy the Silence– Depeche Mode. I’m probably late to th conversation here, but I like the ACC/Notre Dame deal. The 5 games against present almost a “de facto” entrance in football and the brand association cannot be discounted. As a league the ACC gets an immediate jump in credibility (don’t believe me? Just check the major media outlets) and more importantly, sets up the eventual entrance by ND to the league in all sports including football. It will happen, maybe not in the near term, but the ND powers will cave once the current landscape of conference reallignment and the playoff system falls into place. I say within 7-10 years ND will be a full member.
Guys, don’t forget, there are no true conferences anymore. West Virginia’s in the Big 12. Nebraska’s in the Big Ten. Utah’s in the Pac-…uh…-12. That’s why giving Notre Dame some concessions isn’t the big deal that it would have been 10 years ago. At least not to me.
To your questions, HokieAl:
1. Not going to happen unless Notre Dame becomes a full-time football member of the ACC. So, not going to happen anytime soon. Swofford’s pretty adamant he’s going to stay at 14 football teams to keep the divisions balanced.
2. Not crazy about it on the surface, with some teams getting advantages/disadvantages late in the season with DH/nonDH. We’ll see how it plays out. I hope they don’t eliminate the AL/NL distinctions. I think most folks have chosen their side on the DH based on whether they grew up following a team in the AL or the NL.
I think they’re gradually getting closer to eliminating the AL/NL distinction. Did you see that the Cincinnati Reds host the ANGELS on opening day next year? Starting the season with an interleague game would have been unheard of only a few years ago, but they will become commonplace now that Houston is switching to the American League.
I think it’s great that ND is “joining” the conference. It would make a nice selling point for recruiting. I could imagine a coach saying to his future prospect, “Son, how would you like to be part of the team that kicked the Fighting Irish’s arse?”
As for UConn, I highly doubt they would be the next ACC member. If I recall, Boston College blocked their attempt to bid to be a member of the ACC, and it have become something of a blood feud since. Good for Calhoun to retire. It was way past his time to retire. He also brought some embarrassment to his program with some violations.
I think I’ll watch the NFL game tonight, simply because I wanna see if Aaron Rodgers and the Cheeseheads will bounce back from their loss.
Oh another thing on the ND deal. From what I have been reading/hearing, a lot of Notre Dame’s concern in joining any conference for football was losing the ability to schedule the classic rivalry matchups that make Notre Dame football tick ie: USC, Michigan, Army, Michigan State, etc.. To them, scheduling a full slate of inter-conference games would severely hamper their ability to schedule these classic rivalry matchups, thus hurting their overall identity and to an extent, destroying some of college football history. I agree with them on this point. I feel that with all of the great rivalries that have been lost with the recent realignment shakeups (Texas/Texas A&M, Nebraska/Oklahoma, WVU/Pitt) it is refreshing to see a school wanting to stand by it’s history of rivalries and give something to the fans rather than just bowing to the current conference power grab.
Enjoyed the nice win by the Tigers last night, and the victory the night before. They’re keeping the Central competitive, and if Verlander can repeat the win over Sale from MoTown a couple weeks ago, that would be ideal. A loss and at least they’re no worse off than they were before the series.
The Sox have 2 upcoming series against teams hunting for a Wild Card spot…the Angels, and the Rays…and they travel to LA. Detroit hosts the Atletics…but aside from those, both teams play a steady diet of Indians, Royals, and Twins to finish the season.
The O’s have some magic going on. I’m not a personal fan of them, but any time someone can beat out the Yankees for a Pennant, it’s a good thing. So, I’m pulling for them to win the East, that would be an absolutely remarkable thing if it happens. As it is, I don’t know how anyone couldn’t consider Showalter the Manager of the Year.
Already sick of Notre Dame. Still don’t like it but time to move on. Some people were speculating #16 could be Penn State when sanctions are over but not sure about that one. That is assuming Notre Dame is in for football in a few years. Turning to the Hokies game this weekend I think they will win 27-13. I look for Pitt to play their best game of the year (not saying much I know). I think the Hokies will be in control but not be able to completely blow out Pitt. I think Pitt hangs around but never really challenges and VT’s offense improves but only slightly. Can’t see Pitt scoring more than a touchdown and a fieldgoal or two against Tech’s D. Even if the O sputters the defense will pick them up. Still liking my pick of Oregon to win the National Championship this year. USC has not looked like the team the media hyped in preseason. I think USC could face a real challenge with Stanford this week and if they don’t play better than they did against Syracuse we could be looking at an upset there.
Analogy of the day? Why not. Between the Dodgers and Notre Dame. Both want to be included but but are trying to do it without bringing the main piece of the puzzle. The Irish made it without including football-the Dodgers won`t unless they include the hitting. Big 5(?) they have resigned or traded for are better at putting up “0-fors” then RBI these days. Best hitter on the team is some journeyman 3rd baseman named Cruz. That`s like Notre Dame throwing filed hockey into the equation. I seem to be left with a Sept. of worrying about Tech`s and the Dodgers O. “Oh My”
RP, I wish but cannot see the Braves bowing out. Card yes, however. Go Phils!!!!
#6 AM, agree. There remain distinctions between the AL and NL and keeping them fosters the rivalry which makes baseball interesting. In the NFL it’s all one big happy league with no noticeable distinction between the two conferences. Keep MLB the way it is.
Well, that idea that ND wants to stay independant to protect their history and tradition is nice and all… but it’s all about the $$$$.
Dan, ND isn’t interested in history. They recruit nationally, therefore they have to play teams in the Midwest, where their base is, and they have to go to the coasts every year to at least get close to the recruits there. They are beginning to spend more time recruiting in VA, GA and FL, thus for them a natural tie in to the ACC. Whether they come into the ACC for football depends on two things: can they get enough quality players out of the ACC footprint and is the ACC television revenue plus bowl split comparable to what they make from NBC.
I’m old school when it comes to MLB. Don’t like the DH, but if they stick with it then the NL should have it too. I don’t like inter-league play at all. I always liked the idea that the two World Series teams hadn’t played each other before.
I listened to Greg Roberts yesterday. I know most of the people on this blog don’t care much for him but the guy is right most of the time. He said several weeks ago that ND would join the ACC. Yesterday he said in a few years ND will join for football as well and the 16th team the ACC will add will be the Naval Academy. Good academics and a rivalry with ND. Makes sense.
Pitt won’t score much but neither will the Hokeys. Still going with my prediction of 17-14 Panthers. Barring any notable injuries. Game will be decided by miscues.
About ND, does anyone remember the Metro Conference? As I recall this was a basketball only endeavor and VT was the first Metro Conference Champion. It isn’t like ND is the first, or only, school ever to be a participant in a conference of convenience.
The exact cirumstances change from time to time but honest to God there really is nothing new under the sun.
ND and the ACC both agreed to this arrangement because both sides think it suits their purpose. We can speculate, praise or criticize all we want but the truth of the matter is that we won;t know for a few years how it turns out.
My own guess is that the ACC goes to 18 teams as soon as it can. Super Conference talk has died down among fans and analysts but I doubt the ACC has let it slip their minds.
As for tradition, yes, I think ND is a little more tradition oriented than some schools but if the ACC goes to 18 there is still opportunity for ND to schedule USC, Navy and someone else. BC is already on the schedule. They could always go to alternate years to satisfy their fan base. Plus the expanded ACC would have PIT and maybe PSU. Plus there is always the U.
And really Texas A&M gave up a really intense rivalry with Texas in order to join the SEC. If the money looks right ND will stay and tradition be damned. A $50 million exit fee is a fairly serious consideration, even for them.
and gee whizzz. How about them O’s? I am eating my words every day here. I could not imagine early in the season that they could stick. Amazing.
On a personal note, my oldest son (a rabid O’s fan) is playing his last games for Germany’s Ladenburg Romans this weekend. After that he is going to hang up his spikes at age 25. He had a career year last season and has had a fall off this year (although his OBP is .429). My big points of pride with him are the hits (2 including a double) he got off of one past and one current player in MLB. Its sad to see him hang them up. His studies are now taking too much time (plus his girlfriend). I’, just a proud dad.
justafan, I’m with you on MLB. I don’t like the DH, not at all, never have. I’m OK with inter-league play, but not too much of it.
And on the Greg Roberts angle, he has been wrong more than he has been right over the years. He shotguns his opinions/predictions, he fires out enough that is he right on everything, its just that nobody can keep track of how many he misses he has – ya know, blind hog, acorn . . . . that’s Greg Roberts.
No way the Naval Academy will be the next ACC school. It brings nothing. It’ll be UConn or Rutgers, although I’d prefer Navy over those two BE teams.
Navy in the ACC? I would love to know how coach Paul Johnson would feel about that. Navy was his previous head coaching job before being hired away at Georgia Tech. While we are speculating, why don’t we go ahead and add Army? Army brings a rich history and tradition just like Notre Dame and Navy. Army have produced Heisman winners before, back, back, back in the days of dinosaurs, but they used to be damned good.
Bud Foster would love that. As if preparing for Georgia Tech’s triple option wasn’t difficult enough, he would have prepare for Army’s and Navy’s versions of the triple option.
I highly doubt that would ever happen.
If John Swofford wants to beat out the likes of Mike Silve and Larry Scott, I think he should work out a joint TV venture with ESPN and NBC. I think that will bring ND in faster than anybody could change their underwear when the news hit the stands.
Justafan, yeah, I heard that too. Roberts didn’t mind tootin’ his own horn about being the first in the local media to voice the whole ND to the ACC thing huh? Could be part of why some don’t like him here… He kept saying how he liked his sources on the Naval Academy story and he was right about the ND thing so who’s to say, he may again know something we don’t. Oh well, another team in the ACC to hate to go along with FSU and Miami. Wait, Notre Dame isn’t really IN the ACC yet are they…that whole non committal thing has got me a bit confused. That’s OK though, cause I already hated the Irish before they joined (didn’t join) the ACC. Too many times NBC would have them on TV on Saturday when there was a whole slate of better games they could have been showing.
Zman that’s pretty awesome about your son. Sounds like a great story for his kids one day.
I really don’t see Navy in the ACC. Uconn or Penn State I believe will be #16 at some point.
I listen to Greg Roberts purely to get some laughs, he is entertaining. The guy takes 30 minutes to say something that could be stated in 3. His news is supposed to be new and it is usually a day or more old, he talks about himself too much. I don’t understand how he stays on the air, they must be desperate over there at that station. He would be much better off to use the entire program to let people call in and give opinions about Virginia Tech and UVA, and not do much talking on his own. His sidekick sounds like he is in the Ozone or on drugs.
I also do not see Navy as a 16th. I can see Uconn, Rutgers, or even Villanova in the mix. Granted they were a 1-AA school in football but are on the move to 1-A now. I don’t see a 16th at all until ND becomes a full member in the ACC. If ND still has the seasons like they have had in the past 10 years NBC will not renew that TV contract. If that happens then they will have to find a safe haven to play their football. Hey who knows maybe South Carolina may choose to jump back in the ACC in the near future.
While I think the ACC might well welcome the Naval Academy I don’t think this will happen. There is just too much going against the service academies when they participate against any of the Top 50 or so programs. They have height restrictions upon entrance (David Robinson grew 3 inches in college) and weight requirements that make their kids diet to take the weight off as soon as the season is over and force them to put it on in late summer.
There is some talk within the Army of the Military Academy dropping a level because they are tired of getting their blocks knocked off. I would think Navy is thinking about it too. The Air Force Academy schedule is generally not as tough as some schools but it is an open question how long they can compete.
It is no accident that ND has beat up Navy every year but one since about the time of Staubach.
smelling a monkey in woodpile in p-burg this weekend for VT … steel city trap game, for sure … hokies haven’t covered in last 4 trips there….now facing wounded animal and they’re dangerous in noon tilt vs. nation’s no. 13 … despite looking pathetic in 1st 2 outings, take the 10 points and pay the mortgage boys! this one stretches to the wire!