Yikes. Had I purchased some pharmaceutical stocks before posting my previous entry, I would probably be paying off my student loans this week. (Actually, it would likely make more financial sense for me to re-invest the gains and… I digress) I think what struck me most about the worst case scenario is that, had I written one for 2007, it would have looked, almost verbatim, just like what actually transpired last year. And had I the foresight to predict disaster for the previous season, very few of you would have believed me. Yet, it happened.

That said, it is no more unlikely than this best possible outcome, which follows. By that I mean, both are long-shots. The important thing to remember (to return to the Wall Street references) is that 500 point crashes and rallies are quite uncommon. Neither unfettered pessimism nor "irrational exuberance" are good investment mindsets, and the smart investor/fan knows that the truth usually lies somewhere in the middle.





San Diego State is met in South Bend by weather akin to that which they left, but the similarities stop there. The vast majority of players (and coaches) have never experienced such an awesome college football environment. Indeed, the Aztecs appear too distracted by the pageantry of Notre Dame to notice that the Irish, on the strength of 2 touchdown passes by Jimmy Clausen, have jumped out to a 14-0 lead after only one quarter. Corwin Brown's defense hasn't done much blitzing, but they've still managed to keep SDSU bottled up at their own end of the field. Weis's offense mostly settles for the short and simple passes of last year, spiced up with the occasional run to the outside, neither of which the Aztecs are able to stifle. The mood in the stadium goes from anticipation, to relief, and finally settles into boredom. Charlie wears a quiet smile for most of the game; he knows something the crowd doesn't. ND 31, San Diego State 10.

The following week, Rich Rodriguez discovers, to his horror, the reason for Weis's grin: he was holding back. Notre Dame's first drive consists of a brutal, smash-mouth, up-the-gut rushing attack. Allen, Aldridge and Hughes alternate in and out of the game, and the Wolverine defense is unable to catch its breath. When the Michigan offense takes over, down 7-0, Maurice Crum Jr. welcomes QB Steven Threet to the House that Rock Built by planting him face-first into the turf. Threet gets up bleeding… only to go down again on the very next play. Michigan is totally unprepared on both sides of the ball, and Rodriguez is scrambling. By the time the Wolverines figure out the run, Clausen smokes the Michigan secondary with a 60 yard play-action bomb to Golden Tate. The Wolverine offense, on the other hand, never does quite figure out the blitzes of the Irish defense. Chants of "TAH-NOO-TAH" rain down from the student section after every sack. ND 35, Michigan 13.

A rainstorm equal to the one that afflicted East Lansing in September of 2006, greets the Irish as they play against Michigan State. The team appears to be primed for an emotional let-down after last week's victory, as the Spartans jump out to a 21-7 lead at halftime. A totally different Irish squad emerges in the second half, and Notre Dame begins to climb back into the game. The Spartan faithful become unhinged as their lead evaporates, just as in 2006. Notre Dame is within 4 points with less than minute remaining, and the Irish have the ball. Clausen marshals the team, and the Irish faithful, who are legion at the game, begin to shower the Spartans with cries of "PUCK-ER! PUCK-ER!". ND calls their last timeout with 6 seconds left, at the Michigan State 22. As the clock expires, Clausen completes a touchdown pass to freshman Michael Floyd. The Irish fans explode in jubilation, but then fall silent at the sight of a red flag lying on the field. They and the team let out a sigh of relief, as the replay clearly shows Floyd just barely getting one of his toes down in bounds. But then, the referee returns from the video booth and reverses the call. Weis has to be restrained by his assistants. Later in the evening, even Mark May lambastes the Big Ten crew for a colossal screw-up. Michigan State 28, ND 24.

Before the start of the Purdue game, Brock Spack gazes over to the Notre Dame sideline. He remarks to Joe Tiller, "They look angry!" Weis hasn't said much the previous week, but AD Jack Swarbrick has been all over the media, lawyer-style, demanding that the replay official be immediately fired and that the NCAA investigate Big Ten officiating. Tiller isn't worried… until his returner is lit-up on the opening kickoff by Kyle McCarthy, to a rush of Bronx cheers by the crowd. The hitting is as intense as Irish fans have seen in a decade. Robert Hughes literally runs over a Boilermaker DB in the second half, and Notre Dame takes revenge on the Big Ten. ND 30, Purdue 17.

When Stanford arrives the next week, Jim Harbaugh wants none of the physicality on display during the last game. During his press conference, the Cardinal coach states that he hopes Weis is "over it". When asked, in response to Harbaugh's comment, if he actually is "over it", Weis replies, "He's about to find out." ND 45, Stanford 6.

The Irish travel to Chapel Hill to face an upstart Tarheel team that is surprisingly undefeated. Unfortunately, Tenuta happens to remember how to beat ACC teams. Interestingly, Mike Brey tags along, ostensibly to recruit for the basketball team. He and Weis are rumored to be discussing something, but no one is sure what. ND 33, North Carolina 20.

When Notre Dame faces Washington the following week, Tyrone Willingham is hanging on by his fingernails. Locker is performing remarkably, and the Huskies even managed to upset Oregon in their opener. But since then, they have gone 1-4. The game is built up by the commentators as a clash of coaching giants, with one man to emerge as the victor in the years-long debate as to who deserved what contract. Weis and the team are unimpressed with the hype, and they methodically put the Huskies to bed. Ty still has his apologists in the media, but mostly the pundits stick to talking about the next week's match up with the now 7th ranked and undefeated Pitt Panthers. ND 40, Washington 14.

ESPN's College Gameday shows up in South Bend, amidst overcast November skies. The campus atmosphere, however, is electric, with talk of a victory over the Panthers launching ND into a possible BCS berth. Herbstreit announces that he's privy to a rumor that will produce "shock and awe", while Corso picks the Panthers. The crowd packs into Notre Dame Stadium extra early, and the anticipation reaches its peak as the players gather in the tunnel. The announcer declares, "Here come the Irish!", the band strikes up the Victory March, and Notre Dame storms onto the field… clad in black jerseys with white numbers and bright green trim. The stadium explodes, and the gimmick carries the Irish to a win. ND 24, Pitt 20.

Boston College looks to play their traditional role of spoiler the next week, but Weis is on guard for any let-down. Tenuta's blitzes perplex the raw BC QBs, and the Irish return from Boston with the Frank Leahy Memorial Bowl in hand. ND 38, Boston College 9.

The Irish play Navy at noon the following week. Between the two rushing offenses, the game is over so fast that Charlie has time to head down to the Inner Harbor to grab some soft-shell crab before most restaurants have stopped serving lunch. ND 28, Navy 7.

Although the weather has turned bitterly cold and snow covers the field, Notre Dame stadium is packed with fans, wanting to show their appreciation for a turn-around season of epic proportions. The Orange have bothered to show up, but there is no dome to protect them from the inclement elements. There is also nothing to protect them from Tenuta. ND 42, Syracuse 13.

The eyes of the nation turn to Los Angeles, where 11-0 USC plays host to 10-1 Notre Dame. While not everyone is sure what an Irish victory would mean for their BCS hopes, celebrities from both rival camps pop up all over the Coliseum. Also in attendance is a group of some of the best high school recruits that California has to offer. The scoring opens with a Trojan touchdown, which the Irish answer with their own, although the extra point attempt is blocked. The next Trojan drive produces the same result, as does the following Irish one. ND's defense lets up its greatest amount of points all year; as good as Brown's squad is, USC is still just a shade or two faster. In the final moments of the 4th quarter, down 35-27, Jimmy Clausen once again leads the Irish down the field and all the way to the Trojan goal line. On 3rd and goal, James Aldridge finally punches his way into the end zone, bringing ND within 2. Weis calls timeout, huddles with the offense, and then sends them back onto the field. USC spots their formation, and Carroll calls for time. After 10 agonizing minutes of delay, Clausen takes the snap and lofts the ball into the end zone… just out of the reach of freshman tight-end, Will Yeatman. The Trojans are victorious, but the USC crowd applauds as the Irish band plays the Victory March. The recruits have moved over to the Notre Dame section, and are arm-in-arm with the Irish fans, singing the alma mater. USC 35, ND 33.

Notre Dame is selected as an at-large team to play in the Fiesta Bowl, against the undefeated Cougars of BYU. Although the headlines are filled with "Luck of the Irish" allusion regarding Notre Dame's draw of an opponent, BYU plays with intensity and grit. The game itself is hailed as the best of the BCS bowls. And as Charlie Weis shakes hands with Bronco Mendenhall after the game, everyone notices his smile. But this time, everyone knows what he's smiling about: 2009. ND 31, BYU 24.


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