Pit Fight! Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma!
Theme of this weekend? Separate the contenders from the pretenders all across college football – and one major point of interest will be in Norman, Oklahoma where undefeated Notre Dame travels to take on surging Oklahoma. In honor of the Irish and Sooners, what could be more fun than taking a 2007 Oklahoma alumni who still lives in Norman and match him up against a great grandfather (not really, just messing with you Lou) from New Jersey that wears a Ron Powlus jersey to bed?
Since Notre Dame is the visiting team, lets let Lou kick it off. Lou, why is Notre Dame back? And how can Notre Dame win this game on the road.
Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma, 1956 (courtesy of Collinsville News)
5 Notre Dame at 8 Oklahoma, 8pm Eastern Time
Lou = Notre Dame
Billy = Oklahoma
Lou: Pleasure to be with you Billy and by the way, its a Jarious Jackson jersey – I’m sure Billy might remember him (1999) – Notre Dame is back because Kelly’s recruits in his third year are getting experience and playing time, and he has a player on defense which leads by example: Manti Teo’. Defense has been the signature thread of this season for the Irish and I believe that will continue in Norman on Saturday night as well as a lift from their frosh QB Everett Golson returning to lead an underrated offense.
Billy: It’s great to be head-to-head with you as well, Lou. We both know what it’s like to support a powerhouse program, rich in tradition that have gone through their low periods. Right now, we’re experiencing a huge momentum push at OU. After getting back Mike Stoops to coach the defense, he’s gotten back in the swing of things and our defense over the last 3 games is like nothing we’ve seen since he departed in 2004. That will be a difference maker this weekend. That and what many have said is the best offense that Notre Dame will see this year.
Billy: With the ability to quickly score, the addition of a receiver like Justin Brown, transfer from Penn State, and the power running game of Damien Williams, it looks to be a good game.
Lou: The OU Offense is potent for sure, and their defense has lived up to its reputation, certainly this year, but I’m an intangible guy – and there are a lot of intangibles here: 11-pt underdog, tough place to play but the Irish have been through all of this this year – the only thing is that they have not played on the road in weeks – the first quarter will key for the Irish and can Golson manage the game (and not get hurt) like he did at Michigan State, which I believe we were also a 10-point dog.
Lou: ND’s running game is as solid as it has been in years with Riddick, Wood and Atkinson. WR play has been exceptional with Jones, Riddick out of backfield and the frosh Daniels and oh I forgot about the best TE in the nation: Eifert.
Billy: The match-up I’m looking forward to seeing is Te’o and the recent breakout (who local fans have been behind for a while) Trey Millard. If Trey can keep Te’o busy with blocking and then turn it around and streak around and through the ND Defense, I think he’ll make a huge difference.
Millard (courtesy of i4u.com)
Lou: Weaknesses for the Irish: Kicking game must be better (need points when you can get them), special teams must be better and must cut down on stupid penalties.
Billy: One of the best weapons OU will have against the stout running attack of the Irish will be the return of DT Stacy McGee. Played great last year and he’s ready to hit hard this weekend.
Lou: Millard No Doubt has played well but Manti has played out of his mind with a little help not only from his teammates but two angels – I don’t think he has had a bad play all year.
Teo (Courtesy of beyondthebets.com)
Billy: Our biggest weakness going into this weekend is knowing which OU team will show up to play. The teams that came out hard against Texas Tech, Texas & Kansas, or the anemic one that showed up against our only other top-10 match-up in Kansas State.
Lou: McGee is certainly a welcome addition and I hope ND’s staff realized of the possibility of this of him coming back. These are two powers, national TV, Saturday night, alot on the line, its what college football is supposed to be about.
Lou: To me, as I’m sure you have seen with us Billy, OU always has this head-shaking game and if we can get a rush on Landry and get him out of his rhythm, I think this will bode exceptionally well for the Irish.
Billy: This is most definitely one of the biggest games of the year, and probably one of the biggest in Norman since Nebraska 2000.
That’s only going to happen if our O-Line doesn’t turn it on again like it has the last three weeks. Gabe Ikard has been an amazing Center this year. Blowing off the line with great force and keeping it all inside…all without a problem with penalties.
Lou: I’ve told friends and colleagues of mine that I think this game for The Irish is one of the three biggest games they have played since 1988! and two of those games happened in one year 1993 (FSU and BC).
Billy: If OU’s D can keep ND honest with the run game, I’m confident in our DBs to cause problems getting passes off and give our line enough time to get to Golson. I can foresee Golson’s golden dome getting a lot of red & green on it on Saturday.
Lou: This has been a great season for the Irish and even with a loss they have the evil carrot Thanksgiving Saturday in LA with USC, but if we can get this against a program like OU – man that would be something – you have to catch my man first!
Billy: The biggest intangible for OU though…the X factor if you will…is the tremendous home field advantage. If you had told many OU fans, myself included, in 1999 that Bob Stoops would win a national championship, 7 conference championships & have 2 Heisman winners before losing his 4th game in Norman, we would not have believed it. Our fans are pretty rabid and ready for this one.
Lou: With that said its going to be an outstanding atmosphere a great barometer game for both teams and I just hop Irish Eyes will be smiling at the end to continue this incredible, magical season – hey you guys play in tough places and we play in tough places, Michigan, Michigan State, USC, they have all been through it – I don’t think it will faze them one bit.
Billy: Too many still hold hatred for the Irish because they broke our streak in 1957.
Lou: I understand and we wont bring the history record into it
Billy: Not saying they’re all right, but I know that we’re due for another win over the Irish. We need more than 1! Ha
Moderator (Ian): One thing I want to see is Notre Dame play a team with a quaterback that can throw, and wide receivers that can catch. From the preseason I thought Notre Dame’s weakness was its secondary. Lou – has the secondary improved enough to play with an aerial attack?
Lou: Improved yes, do we have the guys we want back there at full strength no. Thats why this defense is so impressive this year – they have all stepped up from the linebackers to the secondary. And ND has turned over the turnover margin from last season being ranked last to 11th this season.
Billy: The benefit to OU is the number of weapons we have. Stills, Shepard, Millard, Brown (who’s sized more like a TE than a WR) and a QB that has at times echoed the accuracy of Sam Bradford.
Billy: And I can’t forget Saunders. When you have that powerful a passing attack, and your RB ability is top-notch – we’ve got a stable full of good RBs – it makes it tough for a defense to get a good read.
Lou: Notre Dame has weapons as well and I would be the RB tandem with anyone and our receivers inlcuding our TE are playing exceptionall well – some of those WRs will be mentioned a bit more I think after Saturday.
Moderator (Ian): Alright guys, I think we’ve got this one pretty well hyped. What are your predictions for the game?
Billy: That will be the test, and I think our fans will be surprised at the ability of the ND offense. Our D has to come ready to play. I agree with Lou that it all will hinge on the first quarter. If either team fails to show up that first period, it can turn into a blowout either way. But if both teams show up, fired up and ready to go, it’ll be an Instant Classic (a la NCAA football). Oklahoma wins 27-18.
Lou: ND, I believe has worked all season to get to this point and what better way to let the haters continue to hate, those guys are overrated and whatever else they want to say – ND 31, Oklahoma 21 in a great game.
Lou: Have an awesome time Billy watching or going to the game! A pleasure to chat with ya!
Billy: I’ll be there, will have no voice on Sunday, but I wouldn’t miss it!
Ian Gold
Ian Gold is kind of a professional sports writer. Professional enough to run a fantasy football sports blog, and become a credentialed writer at the Newark Star-Ledger. Unprofessional enough enter into a full-fledged argument on twitter with a 15-year-old - but once again, professional enough to win said argument. Also, unless you're Matt Stafford, he can throw a spiral better than you.
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