Irish Blogger Gathering: Old Notre Dame

1. My season preview included music video footage for each position group. What song or video do you feel typifies this year's Notre Dame team heading into the season? Embed a youtube or other similar video if possible.

A very smart professor of mine (Michigan graduate) once told us to hum the song Amazing Grace. She pointed out that even though we do not usually sing or listen to Amazing Grace that we know and love it someway somehow. This is very much how I feel about Notre Dame football and ND's upcoming season. The first time I watched Notre Dame Football I knew that this was my team someway somehow, and I think the same goes for a lot of people. Another point that she made was that when a soldier is a prisoner of war (unfed, tortured and all) hears the humming of Amazing Grace from another prisoner of war from another cell, he feels comforted, appease and more importantly hopeful.

HOPE.

Hope, I think, best describes the upcoming season. Hopeful for an 11 - 1 record and even an undefeated season. Hope that the 2007 season fiasco does not happen. Hope that our O line holds up. Hope that Jimmy improves his TD-INT ratio. Hope that Floyd doesn't do the Kumara. Hope that the D Line matures. Hope that Brandon Walker makes FGs. Hope that everyone stays healthy. Hope to defeat USC. Hope that if fulfilled, National Championship is very much attainable.

AMAZING GRACE
John Newton (1725-1807)

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Amazing Grace is written by John Newton. The story behind this song is very ironic in lots of ways. John Newton was not a very religious person growing up. Newton worked in the slave trading business.

The turning point in Newton's spiritual life was a violent storm that occurred one night while at sea. Moments after he left the deck, the crewman who had taken his place was swept overboard. Although he manned the vessel for the remainder of the tempest, he later commented that, throughout the tumult, he realized his helplessness and concluded that only the grace of God could save him. Prodded by what he had read in Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ, Newton took the first step toward accepting faith. (Wiki)

A lot of different and diverse people have covered/performed Amazing Grace: Aretha Franklin, Star Trek (Funeral of Mr. Spock), Leann Rimes, II Divo, and many more.

My personal favorites are The King's version. There's only one King of Rock 'n' Roll. See/listen to his rendition of Amazing Grace here. You can see the King himself wearing an old school football helmet in the video. As far as the music goes, the background singers blend with Elvis' voice perfectly which makes his version one of the best I've ever heard.

Another version that I really liked is the Bagpipes version. The bagpipe version is commonly referred to as the Braveheart version. I do not know why that is so. I do not recall listening to a bagpipe's version of Amazing Grave in Braveheart. I do remember hearing a lot of bagpipes playing in the movie, but not specifically Amazing Grace. I read somewhere in a forum that Amazing Grace was played when the Young William Wallace's father died, but I checked it out, and I did not hear Amazing Grace, but indeed, there was a bagpipe playing faintly during that scene, but I do not think it was Amazing Grace. Anyways, someone has to step up and be the leader of this team ala William Wallace and lead the others to "FREEDOMMMMMMMMMMM" or at least an 11-1 record.

So there you go. I think the song Amazing Grace is a good epitome for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football 2009 Season. Amazing Grace have different meanings to a lot of different people. But the one word that I really associate this song is HOPE

2. Post a picture that to you portrays the attitude of this year's team and discuss.

A picture of the Knights of the Round Table. These men were untouchable when they fought cohesively. This is very much like ND 2009. I really feel that ND is untouchable this year. If memory serves well, the only reason why the Knights of the Round Table collapsed is because of their own doing (some knight took the other knight's lady or something like that). This is very much ND 2009 again. I really feel that they will only loose not because of their opponents but because of themselves.

3. What do you perceive as the team's biggest weakness heading into the season?

The running game is the biggest weakness coming in. I know that the O-Line may be responsible for that. Ever since the dreaded 2007 campaign, the running game (O-Line and Running backs) have been horrid. But the O-Line has been improving ever since even if it is baby steps. On the other hand, the running backs have been on a stalemate, no improvements whatsoever. Linebackers come in a close second.

4. With the exception of the 1990s, Notre Dame has won a National Championship in every decade since the 1920s. What are the chances (a) that Notre Dame wins a championship this year, and (b) if not this year, when do you predict the next championship for the Irish?

A.) I think ND has a great chance of winning it this year. The first half of the season will be the real test. First Nevada. Then the Michigans and finishing the first half with USC. Nevada will be a lot like San Diego State. They'll play the underdog and upset card.

5. Nevada runs the Pistol offense, Navy the Triple Option, and Michigan the Spread Option. Which offensive scheme do you think is the most difficult to prepare for, and why?

The most difficult offensive scheme that is most difficult to prepare for is actually not in this list. I think that the NFL/pro style offense that ND and USC runs is the hardest to prepare for. This is so because of talent. The options mentioned above (Pistol offense, Navy the Triple Option, and Michigan the Spread Option) really relies on the scheme and anyone with college skill set can run it. On the other hand, ND and USC's pro style offense is straight forward and relies heavily on the athletes. Opponents of the pro style can prepare all they want and mimic the scheme in practice all day long, but to mimic the athletes like Michael Floyd and Golden Tate or the USC receivers in practice will not do. That is why we see a lot of teams now running the schemes (triple option or spread option) nowadays because of its easiness to gain a potent offense without elite athletes. Of course, it is not to say that the option schemes sucks, proof of that is Florida.

6. Is Colin Capaernick the best quarterback we'll see this year? If not, who is?

Yes, statistically he is. But football is a team game, and ND is loaded.

7. Prediction time. We have to get on the record before the season kicks off. Give me:

(1) Overall prediction for wins/losses.

The Fighting Irish will go undefeated this season. You heard me! UNDEFEATED.

(2) Projected bowl game and result.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will play in the National Championship and will win it. ND will beat Texas.

(3) Predicted final ranking.

Notre Dame will be ranked # 1 in the country at the end of the year.

(4) Best player on the team.

Harrison Smith (Athletically).
Jimmy Clausen and Sam Young (Best NFL prospect)

(5) Heisman trophy winner.

Jimmy Clausen on his way to the NFL

(6) National Champion.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

(7) Prediction for Nevada game, including score.

Notre Dame (with 38 points) beats Nevada (with 27 points), Please check out my post here on the Nevada game --> here.