The following Public Service Announcement should really be unnecessary, but now it must be done. As Idrove to and back from Oxford, MS for the Egg Bowl, it never failed to get that guy who tries to downplay what Notre Dame has accomplished this season. I will be honest, I'm a little shocked that Notre Dame was able to run the table and lock up their spot in the BCS National Title Game.
Let's just face facts......they earned it. If you are trying to downplay their schedule as "not playing anybody", you're a moron and you need to do your homework. You can criticize Notre Dame's style of football as being ugly or their offense doesn't put up much points. That is actually a legit criticism. However, they got the job done.
For all of you simpletons that wave your SEC flag and look at everyone else as being inferior, let you give you a mild reality check.
Moronic argument #1: Notre Dame should join a conference!
If Notre Dame agreed to join the ACC in football, your argument would have more validity, but it would still be pointless. With all of the realignment, there may come a day that Notre Dame might have to get on board with a league. However, until then, why should they join a conference when NBC keeps scratching them a check? Also, their free reign to schedule whatever games they wanted to, seemed to work out this year.
1) The only Non-BCS conference teams on Notre Dame's schedule were BYU (7-5) and Navy (most likely 8-4). That's better compared to Alabama's Non-BCS opponents (Florida Atlantic, Western Kentucky, and Western Carolina) or Georgia's (Florida Atlantic, Buffalo, and Georgia Southern)
2) How many FCS teams are on Notre Dame's schedule? NONE. And when I hear the excuse from SEC fans about FCS schools on the schedule, I always hear "Well they play in a tough SEC." But if Notre Dame can schedule a maximum of 10 BCS conference teams, doesn't it make that excuse invalid?
Moronic argument #2: Notre Dame doesn't play anybody!!!
Really? Here's a breakdown of Notre Dame's schedule this season with their W-L record.
Navy (possibly 8-4)
Purdue 6-6
Michigan St. 6-6
Michigan 8-4
Miami 6-6
Stanford 10-2
BYU 7-5
Pitt 5-6 (one game left)
Boston College 2-10
Wake Forest 2-10
USC 7-5
In review, that's a maximum of only 3 teams on their entire schedule that is under .500.
Let's look at the SEC counterparts that will meet in Atlanta this Saturday........
Alabama
Michigan 8-4
Western Kentucky 7-5
Arkansas 4-8 (lost to UL Monroe and Rutgers)
Florida Atlantic 3-8
Ole Miss 6-6
Mizzou 5-7
Tennessee 4-8
Miss St 8-4
LSU 10-2
A&M 10-2 (LOST)
W.Carolina 1-10 (FCS)
Auburn 3-9
Hmmm.....so Alabama has played 6 teams with sub-500 records (4 of them being in the SEC). Alabama is 5-1 vs. Bowl eligible opponents, Notre Dame is currently 9-0. Alabama has one win possibly 2 vs. 10 win opponent compared to Notre Dame possibly with 2.
Georgia
Buffalo 4-8
Mizzou 5-7
Florida Atlantic 3-8
Vandy 8-4
Tennessee 4-8
South Carolina 10-2 (LOST)
Kentucky 2-10
Florida 11-1
Ole Miss 6-6
Auburn 3-9
Georgia Southern 8-3 (FCS)
Georgia Tech 6-6
In review, Georgia has played 6 (4 in the SEC) opponents with sub-500 records, and are 4-1 vs. Bowl Eligible teams compared to Notre Dame's 9-0. Georgia has one win vs. 10+ win opponent vs. Notre Dame's possible 2.
Moronic argument #3: Notre Dame wouldn't last in the SEC.
For argument's sake, let's compare Notre Dame to Alabama and UGA's SEC schedule.
Notre Dame vs. Alabama's SEC schedule
Arkansas - Notre Dame win
Ole Miss - Notre Dame win
Mizzou - Notre Dame win
Tennessee - Notre Dame win
LSU - A winnable game for Notre Dame
Texas A&M - A winnable game for Notre Dame
Auburn - Notre Dame massacre
Best case scenario, Notre Dame would be 8-0 going into an SEC title game, worse case 6-2. No matter your definition of success, a 6-2 record in the SEC is pretty damn good.
Notre Dame vs. Georgia's SEC schedule
Mizzou - Notre Dame win
Vanderbilt - Notre Dame win (Vandy lost to Northwestern)
Tennessee - Notre Dame win
South Carolina - winnable game for Notre Dame
Florida - winnable game for Notre Dame (only beat UL-Lafayette by 4)
Kentucky - Notre Dame massacre
Auburn - Notre Dame massacre
So using the stupid logic of margin of victory, Notre Dame could go 6-2 at worse in the SEC. If you think that Tennessee, Ole Miss, or Vanderbilt could beat them, I hope you haven't spawned offspring.
So finally, I have methodically destroyed any irrational argument trying to discredit Notre Dame. In no way this was a hit piece to discredit the SEC. My point is, before you start dissecting someone else's "weak" resume, look at yourself in the mirror. Try and prove me wrong and you will fail. But I welcome the challenge regardless.
This Public Service Announcement was brought to you by On The Marks Radio.
