As a fan, it bothers me

by Three D, Friday, May 15, 2009, 06:14 (6221 days ago) @ Jay

it's horseshit and I sure as hell wouldn't make a special trip to see any but 2 games (@UM, SC) and I wouldn't go to UM this year. It's historically poor quality and has 2 teams that shouldn't be gracing ND's schedule (yet).

I'm not going to say that Nevada or Connecticut should never be on ND's schedule, but they really haven't earned it yet, in my opinion. Yes I do mean "earned" despite our crappy performance the past 15 years and I also understand why Nevada is on the schedule. ND still carries certain cache and it's a shame that it's being watered down. Worse, it appears that it is or was being systematically watered down and as a fan it makes the games less appealing.

As far as the team goes, I've yet to see any strong empirical support that playing a very tough schedule "prepares" you for a bowl. That said, there is reason to believe that it does to an extent. I'm neither dismissing nor endorsing that notion. However, there are PR benefits to a tougher schedule that will help grant some benefit of the doubt at the end of the season. 11-1 ND playing the 2009 schedule might not get much benefit of the doubt for consideration in the NC game. 11-1 ND playing the 1991 (sort of randomly chosen) schedule most certainly would. Not that they'd beat out two 12-0 teams, but if it came down to a handful of 11-1 teams, I'm very confident that ND would be in a good position.

And I agree, Jay, I'm not holding out for a NC run this year, but it still matters for the team's sake and not just as a fan. If we finish 10-2 and don't go to BCS bowl (possible), it still leaves some doubt depending on which team and how those 2 are lost. These kids really need to beat some good teams and beat them soundly.