Despite putting up 663 yd offense and holding Stanford to a negative rushing total, ND made several costly mistakes and was actually losing this game with 1:46 to go. Almost all of these miscues were on special teams (basically 14 points given away), but Quinn threw two interceptions and the DBs got beat on a few deep balls. Nevertheless, when ND needed a score, the offense stormed down the field and put up 8 points to reclaim the lead, and the defense stood tough after giving up an 80 yard scoring drive on the previous series.

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Now begins the whining by Oregon and others about how they (10-1 record) deserve to go to the BCS over ND (finish 9-2). The common argument for ND is that our fans travel well and the TV broadcast will get good ratings. While that is true, I would prefer that our team went to a big game because we deserve it, not because we’re popular. In terms of comparison to Oregon, I certainly feel that we’re worthy. ND had four games decided by 7 points or less (7 point wins at Michigan and Stanford, 3 point losses vs Mich. St. and USC) and demolished the others by an average of three touchdowns. Oregon was destroyed by USC (45-13), and squeeked by Arizona, Cal, Fresno St., and Washington St. They did take care of business against the rest of their cupcake schedule, but it’s not a convincing argument that they are a better team than ND. If Oregon wants to complain about a team that doesn’t belong in the BCS, talk to West Virginia.

One other note about Saturday’s contest: Stanford began destruction of the Stadium immediately after the game, and not a moment too soon. The only thing that separates that place from Waldwick High School’s field is the number of people it can hold.

Yes, Syracuse is a terrible football team, but they do have a good defense. So while we were supposed to win handily, it is meaningful that the offense put up 27 points on those guys. There was a bit of a slow start, and Quinn again didn’t seem to be as crisp as usual, but I think maybe we’re getting spoiled with this team, expecting them to score on every possession. Most importantly however, we got a win for those seniors that had to endure the roller coaster O’Davieham era.

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Next week, we welcome ND back to the Bay Area for the season finale with Stanford.

In other news, the axe is still baxe in Berkeley, St. John’s rolls in the DIII tourney (62-3 over Monmouth), and Michigan can’t ever help us out.

It really felt like Quinn was having an off day, yet he threw for nearly 300 yd and 3 TD against a defense that had only allowed 3 TD through the air in all of its previous games combined. We’re getting spoiled with this guy.

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Here’s another win that before the season, we’d be ecstatic to get, but with all of UT’s problems, it was a game we were supposed to win. I find those games worrisome, because you know that a team ranked #3 preseason is talented, and they just might put it all together at the worst possible time for us.

The talk all week was how quickly ND would surpass the paltry 11 yd rushing we posted last year against BYU. Everyone expected it would happen in the first quarter, probably on the first drive. Many even speculated that the first rushing attempt of the day would do the trick. Certainly nobody expected ND to have -1 yd on the ground in the first quarter, and -6 yd at the end of the first half. Of course, in the meantime Quinn and co. were shredding the BYU secondary to set all sorts of records.

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The team and crowd did seem to come out flat this week, and after getting a nice lead at 28-10, ND let BYU get back within 5. However, as good teams do, we put the petal to the metal again against an inferior team and won going away. One of the best things about this team is that they do not play down to the competition. In the O’Davieham years, every game was a nailbiter. This team just takes care of business.

I hadn’t been this excited about a football game that I wasn’t attending since the ’93 Florida State game. My feelings before the game were that we had a chance to win if we didn’t turn the ball over and contained Bush somewhat. We did neither of these things and still had a chance to win it.

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There are no moral victories, but a fan has to be happy with how our team played. There’s a reason USC has won 28 (and counting) in a row, and to take them within one play (take your pick of three) tells us something about how far we’ve come. To paraphrase the message saved on our answering machine for the past 10 months, the chickens are home, and boy are they roosting.

In other news, there’s a reason his name is Ayoob and not Booya.

I wonder if the term “returning starter” is overrated. This is usually assumed to be a positive; experience is better than lack thereof. However, ND’s defense has less than half of its starters from last year. Purdue has all 11 of its starters back from last year. ND is allowing 10 fewer points per game than Purdue this year. Granted, there have been other changes (i.e. coaches), but let’s remember that just because they’re returning doesn’t mean they’re good. To this end, the Quinn/Samardzija show torched that returning defense yesterday to the tune of 49-28.

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There are probably complaints about the defense softening up in the second half, but down by 28, of course they would start passing more. I’m not sure why that wasn’t the plan from the start.

In other news, Marshawn Lynch returned as Cal rolls into the top 10 on the heels of a drubbing of Arizona, and USC looks mortal against Arizona State.

ND is a pretty good team. Washington is a pretty bad team. These are the type of games that we have little to gain and a lot to lose. But if we would have lost this one, I might have lost my mind. The amount of “Ty was wronged” propaganda would have done me serious mental harm. But as Nessler said at the end of the telecast, this game is no longer the “Ty Bowl,” but reverts to the “Washington game” on the schedule.

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With losses by Michigan, Louisville, Georgia Tech, and Purdue, ND should be approaching the top 10 again.

In other news, Cal can run the football, and those four great Big Ten teams (OSU, UM, Purdue, Iowa) have 6 losses this season.

I kept telling people that I thought we’d be in some shootouts this year. It wasn’t until the third game that it materialized, but once it did, we saw a doozy.

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There were two coaching decisions that I questioned after the game. With 7:03 left in the 4th, down by a touchdown, ND went for it on fourth and inches at the 21. They didn’t get it. If they kick the field goal, then they’re only down by 4. Whether they kick the FG or get the first down, they need at least one more defensive stop in the game and score to win the game. But if they don’t get the first down, then they still need two scores to win, which means two defensive stops as well. Obviously scoring the TD is a priority to tie the game, but the way we were playing at that point, I think it would have been reasonable to take the points and go from there. It’s a tough call.

Secondly, I didn’t like the play calling in overtime. They basically took three shots into the end zone and kicked a field goal. Andy argues that this was what was working at the time, and I agree, so I can’t be too upset about it. Also, our defense had stopped them for the previous five drives. I feel like maybe they should have made some attempt to get the first down.