It is being reported in the Blue & Gold that Coach Weis is optomistic about the 2008 season for the Irish...very optomistic. The quote that has been turning heads the most is "From what I’m hearing around the way, Weis is privately projecting anywhere from 9 to 12 victories this year." Of course, this is a rumor. Of course, there is nothing else really happening in the football world right now. And, of course, Notre Dame fans just want to put the 3-9 nightmare of last season behind them once and for all. But, 9-12 wins this year? The Irish did just come off of one of their worst campaigns in the history of the school. Plus, I though this year was building up for next year.First, I love confidence, and Coach Weis brings all I can handle. Truthfully, I believe 9 wins is realistic for this team if all of the pieces fall into place. I was hoping for anything resembling an 8-4 campaign, no blowouts and a bowl win, but 9 or more is certainly an early christmas gift.
I just find it hard to believe, if not impossible, that the Irish will reel off 11 or 12 wins this year. There are some teams on the schedule that will be very difficult for this Irish team (Michigan,Pitt, North Carolina, Michigan St., maybe even Washinton). The Irish are still young and mistake prone at times. A couple of mistakes to these teams will mean a loss.There are surely factors with the Irish that should lead to being confident this season:
1. Experience - This team has much more experience compared to last year's squad. Well, put it this way: The Irish actually have experience this year as opposed to last season's no experience.
2. Schedule - This year's schedule is like night and day compared to last season's. The first five games for the Irish last year were torture to watch.
3. Depth - Did anyone hear about these recruiting classes the Irish have brought in the past couple of years? Apparently these kids are pretty good.
All in all, I believe there will be big-time improvements with the Irish this season.
