ND gets pelted

guiseppewv · 11-22-2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Syracuse couldn't pull off a big win in time to save coach Greg Robinson's job. The Orange did nothing to help Notre Dame's Charlie Weis in the area of job security, either.

Cameron Dantley, son of one of Notre Dame's basketball greats, threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Donte Davis with 42 seconds left to lead Syracuse to a 24-23 victory Saturday against the stunned and disheartened Irish.

Fifth-year Irish senior linebacker Maurice Crum Jr., who spent a year playing under Tyrone Willingham, said it was the worst loss of his career.

"Every loss hurts, but there's something added to it, being the total situation," Crum said.

The Orange trailed 23-10 in the fourth quarter before rallying as Notre Dame struggled mightily on offense. The Irish (6-5) came away with just six points after starting four times inside the Syracuse 23-yard line, including three times in the third quarter when they settled for a field goal.

"I really don't know why that happened," said Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen, who threw two TD passes.

The victory allowed Syracuse (3-8) to avoid a third 10-loss season in four years under Robinson, who was fired last week, effective the end of the season.

"It's a great day for our football team. Truly a great day for our program to come into South Bend and to pull it off," Robinson said. "It really isn't necessarily a surprise at all to our football team. They knew that somewhere along the line this team was going to do something special. This was an opportunity that they knew they had to make the most of."

Dantley, the son of former NBA star Adrian Dantley, was 13-of-25 passing for 126 yards.

"Cam really, I thought, hung tough the whole game. He never got really rattled at all," Robinson said.

For the Irish, losing to a 19½-point underdog ranks among the worst losses in school history and leaves Weis with a 28-20 record in four seasons. Weis's 58.3 winning percentage is the same that Bob Davie was fired with after five seasons and Willingham after three. Weis has seven years left after this season on a 10-year contract.

Weis, who appeared to get past all the talk about his job being in jeopardy a week earlier by hanging on for a 27-21 victory over Navy, now finds himself the target again. For the most part, Weis declined to talk about what the loss means for his future, saying he needed more time before commenting. But he said he is not worried.

"Fortunately or unfortunately, whichever way you look at it, that's just my makeup," he said.

He did say he felt terrible for the seniors playing their last game at Notre Dame Stadium.

"I feel sick to my stomach. Everyone at Notre Dame takes these losses personally, just like they feel good when they win. But right now I feel absolutely miserable for the seniors," he said.

Golden Tate had two TD catches for the Irish.

"I just go into each game playing. That all of my power. I'm a player. My job is to play, not to make decisions on who's the head coach," he said.

Dantley said it was exciting enough just to play at Notre Dame with all it's history, especially because of what his father did at the school.

"To do that on this type of stage on national TV, it's just a dream come true," he said.

The Irish had one last chance to win in the closing seconds. With 7 seconds left, the Irish could have run one last play before attempting a field goal, but Weis opted to go for a 53-yard kick by Brandon Walker, whose career long is 48. The kick fell well short. Walker was 3-of-6 on field-goal attempts for the game.

"Words can't explain," he said. "I just looked all around me. I pretty much did a 360, just looking at everybody, seeing all those orange helmets up in the air."

The loss was at least as surprising as last year's triple overtime loss to Navy, ending a 43-game winning streak over the Middies -- maybe even more so.

Freshman Antwon Bailey, who entered the game with 66 yards rushing on 13 carries, started the Orange rally with a 26-yard TD run up the middle with 12:30 left that cut the score to 23-17. Bailey finished with 126 yards rushing.

"He's not a surprise," Robinson said. "He's played a little bit already this season. He had a 29-yard touchdown run against Louisville. He's a talented young football player, a true freshman and one that I think has a great career ahead of him."

Notre Dame had a chance to ice the game on the next possession, but a 49-yard field goal attempt by Walker came up short.

The Irish had a chance to stop Syracuse on its final drive, but linebacker Harrison Smith was called for pass interference on third-and-1 from the Notre Dame 39. Bailey ran for 43 yards on six carries during the drive, before Dantley connected with Davis over the middle.

Even before the end, there was some ugliness for Notre Dame.

The Irish players were pelted by snowballs on the sideline for much of the first quarter by fans sitting on the student section. Defensive end Ethan Johnson was struck on the left cheek and several other players also getting hit by snowballs despite three announcement urging fans to stop.

The Irish were booed several times during the game, including Clausen on Notre Dame's next-to-last possession when third-and-8 the Syracuse 31 he missed a wide open David Grimes.

Weis said the key now is to get the Irish ready and thinking they can win next week's game at No. 6 USC.

"If you don't go with that mind-set," he said, "then you're just asking for a massacre."

More Factoids:
• For the first time in school history, Notre Dame fell to an eight-loss team.

• The Irish have now lost five games this year after dropping nine in 2007. The 14 combined losses are the most ever by Notre Dame in a two-season span. The Irish lost 13 games in 2003-04, 1960-61 and 1959-60.

• Charlie Weis fell to 28-20 in four seasons with the Irish.

• Cameron Dantley, son of one of Notre Dame's basketball greats, threw the 11-yard TD pass that ultimately did the Irish in.

LINKIFIED

Classy students!

I always love it when ND loses. They have to be the most overrated team of the past 10 years.

DarkFury · 11-22-2008, 10:00 PM

I have no love for ND as well...

I wonder who will be the new head coach next year, as ND tends to frown on coaches with a low winning percentage.

I guess they just can't find another "Lou Holtz" huh?

eSDee · 11-23-2008, 07:29 PM

People take sports too seriously. College football certainly has a large percentage of fanatics.

cheapie · 11-24-2008, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guiseppewv

LINKIFIED

Classy students!

I always love it when ND loses. They have to be the most overrated team of the past 10 years.

hey. you're catholic. you're supposed to love the irish. unless you're BC fan.

guiseppewv · 11-24-2008, 09:48 AM

I am Catholic. I have a strong dislike for the Irish and almost as strong dislike for Benedict College.

cheapie · 11-24-2008, 10:34 AM

benedict college?

guiseppewv · 11-24-2008, 01:59 PM

As in Benedict Arnold (i.e. a traitor). Not sure if anyone caught that or not.

cheapie · 11-24-2008, 02:01 PM

i connected the benedict to traitor. just not sure how that fits with BC. they from some rebel catholic sect or something?

Markel · 11-24-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheapie

i connected the benedict to traitor. just not sure how that fits with BC.

If you grew up in Daytona Beach, BC has a bit of a different meaning.

DarkFury · 11-25-2008, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markel

If you grew up in Daytona Beach, BC has a bit of a different meaning.

"Bethume-Cookman College" used to go by BCC (but I guess they all grown up now and changed their name to "University").

I guess now, they go by B-CU ..

Either way, we (FAMU) still needs to whoop up on them as well in the MEAC. GO RATTLERS!!!!

Markel · 11-25-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkFury

"Bethume-Cookman College" used to go by BCC...

But I can still remember some of the cheers that just used "BC".

DarkFury · 11-25-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markel

But I can still remember some of the cheers that just used "BC".

Well considering that they are our cross-state rival, I'm just going by what was posted when I attended FAMU.

BTW... you attended their games? I didn't know you were a fan of Division 1 AA football at the HBCUs..

guiseppewv · 11-25-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheapie

i connected the benedict to traitor. just not sure how that fits with BC. they from some rebel catholic sect or something?

After Miami and VT decided to leave the Big East, BC signed an agreement to stay with the BE and even voted to increase the severance penalty if they left the league. BC also chastised VT and Miami for leaving and promised that they would never leave the BE. Less than a week later, they agreed to leave for the ACC and then they fought the increased penalty in court. Therefore, to all Big East colleges they are known as Benedict College for being traitors. I love the fact that the ACC has svcked 3 years in a row.

11-22-2008, 10:00 PM	#2
DarkFury Secretary of the Navy Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood Posts: 34,390	I have no love for ND as well... I wonder who will be the new head coach next year, as ND tends to frown on coaches with a low winning percentage. I guess they just can't find another "Lou Holtz" huh? __________________ DarkFury's Pimptopia - Don't Hate the Playa, Hate the Game! Home of the Original OG Pimp (accept NO imitations)

11-23-2008, 07:29 PM	#3
eSDee Old Skooler Numba 1 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Diego Posts: 10,057	People take sports too seriously. College football certainly has a large percentage of fanatics. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 days ~ Willie Nelson 3 days I dread to see arrive 3 days I hate to be alive 3 days filled with tears and sorrow yesterday today and tomorrow

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-24-2008, 09:48 AM	#5
guiseppewv Admiral Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: East coast Posts: 6,949	I am Catholic. I have a strong dislike for the Irish and almost as strong dislike for Benedict College.

11-24-2008, 10:34 AM	#6
cheapie Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: raising my pimp hand strong Posts: 12,766	benedict college?

11-24-2008, 01:59 PM	#7
guiseppewv Admiral Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: East coast Posts: 6,949	As in Benedict Arnold (i.e. a traitor). Not sure if anyone caught that or not.

11-24-2008, 02:01 PM	#8
cheapie Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: raising my pimp hand strong Posts: 12,766	i connected the benedict to traitor. just not sure how that fits with BC. they from some rebel catholic sect or something?

User Name
Password
Remember Me?