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Home Quick Hits Team Rankings Player Rankings Reiley's Rants Anecdotes Predictions Scenarios Links |
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Reiley's Rants |
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DISCLAIMER: I bleed gold, blue, red and black. (For those who are sports-challenged that means I love the Irish, Falcons, Braves, Redskins Ole Miss and the Hawks). I really don�t like the Georgia Bulldogs, Miami Hurricanes, Michigan Wolverines, Duke Blue Devils or PITTSBURGH STEELERS. I could really care less what you think about me or my thoughts, but when you pick on one of my teams, you need to be sure of all your facts and figures, because if you are not, I will pick your argument apart until you see it my way. I am Irish. I am Stubborn. I am most likely pissed off, so WATCH OUT!! |
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Reiley's Predictions |
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Click here for the one (1) archive from last December |
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| September 6, 2001 |
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First: Let me start my rant page by saying that there is a good reason I have not posted anything in the last 8 months. MY IRISH LOST. Well, they didn�t just lose; they got took behind the woodshed for a good old fashion beating. Oregon State was by far the more talented, better prepared team on the field in Tempe Arizona on Jan 1st. That game really proved to me that the Irish weren�t as good as advertised, and that maybe the schedule wasn�t as bad as I thought. Talent wise, the Irish shouldn�t have even been on the same field as OSU. I hope the coaching staff saw the same thing as I did, because they need to do a better job recruiting, and I don�t just mean blue-chippers or all-state performers. They need that game-breaker type player back in South Bend. A guy cut out of the same mold as The Rocket or Tim Brown, someone who can change the game whenever he touches the ball, whether it is on special teams, or at wideout. I guess for me, the Irish were always a step ahead of every other team in the nation. Of course they had there down years, but for the most part the Irish had the best recruits in the country, but in the last few years everything has changed. Now my beloved Irish have been reduced to a school that has to compete on the same level as everyone else, has to battle for guys that aren�t good enough to go to Florida, FSU or Nebraska. A team that thinks playing the toughest schedule in the country EVERY year and being rewarded for it with a trip to Jacksonville, Florida is good enough. I don�t know, maybe I was spoiled growing up an Irish fan in the 80�s and 90�s, but I can�t take this mediocrity any longer.
Once again, the Irish start off the season with a schedule NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would want for their team. Three of the first four games are at Nebraska, Purdue and Texas A&M, and in the middle of that, the Irish get a small break (if you can call it that) at home against Michigan State. Couple that with near-end-of the season games of USC on the road, and Tennessee at home, and there is a good possibility the Irish may not make a bowl game this year. It has gotten so bad, I pray for 2-2 out of the first four, and I truly believe the Irish have a much better chance going into Lincoln than they do going down to Aggie country and stealing a win.
I will lay this on the table: if Bob Davie, regardless of the new 5-yr deal, better pray he gets into a New Year�s day bowl this year, and at that bowl make a much better showing than last years debacle in Tempe if he has any dreams of being the Irish coach in the upcoming years. This is his year to do something. 20 some starters returning, a QB that knows the system, and players he has recruited make it a must year for the Irish and Davie. GOOD LUCK COACH. |
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Davie and co. look to rebound from the Fiesta Bowl disaster |
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Senior captain Grant Irons will play a prominent role in the Notre Dame defense after recovering from last year's season ending shoulder injury. |
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Official Notre Dame football website |
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Second: My Braves are struggling like I have never seen them struggle. A lack of true pop in the middle of the order and a worn down starting rotation put this Braves team in a heap of trouble come October. Hopefully Andruw Jones starts to find his bat, and the rest of the Braves find some clutch hitting or it will be LIGHTS-OUT for them.
One side note: With Andruw�s contract up this year, and the new owners already saying that they will cut payroll, is the best centerfielder in baseball going to be looking for a new team come December? I surely can�t see the Braves paying a guy 17 million for snagging some balls in center. |
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Current Braves notebook |
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Jones' struggles at the plate don't bode well for his new contract figures |
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Third: Is it just me or are the Hawks now one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Not like that is saying much, seeing as that the best team in the East is still the 98 Bulls. In all seriousness, the Hawks are young, very talented and with some decent coaching, will make a run in the playoffs. Shareef is a great player; easily top 5 in the NBA, and with Ratliff and Tony K on that front line, the Hawks are going to cause teams a lot of match up problems. It will actually be fun to be a Hawks fan this year, and I really hope I make it back to the ATL for a couple of games in Philips arena, a great place to see basketball or hockey. |
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Rahim likes his new threads |
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