I'm in the camp Miami and ND should have been in. Obviously, the group of 5 inclusions are awful,
especially given neither were at all competitive against any of the Power 4 teams they played this year. The inclusion of 5 SEC teams is a poor reflection on the sport, and the CFP committee completely discredited itself the way everything was handled, not just yesterday but throughout the entire ranking process. As a side note, it's interesting no one else from the committee is allowed to comment on the proceedings and no reporters are allowed to listen to the debates.
We all have to admit ND goes into every year with a one-loss ceiling to feel at all safe about playoff inclusion. ND knew the importance of the first two games and frankly, blew it. The Miami game plan was head scratching, but I can put that in the acceptable column given a new QB, new DC, being on the road and playing in a tropical rain forest. The A&M game was, simply put, a debacle. ND had 2 weeks to prepare, still had a defense that looked lost and blew a double digit lead. MF and the entire defensive staff should have to answer some tough questions about the transition to Ash. I also have concerns about Denbrock and Rudolph, but those are more total year than first two games specific.
I'm not a fan of the way ND has handled its Bowl Invite. There is an optics angle that has to be recognized, and ND did not handle this well. I'm not saying they had to go, but a PR statement shortly after being snubbed with no reference to a team vote, falling short of expectations, a MF press conference, playing for championships, etc. is a bad look. I'm looking at how Clark Lea handled everything, and it's just better.
I do think ND should have gone to a bowl and beat the hell out of a quality opponent. 11-2 with a solid bowl win and probably finishing in the top 5 is a better PR line to recruits and reflection on the program than 10-2 and shutting it down. It just is. Yes, yes, everyone can say a bowl was a no win proposition for ND and an everything to gain for its opponent and ESPN, but that is the reality of ND.
Replies to: I'm in the camp Miami and ND should have been in. Obviously, the group of 5 inclusions are awful,
I think the bowl decision was right, and we don't have enough info to speak to timing.
Maybe ND was being pressed by the Pop Tarts Bowl to commit so they could immediately promote the 12/27 matchup between ND and BYU, and rather than string them along, ND said no.
Completely disagree
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say more
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No way we should go to a bowl game.
The players voted no. Forcing them to play is just wrong. No one should accept that half-assed CFP snub with meek affirmation.
As the Editorial Board of The Observer opined:
"The Irish were right not to play in a bowl game and legitimize the committee’s decision."
MF and the AD should have told the team to take a day and that they'll honor the decision of the
team. The PR announcement was not handled well, and included nothing about what makes ND different.
The committee and the SEC don't give two shits about ND. It used ND to its benefit. ESPN probably is upset because ratings will suffer, but no one else really cares. There is nothing in the handling of this decision that strengthens ND's brand.
Take the team to the Casino in New Buffalo and give them a stipend when getting off the bus.
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I think Pete Bevacqua knows what he is doing. I'd prefer his leadership to yours.
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He’s not handling the pr side well and got taken to the cleaners last week
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He's on the war path today.
See his spot on Dan Patrick this morning.
Compare his resume to yours. You are the one having a tantrum.
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Exactly, why thank them for undermining the credibilty of the sport.
Better to have integrity and not participate in making their decision look legitimate.
Then just become a club sport. ND could easily have rejected the bowl invite without looking like
it was having a tantrum.
Ridiculous comments, really.
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They didn't have tantrum. That is absurd.
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Re: Didn't appear that they did have a tantrum. More like a conscientious objection.
And become a club sport because? That really seems like you're just mad they didn't go to a bowl. I mean I get it. I'd have liked to see them play more too. But not under these circumstances.
I'm mostly indifferent, but the way they handled it is not a good look.
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I'm sure some view it that way. But what does playing BYU on ESPN do for them? Nothing.
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then ND should say its goal every year is to play for championships & that any bowl invite will be
declined while the current playoff program is in place. Of course, then everyone will ask why they played in previous bowl games.
I'm ok with them declining further Bowl games not part of the playoffs.
Stars don't play in them anyhow. They're just network money grabs. If ND thinks they need the extra practices fine. But aside from those types of issues, I see no real benefit.
Each year is different. Some years we don't deserve to be in the CFP. This year we definitely did.
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Consent Management