Improved and Confident, Irish Poised to Run the Tables
Bob Berry
October 24, 1999

Notre Dame, Ind - With over half of the 1999 football season over with, the Irish find themselves headed in the right direction for the first time in a long time. The highly talented Irish squad of 1999 got off to a disappointing 1-3 start. Since the horrific start, they have won three straight games including a big win over rival USC. In those three wins, they have showed glimpses of the potential that this team has. As the confidence continues to build on this very talented Irish team, they appear poised and ready to win out and finish the regular season at 9-3.

The Irish have been showing flashes of top ranked brilliance in their last three games. The Irish have won their last three, and in each of the three wins, they have played one half of football equal to the capability of a top five football team. The second half againt Oklahoma, the first half against Arizona St., and the second half against USC have showed why I think this Notre Dame team is as good as any. As I have said all season long, this Irish team is as talented as any team I have seen in the nation. Anyone who has seen these three halves of football will agree. The offense, especially Jarious Jackson has looked powerful running and throwing the football. The defense has stepped up and made plays, and created turnovers. The team as a whole has avoided key penalties, turnovers, and coaching blunders. There is reason for optimism now in South Bend. Taking a look at the remaining schedule, I predict the Irish to win out and finish at 9-3. Certainly I believe they are capable of it, and for the first time all season I think they will live up to their potential.

With a week off to rest up this week, and what seems to be an easy win at home the following week against Navy, the Irish will take a four game win streak down to Knoxville for a potential matchup against a top five Tennessee team. This game is the one most Irish fans have been anxious to get to all season. For the second straight year, the Irish will have the chance to beat the defending National Champion and knock them from national title contention. This game will prove as the determining factor in the Irish season. With a win, it will give meaning to an otherwise disappointing season. It will show the nation the true talent of this Irish team, and it will show future recruits that Notre Dame is still the best place to play college football. In front of the usual nation televison audience, the Irish will have the chance to really show all the doubters how good they can be. It proves to be one of 1999's best remaining college football games. As the stage is being set for the showdown, it's easy to predict what will happen. Surely Lee Corso, Chris Fowler, and Kirk Herbstreit will be set up for ESPN College Gameday at Knoxville. They will all talk up Tennesee, say something about Jarious Jackson being good, and then all predict that Tennessee is just too strong for Notre Dame. Just as they all did when Notre Dame went to Ann Arbor this year. When in fact, Notre Dame was within a few questionable calls by Big Ten officials, and a few wasted timeouts of beating that Michigan team that the experts claimed to be too strong for Notre Dame. From what I have seen of this year's Tennessee team, and this year's Notre Dame team, I have seen nothing about Tennessee that Notre Dame cannot handle. Time will tell whether or not this game lives up to the stature that it will carry. With the way the Irish are headed right now, I predict an Irish victory against the Vols. The Irish will move to 6-3 with that victory and will finish the season 9-3 and head to a respectable bowl game.     .

It's clear that the Irish have been improving and gaining confidence with each week they play now. This Irish team certainly is capable of running the table and winning the rest of their games. As I have seen in the last three games, this team is capable of playing great football. At this point in the season, they really are only playing one half of football. The scary thing is that, by only playing one half, they are still beating quality football teams. When the Irish start putting together more well rounded games, they will begin impressing the doubting critics. However, I still like this team a lot, I like the depth, the talent and the youth. Bob Davie has survived his first real scare of his job. For the time being, Davie has dodged the barrage of fans and alumni calling for his job. Finishing the season with eight straight wins, or even nine straight wins will give the Irish fans everywhere much more confidence in their head coach. The future is looking clear and bright now for the Irish, and they seem confident and poised to finish their season in impressive fashion.