How to Pick Out a ND Hater
We will hear a lot of prognosticating over the next few weeks from the anti-Notre Dame pundits. What is an ND fan to do? Should we remain silent or should we rise up and protest? Luckily, there is a happy middle ground that can be found.
We can’t claim “hater” every time someone mentions something negative about the Irish. This team has some deficiencies on the field and in its schedule. To claim a bias any time a pundit points these deficiencies out just numbs the critics to our legit concerns.
But we can’t sit back when someone is trashing the Irish either. The number two ranking is at stake and the public perception of this team will greatly influence how ND fares in the final BCS rankings.
So don’t claim bias at every negative ND comment but don’t sit on your hands when a bias is clearly there. How do you determine when there is an anti-ND bias? When the “hater” falls into these pitfalls:
- Does not back it up with facts. To claim “Ty Willingham is a terrible coach” is not good enough. You need to back it up with facts. Notre Dame Example: ND’s schedule strength is weak.
- Makes blanket statements. To say that “Rutgers has no chance at the National Title” does not work and is false. They do have a chance. Just because you don’t want to believe it, does not make it a good argument. You would be better off saying “Rutgers has a slim chance at making the Title Game.” Notre Dame Example: Brady Quinn has no chance at winning the Heisman.
- Applies logic to support one team, but uses the same logic to bash another. I am actually shocked at how many times paid professionals pull this crap. Brady Quinn pads his numbers against lesser opponents while Troy Smith has a solid game against the same quality opponent. Notre Dame Example: Claiming that Texas’ come-from-behind victory was gutsy but Notre Dame’s come-from-behind victory was lucky. (OK. That’s two ND examples, but it seems to happen to the Irish a lot.)
- Tries to predict the future outcome of games. This just makes you look stupid in the end. To say that “Tennessee will finish 9-3″ is not an argument. Notre Dame Example: Stewrat Mandel: “The Trojans are going to win [the Notre Dame game] by at least 17.”
While we are speaking of him, The Stewrat applies two of the above examples with his latest power rankings. He punishes ND for a game that will take place in the future(see above quote) and he doesn’t back up his rankings with any stats i.e. strength of schedule.
It is safe for the IRT to say that based on the following table, Stewrat Mandel has a tendency to show extreme negative bias towards Notre Dame:
| BCS Ranking |
Team | Stewrat Ranking |
Bias |
| 1 | Ohio State | 1 | - |
| 2 | Michigan | 2 | - |
| 3 | USC | 5 | -2 |
| 4 | Florida | 4 | - |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 10 | -5 |
| 6 | Rutgers | 6 | - |
| 7 | Arkansas | 3 | +4 |
| 8 | West Virginia | 8 | - |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 12 | -3 |
| 10 | Loiusville | 7 | +3 |
| 11 | LSU | 9 | +2 |
| 12 | Boise St | 16 | -4 |
| 13 | Texas | 11 | +2 |
| 14 | Auburn | 18 | -4 |
| 15 | California | 15 | - |
| 16 | Wake Forest | 13 | +3 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 14 | +3 |
| 18 | Georgia Tech | 19 | -1 |
| 19 | Maryland | NR | N/A |
| 20 | Boston College | 20 | - |
November 14th, 2006 at 8:29 pm
I will add another rule here: Unwillingness to admit you were wrong.
Haters hate to admit they were wrong and will do anything in their power to avoid doing so.
That being said, the IRT has broken these rules in the past. We are biased though and will happily admit it.
November 14th, 2006 at 9:43 pm
I believe that Mark Mary also falls into the hater catagory based on his latest one loss team rankings. He makes arguments in support of USC and then uses the counter argument against ND. Maybe when ND beats USC, Lou will make him wear a ND hat for the gameday final.
November 14th, 2006 at 10:29 pm
That brings up another rule, Wertzy:
apply logic to support one team, but use the same logic to bash another. I am actually shocked at how many times paid professionals pull this crap.
I’m updating the guidelines to reflect this.
November 15th, 2006 at 6:07 am
I actually wrote to one of the ESPN radio shows to see if they could work an on air bet between MM and LH about USC ND. Loser has to 1) admit they were wrong, and 2) wear the opposing teams hat/sweatshirt/tie/colors (something) on the gameday wrapup show.
November 15th, 2006 at 6:25 am
Rule #3 should be renamed the Mark May Principle.
November 16th, 2006 at 11:35 am
Although initially sounds like anti-ND, Todd McShay puts out sime good honest unbiased points:
jeff (adamsville): Does ND really have a chance to win it all
Todd McShay: Unfortunately, yes!
Todd McShay: I’m shocked at how high ND is ranked in the BCS. Its schedule is a joke. The only reason ND is ranked ahead of Arkansas is because of preseason bias. Anyway, if ND beats USC and wins out, it could leapfrog to the No. 2 spot in the BCS. It also could catch a break if Arkansas loses to LSU in the final game of hte regular season and then beats Florida in the SEC championship.
Todd McShay: Even if Arkansas and ND both win out, ND would likely finish higher in the polls because ND beat USC, which beat Arkansas in Week 1 in Fayetteville.
—————–
Pat O’Brien (Niantic, CT): What do you think Brady Quinn’s chances are of winning the Heisman and who would you give your vote to?
Todd McShay: If Ohio State beats Michigan on Saturday it’s over. They shouldn’t even spend the money on a ceremony; just give Troy Smith the trophy as he’s walking off the field.
—————–
Mike (valparaiso): Todd, Notre Dame WR Jeff Samardzija has had another amazing year backing up his last year coming out party. How does he fit into the 2007 WR class?
Todd McShay: He’s the top senior WR prospect as it stands right now. Other juniors such as Calvin Johnson and Ted Ginn Jr. will be rated higher if they elect to leave school early (and I think both will). The other variable in Samardzija’s draft stock is his baseball career. He seems determined to play both and NFL scouts are worried about that. If teams aren’t convinced that Samardzija is dedicated to playing football for a full career his stock will drop significantly — out of the first round, at least.
—————–
Rick (Columbus, Ohio): why does everyone hate ND?
Todd McShay: ND is like the New York Yankees. Fans either love them or hate them. I obviously have nothing agianst ND. I just think other teams will be more deserving of a shot if there are several one-loss teams still standing at the end of the season. An impressive win at USC could change everone’s mind, though.
Todd McShay: I seem to have hit a sensative subject with all you ND fans. Here’s my argument against ND in the BCS title game… 1) They are a one-dimensional team with a good passing attack but a pedestrian run game, decent special teams and an awful defense. 2) They got blown out by Michigan at home. 3) Who have they beat? Georgia Tech is ND’s best win… I’m not impressed. 4) The recent schedule is a joke (Purdue, Stanford, UCLA, Navy, Air Force and Army). They nearly lost to a below average UCLA team and they gave up 26 points to a pitiful UNC offense, which by the way got shutout by G-Tech last Sat.
Todd McShay: However, if Michigan pulls off the upset the Heisman Trophy becomes Brady Quinn’s to lose. He will have a spotlight game at USC the following Saturday to make his case. I also think Darren McFadden and Ray Rice will be in contention, especially if Ohio State loses to Michigan and ND loses to USC. Mike Hart could get in the mix with a big game against OSU.
November 16th, 2006 at 11:46 am
I found another hater:
Ted (Richmond, VA): I think Tim from Boston is WAYYYYY off!!! It may say 20, but in reality, most teams that schedule the military schools, Stanford(west coast Duke) and other podunk teams, come on. Yes, you have one legit game…USC. I don’t even go to Rutgers or Arkansas, but if all three win out and neither Rutgers or Arkansas plays for the championship, then college football is a sham! Rutgers would beat 2 teams from the top 10 and go undefeated, winning the SEC is extremely difficult(especially with ONLY 1 loss), and what Notre Dame plays USC. GT isn’t all that great, and Penn St. isn’t either. If Notre Dame wants respect and people to give it to them, then either buck up and join a conference and win it like everyone else or schedule real teams. Maybe then your argument would hold more value. Until then…Go Rutgers and Arkansas!
No sense in letting the facts support your arguement, there Ted.