Clash of the Titanics

When I was in high school, my friends and I played a football game every Thanksgiving. It was a bunch of guys who weren't good enough to start for their varsity team. We called it the Toilet Bowl. Today is college football's Toilet Bowl. 0-2 Michigan is taking on 0-2 Notre Dame. I'm not sure what folks were expecting, probably a 3-0 win with the winning field goal being kicked by the opposing team's kicker? I know this wasn't how either team expected to start their seasons.

Michigan was expected to win the Big Ten and more. Now, after losses to Appalachian State (who?) and Oregon, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr will be lucky to finish the season with the Maize and Blue. He certainly didn't help himself with his uninspiring defense of Mike Hart after the Wolverine running back guaranteed a win against the Irish.

Do I like it? He said it, and he's got to back it up. We've got to back him up right now, I guess. What do you want him to say? We're not gonna win? That certainly will give Notre Dame some ammunition.

For the record, Hart and his teammates are holding up their end, leading Notre Dame at the moment by a whopping 38-0. I think it's safe to say they are doing it in spite of the head coach.

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, on the other hand, can breathe easily despite his team's poor start. His problem isn't competence, no one would argue with his football IQ. No, his issue is with personnel. There have been a few true freshmen who have had success in the NCAA, but it's rare. Asking Jimmy Clausen to come in a lead Weis's pro-style offense is a tall order.

The numbers speak for themselves. So far this year, the Irish have yet to score an offensive touchdown. That's almost 11 quarters if you're counting. Weis feels his team's pain, as evidenced by his response to Hart's comments.

If I watched the [Notre Dame] games the last two weeks, I might have made the guarantee myself.

It looks like Michigan is going to end up relinquishing the title of laughingstock, at least for a week. They have comfortably taken control of the game. But it's also safe to say that the season for both teams are essentially over.

The good news is that there are fans who are cheering right now. The bad news is they are Buckeye fans, Badger fans and Trojan fans. I talked to a guy yesterday from Ohio. He said his two favorite teams are Ohio State and anyone who beats Michigan.

Looks like Notre Dame won't be on that list ...