High on the predictable list of ND ranting is the overwhelmingly false claim that the institution somehow produces better behaved citizens.
Where to begin ?
How about we start with the Trail of Death in 1838 when the Potawatomi tribe was forced from their land resulting in the deaths of women and children ? No proud history in that title search.
A casual search of current public records will reveal: pedophiles, rapists, drug dealers, wife beating, embezzlement, athletic sex/payment scams, an entire list of scurrilous activities that would embarrass a Barbary Pirate.
The facts and logic indicate that the ND community is no better or worse than the cross section of the general population which they represent
Maybe Jesus isn't signaling a touchdown from his stained glass viewpoint (another inappropriate, smug reference by irreverent Domers) but more likely raising his arms in disbelief at the behavior before him ?
Friday, August 25, 2006
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Academic Football
During the annual fall ranting process about ND football superiority, and when overwhelmed by facts to the contrary, Domers will revert to a discussion of academic ratings. (there is a predictable script)
Public information which indicates some level of team intelligence is the Football Graduation Success Rate (GSR) provided by the NCAA.
The GSR for the 2005 BCS Top 10:
1) USC 55%
2) Texas 40%
3) Penn St 84%
4) Ohio St 54%
5) Oregon 63%
6) ND 96%
7) GA 45%
8) Miami 67%
9) Auburn 59%
10) Va Tech 72%
While ND has achieved a suspiciously admirable GSR, it does not appear that it has any relevance to team rankings. Looks like the "dumber" team was delivering the instruction at last year's Fiesta Bowl.
Public information which indicates some level of team intelligence is the Football Graduation Success Rate (GSR) provided by the NCAA.
The GSR for the 2005 BCS Top 10:
1) USC 55%
2) Texas 40%
3) Penn St 84%
4) Ohio St 54%
5) Oregon 63%
6) ND 96%
7) GA 45%
8) Miami 67%
9) Auburn 59%
10) Va Tech 72%
While ND has achieved a suspiciously admirable GSR, it does not appear that it has any relevance to team rankings. Looks like the "dumber" team was delivering the instruction at last year's Fiesta Bowl.
Ten Year Old french Poodle
A Notre Dame fan is sitting in a sports bar with his minature french poodle watching a ND football game on TV. Everytime ND scores a field goal , the poodle stands on his hind legs and barks 3 times. The bartender is amused by ths trick. When ND scores a touchdown and extra point, the poodle spins around 7 times while barking and now has the entire bar crowd's attention. Upon winning the game against their hapless, unranked opponent, the poodle jumps up on the far end of the bar runs at full speed weaving among the drinks, barking and does a back flip off the end into his owner's arms. The crowd cheers at this display and the bartender
asks "my gosh , what does he do when they win a bowl game ?" The owner replies, "I dunno,
I have only had him for 10 years."
asks "my gosh , what does he do when they win a bowl game ?" The owner replies, "I dunno,
I have only had him for 10 years."
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Offensive/Aggressive Team Names - double standard ?
The NCAA seems to have a double standard when it comes to offensive/aggressive team names
using North American Indian imagery. Some schools(St. Johns, Marquette) went so far as to change their team names to avoid post season tournament bans.
The Fighting Illini was an unacceptable name and deemed offensive but the Fighting Irish depicted by a Leprechaun with raised fists has not drawn any scrutiny. The Illini ,at least, have a historical basis for their name, while Notre Dame du Lac founded and named by the french have no historical association with the entire nationality of the fine Irish people who they mimic with a cartoon like tourist symbol in a fighting pose totally ignoring their great cultural heritage -Irish Playwrights ? Irish Authors ? Irish Statesmen ? Irish Musicians ? Irish Artists, Irish Heroes ?
Does the NCAA have a double standard ? If you think so, Charlotte Westerhaus who heads the NCAA Office for Diversity and Inclusion needs to hear from you:
http://www.ncaa.org/cgi-bin/staffmailform2.pl?id=odi%40ncaa.org&name=Charlotte+Westerhaus
If the NCAA wants to honor the North American Indians, they shoud require the schools to give the Indians their land back or at a minimum share the gate receipts as back rent. Those schools in Manhattan should save up now.
Since there is no division 1A post season football tournament, the NCAA ban would not apply
to football teams. Maybe the NCAA could focus their efforts (they seem to have a lot of time ) on creating a post season 1A football playoff to insure the determination of a real National Champion as opposed to a team that plays a light schedule and gets the luck of the draw in a Bowl Game.
using North American Indian imagery. Some schools(St. Johns, Marquette) went so far as to change their team names to avoid post season tournament bans.
The Fighting Illini was an unacceptable name and deemed offensive but the Fighting Irish depicted by a Leprechaun with raised fists has not drawn any scrutiny. The Illini ,at least, have a historical basis for their name, while Notre Dame du Lac founded and named by the french have no historical association with the entire nationality of the fine Irish people who they mimic with a cartoon like tourist symbol in a fighting pose totally ignoring their great cultural heritage -Irish Playwrights ? Irish Authors ? Irish Statesmen ? Irish Musicians ? Irish Artists, Irish Heroes ?
Does the NCAA have a double standard ? If you think so, Charlotte Westerhaus who heads the NCAA Office for Diversity and Inclusion needs to hear from you:
http://www.ncaa.org/cgi-bin/staffmailform2.pl?id=odi%40ncaa.org&name=Charlotte+Westerhaus
If the NCAA wants to honor the North American Indians, they shoud require the schools to give the Indians their land back or at a minimum share the gate receipts as back rent. Those schools in Manhattan should save up now.
Since there is no division 1A post season football tournament, the NCAA ban would not apply
to football teams. Maybe the NCAA could focus their efforts (they seem to have a lot of time ) on creating a post season 1A football playoff to insure the determination of a real National Champion as opposed to a team that plays a light schedule and gets the luck of the draw in a Bowl Game.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Nothing Irish about 'em
L'Universite de Notre Dame du Lac was founded by french priests from Le Mans, France in 1842 as an orphanage. The official name on the charter is University of Notre Dame du Lac translated from french to English : Our Lady of the Lake.
There are two lakes on the campus which were frozen at the time the school was founded and there was thought to be only one lake. The land was associated with the Potowatomi Indians.
The nickname "Fighting Irish" has its origins in 1909 when the press picked it up, the team had several members with Irish surnames. In 1909 , it was an ethnic slur perpetuated by the New York press. This was prior to the NCAA's involvement in the politically correct naming of teams. The team was officially known as the "Ramblers" in the early 1920's during the period of the Four Horsemen.
Knute Rockne was a Norwegian immigrant.
Logically they could be referred to as : the Fighting Frenchmen, the Lakers, the Racers (Le Mans) , or less PC : the Orphans, the Indians , Norsemen, Potowatomis or even the Ramblers but there is nothing Irish about 'em.
Not unlike the cupcake schedule they play, (according to NCAA schedule strength) the Irish moniker is without substance.
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/8106/Anthems/france.htm
There are two lakes on the campus which were frozen at the time the school was founded and there was thought to be only one lake. The land was associated with the Potowatomi Indians.
The nickname "Fighting Irish" has its origins in 1909 when the press picked it up, the team had several members with Irish surnames. In 1909 , it was an ethnic slur perpetuated by the New York press. This was prior to the NCAA's involvement in the politically correct naming of teams. The team was officially known as the "Ramblers" in the early 1920's during the period of the Four Horsemen.
Knute Rockne was a Norwegian immigrant.
Logically they could be referred to as : the Fighting Frenchmen, the Lakers, the Racers (Le Mans) , or less PC : the Orphans, the Indians , Norsemen, Potowatomis or even the Ramblers but there is nothing Irish about 'em.
Not unlike the cupcake schedule they play, (according to NCAA schedule strength) the Irish moniker is without substance.
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/8106/Anthems/france.htm
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