No, fair readers, Rakes did not disappear into a pile of whimpering despair, pouting and sulking its way through the Michigan State loss.  The real reason is probably sadder than that, as the wireless interest my roommates and I were unsafely leeching off our neighbors dried up.  Somehow, Verizon can't get here and install our interest until October 11^th, so it'll be praying for our unnamed internet benefactors to restart their service or scraping by wherever I can.

In regards to the game, not an inspiring effort on Saturday.  I'm not anywhere near hopping aboard the "Fire Charlie Weis" train, but I am aware of where they sell the tickets.  I think some Irish fans are neglecting the fact that the majority of playing time is going to underclassmen, with the elder statesmen of this team a mix of crucial, big-time leaders (David Bruton, we heart you) and those that have managed to improve minimally in their time at Notre Dame.  These youngsters will make mistakes, whether those miscues are blown coverages, missed blocking assignments, poor tackling angles or running an incorrect route.  That's okay, as I'd much rather lose with talented young players learning the ropes than with veterans who are less talented and won't even be around for the future.

My main problem with this team is that I'm not sure the coaching staff pays any attention to the previous games.  There is a consistent theme in post-game commentary that the Irish lack an identity, which I think is attributable to the coaches.  If you watched the first two games of the season, what person with even a modicum of football knowledge would be struck with the idea that starting the game with six straight runs was a good idea.  Any time the Irish were successful against the Aztecs or Wolverines they were chucking the ball around, so Weis and Haywood decide it's a good idea to run right at Michigan State?  Conservative play-calling on the road be damned, Notre Dame needed to score points and put Javon Ringer in a hole.  Along those lines, who would watch the last two seasons of Notre Dame football and say, "Hey, let's try kicking a 51-yard field goal on fourth and manageable!".  It's hard to establish an identity when your coaching staff is like Guy Pearce in Memento. 

This offense should revolve around giving Golden Tate and Michael Floyd the ball over and over again, with the runs then sprinkled in after the pass is established.  I don't care about balance or claims of "pounding the ball;"  I just want to score points.  Maybe that's too much to ask, but when the defense continues to play pretty well - containing a very good Javon Ringer until the final drive when all hope was already lost - the offense only needs to put up a few touchdowns against most of the teams remaining on the Irish schedule (especially with North Carolina losing their coming-of-age starter).  The blitzes still aren't getting to the quarterback, but I like the effort and the defensive line's workman-like effort to make a different.

There's a lot more to look at, but everyone just needs to calm down.  As Rob put it in an e-mail, it sucks to lose, but most Irish fans, if you told them the team would be 2-1 to start the season, would be pleased.  Now, there are obviously big differences between 3-1 and 2-2, so this Saturday's game against an average Purdue team is huge.  Hopefully the home field advantage plays a big part with a young team, but the gameplan will be more important than any amount of cranking me up.

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Also, much more on this bullshit later.  The University - and heck, this country - has far bigger problems than going on underage drinking witch hunts.

Also, Free Brady Quinn, even if it requires firing Romeo Crennel.