There's a few diseases that I just don't get, they're just imperfections that people want excuses for. You like food but you're extremely lazy? Try out Bulimia. Do you know you can get extra time on standardized tests if you're bulimic? Don't even look it up, that's a fact. So, when your craving for food kicks in during a test, they actually encourage you to go vomit...but don't rush this one out, take your time, you're ill. Yeah, ill...and lazy. Do you get really happy sometimes, but really sad other times? Is this a trick question? Nope, it's bi-polar disorder, or as sports fans know it, Fanitis. Every fan knows the feeling, you hit your highs, you hit your lows, and there's no middle ground. Every August, millions of Notre Dame fans catch Fanitis and I'm no exception.

In a matter of hours this week, I was convinced Notre Dame could win it all, demoralized when Sportcenter reiterated that Florida lost zero defensive starters, zero Heisman trophy winners, and zero best leader since Jesus', then re-convinced when a friendly email turned it all around.

From JTP:

1. Sam Young is on the Outland Watch List (for the best lineman in the country). How is that possible?
   
2. Charlie has allowed players to wear visors.

JTP's clearly on the wrong side of Fanitis currently. Not me, my Fanitis is riding high; after all, we're undefeated for at least 3 more days. Disclaimer, Fanitis is a volatile disease, none of the following emotions may be relevant by the time you read this.

Sam Young on the Outland watch list? Disregard the fact these lists are longer than the Maury Povich "You're the father" episodes (Current record 12 – by my estimations this can be narrowed to a three week span, number 12 was her Taxi Driver...and, no, he was not the father vs. 40 for the Outland watch list). It's time for Sam Young to show his 5 star potential in his last year with the Irish (Ed Note: I typed 5 start potential on accident first, Freud would have something to say about that). No player may be more important to ND's success than Young this year and I'm OK with that. Notre Dame's not going to win 10 games this year without giving Jimmy time and RB X,Y, or Z somewhere to run. Here's the Fanitis spin: Sam Young is into what many professionals call a "contract year". Sam Young could earn himself anywhere from a ticket to the CFL to $25 million dollars this year. If that's not motivation, I don't know what is.

Charlie Weis is calling the plays this year!! From the booth? Hell yes! Oh wait...sorry. The spin: As much as everybody was, and is, pulling for Haywood, he wasn't getting the job done. Notre Dame has the type of offense that should find mismatches against almost any defense in the country. Is there a team not coached by Poodle on the schedule that can cover Floyd, Rudolph, and Tate without giving Clausen an opening to throw? I'm not seeing it. Weis figured out NFL defenses to the tune of three rings as coordinator. Sure, Brady wasn't putting up 50+ TD's, but their teams controlled the ball and we're always in position to win. If Ragone and Rudolph can play to their potential, helping out the run game, while keeping linebackers and safeties honest, Floyd and Tate are poised to make the Samardzija/Stovall leap this year and I think we're all ready for it.

Brown and Tenuta get free roam with their defense this year. The Fanitis spin: not too hard here, ND is slowly reinventing their defense (see JTP point #2, speed visors) and even without the veteran athletes that elite NCAA defenses possess, ND has playmakers. ND has their most athletic corners in recent memory; Walls, Blanton, and McNeil aren't going to shy away from one on one situations. If Tenuta can find his groove and keep the pressure on opposing teams QB's, this defense could carry the team much like the Walton D of Ty's first year. I'll take the occasional 60 yard bomb in exchange for steady three and outs that get our offense, see last paragraph, back on the field.

The schedule isn't great, maybe an undefeated ND team gets left out of a title shot. Really? The last BCS championship game that featured two undefeated teams without ND on their schedule was 2003. If Notre Dame takes care of business and beats a top 10 USC team, they'll be about 5th in the middle of October. With conference championships and rivalry games late in the season, I'll take my chances from there.

What makes us believe that Clausen will be able to avoid "the pick" (See UNC, 2008), that completely destroys a season? I don't think Clausen's going to run off a 40/4 ratio, but with an all-around better offense, there won't be reasons for him to try those passes that change games. He'll take his chances in one on one situations down-field and he'll use his 3rd and 4th options in Allen and Rudolph to turn those 3rd and longs into 3rd an 3's (See Quinn, Brady). Clausen has all the tools a college QB needs and another year under his belt to fix his hiccups and let Weis figure out the game plan.

My Fanitis is still working on the running game, but a 20 yard burst by Allen on the first drive against Nevada will surely kick that. Fanitis has officially taken over my life and I'm not upset at all. It's one of those good diseases; it's the anorexia for men. See you all in Pasadena.

Disclaimer: Bulimia may be a real disease and not an excuse for lazy people.