Mid-Season Report Card

With road victories over both Purdue and Washington, this year's Notre Dame squad has graduated from "improved" to "good", bordering on "very good."

4. Notre Dame 36 (3-1) @Washington 17.
This was the much-anticipated--by some conspiracy theorists, at least--match-up of Notre Dame versus their former head coach, Tyrone Willingham. Unlike his previous stop, TW did not benefit from having his predecessor leaving a cupboard stocked with talent. Or pehaps something else happened? Could it be...that TW is not a good football coach? GASP!!! Two late fourth-quarter scores made it look closer than this game ever was. Notre Dame continued its offensive assault, and Washington's chances ended with the opening kick.

5. Notre Dame 49 (4-1) @Purdue 28.
Entering the season, this game looked to be one of ND's many early tests, a second road contest against a Top 20 team in the first month of the schedule. But while ND stayed true to form with their revamped offense, Purdue continued an unexpected slide. Much like the UW game, this one was over almost before it started as ND jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead.

MID-SEASON GRADE: A-
This is how I handicapped Charlie Weis' first year at the helm...
September 3 at Pittsburgh W
September 10 at Michigan L (W)
September 17 Michigan State W (L)
September 24 at Washington W
October 1 at Purdue L (W)

October 15 USC L
October 22 BYU W
November 5 Tennessee L
November 12 Navy W
November 19 Syracuse W
November 26 at Stanford W
...for a projected final record of 7-4, with an expected bowl bid (and win).