Notre Dame could lay claim to worst streak with loss this week

[DeclinetoState]

More (http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=ap-futileirish&prov=ap&type=lgns)

By TOM COYNE, AP Sports Writer
October 2, 2007

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Notre Dame could hit another historic low against UCLA on Saturday.

The Fighting Irish (0-5) already are off to the worst start in school history. A loss Saturday would match the school's longest losing streak at eight and could remove any doubt the Irish are in the midst of their worst stretch of football ever.

The Irish aren't just losing, they're losing big.

In the last seven games, Notre Dame has been outscored 251-84, an average of 36-12, and that includes two games with Brady Quinn at quarterback, Darius Walker at halfback and Jeff Samardzija at wide receiver.

The 1960 team, led by former Chicago Cardinals and Washington Redskins (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/was/;_ylt=AuxPoc5xMzPLvyeEhfn6p1HjvbYF) coach Joe Kuharich, lost eight straight games between winning its first and last games against California and USC.
Somehow, I don't see the Fighting Irish beating UCLA.

[BabyBeastie]

ND should think of this season as a rebuilding season. They were a mediocre team with Brady Quinn last year. Now they have nobody.

I fear for ND. They don't stand a chance against UCLA.

[The_Elucidator]

ND should think of this season as a rebuilding season. They were a mediocre team with Brady Quinn last year. Now they have nobody.

I fear for ND. They don't stand a chance against UCLA.

Actually they should think of this as a "NCAA Probation" year. Thanks to piss poor recruiting by Ty "I'd rather be golfing" Wiltingham we had only 68 scholarship players on the roster when Charlie took over. And of those 68 there are not many 4 or 5 star quality recruits. At this moment there are only 8 scholarship seniors and 13 scholarship juniors. Last year's class along with this year's class will make '08 a 7 -5 season and 09 a championship caliber season. This years Frosh and Soph class are good but very inexperienced and you are seeing that with all the mistakes. The skill position players at RB, QB and WR/TE will keep progressing and will be marquee in a year or two. Book it!

As far as UCLA goes... The Irish don't match up well with the Bruins, but if the OL can pass protect this game could actually be closer than expected. But that is a very BIG IF...

[BabyBeastie]

Looks like I was wrong. This has to be the most under reported story in sports history because I didn't find out that ND won until yesterday. LOL

[DeclinetoState]

Recap: U-C-L-A vs. Notre Dame

By Sports Network

The Sports Network

The Notre Dame defense forced seven turnovers as used a 34-yard fumble return by Maurice Crum to defeat the UCLA Bruins, 20-6, in non-league play at the Rose Bowl.

Quarterback Jimmy Clausen completed 17-of-27 passes in the win for Notre Dame (1-5), but for only 84 yards. The signal caller also scored a touchdown on the ground for the Fightin' Irish. James Aldridge led the ground game for ND with only 52 yards on 22 carries.

"There is some joy in that locker room," ND head coach Charlie Weis said. "It's been a long time since they've been able to sing the fight song."

As for the Bruins (4-2) they struggled in all areas of the contest. A key to the offensive struggles was the loss of quarterback Ben Olson, who suffered an apparent leg injury.More (http://www.kentucky.com/537/story/196264.html)

UCLA didn't get much of a chance to gloat over USC's loss to Stanford--a team that had at least won a game earlier in the season.