IlliniKrush

No, that would be the Bears

By Avani Patel Tribune staff reporter September 17, 2003, 10:17 PM CDT SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The pecking order is plainly visible to the players. The depth chart is well-defined to the coaches. For everyone else, the debate continues. Should three-year senior starter Carlyle Holiday still be Notre Dame's quarterback? After Holiday completed 5-of-14 passes for just 55 yards in the 38-0 loss to Michigan, should the reins simply be handed to freshman phenom Brady Quinn? "As of right now, no," Quinn said this week. But could Quinn take over soon? "He's getting close, but he has had only two games, and when you look at it, probably maybe all of 20 reps," offensive coordinator Bill Diedrick said. "So that's not really enough." Diedrick, in charge of transforming Holiday from an option-style quarterback into the drop-back passer Notre Dame's West Coast offense demands, conceded Holiday's progress has been slow. "At times, it seems like it's baby steps. But you still have to crawl before you walk and walk before you run," Diedrick said. "And it's about time for some of us to step up and begin running." Holiday said he is ready to do just that as the 1-1 Irish prepare for Michigan State on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. "It's just a matter of executing and remaining a little bit more poised," he said. Holiday has been dealing with pressure since his days as the quarterback at San Antonio's Roosevelt High School. "When you lose a game there you have everybody going crazy on you," Holiday said. "It's not this intense, it's a lower level, but it prepared me a little bit." Holiday said he's concerned simply with getting his game—and his team—back on track. "Coach [Tyrone Willingham] is not a guy who will play just seniors," Holiday acknowledged. "He wants the best lineup and he still feels I'm the best guy out there to lead this team. And that just boosts my confidence right there." Having Quinn so close on his heels, Holiday said, is also a positive. "It does nothing but help you out in every way—in practice, in the game," Holiday said. "It pushes you. You may not want to hear some of the things being said, but at the same time it helps you because … that's kind of a motivation factor." As the quarterback at Notre Dame, Holiday labors in a national spotlight. "I judge him every day, and the public is going to judge him every day, and unfortunately the public is unforgiving, so every mistake is magnified," Diedrick said. "But he is moving forward. It may not be as fast as someone in Row 35, Seat 12 likes. And it's definitely not as fast as we would probably like. And it's probably not as fast as Carlyle would like." Quinn, on the other hand, has made quick progress for a first-year player. "I feel pretty comfortable [in the offense]. I think I have a pretty good grasp," Quinn said. "Of course, I'm a true freshman, so I don't really have that experience to back that up." Teaching Holiday the offense has been tougher than it was to teach the same system at Stanford when he took over as the school's offensive coordinator in 1998, Diedrick said. "Basically, they were in a very, very similar offense, so the installation of it was rather easy. It would be like giving a car a polish job," Diedrick said. "Here, you're rebuilding from the frame up. Everybody's expecting quantum leaps. You could say it's jumping from pre-algebra to calculus. You skipped algebra, geometry and finite math." Would it be difficult to bench Holiday if Quinn proved to be the swifter student? No, Diedrick said. "It's easy, because whether it's a quarterback position, wide receiver position, offensive line, the best players who are going to help the team win are going to play," Diedrick said. "It's as simple as that." Copyright © 2003, The Chicago Tribune

You can label every game from here on out a must win...they have to go at least 9-2 i'd say to have any shot...and then it's still not a good one

DUde im not slamming you but slamming broomsticks into asses is WELL beyond hazing............ I know...that's how they referred to it hence i used the term

Wrong, just wrong. Hazing is just wrong Only thing we ever did was 100% voluntary head shavings/bad haircuts for new guys on the hockey team. It was more a team hangout event, not hazing. It was all fun. There's a definite line to be drawn, and this crap is just wrong. I can't believe it still goes on.

Make sure you are blatantly checking your mirrors often, just a tip

Ya, that's what i'm saying.

Hefty pocketbook guarantees nothing, ask Hawks fans. The whole winning thing applies 100%

I think friday, saturday, sunday, two of those days, so the 3rd through the 5th. That's just what i thought it was, someone else probly knows for sure.

Just don't go making any more predictions about us being down and we'll be OK! I didn't predict that, it was a what if situation

Yesterday was a train wreck. There's still questions about Loaiza. Well i know it's great to talk about it but it's all done and over with, and we got the loss. Tonight's game is huge, there's no doubt. I never say "this game is the season" about any game, unless it really is the last game of the season or something, but a loss here guarantees a series loss, and the Sox would come out of Minnesota at least 1.5 games out. What can we expect tonight? Is Garland gonna step it up in the Twinkie dome? Can he pitch under this much pressure? How are we gonna handle Rogers? What lineup would you throw out there tonight given the pathetic performance yesterday by the offense? I don't mean to push all of yesterday's game aside, but it's becoming almost too negative considering the season isn't yet over, and there's a huge game in about 4 hours. I'm already excited/nervous about it.

I'm 19. If they win it now, should i pay attention to the Sox the rest of my life? What would be the point? They aren't going to win anything, correct? I don't know if i'd appreciate it more or less at this point then when i'm like 10 years older...i really don't know...but i'd say i'd appreciate it as much now as i would in the future, that's just my guess though. Maybe if i was older and had season tickets and was at every single home game it'd be more meaningful. But any championship after i turned probly like 16 and became a true sports fan, not just like "i hope the sox win", i'd say any championship at any year after that would be quite rewarding. I have no idea if what i said makes sense.

How about Pierz and Meintky Good point though. Twins don't have more talent that us, i don't think it's real close either. However, they play as a T-E-A-M and with heart more often than we do.

My mom has said the same thing, every year, about every team i have

Wouldn't this hypothetical situation take the fun out of being a sports fan?

Ya, i know what you are saying, but that's why they play the games. What if we can pull off the next 2 here? It doesn't look great for Det/Min, but you just don't know. I'd rather not just give up now, no matter how it looks.

Why didn't Loaiza TELL Jerry he was that sick..? Rather than crying to everyone else..? Geez... I'm not a fan of JM's by any means, but it's pretty sick how he get's blamed for everything and the f***ing ADULTS on the field get a pass. When do they get to start taking some responsibility..? Remember when Rick White did this and he was brought in to pitch anyway, I think it was aginst Baltimore. I really think Jerry is on the take. I am serious he makes no good moves. Shouldn't at some point JM say, so how you feel today. Wheather he is serious or not? And people around here are so naive that they figure Loaiza complained about being sick to anyone who'd listen but that not one person, NOT ONE PERSON, that he complained to would go up to JM and say, "ELo said he's deathly ill. Go talk to him about starting tonight." Right. So he wouldn't talk to JM for what reason? Why is it Graffanino's responsibility to tell JM "hey don't start Esteban" when in fact, Esteban might be sick, but still ok to pitch.

Plus you say we added Koch, Colon, and Loaiza...well before the year you'd say Koch and Colon would be huge additions and Loaiza not at all...you couldn't get hyped up about the year because we signed Loaiza in the offseason, he is a pleasant surprise

Basically because you just gave up on the season in one post. If the Sox won yesterday, this post doesn't come out. What if they win the division? You've already called this your most disappointing season ever? I think that's pretty premature. Plus, i didn't expect a whole lot out of this team back in april and may when they sucked, so to come through and compete for the division has been quite pleasant, not quite disappointing.

Why didn't Loaiza TELL Jerry he was that sick..? Rather than crying to everyone else..? Geez... I'm not a fan of JM's by any means, but it's pretty sick how he get's blamed for everything and the f***ing ADULTS on the field get a pass. When do they get to start taking some responsibility..? Exactly. If you can't go, step up and say something. Until i hear "jerry refused relieve Loaiza of his start even when Loaiza told him he was really sick" i'll blame ELo

I pretty much disagree with what you have to say

Thanks guys

so true, good stuff

Wasted inning Ugh

No, it's not. They play a song like that after they play this dance-club like intro, usually.