Blue and Gold Illustrated

FAN FORUM FINISHING STRONG Just finished glancing over the Geor‑ gia Tech issue, and I am confused over the two Florida State games where Notre Dame was dominating, only to let FSU make it close late in the fourth quarter (similar to Georgia Tech). I was actually at the Nov. 13, 1993 game, impersonating "Rudy" to get on the bench. I seem to recall that at 31‑17, a pass bounced off of Brian Magee's hands on fourth down and into the arms of a FSU player to make it 31‑24. I always believed that if the final score was 31‑17 versus 31‑24, we might have gotten the vote for No. 1 based on the rational that gave Miami No. 1 in 1989. With regard to 2002, I know we blew another substantial lead in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame led 34‑10 before two late touchdowns made the final 34‑24 — and there was a carryover ef‑ fect into the next week's game against Boston College, a 14‑7 loss, although the dumb and totally unnecessary green jerseys did not help our cause. We went from 8‑0 to 10‑3 for the year; and one can make the case that the 2002 FSU game was the last time Notre Dame played well under Tyrone Willingham. Gary Morzella Via the Internet Mr. Morzella, in 2004, Notre Dame did defeat two teams ranked in the top 10 at the time of the game, Michigan and at Tennes‑ see, but an 11‑14 record over Willingham's last 25 games overrode those victories. INJURY ISSUES After hearing about the torn ACL to Tarean Folston's right knee, I am puzzled how he could have damaged that knee so badly after watching a replay of his run that tore the ACL. All I noticed is that he planted his right foot to make a cut to his left, and then the tackle that followed was one of no violence. After going through the excessively high number of injuries last year, and then starting off the year with this in‑ jury, do you think the program needs to thoroughly examine the regimen the strength and conditioning coach is placing on all the players? Is it too much conditioning? Too little? The wrong program altogether? Maybe you and your staff ought to write an article on the entire strength and conditioning program the football players have to adhere to. Something seems to be amiss with all the injuries. Brian Sontchi '75 Via the Internet Mr. Sontchi, yours is a fair question and an inevitable one that occurs when injuries mount. Certainly, Notre Dame is vigilant and conscientious about thor‑ oughly evaluating such issues, addressed by Brian Kelly, and maybe some day there might be different ways of doing things. But like you said, Folston's injury was confounding, and Shaun Crawford's was BE HEARD! Send your letters to: Letters Blue & Gold Illustrated P. O. Box 1007 Notre Dame, IN 46556 or e-mail to: lsomogyi@blueandgold.com

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