We got quite a few good guesses yesterday from our panel of regulars. Good guesses. But, definitely wrong.
Our No. 7 is, as you now know, Notre Dame of West Haven.
OK, OK, calm down, people. Shhhh! Yes. I hear you. Loud and clear.
Let me begin by saying I wrestled a long time with this decision. Ask Ned Griffen of The Day. He’ll tell you. It wasn’t easy. I made a few phone calls, poured over the few prospectuses that have come into my office (deadline day, coaches, is only two days away and I’ve yet to hear from quite a few of you), and even considered your Top 8s.
I made a choice. I’ll stick with it… that is until the Green Knights get hammered by Xavier in Week Two. (I can already hear the most superstitious guy I know, ND Alumni/PR director Steve Kirck, screaming at me this morning from his office: “Why’d you pick us!? You’re the kiss of death!!!”
Look, understanding that this group was 4-6 a year ago, and that a lot of things have to go Notre Dame’s way for this pick to come to fruition, the Green Knights have a team to make a run over there in the toughest league in the state, SCC Division I. Last year, if you remember, Notre Dame beat Hand (once again, a trendy preseason pick in the SCC. Location keeps it from being a part of these rankings) and it also beat playoff-bound Hamden in the Green Bowl.
The pieces, as I’ve discussed in today’s paper, are there. Athletic director Tom Marcucci is back running the show. He believes they’ll contend with every team on the schedule.
Oh yes, the schedule.
Did I mention it’s brutal? That early-season test with Xavier is at Palmer Field. Ask Shelton and Hamden what it’s like to compete up there. …Then Notre Dame comes home to play West Haven, which hammered the Green Knights last year. …They go to the Maclary Complex to face Cheshire. Home vs. for a non-conference vs. Naugatuck, home vs. dangerous Wilbur Cross. …And then, just as it starts to get windy and cold, they head to the Surf Club to play Hand.
What? The SCC couldn’t throw in the New York Giants for kicks?
So… yeah. A gutsy pick on my part, given the schedule and Notre Dame’s penchant for vanishing at times during the regular season. But, hey, you have to take a few shots in this business (remember Trinity Catholic at No. 8 in 2005?).
This is mine. For better or worse.
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serious stretch here Bowley. one of those where if it is a bust you look silly and if its a winner then you are agruably then man with the biggest set of stones alive for making this prediction. if you are correct people will fear your scary predicting powers, almost like the second coming of nostradamus. im saying this is a bust sorry Bowley, you sound more like TO predicting a super bowl in Buffalo right now…silly
Comment by prophet — September 10th, 2009 @ 11:06 am
My Rallying Cry: “Remember The Norwalk!”
Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — September 10th, 2009 @ 11:41 am
That was a terrible pick last year! I laughed when I saw them lose week one if I remember right.
Comment by MasukRules — September 10th, 2009 @ 5:39 pm
Its Kinda like slow pitch soft ball Bowley…you see that big floating meatball and you know if you crush it your team wins and you are the hero, but if you now remember you have been pounding silver bullets for and hour and a half straight, and that beautiful floating ball looks more like a screwball then a floater…dont worry we all strike out time to time, just blame it on the coors cuz
Comment by prophet — September 11th, 2009 @ 8:51 am
By the way … this wasn’t a bad pick last year, huh?
Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — July 23rd, 2010 @ 5:21 pm