Notre Dame 34, Virginia 27

Go ahead and Mark me down as: a) impressed with Saturday's effort, b) pissed that we don't get that kind of effort for every game, and c) unmoved by moral victories.

A few thoughts...

Matt Johns is legit.

So is Canaan Severin... although I'm pissed that he's already a senior after playing as a true freshman in 2012 so he could: Appeared in all 12 games for Virginia ... made collegiate debut versus Richmond ... caught first career reception for three yards at Georgia Tech ... finished season with one catch ... appeared on special teams for 85 plays ... one of 17 different Cavaliers to make at least one reception in 2012.

It's looking like this Olamide Zaccheaus kid might just be a player.  I'm excited about what I saw out of him.

Our o-line had a pretty good day.  It's clear that they are better at steering defenders than they are at blocking them, which is why this should be a quick passing / perimeter running offense, not the "power running" horseshit the coaching staff was derping about prior to the season.

Mike Moore is not very good.

The defense, in general, appears to be a problem this season.  That run-stopping was atrocious.

William & Mary is up next.  While a part of me would enjoy the absolute clarity a loss would provide, I'll happily take a win that could settle the team and the fanbase for the midseason grind.  Assuming a win over the Tribe, it sets up a huge Friday night game against a not-as-good-as-they-usually-are Boise State team.  It's a very winnable game, especially if we get the same sort of effort and playcalling we got against the Irish.

Here's how I see this thing playing out.

W&M - win

Boise - win

Then comes a bye week, when the line will be drawn in the sand.  On one side, the pollyannas and the Mike London sycophants.  On the other, the realists and the pessimists masquerading as realists.

@ Pitt - loss

Syracuse - win

Sitting at 3-3, it's another crossroads moment.  How will the team finish out the season?

@ UNC - loss

GT - loss

@ Miami - loss

@ Louisville - loss

Duke - loss

VT - loss

By losing out, of course!  Maybe there's a crazy win against Miami in there, but I'm guessing not.

And December brings a coaching change and the rebirth of hope.  I'm excited for that.