Lions & Tigers & Brian Kelly . . . Oh My!

September 18, 2011
By: O. J. Cunningham

Preseason . . . My thoughts and feelings were something like this . . .


I figured the Tigers would be good this year especially with the weakness in their division. The emergence of Justin Verlander as the "best pitcher" in baseball has raised the Tigers in stature among all prognosticators in sports media.

The Tigers' 12-game win streak pushed them "almost" to the top of the leader-board as far as games won this season in all of the American League.


As it sits this Sunday, the Tigers still trail the Yankees by three games and are just a mere one game ahead of the Rangers . . . who lead that "other division." My Guy, Tony Kornheiser (PTI) called the Tigers the "team to beat" in the American League as late as Thursday, September 15, 2011. But added . . . quickly . . . that the Yankees always become the "team to beat" once the calendar rolls to October.

One last thing about the Tigers -- To me . . . Tiger "Super Closer" Jose Valverde looks like a ticking time bomb just waiting to burst like yesterdays too often used balloon. The numbers (44 straight saves) speak for themselves. But he is ANYTHING but solid when it comes to last out performances.

If anything in the Tiger juggernaut breaks down in the stretch run . . . my guess is that it will be the bullpen. Seriously . . . Valverde is no Todd Jones . . . (That's a joke, son.)

Biggest Tiger surprise: Doug Fister . . .

The Detroit Lions

If you weren't STOKED about the chances of the Lions having a breakout season going into this NFL campaign . . . You don't know JACK. (Or maybe I should say . . . You don't know Suh.)

Stafford proved himself to be "THE MAN" last year even as he was carried off the field. Sure, Stafford could go down in a heap under 800 pounds of linemen and never be heard from again . . . But if he plays 16 games, the Lions will battle for the division and get into the playoffs.


Stafford throws a dart and Calvin Johnson along with Nate Burleson, Rashied Davis and Brandon Pettigrew give him plenty of targets.

Jahvid Best is coming into his own and will rush for 1,000 yards this year.

But it's the defense, led by Nadamakung Suh, that will make the difference. These guys have gotten bigger, faster and seem to be on a mission. The Lions are destroying the Chiefs as I beat out this column . . . and the defense (as it was last week against Tampa) is the difference.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- Brian Kelly

Game One -- Wrong Quarterback Starts . . . 5 Turnovers . . . USF 23 - ND 20

Game Two -- OMG . . . 5 More Turnovers . . . Michigan 35 - ND 31 (I was on Suicide Watch for three days after the game)

Game Three -- Personal Opinion . . . If it wasn't for George Atkinson's 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown following the MSU field goal, this game could have had a completely different outcome . . . 3 More Turnovers . . . ND 31-MSU 13.

The touchdown sprint by Atkinson was just about the first "good luck, Irish kinda thing" that happened to the Fighting Irish since they led South Florida early in game one.


Make a mental note . . . if Irish Eyes keep smiling, it just may be that 89-yard rumble to the house by Atkinson that is the lynchpin in the Irish 2011 season.

PRESEASON ND THOUGHTS -- I was optimistic -- I've been out of college a long time (Class of '65.) I've lived the ups and downs . . . suffered through the promise and failure and enjoyed the fragmented glory moments (1984) throughout the past 45+ years.

I've always been somewhat of a "closet" Golden Domer. Only my closest circle of friends know I'm a graduate.

I was at Notre Dame when Ara Parseghian replaced Joe Kuharich. I was there for "Huarte to Snow" in 1964. It was the "New Ara" and it was truly awesome.

Then came Devine (SOB), Gerry Faust (MOAN), and (still my favorite) Lou Holtz.

Bob Davie (WHIMPER), Ty Willingham (GROAN) and Charlie Weiss (NICE CONTRACT, CHARLIE) brought nothing but false prophesy.

Then, in 2010, came Brian Kelly. After last year, I was ready to win 'em all in 2011. I was on-board the Irish Love Train.

Let's just sum up my preseason emotions by admitting that I bought a Notre Dame Fighting Irish flag (with Leprechaun) to fly on my flagpole.

Fool me once . . . shame on you . . . I should have known better . . . LAFF.

I honestly expected to be 2-1 after three games . . . drubbing USF and splitting with the Michigan teams -- And if someone would have promised a win over the Spartans, I would have put money on the table that the IRish would be 3-0.

Nonetheless . . . I will not be surprised when/if the Irish earn a BCS game with a 10-2 or 9-3 record. The BCS computers really like 9-game winning streaks.