The Anti-Preview: Notre Dame Fighting Irish VS Ball State Cardinals

Well that was fun — wasn’t it? The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 1-0 after physically dominating the Michigan Wolverines. They’ll look to make it a sweet 2-0 start to the season when the 1-0 Ball State Cardinals fly up from Muncie.

Look, we all know this is a pushover game (no matter what way anyone wants to spin it). While I think we all have a pretty hearty appetite for “big win football” it’s games like this that can help Notre Dame down the road.

Stay healthy, get some playing time for the depth chart, and win by 35. It’s really not that hard [ducks from the mob].

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DRINKING?

It’s called, “The Force.” There really isn’t much more to be said about its dominance with a name like that. The recipe comes from a friend (and a HUGE closet Notre Dame fan) Michael Felder AKA @InTheBleachers. This is what we do for season openers- we kick it with, “The Force.” Yep- it’s called tradition. Forget uniforms, turf preferences, or even fullbacks- this is what TRADITION really is. (okay okay... we skipped it this year because the Michigan game has its own traditions).

THIS DRINK IS NOT FOR THE WEAK

We like to make ours in a Gatorade cooler, the type with the spout on the bottom so that there’s no dippage, I’m a germaphobe.

• 24 cheap beers (Natural Light is our go to)
• 1 half gallon cheap vodka (Aristocrat will do)
• 1 19 oz Country Time Lemonade POWDER
• *optional is a fifth of everclear (not suitable for freshman)
• *suggested is frozen lemonade or fruit punch concentrate (ice without watering things down)

Pour the case of beer into the cooler, add the vodka, stir in the lemonade powder. We like to put frozen blocks of ice in ziploc bags to keep it cold but strong. I will warn you that everyone’s first experience ends badly. I passed out for the first half of the UNC-Rutgers game in 2006, woke up, everyone was at the game and I was still at the house.

It is delicious though, I’ve seen it called Moose Juice and Summer Beer as well.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE EATING?

I guess we have an abundance of chicken, and I’m sure you won’t mind subtracting a can or two of your Natty Light. How about a little beer can chicken? How about watching 3 people that probably don’t care one cluck for football — cook beer can chicken? Okay then...

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE WEARING?

It’s Ball State. If you want to wear green this week, maybe have some fun and do something weird — but not too weird. There are kids there bro.

KEY(S) TO THE GAME

Here are some very important and very simple points:

• Stay healthy.
• Use the depth chart.
• Punish them for not being better.

Basically, Notre Dame just needs to run through some of its packages, and run up the score.

AT THE END OF THE DAY...

Notre Dame is just too talented in comparison to Ball State for me to get even a little bit anxious. I look for the Irish to pour it on in the first half, and then start dipping hardcore into its depth chart in the second half. It smells like a 8 touchdown day.

Notre Dame 59 Ball State 13