Blog Davie: Dang that sucks.  Just eight wins.  The season started with so much promise, we were nationally ranked!   Lost some we shouldn’t have, the regular season ended with that pathetic loss to our hated rival, and then we just lost the bowl game on top of it.

Steve in Iowa: I can’t believe we let that lead slip away.

Blog: Yeah, it looked like we had the game under control in the first half, but we just kept finding ways to turn the ball over and give the game away.  Same old Notre Dame, finding ways to lose.

Steve: You know I always say, “Let’s look on the bright side”, but what is there to look forward to about next season?  Have you looked at the schedule?

Blog: Yeah.  It is absolutely BRUTAL.  I have no idea how we can possibly improve on eight wins when we just lost our best wide receiver and main offensive weapon.

Steve: <sigh> I miss him already.  No doubt he’ll have a great NFL career.

Blog: Yeah, but he WAS SO MUCH of the offense.  He had to be accounted for on every play and really was the only guy to keep defenses honest.  It looks like next year we might have to have some position switches to WR or depend on some incoming freshman to step up.

Steve: It’s not just WR.  We obviously have a great big question mark at QB now.  We NEED a QB that can run and not turn the ball over so much.

Blog: Maybe that young kid is the answer? He definitely has some running ability. His arm ain’t bad either, though he won’t remind anyone of Joe Montana.

Steve: Maybe.  I just wish that he was given more playing time this year so he would get more of a chance to develop.

Blog: Look it takes a new coach a few years to get his system installed, we all know that.  We need to cut Coach a break.  You could see the improvements from last year to this year.   And the defense is really looking young and fast.

Steve:  It is nice to have an All-American LB coming back to lead our front seven.  Plus there are some really great freshmen D-linemen.  If they develop some more our D should be top ten next year.

Blog: I just wished they brought more pressure.  This vanilla “bend-but-don’t break” stuff needs to change.  We need to attack!

Steve: Cut the D coordinator some slack.  What do you know about defensive scheming?  You’re only NINE years old!

Blog: I know more than you!  You think just cause you’re a freshman in high school now you know more than me? How do you think I beat you on the video game all the time?

Steve: Alright, little brother, calm down.  I’m sorry.  That was way out of line.  We’re just two guys with opinions about the team we love and we’re all a little upset.  This bowl game sucked.

Blog: I’m sorry, too, Steve.

[Momentary Silence]

Blog: Steve?

Steve: Yeah, Blog?

Blog: Do you think 1988 will be a better season than 1987?

Steve: Anything is possible, little brother.  Anything is possible.

*[GameDay40.com does not guarantee the historical accuracy of this conversation]