WE NEVER GRADUATE

THE BODOGS ARE BARKIN: WEEK #8

2011-10-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

Week 7 Results

Mattare:

Hinkle

Mikey

Chuck

Overall Standings

Mattare +71 (Slow and steady, just like 2010)

Hinkle +30 (Isin't he due for an all in moment soon?)

Chuck -44 (Maybe he should go back to doing his picks before going out on Friday's)

Mikey -248 (Slowly climbing out of a deeper hole than any Chilean miner was ever in)

PICKS

Mikey

The go big or go home strategy has worked the past 2 weeks and it's the only way I'm climbing back in the door:

Illinois (+6) vs. Penn St. $22 to win $20

Penn St. beat Purdue by less than 6, can't believe they're giving that many to the Illini.

Georgia (-3) vs. Florida $110 to win $100

This week's big bet goes against the state of Florida instead of for it. BE SOME DOGS, BULLDOGS!

Arizona (+4.5) vs. Washington $22 to win $20

The line has been dropping steadily so it's only smart to bet with the public, duh.

Stanford (-7.5) vs. USC $22 to win $20

Somehow Andrew Luck seemed to be getting negative publicity this week after stomping Washington. He'll prove again in LA this week why he's the No. 1 pick.

Mattare

Nebraska (-4.5) over Michigan State...$44 to win $40

Oklahoma (-14.5) over Kansas State...$44 to win $40

Wisconsin (-8) over Ohio State...$44 to win $40

Stanford (-8.5) over Southern Cal...$33 to win $30

Hinkle

Time to make some moves. Looking for a solid weekend with a 5th bonus game this week. Need Georgia to keep winning for my Broncos!

Kentucky +10 vs Mississippi State 22 win 20

Nebraska/Michigan St. O 50.5 33 win 30

Georgia -3 @ Florida 88 win 80

Navy ML vs ND 10 win 97

USC + 8 vs Stanford 22 win 20

Chuck

1. Clemson (-3.5) over Georgia Tech...$132 to win $120

2. Georgia (-2.5) over Florida...$22 to win $20

3. West Virginia (-6.5) over Rutgers...$22 to win $20

4. Southern Cal (+8) over Stanford...$22 to win $20

THE BODOGS ARE BARKIN: WEEK #7

2011-10-22T06:59:00.000-07:00

Week 6 Results

Mattare: +90 (He had Oregon -14.5 but we all used 14 so he gets the PUSH as well)

Hinkle +68

Mikey +66

Chuck -88

Overall Standings

Mattare +71 (Slow and steady, just like 2010)

Hinkle +30 (Isin't he due for an all in moment soon?)

Chuck -44 (Maybe he should go back to doing his picks before going out on Friday's)

Mikey -248 (Slowly climbing out of a deeper hole than any Chilean miner was ever in)

PICKS

Mikey

Need to cash another big one like the Noles last week, here we go:

Cincinnati (+3) vs. South Florida $22 to win $20

Like the way UC is playing, not so much South Florida.

Missouri (+6.5) vs. Oklahoma St. $22 to win $20

Feeling a massive trap game here, not sure if the Pokes survive.

Florida St. (-17) vs. Maryland $110 to win $100

Riding the gravy train baby, don't let me down Jimbo.

Wisconsin (-7.5) vs. Michigan St. $22 to win $20

Can't see Michigan St. pulling back-to-back big victories and the Badgers are straight cash homie.

Mattare

Air Force +30 @ Boise State $33 win $30

Oklahoma State -7.5 @ Mizzou $33 win $30

UNC +11 @ Clemson $33 win $30

Wisconsin -7.5 vs. Michigan State $77 win $70

Hinkle

Wake Forest -4 @ Duke $33 win $30

Duke is not good. I think this is a nail biter until the half and then Wake will open it up.

Temple/Bowling Green OVER 48.5 $33 win $30

USC +9.5 @ Notre Dame $77 win $70

Veteran QB versus one who will shit his pant tonight in this big of a game. 3 Turnovers at least for the ND QB. I think this game is a FG either way.

Wisconsin/MSU OVER 49.5 $33 win $30

I learned my lesson when I took the under vs. Nebraska.

Chuck

Irish Blogger Gathering: Converting the Unconvertable

2011-10-21T07:37:00.000-07:00

Domer Law brings the questions this week and I bring the answers from an Einstein Bagel in Chicago while I wait for my ride to South Bend/Tailgate-a-geddon/Notre Dame-Southern Cal. Let's get to it.

1. I'm taking an old friend of mine to the USC game. They were born and raised in South Bend near Notre Dame, and developed a dislike for the University at a young age from dealing with the frustrations and messes that come from Notre Dame home football weekends. She's never been to a Notre Dame game before (she's an Ohio State fan). We're going to go tailgate and do all the usual tailgating stuff. Any suggestions on what I could do to help her let go of her animosity towards Notre Dame?

I hate to be the one who breaks this to you, but she’s a Buckeye fan. She’s not salvageable. But for the sake of denial, let’s pretend she can be saved. Take a trip to The Grotto (soften the heart out of the gate) followed by a raging tailgate where she can bond with Irish fans over a mutual hatred of Michigan. Finding things you have in common breaks down barriers. My boys and I will be under the giant “Yard Sale” flag next to Legends with all the Michigan hate in the world to share with her if you need a hand.

2. On a related note, do you have any suggestions for improving the Notre Dame game weekend experience generally? Are there traditions lost that you'd like to see restored, or new ideas that you'd like to see implemented to improve the gameday experience?

I love gameday at Notre Dame, but my biggest beef with the experience of the entire weekend has been the completely obliteration of the pep rally. The “Rally on the Green” is indescribably horrendous and embarrassing. The administration has officially waved the white flag on having students play a role in it or caring an iota about it. It’s catered to little kids—which is not the way it should be—and it’s outdoors—which is terrible.

One of the best moments of the weekend used to be when the band flooded into the JACC through the tunnels blasting the Victory March. In my eyes it officially kicked off a Notre Dame football weekend. It was worth sitting through the rest of the rally—no matter how good or bad it was (and it was usually bad)—just for those two minutes.

3. (a) USC is (and always will be) our biggest rival. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? And if you agree, why do you feel that this is such an important rivalry? (b) Rank your top 10 college football rivalries and provide justifications for each.

There will be others that arise in spurts that will be more meaningful in the moment than Southern Cal (ex: Miami in the late 80’s), but over time the Trojans will always be our chief rival. The history runs incredibly deep, laced with heartbreaks and glorious triumphs on both sides. Memorable contests cement great rivalries and there isn’t another opponent in Notre Dame’s long history that’s delivered as many as Southern Cal. The Irish victories in ’73 and ’77 are two of the most celebrated victories of all-time while the ’64 and ’05 losses are almost undoubtedly the two most heartbreaking losses in school history.

Top 10 Rivalries

These are the ten rivalries that I'll go out of my way to make sure I watch every year:

Army-Navy...I mean, come on.
Ohio State-Michigan...Far and away the biggest game in the Big Ten.
Texas-Texas A&M...Always an entertaining contest on Thanksgiving weekend. Way to ruin it, Aggies.
Oregon-Oregon State...Love the Civil War.
Alabama-Auburn...Roll Tide.
Clemson-South Carolina...There is an underrated amount of hate in this rivalry which is so necessary.
UCF-UConn...brought to you by the braintrust of the Big East Conference.
Georgia-Georgia Tech...Any game called "Good Ol' Fashioned Hate" is worth watching.
Oklahoma-Oklahoma St...Bedlam.
Oklahoma-Texas...Loses points because it's always at a neutral site.

4. Southern Cal is 5-1, with their only loss on the road at Arizona State. They are unranked, sitting right behind us in the "also receiving votes" category. How good is Southern Cal this year? How do you see this game playing out?

They’re very middle of the road, way down by Southern Cal standards. There are still studs on both sides of the ball, but for the first time in over a decade Notre Dame has a clear advantages in the trenches on offense and defense. If both teams play their best game, the Trojans cannot keep up with the Irish. It felt so good to type that.

That being said, Notre Dame displayed an otherworldly ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the first two weeks of the season. Southern Cal is far better than South Florida and Michigan and is more than capable of walking into Notre Dame Stadium and leaving with a victory.

That’s not happening on this night though.

As much as I’d like to see Notre Dame blow the doors off Southern Cal and rub Lane Kiffin’s face in the turf, I think it’ll be a close game where we get down early due to a stupid mistake or two and have to claw back. David Ruffer snaps back and drills three field goals that prove to be the difference. Notre Dame 23, Southern Cal 20.

5. It appears that with a win over USC, we'll re-enter the Top 25 rankings. Now that we're halfway through the season and have some actual evidence available to us from real games, how do you see the rest of the season playing out? Predict:

(a) Notre Dame's final record (indicating where we will lose if at all) – 10-2…I think Stanford is overrated and that’s the only team other than So Cal that can scare us.
(b) Notre Dame's bowl destination, opponent and outcome – Fiesta Bowl vs Boise…Notre Dame 34, Boise State 33
(c) The BCS Championship game and result – Alabama 31, Oklahoma 13
(d) Notre Dame's final AP ranking – #6
(e) The winners of the major awards, including:
(i) Heisman Trophy – Trent Richardson
(ii) Home Depot Coach of the Year - Dabo Swinney
(iii) Davey O'Brien Award (best QB) – Kellen Moore
(iv) Doak Walker Award (best RB) – Trent Richardson
(v) Fred Biletnikoff Award (best WR) – Ryan Broyles
(vi) Chuck Bednarik Award (best defensive player) - Donta Hightower

THE BODOGS ARE BARKIN: WEEK #6

2011-10-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

Week 5 Results

Chuck: -$103. Hinkle: -$71. Mattare: $66. Mikey: -$92.

Standings thru Week 5.

Chuck: $44. Hinkle: -$38. Mattare: -$19. Mikey: -$314.

Mattare

USC -3 over Cal $33 to win $30

Ok St. -8 over Texas $33 to win $30

Alabama -27 over Ole Miss $33 to win $30

Oregon -14.5 over Arizona St. $33 to win $30

Hinkle

You be the judge on this rapid chain of events....

A. Josh moves to Tucson

B. Josh goes to see the U of A vs. Oregon

C. Josh decides the U of A should dominate Oregon State and makes it his biggest bet of the year to date.

D. Arizona loses

E. Mike Stoops if fired....think about it

On to the winners:

USC-3 vs Cal $44 win $40

BYU Oregon State OVER 51 $55 win $50

Georgia -11.5 vs Vandy $22 win $20

Oregon -14 vs Arizona State $22 win $20

Chuck

Arizona st over Oregon $22 to win $20

Penn st -11.5 over Purdue $22 to win $20

Georgia tech -7 over UVA $44 to win $40

RG III +9 over A&M $22 to win $20

Mikey

If I win out I'm probably still in good shape...riding the postitive train this week.

Penn St. (-11.5) vs. Purdue $22 to win $20

Penn St. has looked terrible all year so natually I'm picking them as a double digit favorite. Purdue asking for a letdown game after a big home win.

Florida St. (-13.5) vs. Duke $110 to win $100

I continue to ride the Seminole train even though they've been burning me all season. This time I'm going big to recoop all the previous losses

Georgia Tech (-7) vs. Virginia $22 to win $20

I saw UVA play at Indiana a few weeks ago and it was damn ugly. Thinking G Tech can go in and run all over them so laying the TD should be no problem.

Arizona St. (+14) vs. Oregon $22 to win $20

Ducks are banged up and I'd love to see them go down on their home field. Think this one will be very tight.

GAMEDAY: CHECK YOUR TONE, BOY

2011-10-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

The Irish put together a solid all-around effort last week against a horrendously terrible Purdue squad. Air Force presents a different, tougher, and more interesting challenge. Bob Diaco would go a long way in silencing the remaining critics if his defensive unit squashes the Zoomies' ground attack today.

Air Force's defense is banged up and out-manned, especially on line. ND delivers today and reminds the mouthy Tim Jefferson that the Irish are on their way to becoming a force.

Have fun digging yourself out from the turf Manti Te'o is going to bury you in, Timmy.

Notre Dame 34

Air Force 13

THE BODOGS ARE BARKIN: WEEK #5

2011-10-08T08:41:00.000-07:00

Week 4 Results

1. Chuck: $16
2. Hinkle: $14
3. Mattare: -$29
4. Mikey: -$68

Standings thru Week 4

1. Chuck: $147
2. Hinkle: $33
3. Mattare: -$85
4. Mikey: -$222

Chuck

Game #1: Virginia Tech (-7) over Miami...$33 to win $30

Game #2: Northwestern (+7.5) over Michigan...$110 to win $100

Game #3: Wake Forest (+10.5) over Florida State...$22 to win $20

Game #4: Oklahoma (-11) over Texas...$22 to win $20

Hinkle

Game 1: Boise State -20.5 @ Fresno State (Pinnacle) 33 win 30

Saw this game in person last year. Fresno has no idea how to cover the deep ball and Kellen Moore's play action ability left their defense looking like a bunch of chickens running around with their heads cut off. Boise's defense has played very well this year and it is overhsadowed by their Heisman candidate QB on the other side of the ball. I look for Boise to explode on offense and keep the Bulldogs under 17 points.

Game 2: Arizona -2.5 @ Oregon State 88 win 80

Poor Nick Foles. This Cat puts up huge numbers week in and week out but his friends on defense tackle worse than a flag football team. They had a brutal opening schedule playing top notch schools back to back to back weeks and had their top WR out for one of those games. They showed life once again at USC last week but falling behind early killed them. I think the Wildcats finalls "Bear Down" on defense enough to cover this low number behind Foles and the explosive O.

Game 3: Auburn +10 vs Arkansas 33 win 30

I was not a believer in Auburn week 1. They have showed some heart and played solid throughout the past several games. This is going to be a tough SEC game and we all know anything can happen in those games. I will glady take two scores in what is sure to be a quality matchup to watch.

Game 4: Oklahoma/Texas Over 56.5 20 win 20

Its called a Shootout for a reason....

Mattare

Game #1: Army (-2) over Ball State...$44 to win $40

Riding the cadets again.

Game #2: Iowa-Penn State (UNDER 45)...$33 to win $30

Just a gross, gross game. Ew.

Game #3: LSU (-14) over Florida...$33 to win $30

Florida might have less than 150yds of total offense.

Game of the Week: Oklahoma (-11) over Texas...$55 to win $50

Beatdown.

Mikey

Another week and more lost money, if you're fading me congratulations on the small fortune you must now possess.

Game #1: Texas (+10.5) vs. Oklahoma...$44 to win $40

Game #2: Florida St. (-10) vs. Wake Forest...$44 to win $40

Game #3: Florida (+13) vs. LSU...$44 to win $40

Game #4: Arkansas (-10) vs. Auburn...$44 to win $40

GAMEDAY: STRESS RELIEVER?

2011-10-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

The Boilers are not a good team, far and away the worst of the first five teams we've faced (I know, it's hard to believe someone is worse than Michigan). The Irish should roll in this game but I and most ND fans have been conditioned to expect our boys to do everything in their power to make games as stressful as possible no matter the talent gap.

Two years ago the Irish left Ross-Ade Stadium with one of the most dramatic victories in school history. It won't take any late game heroics this time around. The offense takes a step forward and commits only one turnover (someone gag me that I'm excited for that stat), but the story of the day is the defense which completely suffocates the Boilers.

Stars: Manti Te'o gets the first interception of his career, Gary Gray snipes one as well, Aaron Lynch gets two more sacks, and Theo Riddick has a Michigan State 2010-esque statline on offense.

Say it with me: a nice, relaxing victory...a nice, relaxing victory...a nice, relaxing...

Notre Dame 27

Purdue 10

THE BODOGS ARE BARKIN: WEEK #4

2011-10-01T07:18:00.000-07:00

Week 3 Results

1. Chuck: $108
2. Hinkle: $24
3. Mattare: -$51
4. Mikey: -$79

Standings thru Week 3

1. Chuck: $131
2. Hinkle: $19
3. Mattare: -$56
4. Mikey: -$154

Chuck

Game #1: Florida (+4) over Bama...$44 to win $40

Game #2: Clemson (+7) over Va Tech...$22 to win $20

I just made the first contribution to IPTAY to erect the Tajh Mahal.

Game #3: ND (-12) over Purdue...$22 to win $20

Curb stomp special.

Game #4: Wiscy (-10) over Nebraska...$22 to win $20

Hinkle

3-1 last week but the "1" was a killer. I got to see Oregon in person and I have NEVER seen a human in person as fast and shifty as Mr. James. He is silly good. I am in the process of moving into my house this weekend so things are crazy and write ups will be short. I already missed my play of the week on Pitt so I feel this could be a bad week. Positive thoughts!

Game #1: Navy (-3.5) vs. Air Force...$33 win $30

I absolutely loved Navy and they way they played at South Carolina. Who doesn't love a white QB with wheels? Give be the Middies all day. Remember this pick come a few weeks. Just sayin is all...

Game #2: Toledo (+8) vs Temple...$33 win $30

Temple played very well last weekend. Toledo has played great the past 3 weekends. They have been battle tested losing a close one at Ohio State, losing at home to Boise in a turnover plagued game, and then last week on the road at Syracuse on a blown call. Toledo has something to prove and they will play a great game this weekend.

Game #3: Texas/Iowa State OVER 50...$55 win $50

Ton of offense. ALL GAME LONG! This game hits the 70's.

Game #4: Wisconsin/Nebraska UNDER 57...$33 win $30

RED OUT in Madison. That will go for the crowd and for the offenses. Both teams are going to have a ton of pressure on them to prove their worth. Who is the king of the Big Ten(ish)? Nebraska has not played a team like Wisconsin and I do not think they will run up and down the field like normal. I see the first having moving somewhat fast with alot of ground game action and little points. It is going to open up in the 2nd half but not enough to cover this number.

Mattare

Game #1: Alabama (-4) over Florida...$77 to win $70

Florida hasn't seen a defense like Bama's. The Tide rolls in The Swamp.

Game #2: Baylor (-4) over Kansas State...$33 to win $30

Tricky game for the Bears, but RGIII drags them to a victory.

Game #3: Mississippi State (+7) over Georgia...$33 to win $30

Have people really soured on the Bulldogs that much?

Game of the Week: Nebraska (+10) over Wisconsin...$33 to win $30

Way too many points to be laying. I think the Badgers win but it'll be more in the mold of a 24-20 win.

Mikey

This is just getting worse and worse, time to start throwing darts:

Game #1: Michigan St. (+3) vs. Ohio St...$22 to win $20

Time to let the buckeyes burn me for the 2nd straight week.

Game #2: Virginia Tech (-7) vs. Clemson...$44 to win $40

Clemson's going through a brutal stretch right now, can't see them taking down Va Tech to end it.

Game #3: Florida (+3.5) vs. Alabama...$44 to win $40

Gotta win home games in the brutal SEC, think floridas got this one.

Game #4: Wisconsin (-10) vs. Nebraska...$22 to win $20

Wisconsins on fire and this is nebraskas 1st big 10 road test. Good luck huskers.

GAMEDAY: PITT STOP

2011-09-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

Last time the Irish rolled into Heinz Field it was the first game of the Charlie Weis Era. Things have changed a bit, huh?

The Irish won 42-21 that day. Almost de ja vu today as Michael Floyd goes bezerk.

Notre Dame 41

Pitt 17

GO IRISH

THE BODOGS ARE BARKIN: WEEK #3

2011-09-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

Good bounce back from the boys in week two. Let's see if they can keep the momentum going in week three.

Week 2 Results

1. Hinkle: $109

2. Mattare: $87

3. Mikey: $67

4. Chuck: $6

Standings thru Week 2

1. Chuck: $23

2. Mattare: -5
3. Hinkle: -5

4. Mikey: -$75

ON TO THE PICKS!

Chuck

Same problem as last week. Don't judge me. Here are some winners.

Game 1: BYU -2.5 vs Ucf 77 to win 70

Trevor Matich told me to do it.

Game 2: Ok st +4 @ aTm 33 to win 30

Game 3: Arkansas +12 @ bama 22 to win 20

Game 4: Lsu -5.5 @wvu 33 to win 30

Mattare

Another big week on deck.

Game #1: Notre Dame (-7.5) over Pitt...$55 to win $50

The Irish are starting to hit their stride. Watch the national hype start to build up again after dismantling the Panthers today.

Game #2: Texas Tech (-16) over Nevada...$33 to win $30

Colin Kaepernick is not walking through that door.

Game #3: Southern Cal (+2.5) over Arizona State...$33 to win $30

Count me among the Arizona State unbelievers.

Game of the Week: LSU (-6) over West Virginia...$77 to win 70

LSU rolls.

Hinkle

Welcome to the world of gambling. ND vs Michigan seemed to be an easy obvious W in week 1. Nope. Pitt vs Iowa seemed to be an awful analysis by me and a loss in wekk 2. Nope. That's how the gambling Gods roll. Ill take hitting both big games last week and getting the ball rolling in the right direction. Let's keep it going.

Game 1: ND/PITT U 55 (44 win 40)

I am really surprised by this total. I saw this being more of a game in the 40's. ND tightened up on defense last week and Pitt has done a fairly good job of holding opponents down as well minus 4th quarter collapse at Iowa. I think both teams will rely heavy on the run game which should drain the clock at a fairly good pace. Throw in the fact that I liked this game at 53 and the public is pounding the over I will roll the dice even though I hate betting big on totals. Come on kids!

Game 2: PSU/ Directional Michigan East U 46 (22 win 20)

PSU is currently favored by 28.5. They have shown me nothing this year to prove they have the ability to score at will and blow a team out. The fighting Larry Birds had their first winning season since the Clinton administration (4th and Inches crew that is two references this week if counting) last year so beating them up does not count. They looked awful last week. What is going to click this week? Do they have a QB yet? Is Joe Pa alive? PSU football is depressing right now.

30-12.

Game 3: Turtle Helmets -8.5 vs Temple (66 win 60)

Temple put it all on the line last weekend. They almost owned the state for a year but lost it in the end. Letdown on the road as the Terps will rebound from a disappointing loss to the Mountaineers. Temple gives up 8 points a game but they have played not a soul. Villanova is not the same 1-AA powerhouse that they are this year. Akron is barf, just look at my pick last week, and PSU is more like a 1-AA in their own right. Terps come out chucking the ball all over the field and light up the scoreboard. 44-23.

Game 4: LSU -6 at WVU (33 win 30)

LSU is good. Real good. They are in the elite class of teams that I would really like to see my Broncos play to see how credible of a team they are. Their defense is solid. Their speed is off the charts. They play in the toughest league in the world next to the LVC. I mean Death Valley is no Rockne Hall but still. Do you think Mountaineer Stadium will shake the Tigers? Their size and speed will match that of the WVU WR corp and make it a long night for the potent offense. I see WVU realizing that the Little East is nothing compared to an elite SEC school who has already played two top 25 opponents and looked impressive in both. 24-13 Tigers

Mikey

Muuuuch better week last week going 3-1 and nearly 4-0 if FSU could've taken advantage of their 2nd half opportunities. Either way feeling alot more confident heading into week 3 and ready to lay all these picks down at a sportsbook in Vegas this weekend. Time to get after it:

Game 1: Penn St. (-29) over Eastern Michigan $22 to win $20

Penn St had an awesome 4 point win over Temple last week and left everyone impressed. Seriously though, the Lions can't be happy right now and they have Eastern Michigan on a tee to try and make them feel better. I don't see EMU putting up even one point while Penn St will be running up and down the field all day. 29 just ain't enough.

Game 2: Maryland (-9) over Temple $55 to win $50

Maryland proved me right last week by going down to WVa, and I'm going to try and cash in on them again. Temples coming off an emotional loss to Penn St and going on the road this week won't help them get over it. The terps will bounce back big against the owls at home.

Game 3: Colorado (+15) over Ohio St. $22 to win $20

This may be a bit of an overreaction to Ohio St getting pounded by the U, but I just don't think they're very good this year. Its going to take some time for them to recover from tattoo-gate 2010 and I think this season may just be a bit of a wash. Not really sure what Colorado's story is but chalk this up to education if they get blown out.

Game 4. West Virginia (+6) over LSU $22 to win $20

LSU gon win this game 5-0... now onto the Bellagio!!!

Conference Armageddon Roundtable

2011-09-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

Instead of worrying about the Mexder futures that were expiring for my trade desk this afternoon, I was embroiled in a heated debate consisting of lengthy emails debating the pros and cons of Notre Dame joining a conference amongst former members of my dorm. Below is a transcript of those emails. My thanks to all those who unknowingly contributed to this column.

For the sake of privacy, the names have not been changed.

Shuttlecock (10:22am)

"ACC anyone?"

La Bamba (10:48am)

"The thought of not being independent is tearing me up inside. It looks awful. I can't go up against 'Cuse again and lose on the reg. They're just too stong. Too good."

Mattare (11:19am)

"Notre Dame still does not have to join a conference based on what's transpired over the past few days. Swarbrick needs to be proactive in finding a good landing spot for our olympic sports, but football absolutely can stay independent if that's the path we want to continue on. The notion that our hand has been forced at this juncture is completely false."

Panzer (11:23am)

"As far as landing spots for olympic sports, I think the pool would work best for the diving team and a sand pit would work well for all long jumpers/triple jumpers. As for the other sports, its not so much the landing that I'm worried about."

Mattare (11:25am)

"That logic is infinitely wiser than any Kevin White used during his tenure."

Sharky (11:42am)

"Say the Olympic sports find a way to work themselves out (landing in pools/sand pits etc) without the need for football to join a conference (is this even possible?).

I still dont think you can say at this juncture anymore we 'can absolutely stay independent', just like Texas can no longer 'absolutely' keep their network without some concessions. I think there are too many variables at play just to say we can remain with our status quo. I think it would be best to get our number one pick at a conference, rather than risk the whole landscape changing with us on the outside. I guess the counter argument could be the BCS right now is the the 6 conferences + ND, why couldnt it be the 4 Conferences + ND. I just think we've lost some sway in the past 15 years of mediocre football/slipping ratings."

C-Loss (12:03pm)

"Setting aside the ND part of this, I don't get why there have to be 416 team superconferences. Because some sportswriter wrote about it? 16 teams makes no sense at all for football, there's only 12 games a year. What's the point of a conference where you play barely half of the other teams in a given year? Why stop at 16, why not 20 or 25? I don't get this magic 16 number.

ND should do everything it can to stay independent in football. My biggest concern is scheduling... If they go to 10 conference games there will be less opportunities for the other teams to schedule out of conference games with us. But a 12-0 ND team is not getting shut out of an 8 team playoff just because they aren't in a super conference. And if they stick with the current 2 team playoff (BCS Champ game), we're not getting shut out unless there are 2 other undefeated teams or we run into major scheduling issues where we have a Boise like schedule since no one wants to schedule ND anymore. I don't think this is likely at all."

Mattare (12:29pm)

"In terms of football: Notre Dame hasn’t been relevant in the national championship race for 15+ years, but we’ve still got more sway than any other school because we still make other schools fistfuls of money. We’re the only sellout at Stanford every other year. We’re one of the only guaranteed sellouts at Purdue, Boston College, and sometimes even Pitt. We just drew over 110k for Michigan. We sold out Penn State (108k?) and North Carolina when we were HORRENDOUS. You realize the Pac-12 has a Notre Dame provision written into its bylaws to provide exemptions so that Southern Cal and Stanford can continue to play the Irish in November (because other Pac-12 schools aren’t allowed to schedule out of conference games after the third week of the season moving forward). Why? Because we make them money and provide big exposure on the opposite coast. You could argue they’re allowing the preservation of the ND-Southern Cal rivalry, but you certainly can’t make that claim about Stanford who we only started playing every year in the mid-to-late 90’s.

Glad C-Loss chipped in on the schedule before I sent this. The scheduling myth is just like the academic standard myth. We will always be able to find teams to play us as long as we’re willing to do home-and-homes for the aforementioned reasons (money and exposure). The Pac-12 has us written into their bylaws to accommodate our November games in California and I bet there will be provisions to allow Oklahoma and Texas to at the very least maintain their current contractual arrangements for games with ND if not permit it moving forward. Northwestern just broke Big 10 protocol and scheduled us in November because we were willing to do a home-and-home. I bet other Big 10 schools would as well. You’re telling me Boise State wouldn’t jump at a home and home whenever we wanted it? Same with everyone who’s left from the Big 12 and ACC. Even look at the SEC: Tennessee played us in November twice in ’04 and ’05. It can be done. It’s going to take work and creativity, but Swarbrick has already shown he’s adept to putting together compelling schedules moving forward and there’s no reason to believe that wouldn’t be possible with these new realignment shifts.

Texas has some sway, but it pales in comparison to ND’s brand—that’s not hubris or arrogance, that’s just reality. Swarbrick needs to operate knowing that which would be a stark contrast to White’s approach, which led to be bullied and come out on the wrong side of a deal with—of all schools—Purdue. We can maintain independence, it’s just a matter of whether we want to go to the necessary lengths to ensure it. There’s always going to be a spot for us in the Big Ten if “Armageddon” finally comes. We’re never going to be completely left out in the cold because we would bring too much value for people to just freeze us out—money rules everything and we’re the golden goose. Plus, it’s not like even if it goes to 4 16-team super conferences that a playoff is going to suddenly arise. In order for that to happen the 64 teams would have to break away from the NCAA which isn’t going to happen in this lifetime.

In terms of Olympic sports, that’s the much tougher riddle to solve and where Swarbrick will earn his money. Does he take the bull by the horns and try to spearhead a new conference? Does he attempt to slide into the Big 12/Big East mess? I think that colossal fustercluck is weak enough that ND could flex its muscle and join in everything but football. That obviously isn’t an option for any other major conference, but it’s certainly worth trying in this instance. One intriguing (albeit farfetched) idea was presented a couple years ago on the blog Domer Law.

http://domerlaw.blogspot.com/2010/04/conference-talk.html

I could absolutely live with that conference (with minor tweaks…get out of here Loyola, Chicago) for our Olympic sports. It would require us nuking the A-10 and poaching some other schools as well, but it still intrigues me and most importantly gives us a legit conference with 15 schools that have no D-I football team. Added bonus: the conflict CLoss (a die-hard Hawks fan) would deal with when ND played St Joe’s in basketball."

Sharky (2:34pm)

"You guys keep mentioning money, money, money, but is independence really the catalyst in providing all that money. Without really searching too deep, I feel like our NBC tv deal gives us less in TV revenue then each individual team in the big conferences (Again this is something I've heard, I dont have the facts on that). If you search Forbes most valuable football teams, we are no longer number 1 (It seems like Texas has clearly overtook us in that regard).

Scheduling: I agree won't be a problem, plenty of teams will always want to play us
Brand: Yes I believe we are still number 1, but again, is that really an independence thing?

I think the best thing to do would be to join a 'independent' conference with Texas, Oklahoma, BYU, etc, where we are affiliated with them (meaning we play these teams every year, but there's no conference) and each team does not have to share their revenue. But, it seems Texas is set on joining a conference.

So basically, which I think was my original email way back when today, do we join a 'weaker' conference for our 'olympic' sports, just to remain independent in football. I personally wouldnt, and that's also because I really don't see the perks of staying as an Independent any better than joining a conference. I dont see Independence as meaningful as it once was to ND. The money is in conferences now, and if we could maintain relations with NBC and the ACC, i bet it creates more revenue. Branding: I believe playing in a conference championship game against FSU, ontop of still ending the season with USC would be a huge boost to the ND brand.

The only drawback to the conference is we are maxed out at scheduling 2 awesome Non-Conference games (it would be USC, Navy, one other good team). But within conference play, if it is ACC (we woud play FSU, Miami, VATECH) every year, and if we join Big Ten (We'd play Mich, OSU, Nebraska, Penn State) every Year. I feel like both schedules are ridiculously good (whether its our independent or conference schedule)."

Mattare (3:46pm)

"I’m talking about money for other teams, not us. Money is driving all of this but it shouldn’t govern what we choose to do. You’re correct, the NBC contract makes us significantly less money than how much Big 10 schools allegedly make off the BTN and it’s less than the newly negotiated major conference contracts as well. But we’re not hurting for money and there comes a point where passing up dollars to preserve “the brand” in a specific way becomes more valuable in the long-term.

A good example is Augusta National with The Masters. AN probably makes ¼ of what they could off of The Masters because they want control of every last detail from the times the tournament is broadcast to the camera angles used to the graphics on the telecast even all the way down to terms used on the air to describe fans (patrons) and rough (2nd cut). They could bid out that tournament and come away with an ungodly television contract. Instead they have a one-year contract every year with CBS. They could sell PPV packages that would allow tv viewers to see every shot of every round that could make them an absurd amount of money. They could charge more than $1.50 for a pimento cheese sandwich on the property. They could have more than 2-3 sponsors every year.

Now it’s not a perfect comparison, but I think it works. Notre Dame would stand to make way more money than we do right now if we were in a conference, but we don’t need it. We’d stand to make more money by having seven or eight home games like OSU every year, but it’d be at the expensive of having a good, national schedule. We’d make more money by bullying schools like Wake Forest and Northwestern into playing at neutral sites instead of their home stadiums, but you can argue that’d be at the expense of some code of ethics. How much money could we make by allowing a sponsor to advertise in the Stadium? There’s a reason we don’t.

The Forbes list has us as the #3 most valuable football program (behind Texas and OSU), but if I remember correctly it was somehow weighted to favor schools with bigger enrollments (I’m not quite sure how that makes sense in terms of value, but I do remember someone doing a calculation of money generated per student in the school and ND’s was still the biggest…maybe it was just the effect of the football revenue? I don’t remember, but regardless we still make an absurd amount of money).

I’d love for Texas to join us as an independent, I just don’t think they have the cajones or desire to do it because conference membership is all they’ve ever known.

We’ll have to agree to disagree about the value of being independent. Notre Dame’s national popularity was forged by being an independent. Right now we basically set our own course in terms of scheduling, television deals, BCS provisions, etc. Once you give an inch of that up you can never get it back (see: Kevin White’s beyond moronic BCS concession in 2004 that has to date cost us $8mil). If we regionalize ourselves by jumping in a conference—and that’s exactly what joining the Big 10 would do over time—you kill a huge part of what made ND unique. Instead of sitting at a table of one making decisions that are best for the university and it’s football/athletic programs, we’d be sitting at a table of 16 with 1/16th the power. Sure, we’ll be allowed to keep our NBC contract on this go-around, but when it expires who says the remaining members can’t go “you have to give it up or we’ll boot you and all your other teams from the conference”? Then we’re completely screwed. We still have a ton of leverage and clout right now. That’ll dissipate as soon as we join a conference.

This entire process of realignment is created and sustained by greed. Conferences with 16 teams each and essentially zero geographical ties make little to no sense for just about every sport (the ONLY way they make sense in football is the fact that it makes more money…in every other regard it’s pretty terrible). Why not try to fight this and carve out a niche for all of our other sports that makes sense on every level while maintaining football independence? Swarbrick was a huge player—if not the most influential—in calming the seas last year. It’s time for him to step up and be even more pro-active this time around."

Sharky (4:45pm)

"I still dont think you are painting a picture of why independence has greater value anymore than joining a conference. You wrote: "scheduling, television deals, BCS provisions" as the main three reasons, as well as forging our popularity back in the day, and leverage at the tables.

I think scheduling is still fairly even being in a conference as and independent. Maybe even conference has the edge because its a higher probability we have bigger games during the middle and end of the season, plus a conference championship game.

Television Deals: I'm not good at arguing this point. I just feel like being on 'NBC' doesnt really have as much sway as it did 15 years ago. If our games are on ESPN2, B10 network, yes it doesn't sound as cool, but I feel like more people are going to tune into the b10 network to watch us play Wisconsin, then NBC to watch us play W Michigan. I think matchups dictate ratings now that for the most part. It is cool having inside stories on ND (like our professor, more interviews with our players that nbc has access too), but I dont know if most people really care about that. So my belief is go for the better deal when it comes to tv. I think that should be dictated by money (isn't that originally why we signed up with NBC?)

BCS provisions: You acknowledged our deal sucks now, so joining a conference won't hurt that.

More popular: Yes, being independent back in the day made us more popular. A big reason is because it allowed us to travel across the country. Again, thats not an advantage we hold over others now. Many choose not to play games coast to coast, but really the only way to get more popular is to win nowadays.

I'm just not convinced ND joining a conference ruins our uniqueness. We are unique because we are Catholic (that won't change), we have the most storied history (that won't change), we graduate our players (that won't change), we have a national fanbase (that won't change), we dont have naming rights on our stadium/jumbotron (that won't change), we consistantly have a tough schedule (that won't change). What conference votes will there be made that might not be best for our univesity (scheduling night games/adding a 10th conference game/splitting revenues (but ND doesnt care about the money suppposedly).

Joining a power conference is better for other sports, but that doesnt seem to be much of the focus here. If you are worried about geography, join the Big 10 over ACC."

Julie (5:36pm)

"Do any of you have real jobs?"

La Bamba (5:38pm)

"With 99 weeks of unemployment? Absolutely not. It's called "finding myself."

Mattare (6:10pm)

"I’ll dissect your thoughts piece by piece.

I still dont think you are painting a picture of why independence has greater value anymore than joining a conference. You wrote: "scheduling, television deals, BCS provisions" as the main three reasons, as well as forging our popularity back in the day, and leverage at the tables.

I think scheduling is still fairly even being in a conference as and independent. Maybe even conference has the edge because its a higher probability we have bigger games during the middle and end of the season, plus a conference championship game.

Look at our schedules from the 90’s look at our schedules for the next five years. Ignore the ones drawn up by Kevin White. Teams we’ve played and are scheduled to play: Texas, Washington, Georgia Tech, Southern Cal, Arizona State, LSU, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, Miami, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Florida State, UCLA…talk about nationwide, compelling schedules. Kiss that goodbye in a conference.

Television Deals: I'm not good at arguing this point. I just feel like being on 'NBC' doesnt really have as much sway as it did 15 years ago. If our games are on ESPN2, B10 network, yes it doesn't sound as cool, but I feel like more people are going to tune into the b10 network to watch us play Wisconsin, then NBC to watch us play W Michigan. I think matchups dictate ratings now that for the most part. It is cool having inside stories on ND (like our professor, more interviews with our players that nbc has access too), but I dont know if most people really care about that. So my belief is go for the better deal when it comes to tv. I think that should be dictated by money (isn't that originally why we signed up with NBC?)

We have our own national television network. There is one school that has an entire major network devoted solely to it and it’s Notre Dame with NBC. That’s pretty powerful, it’s just that we’ve been so mediocre to crappy over the past fifteen years that we haven’t really taken advantage of it. This is once again about branding, not necessarily grabbing for the biggest wad of money. Was money the original reason for signing with NBC? It was certainly a big factor I’m sure, but it also provided us exposure that had never even been fathomed previously. Things have changed since then (obviously), but I think the NBC deal suits us just fine right now and will be extraordinarily valuable when we start posting top ten finishes consistently again.

BCS provisions: You acknowledged our deal sucks now, so joining a conference won't hurt that.

Kevin White is an idiot. That being said, we still have a specific automatic qualifier provision for ND written into the BCS despite White handing away our boatloads of potential cash. That disappears in a conference.

More popular: Yes, being independent back in the day made us more popular. A big reason is because it allowed us to travel across the country. Again, thats not an advantage we hold over others now. Many choose not to play games coast to coast, but really the only way to get more popular is to win nowadays.

Agreed that winning is the most important thing. But the fact that we “barnstorm” and play all over the country is something that’s unique and once again distinguishes us. Does it help recruiting that we can tell recruits moving forward that we’ve got a game in Texas, California, and Florida (that will be monsters if we’re good) over the course of their four years? You can debate that, but I say it can’t hurt in a world where we need every last inch in recruiting battles.

I'm just not convinced ND joining a conference ruins our uniqueness. We are unique because we are Catholic (that won't change), we have the most storied history (that won't change), we graduate our players (that won't change), we have a national fanbase (that won't change), we dont have naming rights on our stadium/jumbotron (that won't change), we consistantly have a tough schedule (that won't change). What conference votes will there be made that might not be best for our univesity (scheduling night games/adding a 10th conference game/splitting revenues (but ND doesnt care about the money suppposedly).

I don’t know what to tell you if you don’t see how it cuts into our uniqueness. Right now the college football world has provisions in everything that

Independence is a huge part of our identity and that “storied history;” abandoning that moving forward will change how future generations view the history we write from this day on. In terms of conference voting: don’t put your fate in someone else’s hands when you have the ability to completely control your own—which we still do. Joining a conference is the lazy way out. If the spineless Monk Malloy along with an incompetent AD (Mike Wadsworth…though not to the level of Doc White, White has a Phd in incompetence) could stand up to the Big 10 like they did in ’99, then someone with the juice of Fr. Jenkins accompanied by someone with the smarts of Jack Swarbrick can navigate this turmoil and bring us out the other side of it in a way that preserves everything we value.

Joining a power conference is better for other sports, but that doesnt seem to be much of the focus here. If you are worried about geography, join the b10 over acc.

I mean, this entire plague known as super-conferences has nothing to do with other sports. If it did then one of the top five college basketball programs of all-time (Kansas) wouldn’t be sitting on the sideline completely helpless as the new landscape takes shape. What good does this new realignment really bring fans or the student-athletes? Nothing, it’s a giant money grab. There are some delusional people that see this as the next step toward a playoff, which is completely ridiculous.

Notre Dame should fight against what’s become a ridiculously non-sensical trend of super-conferences. Once we take the plunge into them there’s no going back and we head down a path of becoming “just another school.” No, we’ll never devolve into an also-ran and the name will always carry weight, but it will lose something—and that’s something we should fight against tooth and nail."

Dear Diary...Notre Dame - Michigan State

2011-09-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

The running diary is back for another dance with the state of Michigan, coming to you live from the Lehigh Valley. Last week’s epic collapse in The Big (and Not So Loud) House provided a boatload of fodder for the trolls to come over and unload in response to the running diary. I tip my cap to the more than 7,000 people that made it over from the MGOBlog, Michigan Rivals, and Michigan Scout sites. You win this round…but your team is still terrible.

Now, let’s move on to Sparty. I’m surprisingly upbeat and optimistic about this game. The law of averages says there’s no way we can continue to completely implode with turnovers....right?

Don't answer that. Let's just get to it.

3:38 And Tom Hammond is back in the booth close talking Mike Mayock in a way that has to result in therapy. Uggggggggggggggh.

3:41 ND will receive from a Michigan State kicker that has a nice, developed beer belly. Or maybe he’s pregnant.

3:44 Notre Dame converts a 3rd and 2 out of the gate with a quick swing pass out to Michael Floyd.

3:45 Cierre Wood rips off a 15-yard run to pick up another first down. It was a little delayed hand-off where he had acres of room to work with—great playcall.

3:47 Cierre Wood picks up another big gain on a quick pitch and he’s already rolled up 37 yards on five carries.

3:48 TOUCHDOWN IRISH!!!!!!!!!!! LADIES AND GENTS, WELCOME TO THE CIERRE WOOD SHOW! GREAT RUN THAT HE BOUNCES OUTSIDE FOR 22-YARDS AND HITS PAYDIRT TO PUT THE IRISH ON TOP! Six carries, 59 yards on the first drive alone. Yeah, that’ll do. 7-0 IRRRRRRISSSSHHHH!

3:51 Tom Hammond comments on Brindza’s fluorescent green shoes. Really? Green?!?!?! You can see that those things are yellow from space! Maybe he was blinded by the glow of our silver helmets? Meanwhile Brindza beats it through the back of the endzone.

3:53 Notre Dame intercepts Cousins’ first pass but it’s coming back due to a holding on Blanton. Damn.

3:55 Three more plays for Sparty and they get absolutely nothing. I’ll chalk that up basically as a three and out. The team and stadium both seem about ready to explode—there’s a lot of pent up rage from the first two weeks of the season that’s hitting a levee pretty hard right now. Irish take over.

3:58 NBC shows a replay of the fake field goal that won the game for Michigan State last year. Speaking of pent up rage…

4:00 Very nice run by Jonas Gray has ND over midfield. That’s three carries and 27 yards for Jonas. The Irish are rollllllling on the ground right now, dominating the line of scrimmage.

4:01 Tommy Rees is sacked and fumbles. Michigan State ball. He was completely lit up from the blindside. The turnover train is running right on schedule.

4:06 NBC flashes a stat that ND hasn’t allowed a third down conversion in the first half through two games. That’s a pretty amazing stat. Remind me how the hell we're 0-2 again?

4:06 FUUUUMMMBBBLLELEEEE AND THE IRISH RECOVER!!!!!!! AARON LYNCH COMES BUSTING IN FROM THE BLINDSIDE AND DESTROYS COUSINS FOR THE FIRST SACK OF HIS CAREER! Notre Dame takes back over at the Sparty 49. I LOVE IT BABY!

4:10 Interception Spartans and it’s returned deep into Irish territory. This turnover problem is like a virus that won’t we just can’t shake. If Rees puts air until that throw it’s a touchdown. Come on defense, step up again.

4:13 Three plays, four yards for the Spartans. They trot out the placekicker and split the uprights on a field goal to cut the deficit. Notre Dame 7, Michigan St 3.

4:16 TOUCHDOOOOOWWWWNNNN IRRRRRRIIIIISSSSHHHHH!!!!!! GEORGE ATKINSON TAKES THE KICKOFF TO THE HOUSE FOR SIX AND THE IRISH ARE BACK IN CONTROL! HOW ABOUT THESE FRESHMEN MAKING AN IMPACT!?!?!?! 14-3 IRRRRRRRISH!

4:22 Great catch by Cunningham picks up a third down conversion for Michigan State. The quarter draws to a close and at this point you’ve got to be thrilled with how things are going for Notre Dame—with the obvious exception of another two turnovers to add to our gaudy and disgusting total for the year. I know I’ve probably said this 15 times over the last three seasons, but I’ll say it again: LET’S STEP ON THEIR THROATS AND BURY THEM.

4:25 Another completion on a slant to Cunningham picks up another first down and Michigan State is at the Irish 27.

4:27 Cunningham again for 15 yards and Michigan State is knocking on the door of the red zone.

4:28 Sparty’s got some rhythm going and they’ve got first down at the 11.

4:29 Touchdown Michigan State. Freshman Troy Niklas fell down and got beaten by the tight end. I can practically feel the fifty posts on Rivals going up about switching to field turf. Ugh. Notre Dame 14, Michigan State 10.

4:35 Three and out for the Irish. Guess what? Ben Turk is coming out to punt. Guess what he does? He unleashes a crappy punt. Imagine that. I give up. Tell me how Brindza can be worse? Michigan State ball at their own 45.

4:40 The defense holds and forces a punt. Lynch and Ethan Johnson get in to disrupt Cousins on third down and force a bad throw. The Irish get the ball back inside their own 10 with 8:25 to go in the half. Let’s put together a nice little drive here, shall we?

4:45 Notre Dame gets bailed out with a pass interference call on third down. We look completely out of sync. This happened a lot last year too; we get out of rhythm on offense and go into a funk for 3-4 drives. Come on, snap out of it.

4:47 Rees converts a big third down with a pass to Eifert on 3rd and long. The drive continues with about six minutes left in the half.

4:51 Big completion from Tommy Rees to Michael Floyd for 33-yards and Notre Dame is into Spartan territory.

4:52 Another big run on first down by Jonas Gray for 13 yards and suddenly the Irish offense is rolling again.

4:52 First down at the five yard yard line after Rees completes a dart to Tyler Eifert. Great throw. First and goal.

4:53 TOUCHDOWN IRISH! CIERRE WOOD BULLS INTO THE ENDZONE WITH AUTHORITY! The play is reviewed and confirmed. Ruffer rips the extra point through the uprights and the Irish go 92 yards to extend the lead to 11 with 3:36 to go. Notre Dame 21, Michigan State 10.

4:59 So for whatever reason Brindza bounces a short kick and Sparty responds with a 42-yard return. I’m just kind of confused. Michigan State ball at their own 47.

5:01 On the first play of Sparty’s drive, a Michigan State offensive lineman gets his leg rolled up on by…Louis Nix. If there was a fill-in-the-blank that started “Of everyone in the entire stadium, I would not want my leg to be rolled on by ________,” the name Louis Nix would probably be #1 on my and most people’s lists. Tough break for the kid.

5:06 Cousins completes a 21-yarder and the Spartans are driving inside the Irish 20. Come on defense, tighten up.

5:09 Notre Dame holds the Spartans and forces a field goal attempt from the 2-yard line with 52 seconds left. I guess I should say “apparent field goal attempt” when dealing with Michigan State. They call timeout.

5:11 Michigan State attempts the fake and it’s STUFFED. TAKE A SEAT DANTONIO. Kelly would’ve been fired on the spot by about 1.4 million Notre Dame fans if we would’ve given up another successful fake field goal. Irish ball.

5:15 Notre Dame takes a couple knees and we’ll head to half leading 21-10.

As a Notre Dame fan you’ve got to be very happy with the first half. Offense and defense both look good, though once again we’ve turned the ball over twice. For the most part we’ve locked down the Spartan attack—and stopped a fake field goal that would’ve given me a stroke had they converted—and have moved the ball pretty effectively.

Yet again the Irish will have a chance to bury a team. Don’t let them hang around—it’s time to just put them away and restore a modicum of confidence not only within the locker room but in the stands as well (which is more important than some people realize…a toxic environment outside the locker room is only counterproductive).

5:39 Notre Dame forces a three and out on Michigan State’s first drive. Good start! The anti-Joey Getherall fair catches the punt and the Irish take over at their own 29.

5:42 TJ Jones converts a 3rd down on a quick slant. Good throw, good catch.

5:43 A nice little completion to Theo Riddick is good for seven yards and it’s followed by an offsides by Michigan State, which means another first down for ND.

5:45 Another third down conversion, this time 22 yards to Michael Floyd.

5:46 TOUCHDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWN IRISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TJ JONES REELS IN THE TOMMY REES CATCH AND THE IRISH JUMP OUT TO A 28-10 LEAD. BUUURRRRYYYYYYYYYY THEMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!! TJ Jones is whacked with an absolutely absurd penalty when he puts his gloves up to signal to the fans. That's the dumbest call I've ever seen that didn't happen in The Big House.

5:54 Michigan State picks up a big third down. Dan Fox was there but was worried about getting there a little early for pass interference and didn’t tackle him.

5:55 RJ Blanton with a sack on the corner blitz, loss of 11. BOOM BABY!

5:56 Lynch draws an offsides on third and a mile, making it third and a mile and a half. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Tuck 2.0.

5:56 Michigan State is forced to punt. Goodman tries to return it, which naturally turns into a negative play. Whatever. Let’s turn this bad boy into a BEATDOWN.

5:58 While serving me my fourth margarita of the game, my Dad informs me that he’s three margaritas ahead of me. When I call bullshit, he responds that he’s just stating facts. Challenge accepted. You definitely won’t regret this one, Dad.

6:01 The Irish are rollllling. Another first down to Michael Floyd, described by the HD Gremlin as “an easy 13 yards.” I love 13 easy yards.

6:03 Alex Flanagan randomly lets us know that Michael Floyd was in trouble this offseason and now lives on-campus. Yes, that was completely appropriate at this juncture of the game and season. Go pound sand, Alex. Seriously.

6:04 Notre Dame is forced to punt. It’s hard to complain when you’re up by three possessions, but I sure would’ve loved to have driven home the dagger on that drive. If there’s anything we learned from last weekend it’s that three possession leads aren’t always safe.

6:09 In the blink of an eye Sparty is punting once again. Lovely. After blasting it into the endzone the Irish will take over at the 20 with another opportunity to drive the final nail in the coffin of this game.

6:13 Three and out for the Irish takes us down to the end of the third quarter. Annoyed that we couldn’t officially away, still pleased to be up by 18 points.

6:16 Ben Turk lets loose a 44-yard punt that Tom Hammond describes as ugly. If the HD Gremlin describes something as ugly then God-DAMN it’s probably really ugly.

6:17 Friend of the blog and former O’Neill Hall resident Farva chips in with the text of the day: “I want to waterboard Mr. Turk.” I can’t say I disagree.

6:22 Michigan State has a ho-hum drive that ends in a field goal. Notre Dame 28, Michigan State 13.

6:26 Tommy Rees is picked off buuuuuuuuuut that’s going to be pass interference because the defensive back was basically molesting Michael Floyd. Give us all 15 of those yards and a first down, thank you very MUCH.

6:29 Notre Dame’s drive stalls, which means it’s time for the Ben Turk Experience…and he lays down a BEAUTIFUL coffin corner kick that pins Sparty on the 1! LOOK AT YOU, BEN! WELL DONE!!!!!!

6:35 Alex Flangan lets us know that Kirk Cousins is an internet sensation because he has a video on YouTube that has 110 hits. #headexplodes

6:41 Michigan State is forced to punt with 4:30 left…and John Goodman fumbles. You have got to be KIDDING me. YOUR ONLY JOB IS TO FAIR CATCH PUNTS, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!? I FEEL LIKE PUNTING MY DOG. NOT A BIG PUNT, JUST AN AVERAGE BEN TURK PUNT…SO 28-YARDS OFF THE SIDE OF MY GODDAMN FOOT. Michigan State ball knocking on the door of the red zone.

6:42 Quick throw has Michigan State first and goal inside of the 10-yard line. You’ve got to be kidding me.

6:44 INTERCEPTION ROBERT BLANTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEEEEEEEESSSSSIIRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE TAKES IT BACK ALL THE WAY TO THE MICHIGAN STATE 12. PUT THIS GAME ON ICE BABY!!!!!!!!

6:48 Notre Dame chooses to go really, really conservative and just take three points. Ruffer rips it through the uprights and the Irish lead 31-13. Boo-yaaaaaah baby!

6:57 Michigan State is slowly working down the field as Aaron Lynch terrorizes Kirk Cousins basically every time he drops back to pass. Sparty is inching toward the goal line but they’re running out of time

6:59 Michigan State turns the ball over on downs and THAT my friends, is the ball game. WELCOME BACK NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL!!!!!

7:00 QUEUE ME UP SOME JOHNNY DRAMA…

7:01 Oh my God, disappear Alex Flanagan.

7:03 LOOOOOVE THEE NOTRE DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME! People who hate on the alma mater at the end of the game and say it's too dreary or melancholy obviously don't know what it's like to belt it out after a victory. I'm not saying there have been all that many opportunities to belt it out after W's over the past few years, but it's great when it happens. Thumbs up to Weis for starting this.

7:04 Oh God, I love this exchange between Robert Blanton and Dr. Alex Flanagan so, so much:

Dr. Flanagan: You played a great game. Was it the best game of your life?

Blanton: (Pauses and thinks)...No. No m'am.

(More pausing)

Dr. Flanagan: Have you heard about Kirk Cousins' video on youtube? It has 110 hits. It's an internet phenomenon.

(Aaron Lynch blindsides Flanagan with a steel chair...student body goes wild as the band plays the angry, aggressive drum cheer that happens after big defensive plays)

Alright, well at least the first three lines of this encounter happened in real life.

Great win. It'll be nice to head into work with a bounce in my step Monday. One down, nine to go...

GO IRISH

GAMEDAY: BACKING AWAY FROM THE LEDGE

2011-09-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

The Irish are a better team than Michigan State.

I think that. Brian Kelly thinks that. Vegas thinks that.

I want to think this will be an explosion of Utah-esque proportions where ND just drops the hammer on Sparty, but I know better than to expect that out of this game. It's always close, which is why I shied away from the -5 ND line.

Look for another big day from Michael Floyd, only two turnovers (ugh), the first Aaron Lynch sack of the year, and a successful play action pass on 3rd and 1.

It's going to be stressful, it's going to take a year or two off our lives (if you calculate how many years have been taken off my life since 2009 it means I have about...four years left to live...crap), but Notre Dame brings its season back from the brink today.

Notre Dame 34
Michigan State 28

GO IRISH

THE BODOGS ARE BARKIN: WEEK #2

2011-09-17T06:14:00.000-07:00

As a Notre Dame fan, I know all about brutal starts. And damn, was last week a brutal start for The Bodogs...

Chuck is the only one who survived the weekend in the black. The quartet of degenerates tries to dig out of a hole and answer the bell in round two.

Week 1 Results

1. Chuck: $17…Winner of the tallest midget award this week.
2. Mattare: -$92…Two epic collapses by ND and UVA submarine a potentially good week.
3. Hinkle: -$114…Rough start for the Mouth of the South(west).
4. Mikey: -$142...The logic behind his picks was so sound...how did this happen?

Week 2 Pick Summary

Hinkle: Boise > Tol, Iowa > Pitt, Akron > Cin, OU-FSU (Over)
Mattare: Army > NW, GT > Kans, Az > Stan, OU > FSU
Chuck: Mia > OSU, Az > Stan, Navy > SC, FSU > OU
Mikey: WV > Mary, ND > MSU, Stan > Az, FSU > OU

ON TO THE PICKS!

Chuck

I won't lie to you. I'm too hungover to come up with detailed analysis. Don't I get a free pass after last week's gem? So glad I had such a huge start last week to stake this big lead.

Game #1: Miami (-2.5) over Ohio State...$33 to win $30

If there's any justice in the world of NCAA, these two schools should be known as Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the time the infractions committee gets through with them.

Game #2: Arizona (+10) over Stanford...$22 to win $20

Nick Foles. So hot right now. Nick Foles.

Game #3: Navy (+16.5) over South Carolina...$22 to win $20

A vote for America and a vote against the terrorists at the same time. Sounds like a plan to me.

Game of the Week: Florida State (+3.5) over Oklahoma...$22 to win $20

Because Corso has picked the correct headgear in week three on College Gameday 13 years in a row. Guess who he's picking today.

Mattare

Woof. Brutal week on every level. Special thanks to the 7,000 Michigan fans who stopped by this week to tell me burn in hell among other things. There were some winner comments that made me laugh out loud...though the funniest comments were the ones that inferred Denard is a good passer. You're all loooooccccoooooo.

Tryin' to get that BACON money this week.

Game #1: Army (+9.5) over Northwestern...$44 to win $40

I'm a big believer in Army's head coach Rich Ellerson. The Black Knights lost a heartbreaker last weekend at San Diego State and the general thinking seems to be that Northwestern has this game in the bag (to the point where people are speculating as to whether they should rest their starting quarterback Dan Persa). Don't sleep on Army. They may not win this game outright, but they'll keep it tight in the home opener on the Hudson.

Game #2: Georgia Tech (-14) over Kansas...$55 to win $50

The Yellow Jackets are going to absolutely shred Turner Gill's Jayhawks. Kansas gave up over five yards per carry last week against Northern Illinois. Paul Johnson's triple option attack is already clicking on all cylinders which means bad, bad things for the visiting team.

Game #3: Arizona (+10) over Stanford...$33 to win $30

Give me the home-dog points. It's just a matter of time before Stanford slips up without Jim Harbaugh.

Game of the Week: Oklahoma (-3.5) over Florida State...$33 to win $30

There's still a pretty big gap between these two teams. Florida State appears to be on its way back...but it's not there yet.

Hinkle

Well that was an interesting start to the year. I think I went less than .500 once last year and it was not until late. Alabama turned out nice. Point went flying on the board Stillwater on Thursday then trickled. Hard to spot Auburn 14 points in 2 minutes at home and then try to cover, although it was close with an opportunity at the end. AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD NOTRE DAME! At worst should have been 2-2, maybe 3-1 but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades so time to put the pieces of the puzzle back together and get in the black. Here we go:

Game #1: Boise State -20 @ Toldeo...$55 win $50

I know what you are thinking...shocker he is taking Boise. "Not so fast my friend"!!!! I rarely take them because I think their spreads and totals are usually outrageous and I hate betting on my own team, but I really do like them in this spot.

Toledo gave one heck of an effort last week at Ohio State, almost coming away with a monster victory but they fell short at the end. Many of their opportunites came off of Buckeye mistakes due to sloppy play. Fundamental mistakes that the Broncos will not make.

Next, Boise was put on probation this week for silly violations in tennis and giving kids a floor to sleep on and not enough money to put 5 gallons of gas in their car. BCS Busters need to pay for that! Auburn, OSU, and THE U should be given about 100 years probation for all of their crap but were not. You think the underdog will have an even bigger chip on their shoulder this week? I do.

Game #2: Iowa (-3) vs Pitt...$77 win $70

Pitt struggled for most of the game versus Maine last week and did not look great against Buffalo the week before. Iowa on the other hand has played "real" games like the one last week where they were in a battle against in state rival ISU. They have proven they can put up points and yards. Pitt is giving up almost 23 points a game to teams you cannot even name 1 player on their roster. I think both institutions will score points, but Pitt will give up much more than the Hawkeyes. Iowa 38 Pitt 24.

Game #3: Akron (+35) @ Cincy...$33 win $30

Cincy blew out Austin Peay and then got rolled at Tennessee. Akron lost at Ohio State 42-0 and then only scored 3 vs. Temple last week. At some point they have to score points (right?). Having the ability to see two weeks of game film on an opponent has to give them the benefit of exposing some sort of weakness. Something worked for UT to put up all those points. Do I think they will win? No! Do I think they will put up one heck of a fight against another in state opponnent and try to get their offense rolling? Yes. I see this one being competitive early on with Cincy pulling away late.

Game of the Week: FSU vs Oklahoma (OVER 55)...$11 win $10

Game of the Week should be a great one. Two solid teams early on. I would much rather be a "fan" than a "handicapper" for this one because to be quite honest I see this game going 1 million different ways. With that being said, let's hope for an ole fashioned shootout. FSU 67 OK 66 5 OT!

Mikey

Off to a beautiful start at 1-3 (and should've been 0-4) but it's early in the season and there's still plenty to learn about every team in D-1. Let's continue the education:

Game #1: West Virginia (+1) vs Maryland...$55 to win $50

Not even knowing West Virginia's roster this season I guarantee they have an incredibly fast running back and a mobile QB, or maybe they've switched to the West Coast offense. The Mountaineers are a rock solid program and will be looking for a marquee out of conference win before they begin play in the Big East. Maryland beat a depleted Miami team in a game that I actually watched a few weeks ago and wasn't that impressive. I think a full WVa squad can go on the road and stomp the terrapins before conference season begins.

Game #2: Notre Dame (-5.5) vs Michigan St...$33 to win $30

Yes I'm a big hypocrite for going with ND this week, but you've got to be in the land of college football. Situations change so drastically week to week that it's possible for a terrible team to go on the road and take down a giant given the right circumstances (see USC/Stanford 2007). The Irish have showed great flashes of talent this season and it's really been turnovers that have led them to an 0-2 hole. Michigan St. is a solid team but going on the road in a mini rivalry game will be an extremely tough test for Sparty. ND has got to bounce back in a big way from those 2 crushing defeats and I think they make a statement this week by protecting the football and stuffing Mich St.'s O all afternoon.

Game #3: Stanford (-10) vs Arizona...$22 to win $20

Stanford may have been the best team in the country last year (needless to say I got screwed after picking Andrew Luck to win the Heisman preseason in 2010 and it going to that fraud from Auburn) and may be again this year. I was at the game where they squashed Notre Dame into oblivion and made my wallet a little lighter for betting on the Irish. No more. I'm riding the Cardinal starting this week and into the future as they have a real chance to go undefeated and play for the national title.

Game o the week: Flo-rida St. (+3.5) vs Oklahoma...$33 to win $30

I just can't see any way that this game doesn't go down to the wire. Florida St. is an incredible defensive team and will be fired up playing at home in their biggest game in recent memory. The Sooners haven't been tested yet so they've had to be looking forward to this one for a while.Couple that with Bob Stoops being as good in big games as the Buffalo Bills and the only way this is a blowout is if OU is the one getting trounced. Either way I'll be at Oktoberfest in downtown Cincinnati and trying to find a bar around 8 PM to tune into this one, I suggest everyone else do the same.

Irish Blogger Gathering: Role Play Edition

2011-09-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

1. Let’s go ahead and talk about the big pink elephant in the room. After two absolutely horrid, heart-breaking, and downright mind-boggling performances, how do you feel about this team moving forward? Are we simply a bad team or a team that just hasn’t put it together yet? This is your chance to talk Irish fans of the ledge…or push them over.

The fact that any chances of a dream season have been completely shattered by mid-September puts a pall on the rest of fall. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't used to it happening each September--which is depressing in and of itself--but it doesn't make it any easier to swallow. The maddening thing is this is one of the most complete Notre Dame squad in years. There's talent on each side of the ball and the potential for greatness on both lines, but much like the high octane 2009 squad this one seems completely hell-bent on self-destructing in the most excruciatingly torturous ways possible.

You can't say we're a good team because good teams don't commit 10 turnovers. Good teams don't commit 10 turnovers in a year, let alone two games (see: the 2000 Fiesta Bowl squad). But there is undeniable potential on this squad. If Kelly can coerce some discipline out of it then--as ridiculous as it sounds--10-2 is not out of the question. Has there been anything in the first two weeks that suggests suddenly we're going to squash those mental lapses and realize the potential? Noooooope.

I'm not here to sugarcoat anything nor am I here to push anyone over the ledge. The silver lining right now is the fact that Notre Dame has the talent to compete on an elite level. There are still some positions that are lacking depth (see: cornerback...please for the love of God don't bail on me Ron Darby), but at its core in terms of personnel and direction this is a healthy program.

Yes, just like in the last couple years of the Weis Era a toxic cloud still hovers around it thanks to an unrelentingly negative and vocal section of the fan base. The difference right now though is the chasm between mediocrity and elite is more mental than physical. It’s not easy to take that last step, but if Kelly can drill the necessary discipline, focus, and mental toughness through his kids’ skulls through teaching, yelling, paddling, or any other means necessary then this team is still at least in theory capable of making some noise on a national level. That’s not something you could legitimately say about any other Irish squad since Brady Quinn graduated.

2. It’s time to put on the headset and step into the shoes of Brian Kelly. In the first quarter, it seemed like your message and plan to recover from the USF disaster worked, and then the rest of the game happened. How do approach this week? What message do you give your players?

It all comes down to mental focus. If Notre Dame didn’t self-destruct in each of the first two games they would be 2-0 and ranked in the top ten. Instead, the Irish sit at 0-2 and the majority of national media and fans are having a funeral for the future of the program. Focus and play with discipline. A 10-game win streak is not impossible if they can start winning the game played on a six inch field between the players’ ears.

3. Keep that headset on, you are still playing Kelly. Based upon what you’ve seen these last two games, do you see players that need to start riding the pine or are you still confident in your depth chart?

Sorry, let me put the headset back on. I’d taken it off to unhinge my jaw and eat Ben Turk whole. One cause of my aneurysms solved. In all honesty, think I just ate the only player I really would liked to see planted on the bench through the first couple games. Gary Gray has had a HORRENDOUS start to the season, but I still want him out there. Prior to this year I thought he was the best corner we’ve fielded since Shane Walton. He’s done everything in his power to try to kill that claim, but I still have a little faith left to spare on him.

I just want everyone to start playing smart. Apparently that’s a lot to ask.

4. Overall, how do you feel about Rees’ performance against Michigan?

The kid is mistake prone and his unforced fourth quarter error in the red zone was a colossal turning point in a game that was still completely in Notre Dame’s control. That being said, he does a fantastic job keeping his poise in the pinch. The offense clearly moves better with him at the helm, it’s just that turnovers will continue to be an issue as long as he’s the trigger man. If I were to give it a grade I’d go with B—great out of the gate, sputtered in the middle, a terrible turnover in the fourth quarter, and a clutch drive that should have been the game-winner.

5. Let’s talk about something happy: the Irish running game. After a 198 yard performance by the Irish do you feel that this rushing attack led by Cierre Wood (134 yards) is for real or have we not run into a tough enough defensive test yet?

It’s legit with a caveat. Stats don’t lie—Notre Dame is running the ball effectively out of the spread, especially on first and second down. The eyes don’t lie either though: we’re still atrocious in short yardage situations where we line up under center. Yes, it’s incredibly predictable as to what we’re going to do. But elite offensive lines and elite running games can line up and will their way to a single yard even when everyone in the world knows where it’s going.

Currently, the Irish are acres from being elite.

When ND gets to the point where fans expect them to come through and get a yard when they need it, we can start talking about an elite running game. Until then we can tip our cap to marked improvement while hoping for more.

6. Looking ahead to Michigan State, how do you gauge them? Is this the best team that we’ve faced off against yet or is this just an untested team that beat up on two cupcakes in Youngstown State and Florida Atlantic?

They’re definitely better than Michigan, which may be one of the five worst teams we’ve lost to in the past decade (and that’s an brutal label to carry). They haven’t been tested and are overrated as of right now in terms of ranking (Vegas agrees…line open at ND -3.5 and jumped almost immediately to -5 which means the sharps loaded up on the Irish), but they’re no pushover by any stretch. If Notre Dame plays well they should handle Sparty. That’s a huge “if” though, compounded by the fact that Sparty normally throws their best game of the season at the Irish. Look for another tight slugfest.

7. Is the key to winning simply not turning the ball over or do you see other crucial keys to beating Sparty?

DON’T SHOOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT. JUST STOP DOING IT. It’s not just turnovers, it’s mental mistakes in general. Stupid penalties, missed blocking assignments in short yardage situations, broken coverages that lead to 60-yard passes with under 30 seconds left that are stroke-inducing.

8. Obviously every week should be a must win, but I think there is definitely more of an urgency this week. How crucial is this game for the rest of our season?

Believe it or not, this season is salvageable if we win this game. The team needs to get things snowballing in the right direction and it starts with one win. A victory over a team ranked in the Top 15 is just what the doctor ordered.

Dear Diary...Notre Dame - Michigan

2011-09-12T20:35:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gents, the running diary is back! We’re coming to you live from a new college football headquarters in The Big Apple. We’ve got a crowd of five here to witness the first night game ever in the history of the biggest and amazingly not loud Michigan Stadium. Let’s get to it!

7:59 Our first look at The Big House. IT’S NOT EVEN NIGHT YET! YOU FAILED! There have still been zero night games in The Big House.

8:01 First look at the retro jerseys. They’re fine, I just hate the helmet. Why the hell are we bringing back anything from the Kucharich Era?

8:07 And here come the Wolverines tapping their little sign. Will Hoke try to get up and touch it? Yes! He gets there! A victory for fat people everywhere! Good for him!

8:08 HEEEEEERE COME THE IRISH! They don’t seem particularly fired up. I’m hoping that it’s just because they’re focused and ready to kick some ass.

8:11 Catholic School Girl Throwback Cheerleader Outfits? Meeeeeh…

8:12 There was a lot of buildup for how sweet the flyover was going to be. What’d they do? An old cargo plane. Sweet, Michigan. You want to impress me do something like Iowa.

8:14 Dr Flanagan gets the week off, it’s Erin Andrews’ time to shine! BK is rocking a phenomenally stylish visor. He seems so in control, I bet he doesn’t yell at all this whole game. The Irish have won and deferred.

8:16 Manti Te’o STUFFS the ‘Nard Dog on second down. IN YOUR GRILL ALL DAY #16!

8:18 Three and out for the Skunkbears. Couldn’t ask for a better start. My heart stopped a second when Goodman fielded that punt, but we’ve successfully not screwed up out of the gate. I feel like the fact that my reaction right away is “good, we haven’t screwed up yet” is a sign we’ve still got a long way to go.

8:19 One play, one first down on the ground. Cierre for 11. Beautiful.

8:21 Great throw by Tommy to Michael Floyd for a huge gain.

8:22 Rees fumbles the snap and disaster almost strikes, but we recover.

8:23 TOOOOOUUUUCCCCCHHHDDDDDOOOOOOWWWNNNNNN IRISH!!!!! REES TO RIDDICK ON 3RD AND GOAL FOR A TOUCHDOWN. TALK ABOUT YOUR BEST CASE SCENARIO. Ruffer splits the uprights and it’s 7-0 good guys.

8:28 The defense has come out with guns blazing. Back-to-back tackles by KLM and it’s third and long.

8:29 Another three and out for the Skunkbears. Uhhhhh ohhhhhh….you’re not in San Diego anymore, Mr. Hoke.

8:30 Most conservative fair catch ever there. Whatever, we’ve got the ball.

8:33 One play, another first down on a dump to Jonas Gray.

8:34 Another big run for the Irish. The offensive line is MAULING Michigan right now.

8:37 Musberger comments that “Brady Hoke’s defense is under fire from the Irish early.” Yeeeeeeeep!

8:40 A slant to Michael Floyd has the Irish inside the 10-yard line with 2:40 left in the half. Come on boys, pound it in there.

8:42 TOUCHDOOOOOOWWWNNNN IRISH!!!!!!! CIERRE WOOD BUSTS UP THE MIDDLE BASICALLY UNTOUCHED TO ADD TO THE NOTRE DAME LEAD. The Irish are MANHANDLING the Skunkbears right now. Talk about just what the doctor ordered. Bust out the whine and cheese in The Big House. 14-0 IRISH.

8:45 Denard tries to roll out and make something happen but he’s completely swarmed by Ethan Johnson and Ishaq Williams among others for a loss. Good to see Ishaq cracking the lineup.

8:46 Robinson takes a quarterback keeper on the next play for a first down. Damn he’s fast.

8:47 INTERCEPTION GARY GRAY!!!! Denard can’t even complete a screen pass let alone a real pass. He sails it on the last play of the corner and Gray dives to make the easy pick. GAS THEM IRISH, SEND 114,000 PEOPLE HOME IN TIME TO CATCH THE START OF MADTV.

8:53 Three and out for ND. Damn, what a lost opportunity there. Out trots the shankopotomus who thankfully doesn’t completely blow it. Michigan ball at the 13.

8:58 Big run by the ‘Nard Dog.

9:02 The Irish hold and it’s another punt for the Skunkbears. A negative return for Goodman. That brings his career averge to -1.0 yards per return with 18 fair catches. Ugh.

9:06 HUGE play for Floyd on first down taking a swing pass in the flat, undressing the DB, and picking up 25 yards.

9:08 ND burns its final timeout with 11 minutes left in the second quarter. Wow, I hate to say this out loud but that’s Davie-esque. I hope it doesn’t come back to bite us in this footbawww game.

9:10 Interception Tommy Rees. Terrible throw, terrible decision. This is the big reason I haven’t been able to buy into him. He’s very turnover prone for a guy that’s a purported “game manager.” Michigan ball at the ND 45.

9:12 Touchdown Michigan. Bomb/prayer to the left sideline. Crap. 14-7 Irish. Need to bounce back and put together a drive here. Get back to pounding the ball.

9:20 And BK answers my request with a handoff to Cierre Wood—huge run on second down.

9:23 Back-to-back penalties from Notre Dame 2nd and 26.

9:24 Well, time to go back to the well that is Michael Floyd. Big #3 snares a lob down the right sideline for 25.9999999 yards, bringing up a 3rd and one inch.

9:25 First down, Irish.

9:26 I just noticed the Ben Hogan referee hats. Do you think they refer to the players as “laddie?”

9:29 Michael Floyd picks up another third down. Irish rolling.

9:30 Interception on the goal line. DAMNIT TOMMY. Rees if 4 for his last 10 with 2 INT’s.

9:32 Three and out for the Skunkbears. Denard is just a terrible passing quarterback. He’s made for the spread and nothing else.

9:35 Jonas Gray picks up a first down on 3rd and 5 right up the gut.

9:38 Drive stalls. Ruffer comes in and splits the uprights and ND goes up 17-7 with 1:45 left. I can’t say I’m upset.

9:42 Michigan takes a knee and we head to the half. Brady Hoke gets interviewed on his way into the locker room and once again everyone is reminded of how he has such an unfortunate voice for a big, burly dude.

Let’s take a look at the halftime stats.

Total Yards: Notre Dame – 268…Michigan – 94
(43 Yards of that came on a prayer…what a performance by the defense)

Denard’s Statline: 2 of 9 for 48 yards…7 carries for 40 yards
(He is a TERRIBLE passer…completely hopeless)

ND Rushing: 18 rushes for 102 yards, 5.7 per carry
(Great job by the Irish offensive line…75 yards for Cierre…thrilled about this)

Turnovers: Michigan – 0…Notre Dame – 2
(Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb)

We need to step on their throats. The gap between these teams is very large; we can’t let them hang around. It’s time to start developing a killer instinct tonight.

10:07 The Irish receive the second half kickoff and they’re already on the march. Cierre Wood rips off another big run and he’s up to 98 yards for the evening.

10:09 The drive stalls and Turk actually does a great job fielding a terrible snap—Jordan Cowart, wake the hell up and remember how to snap a football, IT’S YOUR ONLY JOB—and pins the Skunkbears at the 11 yard line.

10:13 First play is a 39-yard run by the ‘Nard Dog. Shit.

10:15 Hoke has given up his offense and is going back to the “Here Denard, just take it and run” offense. The Irish have responded and it’s 3rd and long.

10:16 The Irish hold and it’s time for another punt. WAY TO STEP UP DEFENSE!

10:20 HUGE RUN by Jonas Gray, 38 yards. JAM IT DOWN THEIR THROATS BOYS!!!

10:22 Fumble Cierre Wood and Michigan recovers. COME ON, GIVE ME A GODDAMN BREAK. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO LEARN TO STEP ON A TEAM AND BURY THEM.

10:25 Michigan picks up a conversion on third down on pass. Whenever something good happens through the air for them I’m completely shocked.

10:25 INTERCEPTION ZEKE MOTTA! ‘NARD DOG IS SOOOOO BAAAAAAAD.

10:26 First play is a huge run by Cierre Wood…24 yards. Way to bounce back #20.

10:28 Michael Floyd picks up another conversion on third down. PUNCH IT IN IRISH.

10:30 Dayne does a great job helping Cierre stretch his wrist on the sideline. See, he’s the consummate team player.

10:31 That should’ve been pass interference in the endzone on Floyd. Bullshit.

10:32 TOUCHDOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWNNNNNN IIIIRRRRRRIIIIISSSSSHHHHHH! TJ JONES ON THE CROSSING PATTERN! THE IRISH HAVE TAKEN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THIS GAME. Let’s see if ‘Nard Dog can pass them back.

Wait, let me think about that…HAHAHAHAHAHA.

10:37 Of course the first play is a huge pass and it’s first and goal Michigan. Robert Blanton saves a touchdown coming across from the other side of the field. Well ain’t that some shit.

10:40 It’s 3rd and goal from the one foot line as the 3rd quarter ends. If we could get a stop here the game is over. As well as we’ve played I don’t feel good about containing Denard short of the endzone here.

10:45 Michigan gets STONED AT THE LINE, FUMBLES, AND PICKS UP THE GODDAMN BALL AND SCORES. You. Have. To. Be. Kidding. Me. That’s the luck of Notre Dame football over the last two decades. Unreal. Notre Dame 24, Michigan 14.

10:48 Terrible return by Riddick backs ND at the 10-yard line.

10:51 Wood picks up 8 big yards on 2nd down. Setting up a third and short.

10:51 Cierre Wood is dragged down behind the line and it’s three and out for Notre Dame. This is what happens when you let them hang around. The feeling nausea of nausea from 2009 is rumbling…

10:52 Ben Turk shanks a punt. This is the 54th time I’ve written that in two years. Still no one has stepped up and maimed him. That should basically count as a turnover. How the hell can you be Reggie Roby in practice and be this incredibly terrible whenever we need you to show up???? Michigan’s ball with momentum and great field position.

10:55 Dan Fox snipes ‘Nard Dog on first down for a five yard loss. COME ON BABY, BURY THEM.

10:55 Play action throw to the fullback goes for 15 and a first down. Damnit.

10:57 Michigan’s fifth play of this drive means it’s the longest drive of the night. They have not had a drive longer than four plays all night and yet they’re still alive. Unbelievable.

11:00 Touchdown Michigan. Gary Gray gets burned. Unreal. Absolutely terrible. Notre Dame 24, Michigan 21. This is atrocious. That sickening feeling is back in full force.

11:02 Great return by Theo Riddick gives the Irish good field position.

11:03 Holding on second down backs Notre Dame up for a 2nd and 15.

11:05 Zero yards on a pass to Floyd. Third and a mile. And then we burn a timeout.

11:06 REES DELIVERS A STRIKE TO EIFERT FOR 20 YARDS. LADIES AND GENTS, THAT’S YOUR FIRST BOB DAVIE DROP THE H-UUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE OF THE NIGHT!

11:08 Another first down on a slant to Floyd, Irish at the Michigan 30.

11:10 Another Irish first down thanks to pass interference on TJ Jones. Irish ball at the 6-yard line. PUNCH IT IN.

11:11 Fumble, Tommy Rees. Michigan recovers. WOW. He just dropped the ball as he tried to throw. Mark it down, this is the first moment where I feel like we can lose this game. Please for the love of all that’s holy make it not so.

11:12 Denard delivers a strike for a first down BUT there’s a holding call. Huge call. COME ON IRISH, DIG DEEP.

11:14 Denard throws a jump ball into double coverage and Hemingway comes down with it at midfield. Tack on another 15 yards for a late hit and Michigan is on the 30 with under five minutes left. Harrison Smith and Zeke Motta…what the hell were you doing?!?!?!

11:15 INTERCEPTION ROBERT BLANTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A PLAY BY RJ, HOLY SHIT, THAT’S A POTENTIAL GAME SAVER.

11:18 Notre Dame once again gets stuffed on 3rd and 1 and has to punt. Turk actually gets off a good punt, but a good return gives Michigan decent field position with two minutes left. Can the defense actually come through or will this be an exact replica of the 2009 game in The Big House? I need a handful of Xanax washed down with a gallon of Makers Mark.

11:22 Third and 2. Please stop them. Please.

11:23 MANTI THROTTLES DENARD but he gets the first down by a nose.

11:24 First down Michigan at the 21-yard line.

11:25 Touchdown Michigan. I’m going to throw up. Michigan 28, Notre Dame 24. Let’s see what kind of winner you are Tommy. 1:12 left, one timeout.

11:26 Nothing gets me jacked up at a football game like Taio Cruze. See, this is why we need a jumbotron at ND! Because we need to blare DY-NO-MITE to jack up the students! God Michigan sucks.

11:27 Good return for Riddick gives the Irish the ball at the 39. COME ON IRISH.

11:28 First play is a pass interference on Michael Floyd. If he wouldn’t have been held that’s easily six points. Safety help? What’s that? Irish ball at the 46.

11:29 Great throw to Eifert. First down at the 34.

11:29 Quick throw to TJ Jones and out of bounds. 2nd and 5.

11:30 Incomplete with 36 seconds left. 3rd and 5.

11:31 TOUCHDOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNN IRRRRRRIIIIISSSSSSHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! HOOOOOLLLLLYYYYYYYY MOTHER OF GOD, TOMMMMMYYYYY RREEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS TO THEO RIDDDICK!!!!!!!! REDEMPTION! EUPHORIA! I JUST RAN AROUND THE ROOM LIKE JIMMY V LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO HUG!!!!

11:33 BRINDZA BOMBS IT OUT THE BACK OF THE ENDZONE. COME ON IRRRRRRRRIIISSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!

11:35 Michigan completes a bomb on second down. They’re in field goal range. I just swallowed my tongue.

11:37 Touchdown Michigan with two seconds left. Fade to black. I’m going to go kill myself now.

GAMEDAY: A PURE MICHIGAN BEATDOWN

2011-09-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

That was fun.

Bottom line is that Notre Dame is capable of being a top tier team if they play well. Michigan is mediocre team if they play well. As long as the Irish don't completely implode they're going to win this game. If they play well they're going to win handily.

Let's go get it done Irish.

Notre Dame 27
Michigan 14

Irish Blogger Gathering: Heal Me, Britney

2011-09-09T16:44:00.000-07:00

I know it's last second, but I can't just let an IBG pass me by without weighing in. Thanks to HLS for putting them together. Head over there for other responses.

1) Well that result really sucked. Please describe how you feel about the loss using lyrics from a pop diva (eg Brittany Spears, Rihanna, etc) song. Bonus points for video or pictures. (something good has to come out of last week)

Do I need to expand on the song? Or are you just busy watching and rewatching the video? It's self-explanatory. I got my hopes up and once again they came crashing down before October 1. Bollocks.

2) While we all want to move on, last week's game can teach us many things about the '11 Irish. After seeing what Week 1 brought us, do you find yourself more confident, less confident, or still confused as hell about our chances vs the Skunkbears? Why?

I think we are a far, far superior team to Michigan at every single position except quarterback. If we don't take a shotgun and unload it on our feet and head like we did last week we will win this game.

3) Other than QB, which position group pleasantly surprised you this past week? Which disappointed? What player absolutely MUST see more time in Week 2? Again, no QBs.

I guess you could say I was pleasantly surprised with the offensive line. They basically mauled the South Florida line, giving Tommy plenty of time in the second half (with only 1-2 exceptions) and giving Cierre some serious real estate to play with when BK called his numbed.

The disappointment was the special teams crew. I had a terrible feeling about Ruffer getting Nick Setta'd early on (Setta went through a huge cold spell once everyone realized he was the best offensive weapon we had before bouncing back) and in a game where everything went wrong he pulled his only field goal attempt. Riddick was the most unnatural looking returner I have ever seen and I don't even really know who I'd put at #2. Throw in the shankopotomus Ben Turk and you've got yourself a giant disappointment.

I'd like to see Robby Toma out there getting some reps instead of Riddick at PR and WR. Why? Because he's Riddick Lite in terms of slipperiness and he has great hands, something Theo does not.

4) Tommy Rees will lead the Irish Offense this week. Do you agree with Coach's call? Either way, what part of Crist's game will the Irish O miss the most, if any?

Yes, I agree with him. Obviously the team responds better to Rees. I was in the "Crist Camp" just because I don't think Tommy has the ceiling to be a national championship quarterback and will always struggle against elite defenses (go prove me wrong, TR), but I'm pulling hard for the sophomore now.

The one thing they'll miss about Dayne's game is his ability to stretch the field vertically. It's not that he throws a necessarily great deep ball, but arm strength a clear weakness of Rees (weakness in the sense that there are just some deep throws you can't expect him to make). I don't think they'll miss him much though.

5) What's the key to beating the Wolverines this week? Just 1 thing. Not 2. 1.

Don't beat yourself. Don't beat yourself. Don't beat yourself. Michigan cannot win this game, we can only lose it. That's how big the talent gap is.

6) Make your Over-Under Picks:

Over-under on Floyd's receiving total for this coming weekend: 154 - OVER...Floyd Fest 2011!

Over-under on Robinson's rushing total: 100 - OVER...'Nard Dog will get his.

Over-under on ND Number of Turnovers: 2 - UNDER...Only one stupid throw from Tommy.

Over-under on Number of Times Kelly is caught Purple Monstering Out: 2 - OVER...Way over.

Over-under on ND Total Yards: 425 - OVER...South Florida has a better defense than the Skunkbears.

7) Michigan: Just Another Opponent, Enemy, or Rival? Explain. 1 Bonus point for each use of the word 'suck'.

Enemy and Rival. Every Notre Dame fan cares about this game more than any game except Southern Cal. Michigan Sucks.

8) It's Michigan week. Name 1 thing in the world that sucks as much as Michigan, if you can.

Carlos Mencia's standup.

9) RichRod is back, announcing for CBS. Can't wait to see how that goes. Bet he's horrible.

Bet you're right. Bet he cries.

THE BODOGS ARE BARKIN: RELOADED

2011-09-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

My gambling brethren: we're back. Better than ever? Settle down, let's be reasonable with the expectations.

We've got some rules tweaks to make it interesting:

Maximum of $200 bet per week.

You can only go "All In" ($125 or more) 1 time during the regular season.

You must bet a minimum of 4 games.

You must bet wherever College Gameday is and feature it as the game of the week.

Moneyline bets max of $40 (We call this The "Hinkle is bitter about Chuck's Tulsa ML victory last year" Rule)

Gambling Playoffs! (It's like the FedEx Cup! Except more likable and makes less sense.)

You must be in the black to qualify.

Week 1 we will play the regular season rules. Two Highest totals advance to week 2.

Week 2 we will keep the rules the same as regular season.

Championship:

Must make 4 bets on the National Title Game (prop, moneyline, total, spread, half, quarters, game...etc)

$300 Bankroll

Got it? Good. ON TO THE PICKS!!!!!

Mattare

Fresh off a ridiculous comeback in the last six weeks of the season, I am back to defend my crown as the greatest gambler on this prolific website.

1. Alabama (-10) over Penn State...$44 for $40

Billy Boy is going to be in Happy Valley to witness what is sure to be an ass-whooping for the ages. All the white tee wearing fans in Pennsylvania won't be able to keep the Nittanys close in this one, because screaming loud doesn't get your team first downs. Bama by 21.

2. Boston College (+7) over UCF...$33 for $30

Everyone likes to hate on BC, but this spread is too much to pass up. The Fighting George O'Leary's may win this game, but Fredo will find a way to grind it out and keep it close.

3. Virginia (-6.5) over Indiana...$33 for $30

Two reasons for this pick. First is that good coaches usually take big steps in their second year in a program. I think Mike London is a very, very good coach. Second, Indiana is so bad. So, so, so bad.

4. Notre Dame (-3) over Michigan....$66 for $60

Guess what? The Irish are bouncing back and they're bouncing back in a convincing fashion. The only hope Michigan has is the 'Nard Dog going off--which, of course, you can't rule out. The Irish are a legitimate top ten outfit if they play smart football. The Skunkbears are a mediocre team at best if they pitch a perfect game.

Mikey

All lines from covers.com.

1. Mississippi St. (-6.5) over Auburn...$66 to win $60

The Bulldogs are looking gooood and are my big sleeper for the SEC this season. Auburn is still ranked somehow but should have lost to Utah St. last week at home- a rather unimpressive start. I think Miss. St. makes their first statement this weekend when they take on a Tigers team that lost nearly every key component from last year's title run.

2. Oregon St. (+20.5) over Wisconsin...$33 to win $30

If there was one game I wish I could've seen last week it was Sacramento St. beating Oregon St. College sports is all about the upset baby and that one came out of nowhere for the Beavers, who were probably looking forward to this weeks matchup at Wisconsin. Well if they're going to put all their eggs into the beating Wisconsin basket I think they'll keep it within the points and wake up from the trance that allowed them to lose so badly. The Badgers are a very good team with Russell Wilson running the show now but they've got to come back to Earth from that beatdown they laid on UNLV a week ago.

3. Virginia (-6.5) over Indiana...$77 to win $70

I'll be at this game on Saturday in Bloomington so it was a must pick. Have no clue who's on either of these team, who coaches them or even how to get to the stadium but if UVA is favored by almost a TD on the road they must be the much better team. Rock solid logic, bet your shirt on this one.

4. GAME O' THE WEEK Michigan (+3.5) over ND..$33 to win $30

This is a bet against Notre Dame rather than one for Michigan. The Irish fall flat every single time you think they have the pieces and are going to be relevant in the national title scene (that should make this site's readers happy). Last week proved to be the same story with the boneheaded loss to So. Fla. and I don't think it will end there as they go on the road to face Michigan in a heated rivalry game. Brian Kelly's face will be even redder than last week as they go down in Ann Arbor and he names Dayne Crist his week 3 starter.

Hinkle

To all my fans around the world, I AM BACK, live from Tucson, AZ............

.....With a vengeance. After a runaway season last year capped off by a a ridiculous "Bowl Season" which cost me the throne, I am poised to take the title this year. New rules in place to regulate the outlandishness we saw last year will not happen. Your champ will give you winners each and every week. No chasing, no craziness, just a steady diet of winners.

Obviously, college football is back. Same great game with the same great standard results. Examples.

1. Notre Dame chocking at home and me having to send Mattare what seems to be my standard weekly "checking for a pulse" text to make sure he did not commit suicide over another devastating loss. Don't worry ND nation I am sure you can still go 12-1 since for the "x" year in a row all I heard from the media and your fans is "this is our year".

2. Boise State wins ANOTHER big game, this time versus the SEC. Now what? Ohhh okay haters Georgia isn't that good? SEC East contenders to start the year ranked in the top 20. I get they don't play an SEC season, but give my boy Kellen Moore some credit. Does he throw incomplete passes? I really hope they run the table this year and get a shot at the likes of Alabama, Oklahoma, or Oregon (2-0). I mean come on, who doesn't want to see what would happen?

I said my peace with those two teams...now on to Week 1 picks from scoresandodds.com

1. Arizona @ Oklahoma State OVER 66...($55 win $50)

My boys in the backyard exploded on offense last week. Nick Foles put up Kellen Moore like numbers throwing for 80+% and 5TD's. Oklahoma State put up a huge 61 spot in week one while giving up 31 to an offense no where near the capability of the Wildcats. I look for both teams to drive up and down the field with a ton of big plays. Should be an entertaining game to watch on commericals of Saints/Packers. TONS of points!

2. Alabama (-10) @ PSU...($44 win $40)

I had the awful pleasure of watching PSU last week on the Big Ten network. Their QB play is worse than any I saw coaching in the Colonial League last year. Seriously, who is their QB? If I was starting a team, I would not want any of them to run my scout team. Inconsistency all over the board. Are they going to split time again? If one gets the nod, they will be playing with their eyes over their shoulder, not on the defense. No chance PSU hangs in this game at all.

3. Mississippi States (-6.5) @ Auburn...($33 win $30)

I really do not think Auburn will finish above .500 this year. Cam Newton was Auburn. No Cam is like no Peyton Manning (gulp). Last week vs. Utah State they made so many mistake that will not allow them to stay competitive in the SEC week in and week out. They got embarrassed. Winning in the last 3 minutes as a defending champion in that fashion is absurd. I will lay the points in a game that is a double digit loss, the first of several, for the Tigers of Auburn.

4. Game of the Week: ND -3 @ Meeeeeeeeeechagin...($66 win $60)

Tommy Rees is a solid QB. I was impressed by his play last week and if he would have been under center the whole game I think they win the game. Red zone turnovers are the death of any team, but I still think Rees has the "it" factor that the Irish need to be successful this year. Michigan won a sloppy, rain filled, ugly, delayed, I don't know what in the world that was but I am not sold on their play. Some big plays versus a directional Michigan team doesn't tell me much. Coach BK MUST have said "F#%$" at least 25 times on national television so I can only imagine the ear raping they took all week. If the Irish do not come out and dominate this game, and for some reason lose, OMGGGGGGGGGG! I do not even want to know what will happen. I like the Irish in this spot a ton. They would have been a play for me even if they were not the site of Gameday in Ann Arbor. I mean come on, even they play with half the intensity as their fans do in "Full Beer Flip Cup", this game should be over by half!

Chuck

This week's slate of games are like the collection of girls you find at a local sportsbar. There aren't many of them, they're haggard around the edges, and often already taken. But after hanging around for a while and sloshing through $1 PBR drafts, you find that one girl who you're going to try and go home with despite her bountiful gut, cankles, and Eli Manning jersey. Auburn: do you wanna come back to my place and have a drink?

1. Arizona (+14) @ Oklahoma St...$33 to win $30

The scoreboard will be lit up like the Fourth of July in Stillwater on Thursday night. Everybody knows about the prolific Weedon to Blackmon connection for the Pokes, but don’t forget about Nick Foles and Juron Criner who connected for 151 of Foles’ 412 passing yards in opening week trouncing of Northern Arizona. I fully expect the Pokes to win this one, but I like the Cats and the points.

2. Mississippi St. @ Auburn (+7)...$66 to win $60

Before everybody piles on me for this pick, yes, I did watch Auburn against Utah State on Saturday. To put it politely, they did not deserve to win that game. But they did, and that seems to be the M.O. of Auburn under Gene Chizik. After a slow start, their offense heated up and moved the ball well in the second half. Barrett Trotter looked capable of making plays in the pocket, and you know Gus Malzahn will have a solid game plan dialed up for their SEC opener.

Mississippi State got their season started by handling one of the worst teams in the FBS, Memphis. Not much stock should be placed in this game, and I am interested to see how the Bulldogs respond to the pressure of being ranked early in the season. The bottom line is you have to love a home underdog, especially in the SEC. Tigers lose a close one to the Bulldogs.

3. Northern Illinois (-7) @ Kansas...$33 to win $30

In a week where there’s not too much free money on the board, I am going to introduce you to my 2011 Tulsa: the Northern Illinois Huskies. Loyal readers might remember my fascination with Tulsa last year and the way they put points on the board. Well, this year my small conference crush is the NIU Huskies led by dual-threat stud Chandler Harnish. In opening week action last week against Army, Harnish only had 195 yds and 5 TD’s through the air to go with 80 yds rushing and 1 TD on the ground. That was not a typo. Huskies roll in Lawrence.

4. Notre Dame @ Michigan (+3.5)...$22 to win $20

These new rules put a gun to my head, and there is simply no way I can pick my Irish. I would probably feel pretty good about this pick if I was not a Notre Dame fan, but given my allegiance there is no way I can plunk down serious change on this one. So what do I like about the Wolverines in this one? 1. Michigan is 5-1 in their last 6 against ND in Ann Arbor. 2. The first night game in the Big House will have Wolverine fans jacked out of their minds. 3. Noting Maryland’s victory over Miami on Monday night and Oregon’s recent success, I have developed a very unscientific theory that ugly uniforms win games. Michigan’s seemingly rugby inspired “retro” unis are hideous and definitely beat out ND’s rags in this one.

I Dun Dun It Again....

2011-09-01T20:27:00.001-07:00

I was so ambitious heading into this week in terms of what I was going to post on WNG. Bill even chipped in with his half of Two Dudes, One Post.

Plans change rapidly though and my plans to write the night away have been replaced by the impulse purchase of a flight to go see the opener Saturday. This is become a yearly tradition, one that cannot continue next year because the opener is in Ireland.

In about 36 hours I'll be smack dab in the middle of tailgate Valhalla and a few hours later I'll come through a tunnel that takes me to "the most beautiful sight these eyes have ever seen."

There's still time for you to book your flight, what's stopping you?

GO IRISH, BEAT BULLS

(Here's a video from a friend of the blog Her Loyal Sons, Ken O'Malley. Buy the whole CD on iTunes this fall. Head over to HLS for details.)

Irish Blogger Gathering: KICKOFF

2011-08-30T22:25:00.000-07:00

1. The big news of last week was Dayne Crist winning the starting QB spot. Are you happy with the outcome and how comfortable are you with Crist as the starting quarterback for the 2011 season?

I'm very pleased with the outcome. My horse in this derby was Crist from day one simply because I feel he has a much higher ceiling than Tommy Rees. People's opinion of Dayne tends to be jaded by the memories of the Navy debacle and the first drive of the Tulsa game. The reality is that he flashed real promise at times last year. It's unfortunate that he ended his campaign on such a sour note, but let's not forget the fact that he had spurts where he looked like the 5-star stud he was billed to be.

There are two main things that will determine just how successful Dayne is this season. The first is the most obvious one: he has to stay healthy. I won't go so far as to say he's completely made of glass but...the ligaments in his knees are made of glass. He has to stay on the field even though Kelly is unleashing him in the running game.

The second thing is he needs to iron out the inconsistencies from last season. The biggest problem Dayne had was he'd go 7 of 12 in a quarter, but it'd be seven completions in a row followed by five consecutive incompletions. While you love the hot streaks, those cold spells kill drives and break any rhythm the offense hopes to obtain. He's never going to be deadly accurate like Clausen was, but if he can limit those cold streaks Dayne can be a very, very effective quarterback in Kelly's offense.

2. A lot of people say you see the biggest improvement between year 1 and 2 after a coaching change. What area do you hope to see the biggest improvement in 2011?

This is tough because the improvement from the first part of last year to the final four games was so drastic. Where do you choose to go from there? I suppose I'll head back to the quarterback position. In Kelly's offense, the signal caller is the guy who can be a flat-out superstar with monster statistics (see: Collaros, Zach and Pike, Tony). When Notre Dame was so effective with Rees all they did was ask him to manage the game and not screw up. I want to see quarterback go from a question mark to a strength. Based on Kelly's track record I don't think that's particularly far-fetched.

3. I think we've all covered this year's highly touted freshman class quite a bit this off-season already so instead, who do you see as this year's Corey Mays? Mays played primarly special teams for 3 seasons before a breakout season as a 5th year senior in 2005. Who on the Irish roster can pull off a similar performance this season?

There isn't a Corey Mays that will emerge as a relatively high profile starter, but there is a senior who has done little to date that'll emerge as a major (albeit relatively silent) contributor: Andrew Nuss.

Nuss had a great spring and was just barely beat out by Chris Watt (who is a MONSTER). He's versatile enough to swing between the guard positions and tackle and will play major minutes even though he's not billed as the starter. It's a huge coup for this staff to have the depth and flexibility Nuss provides.

4. Theo Riddick is a player I've been touting all off-season and think the is ready to become a big name in college football. What player on Notre Dame's roster who hasn't yet broken out are you expecting to put up big numbers in 2011?

I was on his bandwagon last year and I'll stick with it this season: Jamoris Slaughter. He couldn't stay healthy last season, but now that he's 100% Slaughter is primed to show exactly why he was tapped as the clear-cut starter last season. Yes, Zeke Motta improved drastically over the last part of the season and seems to finally be fulfilling the potential he flashed as a 4-star recruit...but Slaughter is even better. He's a fluid athlete and a big hitter; if he stays healthy he'll be an unexpected star that finishes top five on the team in tackles. If he doesn't, the Irish have a more than capable backup ready to step in.

5. Notre Dame plays a legit opponent in South Florida unlike a lot of teams around the country. How do you see this game playing out and does it help or hurt Notre Dame that they play a BCS conference opponent this weekend while Michigan plays Western Michigan?

South Florida is a very good team with a very, very good up-and-coming coach. They also have an offensive line that's been completely overhauled and will be facing an Irish defense that is bloodthirsty after five consecutive stellar performances to end the 2010 campaign. Many people are wary of this game and I understand why, but in the end this won't be as tight as many predict.

I think that ultimately this game helps Notre Dame. A solid test out of the gate forces the team to focus from day one--there's no sleep walking through a Kent State or a I-AA school the first couple weeks. Let the Skunkbears feast on a cupcake before our showdown next week. The Irish will be fresh off a victory over a legitimate Top 25 level team. A win over the Bulls means a confident team will be entering The Big House. A win over Western Michigan will still leave plenty of question marks for Brady Hoke's boys--especially when Denard Robinson looks mediocre at best under center.

6. Stealing this one from my IBG pre-season questions from last year - who is the Notre Dame player the Irish can least afford to lose this season? For the sake of getting some different response, you can't use Michael Floyd or Manti Te'o here.

As tempting as it is to pick Cierre Wood, I'll go with Gary Gray. The depth at cornerback is frighteningly thin and if Gray gets knocked out then there could be a gaping hole on one side of the field. Some fans still seem slow to appreciate Gray, but I'm here to tell you he's the best cornerback to suit up in blue and gold since Shane Walton--and by season's end there won't be anyone arguing with me.

7. Obligatory pre-season prediction question:

Notre Dame's final record (noting the losses): 12-1...I really don't know who it'll be against though. Not Stanford or Southern Cal.
Notre Dame's bowl game and opponent: Fiesta Bowl vs Boise State
Final ranking for Notre Dame: #4
Best opposing offensive and defensive player ND will face in '11: Andrew Luck, QB - Stanford (Duh)....Shayne Skov, LB - Stanford
Best opposing coach ND will face: Mark Dantonio
Notre Dame game you won't miss for anything: Southern Cal...nothing short of a coma will keep me from this game.
Notre Dame game you could watch on DVR: Southern Cal...because I'll be at the game. It's Notre Dame football, don't insult me by acting like I'd DVR a game.
National Champion: Alabama
Heisman Trophy Winner: Landry Jones

Throwback

2011-08-22T04:23:00.000-07:00

Didn't have time to put together a column yesterday as my body and wallet recovered from the wreckage of Friday and Saturday, but here's a little gem I stumbled across. I'd been looking for the NBC intro song that I grew up listening too forever and finally someone posted it.

Who knew you could get so attached to a version of the Fight Song that was laced with an electric guitar?

Get That Blood Pumping

2011-08-17T21:58:00.000-07:00

It's Thursday and we're 16 days away from kicking off the 2011 campaign. How about a lil' Rudy to fire everyone up?

16 days.

HERE COME THE IRISH...

Irish Blogger Gathering: The De Ja Vu Redux

2011-08-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

Her Loyal Sons has thrown up the opening tip of the IBG season. Let's get to it.

1. Go to youtube, pick a song that a) applies to your life in some way and b) will serve as the unofficial 2011 Fighting Irish Football Anthem. Extra points if you entirely avoid any band with members born in Ireland. Disqualification for any use of Freekbass. Embed the video for that song in your answers and explain why it’s so fitting under both qualifications A and B.

After much deliberation, I'm going with: "Ali in the Jungle" - The Hours

How does it pertain to my life? This isn't a forum you visit to read tales of woe, you come here to read about ND football and wonder how Bill gets to keep his name on the site when he posts once for every lunar eclipse. Let's just say some unexpected events turned my world upside down in May and put me at rock bottom.

How quick did I get up? On the golf course it took about five days.
Off the course? Upgrades everywhere. The swagger is back.

It should be obvious how the song can serve as an anthem for the 2011 Irish. All you need to make a YouTube video to pump you up is lace in highlights from the horrendous first nine games and back them up clips from the final four. Notre Dame Football was seemingly dead in the water (again) when Tommy Rees was picked off in the endzone against Tulsa.

The team was being shredded in the media, destroyed by the majority of Irish Nation, and ridiculed by its own student body. Brian Kelly went from savior to the worst coach since Kucharich seemingly overnight. The suggestions that he was in over his head, that he was just too "small timey," were running wild.

But it's funny what a four game win streak and a loaded defensive recruiting haul can do to flip perspective. The players and coaching staff deserve all the credit in the world for staying the course and not closing down shop after the disastrous month of October. Unlike Weis' teams the previous two years, they put their noses to the grindstone and found a way to finish the season strong despite being completely ravaged by injuries.

Let's keep that momentum rolling into 2011. The giant that is Notre Dame football is awakening...it isn't quite Lazarus reborn, but for Irish fans who have suffered through the Davie, Willingham, and Weis Eras it sure feels like it.

2. Now that you’ve got your unofficial anthem rocking the home office, predict the single biggest play, positive or negative for the Irish, that will occur this season in a Notre Dame football game. Color this prediction with situation, players involved, opposing team, and even weather conditions. It’s the pre-season. Let’s see what your imaginations are doing.

First, let me set the scene for you:

With 2:04 remaining in the final quarter, Dayne Crist scrambles right on a quarterback keeper and barely gets over the goal line in the north end zone to take a 31-28 lead over Southern Cal. The undefeated Trojans, led by their insufferable head coach and golden boy quarterback, burn their first three downs and gained only one yard on their final drive. With 1:32 left, they call timeout facing a 4th and 9 from their own 26 yard line.

An electric crowd fueled by countless shotgunned beers and unhealthy levels of adrenaline rises up for one last stand. The sense of de ja vu is almost too much; every last fan in the stands knows how this movie ended last time, when a Notre Dame Moment was snatched away. They dig deep and summon whatever is left of their voice and energy and unleash it toward the field as Matt Barkley comes to the line.

Manti Te'o and Harrison Smith wave their arms, egging the Irish Faithful to get even louder. It's completely deafening as Barkley gets under center, yet he looks to his left and decides to audible.

The crowd gets louder.

The ball is snapped. Robert Woods breaks down the left sideline and gets separation from Robert Blanton. Barkley sets his feet and gets ready to deliver another crushing blow to the Notre Dame Faithful.

Until Manti Te'o buries his helmet into the chest of the Southern Cal quarterback. The ball is jarred loose and floats gently into the hands of freshman Aaron Lynch. With a full head of steam Lynch makes a beeline for the endzone, angling right toward the student section. The stadium explodes with a sound that had been absent from the House That Rockne Built since 1993.

A sound signaling Notre Dame is officially back.

3. I’m a fan of the cinematic hit, “Kicking and Screaming.” I know, it’s a film you all love too. So naturally we’d all like to re-live that moment when they’re playing “Would You Rather.” So let’s do so: Would you rather suffer a humiliating loss to Michigan this year, or a humiliating loss to Southern Cal? Why? And stop eyeing that chicken across the street, perv.

Wow, talk about pick your poison. I'll have to go with Michigan and the main reason is because I plan on October 22nd being one of the greatest days of my life. That can't happen if the Irish lose, let alone get blown out.

4. Great teams require leadership, and with Notre Dame being the only truly national college football program in the country, a great Notre Dame football team requires national leaders. So pick one. Name a player on the Irish roster in 2011 who will lead the nation in a particular, official NCAA category. Also specify how much he’ll lead the nation by indicating his national rank in that category. Note: You must be predicting this leader to finish at least as high as 10th in the nation in your chosen category. Bonus Points: Don’t pick David Ruffer – the best player on the Irish Roster.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Michael Floyd finds a way to stay healthy. If that turns out to be true, he's going reel in an Irish record 19 touchdown receptions which will place him tied for first in the NCAA with someone who lines up out wide for Hawaii.

5. You’ve already done more parsing of Brian Kelly’s words than is healthy since he first took a podium in this pre-season. What’s the single most surprising thing he’s said in that time?

"We're so focused on the run game right now." - August 10

Why? Because I think the heads of half the people on ND Nation exploded.

WeNeverGraduate: RELOADED

2011-08-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

Is it coincidence that my life was turned upside down the very night I posted an article proclaiming to Irish Nation that I actually like Mark May? Probably not.

(Just in case, I renounce my previous statements complimenting Mark May. Sorry Mark, rather be safe than sorry.)

The point of this post is to announce we're reopening the doors:

Tuesday, we'll kick things off with the preseason Irish Blogger Gathering hosted by the guys at Her Loyal Sons. From there, who knows? Maybe we can pry Bill into a Two Dudes, One Post. Maybe we'll open up the mailbag. Maybe we'll bring Hinkle in for a guest spot from his new home on the West Coast. Hell, throw out some ideas and we'll run with them.

Get the internet version of Paul Revere and tell him to sound the horn. We're back because dammit, we need to provide another website to entertain the Lord of Shots, Zeiser, and Drake at work.

18 Holes with "The Enemy": A Round of Golf with Mark May

2011-05-17T23:01:00.001-07:00

Last summer my Dad and I were lucky enough to receive invitations to play in the Irish Legends Golf Tournament, an event hosted by Lou Holtz and Ara Parseghian at Lost Dunes Golf Club supporting both of their charities. We have very good family friends—Skip and Mike—who are closely involved with the orchestration of the event each year and they wanted us to come out and experience the day.

The guest list alone could’ve lured me out: Lou and Ara, former Heisman winners, Notre Dame Greats that I’d learned to revere thanks to books and stories from my father. This was a veritable smorgasbord for someone who eats up Irish History.

Mike and Skip insisted they’d set up my Dad and I with a great pairing. As the weeks flew by and the day of the tournament approached, I began to speculate on who my celebrity partner may be. The potential names raced through my head.

Would it be one of the men charged with saving Notre Dame Football, Brian Kelly or Jack Swarbrick? Could be Johnny Lujack or Johnny Lattner?

Or maybe—heart, be still—I was going to be spending 18 holes with Dr. Lou.

After flying into South Bend my Dad and I grabbed a rental car and sped off toward Lost Dunes. We got in around 10:30pm and grabbed drinks with Skip, Mike, and host of others who were staying on the property. They’d both known who I was going to play with for months since they essentially organized the entire tournament, but they wanted to wait to tell me in person so they could see my reaction.

That had to be a good thing, right? They were friends with Lou, they wanted to get that same feeling the guy from the “My Wish” segments on SportsCenter gets when he makes a kid’s dream come true. That had to be it.

Mike smiled and bellowed, “Alright Matt, you want to know who you’re playing with?”

I nodded and grinned from ear-to-ear.

“MARK MAY!”

The grin was replaced with an expression that mixed confusion, disappointment, shock, and more confusion. I thought he may be kidding; after all, going to an Irish Legends Tournament and being paired with Mark May was like being paired with Rush Limbaugh at a Democratic Party fundraising golf outing.

He wasn’t kidding.

The entire room cracked up with laughter as I stared off into space trying to wrap my mind around what I’d just been told. One of the other players in our group, former Notre Dame basketball and baseball player (and Major League pitcher) Ron Reed, leaned over to me and said half-joking/half-serious, “Matt, you hit’m high and I’ll hit’m low.”

May has essentially been public enemy #1 in the Notre Dame Universe the past six years. He’s always very vocal and opinionated—and most of his very vocal opinions pertaining to the Irish have not been favorable. His analysis on Notre Dame more often than not has led me to yell at my television and heave whatever projectile was closest to me—pillows, remotes, cushions, lamps, puppies, etc—at the screen even when no one else was around.

That night as I lay in bed I thought about what I wanted to ask him. Really it could be summed up in a single word: Why?

Why did it always seem like he was anti-Notre Dame? Did it stem from his playing days? Was it the fact that Notre Dame (9-1-1) was chosen to play in the 1980 Sugar Bowl to face Georgia instead of his Pitt Panthers (10-1)?

That was the one thing I was determined to find out and report back to all of Notre Dame Nation—the root of Mark May’s “hatred” of Notre Dame.

Morning broke and soon I found myself face-to-face with the hulking College Football Hall of Famer. Much to my surprise he had no devil horns atop his head and when I made eye contact I did not turn to stone. In fact, he was very cordial when he introduced himself and we sat down to have lunch with my Dad and Coach Holtz.

A clever trick I thought, attempting to lull me into a false sense of security. I was still going to keep a crucifix and “Exorcisms for Dummies” in my golf bag though.

There’s an old saying that you can learn more about a man’s character in four hours on a golf course than anywhere else in the world. Well, I learned a lot about Mark May that day.

Mark and I shared a cart so we spent most of the time between shots chatting about golf, life in the sports media business, and college football in general.

I found out right away that when he makes solid contact with a golf ball it takes off like it was launched by NASA and doesn’t land until it’s traveled approximately one mile. That mile may not be even vaguely in the direction of the intended target, but the ball is hit so hard it wishes it was never even born.

I also learned that few people work harder at their craft than Mark May.

People may think the sports media business is a cake job, but they’re sorely mistaken. Much like the sport of football itself, the time spent on camera is dwarfed by the hours upon hours of preparation leading up to it.

Mark reads through hundreds of pages of game reports and stat sheets every week before he even shows up to work for Thursday. You can tell some analysts glance at a summary of teams before they head on the air and then vehemently argue points even though they don’t have a firm grasp on what the full story is.

Mark isn’t one of them.

The preparation for the next week begins on his plane ride back to his home in Arizona on Sunday and goes straight through until he returns for the Thursday games. Even if you don’t like his analysis, when you hear how much effort he puts into it you can’t help but respect it.

Inevitably the conversation shifted to Notre Dame, and as it did I began to brace myself. As an Irish fan, I was conditioned in an almost Pavlovian manner to get upset whenever I heard Mark May talk about Notre Dame on television.

When I asked why he seemed to dislike the Irish so much he gave the response you’d expect him to at a Notre Dame charity event: “I don’t hate Notre Dame, I don’t hate any teams.”

(Right. Well, five years of hate on ESPN seems to say otherwise.)

“The fact is each time I picked against Notre Dame or said they weren’t going to do well it’s because I thought that was going to be the case—and look, most of the time other than 2005 I was right!”

(Alright, you’ve got me there.)

“I just didn’t think Charlie Weis was ever a very good head coach. Great offensive coordinator, not a good head coach. Now that you guys have Brian Kelly I think you can be very good.”

(This is making too much sense. I’m having a hard time computing this.)

“I’ve gone on record saying I expect Notre Dame to win 10 games this fall.”

(Sorry, my head just exploded.)

The most shocking thing? I believed every word.

First of all, he’s such a straight shooter that it’d be a complete reversal of character to just BS for a random college football fan. Secondly, if you spend five minutes talking with Mark you understand how seriously he takes his job. He puts so much thought and effort into what he does that it’s almost insulting to infer there’s any room for unwarranted favoritism or agendas.

I know what you’re thinking at this point. “So you spend five hours with the guy, he’s nice, and you just completely flip your opinion, disregarding the years of anguish he caused you. Mattare, you are a weak little boy.”

That’s really not the case at all.

Spending time with Mark simply gave me perspective on where he’s coming from when he says what he does—and more specifically how he says it.

The thing that chaps Notre Dame fans the most is not just the fact that May constantly chooses against the Irish, it’s how he needles our beloved Lou Holtz and seems to take delight in those negative predictions. You begin to understand why he hams it up a little bit on-air though when you see him interact with Lou when the cameras aren’t rolling.

It may come as a surprise to some, but Lou and Mark genuinely like and enjoy each other. They bust each others’ chops like they’ve known each other since childhood and have a fantastic rapport even in a casual setting.

Imagine if you were on television every week with one of your best friends from high school who went to a different school with a major college football program. You’d give him the business any time you could about his team, especially if you knew it’d rile him up each and every time without fail. That’s exactly how Mark and Lou interact.

Mark says what he believes; he won’t predict Notre Dame failure for the sake of doing it or because of some deep-rooted vendetta. What he will do though is dig the knife a little deeper when it comes to the Irish just to get a reaction out of his counterpart. That always bothered me, but not anymore after seeing them interact at the tournament.

At the end of the day, Mark got up and said a few words at the post-round dinner. He joked right away about how he considered wearing Kevlar to the tournament since he knows he’s not the most beloved media figure in the eyes of Irish fans.

After echoing his previous statement about ND posting 10 wins in 2010, he thanked everyone for taking part in the event and being so kind over the course of his visit. He especially marveled at how the Notre Dame Family was just as welcoming as Lou said it would be, going so far as to say that he now considered it his second college “family” along with his alma mater Pittsburgh.

As Mark May stepped down from the podium, over 100 Notre Dame fans gave him a round of applause. Read that sentence again. If there was a ever a moment where I felt like I was living in Bizarro World that was it.

Spending the day with Mark completely changed my view of the Mark May “the personality” we all see on television. I watched Lou and his banter all fall in a brand new light after my experience, one that left me with a profound sense of respect and appreciation for the effort he puts into his job and a true belief that he harbors no ill will toward the University of Notre Dame’s football program.

That being said, all the respect and appreciation in the world couldn’t have saved my television screen from the projectiles I hoisted at it every time he picked against Notre Dame.

Some things just don’t change.

Shaping Future Irish Schedules

2011-05-16T05:25:00.000-07:00

The structuring and shaping of the Notre Dame schedule is a very complicated process. Not being tied to a yearly conference slate gives the Irish unparalleled flexibility while also presenting unique challenges to fill the schedule each season.

Former athletic director Kevin White's choices and philosophies greatly curtailed that flexibility.

First, he set out to soften the schedule in an attempt to make the path to success easier than it had traditionally been for Notre Dame.

Next, he committed to scheduling in a 7-4-1 format that restricted the ability to find quality opponents since ND could not offer a home-and-home. White also attempted to bully smaller schools into scheduling their "home games" at neutral sites.

Luckily, new athletic director Jack Swarbrick has worked to undo many of White's foibles, most notably the 7-4-1 structure. The schedules in coming seasons are far more interesting than in recent years and the quality of opponents both home and away has risen back up to the standard Notre Dame historically kept.

Goodbye, Tulsa and Western Michigan. Hello, Texas and Miami.

So who else could Swarbrick look to target for future Irish campaigns? Today, we list 10 teams that Notre Dame hasn't played in over 20 years (or ever) that would be welcomed additions to the schedule in coming seasons.

SMU

Series Record: 10-3 (Notre Dame)
Last Meeting: 1989 (ND won 59-6)
How They Fit: A possible Home-and-Home series or maybe just a one-time ND home game

We'll kick things off with an old powerhouse that June Jones is literally in the process of bringing back from the dead. Southern Methodist would give Notre Dame a solid and interesting "lower tier" opponent that would provide exposure in the fertile recruiting ground of Texas.

It's certainly not the flashiest opponent right now, but if June Jones keeps the Mustangs on their current trajectory, it may be in the near future.

Throw in the fact that current SMU athletic director Steve Orsini is a Notre Dame graduate, and it just may happen.

TCU

Series Record: 1-0 (Notre Dame)
Last Meeting: 1972 (ND won 21-0)
How They Fit: Home-and-Home Series

The Horned Frogs have morphed into one of the darlings of the NCAA, thanks to back-to-back BCS game berths and three consecutive top 10 finishes.

Head coach Gary Patterson has built such a strong program over the past 10 years that TCU is making the jump to the Big East and will now chase an automatic conference bid.

TCU would provide the Irish another strong game in Texas and strengthen ties with its new Big East brethren.

Scheduling a series might be a nice gesture, since the Horned Frogs are essentially handing Notre Dame's basketball program one or two extra wins per year.

Wisconsin

Series Record: 8-6-2 (Notre Dame)
Last Meeting: 1964 (ND won 31-7)
How They Fit: They'd be a perfect Home-and-Home plus Neutral Site series

It's been over 45 seasons since the Irish and Badgers have faced off on the gridiron. The Big Ten's expanded conference schedule could make things tricky, but this is a series that would generate a lot interest within both fan bases.

There would be a huge Wisconsin presence invading South Bend for an Irish home game and vice versa for the game at Camp Randall.

Plus, the Badgers are a perfect fit for a neutral site game. Notre Dame-Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, anyone?

Oregon

Series Record: 1-0-1 (Notre Dame)
Last Meeting: 1982 (Tied 13-13)
How They Fit: Neutral Site Game

As fun as it would be to schedule a home-and-home with the Ducks, the logistical issues created by the newly expanded Pac-12 conference schedule make that seem extremely unlikely. That doesn't mean a one-time neutral site game can't work, though.

Qwest Field in Seattle seems like a perfect venue that would allow for a bi-partisan crowd in a loud, rocking environment.

Brian Kelly vs. Chip Kelly, Kelly's Spread Offense vs. The Blur, The Tradition vs. The Team with 734 Different Uniforms, The Leprechaun vs. The Duck. What's not to love about this matchup?

Rice

Series Record: 4-0 (Notre Dame)
Last Meeting: 1988 (Notre Dame won 54-11)
How They Fit: One-time ND home game

I know, I know, this is a significant step backwards after powerhouses like Wisconsin and Oregon. But the schedule needs fillers, too, and the Owls would be a nice change of pace.

Rice is a top-notch academic school, and I'd have no problem adding them to the mix every once in awhile like we have Duke and Wake Forest in recent years.

Besides, two of the four years the Irish have played them, Notre Dame has gone on to win the national championship ('73, '88).

Clemson

Series Record: 1-1
Last Meeting: 1979 (Clemson won 16-10)
Proposed Series: Early season Home-and-Home

Notre Dame heading down to the Death Valley would most likely be the most hyped out of conference game the Tigers have played in decades.

Having a series with Clemson gives Notre Dame more exposure in the South and supplies a truly intriguing matchup that would capture a lot of attention.

Boise State

Series Record: Never Met
Last Meeting: N/A
Proposed Series: Late season Home-and-Home

Two years ago, a Top 10 Oregon visited Boise State in what was trumpeted as the biggest game in school history. Imagine the pomp and excitement if the team that is definition of a traditional power decided to do the same thing.

It would provide Notre Dame another interesting opponent that ND could stash in the late part of the schedule. Why? Because Boise would bend over backwards to have a game with the Irish no matter when ND wanted to play it.

Notre Dame tipping its cap to the Broncos and taking on a home-and-home would essentially validate Boise's stature.

Sure, the Broncos would likely be willing to sign off on a trip to South Bend with no promise of a return game, but why not set a precedent?

Brian Kelly has said he's willing to take on any opponent, anywhere, so why not make the trip and visit the smurf turf out west?

Georgia

Series Record: 1-0 (Georgia)
Last Meeting: 1980 (Georgia won 17-10)
Proposed Series: Home-and-Home plus a Neutral Site

A series with the Bulldogs would mean more exposure for the Irish in the South while supplying a matchup of two schools with huge traditions.

Georgia and Notre Dame have met only once and that was in a bowl game (1980 Sugar Bowl), so the series would be a breath of fresh air.

The home-and-home would be exciting while the neutral site game in the Georgia Dome would be sold out in the blink of an eye.

Virginia

Series Record: 1-0
Last Meeting: 1989 (Notre Dame won 36-13)
Where They Fit: Early season Home-and-Home

Virginia is a program that's been stuck in neutral for most of the past decade, but they have the potential to be a very solid program in a conference that seems to be constantly in upheaval.

UVA is a fantastic school academically with like-minded values in that regard and another interesting matchup that could serve as a "middle tier" opponent on the schedule.

Alabama

Series Record: 5-1 (Notre Dame)
Last Meeting: 1987 (Notre Dame won 37-6)
Proposed Series: Home-and-Home or just a Neutral Site

Howard Cosell put it best when he was broadcasting the 1973 Sugar Bowl between No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 1 Alabama.

"Notre Dame and Alabama: at Notre Dame, football is a religion; at Alabama, it's a way of life."

The two schools had a series scheduled for the middle part of the last decade, but it eventually fell through.

If they could find a way to get it back on the slate, it would generate almost unparalleled excitement and be a showstopper that captures the attention of the entire country for a weekend.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Got any ideas for other teams, specifically some interesting neutral site games? Fire away!

Irish Blogger Gathering: Gettin' SPRUNG

2011-04-28T22:17:00.001-07:00

Alright, we've seen a couple different sets of responses to this round of the IBG. Now it's time for the correct answers.

Let me show you how it's done.

1. The biggest story of the spring was the quarterback competition between Dayne Crist, Tommy Rees, and to a lesser extent Andrew Hendrix and Everett Golson. Crist and Rees donned the red jerseys while the youngins were fed to the wolves with live contact. How would you rate each signal caller's performance in the scrimmage? Then put on the Swami hat and predict what we should expect from each of them this fall and in the long term.

I won't sugarcoat it: I was very disappointed with Dayne. I expected something along the lines of Brady Quinn's 2005 spring game, which essentially acted as a coming out party. Instead I saw a quarterback who still has miles to go before he's considered "elite." Yes, it was a crummy day in terms of weather, but I wanted to see more progress than I witnessed in the Blue & Gold Game. Crist's Grade: D+

Tommy Rees moved the ball a little better than Crist did, but he also threw an interception and should've been picked off on at least two other occasions. He did nothing to change my opinion that he's a great backup, but he lacks the necessary ceiling to be a top level quarterback at the collegiate level. Rees' Grade: C

Andrew Hendrix started out slowly, but got in rhythm as the game wore on despite the deteriorating conditions. On the ground he bulled his way to a pair of touchdowns and showed that he's more than capable of being an effective runner. The vast majority of people speculate that Golson and he are battling for touches in red zone packages. If that is indeed the truth then Hendrix put himself in a great position to win that job because of his surprisingly physical running style that would be perfect for grinding out an extra yard or two near the goal line. Hendrix Grade: A-

The early enrollee Everett Golson had a nice debut in Notre Dame Stadium. He showcased a surprisingly lively arm while flashing an ability to make defenses pay with his feet. There were plenty of mistakes made in coverages and overall technique, but he's got a bright future at Notre Dame. Golson: Grade: B

What I see happening is Dayne Crist winning the starting job and Tommy Rees being his primary backup. While I'd like to see Golson redshirt this fall because he clearly needs to bulk up a bit (and he's not someone who will leave to go pro early), I believe he'll earn the nod as the first man in for the change of pace packages that involve more running. Common logic says if that's the case that Hendrix will likely look elsewhere. Eventually I see the winner of the Hendrix-Golson battle passing Rees on the depth chart once he's clearly comfortable with the entire scope of the offense.

2. Freshman defensive end Aaron Lynch burst onto the scene with seven tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. You might as well have attached his hype and expectations to an Apollo rocket and launched them into orbit they're so high right now. Is he that good or should Notre Dame fans temper expectations like Brian Kelly keeps saying?

Aaron Lynch is that good. He's an elite talent unlike anything Notre Dame has seen in decades. I don't think that ten sacks in the first year is a reasonable expectation because he won't beat out upperclassmen. Ethan Johnson or Kapron-Lewis Moore for a starting spot.

Lynch still has a long way to go in figuring out what his roles and responsibilities are as a defensive end in coordinator Bob Diaco's defense. Right now he's relying strictly on pure, raw talent and ability to win battles at the line of scrimmage and get to the quarterback. He just has so much of it that he's still able to be dominant despite the fact he still has a lot to learn.

The bar of expectations is set high for a reason: he's the best pass rushing presence to step foot on campus since Ross Browner. I realize that it's borderline blasphemy to mention anyone, let alone a freshman who has never played a down, in the same breath as Browner. But trust, me, there's a erason for the comparisions.

I'm not saying he's the second coming of Ross Browner, but mark my words this kid is bound for greatness at ND.

3. Pick two players that surprised you this spring--one pleasantly and the other unpleasantly--and explain yourself.

The pleasant surprise was the combination of Prince Shembo and Danny Spond. The DOG linebacker position was the only position where there wasn't a lot of experience returning this fall so I was a bit worried about who would fill the role. We still don't know who the starter will be, but what we have learned to this point is there are two more than capable replacements for the graduated pair of Kerry Neal and Brian Smith.

There was some fear that Shembo was a bit of a "one-trick pony." All he was asked to do last season was go after the quarterback. He shifted outside this spring and showed some surprisingly fluidity as a drop backer while still maintaining the ability to wreak havoc in the backfield when the situation called for it. Spond was probably an even bigger surprise than Prince because many hadn't paid much attention to him last season. He's a great athlete that's a capable pass rusher (though not quite as good Shembo) and very adept at dropping into coverage. No matter who wins this competition Notre Dame will be in a good shape. That's a pretty surprising conclusion considering how big a question mark the position was entering spring.

The unpleasant surprise was Jonas Gray. He had a colossal opportunity to step in and earn a serious chunk of carries, but he didn't do much to impress before or after the injury he sustained. He's an incredible specimen that's built like a brick house, but for how strong he appears his running style is relatively soft and indecisive. The Irish depth chart at running back is non-existent which meant Gray needed to step up not just for himself, but also for the good of the team. That didn't happen this spring and unfortunately I'll be surprised if it suddenly does this fall.

4. Over/Unders for 2011!

Cierre Wood Rushing Yards: 1000....UNDER...I don't buy that there will be enough devotion to the run game to get him up over 1000 yards. Expect more in the 850 range.

Jonas Gray Rushing Yards: 300....UNDER...My faith in Jonas Gray has just about bottomed out. There's nothing that I see (or have seen) that leads me to believe things are about to click either.

Games Michael Floyd Will Miss: 1.5....UNDER...Kelly will suspend him for the opener, but he'll be back for Michigan.

Dayne Crist Passing Touchdowns: 19.5....OVER...I do think he'll improve from last season and in 2010 he averaged 1.9 touchdowns per game. He'll be around 25 this year.

Games Started by Tommy Rees: 3.5....UNDER...This is if Dayne stays healthy, which is a monster, MONSTER if. I do not believe Crist will get the hook unless he's injured.

Combined Games Started by Golson/Hendrix: .5....UNDER...Their time will come, it's just not this year.

Aaron Lynch Sacks: 5.5....OVER...I've got him penciled in for 6

Victories in ND Stadium: 5.5....UNDER...They haven't finished a home slate undefeated since 1998. They should run the table at home, but frankly I need to see it to believe it.

5. This offseason athletic director Jack Swarbrick added two teams to future schedules: Temple and Northwestern. There's a chunk of people who are outraged about the Temple games, but the vast majority approve of Northwestern. What are your thoughts on each of these scheduling moves?

Personally I liked them both a lot. Temple isn't the most glamorous opponent by any stretch, but it's in a major metropolitan area where ND has a huge presence. It should be a nice cream puff game amidst some brutal upcoming schedules. Who knows, maybe Steve Addazio will pick up with Al Golden left off and the Owls may be a legitimately tough team by the time the Irish face them.

For as much as I like the Temple series, I love the Northwestern one for a couple reasons. First of all, it's nice to see a new Big 10 opponent on the schedule. We haven't faced off since that ill-fated upset in 1995 which catapulted the Wildcats to a Rose Bowl. More importantly though, it debunks another huge myth about how Notre Dame survival if major conference realignment occurred.

One of the biggest sources of leverage people thought the Big 10 had in trying to lure Notre Dame was the fact that the Irish were going to have a very tough time finding opponents moving forward, especially late in the season. I called that bluff last spring and it took just one year for a team from the Big 10 to cave and play Notre Dame in November.

Why would Northwestern stick he Irish on the schedule so late in the year despite being right in the thick of conference play (much to the chagrin of commissioner Jim Delany)? Because Notre Dame would sell out Northwestern's stadium, something that happens on average once every ten years. It's all about the Benjamins and whenever Notre Dame is involved there are plenty to go around.

6. Irish Illustrated senior editor Tim Prister, one of the most respected and longest tenured journalists in the Notre Dame community, had this to say in article following the Blue-Gold Game:

"How would NBCSports.com's Keith Arnold know that "there's a different feeling around Notre Dame" when he's rarely at Notre Dame to report on its football program? Reporters have a feel for the program because they are immersed in it; bloggers take the feelings/opinions formed by those on the scene and make it their own."

You're an esteemed member of the Irish blogosphere. What are your thoughts on Prister's jab?

I've read Prister since my Dad started subscribing to Blue & Gold Illustrated in 1995 after our first trip to Notre Dame. He's probably one of the two most respected journalists in the ND community (along with Lou Somogyi) and certainly the most tenured. He knows his stuff and I've always enjoyed his insights.

I don't understand why he felt the need to take a shot and belittle bloggers, especially one like Keith who does such a great job at Inside ND. I feel like he is--or at least should be--above that.

My guess is he never has and never will read a blog. He discredits them as useless on the topic of Notre Dame (at least to him) because he's one of the utmost authorities on Irish Football. As he points out, he has "a feel for the program because (he's) immersed in it." Hell, it's his job to follow Notre Dame Football and report on it.

Because he discredits them, he completely dismisses the notion that some could actually be packed with worthwhile insights and quality writing. I bet he's never read one of Keith columns and I guarantee he's never read mine. He may be pleasantly surprised if he did, but there's also a chance he'd still completely blow them off.

I've never had the pleasure of meeting Tim or interacting with him via email because he's never responded to anything I've ever sent him. As a fellow alum that I admired growing up, I had hoped he would help steer me in a direction to help me pursue a similar career path to what he's done over the past 30+ years. While the rest of the ND journalistic community was incredibly responsive and willing to offer advice and opinions (Jake Brown, Pete Sampson, Lou Somogyi, etc.), Prister never gave me the time of day and most likely deleted my correspondence far before he reached the part where I thanked him for all his hard work and articles through the years.

In summation, I think the jab was unnecessary and classless. There's no need for someone who is so respected among the Notre Dame Football community to lower himself to that level.

*****BONUS TIME*****

Outline what your day will be like from the moment you wake up until the moment you go to sleep on October 22nd, the day Notre Dame faces off against Southern Cal under the lights of Notre Dame Stadium.

My buddy Brad "They Call Me Mr. Balls" Blomstrom put it best in an email chain the day the game was announced. We'll both be following this schedule pretty much to a T:

8:01am.
The 8:01 shotgun. We do it every 8:01.

8:39am.
Full Beer Flip Cup against a group of SC fans that were giving us the stink eye at 8:01.

9:15am.
Salt all SC fans in range. None of us will enjoy this, but frankly it will need to be done.

9:47am.
Attempt to light grill. Forgot to buy matches.

9:51am.
Borrow lighter from old person tailgate two cars over after apologizing for hitting them with stray salt crystals.

10:01am.
Begin cooking delicious meats. Some asshole pours Natty Light on the grill saying it adds flavor. Everyone knows true tailgate chefs use keystone ice.

10:17am-11:59am.
Jerry's Kids, Flip Cup, assorted yarding activities.

12:00pm.
Party in the USA comes on. Put your hands up, they're playing your song.

12:04pm-4:30pm.
This period intentionally left blank.

4:31pm.
Wake up face down in Legends beer garden.

4:32pm
Put pants back on.

4:37pm
The 4:37 shotgun. We do it every 4:37.

4:38pm
NOS up to get back in the zone.

5:31pm
Visit a friend's parents' tailgate. Impress all fellow revelers with your kempt appearance, steady speech, and cogent thoughts on the university's academic direction.

6:17pm
Can of shame. Honestly, who throws salsa?

7:17pm
Trip in front of an usher. Pretend you are actually one of Jerry's Kids to avoid the drunk tank.

7:20pm

Band comes out. Mega-adrenaline rush begins.

7:35pm
Team comes out under the lights.

7:36pm
Karate chop my bench in half.

11:30pm
Sprint to Backer to celebrate victory.

Subway Domer Promises Sausage Burritos

2011-04-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Subway Domer has posted his responses to the IBG. While his answers were all good, his blow-by-blow of what October 22nd will be like (and depiction of what a perfect, functional marriage) is why you should read it.

Go over to SD and check it out. Now. Or else he'll find you.

Her Loyal Sons: Serving You Since the Tulsa Game

2011-04-27T04:59:00.000-07:00

The second blog out of the blocks is Her Loyal Sons. How dedicated to Notre Dame is Domer_mq? He's willing to spend the entire day of the Southern Cal game beating up on strangers' children so he doesn't jinx the Irish. Thank him by sending him a picture message every time you shotgun a beer that day.

Head over yonder to see his answers.

One Foot Down is One Step Ahead

2011-04-26T20:11:00.001-07:00

Eric from the blog One Foot Down was first to put his pencil down and hand in his test.

Head over to OFD to read all the responses and for the love of God, HOOK HIM UP WITH A SOUTHERN CAL TICKET! He writes articles for you; the least you can do is make sure he's having a hard time making work the Monday after the game.

In an somewhat related story, if you have a Southern Cal ticket I will pay $1 more for it than Eric from the blog OneFootDown.

Irish Blogger Gathering: Gettin' SPRUNG

2011-04-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

Subway Domer is busy preparing for war with the stork that's about to attack his house so I stepped in and delivered this edition of the IBG questions. I'll post links to each of the blog's responses as they come in. Then at the end of the week I'll blow your mind with all the right answers.

And now, zee questions.

1. The biggest story of the spring was the quarterback competition between Dayne Crist, Tommy Rees, and to a lesser extent Andrew Hendrix and Everett Golson. Crist and Rees donned the red jerseys while the youngins were fed to the wolves with live contact. How would you rate each signal caller's performance in the scrimmage? Then put on the Swami hat and predict what we should expect from each of them this fall and in the long term.

2. Freshman defensive end Aaron Lynch burst onto the scene with seven tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. You might as well have attached his hype and expectations to an Apollo rocket and launched them into orbit they're so high right now. Is he that good or should Notre Dame fans temper expectations like Brian Kelly keeps saying?

3. Pick two players that surprised you this spring--one pleasantly and the other unpleasantly--and explain yourself.

4. Over/Unders for 2011!

Cierre Wood Rushing Yards: 1000
Jonas Gray Rushing Yards: 300
Games Michael Floyd Will Miss: 1.5
Dayne Crist Passing Touchdowns: 19.5
Games Started by Tommy Rees: 3.5
Combined Games Started by Golson/Hendrix: .5
Aaron Lynch Sacks: 5.5
Victories in ND Stadium: 5.5

5. This offseason athletic director Jack Swarbrick added two teams to future schedules: Temple and Northwestern. There's a chunk of people who are outraged about the Temple games, but the vast majority approve of Northwestern. What are your thoughts on each of these scheduling moves? 6. Irish Illustrated senior editor Tim Prister, one of the most respected and longest tenured journalists in the Notre Dame community, had this to say in article following the Blue-Gold Game:

"How would NBCSports.com's Keith Arnold know that "there's a different feeling around Notre Dame" when he's rarely at Notre Dame to report on its football program? Reporters have a feel for the program because they are immersed in it; bloggers take the feelings/opinions formed by those on the scene and make it their own."

You're an esteemed member of the Irish blogosphere. What are your thoughts on Prister's jab?

*****BONUS TIME*****

Outline what your day will be like from the moment you wake up until the moment you go to sleep on October 22nd, the day Notre Dame faces off against Southern Cal under the lights of Notre Dame Stadium.

The Lingering Questions from the Spring

2011-04-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

Spring practice is done and we've got a shade over three months until we're thrown even so much as a practice report. That means we have 13 weeks to parse, dissect, and beat to death every conceivable question that still exists after the spring. Here's what I'm still mulling over after a full week to reflect upon the Blue-Gold Game.

Has Dayne Crist Really Made Significant Strides?

All spring practice reports that came out of the Loftus Center echoed the sentiment that Dayne Crist was much more comfortable with the offense. The logical result of that comfort level rising would of course be a noticeably more poised and confident Crist in the spring scrimmage.

Unfortunately, that's not what fans saw.

Many of the same problems that plagued him last fall (like bouncing balls short of open receivers) reappeared last Saturday. His final stat line was subpar (5-of-11 for 34 yards) and there was little that happened on the field that suggested significant progress had been achieved.

You can blame the weather and you can dismiss the poor performance as insignificant, but the fact remains until he shows a leap in consistency on the field there will be questions surrounding whether he can get the job done.

What Role Will Aaron Lynch Play?

A fun one to ponder! There's no question Aaron Lynch's stellar performance was the biggest story of the spring game. He blew by offensive linemen with a combination of speed, quickness and strength that Irish fans haven't seen in quite some time.

There is no doubt he will make an impact come fall, but the big question is how? The Irish have two multi-year starters (Kapron Lewis-Moore and Ethan Johnson) plugged in at the end positions of the 3-4 and the likelihood of Lynch displacing them on the lineup card seems slim. At the same time, Lynch is such a prodigious talent that it's going to be borderline impossible keeping him off the field.

Smart money says that on every clear passing down, defensive coordinator Bob Diaco will unleash Lynch on the opposing offense. Will that be it though? Will he pick up his responsibilities and learn the nuances of the position quick enough that he'll push for playing time on every down? Could he do the seemingly unthinkable and just completely bump one of the upperclassmen from the starting lineup?

There are plenty of questions pertaining to Lynch this fall. Irish fans will certainly enjoy sitting back and watching them get answered by No. 19.

How Many Games Will Michael Floyd Miss?

The big question after the season was whether Notre Dame would get Michael Floyd back for his senior season. Entering spring practice it became whether or not Floyd would even get the chance to make good on his pledge to play another year for the Irish. Finally, we've arrived at the final question: when will he be allowed to return?

The Irish offense is a different animal with Floyd on the field. He's a gamebreaker that defenses must account and game-plan for on every snap. Without him there isn't a player on the Notre Dame roster that strikes fear in the opposition.

Notre Dame's disciplinary arm is not preventing Floyd from playing any games; if or when he returns is completely up to head coach Brian Kelly. Will the head coach hold him out for one game, multiple games or will he determine he's paid his dues and doesn't require any missed playing time?

That's a giant question that will hang over the team's head until the moment it's announced he's eligible again.

Who Will Win the Punting Job?

After a maddeningly inconsistent sophomore campaign (understatement), Ben Turk entered the spring with a bit of competition from freshly enrolled Kyle Brindza. Both kicked well in the spring game (Brindza averaged 42.7 per kick; Turk 40.0), but who will ultimately win this battle?

Turk has a bevy of experience and has gotten better and better at getting the ball away quickly, he just has tendency to mix in at least one god-awful punt each game amongst his good ones. Brindza has a booming leg but that's only half the battle—something to which former punter Geoff Price can attest.

Will Turk fulfill his promise and seize the job or will Kelly choose to turn over a new leaf at the position? This job is the incumbent's to lose, but it's definitely something worth monitoring moving forward.

Can Cierre Wood Handle the Load at Running Back?

Wood did a phenomenal job filling in at starting running back once Armando Allen was lost for the season. He tag-teamed with Robert Hughes to give the Irish an effective running game that had been lacking for years.

Now the starting position is all Wood's, but he doesn't have Robert Hughes as a battery mate. Jonas Gray moves into the backup role, supposed to play thunder to Wood's lightning, and behind them is only an incoming 3-star freshman. The Irish are extremely thin at the position and there are serious questions as to whether Jonas Gray can be an effective and consistent complement to the starter.

What this means is that Wood must shoulder the majority of the load. Will he be able to handle it physically? Can the Irish lean on him for 15-20 carries per game and not have to worry about him getting too banged up? Those are things Armando Allen was unable to do—whether Cierre is able to will be a huge question this fall.

Can Prince Shembo Hold Off Danny Spond at DOG Linebacker?

Prince Shembo burst onto the scene in the later stages of the 2010 season, registering 3.5 sacks once his role grew thanks to injury problems among the linebackers. He was employed primarily as a pass rusher, put in on obvious passing downs to attack the quarterback.

This year he's slated to start at the DOG outside linebacker position, but he's not going to hold onto it without a stellar effort. Fellow classmate Danny Spond is hot on Shembo's heels for the starting spot and after a stellar performance in the Blue-Gold game; it may be down to the bitter end before a decision is reached.

This is a perfect example of the benefits of accumulating depth. In years past, the Irish have been forced to put all their eggs in a single player's basket and hope he effectively filled a starting role. Now they have two viable options that have both done an outstanding job in their first shot at earning a job on the first unit.

Will Shembo be able to hold off the hard-charging Spond? It's a tough question, but chances are they'll both be seeing plenty of playing time regardless of who wins the label of "starter."

How Expansive a Role Will Hendrix and Golson Play?

There's a very high probability that the starting nod at quarterback will go to either Dayne Crist or Tommy Rees. However, Brian Kelly has been very explicit saying that one of his young, mobile quarterbacks will see time each game as a change of pace. The big question is how much time will it be?

Everett Golson and Andrew Hendrix both present a different set of skills than Crist and Rees. While they're equipped with strong arms and are perfectly capable of slinging the ball around, Golson and Hendrix are running threats that add a completely new dimension to the Irish offense.

Finding a way to work them into games without disrupting the flow of the "normal" offense is going to be extremely tricky. Will they be used to kick-start the offense when it's struggling? Will Kelly only insert them in red-zone situations to keep the opposing defense unbalanced in the shadow of its own goalposts?

Many fans have the winner of the Golson-Hendrix battle pegged as the "future" of the ND quarterback position. It will be extremely interesting to monitor just how successful they are in their limited playing time and how quickly that future arrives if they find great success.

How Will Brian Kelly Use Theo Riddick?

After converting from running back to slot receiver the spring Brian Kelly arrived, Theo Riddick encountered some speed bumps at the beginning of the 2010 campaign. There were some drops in the Purdue and Michigan games, but for the most part he was a ghost and many speculated a move back to the backfield was imminent.

Then against Michigan State Riddick busted out. He snared a game-high 10 catches for 128 yards and exhibited just how dangerous a weapon he was capable of being out of the slot receiver position. Injuries derail the second half of his season, but he seemed poised to grow into his role as threat in Kelly's spread offense with another spring practice under his belt.

Then Armando Allen and Robert Hughes graduated. The Irish struck out in recruiting the highly touted Savon Huggins, Cameron Roberson was lost for the season and Jonas Gray was banged up. At one point in spring practice there was a single healthy scholarship running back on the entire roster (C. Wood).

Would Riddick be shifted back to running back due to the attrition? Brian Kelly certainly did his part to fuel the flames when he said in an interview this spring that the move was an option they were considering.

Ideally, Riddick has found his home at receiver, but will necessity send him back to his original position? Is an alternative a steady dose of jet sweeps from the slot? He's one of the most dangerous threats on the offensive side of the ball right now so it will be very interesting to watch exactly how Kelly chooses to utilize him come the fall.

How Balanced Will Brian Kelly's Playcalling Be?

Many of the Irish faithful were delighted to see Brian Kelly's shift in offensive philosophy down the stretch of last season. Once Tommy Rees took the reins in the Utah game, Notre Dame relied on a much steadier dose of running plays instead of the aerial assaults they'd launched in the first nine games of the season.

The reasoning behind Kelly's decision to adapt was a desire to relieve some of the pressure from the true freshman and put the onus more on the hogs up front. The offensive line responded and exceeded most fans' expectations, clearing the way for the most productive Notre Dame running game in what seemed like ages. In fact, it was the bruising ground attack that spurred the game-winning drive against Southern Cal when the Irish were completely unable to move the ball through the air.

Now that Dayne Crist is once again healthy and Tommy Rees has an entire year in the offense under his belt, will Kelly go back to the pass-first offensive persona or stick with the more balanced attack that was so effective in the final four games? There's a big chunk of Notre Dame nation crossing their fingers hoping for the latter, but Kelly's history seems to suggest he'll be much more interested in airing it out.

Which direction will he go? It's a question that can't be answered until we see with our own eyes on September 3.

Who Will Get the Starting Nod at Quarterback?

Here's the biggest question on every Irish fan's mind: who will take the field and be behind center the first offensive series of 2011? Both had mediocre-to-poor spring games, which helped maintain the status quo of a cloudy picture.

The arguments for both sides have been stated and restated, then rephrased and restated again. We're perfectly aware of the positives and negatives both bring to the table with a nice sample size to judge the accomplishments and shortcomings of each. Rehashing them here would be redundant.

Dayne Crist and Tommy Rees will answer this question on the practice field this August. Who will be more consistent day in and day out? Who will show more progress over the course of the next four-plus months?

While it may be frustrating to fans that they can't pinpoint the clear choice at this point in the game, it's reassuring to know that Brian Kelly gets to choose between two capable quarterbacks that have both proven they can effectively run the offense. This is a sharp contrast to the 2007 disaster where Charlie Weis was essentially forced to pick his poison between four quarterbacks who had never taken a meaningful snap.

The 2011 situation isn't necessarily an ideal one, but it certainly could be worse.

Blue-Gold Game 2011: What Did We Learn?

2011-04-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

The Blue-Gold Game is in the books. So what did we learn? Here are ten things I took away from the spring scrimmage.

#10: The Young Quarterbacks Will Make an Impact This Season

Andrew Hendrix and Everett Golson are miles away from being polished enough to take over the team for good, but that doesn’t mean they will be riding the pine come fall.

Both quarterbacks exhibited the ability to be a threat running the ball from the quarterback position, a key aspect of the spread offense that is lacking when Dayne Crist or Tommy Rees is in the game. Golson gained a game high 62 yards while Hendrix punched in two touchdowns on quarterback reads.

Brian Kelly has been quite clear that one—if not both—of his young signal callers will see the field as a change of pace quarterback. Having those running threats in the game will force opponents to gameplan and prepare for another dangerous facet of the Irish attack. The experience Golson and Hendrix garner will also help them become more comfortable and prepare for when they eventually do get the keys to the car.

Expect at least a handful of series of each game to be led by Hendrix or Golson. And don’t be surprised if they’re so effective that fans start clamoring for one of them to start by the time the calendar turns to November.

#9: Notre Dame Is Stacked at Kicker

The spring game showcased the fact that Notre Dame has the best collection of kickers in the country.

Former starter and rising junior Nick Tausch connected on two field goals in the mucky conditions, including a 45-yarder that couldn’t have split the uprights more perfectly. Early enrollee freshman Kyle Brindza also converted a 32-yard first half field goal in his first public appearance for Notre Dame. Lou Groza Award finalist David Ruffer didn’t even play due to sickness. That trio stacks up against any in the country.

Unfortunately, being deep at kicker is the equivalent of being deep at goalie in lacrosse—only one is needed to be successful so the riches unfortunately will be wasted at least while all three are still in South Bend. But Irish fans remember it wasn’t long ago when the team had to lean on the likes of Carl Gioia, Ryan Burkhart, and Brandon Walker, making everything from extra points to 45-yard field goals an unpleasant adventure.

How nice it is to be on the other side of that coin.

#8: Jonas Gray Still Has a Long Way to Go

Perhaps it can be pinned on the fact he was banged up, but Jonas Gray looked slow and timid—two words you don’t want describing your power back.

Many people had high hopes for Gray, believing that he’d start to fulfill his potential now that more carries seem inevitable. Unfortunately, if Saturday was any indication those hopes will go unfulfilled.

Gray is built like a brick house and has been since the day he arrived on campus. He flashed some potential as a freshman in limited playing time, but to this point in his career he’s better known for his game-changing fumbles against Michigan and Navy.

Robert Hughes provided the thunder to Cierre Wood’s lightning down the stretch of last season and that’s exactly what the Irish need from Gray. One could argue that if Hughes could figure it out so late in his career then Jonas can as well. The difference between the two though is the fact Hughes had flashed that ability to be a bulldozer early in his career while Gray has not.

Notre Dame needs him to be a viable complement to Cierre Wood because there really isn’t another alternative. That means something needs to click between now and September that spurs Gray to start running decisively and with authority.

#7: Louis Nix Changes the Dynamic of the Entire Defense

Irish fans got their first glimpse of Big Lou in action on Saturday. The conclusion that can be drawn: he is simply immovable.

It didn’t matter whom he matched up against, a veteran or a backup, every single play he commanded a double team. He’s so strong and gets such a push up the heart of the offensive line that he completely eliminates the option of running the ball up the middle.

He has a long way to go until he gets his stamina and condition up to the level defensive coordinator wants, but he’s already done a good job working toward that goal. After tipping the scales at 370lbs when he arrived, Nix has already shed 30lbs with the goal of even more before August. He’s really bought into the staff’s workout and nutrition programs and that’s a huge battle won.

Big Lou will be an unsung hero on the majority of his snaps. His mere presence will effectively occupy blockers and space—the main objective of a 3-4 nose tackle—which will in turn free up the linebackers and ends to make the highlight plays.

But there will be times this fall where a team is dumb enough to think a single offensive lineman can contain Big Lou. When these situations arise, Nix will completely manhandle said lineman, toss him into the backfield, and cause either a quarterback sack or negative rushing play.

And it’s those plays that will cause his legend to grow.

#6: The Receiving Unit Desperately Needs Michael Floyd

Notre Dame fans have been spoiled for the most part since 2005. With the exception of 2007 (when the Irish trotted out the smurfs—Grimes and West—as starting receivers), wideout has been a position stocked with impact players and superstars. Maurice Stovall and Jeff Samardzija in 2005. Samardzija and Rhema McKnight in 2006. Golden Tate and Michael Floyd in 2008 and 2009. Floyd again in 2010.

When you take away big #3 though, there isn’t another dynamic threat lying in waiting like there has been the past five years. Will heralded recruits George Atkinson III and Davaris Daniels be the future once they step on campus this summer? Perhaps, but the receivers Notre Dame fielded last Saturday were decidedly average.

Theo Riddick has enormous potential coming out of the slot position in the spread, but he’s still learning the position and will never be a true #1 receiver. TJ Jones could also evolve into a very productive receiver, but he’s still young and it’s unclear exactly what his ceiling is. Robby Toma, John Goodman, and Deion Walker are all good receivers, but not one strikes fear in a defense. Does the coaching staff feel confident that any of them can get open on that key play late in the game when the Irish need a first down?

Michael Floyd’s return instantly upgrades the receiving unit from average to very good. Floyd presence will make everyone else on the team better simply because defenses must be worried about him, whether it’s rolling coverages or assigning double teams.

#5: The DOG Linebacker Position Battle Will Be Close to the Very End

There aren’t many starting positions that are still to be determined, but one of them is the DOG linebacker. Prince Shembo and Danny Spond are in a heated battle to lock down the spot and both looked very good in their action on Saturday.

Shembo is more of a known commodity thanks to the impact he made last season as a pass rushing specialist, but the coaching staff has raved about Spond since he arrived last summer. The duo posted a combined 13 tackles in the spring game (Spond 7, Shembo 6) and both showed they could be very viable options come the fall.

The reality is that both will see significant time come this fall. This is a much different situation than last year when Calabrese and McDonald were in a competition because the staff gave some indications that Carlo would win that spot just by the general tone of their comments. It’s been equal praise heaped on Shembo and Spond since day one of spring camp and that’s a good thing for everyone.

#4: The Irish Have the Makings of an Elite Front Seven

Notre Dame lost only one player from the two-deep on the defensive line from last season (NT - Ian Williams) and replace him with 340lb Louis Nix, the prototype for the position. The linebacking unit is led by future first rounder Manti Te’o and three-year starter Darius Fleming. Superstar freshmen DE Aaron Lynch and LB Ishaq Williams are already on campus and making an impact, while an infusion of highly rated talent like five-star defensive end Stephon Tuitt is on the way this summer.

For the first time in ages, Notre Dame can stake the claim that they are loaded with elite talent on their front seven. The days of athletically and physically limited players like Chris Frome, Ronald Talley, and Justin Brown occupying spots are gone for the foreseeable future. This generation of the Irish defense is athletic, large, and relentless.

If the defense can even just maintain the level of play they showed in the final month of the season they’ll be one of the best in the country. Add in the contributions of Lynch, Tuiit, and Williams and you have a recipe for dominance.

If Notre Dame takes a step toward the upper echelon of college football this season it’ll be on the wings of this unit.

#3: Aaron Lynch is on the Fast Track to Superstardom

Coaches and fans alike knew snatching Aaron Lynch up in the 11th hour of the recruiting cycle was a huge coup. After seeing his first 60 minutes in blue and gold people are beginning to understand just how huge a coup it was.

From the first snap to the final gun, Lynch was a menace. Whether he was lined up outside or inside it didn’t matter. His lightning quick first step and strength made offensive linemen look like they were standing still.

Perhaps you could shrug off the success a bit if it came all day long against walk-ons and players never slated to see the field. That wasn’t the case though. Offensive tackle Christian Lombard was repeatedly victimized and veteran starting guard Trevor Robinson was completely blown away by Lynch’s speed and swim move on one play.

Lynch tied for a game high with seven tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Not included in those stats were the multiple times he got into the backfield and leveled quarterback Andrew Hendrix. Each time PA announcer Michael Collins announced Lynch’s name over the Notre Dame Stadium loudspeaker the hype and expectations grew. Post-game the coaching staff set out immediately to temper them, continually stressing how Aaron still has a long way to go to becoming a complete player.

That’s very true. He still has plenty to learn and is far from a finished product. But Lynch has already shown a lot of gifts and skills that can’t be learned. He’ll have an impact right away in passing situations much like Justin Tuck did as a redshirt freshman, whether it’s actually getting sacks or drawing holding penalties. Six sacks on the year is not an unreasonable expectation.

Lynch is unlike anyone Notre Dame has seen along the defensive line since Tuck and frankly, his ceiling is probably even higher.

#2: Notre Dame Doesn't Appear to Have a National Title Caliber Quarterback

One of the biggest disappointments from the spring game was the fact that Dayne Crist didn’t look like he improved all that much from last fall. All spring practice reports and interviews suggested that things had slowed down for him and he was far more comfortable in the offense. That didn’t appear to be the case Saturday.

Tommy Rees on the other hand looked like he’d progressed, but he still possesses the same shortcomings as last season. First of all, physically he’s just unable to make all the throws that the other three quarterbacks can. But secondly—and more importantly—is the fact that Rees has a propensity to turn the ball over.

Many praise Rees for getting the ball out of his hand quickly, but some times that quick release follows a bad read and leads to costly turnovers. That tendency reared its head during the spring game when he threw a bad interception to Lo Wood. He was fortunate that was the only pick he threw because a couple other passes very easily could have gone the other direction.

What does their performance mean, if anything? The biggest takeaway is that the Irish lack a national title caliber quarterback right now. Look at the list of quarterbacks in the national title game the last five seasons:

2006: Chris Leak, Troy Smith
2007: Matt Flynn, Todd Boeckman
2008: Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford
2009: Greg McElroy, Colt McCoy
2010: Cam Newton, Darron Thomas

With the exception of the 2007 season, that’s a list of elite quarterbacks. Notre Dame lacks that level of signal caller right now. Could Dayne Crist or Tommy Rees evolve into it by the fall? Possibly, but it’s unlikely. In Kelly’s offense you need a triggerman capable of consistently moving—and protecting—the ball. Crist has yet to prove he can provide the necessary consistency, while Rees hasn’t shown he can protect the ball adequately.

Will Hendrix or Golson evolve into one in the coming years? That’s distinctly possible, but to expect them to arrive this season is unrealistic.

Brian Kelly has a way of working magic with quarterbacks and maximizing their potential (just look at Rees last year and Zach Collaros at Cincinnati). If there’s one position people should feel comfortable letting him evaluate and improve it’s the guy lined up behind center.

But based on what we saw last year and what we witnessed Saturday, the Irish don’t have a quarterback on the roster capable of taking them to the national title this fall. It’s a sobering fact, but unless something dramatic changes it’s the truth.

#1: Notre Dame is Capable of Crashing the BCS...Just Not the Title Game

Brian Kelly was tasked with returning Notre Dame to the top of the college football world. The Irish fan base isn't known as the most patient, but it will have to wait at least one year longer until its in the thick of a title hunt late in the season.

This fall Kelly will field a potentially elite defense. The big question is whether his vaunted offense will be consistent enough to win all the games on the schedule they're supposed to win and steal a game or two that perhaps they should not. Without a standout quarterback to run the show it'll be an uphill battle, but it's one Kelly has conquered before. Could he find a way to coax enough consistency out of Crist or Rees to run the table? It's a long shot.

More than likely Notre Dame will slip up one or two times in the first seven games. That doesn't mean all will be lost though. For a program that was 4-5 and had vultures circling after back-to-back losses against Navy and Tulsa just last October, the reversal from rock bottom to relevance has been dramatic--and make no mistake, Notre Dame will be relevant again starting this season.

They have some extraordinary talent on defense and an experienced offensive line to protect whoever emerges at quarterback. Combine that with a light schedule and you have a legitimate BCS contender.

The hunch here is the Irish will poke their head in the Top 10 at least once and wrap up the season with their best record since Charlie Weis' Sugar Bowl team of 2006. Notre Dame will win at least nine games and if things break right they'll get the 10th win that will sneak them back into the BCS as an at-large.

So be patient Irish fans. While a national title run is highly unlikely this season, there will be much more to play for than the Sun Bowl come November. Just another step on the way back to the ultimate goal of hoisting that championship trophy.

Ten Things to Expect from the Spring Game

2011-04-14T20:55:00.000-07:00

Notre Dame's 15 spring practices will come to a close this Saturday with the Blue and Gold Game. For the first time ever the game will be televised in its entirety on Versus which means a record number of fans will get a sneak peek at the 2011 team.

This intrasquad scrimmage will be the Irish Faithful's last taste of football until the South Florida game. Today we examine ten things to expect from the contest ranging from Brian Kelly's vocabulary to Everett Golson's legs.

#10: A Subdued Brian Kelly

Brian Kelly has been known for having a lot to say to his player throughout the course of a game, specifically his quarterbacks. While the majority of time there's some vocabulary peppered in that has Notre Dame President Father John Jenkins yelling "EARMUFFS!" to the other Holy Cross Priests, that won't be the case this Saturday.

Why? Because Versus will have Kelly mic-ed up for the entire contest. Fans will get a glimpse of the hands-on instruction he's so adept at giving, it'll just be the PG version.

Asked if he'd be willing to wear a microphone for the Michigan or Southern Cal games, Kelly quickly responded, "absolutely not."

#9: A More Confident Dayne Crist

Every practice report that's trickled out from spring camp has reiterated the same thing over and over again: Dayne Crist looks infinitely more comfortable this spring. Interviews with the front runner for the starting quarterback job confirm it as well as praise heaped upon him by his head coach.

Crist talked about how last year during the season he was worried about ten different things as he approached the line of scrimmage and never felt like he had a good enough grasp of the offense to let it rip. Now with over a year of experience within the system and with a much deeper understanding of the offense he's poised to make huge strides.

Expect to see a much smoother and more confident Dayne Crist, but not for long since the head coach announced plans to limit both his and Tommy Rees' snaps.

#8: A Robby Toma Breakout

Want a breakout star to emerge from the spring game? Look no further than slot receiver Robby Toma. With the limited number of running backs available, it's reasonable to expect that Kelly will give the green light to air things out a bit. Toma is an underrated commodity at this point in his career and will provide a playmaking safety net for the pair of young quarterbacks that will get the majority of spring game reps.

Toma is extraordinarily quick and might have the best hands on the team. His ability to run precise routes and tendency to wiggle for the extra yard or two at the end of every run will make him a factor this fall. Saturday will provide many people's first extended glimpse of a potential sleeper for when the real games start.

#7: A Walk-on Running Back Bonanza

Notre Dame has exactly one scholarship running back on its roster right now that is not banged up: starter Cierre Wood. A thin group to begin with entering the spring, injuries to Cameron Roberson (torn ACL) and Jonas Gray (knee) have decimated the backfield. Gray returned to practice this week but one can't help but assume he'll be limited in a game that doesn't count.

Rather than risk Cierre Wood's health with extended time, expect walk-on tailbacks like Patrick Coughlin to see plenty of snaps. Kelly plans to run live whenever Golson and Hendrix are in the game because he wants to see them run his offense. In order to do that though, Kelly needs some bodies at running back.

Will any walk-on seize their ultimate Rudy moment and earn themselves a shot at legitimate PT in the fall? You never know...

#6: A Peek at the True Spread Option

Odds are almost 100% that either Dayne Crist or Tommy Rees will receive the starting nod to start the season this fall. Combined they've started for an entire season, seen a lot of game action, and have gotten the bulk of first and second team reps under center since Kelly took over last spring.

Unfortunately for Kelly though, neither is the type of running threat ideally fits his spread option offense. In order to maximize the potential of the spread the quarterback needs to be a legitimate threat to run on every play. The read option--a staple play of the spread where the quarterback makes a split decision after the snap to either hand the ball off to the running back or run it himself--is not nearly as effective when the defense is 99% certain the running back is getting the ball every time.

The two young quarterbacks sitting behind--Andrew Hendrix and Everett Golson--Crist and Rees fit the mold of Kelly's prototype quarterback. Both are not only excellent passers (Hendrix has a howitzer for an arm), but are also athletic threats to take off and run. The dual threat they present is exactly what Kelly needs in the long-term.

Once things kickoff in the fall, expect a big chunk of the spread offense to stay in Kelly's back pocket. But this Saturday everyone will catch of glimpse of exactly what it will look like once the keys to the car are handed to a quarterback with wheels.

#5: An Aaron Lynch Sack

Mega-stud defensive line recruit Aaron Lynch has been on-campus since January and has already made a big impression on the coaching staff. His explosiveness off the snap is something Notre Dame hasn't seen since Justin Tuck was manning the defensive end position.

Lynch still has plenty to learn and is very raw, but expect him to find his way to the quarterback at least once this Saturday. When he does he'll only throw gasoline on the fire of hype that's surrounding him, something that probably doesn't bother him in the slightest.

#4: How Dominant the Front Can Be with Big Lou

Notre Dame returns four starters along an offensive line that improved by leaps and bounds over the course of last season.

Against Southern Cal and Miami, they dominated the line of scrimmage and allowed both the running game and passing game to thrive.

So why would I go and predict that they're going to be dominated? Because the defensive line returns all but one player in the two-deep and they replace the graduated Ian Williams with 340 pounds of Louis Nix.

Nix doesn't have the stamina necessary to make a prolonged impact, but he'll play enough that people understand how much he elevates the potential of the defense.

He's an immovable mountain of a man that commands a double team no matter who he's lining up against. The extra blockers he occupies will clog the middle of the offense while freeing the linebackers to make more plays in the lanes Nix creates.

He won't be out there very long because he's physically not able to last yet, but when he's in there expect the run game to hit a brick wall. Some people may be upset when the ground game isn't effective. They should be smiling instead, because Big Lou and friends could be something special.

#3: An Even Faster Paced Offense

When Brian Kelly came to Notre Dame, he said he wanted the Irish to play at a breakneck pace, one they were completely unaccustomed to under the previous regime.

He wanted faster practices, he wanted faster game speed, he wanted faster water breaks. It was all about efficiency and speed.

It took awhile for things to sink in, and Kelly even had to abandon his speed offense in favor of a more controlled tempo when Rees took over for Crist. The Irish averaged about 65 plays per game last season. This year, the head coach wants that number up between 80 and 85.

If that seems like a sizable jump, it is. What will make that transition easier, though, is the fact that the entire team is far more comfortable with the operation than they were last year. The learning curve has softened quite a bit and the hurried nature of practices and games now comes as second nature to most.

Expect Kelly to push his team to the limit in a scrimmage. He'll insist on them finding a gear they didn't think they had to test just how much they can handle.

#2: The Andrew Hendrix and Everett Golson Show

While Crist and Rees are a clear notch above Hendrix and Golson in the race for starter, the latter two prospects will be wearing blue jerseys instead of red.

What does that mean?

They're going live in a way that would make Bill O'Reilly proud.

Kelly wants to see both of his rising freshmen quarterbacks run the offense they fit so well. In order to do that, they're going to have to take hits that the head coach simply won't risk on Crist or Rees.

So while fans won't get to see much of the top two on the depth chart, they'll get a nice, prolonged look at what the future holds with the ballyhooed backups. That dynamic will create a much more entertaining show for the fans since it will be real scrimmaging instead of touch football with the quarterbacks.

#1: A True Glimpse of What's to Come This Fall

Many people say that spring games mean nothing and fans shouldn't read too much into what they see, since it's still five months away from the opening game.

I'm here to tell you those people are wrong.

I have attended five spring games (every year from 2005-2009) and watched last year's online. Every single one of them provided a pretty accurate preview of what was to come the next fall.

Spring 2005: Brady Quinn spread lasers all over the field in a late-April blizzard. He transformed into a completely different quarterback than he was under Willingham and the offense looked like a juggernaut. I knew leaving that they'd be able to put points up on anybody. I just didn't know if our defense could stop anyone.

Right on the money.

Spring 2006: They looked good and the defense looked a little better, but things just weren't as in sync as the previous year for whatever reason. I left thinking they just didn't look quite as sharp as the previous year.

Once again, pretty spot on.

Spring 2007: We looked terrible. I just spent five minutes looking through a Thesaurus trying to find the highest form of terrible. We couldn't block, we couldn't run, we couldn't throw. The quarterbacks threw more touchdowns to the defense than the offense.

Other than that, everything looked great!

I left Notre Dame Stadium thinking there's no way we could be that bad...could we?

Yes. They were that bad.

Spring 2008: They looked better, but by no means were they a finished product. Jimmy Clausen had improved and it appeared that cracking the three-yards-per-carry mark was at least a possibility. Mediocrity was the name of the game and it signaled to me that plenty of growing pains would happen come fall.

Pretty accurate, though the growing pains were worse than I thought.

Spring 2009: Jimmy looked great and the offense looked like a well-oiled machine. We still couldn't run the ball, even on our Swiss-cheese defense, but who needed to run it when we had such a ridiculous aerial attack to fall back on?

Right on the money with the offense, though I never thought our defense could be so bad.

Spring 2010: Everyone on offense looked like they were thinking too much and somewhat overwhelmed by analysis paralysis. By no means was it ugly—in fact it was infinitely better than 2007 and much better than 2008—-but it was clear that a Parseghian-esque resurrection just wasn't in the cards.

Another pretty accurate forecast.

The biggest difference between Weis and Kelly is the fact that Kelly's squads improved over the course of the year. Weis' seemed to peak early and plateau if not completely fall off the map. Perhaps that's why his spring games were always such a clear indicator of what was to come.

Will Saturday's game provide a true glimpse of what's to come? I say it will.

The nice thing is that it'll be an indicator of what to expect in September, not necessarily in November like it was under Charlie.

Digesting the Floyd Saga

2011-04-10T19:45:00.001-07:00

On Monday March 21, Notre Dame fans awoke to the news that Michael Floyd had been arrested for Driving Under the Influence just off-campus. The story broke about seven hours after the basketball team had been abruptly and unceremoniously dismissed from the NCAA Tournament so at the time it was like waking up from a bad dream and being in the midst of an even worse reality.

The general assumption was that since this was Floyd’s second run-in with that law in a little over a year, Notre Dame’s disciplinary arm (ResLife) would drop the hammer down on the superstar. After all, a couple years ago Will Yeatman was arrested for a second time and ResLife booted him despite the fact he had only a .02 BAC after a party was busted off-campus. Why would anyone expect anything different to Floyd, especially when the second offense was far worse than Yeatman’s?

Shockingly though, ResLife did not suspend the Irish standout for the fall semester. In fact, it didn’t even levy a punishment that would prevent him from playing in a single game. His sentence included a hefty amount of community service, but he was free to resume football activities as soon as head coach Brian Kelly deemed Floyd to be ready.

This announcement led to two major reactions. The first was one of relief and joy within the Irish fan base. For the second time since January 1, Notre Dame received the unexpected gift of Michael Floyd returning in 2011. He’s bar-none the best player on the offense (probably the entire team) and will likely go down as the greatest receiver in school history once he’s done rewriting the record books this fall. Adding him back into the mix instantly heightens the ceiling and potential of the 2011 campaign.

The second reaction was the predictable backlash from both the “ambulance chasers” of the journalistic community out to take a shot at Notre Dame whenever the opportunity presents itself and message board lunatics on places like Rivals.com. Many bashed the decision to “let Floyd off the hook,” crying it was hypocritical and that Notre Dame needed to drop the “holier than thou” attitude because it was turning into Oklahoma, Florida, or Miami in terms of leniency under Brian Kelly.

I’ve thought about this situation way too much over the past three weeks. I’ve deliberated by myself and amongst fellow Irish fans as to what the best and worst case endgames were for this fiasco, what should and shouldn’t happen.

I’m very glad that ResLife appears to be changing its ways. The ways in which it traditionally dished out punishment to students—and especially its higher profile enrollees on athletic teams—was completely unreasonable and counterproductive.

One thing I must stress though is my sincere hope this is an across the board transformation. Notre Dame prides itself on not treating its athletes any differently than its regular student body. It truly does make it unique that you live down the hall from guys on the football team, work together on projects with basketball players in classes, and that every single member of every sports team graduates with a legitimate degree—unlike places like Michigan and Florida State.

After Charlie Weis was fired, he singled out ResLife as the major problem facing Notre Dame’s football program and stated it needed to change. What he failed to do was emphasize it wasn’t hurting just the football program, but the rest of the student body as well.

When a 20-year old football player is suspended for a semester because he blew a .02 after an off-campus party was busted that’s completely ridiculous. When a normal freshman student is given a hefty fine, hours of community service, and assigned to alcohol classes for being caught holding a beer by an undercover officer at a tailgate despite blowing a .00 (like a friend of mine did) that’s equally outrageous.

The purpose of ResLife should be to help students grow and learn from their mistakes, not ruin or severely setback futures of young adults. If this ruling represents a shift toward that philosophy then that’s a great thing for the entire school.

Back to Michael Floyd.

Floyd hasn’t been reinstated by head coach Brian Kelly and Kelly has said there’s no timeline for a return. So while critics point at Notre Dame for being hypocritical and countless hack journalists like David Haugh emerge from the clown car in which they all reside with pens in one hand and hatchets in the other, they leave out the major detail that no decision has been made on Floyd’s football future.

Brian Kelly insists that Floyd won’t be back on the team until his life is back in order and priorities rearranged. This ruling from ResLife is the ultimate second chance to earn a degree and while showcasing his talents for the next level in football. One more misstep—no matter how minor—and he’s gone.

Notre Dame Football needs him if it wants to be an elite team this year. He’s a game changer on the perimeter and one of the most prolific and dominant receivers in the country. The season opener against South Florida is no “gimme.” The Bulls are a well-coached group and present a much more dangerous challenge out of the gate than San Diego State, Nevada, and Purdue have the past three years. Michael Floyd splitting out wide and starting that game would be huge.

But he shouldn’t be able to do so.

It’s my hope that Brian Kelly permits Michael Floyd to begin working out with the team this summer. Over that time he must prove to both the coaching staff and his teammates that he’s changed, he’s dedicated to the cause, and ultimately committed to representing the University of Notre Dame in a way that makes the entire Irish Family proud.

If Michael does all the necessary things prove that then I’d like Coach Kelly to announce that he will be eligible to play starting in week two against Michigan.

DUI is a very, very serious matter. It can't, shouldn't, and won't be taken lightly. Yes, people make mistakes and people deserve second chances—which Floyd is receiving in multiple ways—but slip-ups like this also merit a penalty that will make a profound impact on the offender. Nothing makes an impact on an athlete like stripping him of his ability to compete.

As much as I want to see Floyd out on the field against USF, I think it’s only right he’s suspended for that contest. A spring suspension, stripping of the captaincy, a couple extra hard days spent at Longo Beach, and a game spent watching from the sideline is fair recompense for his crime. Brian Kelly appears to have a very solid grasp on the situation, but there's a mob of people waiting to pounce on him depending on what he decides. All Irish fans can do is sit back and trust he'll handle it properly.

Michael Floyd has been granted a huge opportunity to redeem himself. Let’s hope that he seizes this second chance both on and off the field.

Ten Things to Expect from October 22nd

2011-04-07T06:53:00.000-07:00

It warms my heart to know that a couple of my buddies bit on the April Fools joke last week. Thankfully, the cancellation of the 7:30pm kickoff was a farce and all systems are still go for what is sure to be one of the electrifying home games in years.

Let's celebrate the fact that it's only 198 days away by going down a list of ten things to expect from the first night game since Rick Mirer's first start.

#10: The Mother of All Tailgates

The Irish Faithful are known to tailgate. The range and scope of these tailgates varies greatly from the older, more mature alumni that put out phenomenal and elaborate spreads to the student tailgates where Keystone and Natural Light are frequently drank out of a hole in the side of the can. Full beer flip cup anyone?

No matter which route a fan decides to go on October 22, they'll have to be prepared for an extra four hours. That means not only having breakfast and lunch ready, but dinner as well. The number of brats, burgers and beers consumed will be off the charts.

There's no other way to spin it: It will be glorious.

#9: Higher Ratings

NBC has been carrying every Notre Dame home game since 1991. Over the course of that time frame, there have been exactly zero games hosted at night. The previous administration of Notre Dame, headed by Fr. Monk Malloy, was vehemently against the night game concept for a variety of reasons, so it put the kibosh on them, much to the chagrin of the network.

Recently, though, the network began pushing more for the night kickoff. Notre Dame moved toward it by granting NBC a primetime game each year at a neutral site. The excitement among fans that the night kickoff has generated is equaled by NBC, because a Notre Dame-Southern Cal 7:30 p.m. kickoff should be a ratings bonanza, especially if both teams have successful starts to the season.

The Irish are the only college football team NBC broadcasts, so there has always been a gaping hole on Saturday nights when competing with CBS, ABC and ESPN for viewership. On October 22, that won't be an issue.

#8: Grumpy Old Men

While the vast majority of the fans are extremely excited about the prospect of a night game at Notre Dame Stadium, there is a small percentage that is upset about moving kickoff back four hours. All of these detractors are in the "older alumni" demographic and are much more concerned with the fact that it may be a bit colder, and it will result in them getting back to their beds much later than normal.

It's not a good thing that these people exist, but it's reality. There is a silver lining within this fact, though, and it's reason numero seven.

#7: A Younger Crowd

The night kickoff is not up the alley of the aforementioned older alumni; in fact, they're not only unexcited about it, they're downright upset and many will pass on going to the game. On the other hand, you have young alumni who are so excited about the prospect of a night game that they're willing to barter their first born to get their hands on a ticket (my first two children if the seat is on the 50-yard line).

The combination is going to lead to a much younger and more enthusiastic crowd. This is something many people have craved for years and it should lead to an even more pronounced homefield advantage.

#6: Colder Temperatures

The arrangement that Notre Dame and Southern Cal have says that all games played at Notre Dame Stadium will be held in October instead of during the cold of November. Many Irish fans wish that wasn't the case so that the "pretty boys" from the West Coast had to deal with the elements.

The average high temperature in South Bend on October 22 is 62 degrees. The average low? 42.

The night kickoff means that it's far more likely that the Trojans will have to deal with the cold, something they typically never have to do. The last time it was bitterly cold and miserable was 1995, and the Irish smacked Keyshawn Johnson and top 10 ranked Southern Cal in the mouth 38-10 (Oh hey, meet Kinnon Tatum). It was apparent from early on that Southern Cal was completely thrown off by the weather, and the Irish seized the opportunity.

Could it happen again? Certainly a better chance of it under the lights than under the sun.

#5: The Return of the Pep Rally

In recent years, the pep rally has declined to the point where it's just about on life support. A night game at Notre Dame will create the necessary excitement to re-energize the rally.

Six years ago, over 55,000 fans packed Notre Dame Stadium before the epic showdown with Southern Cal. The craziness surrounding this edition of the rivalry will have the masses out in full force, and once again, Friday night will be rocking, whether it's in the JACC or the Stadium.

(I can dream, right?)

#4: Michael Floyd

Michael Floyd made a terrible mistake last month when he drove drunk and was arrested for DUI. He deserves to be punished and will be.

By all accounts, though, his football career at Notre Dame is not over. Whether the suspension is three, four or six games, he will still be back in time to face off against Southern Cal. He's only had that opportunity once since he missed the game due to injury his freshman and sophomore seasons.

He's going to say all the right things leading up to his reinstatement, and I hope for his sake he'll do all the right things as well. Once he gets on that field, he's going to be a terror, and the Trojans will be on the wrong side of his fury October 22.

#3: Green Jerseys

Love them or hate them, the green jerseys are going to be coming out. And you know what? People should embrace it.

The entrance for the 2005 game was absolutely electric, and it took the energy in the stadium up to another level. When the Irish pour out onto the field in green under the lights October 22, it will have the same effect.

#2: Amped Up Noise Level

The beginning of the Notre Dame-Southern Cal game this fall is going to be absolutely deafening. It will be the perfect storm of fans fueled by an extra four hours of tailgating combined with pure adrenaline and excitement.

In 1988, the crowd for a night showdown with Michigan was so rowdy and loud that the Irish were actually assessed a penalty. Will the student body and young alums be up for that sort of performance? Something tells me there's 21 years of pent up rage ready to explode on the Trojans when the team emerges from the tunnel at 7:26 p.m.

#1: An Irish Victory

Notre Dame has only played seven home games at night in their illustrious history. Their record in those games? 6-1. The only loss came under the watch of Gerry Faust, an era in which Notre Dame fans don't like to acknowledge actually existed.

The Irish conquered the giant that is Southern Cal last season for the first time since 2001. Armed with that confidence and fueled by what is sure to be an absolutely electric atmosphere in Notre Dame Stadium, the Irish will find a way to win this game.

A new era in this rivalry has dawned, and the scales are tipping in favor of the Irish. On October 22, the question will not be if Notre Dame is wins the game; it will be figuring out what the final margin of victory will ultimately be.

ND Stadium Night Game Plans Scratched?!?!?

2011-04-01T02:20:00.000-07:00

ND has released a statement that the Southern Cal kickoff has been moved back to its normal 3:30pm time slot after originally being planned for 7:30pm.

WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO US?!?!?! WHY WOULD YOU PLAY WITH MY EMOTIONS LIKE THIS?!?!?!?

School officials stated "strong input" from influential alumni as the reason for the change. I love Swarbrick, I think he's great...but caving to alumni pressure in this situation is a HUGE strike against him.

I'm sick to my stomach, I can't even think let alone write. The full story is over at Subway Domer, just go there.

Shaking Down the Thunder...IN PRIMETIME

2011-03-30T10:50:00.001-07:00

Today the University of Notre Dame officially announced the kickoff times for the 2011 season. Let's go ahead and run down them, shall we?

Sept. 3 - South Florida (3:30 p.m.)
Sept. 17 - Michigan State (3:30 p.m.)
Oct. 8 - Air Force (3:30 p.m.)
Oct. 22 - USC (7:30 p.m.)
Oct. 29 - Navy (3:30 p.m.)
Nov. 19 - Boston College (4:00 p.m. )

Go back up to October 22nd and stare at it again. Go ahead. Stare at the 7:30.

HOLY CRAP IT'S A NIGHT GAME IN NOTRE DAME STADIUM!

It'll be the first one since 1990, when the Irish beat Michigan 28-24. ND is 6-1 all-time under the lights, the only loss coming under Gerry Faust in 1984.

Southern Cal coming to South Bend for the first time with Lane Kiffin at the helm is huge. The first night game in 21 years is 0ff the charts. Rolling them together creates some sort of uber-event that I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around.

Videos, I need videos.

More...

GIVE ME THE VICTORY MARCH!

Now remind us what happened last year!

October 22nd. The countdown begins to a game for the ages.

GO IRISH

RIP, Jim Seymour (1946 - 2011)

2011-03-30T08:57:00.000-07:00

We have learned that Notre Dame legend Jim Seymour has passed away Tuesday. He was one of the most dynamic threats to ever line up at wide receiver for the Irish. In his very first game, Seymour burst onto the scene with 13 catches, 276 yards, and 3 TD's. The 276 receiving yards was a school record that stands to this day.

Here is some footage from that remarkable game.

The thoughts and prayers of all Notre Dame Nation go out to the Seymour Family.

The USF Question: Should it be Tommy or Dayne?

2011-03-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

Notre Dame ended the 2010 season on a four-game streak that has fans and pundits alike boosting program expectations for this upcoming fall. The Irish now have a full season learning and implementing Brian Kelly’s philosophy, which should lead to significant strides on both sides of the ball.

Notre Dame returns one of the most experienced squads in the country and is staring a manageable schedule so the bar has been set at competing for a berth in the BCS.

There’s one giant question hovering over everything though: will Tommy Rees or Dayne Crist be the starting quarterback when Notre Dame takes the field against South Florida?

A lot of fans are arguing that Rees should be the starter because of how the team ended the year with him at the helm. I’m here to tell you they’re wrong. If Dayne Crist is healthy enough to go full speed on September 3 then he's the one should get the nod.

Before we go any further, let me say I’m operating under the premise that these are far and away the two most likely starters on opening day. There’s certainly a chance that the pair of talented quarterbacks sitting behind them—Andrew Hendrix and Everett Golson—could have outstanding springs and be right in the mix, but odds are pretty slim it’d catapult them to the top of the depth chart for the first contest.

While they have enormous potential for the long term, Brian Kelly has two quarterbacks who have already started multiple games. Smart money says one of them will ultimately be chosen for game one.

Looking strictly at the stat lines from their first years starting, Crist and Rees are actually pretty similar.

Their accuracy was very comparable (Rees 61 percent, Crist 59 percent), yards per pass was almost identical (Crist 6.9, Rees 6.7), and a mere three points separated their final quarterback ratings (Rees 132, Crist 129.3). Tommy did average more touchdowns per game (2.4 to 1.9), but he threw more interceptions per game as well (1.6 to 0.9).

People in the “Tommy Rees Should Start” camp will recite four words as the reason why he deserves the nod over Dayne: Tommy is a winner. He may not have the physical skill set of many elite quarterbacks, but he led the team to a 4-0 record as starter while Crist’s record sits at an ugly 4-5.

To be blunt, that’s a bogus argument.

Tommy Rees did an admirable job after he was thrown into the fire for the final four-plus games of the season, but let’s stop acting as if he was the spark for the win streak (that would be the defense).

He did a nice job managing the game against Utah and Army and played great football for one half against Miami. There were some solid highlights and some undeniably great throws along the way—like the beautiful touch pass to Eifert against Army and the touchdown he threw to Kamara in the corner of the endzone against Utah.

There were also some ugly moments. Of course rough patches are to be expected from a first-time starter, but people seem to have completely block them out since the end result was a win.

Rees was absolutely atrocious against Southern Cal, to the point where one of the best Irish defensive efforts in recent memory was almost wasted. His final stat line does not reflect how shell-shocked he looked in the second half.

During the third quarter nearly every pass was either batted down at the line or delivered to the breadbasket of a player wearing maroon and gold. It was turnovers galore and all in the shadow of Notre Dame’s own goalposts.

The reason for pointing that out isn’t to rag on the kid; it’s to remind people that Joe Montana wasn’t quarterbacking like some seem to think.

For how positively fans view Rees thanks to his winning streak, they pull the exact opposite maneuver when remembering Crist’s season. By no means did Crist have a great season, but he had flashes of brilliance that seem to have been completely forgotten. Unfortunately his final outings—the debacle against Navy and the opening of the Tulsa game—leave a bad taste.

The disaster in the Meadowlands was a clear step backward and the start of the Tulsa game looked equally ugly. The confidence he’d built up over the first month of the season disappeared and he began regressing.

With every incomplete pass he’d look over at the sideline like a dog that knew he did something wrong and was about to get scolded—and every time Brian Kelly was there to fulfill Dayne's prophesy with a scathing expression and an earful of unprintables.

Crist’s season shouldn’t be defined solely by his hiccups. The real story of his first campaign as a starter when you study it was streakiness. When Dayne got in rhythm he had the look of an elite quarterback, one that just needed some experience and time to mature.

Go back to the tape of the Michigan State game and watched how good he was during the third quarter. It was a passing clinic. Crist possesses a rifle arm and for the most part he didn’t make a lot of killer mistakes. If anything he was actually overcautious too frequently—and if you want a first-year starter to be on an extreme of the spectrum you’d rather it be on the side of caution as opposed to recklessness.

The key to Dayne progressing and evolving into a top-level quarterback is figuring out how to eliminate the prolonged cold streaks. His main issue was that he’d hit eight passes in a row and then immediately follow it with six straight incompletions. The offense can’t maintain any sort of momentum if once or twice a game consecutive drives will be sabotaged because Dayne gets out of sync. That’s where the drastic improvement needs to take place—and he still has two full seasons to make it happen.

Tommy Rees is a smart quarterback and an asset to the team, but his ceiling is just not high enough. Physical he’s incapable of making all the throws that would make this offense operate at its peak and the running threat he presents is nearly absolute zero.

I appreciate his contribution last season and I’d love to have him around as a reliable backup that can come in and manage the offense in emergency situations, but that’s it. If he proves me wrong and seizes the starting job never to let go again then I'd be happy as can be. But my gut says there’s a much greater chance he turns out to be Matt Lovecchio: The Remix than a four-year starter at Notre Dame.

Dayne Crist is no slam dunk to be successful. There’s never a guarantee that players are going to maximize their potential and Crist’s propensity to get hurt might completely snuff out his chances to progress to an elite level.

But if his body cooperates and allows him to move forward, learn, and grow into his role as the leader of the offense then he possesses the potential to be great—something Rees does not. That’s the reason why he should—and will—get the starting nod against USF.

Irish Basketball: It All Falls Down

2011-03-22T20:37:00.000-07:00

Late Sunday night, Notre Dame basketball’s dream season came to a screeching halt. Less than 100 miles from South Bend, the Florida State Seminoles smothered what was normally a well-oiled, high-octane attack and put the kibosh on any fairy tale runs the Irish Faithful had hoped to witness.

It was a surprising loss, but at the same time not really. The Seminoles were a long, deep, and extremely athletic club that played stifling defense. That’s the perfect recipe to knock off Notre Dame, who at its heart is a thin squad with limited athleticism. The majority of Irish fans had been waiting for the shoe to drop on this team since mid-January, but perhaps the boys’ blistering finish to the regular season had made people drop their guards if only for the first weekend of the tournament.

Unfortunately, as is often the case with Notre Dame football and basketball, dropping your guard is not a smart thing to do.

After sputtering at the beginning of January, the Irish began a methodical rise in the polls. Four ranked teams—including #2 Pitt—were among the victims of a 13-1 finish to the regular season. The boys won in every which way—whether it was a dazzling display of offensive firepower or a drag-out, defensive slugfest.

Unlike previous Irish outfits, this squad seemed to be able to adapt to whatever the situation called for and never miss a beat. Anchored by five seniors that played an incredibly smart brand of basketball, Notre Dame passed just about every test that came their way.

While every one of the seven players in Brey’s rotation played key roles in making things run smoothly, there was one guy who made the Irish go: Ben Hansbrough. From the opening tip against Georgia Southern in November until his final foul against UConn in March, Hansbrough was a once-in-a-generation competitor whose effort spurred the Irish to unseen heights.

On offense he was not only a sniper from three-point range, but also a sneakily effective player off the dribble who mastered the art of reading a defender’s hedge on a pick. If the defender hung back he fired a shot off. If the defender hedged effectively, Ben would often run right into his hip and draw a foul. If the defender overplayed the hedge, Ben had a lightning quick behind the back move that split the defense and got him into the lane with a full head of steam. His dissection of the defense in this simple play highlighted just how incredible his basketball IQ really was.

Defense was where he made his presence felt the most though. While he was rarely as athletic as his defensive assignment, Hansbrough never backed away from the challenge of guarding elite players like Kemba Walker. What he lacked in quickness he compensated for with sheer relentlessness and limitless energy. His effort rubbed off on the rest of the team and suddenly a perennially horrendous defense morphed into a reliable and consistent one.

The team fed off not only his effort, but also his cockiness and swagger. This group genuinely believed they could win every game because every time they looked to Ben he wasn’t backing down whether the Irish were playing in Purcell Pavilion, The Petersen Events Center, or Freedom Hall. Ty Nash had sound bites like, “we expect to win every game” and their head coach—usually the first person to try to temper expectations—was embracing the chase for a #1 seed in March.

Week after week the wins piled up, capped with a thrilling triumph at UConn to wrap up the regular season. For the first time since the glory days of Digger Phelps, the Irish found themselves ranked in the top five of both polls.

This couldn’t possibly be right, could it? Could Notre Dame legitimately be one of the best teams in the country and in the hunt not only for a tournament berth, but a Final Four berth? We all started to buy in that even if it wasn’t likely, it certainly wasn’t a far-fetched scenario.

But then something happened March 8th in New York at the Big East Tournament that I believe changed everything: Ben Hansbrough won Player of the Year.

His first game you couldn’t tell a major difference in his demeanor (mainly because the entire Irish team was on fire and Cincinnati was busy rolling over), but against Louisville it became very apparent something changed. He struggled to a 3 of 16 shooting night—far and away his worst shooting night of the year—as Notre Dame blew a big lead and lost in overtime to Louisville. Alarm bells began sounding in my head.

It wasn’t so much the off night of shooting because that happens to everyone, even great shooters. Something about him just looked off, almost as if he hadn’t slept the night before the game. In a word he was lethargic, which was startling since I was convinced he had an endless well of energy. In the first half it didn’t matter because once again his team came out like gangbusters and shot the lights out, but in the second half as the Cardinals closed in the team looked to their leader and he just didn’t have it. Even on the rare occasion he didn’t shoot well during the season he always was able to amp up the team with his energy. Not on that night though.

The result was the Irish crumbled. They couldn’t muster the defensive stops they’d become accustomed to getting over the course of the year and their offense sputtered under Louisville’s pressure. When Notre Dame had the ball on the final possession of regulation, Hansbrough forced up an off-balanced three pointer as opposed to attacking the defense like he normally would. It was a disappointing loss, but in the grand scheme of things not devastating.

His body language suggested that something was wrong, but I couldn’t really pinpoint it. Maybe he was sick, maybe he had a bad night’s sleep, or maybe it was something was weighing on his mind at home—it could’ve been anything. All I know is that he looked different and I hoped that when he arrived in Chicago he’d be well rested and the same Ben he’d been the rest of the year.

The Irish drew Akron in round one and as that game dragged on my observation was the same: something was just off with Ben. His calm, confident swagger that the team fed off had been replaced by a short fuse. It was as if the sudden burden of enormous expectations had overwhelmed him.

Notre Dame squeezed by Akron in an ugly affair and readied itself for Florida State. All I wanted was some early sign that the Ben from two weeks earlier was back. It never came.

In both of Notre Dame’s games in the NCAA tournament he snapped more at teammates, pleaded more with officials, and fired more off-balanced, almost hesitant shots than probably the rest of the year combined. The team seemed frazzled and tight from the get-go and the fact that their keystone was so wound up just exacerbated the problem.

When the Irish went to halftime down 11 I was worried, but still confident we could turn things around. Florida State had played their best half of the entire season and Notre Dame played one of their worst and ND was just 11 points behind. All it would take was a spark.

Then Mike Brey was interviewed coming out of the half and I knew we were in deep trouble.

Brey looked like he was staring a timebomb in the face with no idea how to disarm it. As he muttered about how he was happy to just be down 11 because it felt like 20, it became apparent he was at a complete loss for what was going on with his team. The group of five seniors that was supposed to kill teams with poise and experience was playing like a group of beleaguered underclassmen. Hansbrough, who Brey called “the straw that stirs the drink,” was completely out of sorts both physically and mentally.

We all know what happened next. The final margin was 14 points, but in reality the game wasn’t that close. It was truly painful to watch and the message board vultures immediately swept in to unload on Brey.

They knew it was a fraud all along. Once again lack of depth killed Notre Dame. Once again they fell short of expectations. Once again a poor shooting effort came at the worst possible time. They’re all signs that Brey is still a crappy coach and deserves to be canned.

People are idiots.

Listen, looking back on the season you can’t deem it a great success because Notre Dame once again failed to advance past the first weekend of the tournament. It doesn’t belittle the achievements of the regular season—which were great—but it casts a serious pall over how this year will be viewed in the annals.

Mike Brey shoulders plenty of blame for the Florida State loss because he failed to push the right buttons to refocus and calm down his team. His long-term prospects shouldn't, can’t, and won’t be determined by this single game though. What he does next year will tell us a lot about whether Brey really changed this year or if it was a fluke.

Does the team’s commitment to good defense depart with Hansbrough or will Brey continue to stress it? Will he set the bar high and strive to get back to the heights of this February or immediately try to temper expectations going into next season? Will the influx of talent on its way to South Bend mean he’s about to deepen his rotation a little bit? These are the major questions that will show whether he’s truly adapted and if he continues to adapt. None can be answered right now.

In the meantime we can only reflect on the season that was. I loved watching this team play. Ben Hansbrough became one of my all-time favorite players for all the reasons I’d stated earlier—he almost single-handedly molded the character and ratcheted up the expectations of effort for the entire team. I want to look back on this season fondly and first and foremost remember the team for its exhilarating run through the toughest conference in America. The problem is I won’t, because I can’t.

The wins over Pitt, Wisconsin, Villanova, and UConn are forever relegated to footnote status, the loss to Florida State elevated to bold font in the headline. The enduring lesson smacks both the fans and players in the face: all the great things achieved in the regular season can be washed away in the blink of an eye by wasting an opportunity to do something truly great in March.

Yack Responds: "Bill, Grab Mooney and Hold on Tight"

2011-03-16T22:58:00.000-07:00

Bill said what he had to say pre-game, but Yack won't go quietly into the night. Here is Slatington's favorite son's response to the Brolando, Florida resident.

- - - - - - - - - -

Well it's that time of year again. After going on a Charlie Sheen-like bender in Atlantic City and still smelling of $2 rum and cokes and Jack Daniels shots from my unofficial sponsors (the Wild Wild West Casino), I, John Yackabonis, was weary of texts messages from PSU fans. Already agitated by a Temple loss in the A-10 Tournament, the "upset alert" texts and trash talk made me giggle.

I thought out loud, "Why are these people all up in Temple's Kool Aid and they don't know what flavor it is!?!"

One PSU super fan specifically stuck out to this handsome young debonair; and that said person was Billy John Johnson.

Usually this pair of clown shoes sticks to football smack talk, but this year he realized PSU has a basketball team, which most of PSU's campus didn't realize until they'd scored 36 points and mistakenly beaten Wisconsin in a game that was on par with a Girls' PIAA Class A Semifinal.

Well Billy, after all these years and all these bets, let's make it REALLY interesting. If Temple beats PSU like the red haired stepchild they are, you and fellow PSUer Matt Mooney will hold hands for 15 minutes the next time we go to a bar.

Onions!

Here's a lil clip for ya....

Does Billy Johnson scare me? NO! Am I calling the national guard? NO! The Rated R Superstar, aka Mr. Money in the Bank, aka Mr. Big Shot is not afraid of Billy Johnson. The question becomes is Billy Johnson afraid of this bet.

So what's it going to be, roody poo? In the words of Judge Smails:

What Will Really Happen

2011-03-16T18:12:00.001-07:00

Say what you will:

Penn State isn't a basketball school.

-A 2009 NIT championship, a 1954 Final Four appearance, and my enrollment say otherwise.

Talor Battle is undersized.

-Bill Raftery says, "He's got a big ticker!"

Penn State is looking ahead in this game.

-One game at a time, we're just focused on beating San Diego State.

Ed DeChellis is God-awful.

----------

For those that haven't been keeping up with the blog here, Penn State is playing Temple University in the 7 vs 10 game this Thursday at 2:00 pm. Mattare, myself, Mikey and special contributor Yack are all from the Lehigh Valley area. That's eastern PA for the Notre Dame fans wondering why they're reading this. Yack is an Owl alumnus after tricking the university into giving him a diploma.

I know pretty much everything about Temple basketball from how they form a lather train in the shower to demonstrate team unity, to the little known fact that Lavoy Allen likes to use nicknames like "Scootie Pahootie" and Jimmy "Hat" McDonnell to get them super psyched before games.

But the lather train stops here. The heroes of the hardwood have showed up to the dance, and we're intoxicated. Only the experts noticed the way we pacified Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament, but soon the nation will know the sadistic brand of basketball Penn State has embraced as of late. No team can possibly have fun while playing the Nittany Lions. Just watching the games is as exhausting as running in sand. Couldn’t be more excited.

This game can’t really be described as the battle for Pennsylvania--Pitt has a #1 seed, and Bucknell has to be in that conversation too, no love for VillaNoFun (5 PA teams in the tourney, suck it Ohio.) When it boils down to it, this game is all about Yack and myself. Yack, The Eric Snow to my Allen Iverson, the Nate Dogg (RIP, you’re the greatest) to my Snoop Dogg, the hookers to my Charlie Sheen, wants to see his team step to MY team and win. Not going to happen.

Sorry buddy, but all the mini hot dogs, green bean casserole, burgers, cupcakes and cola that Mrs. Yack can conjure up won’t ease the pain of Talor Battle’s dagger three pointers from 25 feet. You might have to call in Mikey’s mom for some spaghetti pie after this one. We may have a pathetic fan base, but that’s because students are off enjoying all the cool free parties with dimes that Penn State has to offer. Unlike Temple where just to drink some keg beer, you have to first contribute to the house’s taquito fund. For shame!

Seriously if your Temple in this game don’t you ask the 5th graders that play at halftime if they want to switch opponents so they have a chance to win?

I propose that if Penn State wins, you will call Papa Johns in Orlando and have them deliver me a large supreme pizza. Pay with credit over the phone please. I look forward to Temple helping Penn State make history, and to signing the bill “Pete Lisicky.”

Irish Fantasy Draft: Rounds 21-24

2011-03-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

After a weekend hiatus the draft started back up again. We're winding down and filling out the 28-man roster. Here's the breakdown and analysis of rounds 21-24.

21.01 (UHND) - Mark LeVoir, OT

LeVoir was a Parade All American and 1st Team USA Today All American out of his school and then went on to start 35 games over a 5 year career. LeVoir will play left tackle forming me a nice pair of bookend tackles with Mike Doughty giving this team 7 years of starting experience at the tackle position." - Frank

21.02 (Domer Law) - Pete Bercich, LB

21.03 (Her Loyal Sons) - Hunter Smith, P

"It's a game of field position, kids." - domer_mq

21.04 (WeNeverGraduate) - Devon McDonald, OLB

"McDonald was a big, athletic outside backer that was capable of putting his hand on the ground and playing defensive end when the situation called for it. He'll start at outside linebacker and then replace Brian Hamilton at end in Nickel situations to bring some extra heat." - Mattare

21.05 (Subway Domer) - Randy Kinder, RB

"Complete stud, and adds more explosiveness to this already volatile team." - Subway Domer

21.06 (Irish Illustrated) - Dan Stevenson, G

"Another guard/tackle prospect for the offensive line, Stevenson finishes off my starting lineup up front. He gets extra points in my book because I did a feature story on him while he was in high school and before I was covering Notre Dame football. Solid guy, good attitude." - Pete

22.01 (Irish Illustrated) - Ryan Grant, RB

"I’m getting a solid back-up running back in Grant, who went over 1,000 yards as a sophomore before splitting time with Julius Jones the next season. Obviously, Grant has plenty of raw talent considering how long he’s stuck in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers." - Pete

22.02 (Subway Domer) - Kurt Vollers, OT

"Vollers was a pretty good tackle, and he was arrested for trafficking a whole lot of pot. I like the "danger" level he brings to my team." - Subway Domer

22.03 (WeNeverGraduate) - Tim Ryan, G

"Ryan started at guard on the '88 national championship team as a sophomore and held down the position the next two years. He rounds out my offensive line, a bruising and dominant run blocking unit. We're going to be even more unstoppable than Eli Manning and his Citizen Eco-Drive watches." - Mattare

22.04 (Her Loyal Sons) - Chris Stewart, G

"Really just sort of throwing darts at the big board at this point, but I think over the years Stewart showed a lot of flashes of a ton of potential, and in fact this last season he showed he was capable of taking a big step up in productivity. Wont shock me in the least if he hangs onto a pro job for several years." - domer_mq

22.05 (Domer Law) - Deveron Harper, CB

22.06 (UHND) - Tyler Eifert, TE

"This team needs a tight end and Eifert emerged as the next great tight end for Notre Dame down the stretch. Even without starting a full season, Eifert's numbers already compare favorably to some of the other tight ends who passed through Notre Dame in the 90's." - Frank

23.01 (UHND) - Tony Fisher, RB

"Jerome Bettis is going to play a lot of half back on this team, but adding Fisher creates a nice backfield tandem. Fisher gets overlooked because he followed Autry Denson and shared time with Julius Jones, but Fisher was more than a solid back." - Frank

23.02 (Domer Law) - Rashon Powers-Neal, FB

23.03 (Her Loyal Sons) - Ian Williams, DT

"It seems like just yesterday we were focusing in on Ian Williams' freshman year accolades, including being named 1st Team Freshman All American by the Football Writers Association of America in 2007. And now, like that [poofing motion/sound from The Usual Suspects], he's gone. Try to imagine this kid playing under consistent, good coaching for 4 years and try to not shake your head while you do." - domer_mq

23.04 (WeNeverGraduate) - John Covington, SS

"Most Irish fans are familiar with John's little brother Ivory Covington because of his goal line stop against Army in '95. Well guess what? Big brother was bigger, stronger, faster, and more versatile. Over the course of his four years he saw time in the secondary, linebacker, and even defensive end. Pairing him with Deke Cooper in the secondary gives me an extremely athletic pair of safeties with range and serious pop." - Mattare

23.05 (Subway Domer) - Cedric Hilliard, DT

"I was looking for another power DT, and found him in Hilliard. A massive specimen of awesomeness, Cedric is a Subway Domer Disciple fan favorite." - Subway Domer

23.06 (Irish Illustrated) - Willie Clark, CB/S

"Big-time athlete good enough to be an early round pick in the NFL draft. I can play him at cornerback or safety like most of my defensive backs. Not necessarily a big name, but I'll take as many starting defenders from the early 90's as I can get along with Tom Carter, Chris Zorich, etc." - Pete

24.01 (Irish Illustrated) - Jabari Holloway, TE

"All-time nice guy at tight end giving me a menacing duo with Derek Brown. Holloway was criminally under-utilized at Notre Dame, but I won't make that mistake in my two tight end sets. Holloway is a complete tight end who won't be treated like a glorified offensive tackle in my world." - Pete

24.02 (Subway Domer) - Oscar McBride, TE

"First of all, I just wanted to take this moment to profess my dislike of Pete Sampson. Pete, you bastard, you literally picked the next two picks on my board. I am aware of your spies, and they will be dealt with accordingly. McBride was commonly referred to as ND's 3rd offensive tackle during his playing days. While that was mostly true, if the Irish would have thrown his way more often (as it was the case with all of ND's tight ends during the Holtz and Davie eras) Big Oscar would have had much better numbers. He will be a BEAST for me." - Subway Domer

24.03 (WeNeverGraduate) - Pete Chryplewicz, TE

"Tight end fest continues. My bruising running game is mean a lot of two tight ends sets. Chryplewicz is a big body (6'5", 261lbs) that was a solid blocker equipped with soft hands. He won't be a frequent target because he'll be busy pancaking run blitzing linebackers, but every once in awhile when he lulls the defense to sleep he'll make them pay." - Mattare

24.04 (Her Loyal Sons) - Lamont Bryant, DE

"Oh, what could have been...

I played against Lamont in high school. He was both the nicest and most terrifying person I've ever seen up close on a football field. During pre-game stretches, he walked right into our half of the field, got down on all fours, and started barking at us. It sounds dumb when I describe it, but it was effective. I thought he might have turned into one of those Devil Dogs from Ghotsbusters.

Later that night, during one of our dozen or so 3-and-out series, I was to block down on him from my SE position (he was playing MIKE that particular night), and so I did, and he never saw me coming. I hit him, he didn't notice, I became attached to him, he carried me back towards my starting point and tackled the ball carrier. He dislocated my shoulder during the play. After the whistle, he made sure I got attended to and helped me back towards my sideline.

I think he was pretty accustomed to injuring opponents. I could swear he even advised the trainers on how to handle this particular injury. Had YouTube existed back then, everyone in the country would have talked about him like we all talked about Jadeveon Clowney. I'm not kidding. He was like Jadeveon spliced with an angry war god. Hell, they'd have renamed it to "LamontTube."

Unfortunately, a serious car accident before his freshman year banged him up enough to keep him from seeing the field in 1995. And I don't really believe he was ever fully recovered after that. Must've been one hell of an accident." - domer_mq

24.05 (Domer Law) - Malcolm Johnson, WR

"110 catches, 1,737 yards in his career - not bad for a 3rd wide receiver. Yet another prolific target for Brady Quinn in what should be a balanced and extremely productive offense." - Wacko

24.06 (UHND) - Cierre Wood, RB

"I want a little lightning to go along with the thunder I already have in the backfield with Bettis and Fisher and in all honesty, has there been another back not named Julius Jones in the last 10 years to show the kind of speed and big play potential as Wood did last year? In his first season of action, Wood busted off two 30+ yard touchdown runs becoming the first Notre Dame back since Jones to have two 30+ yard TD runs in a season (in fact, no Notre Dame back since Jones has even had one 30+ yard TD)." - Frank

Irish Fantasy Draft: Rounds 17-20

2011-03-10T20:03:00.000-08:00

We're more than halfway through the draft and there are just a few holes left to plug in the starting lineups.

17.01 (UHND) - Craig Hentrich, P/K

"This may be a reach here since I have plenty of other needs, but I want to maximize my roster and Hentrich takes up 2 spots with 1 pick. Hentrich was easily the best punter at Notre Dame in the last 20 years and until David Ruffer came along and made his first 23 field goals, he was easily the best place kicker at Notre Dame in the last 20 years too. Ruffer still has some work to do to match Hentrich, but there still hasn't been anyone to experience as much consistent success both kicking and punting at ND in the last 20 years as Hentrich." - Frank

17.02 (Domer Law) - Bob Dahl, DE

17.03 (Her Loyal Sons) - David Ruffer, K

"Yep. A kicker. It's getting too late in the game to risk any of you taking the most clutch kicker available in the pool." - domer_mq

17.04 (WeNeverGraduate) - Nick Setta, K/P

"Uh ohhh, time to alter the strategy for the next two rounds. If there's one thing you don't want to be on the wrong side of it's a run on Notre Dame kickers of the last two decades. Kevin Kopka? Jim Sanson? Carl Gioia? Woof. Give me the golden right foot of Nick Setta and I'll set for both kicking and punting." - Mattare

17.05 (Subway Domer) - Sean Mahan, G/C

"Sean could play either guard or center for the Subway Domer Disciples... OH SNAP!!!" - Subway Domer

17.06 (Irish Illustrated) - Zack Martin, OT

"This might seem like a reach, but Martin was the best offensive lineman on last year’s solid front as a red-shirt freshman, making him better than two-year and three-year starters. Don’t be surprised if he ends up as Notre Dame’s highest draft pick along the line since Jeff Faine. Size, speed and strength, Martin can do it all." - Pete

18.01 (Irish Illustrated) - Kevin McDougal, QB

"Everybody needs a good back-up quarterback and mine 11-1 as a starter during the ’93 season. Take that, Tommy Rees. McDougal backed up Rick Mirer once and he’ll do it again on my squad. For a one-year starter, it’s amazing how many fans rank McDougal as their all-time favorite Notre Dame quarterback." - Pete

18.02 (Subway Domer) - Jeremy Akers, G

"ALL-AMERICAN." - Subway Domer

18.03 (WeNeverGraduate) - Lee Becton, RB

"This team has officially morphed into a team that will run fifty times a game so I need another horse to accompany Reggie Brooks in the backfield. Becton was a hard runner with great vision, hands. and ankle-breaking wiggle. When Reggie needs a blow Becton will be able to step in and the offense won't miss a beat." - Mattare

18.04 (Her Loyal Sons) - Mike Richardson, CB

"I'm as surprised as you are. Much like when I was totally stunned to see him come out in 2005 as a real asset to the defense. Kid couldn't cover me the year prior, and by mid-2005, he was baiting opposing QBs into throwing to his side of the field for picks. At this point, I've got no idea what I'm doing, but I need a safety, and this kid." - domer_mq

18.05 (Domer Law) - Maurice Crum Jr., LB

""Versatile and consistent, but also capable of taking over a game a la UCLA 2007" - Wacko

18.06 (UHND) - Derek Landri, DE

"My team is going to run a 3-4 defense and I already have my 3 starting DL's but there's no way I can pass up Landri this late in the draft. I can't believe he is still available. It was only 4 years ago Landri had his breakout season with 15.5 tackles for loss playing on a bad defense. Landri will get worked in as a DE in my defense." - Frank

19.01 (UHND) - Mike Goolsby, ILB

"I need another ILB to play alongside Bobbie Howard and Goolsby fits the bill perfectly. He's big and can drop back into coverage if need be. Goolsby gives me a linebacking corps of Bert Berry, Darius Fleming, Bobbie Howard, and Goolsby. Me likey." - Frank

19.02 (Domer Law) - Chinedum Ndukwe, S

19.03 (Her Loyal Sons) - Jerry Wisne, G

"A 1995 USA and Parade All-American." - domer_mq

19.04 (WeNeverGraduate) - Rodney Culver, FB

"The assembly of a monster backfield continues with #5 Rodney Culver. Culver was a captain and multi-year starter who shifted between fullback and tailback, but I'm plugging him into the fullback position in order to give my offense a dangerous threat right up the middle. Culver started at fullback as a junior and rushed for 700+ yards. That ability to gash the heart of the opposition will be huge in keeping defenses off-balanced." - Mattare

19.05 (Subway Domer) - Mike Heldt, C

"Because everyone has a little CAPTAIN in them." - Subway Domer

19.06 (Irish Illustrated) - Eric Olsen, G

"Despite not exactly taking my tweet about B.J. Raji correctly, I still like Olsen as a starting guard for my squad. Tough guy look, solid tats, just everything you’d want in an offensive lineman. Solid interview as well, which always plays well with the media." - Pete

20.01 (Irish Illustrated) - Scott Kowalkowski, OLB

"I’ve got a starting linebacker and special teams buzz saw in Kowalkowski. He’s not on par athletically with my other two starting linebackers, but he’ll bring a diehard attitude to the field that won’t be denied." - Pete

20.02 (Subway Domer) - Tyreo Harrison, OLB

"Harrison is athletic and gives me a quicker LB to go along with my power defensive front. Tyreo was underrated then as much as he is now. My plan is coming together like an all night drug binge with Charlie Sheen and Tom Sizemore." - Subway Domer

20.03 (WeNeverGraduate) - Justin Hall, OT

"Hall started at right tackle for the Irish from '90-'92. I don't know if you've heard, but we ran the ball really, really well those years. We'll bump Todd Norman to right guard where he started as a junior and recreate the right side of that '92 line that paved the way for Brooks and Bettis." - Mattare

20.04 (Her Loyal Sons) - Carlo Calabrese, MLB

"I think what we saw of the defense last year owed a lot to what Carlo can do against interior runs." - domer_mq

20.05 (Domer Law) - DJ Fitzpatrick, K/P

20.06 (UHND) - Harrison Smith, S

"I have long been a fan of Smith - even when he was this most maligned Irish defensive back this side of Clifford Jefferson. Once he was finally given a permanent position that he could excel at, he stepped up and delivered the game sealing INT against USC and then 3 picks in the Sun Bowl. Smith will be a captain for '11, but even if he never made another big play again, he'd still be the player who put the final nail in USC's coffin to end that awful losing streak to Southern Cal." - Frank

- - - - - - - - - -

I won't lie to you: Pete's selection of Kevin McDougal dropped an atomic bomb on my team. Everything had lined up so perfectly at every position, I was absolutely thrilled. When I woke up this morning I made a list of what I wanted my next six picks to be and at the top of it was McDougal.

I thought for sure he'd slip back to me. The only people picking were Subway Domer (who had Jimmy Clausen) and Pete (who had Rick Mirer). Forget the fact that we're not drafting full rosters and there's almost no need for a backup quarterback; those two were so set that there was no reason they'd need one period.

Then I received the email with Pete's selections. My heart dropped through the floor.

Whether he was legitimately concerned about having a backup quarterback or if he just wanted to cripple my team I do not know. I'd lean toward the latter, but frankly with my defense coming at his quarterback in waves and waves against a marginal defensive line there's probably a good chance he'll need to lean on a backup. Either way it was horrendous news for my team.

I regrouped though and altered my board. We were always going to be a running team, it's just been jacked up to a new level since the signal caller will not be Kevin McDougal as I'd assumed. First, I found Reggie Brooks a tag team partner in the backfield. Lee Becton wasn't the burner that Brooks was and his lack of speed ultimately kept him from having a successful NFL career, but he was a 1,000 yard rusher on the '93 squad and tough, incredibly shifty runner.

I'm sure plenty of younger Irish fans have no idea who he is, so let's educate with the magic of YouTube. Pay close attention to how he completely freezes a Florida State defensive back with a subtle little move at the 50-yard line at the 36 second mark and the Boston College linebacker that gets his ankles broken so bad that he just face plants at the 1:29 mark.

He's one of the forgotten and underrated backs of the last thirty years. He'll be a great addition.

Next I nabbed Rodney Culver (RIP). Culver was the lone team captain his senior season and a damn good runner capable of gashing the interior as a fullback or tailback. I want to be able to feed someone on the fullback dive and know I can pick up almost five yards every time. Looking at the other rosters in this draft, there's not one defensive line (with the exception of possibly UHND's) that will be able to contain a three-headed monster of Brooks-Becton-Culver running behind the hogs I've assembled up front.

Speaking of those hogs, Justin Hall was added to the mix in the 20th round. He's another forgotten guy but he held down the right tackle position from '90-'92 and found a lot of success pairing with Todd Norman to clear holes in the defense. Just ask Spurrier and his Gators how much they enjoyed going against Hall and Norman in the '92 Sugar Bowl--all three of Bettis' fourth quarter touchdowns were run right behind that duo.

I couldn't feel any better about the offensive line I've assembled. The big decision will be what signal caller they'll be keeping upright...and that's something I just can't answer yet.

Irish Fantasy Draft: Rounds 13-16

2011-03-09T17:39:00.001-08:00

Most of the glamour names are off the board at this point in the draft, which means extensive knowledge of the last twenty years really starts to come into play. The picks are coming so fast that we'll throw up four rounds this time.

13.01 (UHND) - Oliver Gibson, NT

"There was a time when a former USA Today defensive player of the year had to wait his turn at Notre Dame because there were talented players ahead of him. This was the case with Gibson who had to sit behind Bryant Young before stepping into a starting role in 1994. Gibson will be the anchor of the 3-4 defense my team will run." - Frank

13.02 (Domer Law) - John Sullivan, C

13.03 (Her Loyal Sons) - Kinnon Tatum, OLB

"Some of us are now old enough to remember his great play at LB for ND more than his stint on Charlie Weis' coaching staff. Gulp." - domer_mq

13.04 (WeNeverGraduate) - Lake Dawson, WR

"I can't let him fall any farther. Dawson was the number one receiver in back-to-back seasons, an explosive threat that had great hands and could stretch the field. Pairing him with Floyd gives me a tandem that's a force to be reckoned with on the outside. Load up against the run, I dare you..." - Mattare

13.05 (Subway Domer) - Paul Grasmanis, DT

"Big. Strong. Defensive tackle. PLUG HIM IN!!!!!!!" - Subway Domer

13.06 (Irish Illustrated) - Andre Jones, DE

"I need a speed rusher to complete my defensive line, so I’m going with Jones coming off the edge. If I’m shifting to a 3-4 look he could turn into an outside linebacker too. There might be better individual defensive ends, but the tandem of Jones and Abiamiri is one that should get the collective job done." - Pete

14.01 (Irish Illustrated) - Derek Brown, TE

"I’m picking a NFL first rounder in the 14th round of this fantasy draft. A 6-foot-7, 245-pound stud, who I’m actually going to throw the ball to. Talk about a value pick to mix with my top-flight receiving corps. I can’t believe this guy is still on the board this late in the game." - Pete

14.02 (Subway Domer) - Kapron Lewis-Moore, DE

"On a 4 man front, KLM pairs up well with Irons." - Subway Domer

14.03 (WeNeverGraduate) - Irv Smith, TE

"If I'm going to be jamming the ball down the opposition's throat I need a nasty blocking tight end to line up alongside Aaron Taylor to help pave the way. Irv Smith was a first rounder who is not just a bulldozer in the run game, but a guy who can also provide a threat down the seam that's borderline impossible for defensive backs to bring down. Just ask the secondary of Indiana (see below)..." - Mattare

14.04 (Her Loyal Sons) - Lyndsay Knapp, OT

"I almost missed him, b/c I was assuming he was already taken. I've now checked the spreadsheet 3 times to make sure he really wasn't. Lindsay was a College & Pro Football Newsweekly All-American in 1992 and went on to play a few years of pro ball." - domer_mq

14.05 (Domer Law) - Sam Young, OT

14.06 (UHND) - Bobbie Howard, ILB

"My defense needs an inside linebacker and Bobbie Howard, a captain of the '98 Irish, is one of my favorite players from the last 20 years. He was a tad undersized but he always played big especially when he picked off Herb Tyler and raced 89 yards for a touchdown in the '98 LSU game. Oh, and he had 16 tackles in the game." - Frank

15.01 (UHND) - Mike Doughty, OT

I waited a little while to pick an offensive tackle, but I could do worse than selecting a 4 year starter at tackle for the Irish. Doughty started from '94-97 at right tackle for the Irish and will play next to Mike Gandy on the right side of the offensive line.

15.02 (Domer Law) - Melvin Dansby, DE

15.03 (Her Loyal Sons) - David Bruton, FS

"I have fond memories of watching Bruton play in 2007 - the worst season ever. One play, in particular, sticks out, when ND played MSU in South Bend, and the MSU QB threw up an arching bomb to the boundary, and Bruton was about 30 yards from the intended receiver. From the stands, you saw the ball at the top of the arch, saw where the receiver was, saw Bruton, and before the ball even began its decent, you knew Bruton was going to pick it off. And you were right. It was the sort of pick ND hadn't made in half a decade. Bruton, despite the oft-displayed incompetence of the 07 squad, was living proof that ND still attracted world-caliber athletic talent. You just had to know what you were looking at." - domer_mq

15.04 (WeNeverGraduate) - Brian Hamilton, DE

"I've surveyed the landscape of the remaining defensive lineman and decided that I just can't afford to wait any longer to fill the final spot on my defensive line. Adding big Brian Hamilton to the mix means that I have 3/4 of the 1993 squad's line along with Renaldo Wynn. Two words: Rock Solid." - Mattare

15.05 (Subway Domer) - Arnaz Battle, WR

15.06 (Irish Illustrated) - Rod Smith, S

"That’s a wrap on my starting secondary with a stud starter at cornerback or safety who was good enough to be a second round pack in the ’92 draft. And he backed up Stan Smagala before that. I like what I’ve got at the back end with Tom Carter, Glenn Earle, Brock Williams and Smith. Four big-time athletes." - Pete

16.01 (Irish Illustrated) - Tony Brooks, RB

"I’m late to grab a running back, but I’m happy with the other Brooks brother (thanks, I’ll be here all week), who’s a dynamic, powerful rusher. I hear he’s got a really talented son coming up through the football ranks too. Obviously, that kid is a lock for Notre Dame. Wait, what’s that?" - Pete

16.02 (Subway Domer) - Carlyle Holiday, WR

"Yes, my starting 2 WR's are former QB's that made the switch. Both Battle and Holiday have more NFL playing time than quite a few of the other picks at WR in this draft. The Floyd-god doesn't count." - Subway Domer

16.03 (WeNeverGraduate) - Deke Cooper, FS

"I've pondered taking him the last three rounds and luckily he's still around. Cooper came to campus as a wideout, but when coaches found out he was capable of nearly decapitating ball carriers they shifted him to safety where he flourished. The reality is that Deke was capable of lowering the boom like few other Domers over the past two decades. Of course all Irish fans remember him leveling Mike Cloud at the goal line on fourth down to beat BC, but some may forget Cooper was an incredibly fierce hitter that made receivers think twice about stretching out for that ball over the middle." - Mattare

16.04 (Her Loyal Sons) - Lance Legree, DT

"Criminally under appreciated at ND." - domer_mq

16.05 (Domer Law) - Anthony Fasano, TE

16.06 (UHND) - David Givens, WR

"I will gladly take Givens as my #2 wide receiver. Givens was horribly underused by Bob Davie and company during his Notre Dame career and his NFL success, before knee injuries derailed his career, are a testament to that. Givens is a great complement to Rocket Ismail." - Frank

- - - - - - - - - -

I decided it was time to show a little love to the aerial attack in rounds 13 and 14. First I found Michael Floyd a partner in crime with the clutch and explosive Lake Dawson. He was a three year starter from '91-'93 and the favorite target of both Rick Mirer and Kevin McDougal. His reliable hands and ability to stretch the field deep provide a nice complement to big #3 on the opposite side.

Now I know the pool of talent at tight end is actually really deep, but I thought it was worth using a pick at this point to ensure I got one that was both an effective receiver and a bruising run blocker. Irv Smith was both in spades. Upon completion of his career at ND he was a first rounder in the NFL Draft and left behind this phenomenal clip that served as warning to any defensive back who was thinking they could tackle him by himself (or even with just one other person).

Beast mode.

Of course I couldn't go three offensive picks in a row so I shifted back to defense for the next two rounds. The talent pool at defensive end is just about empty at this point so I feel fortunate Brian Hamilton fell into my lap this late.

Hamilton was a team captain and multi-year starter who played inside and outside on the defensive front. Picking him means I have three of the four starters from the 1993 squad, which I couldn't draw up much better.

I sweated out the next couple picks because I had this terrible feeling Pete was going to poach the guy I'd been torn on taking with each of my last four selections: Deke Cooper. He's a big safety (6'2", 220lbs) with great range and a penchant for bone-rattling hits. Opponents' receivers will grow a whole lot of alligator arms knowing that Deke is prowling over the middle.

And if it ever comes down to a goal line situation, we all know he can lower the boom in a tight area...

Irish Fantasy Draft: Rounds 11 & 12

2011-03-09T05:49:00.000-08:00

The picks are coming in fast and furious. Here's the recap from the 11th and 12th rounds.

11.01 (UHND) – Darius Fleming, OLB

"This might be a bit of a reach, but in looking for an OLB to start opposite Bert Berry it’s slim pickings. Fleming has led the Irish in tackles for loss the past two seasons and led the team with 6 sacks in 2010. A similar season campaign in 2011 and Fleming will end his career in the top 5 TFL all time at Notre Dame." - Frank

11.02 (Domer Law) - Brandon Hoyte, LB

11.03 (Her Loyal Sons) - Kyle McCarthy, S

"First DB in ND history to tally more than 100 tackles in a single season. Oh those were good times." - domer_mq

11.04 (WeNeverGraduate) - Gary Gray, CB

"Time to get Awesome Rossum some company in the secondary. This may seem like a bit of a reach to some, but the reality is that Gary Gray is the best cover corner of the last ten years not named Shane Walton. Throw in the fact that he's a phenomenal tackler from that position and it's a no-brainer." - Mattare

11.05 (Subway Domer) - Darrin Walls, CB

"The formation of my defensive backfield is complete. You will bow down and fear me." - Subway Domer

11.06 (Irish Illustrated) - Courtney Watson, LB

"Watson led Notre Dame in tackles as a junior and senior, earning some All-American notice before getting picked in the second round of the draft. Aside from Te’o, he’s also one of the few Irish linebackers with legitimate speed in the past decade. Watson gives my team a boost of athleticism at linebacker." - Pete

12.01 (Irish Illustrated) - Jordan Black, OT

"I’ve got to add to the offensive line and some point, so why not do it with a four-year starter who can play guard or tackle? Black was a solid offensive lineman throughout his Irish career and gives my team a reliable cog on the front. Black’s mean streak doesn’t hurt his cause." - Pete

12.02 (Subway Domer) - Rocky Boiman, OLB

"Boiman was a non-stop terror for the Irish, and he went on to have a 7 year career in the NFL. If you knew nothing else of Boiman, you have to know that he rocked out to Metallica before every game. The announcers were obsessed with this, and rarely failed to mention as much every Saturday... on NBC, at least." - Subway Domer

12.03 (WeNeverGraduate) - Anthony Denman, LB

"Denman is often one of the most overlooked defensive stars of the past two decades, but anyone who has vivid memories of the 2000 Nebraska game remembers the beating he laid on Eric Crouch on what seemed like every other play. He lettered all four years, started his last two, and in his final season led the team in tackles, tackles for a loss, and forced fumbles. His quickness and aggressiveness are going to be perfect alongside Michael Stonebreaker in the front seven." - Mattare

12.04 (Her Loyal Sons) - Rhema McKnight, WR

"...pre-knee injury, if I may. Definitely in my top-5 all time "oh what might have been..." - domer_mq

12.05 (Domer Law) - Ryan Leahy, G

12.06 (UHND) - John Merandi, C

"Merandi often gets overlooked by his successor, Jeff Faine, but Merandi was no sloutch as a two year starter. Merandi also started along side an earlier pick of mine, Mike Gandy." - Frank

- - - - - - - - - -

I felt I couldn't wait any longer to lock up another cornerback because to say the pickings become slim would be an understatement on par with "the loss to Southern Cal and '05 was disappointing" and "The Day After Tomorrow's plot had some holes." Gary Gray had a couple lowlights last season (it's tough to forgive him for completely giving up on that pass over his head against Navy), but by and large he was incredibly consistent and productive.

Gray is a ferocious tackler with pretty good ball skills, especially when you compare him to what we're used to seeing this decade. I think there's a legitimate chance that he plays himself into the 2nd-3rd round range of the NFL Draft this year and clearly establishes himself as the best Irish cornerback in almost ten years. I'm very comfortable pairing him with Rossum; I have a hunch if we held this draft at the end of the 2011 season that Gray we be long gone at this point.

In round 12 I locked down one of the most underrated linebackers in Irish history, Anthony Denman. Ol' #39 was a key cog in a strong Bob Davie defense, a hard-hitting, sound tackler that was a captain and MVP of the entire team his senior season.

I was tempted to pass on Denman because Michael Stonebreaker already occupies the middle linebacker position in my 4-3 alignment, but he's got plenty of experience on the outside from when he back up Kory Minor his first two years on campus. There's a good chance he never would have budged had ND not been so starved for middle linebackers after Bobbie Howard and Jimmy Friday graduated. He's proven before he has no problem shifting positions for the good of the team so outside linebacker it is.

With Denman and Stonebreaker lying in waiting behind my rock solid front line it's going to be damn near impossible to move the ball against my defense. We're looking prettaaaaaay, prettaaaaaay, prettaaaay good!

Irish Fantasy Draft: Rounds 9 & 10

2011-03-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

The Draft is picking up some steam and we've plowed through a couple rounds this afternoon. Onward!

9.01 (UHND) - Jarious Jackson, QB

"I'll end the game of chicken WNG and I are playing at quarterback and take Jackson here. I had figured I would be fine with either Jackson or Kevin McDougal, but in looking at the stats, Jackson's numbers are far more impressive. Jackson also worked with a lot less talent and worse coaching but still was able to lead the Irish on some wild comebacks in his career. With Jackson I now have a mobile quarterback that can still sling it over the field. Pretty happy to land Jackson this late." - Frank

9.02 (Domer Law) - Maurice Stovall, WR

"Sometimes overshadowed by Samardzija and Tate, MoSto put up some pretty impressive numbers over his career at Notre Dame as well. This is going to be one prolific offense." - Wacko

9.03 (Her Loyal Sons) - Kyle Rudolph, TE

"Because, HOLY CRAP KYLE RUDOLPH IS STILL AVAILABLE." - domer_mq

9.04 (WeNeverGraduate) - Todd Norman, OT

"Time to give big Aaron Taylor some company up front. Todd Norman was a versatile lineman who started at guard and paved the way for Brooks and Bettis on the '92 squad and then moved outside to play bookend opposite Taylor for the '93 campaign. If you look back at Jeff Burris's touchdown runs in the game against Florida State, you'll notice he went into the endzone nearly untouched running off right tackle both times. Why did that happen? Because Norman sealed the hole and FLATTENED the defensive lineman on each play. Get used to that sight, it'll be common on this team." - Mattare

9.05 (Subway Domer) - John Carlson, TE

"This was supposed to be the pick where I grabbed Rudolph. Somehow, I'm not all that pissed off." - Subway Domer

9.06 (Irish Illustrated) - Glenn Earl, S

"Not only do I get a heady safety in Earl, I get a special teams weapon at the back of my secondary. I was torn on whether I liked Gerome Sapp or Glenn Earl more with this pick, but with Sapp already off the board this was an easy pick. Earl should keep my defense in good position." - Pete

10.01 (Irish Illustrated) - Brock Williams, CB

"Three-year starter at cornerback and one of the better defensive backs on the board, Williams helps push my secondary toward completion. Williams brings attitude to the defense as well. He’ll start opposite Tom Carter on the other side of the defense, giving me two high quality corners." - Pete

10.02 (Subway Domer) - Lyron Cobbins, MLB

"Big, physical inside linebacker. Cobbins was a 3rd team ALL-American his senior year. He wore a dark visor and had a single digit number (#6) as a linebacker. I'm blushing." - Subway Domer

10.03 (WeNeverGraduate) - Dusty Zeigler, G/C

"I'm going to continue building up the offensive line with the versatile and reliable Dusty Zeigler. He was a multi-year starter for the Irish and a captain his senior year. His ability to play guard and center gives me some flexibility in the next couple rounds depending on how the picks play out and gives me three strong pillars up front to pave the way for Reggie." - Mattare

10.04 (Her Loyal Sons) - Matt Shelton, WR

"Because, look at him, 5 foot nothin', a hundred and nothin', and he finished 6th among all-time Irish footballers in career yards per reception at 18.9 ypc, with an astounding 40 yards/TD reception rate. HOME RUN." - domer_mq

10.05 (Domer Law) - Ryan Roberts, DE

10.06 (UHND) - Tony Driver, FS

"Driver was one of the best pure athletes to come through Notre Dame in the last 20 years. Had Bob Davie not decided to flip him back and forth between offense and defense Driver would have been an All American safety. Driver is still the only Notre Dame player to ever return 2 fumbles for touchdowns in the same game (Navy 2000)." - Frank

- - - - - - - - - -

I felt it was time to sure up the offensive line and ensure that I'd be dominating the line of scrimmage on each side of the ball. Norman is someone that many fans won't remember, but when you read up on the '93 squad it's not just Aaron Taylor receiving the praise--it's the trio of Taylor, Norman, and Tim Ruddy. Fellow offensive lineman Mark Zataveski commented that they were "the core of the team...you can run anything behind those three guys."

And run behind them I will...

With my bookend tackles taken care of it was time to sure up the interior of the line. Dusty Zeigler started at center as a junior and guard as a senior. If you need a reminder of how effective he was just take a look at the yards per carry statistics of the fullbacks he paved a path for in the triple option. In '94 Ray Zellars went for 5.9 per carry while a year later Mark Edwards rumbled for 5.1. When's the last time an Irish running back averaged 5+ yards per carry, let alone a fullback?!?

Zeigler's versatility gives me the option of plugging him into the lineup at either guard or center depending on who becomes available during the rest of the draft, a nice luxury and the talent pool gets more and more shallow. The construction of the line is not complete, but I've got some great pieces to work with moving forward.

Irish Fantasy Draft: Rounds 7 & 8

2011-03-08T06:50:00.000-08:00

We're back from a weekend hiatus with rounds seven and eight. The ticker should now updated as well.

7.01 (UHND) - Trevor Laws DE

"My team certainly has bigger needs, but I am going to secure another player at a position where Notre Dame has lack playmakers over the last 20 years. Laws 100+ tackle season in 2007 was absurd and he will team very nicely with Anthony Weaver on my defensive line." - Frank

7.02 (Domer Law) - Autry Denson, RB

"I'm amazed nobody has picked the most productive running back in the past 20 years, so I'm going to do that right now." - Wacko

7.03 (Her Loyal Sons) - Mike Rosenthal, OT

7.04 (WeNeverGraduate) - Reggie Brooks, RB

"My squad is going to be committed to running the ball early and often so I'll snatch up a guy who averaged a staggering 8.0 yards per carry his senior season. The only player to average more in ND history? George Gipp (8.1ypc). That's not bad company to be in." - Mattare

7.05 (Subway Domer) - Ray Zellars, FB

"Super Beast Mode." - Subway Domer

7.06 (Irish Illustrated) - Derrick Mayes, WR

"I’m having a hard time believing Mayes is still on the board at the end of round seven, so I’m going to add him to my receiving corps that already includes Golden Tate. Mayes could have put up numbers comparable to Tate and Michael Floyd if he played in a more modern Irish offense. Now he will." - Pete

8.01 (Irish Illustrated) - Tim Ruddy, C

"I’ve got to make a play for an offensive lineman at some point, so I’m starting with genius center Tim Ruddy. All the guy did was start on the ’92 and ’93 teams while carrying a 4.0 grade point average both years. A 10-year NFL career followed. My team shouldn’t have any trouble calling out protection schemes." - Pete

8.02 (Subway Domer) - Gerome Sapp, S

"Sapp will be the perfect companion to Burris. Sapp was one of the more underrated players for the Irish in the past 20 years." - Subway Domer

8.03 (WeNeverGraduate) - Jim Flanigan, DT

"I'm continuing the defensive avalanche and picking up the perfect cog to stick next to Bryant Young on the interior of my 4-3 front. Flanigan and BY were both 10+ sack guys in the NFL and will provide a dynamic pass rush right up the gut of the opposing offense. Jim will be ready to strike another SI cover pose with the same caption after this team takes the top spot." - Mattare

8.04 (Her Loyal Sons) - Kory Minor, LB

8.05 (Domer Law) - Vontez Duff, CB

"The first player in ND history to return an interception, kickoff, and punt for a touchdown in the same season. Plus, a hell of a cornerback." - Wacko

8.06 (UHND) - Mike Gandy, G

"It is about time I pick an offensive lineman and I'll start with the Buffalo Bills 3rd round pick in 2001 NFL Draft. Gandy was the Guardian of the Year in 2000 and was one mean, tough lineman who will anchor the interior OL on this squad." - Frank

- - - - - - - - - -

Still very pleased with how my squad is shaping up. The talent pool at running back is pretty deep so it's tempting to wait awhile to grab one, but I couldn't imagine the guy who averaged eight yards per carry would be around much longer so it was time to make a move. A lot of people may forget just how good Reggie Brooks.

Sure, everyone remembers the catch in the back of the endzone to win the Snow Bowl over Penn State and the touchdown against Michigan where he was knocked unconscious (he also showed us during that run that Corwin may not be the best person to coach players on how to tackle). But those were just two plays and this guy averaged EIGHT YARDS PER CARRY!

Come on, let's go to the tape. Pay close attention to the 58 second mark when he finds and hits a crease between three members of the Southern Cal secondary and gets through it so quickly they don't even get a hand on him.

So beautiful that it brings a damn tear to the eye.

With my 8th rounder I scooped up Jim Flanigan, a relentless, athletic tackle who also happened to be Bryant Young's running mate on the interior during the 1993 campaign. The duo terrorized defenses and made life a living hell for Charlie Ward in 1993's Game of the Century against Florida State.

My goal going into this draft was to put together a defensive line that would dominate any offensive line another owner threw out there. We'll, we're a little over a quarter of the way through the draft and I've already locked down the #1 and #3 defensive tackles on my board as long as the #2 defensive end. So far so good if I do say so myself...

Irish Fantasy Draft: Rounds 5 & 6

2011-03-04T20:05:00.000-08:00

The owners' teams are starting to take shape. By email, by text, by fax, and by telegram the picks continue to flood into Fantasy Draft Headquarters. Here's the picks and analysis for rounds five and six.

5.01 (UHND) - Bert Berry OLB

"Sticking on the defensive side of the ball I wanted to add some pass rush skills and Berry fits the bill perfectly. Notre Dame has not had many great OLB in the last 20 years, but Berry was great in 1996 with a team leading 10 sacks. The lack of other great pass rushing OLB at ND from the last two decades pushed me to draft Berry maybe a little higher than I would have liked, but with Weaver, Berry, and Lyght on my defense I have a very solid foundation." - Frank

5.02 (Domer Law) - Demetrius DuBose, LB

"It's time to start building up my defense a bit more, since I know I'll be scoring points in bunches." - Wacko

5.03 (Her Loyal Sons) - Ron Powlus, QB

"Good luck to those of you without a QB picked." - domer_mq

5.04 (WeNeverGraduate) - Renaldo Wynn, DE

"A big part of me wants to pick one of the three quarterbacks I had rated substantially higher than Powlus just because, but I'll resist (little known fact: Powlus was an understudy in the movie Happy Feet...his feet were happier than the lead, it just turned out he wasn't a penguin). The building of a dominant defense continues with ND's last defensive lineman to be picked in the first round. Young and Wynn up front with Stonebreaker patrolling behind them? Matty likey..." - Mattare

5.05 (Subway Domer) - Grant Irons, DE

"Grant is going to play defensive end for the Subway Domer Disciples. His versatility plays an important part." - Subway Domer

5.06 (Irish Illustrated) - Rick Mirer, QB

"I can’t believe Mirer is still sitting on the board at the end of this round and he won’t be there when my next two picks come around, so I’m going with the guy who captained the ’92 team and went on to be the second pick in the NFL Draft. The guy won 29 games in three years, an Orange Bowl and a Sugar Bowl. Winning." - Pete

6.01 (Irish Illustrated) - Victor Abiamiri, DE

"It’s getting late for quality defensive ends in this draft, so I’m grabbing Abiamiri to stick next to Zorich on the defensive line. The guy was a specimen and three-and-a-half year starter for the Irish who finished with 20 sacks. He gets lost in the stardom of Justin Tuck, but Abiamiri actually went higher in the draft." - Pete

6.02 (Subway Domer) - Julius Jones, RB

"I had thought that I would wait a few more rounds before I grabbed a full-time running back, but I have missed put on a few players that I had circled and I don't want JJ to be another one. Jones is an explosive back that when given the rock on a consistent basis, he proved he could stack up the yards and TDs. Jones is also a dangerous kick returner. Deuce, deuce!!!" - Subway Domer

6.03 (WeNeverGraduate) - Allen Rossum, CB

"We continue loading up on the defensive side of the ball with the best cornerback available, Allen "Awesome" Rossum. He was a multi-year starter at cornerback and a dynamic, record breaking returner that adds speed, speed, and more speed to my squad." - Mattare

6.04 (Her Loyal Sons) - Marc Edwards, FB

"I play my football with a fullback." - domer_mq

6.05 (Domer Law) - Tom Zbikowski, S

""I'm at Bengal Bouts right now so it's only fitting that I draft the baddest ballhawk/boxer in Notre Dame History." - Wacko

6.06 (UHND) - Shawn Wooden, CB

"With only a few solid corners left, I wanted to make sure I had a pair of great corners patrolling the secondary. Wooden was a great corner for the Irish in the mid 90's and made one of the most memorable plays in the last 20 years by knocking down Charlie Ward's final pass in the '93 classic with FSU." - Frank

- - - - - - - - - -

What wins championships? Defense. And through six rounds I've got the makings of a damn good one.

In rounds five and six I grabbed Renaldo Wynn to be one of the bookends of my 4-3 defense and Allen Rossum to lockdown a cornerback position. I feel as if Wynn is overlooked by most Irish fans and at least not remembered as fondly as guys like Justin Tuck, Victor Abiamiri, and Grant Irons. Fact of the matter is he registered 19.5 sacks over the course of his career and to date is the last Notre Dame defensive lineman drafted in the first round.

(Aaron Lynch will be changing that in a couple years, but Renaldo will carry that title at least a little while longer.)

To refresh everyone's memories on just how good Wynn was in college, let's go to Dr. Lou. This is a quote from Holtz during an interview in 1996, Renaldo's final season at Notre Dame:

"He's the aircraft carrier of the defense. They know one thing -- when we go out there, there isn't anybody who's going to knock Renaldo Wynn off the line, nobody is going to be able to block him one on one. And when Renaldo says something people listen, including the coaches."

That's pretty high praise from the Little General. The trenches are where games are decided. Heading into battle with Bryant Young and Renaldo Wynn leading the charge is a pretty good position to be in if you ask me.

With the second pick I snatched up Rossum, far and away the best cornerback left on the board. He was a three year starter during a time where the Irish weren't on short supply of solid cornerbacks. When he'd wrapped up his career, Rossum had snared seven interceptions and returned three of them for touchdowns.

He was also fast. Real fast. How fast? He broke Rocket's 55-meter indoor track record. That fast.

While no Notre Dame fan would argue Rossum was a more explosive returner than Rocket, there's certainly a legitimate argument that he was equally as productive. Awesome Rossum returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in his career, averaging 30.7 yards per return whenever the opponent was dumb enough to test him. His punt return numbers weren't too shabby either: three more touchdowns and a 15.8 yard average.

The nine total touchdown returns (3 kickoff, 3 punt, 3 interception) set the NCAA record. He also ran back a blocked PAT but that doesn't even count for the record books. The bottom line is that he had a nose for the endzone. And he was fast. Lightning fast.

Unfortunately YouTube let me down and only has one of his returns available to enjoy. I suppose--as the Texas Tornados so wisely said--a little bit is better than nada. Enjoy!

Irish Fantasy Draft: Rounds 3 & 4

2011-03-03T20:51:00.000-08:00

The draft rolls on! For the results of round one and two click here.

3.01 (UHND) - Jerome Bettis, FB

"Thought about going defense again here, but it was too hard to pass up Bettis with this pick. Bettis will play RB in my offense and will give me the flexibility to play FB if I want to get Rocket some carries out of the backfield." - Frank

3.02 (Domer Law) - Ryan Harris, OT

3.03 (Her Loyal Sons) - Jeff Faine, C

"Badass." - domer_mq

3.04 (WeNeverGraduate) - Michael Floyd, WR

"I'm sticking on the offensive side of the ball for round three and snatching up a guy who will have rewritten the entire receiving record book at Notre Dame when all is said and done. Of course I refer to one Michael Floyd, the most impressive physical specimen to ever line up out wide for the Irish. He's proven in three years that it doesn't matter who is throwing him the ball, he's going to go up and get it and likely drag a couple defenders for a ride once he comes down." - Mattare

3.05 (Subway Domer) - Bobby Taylor, CB

"None of you are going to be able to throw the ball on the Subway Domer Disciples. Believe that." - Subway Domer

3.06 (Irish Illustrated) - Golden Tate, WR

"After going defense with my first two picks, I need a playmaker and Tate has Rocket-type versatility as my starting wide receiver, punt returner, kick returner and Wildcat back. Plus, Tate is a legitimate deep threat to bust the lid off opposing defenses. Sure Floyd, might drag a couple defenders along for the ride, but those same defensive backs won't get a hand on Tate. If he'd stuck around for his senior season, this is Notre Dame's most prolific wide receiver of all time." - Pete

4.01 (Irish Illustrated) - Tom Carter, CB

"Getting back to the defensive side of the ball with this elite cornerback who was a first round pick back in '92. There are bigger names in the secondary during the past 20 years, but Carter provides a lockdown defensive back for my defense. Obviously the genes are good as Brian Kelly offered a scholarship to his son, Alex Carter." - Pete

4.02 (Subway Domer) - Luke Petitgout, OT

"Hogs are needed along the trenches, and this former Irish tackle was one of the best to come out of South Bend in the last 20 years. His name means "petite gout-lover" in Portuguese." - Subway Domer

4.03 (WeNeverGraduate) - Michael Stonebreaker, LB

"Pete said when he picked Te'o that there was a significant drop off at the position after Manti. I have to respectfully disagree. National championship pedigree? Check. All-american? Check. Clutch performer? Check. Tough as nails? Check. Great in coverage and run support? Check. Greatest name for a linebacker in history? Check. Stonebreaker bows to no Hawaiian." - Mattare

4.04 (Her Loyal Sons) - Shane Walton, CB

4.05 (Domer Law) - Mirko Jurkovic, OG

4.06 (UHND) - Anthony Weaver, DE

"When Tuck was selected I debated which DE I would go after and ended up targetting the 2001 Team MVP and 2002 2nd Round Draft pick. I thought about other DE's here but Weaver's guady 21 tackles for loss in 2001 and 42 in his career - both good enough for 2nd all time at Notre Dame - pushed him ahead of the pack. Weaver is a big DE who can move inside if necessary who will anchor my DL." - Frank

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I think the instant analysis pretty much covers the entirety of my feelings on the Stonebeaker pick, but the Michael Floyd analysis does little to articulate how much I went back and forth on that pick. The two I was waffling between were Floyd and Bobby Taylor, a lockdown corner in a 20-year stretch where lockdown corners were few and far between in the South Bend. There were three things that pushed me to ultimately choose offense over defense in this instance.

First, there's the fact that Michael Floyd is a touchdown machine. He's averaged just a shade under a touchdown per game for his entire career, a mind-blowing statistic. It doesn't matter who is throwing him the ball--Clausen, Crist, Rees, whoever--he finds a way to come down with it.

The second reason is the because he is an absolutely devastating run blocker. If you go back and look at a lot of the big gains the Irish had on the ground this year on the edge you'll find #3 making a key block in many of them. If I ultimately end up going with an offense based heavily on the run (which is probable given the fact that the only two pure passers ND has had since Beuerlein are off the board) then he's going to be an incredibly valuable asset whether the play call is pass or run.

The final reason is that Floyd is the type of leader I want on this team. Coach Kelly has called him the hardest worker he's seen since he's been in coaching, which is a scary thought since he also happens to be one of the most physically gifted receivers in all of college football. Also let's not forget that Floyd had a legitimate opportunity to go pro after his junior season and choose to stay around. Bobby Taylor bolted for the NFL a year early.

I wanted those touchdowns, that willingness to do the dirty work, and that relentless work ethic. When I pulled the trigger I felt comfortable knowing the (soon to be) most prolific wide receiver in school history would help spearhead the WNG offense no matter who ended up under center.