Sun Bowl Prediction

The Notre Dame vs. Miami Sun Bowl matchup might very well resemble Notre Dame’s last regular season game against the Trojans of Southern Cal. Notre Dame will try to pressure the errant Jacory Harris into his habit of poor decision making, and will need to focus on stopping the dominant, diverse running game that the Hurricanes will try to tire the Irish defense with.

Offensively, Irish fans should expect to see a tough, physical defense, with a Miami front 4 that may be even stronger than that of the Trojans. Miami also boasts the nation’s #2 passing defense, holding opposing quarterbacks to just under 50% completion rates. Tommy Rees has shown good composure and remains confident even after tough series, so one should not be worried about the imposing defense getting into the young starter’s head. The USC game was a solid warm-up for Rees who has had a month to work on his mistakes and improve his game and vision. The recent dominance of rugged Robert Hughes will allow Notre Dame to set up the pass with his hardnosed downfield runs, taking some of the pressure off of Rees.

In the end, Notre Dame will pull out a strong 34-27 win and have some solid momentum going into Coach Kelly’s second season as the commander of the Fighting Irish.

The Irish Enter Their 16th Big East Season with an Attractive Facelift

Like most Hollywood plastic surgeries, Notre Dame's new form of team-play is a recognizable difference from their appearance on the court in seasons past. Off to one of their most impressive starts in their 106 years of basketball, the #15 ranked Fighting Irish (11-1) will find out over the next week if they can continue their hot streak and hang with the best, as they face 3 top ten teams in 7 days, beginning with #9 Georgetown tonight.

Despite not receiving much love in the pre-season, the Irish have exploded to a #15 ranking, as their unselfish play has allowed all of the team members to shine and for different guys to step up when one of the others is down. This collaborative synergy began last year when star player Luke Harangody was injured, the Irish were sitting at 6-8 in the Big East, and all hopes of the post season were gone. Led by Abromaitis and Hansbrough, the team rallied to earn a bid to the NCAA tournament, and they have been an outstanding 17-3 since. Abromaitis’ post-season struggle and the loss of Harangody and four-year point guard Tory Jackson left bleak thoughts for many about the upcoming season, however, each player has utilized their special skills to redefine themselves or add a new characteristic to their existing game.

Tim as a Rebounder

Photo courtesy of Maggie Kate O'Brien '13

Bouncing back from post-season struggles, Abromaitis has not only been the team’s leading scorer with 16.1 ppg, but has also added a new, greatly appreciated element to his game. Tim has a team-best 90 rebounds, with an average of 7.5 per game. This includes 4 straight games of grabbing at least 8 boards, tying his season high with 11 last game against UMBC. Abromaitis brought down 8 or more rebounds only 4 times last season, but he has eclipsed that mark 7 times already this year. After ending last season shooting only 3-31 from behind the arc, and 4-24 to start play this year, Tim has since hit 20 of his last 45 3 point attempts, bringing his season average to 34.8% from behind the 3 point line. Tim is also shooting 84.1% from the free throw line so far this season.

Carleton as a Top Scorer

Photo courtesy of Maggie Kate O'Brien '13

In addition to his size and inside defensive prevalence, Carleton Scott has found a consistency and strength in his offensive scoring game. Averaging 12.8 points per game, Scott holds the longest double-digit scoring streak for the Irish this season, having put up double figures in each of the past 10 games. Scott has put up 20 or more points twice on the season, and has a team-high 3 double-doubles on the year. Scott has put his wingspan to use as well, with a team-high 23 blocks heading in to the Big East season.

Ben as Starting Point Guard

Photo courtesy of Maggie Kate O'Brien '13

Having been a master from behind the arc last season, Ben has adjusted his game to move from shooting guard to the team’s starting point guard this season. This adjustment has helped him dish out a team-high 48 assists (4 per game) while also being the team’s second leading scorer with 15.3 ppg. Ben has put up double figures a team-best 11 times so far this season, and continues to be a strong defender with 11 steals on the year. Continuing his performance from 3-point land, Hansbrough is shooting 48.5% from behind the arc and has made at least one 3 pointer in his last 16 games.

Nash finds Consistency

Photo courtesy of Maggie Kate O'Brien '13

Nash finds himself in the middle of the pack when it comes to statistics, but his improvement is clearly noticeable and his presence undoubtedly felt on the Irish squad. After shooting 60% from the free-throw line last season, Nash has become more comfortable at the line this season netting 73.2% of his attempts. Nash has increased his points-per-game average from 7.8 ppg last season to the team’s fourth best average of 10.2 scores per game. Nash is also third on the team in assists (35) and rebounds (72). Most impressively, Nash has a team high 27 offensive rebounds, a statistic with which the outside-shooting Irish struggle each season.

Cooley as a Cleanup Man

Photo courtesy of Maggie Kate O'Brien '13

When Cooley comes in off of the bench, Irish fans know that the team’s leading sixth man is about to contribute. Jack is netting an impressive 66.7% of his shots from the floor, including two double-digit scoring games on the year. When one of the starters need a breath, Cooley keeps the offensive rhythm intact while also making his defensive presence known, as he is third on the team with 7 blocks.

Martin Finds the Floor

Photo courtesy of Maggie Kate O'Brien '13

After sitting out his transfer season and being out with an ACL injury for the entirety of last year, Scott Martin has finally been able to contribute to Notre Dame Basketball. Martin is heading into the Big East season on a high note, coming off of a career high 3 three-point makes on 5 attempts against UMBC. His last performance matched his season high with 15 points in the game, eclipsing double digits for the fourth time this season. The Irish will look for Martin to continue his recent successes and hopefully become the fifth Irish player to average in the double-digits in points-per-game.

Atkins Came Ready to Play

Photo courtesy of Maggie Kate O'Brien '13

Freshman point guard Eric Atkins has made his presence known right away as he is averaging 7.2 ppg and is second on the team with 42 assists. When Hansbrough needs a breath or the Irish need him to concentrate on his 3-point game, Atkins picks up right where the senior starter left off. Averaging 27.4 minutes per game, Atkins has a team-best 3.0 assist to turnover ratio, and even tied Carleton Scott for top-scorer against Wisconsin. The freshman is continuing to gain confidence in both his distribution and shooting with each passing game, and it will be interesting to see who will be the starting point guard at season’s end.

Unselfishness

Notre Dame's new unselfish play can be seen in many forms, including four starters averaging double-digit points in every game, with four different Irish players leading the team in scoring in a game this season. The Irish also boast an average 18.7 assists per game, a mark that is third in the Big East and seventh in the nation. The Irish play as a team in all aspects of the game, even on the boards, where the players embrace Tim Abromaitis as the unexpected leader off the glass. Tellingly, the Irish have only been outrebounded once this season, and that resulted in a loss to Kentucky.

Keys to Success

Although sharing the wealth and “ham-and-egging” it really well this season, the Irish will need to focus on consistency from the free-throw line and on the boards if they want to have a successful Big East season. In seasons past, the Notre Dame's lack of success in rebounds led to many second, third, or even fourth attempt shots that kept other teams in games that the Irish should have run away with. So far this season, the Irish boast a +10.2 rebound margin, including a 152-117 edge on offensive boards. This statistic needs to hold true against the Big East big men if the Irish want to continue their winning ways.

The Irish have made 74 more free throws than their opponents have had attempts so far this season, shooting 73.8% from the line. This is a statistic that needs to hold strong and hopefully improve as the Irish enter Big East play, as their will be a lot of fouls called on both teams, and the leading free-throw shooting team will often come out victorious. As seen against Kentucky, the one time the Irish let themselves be outrebounded the Irish returned to South Bend with their only loss of the season. By controlling the game, especially in aspects completely in one’s control (free-throw shooting) the Irish will find themselves victorious more times than not this season.

Georgetown

Despite holding a 14-12 series lead over Notre Dame, the Hoyas have lost the last two times they have faced the Fighting Irish. Last season, the Irish won 78-64 in D.C. In a similar matchup in 2009, the last time the Hoyas traveled to South Bend, the #13 Irish defeated the #9 ranked Georgetown team 73-67 in Purcell Pavilion. Let’s hope for similar results tonight, as the Irish look to win their fifth straight Big East opener.

Note:

Keep in mind, the Irish have quite possibly the hardest beginning to a Big East season that anyone has ever faced. Winning one out of the next three games should be considered a victory in every fan's mind, and winning any more than that is an incredible sign for the rest of the season. As seen last year, the Irish can close the regular season strong, and every early win is just positive momentum and extra confidence for this strong Irish team.

GO IRISH!

Irish Blogger Gathering: Hyundai Sun Bowl Edition

Thanks to Subway Domer for taking charge of the Irish Blogger Gathering: Sun Bowl Edition. The original questions posted by Subway Domer, links to answers written by fellow Fighting Irish bloggers, and an interactive poll that allows all fans to weigh in can be found here.


Q1: What is your biggest “FEAR” going into the bowl game?
a.) Tommy Rees will look like a freshman QB.

b.) Our running game gets shut down.

c.) Jacory Harris decides he is a good player, and proves it.

d.) Losing to a coachless team.

e.) Other.


A1: b.) Our running game gets shut down.

Unless Tommy Rees has aged dramatically over the past month, he will still look like a 12-year-old instead of a freshman QB. All joking aside, he played like a freshman at U$C and we still won when our defense bailed us out. Remember the game winning drive of that game? Kelly "put the fight back in the Fighting Irish" with some good old smash mouth football featuring Robert Hughes as he ran over Trojans left and right. As Kelly has already said, we will need a similar effort in order to beat the Hurricanes, who boast a defense that is ranked second nationally against the pass and first in tackles-for-loss.


Q2. True/False: Michael Floyd and Kyle Rudolph will enter the 2011 NFL draft.


A2: Other

Assuming there will be an NFL draft in 2011, there are still far too many variables to choose a definitive answer at this point. I believe Floyd when he says that he is 100% focused on beating Miami right now, and will weigh his options after the bowl. As for Rudolph, campus rumors have it that he did not enroll in spring classes. Even so, I’m holding on to hope that he will be back in Blue and Gold next year.


Q3. True/False: Duval Kamara did not make the trip for personal reasons. This is very bad.


A3: False

Whatever personal reasons are keeping Kamara out of the game are by definition personal and none of our business. The recently resurgent receiver will be missed, but TJ Jones and Johnny Goodman will be able to step up in his absence.


Q4. Which senior will have the bigger game?

a.) Brian Smith

b.) Harrison Smith

c.) Robert Hughes

d.) Ian Williams


A4: a.) Brian Smith

Not to take anything away from our other senior leaders, but I ran into BSmith at Jamba Juice (best thing to happen to ND since Brian Kelly) and I can tell he is primed to leave a lasting impression in his last game playing for the team and university he has loved his whole life. As Kelly said after the win over U$C, he is also coming off the best performance of his career. Look for #58 to make sure we all remember his name.


Q5. Vegas has us as a 3 point dog.

a.) That’s about right.

b.) They are horribly mistaken.


A5: a.) That's about right.

Nothing good ever comes out of being the slight favorite in a bigtime game. The Notre Dame Football legacy was built off of big wins against favored opponents, and it wouldn't be right to have it any other way as we renew our rivalry with Da U. Plus, Clashmore Mike, our first mascot, was a dog.


Q6. Does Notre Dame NEED this bowl win for a good start to 2011?


A6: YES

Our defense is rolling right now. Our whole team is brimming with confidence. If we can add Miami to our recent kill list of Utah, Army, and U$C then our momentum will carry over into spring practice and fall camp. With this win, the Fighting Irish might never look back.


Q7. Notre Dame will:

a.) win big

b.) win close

c.) lose big

d.) lose close

e.) other


A7: b.) win close

With 15 practices under his belt since the win over U$C, Rees will have learned enough to manage the offense throughout what should turn out to be a tough battle. Look for the Fighting Irish to take control if we can establish the ground game with a one-two punch of Hughes and Wood. Overall, our rejuvenated defense will carry the day with clutch performances out of Brian Smith and Ian Williams, who will both be suited up in Blue and Gold for the last time.


Enjoy the building hype as the Hyundai Sun Bowl approaches, and check back with Irish Creed on December 30 for our final game-notes and score predictions. If you are looking for a great read in the mean time, check out Jeff Carroll's book Perfect Rivals: Notre Dame, Miami, and the Battle for the Soul of College Football.

South Bend v. South Beach: Sun Bowl Preview

Notre Dame WR John Goodman recently tweeted: "Yall could be kings but ya'll chose acamademics!" -quote from a Miami player. And yes, that's how he pronounced "academics." Hahahaha.

Those are bold words coming from a player on a team that has recently found it increasingly difficult to fill the seats of Sun Life Stadium, borrowed from the Miami Dolphins and Florida Marlins for home games.  The 2010 Miami Hurricanes finished with a 3-3 at home, including the first loss to USF in program history which swiftly prompted the firing of head coach Randy Shannnon.  That particular Miami player might need to reconsider his statement since his teammates don’t even seem to be kings of their own castle.  Needless to say, this currently coachless Miami squad is a far cry from the thug-filled teams of the late 80s and early 90s that gave rise to the thug-image associated with “The U” as featured on ESPN’s 30 for 30 series.

Not that Notre Dame coaches, players, or fans should be satisfied with the state of our program considering our own prolific past.  With losses to both Navy and Tulsa, head coach Brian Kelly came under fire from some of the more zealous, irrational, and impatient members of the Fighting Irish fan base during his first year at the helm.  Those same fans seem to be singing a different tune after November wins over Utah, Army, and U$C now that Kelly has his lads poised to ride a swelling wave of momentum to a bowl victory.  A win over Miami in the Hyundai Sun Bowl will be essential to maintaining that momentum throughout the offseason, spring practices, and into next year.

In a press conference on December 18, Kelly commented on the state of Notre Dame Football at the conclusion of his first regular season.  Despite all of the controversy and adversity, much of the same confidence he showed when he first appeared on campus remained.  The most admirable characteristic of his tenure so far has been the unwavering vision he has provided through focus on player development, winning in November, and “getting the defense right.”  In terms of player development, he pointed to the tremendously improved play of almost-forgotten seniors Robert Hughes, Brian Smith, and Duval Kamara.  With only one year under Kelly’s system, these players elevated their games out of the ruts they had previously been stuck in and all three have contributed significantly to our November winning streak.  Just imagine the type of players they could have developed into with four years under the Kelly system.  There is no limit to the potential that can be unlocked by our current players with 2, 3, or 4 more years of eligibility, as long as they come to play every day for the right reasons.

Kelly’s most telling quote during the press conference came during his discussion of offensive tackle Taylor Dever and his passion for the game:  “Let me put it this way, we have some guys that play because there’s 81,000 in that stadium.  Most of our guys would play if not one fan showed up for the game.  Those are the guys that I want… We had too many guys here that were interested in the walk from the Basilica, wearing the Notre Dame helmet, and running out before 81,000.  That can’t be your prime reason for being at the University of Notre Dame.  Now, we’ve changed a lot of that…”

If that quote, reminiscent of the “Irish Creed” that Kelly posted on the wall of the locker room when he arrived, serves as an indicator of where Notre Dame Football is headed, the Fighting Irish Faithful should start preparing now for one hell of a return to glory.

Even though the South Bend v. South Beach matchup on the last day of 2010 does not have the flare that it did during the height of the Catholics v. Convicts rivalry which peaked in 1988 with the “Brawl Miami” game in Notre Dame Stadium (brilliantly recalled by Rocket Ismail here) it represents a first-look at the rejuvenation of our program and a prelude to a reshaped rivalry.

The announcement that Notre Dame and Miami would begin a three-game series two years from now in Chicago’s Soldier Field brought much attention and excitement when it became official this past summer.  Not only does the Sun Bowl provide a prequel, but it also presents tremendous opportunities for both programs.  For one, both teams have been awarded with 15 bonus practices between the end of the regular season and the bowl.  For the Hurricanes, it’s a chance to show off a defense that ranks second nationally in pass efficiency and first in tackles-for-loss.  For the Fighting Irish, the prospect of building upon the confident play of our newfound defense and adding an impressive win to a schedule that was recently ranked by the NCAA as the toughest in the nation (with every opponent besides Purdue and U$C appearing in a bowl) has coaches, players, and fans more than excited.  For those who will be travelling to El Paso, and the millions more across the nation watching on CBS, hopefully it will offer a great way to welcome in the new year with a victory celebration.

Merry Christmas from Irish Creed

The Fall of Troy: Revisited

Wow… They weren’t joking about that whole law school finals thing.  A lot has happened in the land of the Fighting Irish since I last had a chance to put together a real post, so before we jump into hype for the South Bend v South Beach matchup on New Year’s Eve (not exactly Catholics v Convicts anymore) I feel like I need to celebrate the fact that NOTRE DAME FINALLY BEAT U$C!

The October 2009 loss, agonizing as it was,
made the November 2010 win so much sweeter... brah.

Enough has already been written about “what this win means,” or how lucky we were (I prefer to think of it not as a dropped pass, but a pass deflected by God, who was finally sick of seeing his Mom’s team lose) so I will resort to sharing my own opinion on the matter as a fan and former leprechaun:

What does this win mean?

Tommy Reese, the first Notre Dame quarterback to defeat the mighty men of Troy since Carlyl Holiday did so in 2001, described the win in the only way he could by saying "Words can not do it justice."

In words borrowed from Lou Holtz, Brian Kelly talked about taking pride in the fact that his lads "didn't flinch" against a rival that has tormented all of Notre Dame Nation over most of the past decade.  According to Kelly, "We put the fight back into the Fighting Irish today."

I’d love to say that a win over the Trojans has been a long time coming, but I personally can’t.  Even though it feels like an eternity, the misery only began for me in 2005 with the Bush Push (which, Ironically enough… never happened). 

That legendary game between #9 Notre Dame and #1 U$C was the first college football game I watched after applying to college, and my first experience as a Notre Dame fan.  I’ll always remember exactly where I was and what I was doing during that game.  Actually, I was on a double-date at a bowling alley and I was attempting (unsuccessfully) to divide my attention between the amazing spectacle on TV and my date.  I remember jumping up and down screaming when it appeared as though the Fighting Irish had won, since the students had begun to rush the field and there was no sound on the TV at the bowling alley.  I then watched in disbelief as the officials ushered fans back into their seats and added time back on to the expired clock.  Let’s just say what transpired next ruined the rest of the night not only for every Notre Dame fan watching, but for my date as well…

As a student at Notre Dame, I lived through 3 brutally embarrassing defeats before finally feeling the tide begin to change direction during my senior year.  The stars seemed like they just might align in 2009.  The entire campus breathed “BEAT SC,” and loyal students spent more time hanging up posters, writing on sidewalks, and building a Trojan Horse than they did studying for midterms.  At the Friday night rally, I burst out of the horse sporting a mohawk and Tommy Trojan’s sword (which I broke over my knee) and tens of thousands roared as Rocket Ismail delivered a gospel-like speech that none in attendance will ever forget.  I had never been more amped in my life, and the energy coming from the greened out student section during that game lifted our team to come soaring back within striking distance of our mighty foes late in the second half.  Alas, my dreams of standing atop the north-endzone goalpost as the students tore it down flew out the window when our fourth-and-goal pass fell incomplete.  At that moment, in agonizing pain, I vowed that I would one day witness the fall of Troy.

I did what any traumatized recently-retired leprechaun would do when I decided to live in Southern California with fellow Irish Creed writer FightingIrish1313 during the summer of 2010.  While living behind enemy lines, not only did I visit the soon-to-disappear Heisman trophy belonging to Reggie Bush, but I also left behind a small Irish charm somewhere on their campus, thus putting the dreaded Curse of the Leprechaun on the University of Spoiled Children. (You can read about my SoCal adventure here).

Flash forward to this November, as I arrived in Huntington Beach for Thanksgiving by the ocean where the sign at my hotel read “The word of the day is: STOKED!”  Stoked I was, possibly even hella-stoked, to spend a few days soaking up some cosmic rays in the OC before venturing into a quaint neighborhood known as South Central LA for a rivalry showdown featuring backup quarterbacks starting on both sides.  Hella-stoked for a win… brah.

I must admit that I was impressed with the tailgating scene prior to Senior Night in the Coliseum (whoa… totally sorry for spoiling your big night… brah).  Some creative Californians even hanged an effigy of a leprechaun from a tree, which was lovely.

Once inside the Coliseum, I discovered that most Fighting Irish fans had been relegated to the cheap seats that are literally nowhere near the football field.  Not to worry, because the Trojans failed to fill their own house as expected.  It didn’t take long before we created a cheering section of our own in the corner of the endzone.  More than once, our celebratory cheers and jeers could be heard on the field over the lifeless din of the SoCal crowd.  While the Irish Tricolour flag upon which I had spray-painted “KILL SO CAL” did not amuse those around us, it did spark some energy when I joined the crowd-surfing students in the fourth quarter.  Our small band of faithful fans shared tremendous highs and lows throughout the game, and as the clock hit 00:00 an overwhelming sense of relief swept over us all.  An army of security guards surrounded us to make sure any attempts to rush the field would be thwarted, but we were perfectly content standing arm in arm singing our Alma Mater with smiles on our faces.  As we exited the friendly confines of the Coliseum, we thanked our gracious hosts for the win, and echoes of the Notre Dame Victory March reverberated throughout every hallway.

In reference to the thousands of Cali brahs who showed us the real meaning of the term “fair-weather fan” when they left the game early in droves after finding the blustery 50 degree night far too frigid for their liking, I guess revenge actually is best when served cold (pun intended).  I do respect their loyal fans who stuck it out in a losing effort on Senior Night though, because I’ve been there and done that.  


I left the game excited for the future of the “Greatest Intersectional Rivalry” in college football.  It takes two to tango in a true rivalry, and we haven’t shown enough fight to even make the games interesting as of late.   As one of about 3 Notre Dame fans (and the only one decked out head to toe in bright green) at the 9-0 (the CJ’s of SoCal) after the game, I was a bit surprised at how many Trojan fans approached me with toasts “to the rivalry” (and even more surprised that I escaped with my life after half the SC football team showed up).  If Coach Kelly was right, and the Fall of Troy was a sign that we finally put the fight back into the Fighting Irish, then I’d like to join those Trojan fans by raising a glass “to the rivalry.”

All in all, my ND v SC experience has been an eventful journey, and I am hella-stoked for its continuance now that the drought is over and Kelly’s reign has begun (also hella-stoked to have the Jeweled Shillelagh back in the JACC... brah).

2010 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

FIGHTING IRISH WOMEN'S SOCCER NETS THIRD NATIONAL TITLE

From the opening whistle of the College Cup Championship, it was anyone’s game. Despite the seeming edge of a #1 ranking, Stanford held little advantage over our Irish; who fought and clawed their way to even standing with the Cardinal. As stated by coach Waldrum, “Please have the courage to write that this was the best team in the country, that this wasn’t an upset.” This was the fifth consecutive College Cup appearance for Notre Dame and the third for Stanford; the pressure was on for both teams to finally secure the title. The teams’ performances didn’t disappoint.

Throughout the first 62 minutes the Irish and Cardinal each traded quality looks, only to hit the pipes, send a shot just wide, and witness a few miraculous saves. In the sixty-third minute, the Irish were finally able to capitalize. Junior Melissa Henderson initiated the play with a hard-changing attack up the left side, but got caught up in a few defenders and found herself near the left post without a shot. Trusting her teammates, Henderson dished the ball back near the penalty mark. Freshman forward Adriana Leon pulled out of her run to the far post and looped back to hit a left-footed strike over the outstretched hands of Stanford’s helpless keeper; finding the top of the net with a satisfying swoosh. 

Prior to the match, coach Waldrum prophetically told Leon she would get the game-winner and the team would win the National Championship for the first time since 2004. With the only goal of the match, Leon proved her coach correct and established the Irish as the top team in the nation once again. What did it feel like for the freshman? "I don't think words can describe the feeling," she said. "Best feeling in the world."

With three freshmen in the starting lineup (including Leon) this young, skilled Irish squad has the potential to not only appear in the championship to defend their title next season, but in the many years that follow. Notre Dame Women’s Soccer has officially become one of the strongest, most consistent, and talented programs in the NCAA. With coach Waldrum remaining at the helm, it’s likely to remain that way, with this title being only the third of many to come.         -IrishGirl10