IRISH CREED

Game Preview: Catholics v Criminoles

2011-12-26T15:38:00.002-05:00

With the recent arrests of two FSU football players following unrelated charges of felony-theft, the Champs Sports Bowl has been officially renamed the Catholics vs. Criminoles Classic.

Irish Creed takes a look inside the intriguing matchup that will take place in Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium at 5:30pm ET on December 29:

In response to the news of his players' arrests, FSU head coach Jimbo (Really? He goes by Jimbo?!) Fisher explained away the situation in true Criminole fashion, saying, "Generally, with your team, as you get close to Christmas and the end of a semester and summers, (trouble happens). That's always time when guys get free time and they get antsy and they get going. That's when a lot of times your issues come up a lot of times." After that rambling mess of a soundbyte, he added "...but it should never come up. That's still no excuse for anyone..." Honestly though, I can see where he is coming from because there's nothin' a little ol' Holiday Spirit can't do to turn boredom into felonious intent... at least if you go to FSU...

Game Preview:

ND Offense vs. FSU Defense: Advantage - Criminoles

We've all seen what the Fighting Irish offense can do, (putting up 31 on MSU, 59 on AF, 56 on Navy, and 49 on Maryland) or not do (scoring only 15 and 16 in wins over Pitt and BC) this season. The talent is there and the scheme works when the players execute, but consistency was nowhere to be found in 2011. So what are our chances against an opposing defense that hangs its hat on "speed" and "athleticism" in a way that's reminiscent of the heralded Miami squad that Kelly's offense shredded a year ago in the Sun Bowl? The Criminoles boast a points-against average of 15.2, good enough to rank them 4th in the nation (that stat may be inflated due to a few cupcakes on their schedule, however). Although they haven't given up over 20 points in a game since October, they've shown signs of weakness against top-level speed and well-planned attacks. Luckily, they lean heavily on pure athleticism as they make no attempt to outwit (no surprise there) opponents with complicated defensive schemes. I find it hard to believe that, given all the extra time for preparation, Kelly won't find a way to expose every chink in the mighty Criminole armor come December 29. Look for Floyd to stamp an exclamation point on the end of his already prolific career with over 100 yards and a couple TDs. If Kelly can use misdirection, screens (Theo out of the backfield?! Check, please!), and really cool trick plays none of us can even imagine yet to neutralize FSU's speedy defensive ends, he just may be able to leave the Criminoles scratching their heads when all is said and done. Even so, expect "speed" and "athleticism" to win out on more than just a few occasions throughout the game.

ND Defense vs. FSU Offense: Advantage - Irish

An FSU offense that was highly touted by "experts" prior to the season hasn't come up with much to write home about this year, mustering just enough success to land them at 73rd in the nation. Look for this battle to be won or lost, as most are, in the trenches. The finally-almost-healthy Irish defensive line should be able to exploit a banged-up FSU offensive line that may even have to rely on more than one freshman making the first start of his career. According to inside sources, freshman RT Bobby Hart is suffering from lack of sleep due to recurring nightmares of getting blown up play after play after play by fellow frosh and former FSU commit Aaron Lynch. Oh yeah... and reinforcements? When it comes to the defensive line, the boys in Blue & Gold are back. Coach Mike Elston recently described Stephon Tuitt as "starting to get his mojo back, his swag back" and Ethan Johnson as "if not 100 percent, getting there." Hopefully such welcome additions to a defensive line with plenty of swag already will allow the Irish to get into the backfield early and often, disrupt plays, and force 3rd and long situations. Finally, let's hope Harry Smith going ball-hawk in bowl games against Florida-based teams is a continuing trend...

Special Teams: Advantage - Criminoles

I'm not sure if it's ever justifiable to describe a punter as a "weapon," but FSU's All-American Shawn Powell is as close as they come. Despite his unorthodox rugby-style kicks, the senior with NFL dreams leads the nation in both punting average and net yards per punt. This doesn't bode well for Notre Dame's yawn-inducing punt return unit that consistently takes the overly-safe route by neither attempting to block nor return opponents' punts. Kelly's painfully conservative approach to this aspect of the game has baffled me all season long, and yet again I expect further frustration as field position swings heavily in FSU's favor.

Overall:

This game scares me, which I believe is justified if you look at it on paper. I already drank the Kelly-Kool-Aid a while back though, and I'd follow the man into any battle if he asked. Notre Dame Football needs this win in order to quiet the doubters (read: annoying NDNation message board users) during the offseason so Kelly can do his thing on the recruiting trail and Longo can get to work crafting next year's squad. Call it what you will, brains vs. brawn, "scheming" vs. "athleticism," etc... but I expect this to be an entertaining contest between two extremely different schools with remarkably distinct football programs. When the dust settles, I'm hoping the well-behaved Catholic schoolboys will have dominated the hardened Criminoles while showing the world that the forces of Good still hold sway over Evil.

Plus, I will be attending the game and I plan on extending the victory celebration all the way until New Year's Eve.

In all seriousness, though, the most telling comparison between these two teams goes back to the discussion about recent felonies committed by Criminole players. When FSU players get "antsy" over the holidays they turn to crime. When ND players get "antsy" they do things like this... or even this... Need I say more?

FSU to unveil this limited edition helmet
for use in the Catholics v Criminoles Classic

Merry Christmas from Irish Creed

2011-12-25T22:42:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas from Irish Creed!

Champs Sports Bowl: ND v. FSU

2011-12-04T21:21:00.000-05:00

Coming Soon: Champs Sports Bowl Preview

GO IRISH! BEAT 'NOLES!

Guest Preview: Notre Dame @ Stanford

2011-11-25T11:54:00.002-05:00

In this week's special Thanksgiving Guest Preview, Irish Creed writer IrishGirl10 breaks down the matchup between #6 Stanford and

#22 Notre Dame:

IrishGirl10's Game Preview:

In the words of quarterback Tommy Rees, last Saturday’s win over the Eagles of Boston College “wasn't pretty, it wasn't at times the most successful offense we have had, obviously, but anytime you can get a win this late in November you'll take it.” Considering I would like to forget everything that happened after that beautiful 80-yard opening drive, capped off with a 26-yard scoring rush by Jonas Gray, I will wholeheartedly agree with him and move on. And thus, with the defeat of BC officially in the books, these Irish eyes will turn to the last game of the season and, undoubtedly, the toughest one yet: Stanford.

Going into Saturday, the Cardinal will hold a #6 BCS ranking and a 10-1 record – their only loss at the hands of Oregon. Notre Dame is sitting at #22 and 8-3. The Irish have played 3 ranked teams this year. Though they pulled out a win over Michigan State (#14), they had devastating losses to Michigan (#15) and USC (BCS ineligible, but currently #10 by AP). Arguably USC is the best team the Irish have faced this season, and they walked away with a loss. Stanford, on the other hand, brought the Trojans to triple-overtime and managed to scrape out a win. However, there is more to this upcoming face-off than rankings and records – let’s break it down:

Offense:

For Stanford, this can be summed up in two words: Andrew Luck. Back for another season after rumors of a move to the NFL, Luck dominates every field he steps onto – boasting 2,937 yards and 31 touchdowns thus far this year. Although his Heisman candidacy has recently found itself on unsteady ground, there are many who believe he’s a shoe-in for the award; not to mention he’s already been flagged as the likely first overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Luck may be known for his arm, but Stanford’s rushing attack is equally potent – bolstered by a strong offensive line featuring left tackle Jonathan Martin and right guard David DeCastro. This all amounts to an offense that has scored at least 30 points in each game this year – topping out at 65. Notre Dame’s offense, conversely, has struggled to find consistency (apart from its turnovers). In terms of passing, quarterback Tommy Rees has some phenomenal options: Tyler Eifert, TJ Jones, Theo Riddick (in question due to a hamstring injury), Robby Toma, and, of course, Michael Floyd. Lots of options, however, have often resulted in lots of interceptions – especially when the ball is forced to Michael Floyd, who is rarely, if ever, found in single coverage. The running game, initially a victim of turnovers this season, has come to find steady success in the hands of Jonas Gray and Cierre Wood. Unfortunately for the Irish, Gray is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL last week against Boston College, which effectively halves the rush options and shifts a greater share of the scoring burden onto a rocky pass game.

Advantage: Stanford.

Defense:

Among the better offensive teams they’ve seen this season, the Stanford defense has given up an average of 40 points (ND’s offense averages 32). They have also been known to struggle significantly against the pass - ranking #78 overall in yards allowed per game and tallying only 4 interceptions, both of which will come in handy should the Irish find themselves unable to fill the shoes of Jonas Gray. Their star linebacker Shane Skov (Freshman All-American 2009) is out with an injury, leaving the Cardinal with lineman and 5th year senior Matthew Masifilio as the lone returning starter. Overall, the Cardinal defense is nowhere near the level of its stellar offense. In a stark contrast, the effort of the Irish defense has often directly carried its team to a win – especially when the offense has struggled to put points on the board. They have allowed an average of only 20 points per game this season and in their last four games they’ve managed to keep three of their opponents under this mark. They are in the top thirty for both scoring defense and total defense and have a total of 7 interceptions for 152 yards. Led by Manti Te’o and team captain Harrison Smith, the Irish defense is not to be taken lightly.

Advantage: Notre Dame

With a BCS Berth, Pac-12 Championship, and potential Heisman Trophy on the line, Andrew Luck and the Cardinal won’t go down easy. They are an elite team and on a level above any of the opponents the Irish have faced thus far. In the past two seasons, however, the Irish have caused Luck to experience his lowest passer rating (119.7), been one of only two teams to force more than 1 interception, and held Luck to under 60% completion. In sum, Saturday is going to be a battle determined by Cardinal offense and Irish defense. With an inspired offensive performance and consistent defense, Notre Dame has the potential to squash Cardinal dreams and regain the respect and reputation it deserves as a program.

Fightin' Irish seniors must rise above
in their last regular season game.

TheNDleprechaun's Score Prediction:

While Andrew Luck is undoubtedly the best all-around player the Fightin' Irish will have faced thus far, it will take more than one player to beat the Boys in Blue & Gold. If the beasts along Diaco's defensive front can control the line of scrimmage and shut down the Cardinal running game, then we just may have a chance to throw Luck off his game with a fierce pass rush on 3rd and long situations. Fittingly, the contest should come down to whether our three leaders (Smith, Te'o, Floyd) can rise above the rest in what will probably be the last regular season game any of them ever play for Notre Dame. If Smith and Te'o can neutralize Luck, and Floyd can take control of the game every time he steps on the field similar to the way Golden Tate did last time Notre Dame played at Stanford, we just may be able to keep Kelly unbeaten in the month of November.

In the end, Luck's Cardinal falls prey to the Luck of the Irish: 34-30.

Hopefully the Leprechaun can pump out 34 handstand pushups this year.

Senior Night Pictures

2011-11-20T15:01:00.003-05:00

It may not have been pretty, and it may have cost us our plow-horse, but a win is a win. Especially in November. Especially on Senior Night. With the win, Kelly's Irish now hold a 6-0 record in November over his first two campaigns. Before Kelly? The old Irish won only 6 times over the previous 4 years, including a 1-8 finish during his predecessor's regime.

Saturday night wasn't about statistics, though. It was about the seniors on the field and in the stands. Spirits were high across campus both before and after the game, and the players enjoyed a well-fought contest. I tried to capture some of that atmosphere through photos I took on the field and in the stands. Enjoy:

Senior Night Scrimmage vs. Backup College

2011-11-17T22:27:00.003-05:00

The 24th ranked Fightin' Irish will scrimmage their backups on Saturday evening in front of over 80,000 fans. To the dismay of all those who would rather watch one of the several exciting real games taking place this weekend, the scrimmage will also be broadcast nationally on NBC.

All kidding aside, this ~~rivalry~~ Big Brother vs. Little Brother contest is significant not only because it presents the Fighting Irish with an opportunity to head into their showdown against the mighty Trees of Stanford while riding the momentum of a four-game winning streak, but it will also be the last time several of the boys in Blue in Gold suit up for a game in Notre Dame Stadium.

Due to the lopsided nature of the upcoming matchup, we find it unnecessary to waste your time with needless analysis. Instead, we ask that all Fightin' Irish fans arrive at the game early enough to stand and cheer for all of the seniors who will be running out of that hallowed tunnel one last time. We also ask that you remain standing and cheering throughout the game in order to send the seniors off in true Fightin' Irish fashion as they put on a show in what will be their final act within the House that Rock built.

Breaking News: Unconfirmed rumors coming from @TheNDleprechaun via Twitter: "Could tomorrow really be the last game ever played on real grass in Notre Dame Stadium?! #bringacamera #GoIrish"

This may never happen again, as Saturday could be the last time Notre Dame
ever plays on real grass in the house that Rock built

ND takes DC

2011-11-14T01:47:00.000-05:00

Notre Dame took over Washington D.C. both on and off the field during a weekend that featured a pep rally at the National Mall, a marching band concert on Capitol Hill, and a 45-21 win at FedEx Field that landed the Fightin' Irish back in the Top 25.

Prior to the game, Kelly stressed the need to start strong and display the mental edge that his program has been developing through the thick and thin of a season that has been eventful to say the least. The Boys in Blue and Gold did just that, as Rees showed signs of finally coming into his own by calmly distributing the ball to the arsenal of lethal weapons at his disposal without succumbing to the "self-inflicted wounds" that have plagued much of his season.

Throughout the game, Kelly's offense showed just how dangerous it can be when run with speed and efficiency. As the second half wore on, it became more and more evident that Maryland just couldn't keep up. If we maintain that tempo over the course of our final three games, there isn't a defense in the nation (besides maybe Alabama or LSU) that will be able to shut us down.

After the win, Kelly congratulated his team on the way they converted a tough week of practice into production on the field, adding: "... we're starting to get into that area of winning football games week after week, so the point I'm making to you is this: Don't change what you're doing. Prepare during the week and make Saturdays easy..." If Fightin' Irish fans can put impatience aside just long enough to read between the lines of such statements and take a look at where this team and this program is headed, they should be able to discern the light-years that separate our current regime from the last. Needless to say, I like the charted course we're on, I'm confident in Kelly as our navigator, and I'm excited for the road ahead...

...The next stop on that road brings us back home as the seniors get a chance to go out in style by beating up on our little brother school. Following that final tune-up game, they hit the westward trail to on a mission to chop down the no-longer-unbeaten trees. Last stop? It looks like we'll be popping bottles with Mickey and his gang on New Year's Eve as we celebrate a victory in the Champ Sports Bowl.

Shamrock Series: Washington D.C.

2011-11-11T01:45:00.002-05:00

"You know what the difference is between you and me?
I make this look good."

The Fightin’ Irish might want to borrow Wil Smith’s classic line from "Men in Black" when they take the field against Maryland in Washington D.C. this Saturday. Both teams will be wearing alternate versions of their standard uniforms, with Notre Dame rocking the two colors that all Leprechauns love (Green and Gold), and Maryland featuring the look of their unique state flag split down the center in an ensemble that Harvey Two-Face would be proud to call his own.

These Terps are wearing the same jersey...

Since Maryland lacks any significant sense of football tradition, no one really cares about the ridiculous changes they continue to implement with their uniforms each week. At Notre Dame, on the other hand, so-called “purists” and “traditionalists” of the less-than-enlightened sort tend to exclaim that the end is near every time a single stitch appears contrary to their liking. What these naysayers fail to understand, however, is that shamrocks and holographic helmets do not equate to the end of all tradition. Rather, these uniforms provide a fresh way to celebrate the highly successful “Home Away From Home” games each year while staying true to the FIghtin’ Irish brand. Plus, when viewed in their entirety, these Emerald Green and 24K Gold beauties purvey a sense of badass Fightin’ Irish swagger that should prove to be really really ridiculously good-looking under the lights in FedEx Field. If it’s true that the way you look impacts the way you feel, which in turn impacts the way you play, then the FIghtin’ Irish are going to be really really ridiculously good in all respects on Saturday night.

Putting all bias aside, it's clear to see that Adidas and Notre Dame have outdone UnderArmour and Maryland in this one. You should expect a similar outcome on the scoreboard at the end of the game as well. Here's why:

Defensive Analysis:

Maryland’s offense has enjoyed spurts of success this season by catching defenses off-guard as they utilize a dual-quarterback system. They have shown a lack of consistency against well-prepared opponents, however, and I trust the Notre Dame coaching staff has made sure to take the element of surprise out of the equation, especially considering the talented scout team quarterbacks at their disposal during practice. The Fightin' Irish defense may be pretty banged up, but Ethan’s return will provide the veteran leadership that has been lacking along the line. One area of weakness that may be a cause of concern is the lack of depth along a Fightin’ Irish secondary that will be forced to line up against multiple WR sets early and often. Even so, this should give Jamoris plenty of opportunities to continue his ball-hawk ways from the nickel position. If I was a betting man, I would put some money on another INT for #26. Finally, Manti will continue to assert his presence as the anchor of Diaco’s defense despite being hobbled by an ankle injury.

Offensive Analysis:

Year one of the Randy Edsall era has been less than smooth for the 2-7 T(w)erps of Maryland. Much of this can be attributed to his defense (or lack thereof). It's more than fair to say that they have done little if anything to stop the run this year, serving up huge helpings of yardage to far less physical offensive lines blocking for far less talented running backs (reference: Backup College). They can’t tackle, they can’t shed blocks, and when they stack the box to stop the run they can’t seem to cover wide receivers (which presents a problem when faced with the likes of Mike). This will be a great game for Mike Golic Jr. to get his feet wet in his first career start by doing what offensive linemen love most: run-blocking all day long. I’ve been itching to see the special edition “Swagger” gloves that allegedly have Golden palms with a shamrock printed across them. Luckily, I shouldn’t have to wait too long for Cierre Wood to flash them into the camera in signature style after his first trip to the endzone.

Score Prediction:

Fightin’ Irish: 41

Fightin’ Turtles: 13

Offensive Game Ball:

Cierre Wood – The shiftier of our two prize ponies will make Maryland defenders miss time after time as he gallops his way to well over 100 yards against a team that had trouble making tackles all season.

Defensive Game Ball:

Jamoris Slaughter – The ball-hawk / X-factor of our nickel defense will see ample playing time against an offense that uses multiple WR sets regularly. Unfortunately for Maryland, this will only present him with more opportunities to make big plays. Pick 6 anyone?

Do you think this Terp wears matching socks to class?

Irish to Invade Nation's Capitol

2011-11-07T16:46:00.003-05:00

The Band of the Fightin' Irish will perform on the U.S. Capitol Lawn and Notre Dame Football will go GREEN on Saturday.

Notre Dame will be rocking an interesting look in what has been dubbed the
"Shamrock Series" against Maryland in Washington D.C. on Saturday

Before the Fightin' Irish took on the Demon Deacons in Winston Salem last Saturday, Coach Kelly delivered a pregame speech that described the season as a "journey" that every player and every coach must go through together in order to reach the level of championship-caliber football that is expected at Notre Dame. After the hard-fought victory, one that the casual observer would have reason to call "ugly," Kelly congratulated his team on its "gritty, tough performance."

While most fans would have rather witnessed a blowout victory than a 60 minute grind-fest, winning that type of game will prove to be valuable for our team down the road. The total domination of Navy brought confidence back to our Boys in Blue and Gold, but thie far-from-sexy win over Wake may have taught them much more valuable lessons about maintaining a consistent approach after falling behind, and finishing strong once in the lead.

Each time the players took the field against Wake, they rallied around the phrase "Count on me." With two easy Ws coming up against Maryland and Backup College, we should all be tipping out hats to the Deacs for reminding our players how essential it is that they count on each other no matter how any particular game plays out.

Speaking of Maryland, the Fightin' Irish will be invading our nation's capital for their third annual "Home away from Home" game, this time against the Terrapins at Fed Ex Field. Prior to Saturday night's game, the Fightin' Irish Faithful will get a chance to show their support along with guest speakers Joe Theismann and Reggie Brooks as the Pep Rally on Friday night will be held at the National Mall. On Saturday, Unviersity President Fr. John Jenkins will celebrate mass at 10:00am in St, Matthew's Cathedral, followed by a performance featuring the entire Band of the Fighting Irish on the U.S. Capitol Lawn at 12:00pm. All of these events are free and open to the public, so go celebrate "God, Country, Notre Dame" if you are in the area.

Finally, the Fightin' Irish will take on the Terrapins in a battle of unconventional uniforms at 7:30pm. After recently revealing our new Golden disco ball helmets with green face masks and shamrock accents, I wouldn't be surprised if we take the field in some sort of funky take on "throwbacks" that feature much more of my favorite color than usual. Not to be outdone in terms of ridiculous attire, I'm sure that Maryland will come out with their latest Ninja-Turtle look while also incorporating their state flag in the least fashionable way possible per usual. Regardless, it will be interesting to see what both sides come up with. Oh yeah... they're going to play football too...

In all seriousness, this game should provide a nice confidence boost and an overall enjoyable experience for Kelly's banged up squad. Hopefully it leaves them feeling refreshed prior to their final tune-up game against our little brother school from New England on Senior Night. All in all, Saturday will bring us one step closer to the West Coast, where we hope to capture some Luck and harvest some timber over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Official Press Release Explaining New Changes to Uniforms:
This marks the first in a series of uniform features that will be utilized for Notre Dame's Shamrock Series contests. After the 2011 game at FedExField, the Shamrock Series in 2012 moves to Soldier Field in Chicago for a game against Miami. In 2013 the Shamrock Series matchup against Arizona State will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Irish will showcase uniform variations in their annual Shamrock Series games but otherwise will wear their standard uniforms the rest of the season.

(For the record, I am 100% behind such efforts to inject new elements into the Notre Dame Football experience as long as they stay in line with our traditions of excellence, class, and honoring our rich heritage. I look forward to the continuation of the "Shamrock Series" as well as alternate uniforms used specifically for those games, while keeping the traditional look intact for the remainder of each season).

Anchors Aweigh for Fightin' Irish

2011-11-05T17:11:00.003-04:00

After a short lived panic attack late last week leading up to the game against our historic rival, rumors of mutiny quickly turned out to be nothing that a little smash-mouth football couldn't fix. In fact, the controversial comments made by Kelly and the even more controversial reactions made by several players may have provided exactly what this team needed to turn the corner. It presented an opportunity for the players and coaches to sit down and clear the air that has tasted sour to some all season long. With that behind them, they can cut the proverbial anchor loose and focus on winning football games.

Last Week's Win over Navy may have allowed the Fightin' Irish
to Finally Cut the Anchor Loose

Speaking of focus, Kelly's teams have accumulated a 6-2 record on the road while playing without all the distractions that accompany football weekends at Notre Dame, compared to a 7-6 record at home. Take that stat for what you will, but the only two games Kelly has lost away from Notre Dame Stadium were to MSU last year (they ended up with 11 wins) and the Skunkbears this year (in a game we literally gave away). This bodes well for the remainder of the regular season, which includes games on the road at Wake Forest and Maryland prior to senior night at home against Backup College and the season finale at Stanford.

While Wake and Maryland have both been dangerous at times this season, we drastically outmatch them. In true fashion, a horrible BC squad poses no threat. With a 4 game winning streak at our backs, we will have a real chance to take advantage of our newfound confidence and renewed focus in order to chop down the trees on Thanksgiving weekend. Not convinced? Let me remind you that Kelly's teams have not been beaten in the month of November for 3 years. Luckily for us, Thanksgiving weekend falls in the month of November again this year.

And now to the game at hand, an interesting matchup against a traditionally basketball-centered Baptist school that has recently shown glimmers of potential on the football field. Wake LB and leader of the Demon Deacon (which is a lame attempt at something as badass as the Fighting Irish, if you ask me) defense Nikita Whitlock had this to say about his first time playing against Notre Dame: "We're little Wake Forest... but don't expect us not to come out and try to punch them in their mouth. That's what we do."

There's no way we lose to a school
that such ugly "mascots" call home.

I like the fire of those fightin' words, and I'm expecting a well played game out of Wake. That still doesn't change the fact that we should be able to dominate if we continue to emphasize our dangerous running attack as we did against Navy. In his press conference following that steamrolling performance featuring 7 rushing TDs, Kelly admitted that he "put more of an emphasis on the run game in [the red zone], and I think that is the direction we want to keep moving." I hope he stays true to those words so we can share in the joy of watching a consistently tough team that represents "...a brand of football that [Kelly is] starting to see."

Tonight's Score Prediction:

Fightin' Irish: 38

Demon Deacons: 20

Offensive MVP: Jonas - The senior back will continue to play like he has something to prove. Look for him to break a long TD to keep his scoring streak alive.

Jonas playing smash-mouth football against Navy

Defensive MVP: Manti - I've been waiting patiently for the leader of our defense to get his hands on a loose ball with running space ahead of him. Will this be the week?

Get this man the football!

DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP

2011-10-28T16:08:00.001-04:00

If you look closely at the crowd of Middies in Notre Dame Stadium tomorrow, you may see them holding a flag that reads, "DONT GIVE UP THE SHIP." The Fighting Irish will need to draw some inspiration from this famous Naval battle cry as they take on a fierce opponent in the wake of a humiliating defeat.

After a brutal loss at the hands of our bitter rivals from Southern California, several Trojans spoke out about the lack of fight in the Fightin' Irish when it came to the fourth quarter of that contest. Chris Galippo, a linebacker who is still bitter over being passed up by Notre Dame after visiting on a recruiting trip with Jimmy Clausen, claimed, "At the end there, when they didn't call those timeouts, they just quit. And that's what Notre Dame football's about. They're not anything like U$C." Running Back Marc Tyler (of TMZ fame) chimed in with less-than-perfect-English by sputtering, "That's what happens when you beat them down. We wore them out. They didn't want to play us no more. We out-physicalled them and beat them down." While such statements do little more than prove the lack of class spewing forth from the Kiffin-run program, they do sting somewhat when their impact is considered. Perception often is reality, and right now much of the country perceives the Fighting Irish as weak.

Lou Holtz was famously quoted as telling his National Championship team, "One thing nobody in this world can give you, men, is respect... the self respect you have for yourself, the way you play the game, and the way you believe... the way you do things. This is a game of respect. You are Notre Dame. You are special. You represent Notre Dame. You represent everybody that came before you and everybody that will come after you. At Notre Dame there is a spirit. The spirit is something that's within ya. Ya gotta listen to that spirit, and you gotta fight for it. Ya gotta believe."

On saturday, the Fighting Irish need to find the fightin' spirit within them, listen to it, and earn the respect that is needed to turn this program around for good. They're on the cusp of greatness, but they stand at a crossroads. This classic matchup against our historic rivals stands as the perfect opportunity to prove that we have not and will never give up the ship.

GO IRISH! BEAT $C!

2011-10-21T11:14:00.002-04:00

Notre Dame Law School Tuition: $42,870.00

Football Student Ticket Booklet: $215.00

Lane Kiffin's Face When the Irish Win: Priceless

Score Prediction:

University of Notre Dame: 37

University of $anctioned Cheater$: 27

Game Balls:

Defense:

Manti proves he made the right decision on Signing Day
by scoring his first career TD.

Offense:

At 6'3", Floyd goes HAM against U$C's 5'8" and 5'9" corners.

Wearin' o' the Green

2011-10-20T12:39:00.002-04:00

What do the Emerald Isle, the shamrock, St. Patrick's Day, Brian Kelly's last name, the Official Banner of the Fighting Irish, and the prettiest jerseys in all of college football have in common?

GREEN: a color worth fighting for.

The Notre Dame student section will be representing their true Fightin' Irish heritage on Saturday night by wearing green as their boys in Blue and Gold take on the Ketchup and Mustard wearing Trojans from the University of Sanctioned Cheaters. The students have called for a stadium-wide "Wearin' o' the Green." Do your duty for Fightin' Irish Nation by donning some Kelly, Emerald, Lime or Forest in a show of unity. Why is this color so important, you ask? Read on.

Pushups look sexy in green

Irish history directly influenced the Irish-American experience during the Civil War when Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish rebel leader who had escaped to the United States, formed a brigade made up entirely of Irish soldiers which quickly gained a widespread reputation as one of the bravest and best fighting units in the entire Union force. Commonly rreferred to as the “Fighting Irish,” and marching under their notorious green flag which never seemed to fall from its position in the front line of every battle, these Irish-Americans established themselves as a widely celebrated symbol of both Irish pride and American patriotism. Both the original Banner of the Fighting Irish, as well as Meagher's sword (which I have held!) are currently in possession of the University of Notre Dame Archives.

Rev. William Corby, C.S.C., chaplain of the Irish Brigade and later president of the University of Notre Dame, also gained wide renown as a Catholic, Irish-American, and American figure due to his reputation for bravery on the battlefield. In 1863, moments prior to the Battle of Gettysburg, he “performed an act that seized the imagination of his countrymen” by granting general absolution to all of the Union troops about to engage the enemy. Matching statues commemorating that moment stand on the memorial sight in Gettysburg and outside the aptly named Corby Hall on campus at Notre Dame (you may know of it as "Fair Catch Corby").

Fr. Corby blesses the green Banner of the Fightin' Irish at Gettysburg

Legendary Coach and expert promoter Knute Rockne made use of the color green as he put Notre Dame on the map by building the greatest football franchise in history. He highlighted the color as a prominent symbol of Irish nationalism when he had his teams dress in blue to begin their toughest games before instructing them to reveal the fiery green sweaters they wore underneath at the right moment. This tactic worked more than once against heavily favored foes, eliciting praise from The Scholastic - 1928 Football Review:
“Mr. K. K. Rockne may, or may not, be a psychologist. But, he did array his Fighting Irish in bright green jerseys for their battle with the United States Naval Academy. Mr. Rockne evidently surmised that garbing a band of native and adopted Irish in their native color is somewhat akin to showing a bull the Russian flag.”

The tradition lived on at Notre Dame when the color green played an integral role in our 1977 national championship run, which included the legendary “Green Machine” game (Ironically played on October 22) against our arch rival Southern Cal Trojans (click the link for a great video recapping that game).

The Trojans came into Notre Dame Stadium in 1977 riding a 7-1-2 record over the past ten contests against the Fighting Irish. Recognizing that “something special was going to be needed to get the Fighting Irish back in the winning trend,” Coach Dan Devine reached back to the days of Rockne and beyond in order to give his team the edge they needed.

After their final practice leading up to the game, he spoke to the team as a whole about the name “Fighting Irish” which they shared with the famous Irish Brigade of the Civil War. He told them the story of the Irish Brigade’s notorious green flag that brought fear to the hearts of Confederate soldiers while inspiring the Union forces to "fight like Irishmen." He then explained how the color green symbolized a great struggle for freedom in Ireland during which brave men had "died so that Ireland might be free."

Devine’s history lesson left his team feeling confused as they left practice, but when they arrived in the locker room before the game after warming up in blue, they were greeted by the sight of bright green uniforms hanging in each of their lockers. The players’ adrenaline began to pump at that moment, and when they came charging out of the tunnel into a surprised Notre Dame Stadium they overawed their fans and their opponents alike with “Fighting Irish” bravado.

Their newfound swagger led them to a 49-19 annihilation of the Trojans, and the momentum generated by that game carried them all the way to the Cotton Bowl, where they defeated Texas to claim their spot atop the college football world once again. The “Green Machine” game engineered by Devine would become a legendary symbol of the “Fighting Irish” spirit.

Green Fire: ND v SC midnight drum circle tradition

From Irish Rebels like Meagher, to legendary Irish-Americans like Corby, to National Champions like Rockne and Devine, the color green has remained central to the history of the Fightin' Irish. Honor this history on Saturday night by wearing green in solidarity with the students who proudly call themselves the Fightin' Irish.

Even Jesus loves rocking Kelly Green

Kelly visits Center of Universe

2011-10-20T11:36:00.002-04:00

Coach Kelly ventured into the Center of the Universe last week to honor the Dawgs of Alumni Hall, who he thanked for setting the standard in terms of support and enthusiasm on football game weekends. He commended the men of Alumni for playing such an integral role in the tradition, sense of family, and spirit that can only be found at Notre Dame, adding that he quickly learned to expect a lengthy delay while all the Dawgs in the house go berserk every time the word "Alumni" is uttered at a pep rally.

Located on Main Circle at Notre Dame,
Alumni Hall is the "Center of the Universe"

Coach challenged the Dawgs to make a valid attempt to “at least make it to the game” on Saturday night despite the late 7:30 start. Echoing the sentiments of Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick, who challenged the student body to tailgate responsibly and get loud once inside the stadium, Kelly asked the Dawgs to hydrate themselves thoroughly prior to bringing the ruckus come game time.

When asked about the typical game day atmosphere at Notre Dame, Coach again agreed with Swarbrick in admitting that Notre Dame Stadium is one of the quietest venues his team plays in from week to week. While he commended the students for their commitment, he spoke out in full support of a jumbotron and piped-in music to make up for the small size of our student section, as well as the lack of noise coming from the rest of the stadium.

Coach maintained that he understands the "tradition" argument against a jumbotron and/or "canned" music, but that he believes in our ability to make such improvements in a way that enhances the unique tradition and spirit of Notre Dame, rather than detract from it. He pointed to the way music and classic footage were used at the first night game ever in the Big House in a way that added tremendously to the "strength of the collegiate atmosphere" of the game without the clutter of advertisements or any other unnecessary distractions. He also made it clear that our fanbase should not expect to be held back by stubborn adherence to the status quo any more, citing the need for several changes which have already been made and will continue to take place in order to revive the most central of all our traditions... the tradition of winning football games.

While it seems as though a minority of Notre Dame alumni (small "a" alumni, not big "A" Alumni as in Dawgs) consistently makes the most noise in opposition of such changes, the unanimous consensus amongst the Dawgs stood in strong support of making such moves. With our student body, Head Coach, and Athletic Ditrector on board, I wouldn't be surprised to see and hear an extra boost to our home field advantage in the near future (If you disagree, please prove that we do not need these additions by getting loud enough to make a difference in our stadium).

When asked which rivalry he considers to be most important to the Fighting Irish, Coach chose the "Greatest Intersectional Rivalry in College Football" over our series with the skunkbears, stating that Notre Dame vs. Southern Cal epitomizes everything that a rivalry should stand for.

The Dawgs told Coach that the students were planning to fill the student section with green on Saturday night before asking him whether the team would sport matching threads. In response, he did not deny the possibility of green jerseys. With a wink and a nudge, he said that he looks forward to continuing the tradition of green jerseys, but would not specify which game (read: we are wearing green on Saturday, and so should you!).

Coach also explained that his newly implemented Hendrix package was here to stay, and that he plans to fully utilize this whole new side of the offense in order to prevent defenses from keying in on just a few playmakers the way Pitt was able to (we only scored 15 points in the win over Pitt). By offering a variety of looks, our offense will remain efficient even when certain aspects aren't working against a specific defense. Just when an opponent seems to have solved the puzzle, we now have the ability to play a wild card with potential to be game-breaking.

When one Dawg asked if his roommate, walk-on TE Arturo Martinez, will see the field this year, Coach said that by asking we pretty much guaranteed him some playing time. He also gave a shoutout to all of WOPU Nation, saying that walk-on players like Pat Coughlin and Chris Salvi have impacted the team tremendously this season.

Finally, the Dawgs gave Coach an ultimatum: whether he would rather be Johnny Depp or Will Smith. He mulled the choices over for a minute, then decided that neither would be preferable to his current position as the head coach of the Fighting Irish. Well played, Sir. Well played, indeed.

Coach Kelly strikes a power stance on the sideline

Alumni Hall proudly granted "Honorary Dawg"status to Coach Kelly (who now joins Coach Brey as the only two active "Honorary Dawgs" at Notre Dame), by presenting him with a Wake Week shirt and two of our signature frosted pint glasses. In response to the later, he happily declared, "I bet these look great filled with beer!” That they do, Coach. That they do.

Alumni Dawgs leading the charge at a football pep rally

The Blessed Men and Brothers of Alumni Hall would like to thank Coach Kelly for taking the time to pay us tribute, answer our questions, and for recognizing us as a leader and an icon amongst all halls.

Fall of Troy: Revisited

2011-10-18T16:38:00.003-04:00

This is it.

We've all been waiting for this game since it appeared on the official schedule.

This Saturday, the Fighting Irish will host the once-mighty men of Troy for the first night game held at Notre Dame Stadium in over two decades. As we prepare for the 83rd chapter of "The Greatest Intersectional Rivalry in College Football," Irish Creed takes a look back at last year's matchup, which saw our Boys in Blue and Gold emerge from the Coliseum victorious.

Fall of Troy: Revisited

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 the not-quite-as-amazing spectacle that was 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 by deciding 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 temporary bleacher style 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 So Cal 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.

There's no use crying over spilled trojans...

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).

Irish look Pretty in Pink

2011-10-10T00:49:00.002-04:00

The Fightin' Irish looked pretty in pink this Saturday, honoring breast cancer awareness with bright accents to the traditional Blue and Gold garb. On a picture perfect Midwestern fall afternoon, Kelly's offense had its way with the Flying Falcons of Air Force, while Diaco's defense shut down one of the top rushing offenses in the nation.

Jamoris Slaughter highlighted the defensive play as he flew all over the field from what was essentially an outside linebacker position. He turned the tide early by forcing a fumble at the tail end of the first play Air Force ran from scrimmage, added a textbook pass breakup on a deep pass, and had an acrobatic interception by tipping the ball to himself as he dove. He also finished the day with 6 tackles.

On the other side of the ball, Kelly fully showcased just how dangerous his squad can be when his full arsenal of playmakers get their hands on the ball. Touchdowns came from Floyd, Eifert, Toma (first in his career - respect), Gray (2), Wood, Riddick, and even freshman George Atkinson III got in on the action with his second trip to the endzone this season.

The most impressive part of Saturday's dominating performance, however, had to be the offensive coaching. Kelly expertly picked apart the outmanned Air Force defense by using multiple looks, new formations, utilizing the screen game more effectively, finding creative ways to get Riddick the ball early, and unleashing the secret weapon that is Andrew Hendrix.

I suspect that Kelly knew exactly what he was doing when he waited until the final game before the rivalry showdown against $C to give everyone a glimpse of the extra section of the playbook reserved for his dual-threat quarterback. He gave the Kiffins just enough of a taste to keep them awake at night trying to come up with ways to defend what has truly become one of the most versatile offenses I have ever seen. As our boys get a few days of well-deserved rest over fall break, then extra time to gear up for the first night game in a couple decades against the once-mighty men of troy, the $C squad still has to take care of business against Cal before having only a few days to try to figure out how to deal with our multifaceted attack. Luckily for us, Air Force failed to show them any good ways to stop us.

Since starting 0-2, we couldn't have asked for a better bounce-back than the one we just witnessed. We won a tough game against MSU, we won an ugly game against Pitt, we dominated an inferior Purdue, and we unleashed our big guns against Air Force. Winning in all of those different ways has given this team character that it will need to depend on if it is going to finish out the final 6 games of the season strong.

Now, we sit in the driver's seat with a chance to extend our winning streak against our rivals. As we wait in anticipation for that day, let me leave you with some final words from Kelly's pregame speech to the boys in Blue and Gold before they took the field against Air Force:

"… You put in a lot of time, a lot of effort. Here's your pay day.
Here's why you get the opportunity...
...to be a Notre Dame football player...
...'cause you can play the game in front of 81,000 people...
...you can play it on national television.
You put in so much hard work. You sacrifice so much.
Don't let these opportunities pass you by....
...or why is it worth it then?
It's not worth all that work you put in... enjoy yourself today.
Take it in.
You know how to play. This isn't our first talk.
You know what our level is and what's expected.
Ya gotta be disciplined.
Ya gotta be tough.
Ya gotta have your eyes on your technique.
You know that... but you also know this... ya gotta go play.
Ya gotta go enjoy yourself in this game...
...and if you can't do that, then why do all the other stuff?
Let's go play football today.
Today is a football day.
It's Saturday.
Let's make it a great Saturday."

It was a great Saturday in Sunny South Bend, Indiana

Game Preview: Flying Falcons v Fighting Irish

2011-10-08T02:27:00.001-04:00

"Sacrifice, unselfish sacrifice... These other fellas, they say, are pretty good, but I think we're better... and I think if we get ourselves to a point, where we're confident in that... why... the results will take care of themselves..."

"When Irish Backs Go Marching By"

2011-10-02T23:54:00.005-04:00

As the oft-forgotten lyrics of the traditional ND football song proudly proclaim, "...when the Irish backs go marching by, the cheering thousands shout their battle cry..." This year, more so than those of recent past, two "Irish Backs" in particular have proven the once-famous line true. For that reason, the Irish rushing attack, which was originally pegged as a weakness by experts during the preseason, just may be the key to the rest of our season. With little depth behind them, it is up to running backs Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray to share a heavy load as the workhorses that drive our offense. Luckily, they seem to be hitting a galloping stride at just the right moment.

Cierre Wood has steadily built his game up to a level deserving of the
praise given by Brian Kelly during the preseason when he described him
as a "complete player." Expect big things out of
"Two Oh" over the remainder of the season.

Through our first 5 games, we are averaging an impressive 5.41 yards per carry and 179.6 yards per game on the ground. In our most recent game, we racked up 289 rushing yards against a Purdue defense that prides itself on stopping the run. This bodes extremely well for us as we hit the heart of our season, especially considering both Wood and Gray recorded career highs on the same night. If they can continue their ways, a mountain of pressure will be lifted off of Tommy Rees's shoulders (see our game against Purdue) as the ability to establish the run early on forces the opposing defense to commit, thus rendering their line unable to go all out rushing the pass and their secondary unable to double-cover Michael Floyd (which prompted the announcer to describe Mike as "a weapon that cannot be stopped" midway through our game in West Lafayette).

Next up, we have a matchup against the most talented service academy team, the ever-scrappy and never-quitting Air Force squad that boasts one of the nation's best rushing attacks with the type of option-style offense that keeps Bob Diaco up at night. While we know we will be seeing almost nothing but running plays from them, they should expect much of the same from us as we look to exploit their 114th ranked rushing defense with our two aforementioned workhorses. Hopefully doing so will allow both Wood and Gray to peak in confidence prior to facing the staunch rushing defense of U$C (ranked 37th) after the bye. Due to that bye, both backs should have had enough rest to get their legs back by the time we play the Trojans. Thus, I expect Brian Kelly to run them ragged against the Flying Falcons of Air Force.

Gray has been able to bounce back from the costly fumble that turned the tide against the Irish during the opening drive of the season against Southern Florida. Not only has he proven his ability to pick up tough yards between the tackles, but he showed Pitt that he can be a home run threat as well by breaking a 79 yard touchdown.

As a former running back, I personally prefer run-oriented play calling that allows the backs to develop into a rythm. I'm excited to watch what Wood and Gray can do against an Air Force defense that our offensive line should have no problem dominating due purely to size differential. Look for Cierre to build upon, and possibly top, his career high 191 yard performance last week as the line gives him time to choose his holes and make the moves that have launched him into the spotlight as the 14th ranked leading rusher in the NCAA. When we need tough yards against their gritty defense that we should expect to go all out every single play, Jonas should be able to prove that his past two 90-plus yard games weren't flukes. If all goes according to plan, we may even get to see some carries from upcoming freshman speed demon George Atkinson III.

Game Preview: Purdon't!

2011-09-29T18:44:00.007-04:00

After a rough September, the Fighting Irish look to welcome in a new month on Saturday night by traveling through the "Crossroads of America" to take on Purdue / Pur-don’t / Pur-won’t / Pur-hasn’t-in-a-while / Pur-probably-never-will.

Last time we graced Ross-Ade-Stadium with our presence, it took a game winning touchdown catch by Kyle Rudolph to somehow escape West Lafayette with a win. While that was a memorable game for me personally, (Rudy made the catch about 3 feet from where I was standing on the sideline, Golden Tate stole my leprechaun hat, wore it for the Alma Mater, then repayed me in Cheesy Fries at Reckers when we got back to campus at 4am - Cheesy Fries were not on the menu then, but they are now - you're welcome) it ended up way too close for comfort against a clearly inferior opponent. Even so, that was then, and this is now. We have a new coach, a new team, and Pur-don't Pur-won't be able to hang with us any more if we play up to our potential.

Pur-don't has produced a few curious soundbytes leading up to Saturday night's prime time matchup on ESPN. (Yes, two unranked opponents with 3 losses between them play at 8pm on ESPN - I love when that network bows down to us.) For starters, Pur-don't linebacker Joe Holland, the son of a son of a Domer, stated that he is extra pumped (Boiler up! Woot! Woot!) for this one because, in his own words, Notre Dame "didn't recruit me like Purdue did." I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I'm guessing that Joe, who played high school ball at Bishop Chatard in Indy, sits in the same boat as many of his teammates who also hail from the great state of Indiana but were passed over when it came to scholarship letters sent out from the Golden Dome. But wait... there's more! Joe didn't stop there. He went on to say that "the stage is definitely set" and "it would mean a lot for our team to get this one..." Is it just me, or does someone from Pur-don't attempt to make this game out to be more than it is every single year? Sorry, but this is not the battle for the Jewelled Shillelagh (we will be defending our magic stick on October 22). This is the battle for the plain old regular Shillelagh... which is just not as sexy or exciting (befitting of our rather bland opponent, no?). The fact of the matter is that while Pur-don't attempts to hype up their Hoosier-ness, the vast majority of our players have lived most of their lives with no connection whatsoever to the miraculous state of Indiana. We will treat this game just like any other game: Go in, take care of business, get the W, and come back to campus for some Cheesy Fries.

You may be wondering why I am being so mean to the second best football team in the state that I have called home for the past 6 years (sorry Ball State, oh and I think they might play football at IU too...). In all honesty, it's because my last visit to West Lafayette wasn't all Lucky Charms and Cheesy Fries. Not only were the locals less than friendly, (Thanks for spitting on me and my sweet ND backpack!) but Pur-don't Pete was... well... pardon my French... a giant Pur-douche. All I did was beat him in a dance-off on national television and then tell him that he would have to get on my level before he could consider himself an "in-state rival." How did he react? At halftime he got in my face as he revealed the t-shirt he was wearing under his goofy costume, which featured a boilermaker performing a lewd act on a leprechaun. After his own cheerleaders berated him in disgust, I thanked him for being such a gracious host and went on my way. That's all I have to say about that...

Sorry Petey, but I've seen bigger...

... and so has this kid.

OK, back to the game at hand. Pur-don't comes into this week at 2-1, but don't let their record fool you. Their wins have come against Middle Tennessee and Southeast Missouri State, while their sole loss came at the hands of mighty Rice. Thus far, they rank 181st nationally in terms of strength-of-schedule, while Notre Dame ranks 5th. Even more telling than these stats were the statements made by Pur-don't head coach Danny Hope, who said that a win over the FIghting Irish "would be a signature win." Really? He's looking for a signature win against an unranked opponent with a 2-2 record?! Then, as if that wasn't ridiculous enough, Danny did a total 180 by saying, "If things don't work out right, it's not the end of the world... but a win on Saturday could change our world in some ways." Not the end of the world?! Dude... you're a football coach! And your last name is HOPE! Let me quote Chris Berman on this one with a hearty "C'MON MAN!" Don't get me wrong, I have always been a big fan of Danny's mustache swag, but how can anyone take a coach who says something like that seriously?

What he lacks in "Hope,"
he makes up for with pure style.

Luckily for us, Pur-dont's biggest strength can be found in its running game, which ranks 11th nationally. They are currently averaging an astounding 258.7 yards per game on the ground (keep their opponents in mind, though) behind a talented and experienced offensive line. Unfortunately for them, no real passing offense (73rd nationally) has been able to surface as a reliable counterpart to their rushing attack. This bodes extremely well for us, as our defensive front continues to prove that it is the rock upon which our entire team is built. We held MSU to under 50 yards rushing, we stopped Pitt's Ray Graham from breaking the century mark after he averaged 140 yards over his first 3 games, and we will do much of the same on Saturday night.

The real key to this game will be whether Pur-don't can force us into passing situations by shutting down our running game (they have held opponents to 2.8 yards per carry thus far, albeit against an incredibly weak schedule) and how Tommy Rees reacts when those situations do arise. If "Tommy Turnover"can overcome his chronic case of fumbles and picks, he should be able to shred a secondary that even had trouble against the likes of Rice, Middle Tennessee, and SE Mizzou State (an unranked FCS team). The begnning of the game will most likely be emotional and filled with energy, but in the end I'm pretty confient that Pur-don't probably Pur-won't...

Score Prediction:
Fighting Irish: 31

Pur-don't: 3

Offensive MVP: "Tommy Turnover" will finally turn it around and quiet the crass critics currently calling for Crist by shredding the opposing secondary into Rees's Pieces. Look for him to light up the night sky over West Lafayette.

Defensive MVP: Manti is about to do something big... maybe even ESPN Top-Ten worthy.

GO IRISH! BEAT BOILERS!

Kelly Quotes:

2011-09-26T13:23:00.001-04:00

"It was a tough, blue-collar kind of day and that's what was required of everybody... that's what we got out of our team and it was enough to win and get out of here."

-Brian Kelly, following a 15-12 victory over Pitt

Game Preview: Punish Pitt

2011-09-22T15:09:00.003-04:00

Students in Dillon Hall (little brother of Alumni Hall)
urge the Fighting Irish to show no mercy against Pitt

The Fighting Irish began to turn the corner last week with their first win of the season over #15 MSU. With a win over Pitt this week, they can complete that turn around and set the stage for a 4 game winning streak going into the prime-time matchup against U$C under the lights in Notre Dame Stadium on October 22.

Three foes stand between them and their West Coast rivals, and while they should be able to take care of business against Purdon’t and Air Force with relative ease, they will have their hands full against a fierce squad of Pittsburgh Panthers led by first-year head coach Todd Graham. Unfortunately, the Fighting Irish faithful remember Graham all too well as then head coach of Tulsa when the Golden Hurricane swept into South Bend to escape with a narrow upset victory last year. While Graham is still ironing out the details of installing his up-tempo spread offense at Pitt, he has the luxury of leaning on another Graham to carry the load of his offense. Running back Ray Graham presents a dual threat out of the backfield with flashes of brilliance between the tackles as well as his ability to contribute in the passing game. So far this season, he has amassed a team-leading 419 yards and 6 rushing touchdowns on 79 carries. Those are scary numbers, especially considering that last time the Fighting Irish ventured into Heinz Field, they got torched by star running back Dion Lewis. To avoid dejavu, a much improved defensive front will have to repeat the dominating performance they had last week when they limited MSU to under 50 yards rushing after the Spartans had averaged over 175 in their first two games.

In addition to Graham, the Fighting Irish defense will have their hands full with the two most physically daunting wide receivers they will have faced thus far this season in Devin Street and Mike Shanahan. While Pitt’s quarterback Tino Sunseri believes himself to be a potent weapon in Graham’s system, describing his performance last week in a ND-at-Michigan-like meltdown against Iowa as “my greatest game I played yet,” he has only managed to throw 3 touchdowns while accounting for 4 interceptions and 2 fumbles.

Thus, the key to success on the defensive side of the ball will clearly involve containing Graham and forcing long passing situations on third down, when Bob Diaco can unleash stud freshman pass rushing specialist Aaron Lynch against a weak offensive line that has given up 12 sacks already this season.

The Fighting Irish offense will be going up against a Pitt squad that Brian Kelly calls “smart, tough, and physical.” Apparently they run extremely complex schemes that may force Kelly to dumb down the offense for Rees this week “so he doesn’t have to read a million different coverages.” Even so, Rees is going to have to step up and have a big game against a secondary that was embarrassed by Iowa last weak, giving up 399 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns.

Prediction:

Both Tommy Rees and Michael Floyd will have career days against a secondary that is still licking its wounds after getting shredded in the fourth quarter of their last game. The Fighting Irish secondary will give up a few big plays on jump balls against a physical receiving core, and Graham will break a few impressive runs, but the defensive front will come up big when it counts in order to ensure that Ol’ Notre Dame wins overall.

Fighting Irish: 37

Panthers: 31

Offensive MVP: Michael Floyd – Expect Mike to have his way with the Pitt secondary similar to the way Golden Tate did last time the Fighting Irish played at Heinz Field. They can try, but they just can’t defend him.

Defensive MVP: Aaron Lynch – The hype surrounding this freshman phenom will continue to grow, as another sack and another forced fumble cause a sudden increase in demand for #19 jerseys at the Hammes Bookstore.

Added Bonus Material: 4 minutes of ND owning Pitt:
(check out the stud in green at the 2:49 mark)

Kelly Quotes:

2011-09-19T10:34:00.000-04:00

"...I didn't think we were loud enough on the last couple of drives in our stadium. We really gotta get that cranked up, and that's a challenge to our all of our fans. When we're at home we really need to crank it up and make it a loud place. I think we can do better..."

To the Victor go the Spoils

2011-09-18T23:41:00.002-04:00

Not only did Saturday mark the first win of the season for the Fighting Irish, but for the first time since 1996 Notre Dame is now in possession of all four "Rivalry Trophies" that are awarded annually to the winning team in the series with MSU (Megaphone Trophy), BC (Ireland Trophy), Purdue (Shillelagh Trophy), and U$C (The Jewelled Shillelagh).

The Fighting Irish celebrate with the Megaphone Trophy
after reclaiming it from MSU.

A star-studded weekend included appearances by ND Alumni Regis Philbin and Condoleezza Rice, 2009 grad and professional fighter Mike Lee (who emerged victorious from the first professional boxing match ever held on campus), the Hollywood father-son duo of Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez (the two life-long Fighting Irish fans attended their first game while on tour promoting their latest film "The Way"), the 1966 National Champion Notre Dame Football Team, and their fearless leader Ara Parseghian.

Mike Lee wins by unanimous decision

Everyone in Notre Dame Stadium was treated to an impressive showing during which the Fighting Irish finally lived up to their potential, easily handling the #15 ranked team in the nation. With that elusive first W of the season under their belts, the Boys in Blue and Gold look to continue their winning ways on the road in Pittsburgh next week, before ensuring that the Ireland Trophy remains at Notre Dame when they travel across the great state of Indiana to face Purdue.

"The Way" is a highly recommended powerful film written by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen

Game Preview: Stomp Sparty

2011-09-16T09:53:00.000-04:00

I am at a loss after that ridiculous start to the season. Rather than attempt to make sense of it all, I'm going to do the only thing left to do: let Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" take the pain away:

Score Prediction:

Irish: 27
Sparty: 17

Game Ball Predictions:

Offensive MVP: Michael Floyd
Defensive MVP: Manti Te'o

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT COMES TO NOTRE DAME

2011-09-13T01:20:00.003-04:00

On Friday, September 16, undefeated light heavyweight fighter and 2009 Notre Dame graduate Mike Lee will be fighting in the first professional boxing match ever held on campus. Lee will be headlining a six-bout charity night starting at 9pm ET in the Joyce Center, which has been dubbed “Fight Like a Champion.” Keeping with the Notre Dame spirit of service to others, all proceeds will go to the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation and the Robinson Community Learning Center in South Bend. Tickets for the event are available through the Notre Dame Ticket Office online, by phone (630 400-6380), or at the door on fight night.

Upon graduating as a three-time Bengal Bouts champion, Lee won the 2009 Chicago Golden Gloves competition before joining forces with Top Rank Boxing and professional trainer Ronnie Shields, who once worked with boxing legends Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Pernell Whitaker, Arturo Gatti, and Juan Diaz. Since turning pro, Lee has amassed an unblemished 6-0 record, 4 of which he ended by knockout.

I recently caught up with Lee for an Irish Creed Exclusive in anticipation of his upcoming fight:

TheNDleprechaun: First off, can you give us a rundown of the fight night Notre Dame is hosting on September 16? What can fans expect to experience when they attend?

MIKE LEE: The fight night Sept 16 will be starting at 9pm in the JACC the night before the home football game vs Michigan St. This is the first professional boxing event in Notre Dame's history, so it is very special to me. It is a charity event and my foundation (Mike Lee Foundation) will be personally donating $100,000 to the Robinson Community Learning Center and the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation. I would tell fans that they can experience some top-tier professional Top Rank prospects on this card. Anyone who hasn't been to a live boxing match needs to experience it first-hand. The atmosphere in the building on a fight night is amazing.

TheNDleprechaun: You've gone on to remain undefeated since the last time we interviewed you. Can you share what this means to you and how it affects your mindset as you prepare for each fight?

MIKE LEE: Staying undefeated is my main goal right now. I understand that naturally there is a target on my back, but without the pressure I wouldn't perform as well as I have. I love intensity and energy on fight night and being undefeated only pushes me harder. The fear of failure is a huge motivating factor for me.

TheNDleprechaun: You have quite a following here at Notre Dame, including Coach Kelly who has been known to send shoutouts your way via twitter. How does it feel knowing so many members of the Notre Dame family continue to follow your career?

MIKE LEE: Having so much support from the Notre Dame community is HUGE for me. I have spent time with Coach Kelly (who is a big boxing fan) and it is so cool for me to see him give me a few shoutouts on twitter and to hear that he is following and supporting my career. He is an awesome guy and exactly the type of coach that Notre Dame needs. He is a true motivator.

TheNDleprechaun: Given the rich boxing culture at Notre Dame, and the legendary sports tradition that goes along with the Fighting Irish name, what does it mean to represent your alma mater in the first professional fight ever to be held on campus?

MIKE LEE: It means so much to me to represent my alma mater in this huge homecoming and be part of an event where I get to do what I love in the ring and help out the Notre Dame/South Bend community in the process. Everyone will see on Sept 16 how hard I have trained, how explosive my style has gotten and how bad I want to impress the fans. I guarantee they are in for a great show!!

Thanks Mike, good luck, and we look forward to seeing you in action on September 16!

Irish Fans: This is an event you WILL NOT want to miss! If you plan on coming to campus for the football game this weekend, come out Friday night to witness history as Mike Lee shows us the true meaning of the words Fighting Irish!

Remember these moments...

2011-09-11T00:40:00.000-04:00

Irish Nation: Remember how you feel tonight. Let it fuel you.

Game Preview: ND @ UM

2011-09-09T17:22:00.002-04:00

Well, Week One was bizarre... and that's all I have to say about that. Luckily, nothing cures the hangover of a loss like beating the Pure Michigan snot out of some skunkbears. Even better, the entire sports world will get to watch us do it during prime time tomorrow night under the lights.

I'm expecting our defense to continue its solid play, with a few added turnovers as a bonus. Team Captain Harry Smith will return to his ballhawk ways, and if Denard doesn't learn how to tie his shoelaces by tomorrow night Manti just might knock him out of his cleats.

On the offensive side of the ball, I am hoping to see a much heavier dose of Two Oh. I look forward to watching him steamroll the yellow bellied skunkbears all night long, and I can't wait to see him flash his Leprechaun gloves into the camera after his first touchdown of the season.

Oh yeah... I forgot one thing... It's TOMMY TIIIIIME!!! The legend that is Tommy Rees will continue to grow in yet another epic venue, as the Sophomore extends his streak to 5-0 as a starter.

Score Prediction:

Irish: 34 (+10 style points for the shamrocks on our helmets)
Skunkbears: 20 (-10 style points for the ugliest helmets in football)

Game Ball Predictions:

Offensive MVP: Tommy Rees
Defensive MVP: Harry Smith

These kids know whats up.

GO IRISH! BEAT SKUNKBEARS!

Thanks to the Fighting Irish Faithful

2011-09-06T23:50:00.000-04:00

Game Preview: USF @ ND

2011-09-02T15:32:00.001-04:00

IT'S FOOTBALL FRIDAY!

To celebrate the first game of the 2011 Notre Dame football season, I went out and got a new pet:

Leprechauns > Bulls

He was a little heavy, so I decided to let him go. I did, however, convert several of the lovely ladies on the USF cheerleading squad into Fighting Irish fans:

USF ladies love the Irish

Since even their own cheerleaders are now rooting for us, I'm predicting an all-around dominant performance by our boys in Blue & Gold tomorrow. The Bulls will come out strong riding a lot of emotion in the biggest game any of their players have ever played in, but their high spirits will wear down as our O-line outmuscles their weak and inexperienced defensive front. Look for Cierre Wood to break several long runs against tired defenders late in the game on his way to a career day.

Score Prediction:

Fightin' Irish: 34
Bulls: 10

Game Ball Predictions:

Offensive MVP: Cierre Wood
Defensive MVP: Manti Te'o

GO IRISH! BEAT BULLS!

IRISH CREED EXCLUSIVE: THE LEPRECHAUN - PART II

2011-09-01T14:37:00.009-04:00

Two days ago, we released Part I of our IRISH CREED EXCLUSIVE with your Official 2011-2012 Fightin' Irish Leprechaun.
Today, we present Part II:

But first, a very important public service announcement from Leprechaun Mike for all Fightin' Irish fans who plan on attending any home games this year:

TheNDleprechaun: What is the best part about being the face of your university during your senior year?

MIKE: It really is such a great honor to represent Notre Dame, especially during my senior year. I love being able to give back to the University that has given me so much. To do that in a special way as the Leprechaun in my final year and as a result to be a part of the amazing history we have here is the best part.

TheNDleprechaun: Who is your favorite mascot other than yourself?

MIKE: I’m going to go back to when I was younger growing up in Minnesota and say Crunch the Wolf, the mascot for the Timberwolves. I remember seeing Crunch sliding down the arena stairs and then later doing all sorts of crazy flip dunks off of trampolines. He always seemed to be moving and having a great time. I might have to pull a few tricks from his book when basketball season comes around!

TheNDleprechaun: Who is your least favorite mascot and why?

MIKE: Haha wow, how to answer this question without picking a fight… let’s just say green looks better on Leprechauns than it does on other mascots (especially those that we might play early on in the season). I’ll leave the rest for our football team to sort out on the field.

TheNDleprechaun: Coach Kelly brought extra energy to the pep rallies last year, but they still haven't been able to capture the Fighting Irish spirit of old. What is the best way to fix the rallies? Do you have anything special planned for our rallies this year?

MIKE: This year I’ve been really fortunate to work with a great team who are really passionate about continuing to improve the rallies. You’re right, Coach Kelly definitely brings that extra energy and you can expect even more of that this year. We’ve also realized that what made rallies special in the past was the sense of the Notre Dame family that they evoked. We are ND, we are a community, and we really focused on that when planning the rallies this year. We’ve got some great things in the works and you’re definitely going to want to be there to say you were a part of it!

TheNDleprechaun: We finally beat $C last year, and now we host them for the first night game in Notre Dame Stadium in over two decades. What is the best way for our fans to make sure they contribute to our team's success on that potentially season-defining night?

MIKE: The Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh is going to be HUGE this year. For a lot of Irish fans, this is the game that they’ve been looking forward to ever since it was first announced as a game under the light of the Golden Dome. What we need Irish fans to do is to come out to campus and simply bring the energy. The passion we all feel for ND football is going to light up the night, and we’ll show the nation just what Notre Dame is all about!

TheNDleprechaun: How do you feel about Dr. Lou's dilemma concerning the matchup between his team and his son?

MIKE: I love Coach Lou, and so does the rest of Notre Dame. He has always been, and will continue to be the biggest supporter of Our Lady’s University. I can understand his dilemma in choosing this weekend. When it comes down to it though, it doesn’t matter who he chose, it’s going to be all Irish!

TheNDleprechaun: Finally, what one message would you like to share with the Fighting Irish Faithful as we get ready to kickoff the 2011 football season?

MIKE: Buckle up, Irish fans. This is going to be the greatest season of Irish Football yet! I know you’ve heard all the hype, and this Saturday we get to prove we’re better then all of it. Let’s GOOOOOOO IRISH!!!

Thanks Clashmore, and may the Luck of the Fightin' Irish be with you this year. I love the enthusiasm, and I'm glad you're keeping the feud alive between us Leprechauns and certain green-clad phonies with foam muscles.

(IRISH FANS: You can follow Mike on Twitter @FightinIrishLep for an inside look on his year as the Leprechaun)

IRISH CREED EXCLUSIVE: THE LEPRECHAUN - PART I

2011-08-30T19:11:00.003-04:00

The Notre Dame Leprechaun:

King of all Mascots,
Face of the Fightin’ Irish,
Protector of the Spirit of Notre Dame,

and The Real Reason Sparty is Green with Envy.

Two years ago, I enjoyed the honor of suiting up in Kelly Green every Saturday to lead the charge as our boys in Blue and Gold rushed out of the tunnel and into battle. At the end of my senior year, I passed the lucky shillelagh (originally brought from Ireland to Notre Dame by a past leprechaun who is now a Holy Cross priest - can't make that stuff up!) to my brother-in-arms Leprechaun Dizz. We interviewed Dizzy prior to Year One of the Kelly Campaign (catch Part I and Part II here), and now in Year Two we present to you, in two segments, an IRISH CREED EXCLUSIVE WITH THE LEPRECHAUN:

Leprechaun Mike

Leprechaun Mike is a senior Mechanical Engineer from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He claims to be an International Leprechaun / Man of Mystery, since his parents live in Zϋrich, Switzerland for the time being, and his sister is studying abroad in Perth, Australia. He ensures me, however, that his whole family will be watching (either in person or on TV) on game day.

TheNDleprechaun: Mike has been the namesake of Notre Dame mascots since well before our kind began showing up at games. Do you take any special pride in sharing your first name with the winningest college mascot of all-time? How would you feel about a possible return of the Irish Terrier in combination with the Leprechaun?

MIKE: Absolutely! Having the same name as Clashmore Mike is a great honor. And I would gladly welcome a furry companion. Besides both being extremely slobbery (although cute) at the end of big games hopefully we would share luck in common too!

TheNDleprechaun: You saw your fair share of championship caliber teams as the Blue Leprechaun last year. What was the best memory you took away from that? Do you plan on continuing your winning ways when you take over as the Gold Leprechaun for football and men's basketball? Are you THE key to bringing back the Luck of the Irish?

MIKE: Last year was an incredible experience. Not only was I able to experience some amazing runs by our sports teams but I was able to meet different Irish fans from all over, and win over a few new ones too. I especially loved seeing our Women’s Soccer team defy all the skeptics and take down Stanford for the national championship. In the same way, seeing our Women’s Basketball team take down Tennessee for the first time ever, and then follow that up by beating UCONN in Indy, in March, was something else. Those are some games that have already gone down as greats in Irish sports history. As much as I would like to take credit for the victories, the key to the Luck of the Irish lies in the support of all the Irish fans and in having that Fighting Irish Spirit. As far as winning goes this year, don’t worry about that. At Notre Dame we’re all about tradition. When you look at a few of the more recent championship seasons (’66, ’77, ’88) I think it only makes sense to continue that trend and add one in ’11!

TheNDleprechaun: How many times a week do you eat Lucky Charms?

MIKE: That’s a great question! I’m still working out my eating habits for this year. How’s this for a plan, 12 times a week. One for each national championship (including this year, of course). Then again, I’ll have to be careful to make sure I can still fit into my Leprechaun suit come Saturday!

TheNDleprechaun: What are you looking forward to most on September 3?

MIKE: I think every Leprechaun dreams about step-off from the Main Building. Leading all of the Irish fans to Notre Dame Stadium and following that up by taking the team out on our historic field for the best season of Fighting Irish Football yet is a 1-2 punch that has my heart pumping now!

TheNDleprechaun: Have you ever been to New Orleans? Do you plan on visiting in January?

MIKE: I’ve never been to New Orleans, but come to think of it South Bend can be a little chilly around then…and I think I overheard Coach Kelly talking about heading down south around then too!

TheNDleprechaun: The stash of gold I hid two years ago is running thin... can I get a loan?

MIKE: Haha! Once a leprechaun, always a leprechaun! I’ll see what I can do…

TheNDleprechaun: We interviewed Leprechaun Diz last year, and he represented the Fighting Irish proudly during Coach Kelly's first season. What did you learn from him last year, and how will it help you be the best Leprechaun you can be this year?

MIKE: I learned so much from Leprechaun Diz last year, and he definitely left me some big little Leprechaun shoes to fill. He really knew how to interact with the fans and get everyone riled up. His passion and unwavering belief in the Irish is something I will carry with me this year to help me be the best Leprechaun I can be!

Leprechaun Mike poses with the National Champions of Women's Soccer

Thanks to Clashmore Mike for taking time out of his gameday preparations to share his thoughts with the fans. We look forward to seeing him do his thing out there for the first time on what we Leprechauns like to call “The Big Stage.” May the Luck of the Irish be with you, Mike!

Be sure to check back with IRISH CREED for PART II of this Exclusive! While your at it, show your current Leprechaun some Twitter-Love by following him @FightinIrishLep

Crist Quotes

2011-08-29T00:37:00.000-04:00

“Success is what drives me. I want this team to be successful. I want this school to be successful. I just care about the guys in the locker room so much that as a team I just want us to be as successful as we can possibly be.”

SEVEN DAYS...

2011-08-27T14:00:00.000-04:00

2011 Season Predictions

2011-08-23T20:50:00.000-04:00

With Kelly's announcement that Dayne Crist will start for the Fighting Irish in 2011, all of the major pieces are in place and it is time for my cautiously optimistic season predictions. While I did predict big seasons for Theo Riddick and Ethan Johnson last year, I may have been slightly overzealous when I called for a 13-0 National Championship run. Did I learn my lesson this year? Read on:

2011 Season Predictions:

Offensive MVP: Mike Floyd - Say it along with me: "Crist to Floyd." Now repeat, at least 10 times per game. After an unfortunate misstep that almost cost him his chance to finish out his career and his degree at Notre Dame, Floyd is back and focused on one thing... football. This is bad news for secondaries everywhere.

Offensive Breakout Player: Theo Riddick - I'm looking for Theo to take his game to the next level this year as he develops into a Golden Tate type weapon. By switching into RB mode after catching the ball in open space, he should be able to produce in the same way that GT did on a weekly basis. The more touches, the better.

Defensive MVP: Manti Te'o - With another year under his belt, the unmistakeable leader of our defense will undoubtedly continue his trend of leading the team in tackles. Look for him to make quicker recognitions more often, which will lead to even more bone-crushing hits and hopefully an abundance of turnovers. I can't wait to see him get his hands on a loose ball with space to run... truck stick!

Defensive Breakout Player: Louis Nix - Fighting Irish fans will witness a much meaner and leaner "Irish Chocolate" as the redshirt-freshman looks to make a big impact and anchor our defense in 2011. With support on both sides coming from starting DEs Ethan Johnson and Kapron Lewis-Moore, as well as big time threats offered by true-freshmen Aaron Lynch and Stephon Tuitt, look for "Irish Chocolate" to smother opposing interior lines and rack up TFLs.

Special Teams MVP: David Ruffer - We finally had the type of consistent kicking game that allowed us to convert on drives that stalled outside the redzone last year, due to the 23 straight FGs made by this former walk-on turned all-pro who made Rudy's story look like a joke. Don't be surprised if he converts on every single kick this year.

Special Teams Breakout Player: Kyle Brindza - Kelly announced that true-freshman Brindza will be taking over kickoff duties this year, and after watching his high school highlights (yes, I watched a high school kicker’s highlight reel, can’t say I don't do my research) during which he showcased his ability to consistently boot the ball well beyond the endzone, I understand why. Look for touchbacks every time we kick off this year, something we have failed to accomplish for years.

Overall MVP: Mike Floyd - Mike will break many a Notre Dame receiving record this year, and rightfully so. If he can stay healthy all season for the first time in four years, he has a chance to be the second Firghting Irish WR to win the Biletnikoff Award over the past 3 years.

2011 Season Record: 13-0 (NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!)

Go ahead and hate, but as my good friend TenDomer would say, Kelly's got me CHUGGING the Green Koolaid right now... He just may be the best coach in college football, his players know his system, he knows his players, and year 2 is the new year 3. We have the weapons we need to win every game on our schedule, and for the first time in my 6 year tenure as a student (I'm currently enjoying my super-super-senior year), we actually have DEPTH ON DEFENSE!

The way I see it, after a dominating opening day performance against USF we will finally put the Big House to sleep under the lights in week 2. Then we will show Sparty he doesn't deserve to be ranked ahead of us when we come out on top in a fierce week 3 matchup, after which we will make quick work of Pitt, Purdon't, and Air Force. Then comes our epic showdown against archrival $C under the lights in Notre Dame Stadium. The entire campus will be so amped that we will have won even before the opening kick. Next, Kelly will solve the mystery of Navy's option, prove that Wake is fake, trample the turtles, and outclass Backup College. As a grand finale, the battle of the nerds will fail to live up to its hype as we smoke the trees and make Andrew Luck wish he had chosen the Carolina Panthers over the lamest school west of the Mississippi.

In the end, we will exorcize the Ghost of Sugar Bowl past by beating FSU in the BCS National Championship... after which we will paint Bourbon Street green.

Welcome to the Center of the Universe

2011-08-18T22:24:00.001-04:00

the only greek letters to be found at Notre Dame

Friday marks the beginning of Frosh-O 2012. To all those freshman Domers about to begin their journeys as part of the Notre Dame Family, welcome to your new home. To all those returning to campus, enjoy it while it lasts because it goes by far too fast. To all those lucky enough to join the ranks of the Blessed Men and Brothers of Alumni Hall, congratulations. As of tonight, our letters have been lit and we are ready to rule campus once again from atop our throne located at the Center of the Universe. Visitors on campus are reminded to arrive at the ~~South Quad~~ Alumni Quad entrance of Alumni Hall at precisely 12:38pm every friday before home football games to witness the greatest sight anyone's eyes have ever seen (the one of a kind music and dance extravaganza known simply as Quad Dancing).

All Hail The King. All Hail Alumni Hall.

Kelly quotes:

2011-08-16T11:05:00.002-04:00

"Our recruiting has changed in that you are coming here to play for Our Lady."

"You know, it doesn't matter if I believe it. It's what our players believe in. We believe in them. As I said, our weaknesses are in depth. I'll put my 22 against anybody else. But the game's not played with 22. You got to have other guys right to go. We think we have some areas we need to address that give us more depth. But we're confident in our 22 against anybody in the country."

Fitting Tribute to Devine

2011-08-11T18:57:00.001-04:00

The late great Notre Dame head football coach and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Dan Devine will finally join the ranks of Rockne, Leahy, Parseghian and Holtz as the University plans to complete its tribute to the five coaches who have led the Fighting Irish to national championships by unveling his likeness outside Gate A of Notre Dame Stadium on Friday, October 7, the day before Notre Dame takes on Air Force.

Rockne outside the North Tunnel

Leahy outside Gate C

Parseghian outside Gate B

Holtz outside Gate D

In six seasons as head coach of the Fighting Irish, Devine compiled a record of 53-16-1 (.764). He brought Notre Dame to the pinnacle of college football during his 1977 national championship run, which included the legendary “Green Machine” game against our arch rival Cal Southern Trojans (click the link for a great video recapping that game).

The Trojans came into Notre Dame Stadium in 1977 riding a 7-1-2 record over the past ten contests against the Fighting Irish. Recognizing that “something special was going to be needed to get the Fighting Irish back in the winning trend,” Devine reached back to the days of Rockne and beyond in order to give his team the edge they needed.

After their final practice leading up to the game, he spoke to the team as a whole about the name “Fighting Irish” which they shared with the famous Irish Brigade of the Civil War. He told them the story of the Irish Brigade’s notorious green flag that brought fear to the hearts of Confederate soldiers while inspiring the Union forces to "fight like Irishmen." He then explained how the color green symbolized a great struggle for freedom in Ireland during which brave men had "died so that Ireland might be free."

Devine’s history lesson left his team feeling confused as they left practice, but when they arrived for battle the next day they were greeted by the sight of bright green uniforms hanging in each of their lockers. The players’ adrenaline began to pump at that moment, and when they came charging out of the tunnel into a surprised Notre Dame Stadium they overawed their fans and their opponents alike with “Fighting Irish” bravado.

Their newfound swagger led them to a 49-19 annihilation of the Trojans, and the momentum generated by that game carried them all the way to the Cotton Bowl, where they defeated Texas to claim their spot atop the college football world once again. The “Green Machine” game engineered by Devine would become a legendary symbol of the “Fighting Irish” spirit.

Fr. Corby blesses the Union and Irish Brigade flags at the Battle of Gettysburg
prior to becoming the president of Notre Dame.

Despite his success, Devine was never fully embraced by the Notre Dame fanbase during his tenure as head coach. It is good to see that he will finally be memorialized alongside his peers as one of the leading figures in Fighting Irish history.

Only one gate remains bare after the addition of Devine's statue, but rumor has it that a spot has already been reserved for the instalation of a bronze piece under what is sure to become Brian Kelly Gate.

The 2011 Campaign: 1st Day in Full Pads

2011-08-11T00:57:00.001-04:00

The weather gods smiled down upon our campus as God's Mom watched her favorite football team practice in full pads for the first time this year.

Highlights provided by UND.com

Notable moments of the day included the impressive play of a leaner, meaner Louis Nix (recently self-nicknamed Irish Chocolate), an intense pancake block by freshman TE Ben Koyack that fired up the whole squad (at 1:55), and the ferocity of freshman DE Aaron Lynch as he initiated contact with opposing offensive lineman to reach the ball carrier on multiple occasions (at 2:18 and 2:55).

Overall, today demonstrated how the focused energy and the all-in attitude shared by the squad's established leaders make this team stand out in comparison to those of the recent past.

On Day 1 of Year 2 under the Kelly Regime, the Fighting Irish looked driven, locked in, and fueled by a fresh sense of confidence. As an added bonus, the flashes of brilliance shown by Kelly's first class of recruits (though they are admittedly still very raw) stand as signs of good things to come for the future of Notre Dame Football. I am known by many to be a slightly delusional optimist, but I do believe that our return to glory is looming just over the horizon.

Kelly quotes:

2011-08-06T13:06:00.000-04:00

"I don't walk around with my "Top 25" t-shirt on."

Summer Ode to Our Lady's University

2011-08-03T18:09:00.001-04:00

It’s August at Notre Dame.

The most sacred of all stadiums soaks in the cosmic rays that feed its emerald green blades of grass.

Its hallowed halls are empty.

The scoreboard stands aloft, unlit.

The Mural of Life peers through the steely gates that safeguard the silent tunnel.

Then, as if out of nowhere, to those true keepers of the faith who stop and listen closely alongside Rockne while he holds his all-knowing smirk forever cast in bronze, a faint whisper rises to an almost audible level.

A new feeling floats through the air.

Something different is soon to come.

Soon, the shrill shriek of whistles mixed with the unmistakable cracking of helmets and pads will escape over the fortress walls of Labar.

Soon, Kelly's Irish Brigade will earn their path to glory through blood and sweat, but never a tear, as they toil under the summer sun.

Soon, as his exhausted troops lay snug in their beds, visions of slant routes and Hail Marys will dance through their heads.

Soon, blue gray skies will settle in over the Golden Dome as the leaves begin to change color.

Soon, the oldest band in the land will send volley cheers on high, and the greatest of all fight songs will bathe our campus with a spirit that, if bottled, could light up the universe.

Soon, that barely perceptible presence will swell into a rising rumble and the echoes of our past glories will reawaken, slowly mounting until that day when the Fighting Irish once again begin to shake down the thunder from the sky that hangs over the Cathedral of College Football…

Soon, the loyal sons of Notre Dame will rally.

Soon, throngs of her fans will sing her glory and sound her fame.

Soon, all will be right in the land of the Fighting Irish as we march onward to victory.

A CALL TO ARMS: LEPRECHAUN LEGION OF DOOM

2011-02-12T15:28:00.005-05:00

Coach Brey celebrates a victory with his impersonators
in the Leprechaun Legion student section

College basketball is a game of emotion, where momentum swings can change the outcome of a game or entire season. For that reason, home court advantage plays a huge role in any successful regular season. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Big East, college basketball’s most dominant conference in 2011. What comes to mind when you think of the top venues in the conference? The unmatchable atmosphere of MSG is immediately obvious, both as the site of the Big East Tournament and the source of superhuman strength for the St. John’s Red Storm (just ask the #3 Dukies). Then, there’s Cuse’s dome sweet dome that brings hordes of orange men and women together behind their beloved citrus-flavored squad. Mention also has to be made of Pitt’s animalistic “Zoo” and Nova’s Pavillion, which has been sold out for years uncountable. Actually, speaking of sell-outs brings me to the subject of this post: Notre Dame’s Leprechaun Legion.

Historically, the JACC has provided the Fighting Irish with a remarkable advantage over all regular season opponents, no matter the rankings involved. This trend has continued into the modern era, and during my first two years as a student Notre Dame didn’t lose a single game at home. They’re back at it again this year, with an unblemished record and only two more home games against Seton Hall and Nova.

What has been the source of this home court “luck of the Irish?” None other than the notoriously raucous Leprechaun Legion. In years past, the loyal Legion has spent many a cold day (and sometimes nights) camping out in sub-zero temperatures in order to gain access to the coveted first few rows that set the tone for every home game. The Legion has always been extremely vocal and passionate, forcing the College Game Day crew to admit they had never come across a more lively or spirited student section (not even the Cameron Crazies?!) when they visited in 2009.

The Leprechan Legion in action

2011 tells a different story, though. It’s true that the front few rows continue to impress with pithy remarks spelled across rows in body paint, the fan-favorite “Irish Men” in body suits, and the recent contingent of suit coat and mock turtle neck clad Brey imposters (see above picture) bringing the JACC to life. While these impressively obsessive members of the Legion have maintained much of the intensity this year, something is sadly lacking during the remarkable run of a team that no one credited at the outset of the season. If you take a step back, you will notice that our arena is usually embarrassingly empty for a team that is ranked #7 nationally. With the departure of Harangody, many students found it too hard to keep the faith, thus refusing to buy season tickets. What they failed to recognize was the late season surge the Fighting Irish had put on without Luke last season, and the dangerous combination of experienced leaders that Brey had developed into a championship caliber squad. It’s truly a shame that so many won’t get a chance to see these guys play in person.

Alas, not all is lost. There is something we can do about it. Actually, there are five things we can do about it:

1. We must make sure every student ticket already bought is being used for every game. Many who bought the entire booklet opt to sit out some of the games, and their tickets go to waste. Unlike football stubs, individual basketball tickets are completely transferrable to other students. It’s a simple solution: If you don’t feel like going to a game, give your ticket to someone who does. If you want to go but don’t have a ticket, ask around campus and odds are you will find one floating around somewhere.

2. Those of us who do have tickets and continue to attend every game must make up for our comrades’ absence. This includes not only the student section, but the entire crowd inside the JACC. For every empty seat you see, you need to be that much louder and livelier. In case you haven’t noticed, every time the entire crowd gets on its feet and into the game our team can’t help but go on a scoring run or buckle down for a great defensive stand. The team feeds off our energy, and as a member of the crowd there’s nothing better than watching the direct impact your collective energy can have on a game. Try it, its fun.

3. For our final home game, a critical in-conference contest against Villa-no-fun, the powers that be need to find their inner generosity and open up the doors for all students to attend free of charge. As the world’s preeminent Catholic university, we should be able to find it within ourselves to forgive their lack of loyalty by welcoming back our prodigal sons and daughters to return for one last send off worthy of a team ranked in the top 10. Not only could doing so seal the deal on an undefeated season at home, but it could represent a tremendous showing of unity that gives the team something to remember as they head off to battle in the Big East Tournament and beyond.

4. All you Subway Domers in NYC need to rally around the flag come tournament time in MSG. Having spent an entire week in the Big Apple during the tournament run last season, I saw first hand just how scattered our supporters were compared to almost every other team in contention. In fact, most other teams seem to have a designated bar (not that I frequented them…) for their supporters to congregate in, get amped for upcoming games, and most importantly buy/sell/trade tickets with their fellow fans. With all the Irish Pubs surrounding MSG (so I’ve been told), it baffles me why the Fighting Irish have not been able to come up with such an arrangement. I’m talking to you, big time NYC alums who have more connections than Tetris: Set something up to harness the collective energy of the Notre Dame / New York connection (after witnessing ND v. Army in Yankee Stadium, we all know its there…).

5. Finally, we need to mobilize our masses for the NCAA tournament. Everyone knows that Notre Dame travels exceedingly well for football. Why can’t this be so for basketball?! If, God granting, we land a good position in the Chicago region, we should all see it as a golden opportunity handed to us on a silver platter (see what I did there?). The South Shore Line exists for a reason, the Alumni network in Chicago is ridiculously strong, and need I remind you that the greatest of all holidays (the one that turns the river green) just so happens to coincide with the first rounds of the tournament? Oh yeah, and Notre Dame students will be on spring break… sounds like the perfect storm for Fighting Irish glory to me…

IRISH CREED writers FightingIrish1313 (far left) and TheNDleprechaun (second from left) watch a Notre Dame victory with the Leprechaun Legion

Despite Snow, Kelly's Staff Strikes Recruiting Gold

2011-01-15T16:48:00.006-05:00

Despite witnessing the aftermath of a record-setting snowfall that has blanketed much of campus, Florida native and highly touted football prospect Aaron Lynch finally committed to Notre Dame today over Miami and Florida. Lynch will enroll early three days from now, joining fellow incoming defensive end Ishaq Williams in the classroom as the newest members of Kelly's 2011 recruiting class.

Both Lynch and Williams have been highly regarded as two of the top pass rushers in the nation at the high school level, and they will be joining a lineup that brings together several more standout athletes on the defensive side of the ball, including Stephon Tuitt, another defensive end that remains "firmly committed" to the Fighting Irish despite his current visit to Georgia Tech.

Assuming that all 22 members of Kelly's first true recruiting class will remain committed until National Signing Day, the Notre Dame coaching staff will have brilliantly composed an army of reinforcements that could have an immediate impact as they supplement an already surging defense next season.

It has been a long time since the Notre Dame defense struck fear into the hearts of opposing players, but defense just might be the key to Kelly's vision of a hard-nosed football team and his desire to put the "fight" back in the Fighting Irish.

Coupled with the return of Hurricane Floyd, these mid-winter additions to an already powerful defensive front should warm the hearts of all those Fighting Irish fans who are looking forward to a successful 2011 season.

(View Lynch's film review here)

(View Tuitt's film review here)

Texts from a True Fan

2011-01-06T02:09:00.001-05:00

When it comes to being a Notre Dame fan, Irish Creed writer FightingIrish1313 is almost as hopelessly neurotic as he is fiercely loyal. To illustrate this point, I have compiled a barely-edited log of the text messages he sent me during our latest basketball win over the #9 ranked UConn Huskies:

(I’ll let you fill in the blanks for yourself)

Tuesday, Jan 4, 2011

7:05 p.m. – “screwed without scott I want cooley to play a lot atkins and ben not good on same line”

7:08 p.m. – “Totally a foul on ben”

7:10 p.m. – “Got lucky there tim u can dribble bud… that last play too easy”

7:17 p.m. – “Ben always gets those stupid fouls in the back court”

7:20 p.m. – “Ouch tim”

7:34 p.m. – “Stupid take by martin”

7:35 p.m. – “And that’s a foul how?”

7:42 p.m. – “Clearly our ball but ref shudnt be able to change his call haha wtf”

7:50 p.m. – “Tim 1 for 4 ft”

7:51 p.m. – “Taste”

8:09 p.m. – “What are these fouls?!”

8:11 p.m. – “This is insane why can’t brey yell!”

8:20 p.m. – “Sloppy ben”

8:23 p.m. – “Ugh bs”

8:24 p.m. – “Omg we’re ____”

8:44 p.m. – “No foul why?”

9:01 p.m. – “Dude famous brey calls a timeout with 9 seconds left and can’t setup a ____ play and tim gosh ____ didn’t shoot that open 3”

9:02 p.m. – “Put it in the hands of the freakin foul shooters nash shudnt be at top of key”

9:02 p.m. – “Holy santa claus ____”

9:05 p.m. – “That was an insane foul call”

9:07 p.m. – “Omg this is luck”

9:08 p.m. – “Almost threw that ____ out of bounds… need a drink”

Sun Bowl Awards

2011-01-02T17:21:00.002-05:00

The 2010 Fighting Irish celebrate after defeating Miami 33-17
in the Hyundai Sun Bowl (Louis Nix throws down an upside-down "U")

The Fighting Irish finished off 2010 with a 33-17 win over the Miami Hurricanes in the Hyundai Sun Bowl, completing a four-game winning streak during which they outscored opponents 108-39. The offense jumped out to an early lead, and the defense completely shut down Miami's passing game en route to a dominating performance.

Top-Ten most valuable influences on the game:

1. Brian Kelly – It was evident from the outset that Kelly had his team motivated, focused, and ready to play despite the many distractions that go along with playing in a bowl game. He obviously took advantage of the 15 bonus practices between the win over U$C and the Sun Bowl, coming up with a crisp game plan that utilized Notre Dame's strengths and took advantage of Miami's weaknesses perfectly. It all starts at the top, and due to Kelly's coaching the Fighting Irish were worlds apart from a sloppy and flat Miami team who may have treated their trip to El Paso as nothing more than a vacation. Unfortunately for them, their holiday was cut short with a rude awakening due to the lethal combination of sub-40 degree weather and an opponent that wanted it much more than they did.

2. Bob Diaco – Our defensive coordinator took a tremendous amount of heat after an embarrassing defensive performance against Navy followed by a loss to Tulsa. Since then, he has engineered a total transformation by forming a defense that has been truly lights-out. The trend began against the high-powered Utah offense, which could not find the endzone in Notre Dame Stadium, and it continued when U$C could not establish a run game on senior night in the Coliseum. In the Sun Bowl, Miami's ground attack never had a chance to get going and Diaco's defensive scheme tormented the Hurricane quarterbacks from the outset. For the first time in a while, defense has become a strength at Notre Dame thanks to Diaco.

3. Tommy Rees – Kelly's choice for the game ball, the now 4-0 signal caller looked like anything but a true freshman against Miami. He showed poise in the pocket as he methodically and systematically picked apart a defense that ranked #2 in pass efficiency during the regular season. Not only did he connect on accurate throws all game long, but he easily recognized and exploited the mismatches that his receivers created. Most importantly, he played within himself while executing Kelly's game plan brilliantly.

4. Michael Floyd - Nobody was going to stop Mike from playing like Mike in what may turn out to be his last game for the Fighting Irish. The superstar receiver broke the all-time record for touchdown receptions in the first quarter, going on to finish the game with 6 catches for 109 yards with 2 scores. He earned the MVP accolades he was awarded at the end of the game by imposing his will on Miami's secondary, just as he did against U$C and throughout his career at Notre Dame. He will be sorely missed if he does end up heading to the NFL in 2011, but his leadership and many clutch performances will not be forgotten.

5. Harrison Smith – Harry became the definition of ball-hawk against Miami, flying all over the field on his way to 7 tackles and 3 interceptions. Every time Miami looked like they might get a drive started while the game was still within reach, he snatched away all hope by coming up with a big play. More than once, he came out of absolutely nowhere to jump a route and rip the ball away from a receiver. Not only did he force Harris our of the game after picking him off for the second time, but he added one against Morris as well. Needless to say, both quarterbacks are probably still having nightmares about #22.

6. Theo Riddick – The Chronicles of Riddick continued as Theo returned to his true form by making Riddick-ulous plays in various roles within the Fighting Irish offense. He helped establish the running game by presenting a dangerous threat every time he lined up in the wild-cat (or Leprechaun, as Kelly calls it) formation, and he showed off his natural ability by gaining positive yardage several times even when plays broke down. Hopefully his Sun Bowl performance was just a glimpse of future greatness as Kelly continues to come up with creative ways to get him the ball.

7. Robert Hughes – The only downside to Hughes' recent explosion is that it took this long for him to realize his full potential. The big bruiser ran with authority in the Sun Bowl, leaving bruised and battered Hurricanes in his path. His power provided the perfect compliment to Cierre Wood's speed and Theo Riddick's moves, and he even showed off some impressive speed when he caught up to his own fumble along the sideline.

8. The Irish O-line: Zack Martin, Chris Stewart, Braxston Cave, Trevor Robinson, and Taylor Dever - These beasts gave Rees more than enough time to shred Miami's secondary, and they opened up holes for Hughes, Wood, and Riddick early and often against a defense that was ranked #1 in tackles-for-loss during the regular season. Most importantly, they set the tone early on by smashing the Hurricane defense in the mouth and letting everyone know that the Fighting Irish came to play.

9. David Ruffer – Can everyone please beg Brian Kelly to give this kid a scholarship? (Ask him via twitter!) Even though he had his first miss of the season, he accounted for 12 points, including an impressive 50 yarder that effectively put the game out of reach before halftime. Notre Dame hasn't had a consistent kicker in years, and Mr. Dependable continued to prove himself worthy of a scholly with this latest performance.

10. El Paso, Texas – The hometown crowd sent a volley cheer on high when the Fighting Irish took the field, and they continued to provide Notre Dame with the clear home-field advantage throughout the contest. The 37 degree temperature coupled with a dusting of snow didn’t hurt either. Even though the Miami quarterbacks probably won’t blame all those interceptions on their ridiculous neck-warmers (shouldn't the Convicts be well accustomed to wearing ski-masks?!) their discomfort was evident. While almost all of the men from South Bend went sleeveless, the boys from South Beach looked eager to pack their bags and head back to warmer weather (ironically, chants of "Warm up the bus!" could be heard before the first half even ended).

Sun Bowl Prediction

2010-12-31T13:12:00.005-05:00

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

2010-12-29T18:43:00.010-05:00

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