Game Prediction: PURDONT!

Notre Dame Fightin' Irish v. Purdont Boiler Makers

Saturday, Sep. 14, 8:00 p.m. ET, W. Lafayette IN

Key Matchup:  Fightin' Irish DE Stephon Tuitt v. an inept offense - We're all still waiting for Tuitt to break out of his shell and become the beast that preseason hype had us believing he already was.  Despite a miraculous circus catch that gave him his first (but hopefully not last) TD of the season last week, he failed to register a single tackle (what??) against Michigan.  My biggest fear against the skunk bears came true when he consistently lost contain as he found himself unable to adjust to Gardner's speed.  After facing talented mobile quarterbacks during weeks one and two, he should be ready for a coming out party against an inept offense that ranks 103rd on the ground and 98th through the air.  I know it's a night game, but Purdont should probably pack a sack lunch anyway.

Fightin' Irish Offense v. Boiler Maker Defense: BRIAN KELLY WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! Your running backs averaged almost SIX YARDS A CARRY against the skunk bears!  Yet you still found a way to abandon the run!  Tommy Gun does not come with unlimited ammo.  This offense is best served when he conserves his bullets by opting to let his backs run out of the pistol rather than take snaps out of the empty set shotgun.  I hope and pray he never throws over 50 passes again in a single game, and if our backs combine for less than 20 carries ever again I will lose my mind.  (Bonus goes to emerging stud Amir Carlisle, whose dad coaches for Purdont.  Expect him to show off in front of daddy by surpassing the century mark).

Fightin' Irish Defense v. Boiler Maker Offense:  Purdon't really doesn't have anything here.  As punishment for their awful season so far, I hope Diaco purposely leaves our secondary on an island by sending the house every...single... play.  They should be able to handle their own against a receivers who never quite cracked the varsity roster of their respective high schools.  What can we expect from a blitz on blitz on blitz defense? Sacks?  Sacks... Sacks, SACKS, SACKS, SACKS!

Final Outcome:  I hope Carlisle gets at least 30 carries.  Only God knows why Brian Kelly probably won't let that happen, but ND will cover the 21-point spread anyway.  Hendrix will play the whole second half, and Purdon't won't cross the goal line until our entire second-string defense enters the game.

Fightin' Irish: 48

Boiler Makers: 10

Game Day Pics: ND basketball takes down UK

Notre Dame Basketball wrote another chapter in its storied history of dominating top-ranked teams on its home court this past Thursday, when the Irish ballers upset #8 Kentucky 64-50.  

Photo courtesy of Eileen Veihmeyer

Students and fans packed the "Blacked Out" Joyce Center to the brim, creating a hostile environment led by the Leprechaun Legion and several members of the #1 Notre Dame Football team who stood courtside in support of their fellow student-athletes.

OL Mike Golic Jr. fist pumping like a champion today

a live look at the #1 atop Grace Hall for ND Football

Stephon Tuitt, Prince Shembo, and Mike Golic Jr.
leading the student section

Fighting Irish fan Dickie V
contributing to the HeisManti campaign

ND Football captains Kapron Lewis-Moore and Manti Te'o

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, students stormed the court for the 2nd time in 2 years to congratulate their victorious classmates.

Photo courtesy of Eileen Veihmeyer

Stephon Tuitt and Kapron Lewis-Moore rush the court

students celebrating the win and #1 ranking

Spirits remain high in the land of the Fightin' Irish, as Brey's squad continues to take strides and everyone anxiously awaits the football team's trip from South Bend to South Beach for the BCS National Championship game featuring #1 Notre Dame v. #2 Alabama.  

Predictions: ND v. BC

University of Notre Dame

v.

Backup College

This one shouldn't be close.
Then again... last week shouldn't have been close.

What Fightin' Irish fans saw late in the game against Pitt should give them hope, though, as Diaco's defense returned to its dominant form when called upon, and Kelly's offense finally found its way.

What I'd like to see against BC:  

Everett "5uperman" Golson taking complete control of Kelly's spread offense by utilizing the versatile weapons at his disposal (namely Riddick, and hopefully a heavier dose of Atkinson III), relying on his athleticism to make big plays at big times, and embracing his "baller" mentality to become that leader his teammates can count on.

What I'm expecting to see against BC:  

A lot of sacks and interceptions, with BC's Rettig throwing 3 picks last week and getting sacked 7 times over their past 2 games, and ND coming off a season-high 5 sack performance against Pitt.  BC's run game is abysmal, meaning they won't be able to move the ball on the ground against Diaco's dominant front 7.  Kap, Tuitt, and Shembo should thus be able to tee off on Rettig, who will be forced to rush his throws and run for his life to avoid getting his head taken off by our D Boys.  

Bold Prediction: 
Sacks for Kap, Nix, Tuitt, Shembo, and Te'o, with Manti adding another INT and vaulting himself back into the Heisman conversation.

 PROJECTED SCORE:

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME: 37

BACKUP COLLEGE: 10

Despite Snow, Kelly's Staff Strikes Recruiting Gold

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)

Film Review: Stephon Tuitt

Monroe, Ga., defensive end and latest ND commit Stephon Tuitt is the complete package: in addition to moonlighting as a right tackle on offense, Tuitt defends the run and the pass about equally well. He is a snug fit as a 5-technique in Bob Diaco’s 3-4 defense.

Tuitt compliments fellow 2011 commit Aaron Lynch rather well. Tuitt is shorter (by an inch according to listed numbers, but it looks like a shade more), which showed up in his lack of batting down passes, a staple of Lynch’s repertoire. Lynch is more athletic and has a quicker burst off the line, but Tuitt has just as quick feet and might even be faster once he gets going, as shown in the most physically impressive play from any 2011 ND commit on tape: starting 19 seconds into his film, Tuitt chased down a running back from behind without much of an angle. This play screams ‘what ND has been missing’ and ‘how can a big guy move that fast?’ While both need to focus on lower-body lifting, Tuitt is stronger than Lynch in the upper body, heavier (although Lynch has room to outweigh him, if he doesn’t already), and punishes ball carriers with a bit more authority.

At the same stage, Tuitt looks more ready to hold the point of attack against a college offensive line. Lynch’s specific pass-rushing skill set could give the Floridian a more direct route to immediate playing time, but Tuitt had the physical edge from the fall 2009 tape. One will help another, though, because both are good enough to attract either double teams or help for the offensive tackle from a tight end or back. Expect both to log meaningful minutes as freshmen before starring as a top defensive end duo.