WEEKLY AWARDS: WEEK 7

The Band of the Fighting Irish forms the crest of the Congregation
 of Holy Cross in honor of Brother Andre Bessette

On the day before Brother Andre Bessette, C.S.C. was canonized in St. Peter's Square as the first member of the Congregation of Holy Cross to be named a saint, ND took care of business by beating WMU 44-20 on the same campus once visited by the holy man.  The Fighting Irish clearly outmatched their MAC opponent, getting ahead early and running away with the game during the second half.  Several players contributed to the victory with solid performances.  Here are our picks for Week 7 edition of Irish Creed's Weekly Awards:


TheNDleprechaun:


Overall MVP:  Michael Floyd
 - Finally put up Floyd-like numbers with 9 catches for 157 yards and 3 TDs


Offensive MVP:  Michael Floyd
 - Got our offense rolling right from the start with an 80 yard TD reception on the first play from scrimmage


Defensive MVP:  Gary Gray
 - Becoming a consistent playmaker; Turned in the best performance of his career so far with 8 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception


Special Teams MVP:  David Ruffer
 - Extended his all-time record with another FG made; looked much improved on kickoffs with 2 touch backs and good directional kicking that forced WMU returners into corners


Breakout Player:  Cierre Wood
 - Can you be named a breakout player twice in one season?  Wood proved that his "slump" is officially over by asserting himself as a dangerous threat every time he touches the ball.  Not only did he have 94 yards and 1 TD on the ground, but he hauled in 3 catches for 29 yards as well.  Most importantly, he showed that he has the potential to become a human highlight reel.  Like I said earlier this season, Irish fans should start pre-ordering #20 jerseys now.


Best Play:  Goodman's 32 yard TD throw to Floyd
 - The former Bishop Dwenger quarterback and track star showed that he is a versatile offensive threat by receiving the ball on a reverse and slinging it accurately downfield.




tendomer:


Overall MVP: Michael Floyd
 - Turned underthrown passes into two of his three TDs and set key blocks on the other three scores


Offensive MVP: Michael Floyd


Defensive MVP: Darius Fleming
 - Backed up the staff's talk of his improved play in the flats


Special Teams MVP: David Ruffer
 - Blocked PAT put damper on his season's perfection but his second-half tackle showed toughness


Breakout Player: Tyler Eifert
 - Minus his fumble, Eifert filled in well for Rudolph


Best Play: Manti's third-down stop to begin second half
 - Forcing a three and out set the tone for the second half

ND Stadium gets hit by a double-wave during the only time in which
a wave is acceptable: the second half of a sure blowout victory

Weekly Awards: Week 6

The Goodyear Blimp flies over Notre Dame Stadium
amidst sunshine and 83 degree heat

Several players and plays stood out as the Fighting Irish outlasted Pitt 23-17 on a picturesque Saturday afternoon at Notre Dame.  Here are the picks for the Week 6 edition of our Weekly Awards:


TheNDleprechaun:


Overall MVP: David Ruffer
- accounted for 11 of Notre Dame's 23 points with field goals from 32, 50, and 31 yards out; His long-range leg has given this Fighting Irish team something it has lacked over the past several seasons


Offensive MVP: Michael Floyd
- got Notre Dame on the board with a 1 yd TD reception; finished the day with 7 catches for 59 yards; now tied with Tom Gatewood for fifth most receiving touchdowns in school history

Defensive MVP: Harrison Smith
- finally looked comfortable as a cover-two safety, leading the team with 11 tackles, 2 pass breakups, and adding an interception

Special Teams MVP: David Ruffer
- Set an all-time school record by hitting 16 straight field goals; praised by Kelly for confidently kicking the sixth longest field goal in school history at a critical point in the game

Breakout Player: Ben Turk 
- played a crucial role by helping the FIghting Irish win the field position battle; showed consistency for the first time in his career, netting over 46 yds per punt and landing 3 inside the 20

Best Play: Dayne Crist's 10 yard TD run
- As Kelly noted last week, our offense is tremendously more successful when Crist presents a running threat; on this play he showed athleticism that future opponents will have to account for

The victorious Fighting Irish sing the alma mater

Weekly Awards: Week 5

tendomer's picks:

Overall MVP: Ian Williams
- led the domination of BC's offensive line

Offensive MVP: Braxston Cave
- improved his shotgun snaps and controlled the inside run game

Defensive MVP: Ian Williams
- led the domination of BC's offensive line

Special Teams MVP: Bennett Jackson
- gave ND good field position from the outset

Breakout Player: Prince Shembo
- his two sacks from the cat linebacker spot might take PT from Fleming

Best Play: Robert Blanton's interception
- the nifty tip-and-catch in zone coverage sealed the deal for ND


TheNDleprechaun's picks:

Overall MVP: Carlo Calabrese
- was the toughest player on the field; led the team in tackles (10), adding a sack and 3.5 tackles for loss.

Offensive MVP: Theo Riddick
- led all receivers with 9 catches for 69 yards, making critical catches to sustain drives and exhibiting his Riddick-ulous moves at times.

Defensive MVP: Carlo Calabrese
- held it down every time our defense needed to make a stand; played a central role in limiting BC to only 5 net yards rushing.

Special Teams MVP: Bennett Jackson
- set the tone early by starting off the game with a 63-yard kickoff return; may have solidified his spot as our go-to kick returner.

Breakout Player: Prince Shembo
- showed tremendous potential as a playmaker; asserted himself as worthy of some serious playing time.

Best Play: Armando Allen's career long 30 yard run
- set up Crist's 7 yard TD run just 1:48 into the game - caught BC off guard and set the tone, crucially allowing ND to build an early lead on the road.

A band of loyal students support the Fighting Irish
at a Thursday night rally inside the Stepan Center

Congrats to the Fighting Irish for the first road victory of the season, and to Brian Kelly for a fiery coaching performance during his Boston homecoming.

Weekly Awards: Week 2

TheNDleprechaun's picks:


Overall MVP: Kyle Rudolph

Offensive MVP: Kyle Rudolph

Defensive MVP: Manti Te'o

Special Teams MVP: Patrick Coughlin

Breakout Player: Carlo Calabrese

Best Play: Kyle Rudolph's 95 yd TD




tendomer's picks:


Overall MVP: Dayne Crist

Offensive MVP: Armando Allen

Defensive MVP: Kapron Lewis-Moore

Special Teams MVP: David Ruffer

Breakout Player: Carlo Calabrese

Best Play: Kyle Rudolph's 95 yd TD



FightinIrish1313's picks:


Overall MVP: Dayne Crist

Offensive MVP: Armando Allen

Defensive MVP: Coach Diaco

Special Teams MVP: David Ruffer

Breakout Player: Carlo Calabrese

Best Play: Kyle Rudolph's 95 yd TD



While the sting of our defeat in Week 2 is still tough to bear, several players offered glimpses of greatness that Kelly's Fighting Irish will surely build upon as his first season progresses.  In addition, Kyle Rudolph sent the student section into hysteria with his 95 yd TD reception, the second longest in Notre Dame history.  It seemed like the luck of the Irish was destined to shine down at that point as the sun broke through the clouds and a rainbow appeared over Notre Dame Stadium, but the Fighting Irish Faithful were forced to live with heartbreak at the hands of our longtime enemy once again.  Alas, an opportunity to vent our frustrations presents itself in Week 3 as we set off to stomp out sparty.

A rainbow attempts to break through the gloom
 hanging over Notre Dame Stadium

Weekly Awards: Week 1

Following each Notre Dame football game, Irish Creed will name the recipients of our weekly awards.

Here are our selections for Week 1:

TheNDleprechaun's picks:

Overall MVP:  Armando Allen

Offensive MVP:  Armando Allen

Defensive MVP:  Gary Gray

Speacial Teams MVP:  Bennett Jackson

Breakout Player:  Cierre Wood

Best Play:  Ian Williams' interception

tendomer's picks:

Overall MVP:  Gary Gray

Offensive MVP:  Cierre Wood

Defensive MVP:  Gary Gray

Special Teams MVP:  David Ruffer

Breakout Player:  TJ Jones

Best Play:  Armando Allen's 22-yd TD run

Armando Allen:  Born to Run

Congratulations to Coach Kelly and the Fighting Irish on a hard fought, well-executed victory.

To all Fighting Irish fans who plan on attending next week's rivalry matchup in Notre Dame Stadium:  Wear KELLY GREEN and GET LOUD as we continue to usher in the Kelly Era by letting our new leader know he has the full force of our nation at his back.