Simple Case for the Hei5man

This morning, I read the most powerfully straight forward case for Manti Te'o to win the Heisman Trophy that I have been able to find amongst the thousands that currently litter the internet.  Here it is below, courtesy of my good friend and current Notre Dame Law School student Alex Blair:

Let's be honest with ourselves, Manti Te'o will not be allowed to win the Heisman. The media that compose the bulk of the Heisman voters is too in love with nicknames, with pizzaz, with magic. 

The Heisman Trophy is supposed to go to "the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity." 

Winners supposedly "epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work." Instead, the trophy should just say "outstanding running back or quarterback." The Heisman has been awarded annually since 1935. Michigan's Charles Woodson was the only defensive player to have won it, but he did so because he also scored touchdowns as a kick returner and a receiver. Ohio State's Orlando Pace was the greatest offensive lineman of all time, but that wasn't enough to overcome some guy named Danny Wuerffel. 

I could tell you about Te'o's gaudy stats and game-changing plays in each of the biggest games that Notre Dame has played this season, but let's not waste text. Ultimately, they don't matter. The media likes cling to things like total yards as if they reflect individual achievement in football, the most team-centric of sports. 

Johnny Football isn't even the most outstanding football player on his own offense, he's just the easiest to measure. Anyone who has followed Notre Dame knows that without Te'o, the Irish have three losses, probably more. He's the rock not just of the defense, but the entire team. The most outstanding college football player wears No. 5 and plays linebacker for Notre Dame. No player epitomizes ability, diligence, perseverance and hard work like Te'o. 

A vote for Manziel is a vote for everything

the Heisman has become. 

A vote for Te'o is a vote for everything

the Heisman should be. 

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.  

Irish sack Troy, set sights on Miami

As the final seconds of our seemingly out-of-nowhere 12-0 miracle season ticked off the clock at the LA Coliseum, Notre Dame's 22-13 victory over Southern Cal left many loyal sons and daughters speechless, including Manti Te'o, who admitted he was at a loss for words.  

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words though, and the below video speaks volumes about the joy that so many of us share but can't quite describe:  (from UND.com)



As a added bonus for all those who love to hate on Lane Kiffin as much as I do, the first half of the below video shows him having to endure the ecstatic sounds of Notre Dame's post-victory locker room celebration featured in the above video as he answers questions about how he managed to somehow blunder his way to a 7-5 record after starting off season ranked #1:  (from USC Athletics)

Preseason Rankings:

USC: #1

ND: Unranked

Final Rankings:

ND: #1

USC: Unranked

"In the same way, the last will be first, and the first will be last, because many are called, but few are chosen." 
Matthew 20:16

#1 ND @ unranked SC

GO IRISH!

BEAT SC!

"Before, I always wondered, 'What would life be like if I went to USC? What would life be like if I went here or here?' I've always wondered that. But I think after this season, I don't have that anymore. This is where I was meant to be." -Manti Te'o

SCORE PREDICTION:

(#1) Notre Dame: 31

(unrakned) Cal Southern: 17

We'll see you in Miami...

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

Notre Dame is 8-0. Do you believe?

"Ya gotta believe!" - Lou Holtz

Not many did, including most of the Fightin' Irish Faithful.  

Yet, here we stand.  

Notre Dame is 8-0.

  

Four games stand between Kelly's squad and perfection.

  

The final battle will take the form of a showdown in the LA Coliseum against the Men of Troy, 

featuring fallen preseason favorites and their once-hopeful Heisman candidate, now yearning to spoil the hard fought success of a band of underdogs led by their grieving warrior-hero...

 a seemingly fitting climax to a script that would leave many a Hollywood writer green with envy. 

My suggestion?  Enjoy the ride.

Fightin' Words: 6 down, 7 to go

Midway through the regular season, the Fightin' Irish stand at 6-0 and #5 in the BCS standings.  Leading up to the matchup with BYU on Saturday, senior captain and All-American LB Manti Te'o spoke with Jim Rome about the adversity he has faced this year and what Notre Dame means to him.  Rome described it as "one of the most astonishing, inspiring conversations I've ever had with an athlete."  MUST LISTEN: catch the broadcast here, and take some time to ponder the quote below.
God bless, and GO IRISH!

Guest Preview: Notre Dame @ Stanford

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.

Shamrock Series: Washington D.C.

"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?

Anchors Aweigh for Fightin' Irish

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!

GO IRISH! BEAT $C!

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.

Recapping Stanford

Finally winning the turnover battle and getting consistency from Te'o were all for naught against a Stanford team that dominated the Irish on both lines.

ND's ends and outside backers failed to generate any pass rush. By contrast, Harbaugh's three-man rush meant trouble for Crist against 8 dropped defenders. Reminiscent of the '08 BC game, the most troubling part was that ND still couldn't run the ball.

Called runs on two of the first three snaps netted a combined 2 yards (which was average yesterday, sadly), showing a willingness to run but failed execution.

Kelly reflected on Sunday. "I'd like to have a little more balance...We have to evolve a little further in running the football."

The offensive ineptitude reversed its previous progression, but the line of scrimmage most importantly revealed just how far ND has to go in terms of physical and mental toughness. Weakness up front likely led to unsound playcalling (throwing on 3rd and 1) and game mismanagement at the end of the first half. Crist will bounce back, but Stanford highlighted our more pressing problems.

ND rushed 23 times against Stanford and an average of 31.3 times in the previous three games. The YPC average was an even wider difference when comparing Stanford to the other opponents, though. Kelly knows we need to run the ball better. While the defense was previously the overwhelming question mark, implementing the rushing goal has joined it as the major keys to the rest of the season.

IBG: Let’s Get This Party Started Edition

Thanks to Frank at UHND for writing the questions for the ND v. Purdont week Irish Blogger Gathering. Check out our responses, and feel free to let us know what you think:

1. Name one offensive player and one defensive player you are most excited to see in the new systems and why.

tendomer:
Kyle Rudolph - Wildcat possibility is a savage wrinkle.
Darius Fleming - The mike makes the calls, but the cat makes the big plays.

TheNDleprechaun:
Theo Riddick - Playing slot WR in the spread will give him opportunities to unleash his talent and rack up YACS.
Ethan Johnson - Returning to his rightful position as a DE will set him up for a breakout year.

2. What’s one reason you think Brian Kelly is the right coach this time. What’s one reason you think he might not be?

tendomer:
- He went 34-6 at Cincinnati.
- I prefer a run-first power offense, although Kelly’s preference for the pass is generally overstated because of last year’s departure from his usual balance.

TheNDleprechaun:
- BK understands the true significance of his job as the head football coach at Notre Dame.
- Trick question, he is the right coach.

3. A lot of people are labeling Purdue, Boston College, and Michigan State as toss up games. Considering Notre Dame beat all three of these teams during the disappointing 2009 season, do you consider these games toss-ups or games you expect Notre Dame to win?

tendomer: Notre Dame is heavily favored against and will defeat Purdue. BC and MSU are toss-ups largely because they’re on the road and likely both at night, and I expect ND to split this pair.

TheNDleprechaun: Unfortunately for Purdue, they drew the unlucky slot as the first opponent BK and the new Fighting Irish will face. Also, I don't care what the circumstances are, every Domer should always expect to beat Backup College. As for little sparty... this picture should sum it up:


4. What’s one reason you think Notre Dame could shock the world and pull of another 1964-type season? What’s one reason you’re concerned we might see more of a 1997-type season?

tendomer: The parallels to the book Resurrection are startling, and Kelly's recent admission that he could not imagine ND being his first head coaching job evokes Parseghian's quote about needing every one of his previous years as a head coach. BK's 19 seasons means there's no chance of a '97 repeat.

TheNDleprechaun: BK inherited extremely talented players, and the changes he has already made since coming here will produce a newly energized team focused on doing everything possible to win.

5. Which freshmen do you see contributing the most on the field this year (outside of TJ Jones – that’s too easy)?

tendomer: Austin Collinsworth: Occasional minutes at WR will supplement his time starting on all four special teams units with fellow freshman Danny Spond, whose spot behind Manti Te’o means he won’t play much outside special teams

TheNDleprechaun: Do redshirt freshmen count? Cierre Wood will be the next big time Irish RB to become a household name. Start preordering your #20 jerseys now.

6. Other than Dayne Crist (too easy again) who is the one player Notre Dame can least afford to lose to injury for any significant period of time?

tendomer: Ethan Johnson: The drop off from starters to reserves is steep at both ends in the three-man front.

TheNDleprechaun: Manti Te'o...then again... you can't hurt steel...

7. 2010 Season Predictions

a. Notre Dame record
tendomer: 10-3
TheNDleprechaun: 13-0

b. Bowl game for Notre Dame with opponent
tendomer: Orange v. VT
TheNDleprechaun: National Chamionship v. Boise St.

c. Final ranking
tendomer: 14
TheNDleprechaun: 1

d. Opponent with the highest final ranking
tendomer: Boston College
TheNDleprechaun: Stanford

e. Notre Dame’s offensive & defensive MVP
tendomer: Dayne Crist, Manti Te’o
TheNDleprechaun: Michael Floyd, Manti Te’o

f. Best opponent offensive & defensive player
tendomer: Ronald Johnson, USC; Greg Romeus, Pitt
TheNDleprechaun: Andrew Luck, Stanford; Greg Romeus, Pitt

g. Best opposing coach
tendomer: Kyle Whittingham
TheNDleprechaun: Lane Kiffin...wait, best for our program or for theirs?

h. Game you are most excited to watch
tendomer: Purdue
TheNDleprechaun: Witnessing the Fall of Troy when the Irish storm the Coliseum

i. Game you wouldn't mind watching on DVR
tendomer: Re-watching the game is the only acceptable answer
TheNDleprechaun: What is Tulsa?

j. National Champion
tendomer: Alabama
TheNDleprechaun: Notre Dame

k. Heisman Winner
tendomer: Mark Ingram
TheNDleprechaun: Michael Floyd

l. Purdue game prediction
tendomer: Notre Dame 45, Purdue 21
TheNDleprechaun: ND 41 - PU 17 (haha their initials are PU)

GO IRISH! BEAT BOILERS!

Manti Te’o and the 10,000-Hour Rule

Bob Diaco is a thinking man’s defensive coordinator. When describing Manti Te’o on Friday, he told ISD’s Lorenzo Reyes that “some would say there’s a mathematic equation to how much work and hours go into reaching particular slots of achievement.”

I don’t know if Diaco reads Malcolm Gladwell, whose book Outliers: The Story of Success terms this idea the “10,000-Hour Rule.” Like Gladwell, Diaco later used the Beatles as an example.

Diaco, who majored in sociology, loves to reference all sorts of stuff during interviews. Who could forget the St. Thomas Aquinas homage this spring? The Beatles example, though, makes it seem reasonable that Diaco is up on his Outliers, which isn’t a bad thing. It’s a great book, and what ND fan wouldn’t want our coaches to know about The Story of Success?

According to this theory, Bill Gates and others reached super success by putting in 10,000 hours in an area of interest. It doesn’t necessarily apply smoothly to a sport so dependent on innate physical ability when most major college peers are putting in similar hours.

Nonetheless, Manti and teammates log 20 hours each week in the fall and 8 in the spring, not to mention voluntary time throughout the year. But he’s been playing football a long time, based on an early photo that ISD ran in a May 2009 Christian McCollum story that’s no longer available. 10,000 hours is roughly 20 hours per week for a decade, meaning that it would be very tough for a college sophomore to reach that total without unusually rigorous pre-high school football training. But that’s not the point.

Even without 10,000 or a specific hour count, experience will help Te’o fill many ‘slots of achievement’ this season. As Diaco knows, practice quality and quantity this August is key to make the defense a success story worth writing about in the future.

Film Review: Ben Councell

On his way to a state championship, three-star outside linebacker commit Ben Councell dominated the largest classification in North Carolina in his junior film, courtesy of Athlete Vault. Although he is not the most graceful runner, Councell is an impressive combination of speed and size with the range to play sideline to sideline. His ability to defend the flats in pass coverage is remarkable for a 6-5, 225 prospect. In one instance Councell caught a running back from behind and he typically goes for the big hit. Opponents used power offenses and the spread, and he defended both well.

Councell played with a hand down only sparingly in high school, but his weak first step won’t be a huge problem in the OLB spot at ND. Unlike earlier verbal Clay Burton, sacking the QB is not Councell’s bread and butter. No current ND defender or committed recruit has Councell’s particular skill set, except the new-and-improved Manti Te’o we saw in the Blue-Gold Game. Right now Councell defends the pass better than the run, but he is perfect for Bob Diaco’s defense because the highlights show he already understands a no-crease defense. Councell’s ability to meet the diverse demands of a 3-4 OLB will give a great chance to start after the strong linebacker classes of ’07 and ’08 graduate.