Thursday, October 31, 2019

Notre Dame's Founder Died 126 Years Ago...

The founder of the University of Notre Dame du Lac -- Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C. -- died on this date in 1893.

Happy Halloween From Our Granddaughter!


Our "almost 11 month old" granddaughter Kinley is modeling her first ever Halloween costume today in Vero Beach, FL.  Our daughter Kara crafted this ensemble...

Very creative!

It's too bad King's Hawaiian isn't looking for a poster child!

OT: I Wonder If This Has Happened Before...


I am a life-long Detroit Tigers' fan -- this starting rotation couldn't win a World Series in Detroit -- however, within five years of leaving Motown, they all have World Series Rings.

Frustrating.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Notre Dame's Bowl Options -- Moving Forward

Click on above image to enlarge.

So, here's how the bowl options look moving forward for Notre Dame -- assuming that Clemson is in the College Football Playoff:

Finish the season 10 - 2:
  • Orange Bowl or Cotton Bowl

Finish the season 9 - 3:
  • Citrus Bowl or Camping World Bowl

Finish the season 8 - 4:
  • Belk Bowl, Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl or Pinstripe Bowl

Domer Pat Connaughton Featured on NESN...



The former multi-sport student-athlete at Notre Dame -- now playing for the Milwaukee Bucks -- returned home in this feature on the New England Sports Network.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Jim Harbaugh Talks Win Over Notre Dame


The Aftermath -- Michigan Athletics and Media

 
  
 

Coach Kelly & Players Talk Loss to Michigan



Saturday, October 26, 2019

Yes, It's This Big -- Notre Dame vs. Michigan



This fact does not play well for the "good guys" tonight -- Michigan and Notre Dame have played eight previous times at night.  The home team has won everyone of those games.

THAT CHANGES TONIGHT!

Go Irish!

Thursday, October 24, 2019

PROOF: Notre Dame is "America's Team"


The folks at Vivid Seats just released this information on how widespread team's fanbases are in this country -- using ticket sales as the barometer.  Here's what they posted:
  • Notre Dame is the #1 ticket purchased in 171 counties in America
  • Notre Dame has the most number of counties in America -- with ticket buyers -- 1,614 counties

The "heat map" above illustrates where the hot spots are for Notre Dame Football ticket buyers.

LINK:  STORY

ESPN's 150 Years of College Football Poll..



The Notre Dame football helmet -- nothing like it in sport.

Michigan Beat Writers Talk ND vs. Michigan


Klatt & Cowherd Talks Michigan Football...


Tirico & Eisen Talk Notre Dame vs. Michigan



Remember this -- Tirico is a Syracuse grad and Eisen is a Michigan grad.

So, The Notre Dame Band Visits Your School...


Notre Dame Marching Band at Metro Catholic School from Diocese of Cleveland on Vimeo.


50 members of The Band of the Fighting Irish made a visit at a Catholic school in Cleveland...

I want to thank my Notre Dame colleague Dennis Brown for alerting me to this story!

LINK:  STORY

Missed This: Jerome Bettis 2017 Interview


Tuesday, October 22, 2019

NFL Films' Interview of Jaylon Smith...


Jim Harbaugh Talk's Game With Notre Dame


Notre Dame's Men's Golf Team WINS AGAIN!


The 7th ranked Fighting Irish became the first team in the country to win four tournaments!  Notre Dame won the Quail Valley Collegiate Tournament in Vero Beach, FL yesterday!

That's the winning team with some of their parents in the championship photo -- above!

Notre Dame is now 66 - 2 on the season -- the best fall season in the history of our men's golf program!

In addition -- freshman star Palmer Jackson, won his first collegiate tournament -- posting a (-16) score for the three round tournament.  His birdie putt on the final hole gave Notre Dame a one-stroke victory in the team competition!!!

LINK:  STORY

Mike Brey Talks About An Experienced Team


Saturday, October 19, 2019

Harbaugh Talks About Michigan vs. Penn State



This is the game I'll be watching tonight...  And, I'm not sure who I want to win.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Romeo Okwara Featured in GQ Magazine


The former Notre Dame football player -- who now plays with the NFL's Detroit Lions -- was featured in GQ Magazine.  Thought you'd find this story interesting...

Special thanks to my Notre Dame colleague Tim Willis '84 for alerting me to this story.

LINK:  OKWARA IN GQ

Jarron Jones First Domer Taken in XFL Draft


The inaugural XFL 2020 Draft is taking place today -- and they're following a unique format called "phases."

Phase 1:  Offensive Skill Positions

Phase 2:  Offensive Lineman

Phase 3:  Defensive Lineman and Linebackers

Phase 4:  Cornerbacks and Safeties

Phase 5:  Open Draft -- any position


Well, the first former Notre Dame Football star taken today was Jarron Jones -- who played defensive line for the Fighting Irish, but is now an offensive tackle for the New York Guardians.

LINK:  JARRON JONES

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Helton & Players Talk Loss to Notre Dame


Notre Dame Moves Up to #8 in Both Polls


Well, this afternoon there is now seven teams between Notre Dame and a return trip to the College Football Playoff -- but, I believe it's really down now to; LSU, Oklahoma and the Fighting Irish for the fourth spot.

Here's the seven ranked ahead of Notre Dame today.
  • Alabama
  • LSU
  • Clemson
  • Ohio State
  • Oklahoma
  • Wisconsin
  • Penn State

Now, we just have to finish ahead of four of these teams -- here's how this happens.
  • Notre Dame wins out -- goes 11 - 1.
  • There will not be three (3) Big Ten teams ahead of Notre Dame come the first week of December.  That eliminates at least two of these teams -- Wisconsin and Penn State.
  • So, it comes down to two teams -- LSU and Oklahoma -- competing with Notre Dame for that final spot.  

LSU'S REMAINING SCHEDULE -- must lose two of these games...
  •  @ Mississippi State  (3 - 3)
  •  #11 Auburn  (5 - 1)
  •  @ #1 Alabama  (6 - 0)
  •  @ Mississippi  (3 - 4)
  •  Arkansas  (2 - 4)
  •  Texas A&M  (3 - 3)

OKLAHOMA'S REMAINING SCHEDULE -- loses big to Baylor or, is upset by Kansas State or Oklahoma State
  •  West Virginia  (3 - 3)
  •  @ Kansas State  (3 - 2)
  •  Iowa State  (4 - 2)
  •  @ #18 Baylor  (6 - 0)
  •  TCU  (3 - 2)
  •  @ Oklahoma State  (4 - 2)

And, we may need to see Auburn lose to Alabama -- because if Auburn beats LSU -- they will jump ahead of Notre Dame...


LINK:  POLL

Braden Lenzy's Interview After USC Game


The Mornin' After Notre Dame Beats USC


Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the media is saying about Notre Dame's 30 - 27 win over USC...

LINK:  LA TIMES

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LINK:  CBS SPORTS

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Highlights: Notre Dame 30 - USC 27

300+ Yards Rushing -- Notre Dame Beats USC


Friday, October 11, 2019

NBC Hype Video: USC vs. #9 Notre Dame

NBC's Simms Talks Ian Book's Development

Friday Night Bash -- Tonight! @ Notre Dame!

Click on image above to enlarge.

If you're close to South Bend this evening -- come on over to Notre Dame Stadium and join us for the first ever FRIDAY NIGHT BASH inside the heated Concourse -- adjacent to the Frank Leahy Gate.

We are bringing in heaters to deal with the temperature change -- so, don't worry about Mother Nature!

The gates will open immediately at the end of the PEP RALLY -- which should be around 6:30 PM or so.

Kids 12 and under -- GO FREE!

Get your tickets right here:  FRIDAY NIGHT BASH TICKETS

USC Week: Brian Kelly Radio Show


Thursday, October 10, 2019

Brian Kelly Chats With Jaylon Smith...


USC's Defensive Coordinator Talks ND Game


Concert #2 at Notre Dame Stadium: Billy Joel



It was announced this morning that Billy Joel will bring his talents to the House That Rockne Built next June 20th...

Tickets go on sale next Friday -- October 18th.

Just 33 Hours Away from the Friday Night Bash!


If you're in the vicinity of Notre Dame Stadium tomorrow evening -- come on over to the Friday Night Bash!

The gates to the "heated" Notre Dame Stadium Concourse will open at 6:30 PM ET -- immediately at the end of the Pep Rally!

Tickets are $10 -- 100% of the proceeds go to fund financial aid for deserving students at Notre Dame.  Kids 12 and under -- GO FREE!

Read the promotional piece (above) about the Food Trucks -- BEER WILL BE SOLD -- and the two bands that will be performing until 10 PM!

GET TICKETS HERE:  FRIDAY NIGHT BASH

Golic & Wingo Bringing Show to Notre Dame


In fact, it's right downstairs from our office -- in O'Rourke's Public House at Eddy Street Commons.

They are loading in the set and cameras as I write this.

The Golic & Wingo Show will air tomorrow morning (Friday) from the "edge" of Notre Dame's campus -- 6 AM ET to 10 AM ET on ESPN News.  The first two hours are on ESPN2 as well...

Monday, October 7, 2019

USC Week: Brian Kelly Meets With the Media


First Ever -- Friday Night Bash at Notre Dame!



This Friday night -- we'll be hosting a party inside Notre Dame Stadium's Concourse -- for the very first time!  And, we're bringing in some heaters, just in case it gets a little cold for our friends from USC.
  • Food Trucks (five of them)
  • Beer & Soda
  • Bands -- two of them will be performing

Click on image above to enlarge...

The fun begins at 7 PM and goes to 10 PM!

100% of the ticket price goes to fund FINANCIAL AID for deserving Notre Dame students.

Get your tickets right here:  TICKETS

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

A Proposal For Compensating Student-Athletes



The bill that passed in California this week -- which would allow college athletes to hire agents and negotiate endorsement deals (beginning in 2023) -- has taken the paying of student-athletes to an all new level. 

The challenge here is we're probably only talking about a very few college athletes who would benefit from this legislation...

Six years ago -- I proposed this idea -- a way the NCAA could direct some form of compensation to all scholarship student athletes.  Here's what I posted on September 2, 2013:

It's simply this -- create a "pension program" for all NCAA Division I scholarship athletes.  It would look something like this:

  • The NCAA would create a pension program that they and each of the 340 Division I member institutions would agree to contribute to -- out of television and licensing revenues each year.
  • Eligibility:  Every NCAA Division I "student-athlete" -- who signed a National Letter of Intent out of high school with their original school, was on this team's roster a minimum of four academic school years and received a (four-year) college degree from that same institution. 
  • Pension Benefit Payments would be available to the qualified student-athlete once they reach the age of 65.

Here's what this proposed program does for college athletics:
  1. It requires student-athletes to remain in college all four-years and earn a degree.
  2. It puts some 'monetary value' in remaining at the school you signed your original National Letter of Intent with.
  3. And, it treats "every scholarship student-athlete" the same -- no matter what school you played for or sport you played.

For those who feel the requirements are too severe -- the NCAA could easily pay out a "lesser percentage" to those who transferred to another school or, failed to play all four years or graduate...

What do you think?

Inside Notre Dame Football -- Virginia Game


Golden Tate Returns From NFL Suspension