90 Years: The Longest Gap for Notre Dame?

When Western Michigan University runs out of the tunnel into Notre Dame Stadium this Saturday -- it will mark the first time Notre Dame has played Western Michigan in 90 football seasons.   They last played each other on October 9, 1920 -- when a senior halfback named George Gipp scored two TD's leading the Irish to a 42-0 victory (see link below).  Please note:  We're still researching to see if this is the longest period of time between two opponents playing in college football history.  What we do know -- thanks to the Notre Dame's Media Relations team -- is that it's not the longest gap in between playing an opponent in Notre Dame history.  That distinction belongs to Notre Dame Baseball and their opponent Mount St. Mary’s.  Their baseball game in 2008 marked 96 seasons since they had last played each other in 1912.  (May 13, 1912 to March 1, 2008)

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. WESTERN MICHIGAN - 1920

Notre Dame Lacrosse -- Coaching Videos

Coming off its most successful season ever in Men's Lacrosse -- NCAA National Championship Runner-up -- the Notre Dame coaching staff has published six coaching/training videos on various aspects of the game.  The great news -- it's free and available to all lacrosse coaches and players.  Here's a link to the Lax Power website -- where the videos reside.  When you get to the web page -- the Notre Dame videos are on the right hand side:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME LACROSSE TRAINING VIDEOS

Latest NCAA FBS Stats for Notre Dame Football

It's Wednesday -- which means it's time for our weekly look at where Notre Dame Football ranks in certain statistical categories amongst the 120 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision -- AT THE HALF WAY POINT OF THE 2010 SEASON.  In this analysis you'll see how Notre Dame currently stands -- as compared to their final ranking for 2009:

DEFENSIVE TEAM STATISTICS

Quarterback Sacks:  2010 Rank - #19 with 15 QB sacks -- in 2009 we had 19 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #92 -- Florida State leads the country with 26 QB sacks.

Interceptions:  2010 Rank - #14 with 8 interceptions -- in 2009 we had 12 interceptions for the season, ranking us #50 -- Florida leads the country with 13 interceptions.

Passes Deflected:  2010 Rank - #23 with 21 pass deflections -- in 2009 we had 28 pass deflections for the season, ranking us #99 -- Oregon leads the country with 37 pass deflections.

Third Down Conversion Rate:  2010 Rank - #30 allowing only 34% conversion rate on third down -- in 2009 we allowed a 39.5% conversion rate, ranking us #67 -- TCU leads the country allowing only a 22.67%  conversion rate.

Turnovers Gained:  2010 Rank - #47 with 10 turnovers gained -- in 2009 we gained 19 turnovers for the season, ranking us #80 -- Oregon leads the country with 22 turnovers gained this season.

Total Yards:  2010 Rank - #83 giving up 398 yards per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 397 yards per game, ranking us #86 -- TCU leads the country giving up 240 yards per game.

Points Allowed Per Game:  2010 Rank - #60 giving up 23.5 points per game -- in 2009 we gave up 25.3 points per game, ranking us #63 -- Iowa leads the country giving up 10.2 points per game.

OFFENSIVE TEAM STATISTICS

Total First Downs:  2010 Rank - #23 with 129 first downs -- in 2009 we had 293 first downs for the season, ranking us #13 -- Nevada leads the country with 165 first downs.

Third Down Conversions:  2010 Rank - #80 with a 35.4% conversion rate -- in 2009 we had a 39.1% conversion rate for the season, ranking us #48 -- Nevada leads the country converting 62.2% of their third downs.

Passing Yardage:  2010 Rank - #8 with 1,707 passing yards (284 yards per game)  -- in 2009 we passed for 3,882 yards (323 yards per game) for the season, ranking us #7 -- Hawaii leads the country with 2,530 passing yards (421 yards per game).

Rushing Yardage:  2010 Rank - #89 with 642 rushing yards (107 yards per game) -- in 2009 we rushed for 1,539 yards (127 yards per game) for the season, ranking us #88 -- Air Force leads the country with 2,116 rushing yards ( 352 yards per game).

Fewest QB Sacks Given Up:  2010 Rank -- #86 giving up 12 QB sacks -- in 2009 we gave up 25 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #66 -- Utah leads the country having only given up 1 QB sack.

Turnovers Lost:  2010 Rank - #92 with 12 turnovers lost -- in 2009 we had 14 turnovers for the season, ranking us #7 -- Oregon State leads the country with 1 turnover lost for the season.

Total Offense:  2010 Rank -- #56 with 2,349 yards (391 per game)  of offense -- in 2009 we had 5,421 yards (451 yards per game) of offense for the season, ranking us #8 -- Oregon leads the country with 3,402 yards (567 per game) of offense.

Points Per Game:  2010 Rank -- #82 with 24.3 points per game -- in 2009 we averaged 30.1 points per game for the season, ranking us #32 -- Oregon leads the country scoring 54.3 points per game.
.

TEAM STATISTICS

Fewest Penalties:  2010 Rank - #20 with 27 penalties -- in 2009 we had 75 penalties for the season, ranking us #50 -- Indiana leads the country in the fewest penalties with 17.

Fewest Penalty Yards:  2010 Rank -- #37 with 260 total yards in penalties -- in 2009 we had 666 yards in penalties, ranking us #60 -- Penn State leads the country in fewest penalty yards with 131.

Net Punting Yards:  2010 Rank -- #82 with an average net of 36.0 yards per punt -- in 2009 we averaged 32.1 yards per punt, ranking us #112 -- Illinois leads the country in net yards per punt with 46.9

Gipp Leads Ramblers to 42-0 Win over Western!

This was the headline -- 90 years ago -- when the University of Notre Dame and Western Michigan University last played each other in football.  Notre Dame was led that day by a senior halfback named George Gipp, who had 14 carries for 123 yards -- scoring 2 TD's.  Gipp also completed a pass for 10 yards in the game.  "The Gipper" -- Notre Dame's first ever All-American football player, died two months later from pneumonia -- his illness led to missing the last game of the 1920 season against Michigan State.  Notre Dame's victory over Western Michigan was one of their nine victories that year -- and their second straight undefeated season and National Championship under third-year Head Coach, Knute Rockne.  Notre Dame played Western Michigan the year before (1919) as well -- beating them 53-0.  Will Western Michigan score their first points ever in football against Notre Dame this Saturday?  And a question for the RESEARCH FREAKS out there -- is this the longest gap of time (90 years) between two opponents playing in college football history?  Here's a link to George Gipp's per game statistics during his football career at Notre Dame:

LINK:  THE GIPP YEARS AT ND

Notre Dame Fans Have A Mobile Ap For That!

CBS Sports released today a mobile ap for Notre Dame fans who have a Blackberry or Droid.  Here's a link to how you can get your FREE ap:

LINK:  A MOBILE AP FOR NOTRE DAME FANS

Watch Coach Kelly's Press Conference Today!

You can watch Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly's Tuesday press conference -- LIVE -- today at Noon EST.  Just click on the link:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

Former Irish Hoops Star: 184 Straight!

Matt Carroll, former Notre Dame basketball player -- and now a guard with the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats -- made 184 consecutive free throws at the end of practice the other day.  Here's a story about his exploits in the Charlotte Observer:

LINK:  HE CAN SHOOT

Hesburgh Receives "Heroes of the World" Award

Former University of Notre Dame president, Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C will receive the "Heroes of the World Award" today at a reception at Notre Dame.  Given by St. John's Preparatory School, Hesburgh is the second recipient of this award -- the first going to the 41st President of the United States, George H. Bush.  Father Ted is no stranger to awards -- in fact, he's listed in the Guiness Book of World Records as the recipient of the Most Honorary Degrees -- last count, more than 150!  Congratulations Father Ted on your most recent honor!

Notre Dame Alum Tops iTunes Charts!

 


University of Notre Dame Alum, Patrick Dupre' Quigley's (pictured) latest album Claudio Monteverdi: Vespers of the Blessed Virgin 1610 put him atop of the iTunes classical charts -- when it was released in August -- and for a brief time the recording was even more popular in the iTunes all genre category than superstar Lady GaGa's "The Fame Monster."  Quigley '00, is the founding artistic director of Seraphic Fire, a Miami-based ensemble of professional singers that performs a variety of choral works, including classical, contemporary, sacred and secular.  Seraphic Fire teamed up with the Western Michigan University Chorale to record this album.  Ironically, the Irish play Western Michigan University this Saturday in Notre Dame Stadium.  After graduating from Notre Dame's Department of Music in 2000, Quigley went on to Yale to get his Master's in conducting -- before founding Seraphic Fire in 2002.  Two years later, he became the youngest ever recipient of the Robert Shaw Fellowship, which the National Endowment for the Arts and Chorus America give to one promising early-career conductor each year.  His Seraphic Fire is known for its high-quality and exciting performances of Baroque and new music. The group appeared with international pop star Shakira, singing the opening Gregorian-style chant on her platinum-selling album, “Oral Fixation 2.”  Here's a few YouTube video links to Seraphic Fire's performances and an interview of Quigley by WLRN-TV in Miami -- THEY ARE GREAT -- A MUST WATCH!

LINK:  AN INTERVIEW OF QUIGLEY AND SERAPHIC FIRE

LINK:  SERPAHIC FIRE:  Amazing Grace

LINK:  SERAPHIC FIRE:  Bach: Cantata 147 "Jesus Bleibet"

LINK:  A SERAPHIC FIRE REHEARSAL

Notre Dame Basketball Media Day Coverage

The University of Notre Dame Men's & Women's Basketball teams had their Media Days today at Purcell Pavillion.  Here's a couple of links to Mike Brey and Muffet McGraw's press conferences:

LINK:  MIKE BREY MEETS WITH MEDIA

LINK:  MUFFET MCGRAW MEETS WITH MEDIA

Western Michigan University Is Up Next!

The Fighting Irish will be playing a new foe this Saturday when the Broncos of Western Michigan University from the Mid-American Conference visits Notre Dame Stadium.  It's the first time a Mid American Conference school has ever played a football game at Notre Dame.  And, the good folks from Kalamazoo "GET" what it means to play the Irish.  Here's what one of their linebackers had to say on Saturday:

“It’s one thing to play at Michigan, which has great tradition,” Broncos junior linebacker Mitch Zajac said. “It’s one thing to play at Michigan State, which is the same kind of deal. But Notre Dame ... everybody knows Notre Dame, everybody respects Notre Dame, everybody’s seen ‘Rudy’. There’s just a whole new aspect to it.”


And, here's a link to Western Michigan University's Coach, Bill Cubit -- in an interview he gave back in August to WZZM about the Broncos playing Notre Dame:

LINK:  PLAYING A GAME AT NOTRE DAME STADIUM

Irish Basketball -- Media Day

The University of Notre Dame's Men's & Women's Basketball teams are conducting their annual Media Day today -- at Purcell Pavillion.  One of the changes already reported is the new women's basketball jersey with their names "underneath" the number.  Here's a photo of Irish forward Devereaux Peters sporting the new jersey.  Photo was just tweeted by @eTruth_Irish (Ben Ford) -- thanks Ben!  Here's a link to the ETruth website:

LINK:  ETRUTH WEBSITE

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Concert On The Steps

Every Game Day at Notre Dame, ninety-minutes before kick-off, the Band of the Fighting Irish performs for thousands in front of Bond Hall.  Here's a photo from this past Saturday's performance -- courtesy of the gang at GAMEDAY.ND.EDU

Irish to Wear New Adidas Football Jersey

Notre Dame and Adidas announced today that the Irish football team will wear new TECHFIT jerseys beginning this Saturday against Western Michigan.   Adidas claims these jerseys feature "a ground-breaking compression fit" and weight "30 percent lighter than standard football jerseys."  Adidas goes on to brag that these jerseys will provide the Irish with "a streamlined fit, new fabric, reduced seams and an ultra-lightweight name and numbering system. In addition, the Notre Dame TECHFIT jersey keeps players cool with integrated ventilation zones and moisture management fabric."  Six other Adidas schools will debut the new TECHFIT jerseys this month: Michigan, Louisville, Cincinnati, Texas A&M, UCLA and Tennessee.  The photo was suppled by Adidas.  Here's a link to a YouTube video promoting the new Notre Dame jersey -- along with a second link to the Adidas Techfit Jersey website:  


LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL JERSEY PROMO -- ADIDAS

LINK:  ADIDAS TECHFIT JERSEY WEBSITE

The Sunday Conversation -- Coach Kelly

University of Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Brian Kelly -- sat down for his weekly Sunday conversation with UND.COM's Jack Nolan.  The Irish are coming off of their second straight win -- beating Pitt on Saturday.  Here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  A SUNDAY CONVERSATION WITH COACH KELLY

What Would You Fight For?

The University of Notre Dame's award winning series entitled "What Would You Fight For?" -- released another story this past week -- and it's quite powerful.  Notre Dame Law Professor, Paolo Carozza (pictured)  -- who's Chairman of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights -- was instrumental in securing human rights for the children of Paraguay.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  FIGHTING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Former Domer -- Seals Win for Eagles!

Trevor Laws, former defensive tackle for the University of Notre Dame (Dillon Hall) -- made a hit last night on San Francisco 49'ers QB Alex Smith, in the final 28 seconds, that caused an errant throw and interception --  securing the 27-24 win for the Philadelphia Eagles.  The 49'ers were driving down the field, needing a field goal to tie or a TD to win, when Laws made the big hit on Smith as he was throwing the ball.  The win puts the Eagles at 3-2 for the season and tied with the Redskins and Giants at the top of the NFC East.  (Laws is #93 in the photo).

LINK:  GAME STORY -- LAWS HIT ON QB

Where Are They Now? -- Bob Crable

Some of the "not so experienced" visitors to the ND GO IRISH BLOG might not remember All-American linebacker Bob Crable.  He played for Gerry Faust at Archbishop Moeller High School, winning three state championships -- before moving on to Notre Dame where he was recruited by Dan Devine.  Crable played for Devine for one season before his former high school coach (Faust) became his head coach at Notre Dame.  The photo is of Bob (#43) blocking a kick against Michigan. Bob earned All-American honors his junior and senior seasons at Notre Dame and was selected in the first round of the 1982 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.  He played seven seasons for the Jets before a knee injury ended his career.  Crable went on to start his own sportswear company, in his hometown of Cincinnati, before selling it and returning to his alma-mater (Moeller High School) to teach and coach.  Bob was recently the guest speaker at Notre Dame High School in Utica, NY -- for the school's 50th Anniversary.  A Utica, NY television station caught up with Crable -- see the link below:

LINK:  CRABLE INTERVIEW

Jill & Thomas -- Seventh Place Last Night!

Thomas Wolfard '02, and his girlfriend Jill Haney, finished in seventh place last night in CBS's Amazing Race.  They were once again in Ghana competing in Season 17 of this globe-trotting adventure race.  The good news -- their seventh place finish ensures them that they will move on to the next show and they still have their EXPRESS PASS.  CBS's Amazing Race airs on Sunday evening's.  Wolfard, a Notre Dame grad, can also be followed on Twitter (see link below) and on Facebook (link below).  If you missed last night's show -- click on the link -- and check out CBS's "After the Race" interview with Jill & Thomas:

LINK:  CBS -- AFTER THE RACE INTERVIEW


LINK:  REPLAY OF CBS'S AMAZING RACE -- SEASON 17

LINK:  THOMAS & JILL'S FACEBOOK PAGE

LINK:  THOMAS WOLFARD'S TWITTER PAGE

OK Go's Halftime Performance at ND

The Grammy Award winning rock band -- OK Go -- performed during halftime of the Notre Dame vs. Pitt football game yesterday with The Band of the Fighting Irish.  You may recall that last year OK Go teamed up with the Notre Dame marching band in their music video for their hit song -- This Too Shall Pass.  The popular YouTube video has had more than 3,440,000 views (see the link below).  Here's a link to NBC's coverage of The Band of the Fighting Irish's halftime show -- and a link to WNDU's story as well:

LINK:  OK GO -- WNDU STORY

LINK:  OK GO -- NBC HALFTIME COVERAGE

LINK:  OK GO -- MUSIC VIDEO ON YOUTUBE