Friday, November 11, 2016

Notre Dame's Veteran Initiative -- Giving Back!



For nearly 175 years, the men and women of Notre Dame have aspired to becomes forces for good in the world. Today, veterans like Luis Morales pursue their degrees at the University of Notre Dame, continuing a dedication to serve and a solemn commitment to make the world a better place.
To help students like Luis, the Notre Dame Veterans Fund helps offset tuition and living costs, and provides resources that enable veterans to continue their education here at Notre Dame. There are between 75-100 veterans enrolled at Notre Dame in a given semester. Please make a gift today to support these men and women who serve as leaders both in and out of the classroom.
We thank all veterans for their brave service.

LINK:  PLEASE MAKE A GIFT

Veteran's Day -- We Salute All of You!



The Marine Corps celebrated its 241st birthday yesterday...

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Patterson & Vaughn Join Muffet's Irish Today!

Muffet's #1 ranked Fighting Irish just added to high school stars to their talented roster today:

LINK:  STORY

DJ Harvey Commits to Brey's Fighting Irish!




The #21 ranked player in the country, DJ Harvey -- signed a National Letter of Intent today to play for Notre Dame.

LINK:  STORY

Mike Brey Talks Another 100 pt. Exhibition Win


The ND Helmet: God, Country, Notre Dame!


Army Football Coach Talks Notre Dame Game


Monday, November 7, 2016

ND Women's Soccer Earns a #2 NCAA Seed!


Domer Smyth Finishes 10th at NYC Marathon!

Former Notre Dame All-American Patrick Smyth '09 has a full-time job in Santa Fe, NM as a computer mapper -- and in his spare time he takes on the top professional distance runners in the world...

Yesterday, Patrick finished 10th in the NYC Marathon -- earning $2,000, plus an additional $3,000 for being the fifth highest American finisher in the race.

Congrats Patrick!

LINK:  REVIVING HIS CAREER

LINK:  PATRICK SMYTH

Domer Justin Tuck -- Picks His Favorite Player


Sunday, November 6, 2016

Domer Molly Huddle -- Third in NYC Marathon!


Former Notre Dame All-American distance runner Molly Huddle '06 -- running in her first marathon -- became the first American to finish on the podium at the New York City Marathon since 2010, taking the bronze medal.

As the top American finisher -- Molly pocketed an additional $25,000 bonus check along with the $40,000 awarded to the third place finisher.

Congratulations Molly!

LINK:  FIRST AMERICAN

LINK:  NEW YORK POST STORY

LINK:  LET'S RUN 

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES STORY

Domer Golden Tate Catch & Run Game Winner!


OT: Not a Cubs Fan, But You Have to Love This



When Will College Football Staffs Have This?


A rules expert -- someone who knows the rules of football better than the part-time officials do?  An individual on the coaching staff, who in "real time," can catch officials' making mistakes in their interpretation of the rules or, the scope of their authority -- and get them reversed IMMEDIATELY.

We experienced a huge officiating call in the ND vs. Navy game yesterday -- where a FOOTBALL RULES EXPERT (standing on Notre Dame's sideline) could have changed the outcome of the game.  
  • The game changing "12-man on the field penalty call against Notre Dame" -- that led to Navy's game winning TD -- was made by the replay official from the American Conference (Navy's conference) and, he should not have been allowed to make that call.  SEE THE RULE.  Ironically the ACC officials on the field did not feel it was a penalty and did not drop a flag on the play.
 You can see Devin Studstill running off field before snap...

What would it be worth to Brian Kelly today -- if there had been someone on his sideline who could have let the ACC officiating crew know IMMEDIATELY -- "this is not his call in the replay booth..." 

I'm sure we can find a Notre Dame student or two who could become quite proficient on the OFFICIAL RULES OF FOOTBALL -- and keep the guys in "black & white" in check.

What do you think?

Navy Talks "Keep Away" Win Over Notre Dame


Saturday, November 5, 2016

ACC Officiating of ND Games vs. Non-ACC


I'm frustrated -- we're 3 - 6 and I'm looking for excuses -- like any good fan!

Especially now that it's being reported that the ACC crew should not have allowed a replay official to make the 12 man-on-the-field penalty call against Notre Dame.  SEE THE RULE.

Anyway, it made me wonder how Notre Dame has fared over the past three seasons since we began taking ACC officiating crews with us to our road games against non-ACC teams.  Versus, how the "real ACC teams" fare when they go on the road with the same ACC officiating crews.

Here's what I learned...

Notre Dame has played 5 road games these past three seasons against non-ACC foes where we've taken "our ACC officials" with us.  Here are the results:
  • ND:  21 penalties for 195 yards 
  • Opponents:  13 penalties for 99 yards  
  • In three of these five road games, our opponents had a grand total of 4 penalties called on them!
  • ACC officials have called 62% more penalties on the Fighting Irish
  • ACC officials have walked off 97% more penalty yards on the Fighting Irish 

ACC Officiating Crews -- working ACC Teams' road games against non-ACC foes:

Clemson has had three road games officiated by ACC crews against non-ACC foes -- in the same time frame -- here's what I learned:
  • Clemson:  10 penalties for 100 yards
  • Opponents:  21 penalties for 155 yards 

Florida State has had three road games officiated by ACC crews against non-ACC foes -- in the same time frame -- here's what I learned:
  • Florida State:  19 penalties for 173 yards
  • Opponents:  22 penalties for 201 yards

North Carolina has had three road games officiated by ACC crews against non-ACC foes -- in the same time frame -- here's what I learned:
  • North Carolina:  20 penalties for 161 yards
  • Opponents:  30 penalties for 236 yards

ACC Officiating Crews -- working ND games against ACC foes:

Notre Dame has played 13 games over the past three seasons against ACC foes -- here's how the ACC officials have called these games:
  • ND:  74 penalties for 592 yards
  • ACC opponents:  84 penalties for 705 yards
  • ACC officials have called 14% more penalties on ND's ACC foes
  • ACC officials have walked off 20% more penalty yards on ND's ACC foes

It makes you question why Notre Dame is less penalized against their ACC opponents when they go head-to-head, yet, when we (ND, Clemson, FSU and NC) go on the road --- with the same ACC officiating crews -- ND is the only team that is penalized more than their non-ACC opponent?

Why the anomaly?

We are 1 - 4 in these games.  

Notre Dame football is now 14 - 13 in the 27 games since an ACC officiating crew took back the game winning TD the Irish scored in the closing seconds of our road game against #1 Florida State back in 2014 -- with a controversial penalty call.  

ARE WE UNDER AN ACC OFFICIATING CURSE? 

11 of Notre Dame's 13 losses have been by ONE TD or less -- think about that!!!

Folks, I'm just looking for someone else to blame for our recent football famine -- please know, I'm well aware it's not the ACC officials' fault.  We make just  one more play in each of these 11 close losses and we're having conversations about the Playoffs.

Yet, I will admit I yearn for the days when Notre Dame took those MAC officiating crews with them on the road.  SEE MAC OFFICIALS.

Tomorrow's a new day -- BEAT ARMY!