PHOTO OF THE DAY -- Buffet's Office Sign

Legendary Berkshire Hathaway investor, Warren Buffet -- was interviewed by USA Today about his love for Nebraska football.  Buffet, who's lived in the same home in Omaha, NE -- that he bought for $31,500 in 1958 -- says "his heart is with the Huskers..."  Well, it look's like his "head/brain" is with the IRISH -- see the sign behind him.  Go Irish!

How Navy Plays the Game of Football...

I have the utmost respect for the Naval Academy -- one of my best friends growing up is a graduate of this prestigious institution.  The commitment these young men and women have made to our country should never be questioned.  They are heroes.  Having said that -- I'm not a fan of how they play the game of football.  Undoubtedly, we're going to hear a CBS Announcer, this Saturday, talk about how the "undermanned Naval Academy plays with great discipline..." -- in a complimentary fashion.  What they don't have the guts to say is this: Navy football has become synonymous with -- CHEAP SHOTS.  Case in point, here's a video of the game last year at Notre Dame Stadium.  The video catches a Navy football player -- on the other side of the field from the play -- attempting to end the career of a Notre Dame football player (Robert Blanton).  Here's the link:

LINK:  NAVY FOOTBALL HAS "SUNK" TO THIS

Legendary Irish Coach Dies at Age 93

Tom Fallon who retired from the University of Notre Dame in 1987 as the WINNINGEST COACH IN IRISH ATHLETICS HISTORY -- died yesterday at the age of 93 of natural causes at his South Bend home.  Fallon was Notre Dame's men's tennis coach for 31 seasons (1957 - 1987) taking his 1959 team to a Co-National Championship.  He retired with an overall record of 514-194 good for a 72.6% winning percentage -- earning him a spot in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame.  Fallon also found time to coach the Notre Dame Wrestling team -- as he started this program in 1952 at Notre Dame and led it for its first 15 seasons.  Fallon's combined win total for his wrestling and tennis teams was 579 wins.  Here's a link to Notre Dame's story on Tom's death:

LINK:  ALL TIME NOTRE DAME COACHING GREAT

Notre Dame's Offense -- National Rankings

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 -- AFTER SEVEN GAMES OF THE 2010 SEASON. In today's analysis you'll see how Notre Dame's Offense & Special Teams currently stand; on a national basis -- as compared to their final ranking for 2009 -- and how this week's opponent: NAVY's offense, defense and special teams compare in the same categories.

OFFENSIVE TEAM STATISTICS

Total First Downs:  2010 Rank - #26 with 146 first downs -- in 2009 we had 293 first downs for the season, ranking us #13 -- Tulsa leads the country with 183 first downs.  Navy has 122 first downs for the season, ranking them #84 in the country.

Third Down Conversions:  2010 Rank - #78 with a 35.8% conversion rate -- in 2009 we had a 39.1% conversion rate for the season, ranking us #48 -- Nevada leads the country converting 57.8% of their third downs.  Navy has converted 43.5% of its third down conversions this season, ranking them #23 in the country.

Passing Yardage:  2010 Rank - #18 with 2,006 passing yards (287 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 2,817 passing yards (402 yards per game).  Navy's defense has given up an average of 160 passing yards per game this season, ranking them #9 in the country.

Rushing Yardage:  2010 Rank - #97 with 791 rushing yards (113 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 2,428 rushing yards ( 347 yards per game).  Navy's defense has given up an average of 163 rushing yards per game this season, ranking them #78 in the country.

Fewest QB Sacks Given Up:  2010 Rank -- #70 giving up 15 QB sacks -- in 2009 we gave up 25 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #66 -- Boise State leads the country having only given up 1 QB sack.  Navy's defense has sacked the QB 8 times this season, ranking them #95 in the country.

Turnovers Lost:  2010 Rank - #70 with 13 turnovers lost -- in 2009 we had 14 turnovers for the season, ranking us #7 -- Oregon State leads the country with 4 turnovers lost for the season.  Navy's defense and special teams has gained 13 turnovers this season, ranking them #31 in the country.

Total Offense:  2010 Rank -- #50 with 2,797 yards (399 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.  Navy's defense has given up 323 yards per game this season, ranking them #27 in the country.

Points Per Game:  2010 Rank -- #68 with 27.14 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.  Navy's defense has given up an average of 18.17 points per game this season, ranking them #22 in the country.

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TEAM STATISTICS

Fewest Penalties:  2010 Rank - #29 with 36 penalties -- in 2009 we had 75 penalties for the season, ranking us #50 -- Penn State leads the country in the fewest penalties with 20.  Navy is ranked #6 in the country for fewest penalties with 27 on the season.

Fewest Penalty Yards:  2010 Rank -- #56 with 340 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.  Navy is ranked #7 in the country for fewest penalty yards this season with 226.

Net Punting Yards:  2010 Rank -- #37 with an average net of 37.87 yards per punt -- in 2009 we averaged 32.1 yards per punt, ranking us #112 -- Pittsburgh leads the country with 44.83 net yards per punt.  Navy is averaging 7 yards per punt return this season, ranking them #76 in the country.

Field Goals -- 2010 Rank -- #8 with 12 field goals made this season.  The Irish are 12 for 12 -- one of seven teams in the FBS who have not missed a field goal this season.  In 2009 we made 19 field goals, ranking us #22 -- while going 19 for 22 in the process.  Navy has made 5 field goals this season,  ranking them #82 in the country.   Making 5 of 8 in the process.

HERE'S A LINK TO YESTERDAY'S ANALYSIS OF THE IRISH DEFENSE