Media Plays the "Notre Dame Card" -- Again

I caught the sad story today about Corwin Brown and his decision to claim "mental defects" caused by brain injuries he sustained from playing football in the NFL and College, as his defense -- in an ESPN Blog story...

Well, as you'll see -- it took only two words into the story to connect Corwin Brown and NOTRE DAME.

Now, Corwin could have been labeled:

• Former Michigan Co-Captain
• Former Michigan football player
• Former All Big Ten football player
• Former New England Patriot 
• Former New York Jet 
• Former Detroit Lion
• Former eight year NFL player
• Former NFL player and coach
• Former Virginia football coach
• Former New York Jet coach
• Former New England Patriot coach

Folks, here's the irony, Corwin Brown spent five years as a player and coach with the New England Patriots, five years as a player and coach with the New York Jets, spent four years at the University of Michigan as a player, co-captain and where he earned All Big Ten Honors -- and he spends just three years as an assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame.  On top of that -- his last job in football was with New England, not Notre Dame.

Yet, every time you'll see Corwin Brown's name on ESPN (over these next few months) -- he won't be labeled as from; Michigan, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, etc., -- he'll be from NOTRE DAME.

IRONIC?  I THINK NOT...

LINK:  CORWIN BROWN

Irish Sign Five Hockey Players in Early Period

The University of Notre Dame's Jeff Jackson announced today the signing of five -- VERY TALENTED -- hockey players who will join the Fighting Irish next fall.  Headlining the class is the most highly recruited hockey player ever to come to South Bend -- Mario Lucia (photo).  Lucia, a 6'-3" left wing was picked 60th overall in this year's NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild.  Here's a link to the UND.COM coverage:

LINK:  JACKSON ADDS TO THE TALENT BASE!

Stanford Assistant Coach Dies of Heart Attack

Former NFL Pro Bowl defensive tackle and Stanford defensive assistant coach, Chester McGlockton (42) died this morning from an apparent heart attack while at home with his family.  McGlockton was on the sideline this past Saturday when the Cardinal defeated our Fighting Irish.  Sad news.  Here's a link to the news story:

LINK:  STANFORD FOOTBALL ASSISTANT -- DEAD

What a Waste of Time -- SEC, Pac 12 & Big 10/12

If you're a fan of Michigan State University and your Spartans lose to Wisconsin this Saturday and it results in "that school in Ann Arbor" going to a BCS game and you do not.  How would you feel about your team "earning" the opportunity to play in the inaugural Big Ten/Twelve Championship game?

Let's say you're a fan of the Tigers of Louisiana State University and your Tigers beat Georgia this Saturday -- yet, in the process you lose a couple of starters to knee injuries.  How would you feel about your team "earning" the opportunity to play in the SEC Championship game, knowing right now that they don't have to play in this game (let alone win this game) to play in the National Championship game -- and, they're now going to have to play Alabama without two of their starters?

Let's say you're the Commissioner of the Pac 12 Conference and you're looking at a football stadium this Saturday that's HALF FULL with emotion and Oregon is leading UCLA 42 - 0 in the 2nd quarter.   How would you feel about your decision to create a Pac 12 Championship game -- especially when the media chatter will be about how lousy your conference must be if UCLA is in the championship game?

Folks, there is very little value this season to play in a conference championship game.  Here are the facts.

1. LSU doesn't have to win their Conference Championship game to play in the National Championship game -- think about that.
2. Alabama doesn't even have to play in their Conference Championship game to play in the  National Championship game -- think about that.
3. That school in Ann Arbor -- doesn't have to play in their Conference Championship game and they may end up in a better position for a BCS bowl than the team that loses Saturday's game -- think about that.
4. UCLA goes 6 - 6 and they earn the opportunity to play in their Conference Championship game -- think about that.

Why would Notre Dame ever want to join a conference -- when "earning the opportunity to play a 13th game truly means nothing!