Mel Kiper Picks NOTRE DAME over USC

Kiper readily admits he's a Notre Dame fan -- so it comes as no surprise to me that he picks the Fightin' Irish over USC tomorrow:

LINK:  KIPER ON THE IRISH

Their THIRD TIME Coaching ND vs. USC

The following Notre Dame football coaches BEAT USC in their third-year running the IRISH football program -- Ara Parseghian in 1966, Dan Devine in 1977 and Lou Holtz in 1988 -- and all three won the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP that season!

Note to the Notre Dame Family -- this is Coach Kelly's THIRD SEASON at the helm of the Fightin' Irish!

1966:  ARA PARSEGHIAN'S IRISH ROLL USC

1977:  DAN DEVINE'S IRISH ROLL USC

1988:  LOU HOLTZ'S IRISH ROLL USC

IRISH Did Have A Walk Through @ Coliseum!

Here's a photo of Coach Kelly with ABC's Kirk Herbstreit and Brent Musberger on the LA Coliseum field this afternoon.  "Tweeted" by #125NDFB.  I'm attaching some additional photos as well!

Photo of the Flight Crew Taking the IRISH to LA!

This is the second photo just "tweeted" by #125NDFB. 

Notre Dame Football Heading to Los Angeles!

This photo was just "tweeted" by @125NDFB of the Fightin' Irish boarding their charter flight to Los Angeles!

GO IRISH!

Evan Sharpley Talks Notre Dame Football

Former Notre Dame QB and First Basemen -- Evan Sharpley -- wrote a story this morning in the South Bend Tribune about the resurgence of the Notre Dame football program. 

ND fans will find this enlightening!

LINK:  THE RETURN OF NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

USC's Lane Kiffin Plays the Brian Kelly Card

Lane Kiffin is under the microscope right now with the performance of his football team this season -- so what does he do a little more than 48 hours before kick-off against Notre Dame?

Kiffin "plays the Brian Kelly card" -- talking to the media yesterday -- sending a message to USC Athletic Director Pat Haden...

LINK:  LANE KIFFIN

Surpassed the HALF MILLION MARK last night!

At 11:38 PM last night -- a Notre Dame fan from Charleston, SC became unique visitor #500,000 to the ND GO IRISH BLOG!

I am very thankful that so many members of the  Notre Dame Family have chosen to follow the positive news about our favorite university at this site.  Seems appropriate that this milestone would be achieved on THANKSGIVING DAY.

As has become custom here at the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- I compare the visitor count to the size of an American city.  At 500,412 (where we're at at the moment of this post) the ND GO IRISH BLOG would be the 34th largest city in America -- just ahead of three "California towns" -- could be a good omen for Saturday night!

• #33 Tucson, AZ:  520,116
• #34  ND GO IRISH BLOG:  500,412
• #35 Fresno, CA:  494,665
• #36 Sacramento, CA:  466,488
• #37 Long Beach, CA:  462,257

Thank you Notre Dame Family!

Photo of the Day: Flying the Notre Dame Flag!

ND GO IRISH BLOG regular Jim Farrington '74 (Stamford, CT) sent me this photo of a Notre Dame ROTC grad flying the flag!  Thanks Jim!