ACC Officiating of Notre Dame Football Games

Here's a look at how ACC officiating crews called penalties on Notre Dame in football games against non-ACC teams and against ACC teams.  ACC crews worked nine (9) Notre Dame games this season -- the first season the IRISH have worked with the ACC.

Is it just a coincidence that the games Notre Dame plays against ACC opponents -- the flags start flying?  

Isn't it ironic that the two games Notre Dame played against long-standing ACC members; North Carolina and Florida State, the Irish were flagged for the most penalties all season?  10 against North Carolina and 9 against Florida State. 

ACC Officiating Crew: ND vs. NON ACC TEAMS -- 5 games

• PENALTIES ON NOTRE DAME: 12 for 103 yards
• AVERAGE PER GAME:  2.4 for 20.6 yards per game

ACC Officiating Crew: ND vs. ACC TEAMS -- 4 games:

• PENALTIES ON NOTRE DAME:  30 for 259 yards
• AVERAGE PER GAME:  7.5 FOR 64.7 yards per game

By comparison -- here's what it looked like in the three games called by BIG TEN crews and the Music City Bowl game called by a PAC 12 officiating crew:

BIG TEN Officiating Crew -- 3 games:

• PENALTIES ON NOTRE DAME:  14 for 110 yards
• AVERAGE PER GAME:  4.7 for 36.7 yards per game

PAC 12 Officiating Crew -- MUSIC CITY BOWL GAME:

• PENALTIES ON NOTRE DAME: 2 for 15 yards

Jerian Grant's EPIC DUNK on Inbounds Play!!!

You won't believe this!  MUST SEE!

#14 Notre Dame beat Georgia Tech (in double-OT) 83 - 76 to go 14 - 1 and 2 - 0 in the ACC.  Up next, #19 North Carolina Monday night.

Photo above by Notre Dame photographer Matt Cashore. 

LINK:  JACK NOLAN'S CALL 

LINK:  ESPN GAME STORY

LINK:  ACC NETWORK

2015 Preview: Opponents Returning Starters

If you look at Notre Dame's 2015 Football Schedule -- against Power 5 Conference teams -- here's how these opponents rank in regards to returning starters:

1. USC:  16 returning starters
2. Wake Forest:  16 returning starters
3. Pittsburgh:  15 returning starters
4. Stanford:  14 returning starters
5. Georgia Tech:  13 returning starters
6. Virginia: 12 returning starters
7. Texas:  12 returning starters
8. Clemson:  11 returning starters
9. Boston College:  10 returning starters

Phil Steele: "Notre Dame Returns Most Starters"

College football guru Phil Steele published his ranking of the teams with the most returning starters in 2015 and guess who's #1 in the country among the Power Five conference teams?

The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Here's the rankings:

LINK:  RETURNING STARTERS

Notre Dame Alum Opens "Hesburgh Hospital"

In Santo Domingo, Ecuador -- a new hospital carries the name of University of Notre Dame president emeritus, Fr. Ted Hesburgh, C.S.C.

Here's the story that ran on Notre Dame's Alumni site:

This summer, business major-turned physician, Dr. David Gaus, helped to open Hesburgh Hospital on behalf of Andean Health & Development, a nonprofit aimed at providing quality and sustainable healthcare for rural poor in the Ecuador.
 
Through the inspiration of Fr. Hesburgh, Dr. Gaus attended medical school and determined to use his degree for good: by providing residents of rural Ecuador affordable, accessible medical care. In 2000, he founded the Pedro Vicente Maldonado. Since then, the hospital has treated more than 75,000 patients, including 2,500 childbirths, 1,200 surgeries and 7,500 emergencies.
 
Now Dr. Gaus and the AHD have expanded these efforts, opening a new hospital in Santo Domingo, named the Hesburgh Hospital in honor of Fr. Hesburgh’s own presence and impact on the mission in Ecuador. The Hesburgh Hospital features 60 beds, comprehensive health services, residency training programs for family Physicians, and a research and resource center.
 
Unique to both of these hospitals is not only their distinctive approach to affordable healthcare, but also their mission to be financially sustainable within their first 2 years of operation, meaning that the hospital will operate off of revenue gained from patient services rather than outside donors. It is this kind of mission which allows the hospitals to operate as fully developed community partners regardless of outside forces—providing good for their communities.

LINK:  WATCH THE VIDEO

Zack Martin '13, Voted First Team NFL All-Pro!

Folks, the honors are just beginning to pile in for former Notre Dame student-athlete Zack Martin '13.

The Dallas Cowboy offensive guard was just named FIRST TEAM NFL ALL PRO by the media -- the only rookie to earn such honors! 

Here's the story:

LINK:  ZACK MARTIN -- NFL ALL PRO!