Monday, November 30, 2020
Assumption Names Stadium After Brian Kelly
The folks at Assumption University announced today that their football stadium will be named after Brian Kelly.
Here's the story...
LINK: BRIAN KELLY STADIUM
Sunday, November 29, 2020
Saturday, November 28, 2020
North Carolina Media Talks Notre Dame Loss
Here's what the North Carolina media had to say about Notre Dame's convincing win over their Tar Heels...
LINK: DAILY TAR HEEL #1
LINK: DAILY TAR HEEL #2
LINK: DAILY TAR HEEL #3
LINK: HERALD SUN #1
LINK: HERALD SUN #2
LINK: CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
The Media the "Mornin' After" Our Big Win!
Took another lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the media has to say about the Fighting Irish's win over #19 North Carolina last night...
LINK: NBC SPORTS
LINK: YAHOO SPORTS
LINK: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
LINK: USA TODAY
LINK: CBS SPORTS
Mike Brey Talks Game w/ #13 Michigan State
The Fighting Irish tip off the hoops season traveling to East Lansing to take on the #13 ranked Michigan State Spartans.
You can watch the game on the Big Ten Network beginning at 8 PM ET.
Go Irish!
Friday, November 27, 2020
Inside the Numbers -- Notre Dame's Defense
This was a true gut check for the Notre Dame defense...
You're playing the top offense in the ACC and maybe the top offense in all of college football -- without your top safety in a 17 - 17 game when North Carolina gets the 2nd half kick-off...
Inside the performance of the Notre Dame defense:
- 17 points given up -- to a team that was averaging 40.2 pts. per game
- 298 yards given up -- to a team that averaged 533.9 yards per game
- 87 yards rushing given up -- to a team that averaged 217.2 yards per game
- 211 yards passing given up -- to a team that averaged 313.67 yards per game
- 6 QB sacks -- to a team that averaged giving up 3.6 QB sacks per game
North Carolina only gained 58 total yards in the 2nd half!
Clark Lea for President! WOW!
No one has done this to the North Carolina offense...
An absolute second half defensive clinic -- with Kyle Hamilton on the sidelines!
Here Come The Irish: Claypool Interview
Watch this week's Here Come The Irish Football Show at 12:11 PM ET today at the link below. Great lead in to today's big game!
The "Experts" Pick Today's Game Winner...
Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning -- here's who they're picking as the winner of #2 Notre Dame vs. #19 North Carolina...
LINK: CBS SPORTS
LINK: FAN NATION
LINK: 247 SPORTS
LINK: VEGAS INSIDER
LINK: SATURDAY BLITZ
Thursday, November 26, 2020
Common Foes: Notre Dame & North Carolina
Took a look at the common opponents of North Carolina and our Fighting Irish. Here's what the numbers look like...
BOSTON COLLEGE
- North Carolina 26 -- Boston College 22
- Total yards for NC: 401
- Total yards for BC: 353
- Notre Dame 45 -- Boston College 31
- Total yards for ND: 557
- Total yards for BC: 357
FLORIDA STATE
- Florida State 31 -- North Carolina 28
- Total yards for NC: 558
- Total yards for FSU: 432
- Notre Dame 42 -- Florida State 26
- Total yards for ND: 554
- Total yards for FSU: 405
DUKE
- North Carolina 56 -- Duke 24
- Total yards for NC: 573
- Total yards for Duke: 411
- Notre Dame 27 -- Duke 13
- Total yards for ND: 441
- Total yards for Duke: 334
HERE ARE THE TOTALS:
- Notre Dame
- Points scored: 114
- Points given up: 70
- Point differential: +44
- Total yards gained: 1,552
- Total yards given up: 1,096
- Yard differential: +456
- North Carolina:
- Points scored: 110
- Points given up: 77
- Point differential: +33
- Total yards gained: 1,532
- Total yards given up: 1,196
- Yard differential: +438
- ND vs. NC analysis:
- Points scored: Notre Dame / 4 points more
- Points given up: Notre Dame / 7 points less
- Total yards gained: Notre Dame / 20 more yards gained
- Total yards given up: Notre Dame / 100 yards less
- BOTTOM LINE -- very even game.
Thanksgiving Proclamation from Notre Dame
A friend, neighbor and Notre Dame Law School professor, Roger Alford -- asked me to post this Thanksgiving Proclamation -- which is based on President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1863...
Please read and sign if you agree.
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Connaughton's New Deal Puts Him On List!
Pat Connaughton just agreed to a new three year agreement with the Milwaukee Bucks that puts him in "rare air" among former Notre Dame student-athletes.
Here's a look at the TOP 25 current and former Notre Dame athletes (football, basketball, baseball and hockey) who have been (and will be) paid the most as a professional athlete:
- Ronnie Stanley: $132,131,825 -- not guaranteed, contract 2025
- Jeff Samardzija: $127,625,000 -- current free agent
- Zack Martin: $102,329,796 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2024
- Kyle Rudolph: $77,897,708 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2023
- A.J. Pollock: $76,397,500 -- guaranteed contract to 2023
- Jaylon Smith: $75,022,000 -- not guaranteed contract to 2025
- Anders Lee: $71,894,038 -- guaranteed contract to 2026
- Golden Tate: $70,837,672 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2022
- Troy Murphy: $66,000,000
- Stephon Tuitt: $64,760,551 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2022
- Harrison Smith: $63,666,546 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2021
- Bryant Young: $44,000,000
- Justin Tuck: $43,248,463
- John Sullivan: $40,050,021
- Jerome Bettis: $35,122,500
- Jeff Faine: $34,456,892
- Kyle Palmieri: $34,442,154 -- guaranteed contract to 2021
- Tim Brown: $28,432,686
- Pat Connaughton: $27,165,642 -- guaranteed contract to 2023
- Ian Cole: $26,049,694 -- guaranteed contract to 2021
- Joe Montana: $26,000,000
- Quenton Nelson: $24,148,910 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2021
- Ian Cole: $23,049,694 -- guaranteed, contract to 2021
- Craig Counsell: $22,086,667
- David Phelps: $19,308,813 -- free agent
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
Monday, November 23, 2020
Thanksgiving Music Video from Notre Dame!
I hope you'll enjoy this music video our team created for the University of Notre Dame...
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Great Photos From Notre Dame This Evening!
These photos were taken this evening by Fr. Ralph Haag, C.S.C. -- the rector at St. Ed's Hall...
Beautiful!
LIVE Chat Tonight at 8:30 PM ET
Sunday, November 22, 2020
Roethlisberger Talks "A Little" About Claypool
The rookie WR from Notre Dame scored another TD today -- making it 10 TD receptions in 10 games -- the first wide receiver to do this in the Super Bowl era...
You'll hear the Claypool comments at the 8:16 mark.
Our Guy Brady Quinn Called Out by Urban
😂😂 @Brady_Quinn has some moves of his own pic.twitter.com/ssdx947wu5
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 21, 2020
Saturday, November 21, 2020
Friday, November 20, 2020
Heaven Got a Good One Yesterday...
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Quinn & Klatt Talk Notre Dame Football
Brady Quinn joins the show at the 08:15 mark to talk Notre Dame football...
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Domer Dad Arrives at Space Station
Notre Dame Dad -- Mike Hopkins arrived earlier this morning at the International Space Station...
Mike is the first to climb into the Space Station.
Monday, November 16, 2020
Know Thy Foe: North Carolina's Mack Brown
Press conference after North Carolina's "shoot out" victory over Wake Forest...
Clemson vs. Notre Dame -- Top Opponent...
This far into the season -- here's a look at how both Clemson and Notre Dame fared against their most accomplished common opponent -- Boston College Eagles:
Game Location vs. Boston College:
- Boston College traveled to Clemson (home game)
- Notre Dame (away game) traveled to Boston College
Final Score vs. Boston College:
- Clemson 34 -- Boston College 28
- Notre Dame 45 -- Boston College 31
Offensive Statistics vs. Boston College
- Clemson Offense
- Points Scored: 34
- First Downs: 26
- Total Yards: 448 yards
- Passing Yards: 342 yards
- Rushing Yards: 106 yards
- 3rd Down: 7 - 16
- Possession: 30:50
- Turnovers: 1 fumble lost
- Punts: 3
- Notre Dame Offense
- Points Scored: 45
- First Downs: 29
- Total Yards: 557 yards
- Passing Yards: 283 yards
- Rushing Yards: 274 yards
- 3rd Down: 4 - 9
- Possession: 34:27
- Turnovers: 3 fumbles lost
- Punts: 0
Defensive Statistics vs. Boston College:
- Clemson Defense
- First Downs: 21
- Total Yards: 275 yards
- Passing Yards: 208 yards
- Rushing Yards: 67 yards
- 3rd Down: 4 - 11
- Tackles For Loss: 8
- QB Sacks: 4
- Turnovers: 0
- Notre Dame Defense
- First Downs: 22
- Total Yards: 357 yards
- Passing Yards: 272 yards
- Rushing Yards: 85 yards
- 3rd Down: 4 - 11
- Tackles For Loss: 7
- QB Sacks: 1
- Turnovers: 1 interception
Sunday, November 15, 2020
Huge Compliment Today from BC Head Coach
You're going to want to hear what Boston College's head coach has to say about the Fighting Irish...
Watch Live as a Domer Dad Heads to Space!
You can watch the liftoff of Falcon 9 right now -- a six month mission to the International Space Station -- at approximately 7:27 PM ET tonight...
Notre Dame Dad, Mike Hopkins will command this flight.
Godspeed!
LINK: LIVE COVERAGE HAS BEGUN
Saturday, November 14, 2020
Well, My "Notre Dame Cast" is Undefeated!
Brian Kelly's 100th Win at Notre Dame!
With today's win over Boston College -- Brian Kelly, the Dick Corbett Head Football Coach moves up into a tie for 2nd place in all-time for WINS at the University of Notre Dame!
There have been 29 head football coaches in Notre Dame history who have coached at least one season...
Here's the TOP TEN in all-time wins:
- Knute Rockne: 105 wins
- Brian Kelly: 100 wins
- Lou Holtz: 100 wins
- Ara Parseghian: 95 wins
- Frank Leahy: 87 wins
- Dan Devine: 53 wins
- Elmer Layden: 47 wins
- Bob Davie: 35 wins
- Charlie Weis: 35 wins
- Jesse Harper: 34 wins
What a Back Drop for Tik Tok...
They did that 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/6xMbMlXOfD
— abigail spanberger stan (@notcapnamerica) November 14, 2020
That's former Notre Dame Leprechaun Sam Jackson '20 in the Notre Dame jacket...
Friday, November 13, 2020
Breaking: Paul Hornung Has Left for Heaven
The Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winner and Green Bay Packer was 84 years-old. The Louisville Sports Commission announced Paul's death due to dementia.
Hornung is one of seven football players in history to be awarded the Heisman Trophy and the NFL MVP award.
He led the Fighting Irish to a 2-8 record his senior season (1956) -- and still won the Heisman Trophy. Think about that. A few months later the Green Bay Packers drafted him #1 overall.
Hornung is the only player in NFL history with 50 rushing TD's and 50 field goals!
Here's the ESPN story...
LINK: HORNUNG
LINK: NEW YORK TIMES STORY
OT: College GameDay Set at Augusta National
The Bus and Mapletron Talk Mental Health...
Last night, @JeromeBettis36 sat down with @steelers WR @ChaseClaypool to talk about his viral #TikTok video and bringing awareness to mental health. Catch up on #NFLTheGrind only on #EPIX. pic.twitter.com/UwT1QsOUAa
— EPIX (@EPIXHD) November 12, 2020
Thursday, November 12, 2020
This Domer Dad Heads to Space Saturday!
LINK: MIKE HOPKINS, ASTRONAUT
ACC Network Talks Notre Dame Women's BB
All eyes on @SamBrunelle_33 👀@kellygramlich thinks this will be a breakout year for the @ndwbb sophomore ☘️ pic.twitter.com/cPyMyV7bZI
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) November 11, 2020
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Happy Veteran's Day from Notre Dame!
Can't thank enough those who have served the United States of America!
Forever grateful!
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Notre Dame Men's Basketball Schedule
Monday, November 9, 2020
The Ashley Family's Reaction to ND WIN!!!
Jason Ashley forwarded this video taken by his wife Amy -- of the family's reaction to the last play of the Clemson vs. Notre Dame game! LOVE THIS!
The Ashley family hails from Greenville, South Carolina...
Go Irish!
Only One College Football Team Can Say This!
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish continue to be the only college football team in history to NEVER LOSE a football game to a conference opponent...
ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE -- FOOTBALL STANDINGS:
- NOTRE DAME: 6 - 0
- Clemson: 6 -1
- Miami: 5 - 1
- North Carolina: 4 - 2
- Virginia Tech: 4 - 2
- Wake Forest: 3 - 2
- NC State: 4 - 3
- Boston College: 4 -3
- Pittsburgh: 3 - 4
- Georgia Tech: 3 - 4
- Virginia: 2 -4
- Louisville: 1 - 5
- Florida State: 1 - 5
- Syracuse: 1 6
- Duke: 1 - 6
RED denotes on Notre Dame's schedule this season.
Missed This: Brady Quinn Interviewing Book
"We've had this game circled for a long time and it's finally here."@Brady_Quinn chats with @NDFootball QB Ian Book and previews tonight's big Top 5 matchup between the Irish and Tigers ☘️🐅 #BigNoonKickoff pic.twitter.com/kIL4jeEoog
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 7, 2020
Sunday, November 8, 2020
936 All-Time Wins for Notre Dame Football...
Back in February of 2018 -- the NCAA stripped our Fighting Irish of 21 wins over the course of two seasons. I believe the penalty was way too harsh -- and will never recognize this decision at the ND GO IRISH BLOG when looking at "all-time winning" totals for FBS...
So, after last night's victory over #1 Clemson -- Notre Dame Football has an all-time record of 936 - 326 - 42. Here's where that ranks in college football history:
ALL TIME WINNING PERCENTAGE:
- Notre Dame: 73.3%
- Boise State: 73.1%
- Ohio State: 73.0%
- Alabama: 72.8%
- Michigan: 72.7%
ALL TIME WINS:
- Michigan: 964
- Notre Dame: 936
- Ohio State: 930
- Alabama: 928
- Texas: 926
Who knows, if Harbaugh gets another five-year contract extension in Ann Arbor -- we just might catch the Wolverines by 2027 in all-time wins!
Clemson's D vs. Notre Dame's Offensive Line
Thought it would be good to do some research to see how impressive Notre Dame's offensive line's performance was last night. Here are the facts:
- No one has rushed the ball better vs. Clemson this season
- No one has protected the QB better vs. Clemson this season
- No one has thrown the ball better vs. Clemson this season
- Notre Dame's ability to run the ball vs. Clemson:
- Wake Forest: 37 yards rushing
- Citadel: 86 yards rushing
- Virginia: 147 yards rushing
- Miami: 89 yards rushing
- Georgia Tech: 123 yards rushing
- Syracuse: 150 yards rushing
- Boston College: 67 yards rushing
- Notre Dame: 209 yards rushing
- Notre Dame's ability to protect the QB position:
- Wake Forest: 6 QB sacks
- Citadel: 4 QB sacks
- Virginia: 3 QB sacks
- Miami: 5 QB sacks
- Georgia Tech: 4 QB sacks
- Syracuse: 2 QB sacks
- Boston College: 4 QB sacks
- Notre Dame: 2 QB sacks
- Notre Dame's ability to throw the ball vs. Clemson:
- Wake Forest: 293 yards passing
- Citadel: 76 yards passing
- Virginia: 270 yards passing
- Miami: 121 yards passing
- Georgia Tech: 81 yards passing
- Syracuse: 175 yards passing
- Boston College: 208 yards passing
- Notre Dame: 310 yards passing
What I Will Never Forget About Last Night...
It was a game "for the ages" -- as our #4 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame stood "toe to toe" with the #1 Clemson Tigers...
Here's what I will never forget about last night:
- My reaction and my family's reaction when Kyren Williams takes the 2nd play from scrimmage and goes 65 yards for a TD!
- Kyren Williams picking up the Clemson blitz, all night long -- a tip of the cap to you young man!
- Overcoming costly mistakes in the redzone -- throwing away 15 points
- Michael Mayer's illegal motion -- ND lost 4 points
- Michael Mayer's drop -- ND lost 4 points
- Ian Book's fumble into the endzone -- ND lost 7 points
- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramorah taking the fumbled pitch into the end zone -- Etienne could feel a beat down coming and he flinched...
- Javon McKinley's great finger tip catch -- when we really needed a big play!
- The punishment Notre Dame put on Clemson -- player after player leaving with injury in those orange and purple helmets in the 4th quarter
- Dabo talking the ACC officials into picking up a flag -- after an obvious pass interference penalty late in the 4th quarter
- A 91 yard drive in the closing minutes -- that culminated with the "seas parting" and an open Avery Davis catching a perfectly thrown deep ball from Ian Book -- and the short TD pass a couple plays later...
- Notre Dame's defensive line taking the game over in the 2nd OT with back-to-back sacks -- after Notre Dame's go-ahead OT TD!
- The camera shot (from above the field) of the student body running onto the field
- And, my Domer son's reaction -- watching him run out of our house (with his girlfriend) to join the expected on-campus celebration in the water of the Clarke Memorial Fountain...
Funny end to the story: Apparently our Notre Dame student body doesn't know about the tradition of jumping into the fountain after big wins... When they arrived, no one was around. However, I'm proud to say my Domer son (Class of 2008) was the first to jump in and kept the tradition alive...
Notre Dame 47 -- Clemson 40 in Double OT!
Notre Dame Locker Room Celebration!
🗣TALK TO US NICELY! #GoIrish x #Rally pic.twitter.com/rA908orZDh
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) November 8, 2020
Rallied for the Brotherhood.☘️#GoIrish x #Rally pic.twitter.com/YXS36M5kBL
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) November 8, 2020
Saturday, November 7, 2020
Notre Dame Beats #1 Clemson in 2 OT!!!
DOWN GOES NO.1!
— Notre Dame on NBC (@NDonNBC) November 8, 2020
Notre Dame upset No.1 Clemson in double overtime 😱 pic.twitter.com/1UqRaUIbRL
Howard and Coso Pick Notre Dame to Win!
Cue the Victory March for Coach!
— The Fighting Irish 😷 (@FightingIrish) November 7, 2020
We’re liking that pick!#GoIrish #BeatTigers pic.twitter.com/p8iDgxyitm
Friday, November 6, 2020
Look For These ESPN College GameDay Signs
How You Know You've Raised Your Kids Right
My friend Dave Peloquin '03 is the Director of Player Personnel for Notre Dame Football. Last night at practice -- three members of Dave's staff (his kids) decided to let the world know who they are cheering for this Saturday night...
Go Irish!
Thursday, November 5, 2020
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Monday, November 2, 2020
Tale of the Tape: #1 Clemson vs. #4 IRISH
Here's how these two teams match up -- going into Saturday's game vs. Clemson...
Notre Dame Offense vs. Clemson Defense:
- Rushing
- Notre Dame averages 231 yards per game -- #11 in the country
- Clemson allows 100 yards per game -- #15 in the country
- Notre Dame averages 5.08 yards per carry -- #22 in the country
- Clemson allows 2.74 yards per carry -- #11 in the country
- Passing
- Notre Dame averages 206.2 yards per game -- #71 in the country
- Clemson allows 174.9 yards per game -- #27 in the country
- Notre Dame QB's sacked 2 times per game -- #38 in the country
- Clemson has sacked QB's 4 times per game-- #3 in the country
- Total Offense
- Notre Dame averages 437.2 yards per game -- #29 in the country
- Clemson allows 274.7 yards per game -- #7 in the country
- Notre Dame averages 34.8 points per game -- #26 in the country
- Clemson allows 15.6 points per game -- #11 in the country
Notre Dame Defense vs. Pittsburgh Offense:
- Rushing
- Clemson averages 166.6 yards per game -- #55 in the country
- Notre Dame allows 93.7 yards per game -- #8 in the country
- Clemson averages 4.47 yards per rush -- #5 in the country
- Notre Dame allows 3.14 yards per rush -- #14 in the country
- Passing
- Clemson averages 341.4 yards per game -- #8 in the country
- Notre Dame allows 173.5 yards per game -- #9 in the country
- Clemson QB's sacked 1.57 times per game -- #32 in the country
- Notre Dame has sacked QB 2.83 times per game -- #29 in the country
- Total Offense
- Clemson averages 508 yards per game -- #10 in the country
- Notre Dame allows 257.2 yards per game -- #6 in the country
- Clemson averages 46.1 points per game -- #2 in the country
- Notre Dame allows 10.3 points per game -- #4 in the country
Other Interesting Stats:
- Penalties
- Notre Dame is averaging 4.7 penalties per game -- #12 in the country
- Clemson is averaging 5.86 penalties per game -- #38 in the country
- Third Down Offense
- Notre Dame is converting 54.7% of the time -- #7 in the country
- Clemson is converting 50.5% of the time -- #16 in the country
- Third Down Defense
- Notre Dame is allowing 24.4% of the time -- #4 in the country
- Clemson is allowing 27.5% of the time -- #7 in the country