Notre Dame Moves Up to #6 in AP Poll

The AP Poll and the Amway Coaches Poll were released today and Ole Miss' loss to LSU moves the Fighting Irish up one spot in each poll.

The poll that counts -- the College Playoff Poll will be released this Tuesday, October 28th at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN.

LINK:  POLLS WEEK 10

Two Domers Score TD's Today in London!

Former Notre Dame student-athletes Golden Tate (#15) and Theo Riddick (#25) led a huge Detroit Lions' second half comeback today -- scoring the FIRST TWO TD's EVER by former Notre Dame players in England!  Golden led the Lions with seven catches for 151 yards and the TD!

Be sure to check out Theo's GREAT CATCH -- on the game winning drive!

The Lions erased a 21 - 0 halftime deficit to win the game 22 - 21 on a last second 48 yard field goal!

LINK:  GOLDEN'S TD

LINK:  RIDDICK'S TD

LINK:  RIDDICK'S GREAT CATCH

LINK:  GOLDEN'S POST GAME INTERVIEW

My "Great" Uncle Tom's Stained Glass Talent!

My great-uncle Tom Fries, made this piece of stained-glass for my uncle R.J. and it hangs in honor at Gilbert Creek Ranch in Mecosta, MI.  My cousins' hunting compound in the mid-Michigan area...

You'll find a group their most Saturday's in the Fall watching the Fighting Irish on TV -- now they can watch them out the window too!

Uncle Tom is in his 80's and he's still knocking out these incredible stained glass pieces of art as gifts for family and friends.  He also has a great talent for singing an Irish song or two...

He's been a wonderful GIFT to our family!

Notre Dame Football's "Mid-Term" Report Card

Rachel Terlep -- the Notre Dame beat writer for the Elkhart Truth offered up her "grades" on the Fighting Irish's performance over the first seven games of the season.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  DEFENSIVE GRADES

LINK:  OFFENSIVE GRADES

SBT: Areas Notre Dame Needs to Improve

The South Bend Tribune's Notre Dame beat writer Eric Hansen authored a piece today on where the Fighting Irish need to improve on the most over the last five games of the season to be a "legitimate" Playoff contender:

LINK:  CONTENDER

OT: Izzo Has Some Fun in East Lansing Tonight

Michigan State head basketball coach Tom Izzo -- dressed up like a member of the band KISS -- as the Spartans celebrated the start of the 2014 - 2015 college basketball season this evening in East Lansing...

I wish we could create a night like this in South Bend.

LINK:  IZZO'S KISS

LINK:  VIDEO OF PERFORMANCE

LINK:  STORY

Golden Tate & Reggis Bush: London Dance Off

Former Notre Dame All-American Golden Tate and one-time Heisman Trophy recipient Reggie Bush -- hosted a dance competition in London.  The Domer and his teammates take on the Atlanta Falcons in the UK on Sunday...

LINK:  WATCH IT HERE

A Great Notre Dame Fighting Irish Pumpkin!

My wife Susan Small has an incredible art talent...

Here's one of her latest efforts.

Jimbo Goes Back to Meet With Alabama Media

This past Monday, Jimbo Fisher walked out on the media in Birmingham, AL after they asked him some questions about Jameis Winston.  He was in town for their Monday Morning Quarterback Club event.

He later went back to sit with the media members he walked out on -- here was that interview:

LINK:  JIMBO FISHER

LINK:  ESPN STORY

OT: So, What is Next for North Carolina?

Self reported: 18 years of academic fraud...

LINK:  INVESTIGATION

ND's VanGorder & Denbrock Meet the Media

Notre Dame Football's defensive and offensive coordinators met with the media for the first time in a few weeks to talk about the performance of their respective units.  Just click on the link below:

LINK:  COORDINATORS

Jewell Beats Clinton Portis In "Pop-A-Shot"

One of the fun things the girl and coaches got to do during Media Day was play "Pop-A-Shot" with ACC Digtial Media Host Clinton Portis.

You'll see Jewell's reaction when she beats Portis -- in the video linked below:

LINK:  POP A SHOT

Muffet's Fighting Irish Picked to Repeat in ACC

The Atlantic Coast Conference's Women's Basketball Media Day was held Monday at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, NC -- and Notre Dame's Muffet McGraw and Jewell Loyd were in attendance.

The Fighting Irish -- who have never lost an ACC game -- received fourteen of the fifteen first place votes from the coaches (Duke received the other) in the preseason poll.  In the Media Poll -- Notre Dame received 38 of the 41 first place votes.

Jewell Loyd was named the "Preseason Player of the Year" and she was joined on the "Preseason First Team by her running mate at point guard Lindsay Allen.  Freshman Brianna Turner was named to the "Newcomer Watch List."

LINK:  ACC PRE-SEASON PICKS

ESPN: Can Notre Dame Edge Out a SEC Team?

The folks at ESPN -- who are partners with the SEC in the SEC NETWORK -- are asking the question does a "one-loss" Notre Dame team beat out a second SEC team from making the College Football Playoff?

See what they think:

LINK:  IS NOTRE DAME IN OR OUT?

Most Watched October College Game in History

Folks, the Notre Dame - Florida State football game was watched by more than 13 MILLION VIEWERS -- the largest TV crowd ever for an October college football televised game in history!

Notre Dame's Future ACC Football Schedule...

The folks at the Atlantic Coast Conference released the future football schedules (through 2025) involving their "new toy" -- the Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- in the wake of the most watched college football game EVER in the month of October!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME ACC SCHEDULE

OT: Nebraska's Pelini Calls out ESPN for Bias

The new College Football Playoff system is prompting coaches and their media outlets to do what they can to make sure their team, or their conference, is in the TOP FOUR...

Here's a "shot across ESPN's bow" by Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini:

LINK:  BIAS

The Oregonian: "PAC-12's Notre Dame Issue"

With nine weeks of college football in the books and the first ranking of teams upcoming from the College Football Playoff Committee (October 28) -- the media and coaches have begun their "lobbying" for their favorite teams...

Here's a columnist from The Oregonian -- who's worried about the "DUCKS" not getting into the Playoffs because of Notre Dame's success to date and their upcoming games against Arizona State and USC.

Take a look:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME

Stat of the Day: You Can't Make This Up...

Andrew Hendrix '14, Everett Golson and Gunner Kiel -- all one-time or current time Notre Dame QB's are tied this season with 19 total TD passes -- seventh best in college football.

They're also tied with a QB from Oregon named Mariota...

Thanks to @TurningPoint for uncovering this unique fact!

LINK:  COLLEGE QB TD PASSING STATS

Coach Kelly Looks Back at Florida State Game

Here is Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly's weekly TV show -- Inside Notre Dame Football.  This week he looks back at Saturday night's game against Florida State...

LINK:  INSIDE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

Full Game Replay: Notre Dame vs. Florida State

If you can stomach this -- here's you link to watching the full game replay of Notre Dame's game with Florida State...

LINK:  FULL GAME REPLAY

Muffet & Staff Watch Sparty & Pistons Practice

The Notre Dame Women's Basketball coaching staff took a "road-trip" to Michigan to see the Detroit Pistons and Michigan State Spartans conduct their practices -- looking to learn a new trick or two or three...

Here they are with the Spartans' head coach Tom Izzo and Pistons' head coach Stan VanGundy...

Notre Dame fans might not be aware that MSU's Tom Izzo grew up a HUGE NOTRE DAME FAN in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  He and his child-hood friend Steve Mariucci dreamed of coaching at Notre Dame -- see story below:

LINK:  IZZO -- NOTRE DAME FAN

Jimbo Fisher Walks Out of Media Interview...

Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher walks away from media questions today -- he did however weigh in on the controversial play and Coach Kelly's comments...

Take a look at him walking out in the first link -- see all of his comments in the second:

LINK:  JIMBO

LINK:  TRANSCRIPT

The "Non-Call" on the Infamous Last Play...

Players can not take their helmet off on the field -- PERIOD.  It's an automatic "dead ball" 15 yard penalty.  The ACC head of officials apparently chose not to address this in his interview with the ACC Network yesterday...

If the call is made, Notre Dame gets the ball back -- automatic FIRST DOWN -- and we probably get two more shots from the 3 yard-line to win the game AGAIN in the final 13 seconds.

Here is an example of this being called by a BIG TEN official in Saturday's game between Maryland and Iowa.

LINK:  REMOVING HELMET PENALTY

Monday Morning Radio Shows Talk ND vs. FSU

I took a lap around the web to see what the national radio talk shows were saying about Saturday night's PRIME TIME game between Notre Dame and Florida State:

LINK:  COLIN COWHERD -- ESPN RADIO

LINK:  Mike & MIKE -- ESPN RADIO

Why the Officials Closest Did Not Throw a Flag

Have you wondered why didn't the officials closest to the play (who had the best view) did not throw a penalty flag on the 4th down play that decided the outcome of the Notre Dame / Florida State game?

Here's the best physical evidence and description of the play, from a camera behind the endzone -- and it is an EYE OPENER.

MUST SEE -- warning, this is going to make you sick...

LINK:  THE PLAY -- ND vs. FSU

ACC Confirms Penalty Call on Notre Dame

The Atlantic Coast Conference's head of officials Doug Rhoads confirms that his officiating crew made the "right call" at the end of Saturday night's game.

What else was he going to say...
 
Here is his explanation linked below -- please note, they did not address the FSU player who took off his helmet on the play -- which would have nullified the penalty called against the Irish and have given Notre Dame an automatic first down "and at least two more plays from the 3 yard line" in the remaining 13 seconds to try to WIN THE GAME AGAIN.

LINK:  ACC EXPLANATION

NCAA Woman of the Year is Elizabeth Tucker!

The NCAA just named Elizabeth Tucker '14,  as its WOMAN OF THE YEAR at an event last evening in Indianapolis!  She is the first Notre Dame student-athlete to receive this honor and the first ever soccer player in history.

Tucker played soccer for the Fighting Irish, winning a National Championship in 2010.  She graduated this past May from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Accounting and a PERFECT 4.0 G.P.A.

You are going to want to read the story linked below -- she's a remarkable young woman.

LINK:  ACC REPORT

Domer Tate's "ROUTE RUNNING" Leads to Win

Former Notre Dame All-American Golden Tate watched his Fighting Irish lose to Florida State the night before in an eerily similar play call that required Golden to "occupy" a couple of defenders with his route -- that led to an open teammate and the Detroit Lions shocking win over the New Orleans Saints!

That's Golden addressing his teammates after the win in the Lions' locker room in the photo above.

Tate deserves the GAME BALL with his big 73 yard TD catch and run, 154 total receiving yards, and his ability to "occupy" a couple of Saints defenders in the endzone clearing the way for Fuller (isn't it ironic) to catch the game winning pass from Stafford:

LINK:  TATE'S ROUTE RUNNING ON WINNING TD

LINK:  TATE'S 73 YARD TD CATCH & RUN

LINK:  TATE'S GAME HIGHLIGHTS

A Look at the 6 Teams Ahead of ND in AP Poll

So, let's assume our #7 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish find a way to win their remaining five games this season -- and finish 11 - 1.

Here's what the six teams ahead of us in the AP Poll have left on their schedule -- see below.

I believe it's safe to say we will only have one undefeated team in college football at the end of the regular season and that will be Florida State.  So, who will get through this gauntlet with only one loss -- besides Notre Dame? 

#7 NOTRE DAME -- FIVE GAMES REMAINING (All FBS opponents)

• Remaining FBS Opponents W/L Record:  24 - 14
• Key Games:  @Arizona State (#14), Louisville (#30) and @USC (#20)

#1 MISSISSIPPI STATE -- SIX GAMES REMAINING (Five against FBS opponents)

• FBS Opponents W/L Record:  22 - 12
• Key Games:  @Alabama (#4), @ Mississippi (#3)
• 1-AA game:  University of Tennessee-Martin

#2 FLORIDA STATE -- FIVE GAMES REMAINING (All FBS opponents)

• Remaining FBS Opponents W/L Record:  20 - 15
• Key Game:  @Louisville (#30)

#3 MISSISSIPPI -- FIVE GAMES REMAINING (Four games against FBS opponents)

• Remaining FBS Opponents W/L Record:  20 - 7
• Key Games:  @LSU (#24), Auburn (#5) and Mississippi State (#1)
• 1-AA game:  Presbyterian College

#4 ALABAMA -- FIVE GAMES REMAINING  (Four games against FBS opponents)

• Remaining FBS Opponents W/L Record:  20 - 7
• Key Games:  @LSU (#24), Mississippi State (#1) and Auburn (#5)
• 1-AA game:  Western Carolina

#5 AUBURN -- SIX GAMES REMAINING (Five against FBS opponents)

• Remaining FBS Opponents W/L Record:  28 - 8
• Key Games:  @Ole Miss (#3), @Georgia (#9) and @Alabama (#4)
• 1-AA game:  Samford   

#6 OREGON -- FIVE GAMES REMAINING (All FBS opponents)

• Remaining FBS Opponents W/L Record:  19 - 14
• Key Games:  Stanford (#32), @Utah (#19) and Oregon State

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREDICTION:

• #1 Seed: Florida State:  11 - 1
• #2 Seed: Alabama:  12 - 1
• #3 Seed: Oregon:  12 - 1
• #4 Seed: Notre Dame:  11 - 1 

Coach Brian Kelly: "FSU Blew the Coverage..."

Notre Dame head football coach held his Sunday teleconference with the media today -- and he didn't hide his displeasure for the penalty call that took the win away from the Fighting Irish. 

Here's the quick story:

LINK:  "FSU WAS REWARDED..." 

Replay: College Football Live in Tallahassee

If you can stomach this...

LINK:  COLLEGE FOOTBALL LIVE

Five AP Voters Do Not Have ND in Their Top Ten

The just released AP Poll placed Notre Dame at #7 in the country -- a drop from #6 the previous week.

As we've been know to do here at the ND GO IRISH BLOG, we publish the list of media members who do not have Notre Dame ranked in the TOP TEN -- here it is:

• #11 Chuck McGill -- writer out of West Virginia -- he had ND #9 last week
• #11 Jim Polzin -- writer out of Madison, WI -- he had ND #5 last week
• #11 Mike Sorensen -- writer out of Salt Lake City , UT -- he had ND #5 last week
• #11 Tom Murphy -- writer out of Little Rock, AK -- he had ND #8 last week
• #12 Grant Ramey -- writer out of Maryville, TN -- he had ND #7 last week

 
Four AP voters had Notre Dame ranked #4 in the country on their ballots: Doug Lesmireses (Cleveland Plain Dealer), Iliano Limon Romero (Orlando Sentinel), Kyle Ringo (Boulder, CO) and Larry Vaught (Danville, KY)

Notre Dame Drops to #7 in Latest AP POLL

Notre Dame's 31 - 27 loss to Florida State last night has dropped the Fighting Irish to #7 in the latest Associated Press Poll:

The College Football Playoff Committee will release its first poll on October 28th -- in the end, that's the only poll that matters...

LINK:  AP POLL

Notre Dame Drops to #8 in Amway Coaches Poll

The college football Coaches Poll was just released and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame dropped three spots to #8 after the 31 - 27 loss to Florida State last night:

At least one coach ranked Notre Dame #17 on his ballot -- got to love the polls...

LINK:  AMWAY COACHES POLL

Detroit Free Press Writer Ranks ND #9 in AP

If you're a regular follower of the ND GO IRISH BLOG you'll have seen a list of the AP writers who have not placed Notre Dame in their TOP TEN all season.

Well, one of these writers -- work works for the Detroit Free Press and he's a University of Michigan alum to boot.  Well, Sharp finally moved the IRISH up into his top ten...

Here's what he had to say in a story published this morning about his AP ballot:

LINK:  FREE PRESS

Notre Dame's College Fooball Playoff Chances

Here's what the media has to say this morning about Notre Dame's chances to rebound after last night's loss to Florida State and still make the College Football Playoffs:

LINK:  FOX SPORTS

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  BLEACHER REPORT

LINK:  ESPN #2 

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO

He is Very Deserving of Heisman Recognition

The young man is a WARRIOR...

Here is Notre Dame QB Everett Golson's post game press conference -- if you get a chance, you might want to compare this to the other QB's press conference, also linked on the ND GO IRISH BLOG.

LINK:  EVERETT GOLSON

USA TODAY: "Notre Dame Got Screwed..."

Here's what a writer from USA Today had to say about the penalty call that forever changed the outcome of the game between Notre Dame and Florida State last night...

LINK:  USA TODAY

Jimbo Fisher's Post Game Press Conference

The Florida State Seminoles' Jimbo Fisher talks about their 31 - 27 win over Notre Dame last night...

LINK:  JIMBO FISHER PRESSER

Jameis Winston Talks Win Over Notre Dame

Florida State QB Jameis Winston talks with the media after their victory last night over our Fighting Irish -- note the media handler...

LINK:  WINSTON

The Mornin' After "THE TALLAHASSEE FLAG"

We experienced a single penalty call last night that could determine a National Champion, a $6 million pay day and a Heisman Trophy winner...

Think about that.

Whatever happened to the old adage:

• "let them play..."  
• "you swallow the whistle at game's end..."
• "you let the players decide..."

Notre Dame fans are waking up to this reality this morning; "NOT in the Atlantic Coast Conference..." 

I took my customary "lap around the worldwide-web" this morning to see what the media has to say about last night's 31 - 27 controversial victory for Florida State:

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  ESPN 

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO

LINK:  ESPN #2

LINK:  CBS SPORTS #1

LINK:  CBS SPORTS #2

LINK:  NBC SPORTS

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  ORLANDO SENTINEL

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

A Disturbing Officiating Trend in ACC Games

First off, the Fighting Irish were called for eight penalties in the second half of the game -- that's more penalties called in one half then were called on Notre Dame in "both halves" of the Rice, Michigan and Stanford games -- COMBINED!

Here's a disturbing trend -- in the three games the Fighting Irish have played against teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference (with ACC officials) Notre Dame has been whistled for 27 penalties.  In the four games the Fighting Irish have played against team outside of the Atlantic Coast Conference -- they have been whistled for 13 penalties -- COMBINED.

THE THREE CALLS THAT DIDN'T GO OUR WAY -- THAT CHANGED THE GAME:

1. In the third quarter -- it's 3rd down and Winston throws the ball way over the head of the receiver.  They're going to have to kick a field goal.  Penalty flag -- holding on Cody Riggs.  HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE CALL (looks like a receiver and a defensive back engaging each other / just like the last play of the game) -- just watch the replay.  Florida State gets new life and a first down on the Notre Dame three yard line -- they score a touchdown a play or two later.  4 POINT SWING.
2. In the last drive of the game.  Golson throws a pass in the left side of the endzone to Corey Robinson.  In the replay, it's obvious that FSU's Darby makes contact with Robinson well before the ball arrives -- and he never turns his head to make a play on the ball.  Usually a no-brainer for an official -- but, it's late in the game -- you let the kids play.  NO PENALTY.  It happened in the endzone -- ball would have been place on the three yard line -- first and goal Irish. 
3. Then the $6 million penalty flag -- that's the share the ACC would get, or Notre Dame would get depending on which team (FSU or Notre Dame) is in the College Football Playoff.  In the replay, you can see that both Florida State defensive backs make contact with the Notre Dame wide receivers FIRST -- and they're both holding on to to Fuller and Prosise respectively.  A PENALTY ON NOTRE DAME...  7 POINT SWING -- GAME OUTCOME DECIDED.

Coach Brian Kelly After Tonight's Game

Here is Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly after today's game with the media...

LINK:  COACH KELLY