Monday, November 9, 2015
Latest Look at Fenway Park Transformation
Sunday, November 8, 2015
CFB Playoff: The Top 10 With Wins Saturday
Here's a look at the CFB Playoff Top Ten teams who won games yesterday -- and how many FBS teams and "non-Power 5" schools that are on their respective schedules this season.
Remember this when you hear stories these next few weeks about Notre Dame not playing a "thirteenth" game this season:
1. Clemson: 10 FBS / Wofford, Appalachian State, #5Notre Dame
3. Ohio State: 12 FBS / Hawaii, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan
4. Alabama: 10 FBS / Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana-Monroe, Charleston Southern
5. Notre Dame: 12 FBS / UMass, #21 Temple, #23 Navy
6. Baylor: 11 FBS / Lamar, SMU, Rice
9. Iowa: 11 FBS / Illinois State, North Texas
10. Florida: 12 FBS / New Mexico State, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic
Here's how many teams that the Big 12's Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State played in the first nine weeks (prior to yesterday) with a winning record:
- BAYLOR: ZERO
- TCU: ZERO
- OKLAHOMA STATE: ZERO
- OKLAHOMA: TWO (Tennessee & Tulsa both are 5 - 4 on the season)
The photo above shows Alabama scoring a TD against Middle Tennessee State earlier this season...
The Big 12's Scheduling -- Just The FACTS!
Folks -- this will blow your mind -- the four teams in the BIG 12 that are currently ranked in the top 20 in the College Football Playoff (Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma) -- came into this weekend having played 32 games...
Only 2 of those 32 games have been played against a team with a winning record this season -- TWO! Oklahoma has played Tennessee and Tulsa -- both teams are 5 - 4 on the season.
How can you call a win over Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma -- a quality win, when they haven't played anyone?
Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State had ZERO wins against teams with winning records 24 hours ago... How can that be in November?
How can you rank any of them over Notre Dame who has played FIVE STRAIGHT GAMES over teams who have been ranked at some point in the TOP 25 this season?
You can't -- if you do your homework.
Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame -- Playoff Rank
I saw on Twitter this AM that Kirk Herbstreit has Oklahoma State jumping from #14 all the way up to #4 (surpassing Notre Dame) -- after their win over undefeated TCU and LSU's loss to Alabama last night.
I don't think Mr. Herbstreit has taken the time to do his homework -- I have...
Yes, Oklahoma State is undefeated -- but there is a reason the College Football Playoff Committee had them ranked so low this week at #14 -- here's why:
- TCU is the first "Power Five" conference team Oklahoma State has played this season with a winning record -- ND has played five so far this season
- The opponents Oklahoma State has beaten -- going into last night's game -- are 28 - 43 on the season -- ND's opponents over same span: 42 - 30
- Oklahoma State beat a 3 - 5 Kansas State team on a last minute field goal -- at home
- Oklahoma State beat a 4 - 5 Texas team on a last minute botched punt snap and then a last second field goal -- ND beat Texas 38 - 3.
- Oklahoma State beat a 4 - 4 West Virginia team in OT
And, their perceived "big win" over TCU yesterday -- was against a team who had not played a team with a winning record this season. Think about that!
TCU's wins -- leading into yesterday's game against Oklahoma State -- were against teams with a combined record of 27 - 44.
Is TCU really a big win for Oklahoma State?
Bottom line: We need to win our next three games -- nothing else matters -- until then.
Saturday, November 7, 2015
ND Football "Up Early" for a Pitt Breakfast !!!
Morning beats and breakfast. https://t.co/tyMkK30Gyk
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) November 7, 2015
Friday, November 6, 2015
Notre Dame Practicing at Duquesne This AM
The Fighting Irish flew into Pittsburgh last night -- as they prepare for tomorrow's NOON ET tilt with the Pitt Panthers. The game will be televised on ABC.
Here's a photo of ND practicing this morning at Duquesne University's football field.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Eifert Takes NFL Lead With 9 TD Receptions !!!
Former Notre Dame All-American Tyler Eifert had THREE TD catches in the Bengals 31 - 10 win over the Browns last night -- giving him an NFL best NINE TD RECEPTIONS on the season!
LINK: EIFERT TD'S
Must See Story: "Notre Dame's Class of 2029"
A 3rd grade class in Stockton, CA adopted the University of Notre Dame as their school...
You're going to love this story!
LINK: TAYLOR LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
Domer Dad's Retirement Press Conference
Torii Hunter, Sr. -- father of Notre Dame wide receiver Torii Jr. -- met with the media today to talk about his retirement from major league baseball...
Time to root full-time for the Fighting Irish!
Notre Dame -- 9th Straight -- #1 GSR Rate !!!
The Notre Dame Athletics Department can now claim its 9th straight NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP as 19 of ND's 22 varsity athletic sports had perfect NCAA Graduation Success Rates (GSR) !!!
LINK: STORY
A Weekend Look at the NEW TOP TEN -- CFB
Here's what lies ahead this weekend for the teams ranked in the TOP TEN of the College Football Playoff Rankings:
#1: Clemson (-12) -- plays #16 Florida State (7 - 1) at home
#2: LSU (+6.5) -- plays #4 Alabama (7 - 1) on the road
#3: Ohio State (-24) -- plays Minnesota (4 - 4) at home
#4: Alabama (-6.5) -- plays #2 LSU (7 - 0) at home
__________________________________________________
#5: Notre Dame (-8.5) -- plays Pittsburgh (6 - 2) on the road
#6: Baylor (-17) -- plays Kansas State (3 - 4) on the road
#7: Michigan State (-6) -- plays Nebraska (3 - 6) on the road
#8: TCU (-5) -- plays #14 Oklahoma State (8 - 0) on the road
#9: Iowa (-7) -- plays Indiana (4 - 4) on the road
#10: Florida (-21) -- plays Vanderbilt (3 - 5) at home
What's shocking to me:
- Clemson is a 12 point favorite over Florida State
- Michigan State is only a 6 point favorite over Nebraska
- Notre Dame is the 2nd biggest road favorite of the TOP Ten and they play a 6 - 2 PIttsburgh squad that is 12 points from being undefeated.
Well Written Story on ND QB DeShone Kizer
You'll want to find time to read this story in Sports Illustrated's "Campus Rush."
LINK: DESHONE KIZER
Pitt Coach: "Notre Dame Should Have to Join..."
Pitt Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi just spoke to the media and he openly questioned Notre Dame's scheduling (really?) and their ability to play for the National Championship without joining a conference -- see link below...
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE RANKINGS as of 11/05/15
- #5 Notre Dame
- #34 Pittsburgh
I for one -- think Notre Dame Football would LOVE to play the same teams Pitt is playing this year, next year -- every year...
- Youngstown State
- Akron
- Villanova
LINK: NARDUZZI ON IRISH
ESPN's Bomani Jones Talks ND & CFB Playoff
ESPN radio host Bomani Jones talks "Notre Dame bias" in the College Football Playoff ranking...
LINK: BOMANI JONES
Russillo & Kanell Talk CFB Playoff Rankings
Here is ESPN Radio's Ryen Russillo and Danny Kanell talking about the first week of rankings for the College Football Playoff with Committee Chair Jeff Long...
LINK: RUSSILLO & KANELL
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Notre Dame Football Featured in Gatorade Ad
This is an ad campaign from Gatorade where they claim to feature some of the "world's best athletes and teams..."
And, they picked the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame!
Mike & MIKE Talk ND & CFB Playoff Rankings
ESPN's morning radio show -- talks the first rankings from the CFB Playoff and Notre Dame...
LINK: MIKE & MIKE -- CFB PLAYOFF RANKINGS
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Six Game Playoff For a National Championship!
Here's what we know right now -- after being ranked #5 by the College Football Playoff Committee -- we win our next six football games this season, we are NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!
Playoff Game #1: PITTSBURGH
Playoff Game #2: WAKE FOREST
Playoff Game #3: BOSTON COLLEGE
Playoff Game #4: STANFORD
Playoff Game #5: TBD (Orange Bowl or Cotton Bowl)
National Championship Game: TBD (AT&T Stadium -- Dallas)
It just got real...
CFB Playoff Committe Has Notre Dame #5 !!!
This is going to create a conversation in Waco, East Lansing, Fort Worth, Iowa City and Tallahassee and a few other locations. Shows you the CFB Playoff Committee is looking at strength of schedule.
TOP 6:
- CLEMSON
- LSU
- OHIO STATE
- ALABAMA
- NOTRE DAME
- BAYLOR
This means we win the rest of our games -- we "SHOULD" be in the PLAYOFF!!!
Fenway Park Readies for Notre Dame Football
Here's some early photos of the grounds crew at Fenway Park preparing to convert the baseball park into the home of the Shamrock Series game between Boston College and our Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, November 21st.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Two Domers Secure "Shark Tank" Investment
Notre Dame alums Mike Doyle and Drew Mitchell -- co-founders of "Rent Like a Champion" were guests on ABC's hit show SHARK TANK this past Friday night and they secured a $200,000 investment for 10% of their company from Mark Cuban and "guest Shark" Mark Sacca.
Here's the Forbes story:
LINK: DOMERS GET SHARK MONEY!
If you want to watch the "negotiation" -- you'll have to click on the link below which will take you to the entire show:
LINK: SHARK TANK EPISODE 6
Notre Dame Now #2 in the FEI Ranking!
The creator of the Fremeau Efficiency Index is a colleague of mine here at the University of Notre Dame by the name of Brian Fremeau. Brian has been doing this statistical analysis work on football for a number of years --- really smart stuff.
And, his latest FEI rankings has the Fighting Irish ranked #2 in the country behind Clemson!
The Fremeau Efficiency Index (FEI) is a college football rating system based on opponent-adjusted drive efficiency. Approximately 20,000 possessions are contested annually in FBS vs. FBS games. First-half clock-kills and end-of-game garbage drives and scores are filtered out. Unadjusted game efficiency (GE) is a measure of net success on non-garbage possessions, and opponent adjustments are calculated with special emphasis placed on quality performances against good teams, win or lose. Other definitions:
- SOS: Strength of Schedule, measured as the likelihood of an elite team going undefeated against the given team's regular season schedule. Schedule strength data based on FEI ratings and calculated across other dimensions can be explored in this interactive visualization.
- FBS MW: Mean Wins, the average number of games a team with the given FEI rating would be expected to win against its regular season schedule of FBS opponents.
- FBS RMW: Remaining Mean Wins, the average number of games a team with the given FEI rating would be expected to win against the remainder of its regular season schedule of FBS opponents.
- OFEI: Opponent-adjusted Offensive Efficiency value generated per possession.
- DFEI: Opponent-adjusted Defensive Efficiency value generated per opponent possession.
- STE: Special Teams Efficiency value generated per game possession.
- FVE: Field Value Efficiency value generated per game possession.
LINK: FEI RANKING -- ALL 128 FBS TEAMS
Sunday, November 1, 2015
AP Poll: Notre Dame Jumps Stanford for #8
The latest Associated Press Poll has the Fighting Irish sitting at #8 -- between #7 Alabama and #9 Stanford...
LINK: AP POLL
Niklas & Floyd -- 3 TD Catches for Cardinals!
Former Notre Dame All-American Michael Floyd caught a 60 yard TD pass today and former ND student-athlete Troy Niklas caught his first and second TD passes of his career in the Arizona Cardinals game vs. Cleveland.
At the time of this post --- the game was still in the 3rd QTR with Arizona leading 24 - 20.
LINK: NIKLAS' FIRST CAREER TD!
LINK: MICHAEL FLOYD'S 60 YARD TD!
LINK: NIKLAS' SECOND CAREER TD!
ND's Turner: Home to Say Good-Bye to Mom
Notre Dame student-athlete John Turner wasn't in Philadelphia yesterday with his Fighting Irish teammates -- instead, he was at home with his family in Indianapolis.
He made the right decision.
John's Mom Stephanie is dying from Breast Cancer. You're going to want to read this story...
LINK: ONE LAST GAME
Note: Stephanie Turner left for Heaven today (November 2nd) -- John Turner posted this message on his Twitter account this morning:
OT: Miami's Controversial Win Over Duke
Some in the media this morning -- are calling for the ACC to reverse the final call by its officials. See the stories linked below -- along with Duke's head coach David Cutcliffe's post game press conference:
LINK: ESPN STORY
LINK: SB NATION
LINK: DUKE CHRONICLE
LINK: CBS SPORTS
LINK: AUSTIN STATESMAN
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