Notre Dame Moves Up to #8 in Coaches Poll

Well, in just a little more than two weeks time -- our Fighting Irish have moved up from #16 in the college football rankings to #8...

LINK:  LATEST RANKING

OT: FSU Head Coach's Prepared Statement

After #1 Florida State's thrilling OT win last night over Clemson -- head coach Jimbo Fisher read a prepared statement.  He strayed a little from the script when he made this declaration at the 1:14 mark of the press conference:

"When your players misstep, you balance education, which we do a lot more than anybody in America, as much as anybody in America..."

Now I must admit, I don't know what "balance education" means -- but, I trust Coach Fisher wasn't referring to the graduation rate of his football players at Florida State University -- this is from the NCAA and a recent University of Pennsylvania study:

• Florida State -- all football players:  55% graduation rate
• Florida State -- black male football players:  37% graduation rate

LINK:  COACH FISHER PRESSER

LINK:  STORY ON BLACK ATHLETES' GRADUATION RATES

PHOTO: The End of Michigan's Game vs. Utah

A long thunderstorm delay combined with a lackluster performance by the Wolverines -- led Michigan fans to head home by the "tens of thousands" with almost 8 minutes left in the game...

Domer Dad Has Sixth Straight Multi-Hit Game!

Torii Hunter Sr., Detroit Tiger outfielder and father of Notre Dame student-athlete Torri Jr., had his sixth straight game where he had two or more hits!!!  The first time in his career!

Torri's first hit was a home run -- his 17th of the season -- as the Tigers beat Kansas City 3 - 2 to take a 2 1/2 game lead with 8 games left in the season.  Detroit's "magic number" is now 6 games!

LINK:  DOMER DAD'S HOMER!

OT: The Best QB You've Never Heard About?

Since the Fighting Irish aren't playing today -- I'm driving up to Big Rapids, MI to see "my" Ferris State Bulldogs take on "Brian Kelly's" Grand Valley State Lakers tonight in a battle for the "Anchor-Bone" Trophy.

The Bulldogs -- ranked #16 in the country, NCAA Division II -- are led by a 6'-4" 241 lb. "bulldozer" of a QB named Jason Vander Laan.  The junior is a favorite to win Division II's "Heisman Trophy" -- the HARLAN HILL TROPHY -- coming off a sophomore season where he had these crazy stats:

• 1,607 yards rushing -- ALL-TIME RECORD FOR A QB IN DIV. II
• 1,493 yards passing
• 29 TDs -- 13 passing / 16 rushing

You're going to want to watch his highlight reel!

LINK:  JASON VANDER LAAN -- HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  STORY

Justin & Lauran Tuck -- Their R.U.S.H. Initiative

Former Notre Dame defensive end Justin Tuck and his wife Lauran have a charity by the name of R.U.S.H. which stands for:  Read, Understand, Succeed and Hope for Literacy.  Here's what they were up to this week in Oakland...

LINK:  THE TUCK'S

Jerome Bettis Making A Difference in Pittsburgh

Former Notre Dame running back Jerome Bettis continues to do his adopted home of Pittsburgh -- right.  Here's what he's up to now...

That's Jerome above giving Ed Stack (Chairman of Dick's Sporting Goods) his Jerome Bettis Humanitarian Award.

LINK:  JEROME BETTIS