Irish Walk On Kicker -- Ranked 17th!

Notre Dame field goal kicker, David Ruffer, who last year at this time was playing "interhall football" for his dorm team at Notre Dame is now ranked amongst the top twenty kickers in college football!  Could be a movie here some day!!!  Ruffer has been perfect hitting all eight of his field goals with a long of 46 yards.  Sure hope I didn't just jinx him!  Here's a link to the rankings of field goal kicking:

LINK:  FIELD GOAL KICKING

Irish Ranked 14th in Fewest Penalties!

The Notre Dame Football team is the 14th least penalized team in college football this season after the first five games.  The Irish have been flagged for 21 penalties for 200 yards.  The most penalized team in college football is Troy with 55 penalties for 480 yards.  The second most is Arizona State with 46 penalties for 426 yards.  The least penalized team in the country is Indiana with 14 penalties for 121 yards. Again, a good sign for what's going on with our football program!  Here's a link to the rankings:

LINK:  MOST PENALIZED TEAMS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Notre Dame Ranked 19th in Total Sacks of QB's

Believe it or not, but our Fighting Irish defense is ranked in the top twenty in total number of QB sacks this season with 13!  As a point of reference, last year's "blitz happy" defense of John Tenuta finished 92nd in the country in total QB sacks with 19 for the season.  We have 13 after five games!  That's improvement folks!  Here's a link to the QB Sack Rankings of college football teams this season:

LINK:  TOTAL QB SACKS

Irish Football Ranked 8th in Two Categories...

The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish popped up in 8th in two national rankings this week -- one was for strength of schedule, where their schedule is ranked 8th toughest in the country.  And, the second is in Passing Offense, where the Irish are 8th in total passing yards with 1,465 -- in the country.  The schedule ranking is not surprising -- though if you asked us how tough our schedule was six months ago, most Irish fans would have said it was one of our "easier schedules" in some time.  And, Dayne Crist has had some big games, yardage wise, throwing the ball.  Here's a link to the Sagarin Rankings and a link to the ranking of teams by total passing yards:

LINK:  SAGARIN RATINGS

LINK:  PASSING OFFENSE

ND Football Update -- Tuesday Interviews

The folks at UND.COM have done a wonderful job this year covering Notre Dame Football.  Can't thank them enough!  Here's a link to Brian Kelly's Pittsburgh press conference along with a link to an interview, after yesterday's practice, with Notre Dame's Defensive Coordinator, Bob Diaco (pictured) -- enjoy!

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  BOB DIACO INTERVIEW

Father Jenkins to Attend Canonization in Rome

A member of the Congregation of Holy Cross order -- Brother Andre Bessette, C.S.C. (pictured) will be canonized for sainthood on October 17th in the Vatican's St. Peter's Square.  The Congregation of Holy Cross is the order that founded Notre Dame and Blessed Andre is their first member to be granted sainthood.  University of Notre Dame president -- Rev. John I.  Jenkins will lead a delegation from Notre Dame who will be attending this  ceremony.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune article as well as a link to a story about the "Miracle Man from Montrel" -- Brother Andre Bessette.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME DELEGATION TO ATTEND CANONIZATION

LINK:  THE MIRACLE MAN FROM MONTREAL

What a Week for ND's Skylar Diggins!

In the past seven days, University of Notre Dame women's basketball star, Skylar Diggins, was invited to be a panelist at ESPN's W. Retreat at The Lodge at Torrey Pines (three days in San Diego) -- joining some of the biggest female sports stars in America.  And, upon her return to the Notre Dame campus she learns that she's one of the thirty named to the John R. Wooden Women's Award Watch List for their player of the year award -- not a bad week!  In August, Skylar was named to the Watch List for the Wade Trophy which is the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's award for the top player in women's college basketball.  Diggins and her Fighting Irish teammates kick-off the 2010-2011 season with their first official practice tomorrow.  Here's a link to a Fox28TV report on Skylar's trip to the ESPN W. Retreat, a link to the Retreat's website and a link to the Wooden Award's website:

LINK:  A GREAT HONOR FOR SKYLAR

LINK:  ESPN W RETREAT

LINK:  WOODEN AWARD'S WATCH LIST

Zibby Fined $5,000 by National Football League

 

Former Notre Dame All-American, Tommy Zbikowski -- and now starting safety for the 3-1 Baltimore Ravens -- was fined $5,000 for "unnecessary roughness" on a Cleveland Browns running back. Zibby threw Peyton Mills to the ground -- garnering a 15-yard penalty and a few days later -- the NFL FINE!  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  ZIBBY FINED $5,000 BY NFL

Think Coach Kelly Expected This?

Have we become to "PC" (Politically Correct) in this country?  I've found two articles this morning complaining about Coach Kelly's "methods" on the Notre Dame sideline.  Folks, ESPN on ABC chose to make this a story Saturday night when they continually put a camera on Coach Kelly when his players came to the sideline.   And, they "conveniently" chose to only show the times he was displeased with one of his players.


THIS IS BIG TIME COLLEGE FOOTBALL -- NOT KINDERGARTEN RECESS!  Why am I'm fully expecting the ACLU or Gloria Allred to be next?

Here's a story written by a guy named Mike Hutton from the Post-Tribune -- which I understand is a Northwest Indiana newspaper.  Maybe I'm too old-school -- you decide:

LINK:  KELLY TOO TOUGH ON PLAYERS

OK Go -- To Perform at Notre Dame Saturday

Some may remember the OK Go music video from this past year that included members of the Band of the Fighting Irish -- performing this pop rock band's hit song "This Too Shall Pass."  Well, OK Go is back this Saturday at Notre Dame -- first they'll play at halftime of the Pitt game with the Band of the Fighting Irish and then after the game they'll play a concert at Legends (the on campus bar) for the Notre Dame students. Here's a link to the OK Go music video that "starred" the Band of the Fighting Irish:

LINK:  OK Go MUSIC VIDEO -- BAND OF THE FIGHTING IRISH

National Player of the Week Honors!

The University of Notre Dame's Melissa Henderson (Garland, TX) was named National Player of the Week by Top Drawer Soccer!  The junior forward scored four goals and an assist in the Irish wins over Big East foes; Syracuse and St. Johns.  In addition, Melissa was also named Big East Offensive Player of the Week -- the second time she's won this award this season.  Congratulations!  The 5th ranked Irish are now 11-1 on the season.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

A ND GO IRISH BLOG Thank You!

I received a nice note this morning from a life-long Notre Dame fan from Austin, TX -- named Diego Ybarra.  Diego let me know that he has made a habit of starting out most days by checking out the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- thank you!  He has a blog of his own called SWEET BOTTLE OF BANG -- see the link below.  Diego asked for my permission to "re-post"-- my post from last week, concerning an idea I have for Notre Dame and seven other schools -- to create an  "allegiance" of independent football programs (click here).  Thanks Diego for posting it on your site!

LINK:  SWEET BOTTLE OF BANG

Domer -- 4th In Amazing Race Last Night

Thomas Wolfard '02 , and his girlfriend Jill Haney (pictured loading a coffin -- yes a coffin, onto a cart) finished 4th last night in the second episode of Season 17 of CBS's Amazing Race -- meaning they live to see another show!  The good news -- they remain in control of the Express Pass they earned winning the race in England the previous week.  Yesterday, this globe trotting race was in Ghana -- what an experience for these two!  Here's a link to the replay of the episode and a link to their Facebook page:

LINK:  CBS AMAZING RACE

LINK:  THOMAS & JILL'S FACEBOOK PAGE

Clausen Receiving High Marks

Jimmy Clausen started his second game in the NFL yesterday afternoon in the Louisiana SuperDome, home of the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints -- and he did okay.  Clausen and his teammates took the Saints to the final minute -- only to lose 16 - 14.  In the second quarter, Clausen threw his first NFL TD pass, a 55 yard beauty to Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart.  To see a video of his first TD pass, click here.  Here's a link to a Charlotte Observer story about Clausen's performance:

LINK:  CLAUSEN -- STORY

Four Freshmen Score Goals -- Irish Hockey Win!

Jeff Jackson's Fighting Irish got their 2010-2011 season underway yesterday with a 5 - 3 exhibition win over Guelph University.  The Irish Icers were led by FIVE FRESHMEN -- four who scored goals; David Gerths, Mike Voran, Jeff Costello, Anders Lee and T.J. Tynan who had three assists!  Tynan, all 5'-8" 156 lbs. of him is sure to become a crowd favorite with his skills and speed.  The Irish start their season this weekend in St. Louis at the Ice Breaker Invitational with an opening round game against Holy Cross.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story from last night:

LINK:  IRISH HOCKEY WIN

Here's Coach Kelly's Sweater From Last Night

If you're like me -- you thought the sweater that Coach Kelly wore at last night's game was quite sharp.  Well, I searched the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore website and found it.  Here's a link to their website and the specific Adidas sweater the Notre Dame Coaching Staff wore against Boston College on ABC last night:

LINK:  COACHING STAFF SWEATER -- BC GAME

Sunday Conversations With Coach Kelly

The Fighting Irish's Head Coach, Brian Kelly -- met with the media today for a little more than seventeen minutes.  He took their questions concerning last night's 31-13 win over Boston College. Here's a link to an AUDIO recording of this conversation.  Kelly also sat down with UND.COM's Jack Nolan for their weekly Sunday conversation -- here's a link to that as well:

LINK:  COACH BRIAN KELLY WITH MEDIA (AUDIO)

LINK:  COACH KELLY ONE-ON-ONE WITH NOLAN

Jimmy Clausen Throws First NFL TD Pass!

 

Former Notre Dame QB, Jimmy Clausen -- threw his first NFL TD pass today against the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints.  Clausen's TD pass went for 55 yards to the Panthers' RB Jonathan Stewart.  He stepped up in the pocket and threw a strike!  Congratulations Jimmy!  I trust it will be just the first of many for Clausen in a Carolina Panther uniform.  For the game -- Clausen was 11-21 for 146 yards in their 16-14 loss.  His Passer Rating was 90.6 which was just higher than the Saint's Drew Brees who's rating was 90.2  (Photo on left is Clausen celebrating TD pass with Stewart, photo on right, Clausen has the ball he threw for the TD).   Here's a link to the video to Jimmy's TD pass -- a moment he'll never forget!

LINK:  JIMMY CLAUSEN'S FIRST NFL TD PASS!

ESPN'S Post Game Recap of ND's Win Over BC

Here's a link to Kirk Herbstreit's ESPN -- yeah, the network who employs a guy who said Notre Dame has a "high school defense."  Hey Herbie -- the Irish held BC to five yards of rushing last night!  FIVE YARDS!

LINK:  ESPN'S RECAP OF GAME

Media Coverage of ND's 31-13 Win over BC

Here's a look at some of the media coverage, over night, of the Fighting Irish's 31-13 win over Boston College.  This was Notre Dame's first win in Chestnut Hill since 1998.  Just click on the links below:






LINK:  BOSTON GLOBE

LINK:  BOSTON HERALD

LINK:  GREENWICH TIME

LINK:  TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- GAME STORY

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE - STORY ON DEFENSE