Muffet's Irish Ranked 12th in AP Poll

The University of Notre Dame's Women's Basketball Team is ranked 12th in the first poll released by the Associated Press for the 2010-2011 season.  Led by sophomore "all everything" Skylar Diggs -- the Irish are one of five teams in the Big East ranked in the top-20 poll; Connecticut (#1), West Virginia (#11), Georgetown (#13) and St. John's (#14).  Notre Dame's first game is this Wednesday -- at the Purcell Pavillion -- in an exhibition against Michigan Tech.  Here's a link to a recent interview with Skylar Diggins:

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS INTERVIEW

Domer's Team Wins in Russia Last Night!

Thomas Wolfard '02 and his girlfriend Jill Haney won CBS's The Amazing Race last night in St. Petersburg, Russia.  The episode win, the second for the duo in six shows this season -- earned them a bonus from Travelocity -- an all expenses paid trip to San Paolo, Brazil.  The Domer and his girlfriend are one of seven teams left in this globetrotting adventure race.  The screen grab of Jill and Thomas is from last night's episode of The Amazing Race.  Here's a link to a replay of last night's show:

LINK:  CBS'S AMAZING RACE -- SEASON 17 -- RUSSIA

The Mass of Remembrance for Declan Sullivan

The University of Notre Dame has posted a video of Thursday night's Mass for Declan Sullivan.  Here's a link:

LINK:  CELEBRATING DECLAN SULLIVAN'S LIFE

The University of Notre Dame -- An Easy Target

This week's tragedy on the Notre Dame football practice field served up another "fat one" for an opportunistic main stream media.  You see, Notre Dame is an easy target for the media -- always has been, always will be -- for this simple reason:  they dare to do things right.

On a typical college football Saturday, a day that you could find a running back in the SEC (Chris Rainey) -- playing for the beloved Urban Meyer's Florida Gators, who just a few weeks ago is arrested for threatening to kill his girlfriend -- scores a TD in their win over Georgia.  Or, in the Big Ten -- where this past Thursday a defensive back from Michigan State (Chris Rucker) was sitting in a jail cell (serving a two week prison sentence for a parole violation) and two days later, he's in uniform -- playing against Iowa for the undefeated Spartans.

Yet, the media's not talking about Florida and Michigan State's "win at all cost" approach today -- no, they're talking about the university that dares to graduate all of its student athletes.  The school that sends you home for a semester or longer; for cheating on a paper, for driving a golf cart on campus while intoxicated, etc.   The EASY TARGET, because it dares to have standards and expectations for its student athletes and its university.

The University of Notre Dame failed one of its own this past Wednesday -- we know that -- and trust me, Notre Dame knows that.  Declan Sullivan's death was a tragedy, it was an accident and it can't be taken back.  The Sullivan's lost a son, a brother and a shining light on Wednesday -- Notre Dame lost one of its own.

What good does the media serve this morning with their attack on Notre Dame?

Do they think Notre Dame won't do their absolute best to ensure an accident like this never happens again?  Or, do they really think Notre Dame's going to "look the other way" and they (the media) need to serve the public good and force Notre Dame to do the right thing?

No, this is a selfish move -- to drive up ratings, page views and newspaper sales.

They know Notre Dame is going to do the right thing.

Shouldn't the media be putting the spotlight on schools like Florida and Michigan State -- maybe, just maybe they can help save a life -- by forcing these schools (and others) to "do the right thing" -- and not look the other way -- even when it might lead to a defeat on the football field...??

It just goes to show -- that administrators in Gainesville and East Lansing believe there are benefits in having such low expectations of their student athletes, their football programs and their universities.

Isn't this where the outrage should be today?

The Next Great Irish QB?

He's a nineteen year-old "baby faced" Notre Dame freshman -- who now just happens to be the starting QB for the Fighting Irish.  Tommy Rees, didn't earn that starting role -- he inherited it.  Yet, after yesterday's record setting performance for a freshman -- 4 TD passes going 33-54 and 334 yards -- Rees proved he belongs.


As a point of reference, Jimmy Clausen threw seven TD passes his entire freshman season in ten games as a starter.  Rees throws five TD passes in his five quarters of relief duty.  

He just might be the perfect passing QB for Brian Kelly's system.  Rees appears to get rid of the ball on time and is accurate -- two key elements in Kelly's spread offense.  While I don't think he'll ever be the runner I'm sure Kelly would like -- he can move the Irish down the field and score.  Think about it, he comes in off the bench in the first quarter (in the middle of an Irish possession) and proceeds to complete his first eight passes and leads the Irish to TD's the first two times he's on the field.


In a season that has turned into an unmitigated disaster -- Tommy Rees just might be the guy who turns "our frowns upside down."

Here's a link to his first post game interview session -- pretty impressive:

LINK:  TOMMY REES INTERVIEW

The Morning After -- The Media's IRISH Spin

The ND GO IRISH BLOG takes a "lap" around the web, every Sunday morning during the football season, to check in on the media's take on Notre Dame's performance the day before.  Today we get the opportunity to read what they're saying about our 28-27 loss to Tulsa.

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  TULSA WORLD #1

LINK:  TULSA WORLD #2

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

Coach Kelly After Today's Loss to Tulsa...

Here's a couple of links to Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Brian Kelly's post game comments.  The first link is video of his first comments since Wednesday's tragic accident.  The second link is video of his thoughts concerning today's loss to Tulsa.

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY'S COMMENTS ON DECLAN SULLIVAN

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY'S TULSA POST GAME MEDIA SESSION

Game Day @ Notre Dame!

Today's game just might be what the Doctor ordered for the Notre Dame Football team and the Notre Dame Family.  If you're like me -- and you're not going to the Tulsa game today -- here's how you can keep occupied leading up to kick-off.  We really need a win today -- GO IRISH!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GAME DAY RADIO SHOW --  starts at 9 AM EST

LINK:  UND.COM LIVE STADIUM CAM -- watch Notre Dame Stadium fill up, starts at 11 AM EST

LINK:  UND.COM PRE GAME BLOG -- starts at 1:30 PM EST

KICK OFF:  2:41 PM EST


LINK:  NBC.COM SIMULCAST OF GAME

LINK:  UND.COM LIVE POST GAME SHOW -- starts immediately after game's end

What The Money is Sayin' -- Today's Game

Every week, the ND GO IRISH BLOG takes a look at how the "experts" in Las Vegas analyze the Irish and their opponent.  Today, the Golden Hurricanes -- coming off a bye week -- will bring the 8th ranked offense in the country to Notre Dame Stadium for the first time in their school's history.  The Irish are currently a 8.5 point favorite.  Here's a link to a number of the betting site's analysis of today's game:

LINK:  ACCUSCORE

LINK:  MADDUXSPORTS

LINK:  TOUTHOUSE

LINK:  ODDSSHARK

Tulsa's First Ever Trip to Notre Dame Stadium

The Tulsa Golden Hurricanes and their high-powered offense, ranked 8th in the country, invade historic Notre Dame Stadium for the first time this afternoon.  Coming off a bye week, the Golden Hurricanes are averaging 491.57 yards per game -- 270 yards passing and 221 yards rushing.  Here is a link to a video of Tulsa's "walk through" at Notre Dame Stadium yesterday afternoon (photo as well).  And, a link to a video of Tulsa's Head Coach Todd Graham talking about Notre Dame:




LINK:  TULSA'S "WALK THROUGH" @ NOTRE DAME STADIUM 

LINK:  TULSA'S TODD GRAHAM -- TALKING NOTRE DAME

Helmet Sticker To Be Worn By Irish Today

The University of Notre Dame released this artwork last night of the helmet decal to be worn by the Fighting Irish football players today -- to honor classmate Declan Sullivan.  Tulsa will also wear the sticker on their helmets.

Stewart Named National Scholar-Athlete!

University of Notre Dame's Chris Stewart (Spring, TX) -- a fifth-year senior offensive guard -- has been selected a 2010 National Scholar-Athlete by the National Football Foundation.  The 6'5" 252 lb. lineman is the first student athlete in Notre Dame's storied history to take on football and law school simultaneously. Stewart graduated from Notre Dame in 3 1/2 years and entered Notre Dame's Law School this fall.  As a National Scholar-Athlete, Stewart receives an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and is one of 16 finalists for the 21st William V. Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best scholar-athlete in the nation and often referred to as "The Academic Heisman." The award comes with a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 post-graduate scholarship.  Stewart is the 16th Notre Dame football player to receive the scholarship and second in the past four years.  John Carlson, now with the Seattle Seahawks, is the last Irish football player to be so honored.  Chris will be one of the honored guests at the National Football Foundation's Annual Awards Dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 7 in New York City at the Waldorf-Astoria. The event will also include the induction of the 2010 College Football Hall of Fame Class and the presentation of several major awards, including the organization's highest honor, the Gold Medal, to American icon Bill Cosby and the Distinguished American Award to renowned journalist and author Tom Brokaw.  This past month, USA Today spent a day with Chris Stewart -- see the link below to that story.  Congratulations Chris!

LINK:  A DAY IN THE LIFE OF CHRIS STEWART

A Football Goal Post @ Yankee Stadium!

Three weeks from today, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Black Knights of Army -- will play the first football game in the Yankees' new $1.5 billion home.  The "home game" for the Irish, marks the first time since 1946 that the Irish have played in New York City.  That 1946 contest, also against Army,  in the "old" Yankee Stadium, ended in a 0-0 tie -- a game many have called the "greatest of all time." Yesterday, the Yankees released this photo of the first goal post in their new baseball park -- as they make the transformation to a football stadium.  I can't wait!  Here's a link to video highlights of the 1946 game:

LINK:  1946 ND vs. ARMY GAME

A Mass to Celebrate Declan Sullivan's Life

The University of Notre Dame family met on campus last night at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart with the family of Declan Sullivan and the Notre Dame football team -- to celebrate Declan's life.  The crowd was larger than the Basilica could handle as hundreds were forced to stand outside (photo) or gather in other campus locations to watch the Mass via a live TV feed.  Here's a link to a Chicago Tribune story along with WNDU-TV's story on the Mass and a MUST READ blog post from Amy Holsinger, a junior at Notre Dame -- it will make you very proud of our Notre Dame:

LINK:  REMEMBERING DECLAN SULLIVAN

LINK:  WNDU-TV'S COVERAGE

LINK:  A ND STUDENT'S REFLECTION OF LAST NIGHT'S MASS

Football Weekend Weather @ Notre Dame

Looks like another "sunny" football weekend at Notre Dame!  Since the forecast doesn't show any rain for a few days in the Michiana area -- I've dropped the radar link and added the WNDU-TV webcam link of the Notre Dame campus skyline.  Go Irish!

LINK:  WEBCAM OF NOTRE DAME SKYLINE

Notre Dame: #1 in the Classroom!

The NCAA released its Graduation Success Rate (GSR) measurements for student athletes, this week, and the University of Notre Dame is the clear NATIONAL CHAMPION!  19 of Notre Dame's 22 NCAA Division 1 athletic teams had a 100% graduation rate over the last six years.  The only three sports that didn't have a perfect graduation rate over this period was football (96%), hockey (95%) and men's tennis at (93%).  The football team's GSR was #1 in the country and the hockey team's GSR was #2 in the country.  Notre Dame's 19 for 22 in perfect graduation rates amongst it's sports teams (86.3%) also led the country.  Here's the ranking of the seven schools in the country who had at least 50% of its athletic teams achieve "perfection" with their GSR:

#1:  University of Notre Dame:  19/22 -- 86.3%
#2:  Boston College:  19/25 -- 78%
#3:  Wake Forest University:  10/14 -- 71.4%
#4:  Stanford University:  19/27 -- 70.3%
#5:  Duke University:  14/22 -- 63.6%
#6:  Northwestern University:  10/19 -- 52.6%
#7:  Rice University:  6/12 -- 50%

This marks the fifth time in the six years since the NCAA began this survey that the University of Notre Dame has had the highest percentage of athletic teams with a 100% graduation rate!  Wouldn't it be nice if the national sports media reported on this!  Have you seen ESPN cover this?

Notre Dame Football -- Put In Perspective Today

The tragic news of Declan Sullivan, a 20 year-old University of Notre Dame junior (Long Grove, IL), losing his life in an accident at Notre Dame's football practice today -- makes one's concern over our team's performance this season, seem so very shallow -- as the Sullivan family (Declan's sister Gwyneth, is a ND student) and friends deal with this horrific news.  I know the Notre Dame Family will pray for one of its own...


At approximately 4:50 PM EST today, a hydraulic scissors lift, used by Notre Dame to hoist a camera and videographer forty to fifty feet into the air to video practice -- tipped over, falling onto the street that runs outside the practice fields -- killing Sullivan, who was videotaping Notre Dame's defensive team's practice from atop the platform.  


The photos above, show the platform and lift laying on its side -- on the street outside the University of Notre Dame's Labar Practice Complex.  WNDU-TV is reporting that wind gusts this afternoon exceeded 50 mph on the Notre Dame campus.  Here's a number of links to the media's coverage of this tragic accident:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S OFFICIAL STATEMENT

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE'S COVERAGE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE'S COVERAGE

LINK:  WNDU-TV'S COVERAGE

LINK:  WSBT-TV'S COVERAGE

LINK:  ESPN'S COVERAGE

Notre Dame just announced that it will celebrate Declan Sullivan's life -- tomorrow night -- at a 10 PM Memorial Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

"...And, until we meet again -- 
may God hold you in the palm of His hand."

THE ND GO IRISH BLOG WILL "GO QUIET" FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS

The Definitive Notre Dame Football Database

Folks, I stumbled upon a Notre Dame Football online database today that is absolutely incredible.  It's published by Geoge Macor Sports Databases -- and it tracks every Notre Dame Football game since the inaugural 1887 season.  The very first football game played by Notre Dame was on November 23, 1887 against the University of Michigan -- a game the Irish lost 8-0 -- you'll find that game in the database.  Here's a link:

LINK:  THE DEFINITIVE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL DATABASE

Youngest Head Coach in the NBA -- A Domer!

Former Notre Dame basketball star and nine-year NBA player, Monty Williams, will be coaching his first NBA regular season game tonight -- from the Head Coaches seat -- as his New Orleans Hornets take on the Milwaukee Bucks.  And, at age 39, this DOMER is the youngest head coach in the NBA!  ND Go Irish Blog regular, Denny Doyle, sent me an email this morning (THANK YOU!) alerting me to the fact that USA Today recently interviewed Williams -- here's a link to that story -- along with a link to a story posted on June 5th when he was named head coach:



LINK:  THE NBA'S YOUNGEST HEAD COACH

LINK:  WILLIAMS NAMED COACH OF HORNETS

Notre Dame's Offense -- National Rankings

It's Wednesday -- which means it's time for our weekly look at where Notre Dame Football ranks in certain statistical categories amongst the 120 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision -- AFTER EIGHT GAMES OF THE 2010 SEASON. In today's analysis you'll see how Notre Dame's Offense & Special Teams currently stand; on a national basis -- as compared to their final ranking for 2009 -- and how this week's opponent: Tulsa's defense and special teams compare in the same categories.

OFFENSIVE TEAM STATISTICS

Total First Downs:  2010 Rank - #27 with 168 first downs -- in 2009 we had 293 first downs for the season, ranking us #13 -- TCU leads the country with 205 first downs.  Tulsa has 183 first downs for the season, ranking them #9 in the country.

Third Down Conversions:  2010 Rank - #66 with a 39.25% conversion rate -- in 2009 we had a 39.1% conversion rate for the season, ranking us #48 -- Nevada leads the country converting 60% of their third downs.  Tulsa's defense has allowed a 42.11% third down conversion rate this season, ranking them #84 in the country.

Passing Yards Per Attempt:  2010 Rank - #63 with 7.0 yards passing per attempt -- in 2009 we averaged 8.7 yards passing per attempt, ranking us #7 in the country.

Passing Yardage:  2010 Rank - #18 with 283 yards per game  (2,263 yards for the season)  -- in 2009 we passed for 323 yards per game (3,882 yards for the season), ranking us #7 -- Hawaii leads the country with 401 yards passing per game (3,206 yards for the season).  Tulsa's defense has given up an average of 330 passing yards per game this season, ranking them #120 in the country.

Rushing Yards Per Attempt:  2010 Rank - #87 with 3.7 yards rushing per attempt -- in 2009 we averaged 3.8 yards rushing per attempt, ranking us #76 in the country.  

Rushing Yardage:  2010 Rank - #98 with 112 yards rushing per game (897 yards for the season) -- in 2009 we rushed for 127 yards per game  (1,539 yards for the season), ranking us #88 -- Air Force leads the country with 326 yards rushing per game (2,612 yards for the season).  Tulsa's defense has given up an average of 113 rushing yards per game this season, ranking them #20 in the country.

Fewest QB Sacks Given Up:  2010 Rank -- #45 giving up 16 QB sacks -- in 2009 we gave up 25 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #66 -- Oregon and Marshall lead the country having only given up 2 QB sacks this season.  Tulsa's defense has sacked the QB 17 times this season, ranking them #38 in the country.

Fewest Pass Interceptions Thrown:  2010 Rank -- #103 having thrown 9 pass interceptions this season -- in 2009 we threw 5 interceptions for the season, raking us #5 -- Army leads the country having thrown 0 pass interceptions this season.  Tulsa's defense has intercepted 9 passes this season, ranking them #27 in the country.

Turnovers Lost:  2010 Rank - #85 with 15 turnovers lost -- in 2009 we had 14 turnovers for the season, ranking us #7 -- Oregon State leads the country with 4 turnovers lost for the season.  Tulsa's defense and special teams have gained 15 turnovers this season, ranking them #28 in the country.

Total Offense:  2010 Rank -- #52 with 395 yards per game of offense -- in 2009 we had 451 yards per game of offense, ranking us #8 -- Oregon leads the country 569 yards per game of offense.  Tulsa's defense has given up 443 yards per game this season, ranking them #108 in the country.

Points Per Game:  2010 Rank -- #71 with 25.88 points per game -- in 2009 we averaged 30.1 points per game for the season, ranking us #32 -- Oregon leads the country scoring 55.1 points per game.  Tulsa's defense has given up an average of 28.9 points per game this season, ranking them #81 in the country.

.

TEAM STATISTICS

Fewest Penalties:  2010 Rank - #18 with 37 penalties -- in 2009 we had 75 penalties for the season, ranking us #50 -- Penn State leads the country in the fewest penalties with 25.  Tulsa is ranked #6 in the country for fewest penalties with 30 on the season.

Fewest Penalty Yards:  2010 Rank -- #37 with 355 total yards in penalties -- in 2009 we had 666 yards in penalties, ranking us #60 -- Penn State leads the country in fewest penalty yards with 176.  Tulsa is ranked #9 in the country for fewest penalty yards this season with 260.

Net Punting Yards:  2010 Rank -- #37 with an average net of 38.0 yards per punt -- in 2009 we averaged 32.1 yards per punt, ranking us #112 -- Florida leads the country with 44.55 net yards per punt.  Tulsa is averaging 10.18 yards per punt return this season, ranking them #37 in the country.

Field Goals -- 2010 Rank -- #10 with 13 field goals made this season.  The Irish are 13 for 13 (100%) -- one of six teams in the FBS who have not missed a field goal this season.  In 2009 we made 19 field goals, ranking us #22 -- while going 19 for 22 in the process.  Tulsa has made 11 field goals this season,  ranking them #25 in the country.   Tulsa's 11 of 16 (68.8%) -- ranking them #78 in the country.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS ON OFFENSE -- Ranked in top 100

Dayne Crist:

-Ranked #56 in the country with a QB Rating of  130.2

-Ranked #14 in the country with 2,033 yards passing

-Ranked #20 in the country with 15 TD passes

-Ranked #65 in the country with a 59.6% pass completion percentage

-Ranked #27 in the country for most pass interceptions thrown with 7

-Ranked #3 in the country with a 95 yard pass completion / his 80 yard pass completion to Floyd would be ranked #19 in the country

David Ruffer:

-Ranked #8 in the country in most field goals made with 13

-Ranked #2 in the country with most field goals made without a miss (13)

-Ranked #18 in the country for longest field goal made - 50 yarder

Armando Allen:

-Ranked #65 in the country with 514 yards rushing

Michael Floyd:

-Ranked #23 in the country with 624 yards receiving

-Ranked #23 in the country with 44 catches

-Ranked #19 in the country with 6 TD catches

-Ranked #19 in the country with an 80 yard catch

Kyle Rudolph:

-Ranked #3 in the country with a 95 yard catch

Theo Riddick:

-Ranked #41 in the country with 38 catches

-Ranked #90 in the country with 406 yards receiving

TOMORROW AN ANALYSIS OF NOTRE DAME'S DEFENSE