IT'S GAME DAY! -- ND vs. Miami

We're 14 hours to kick-off and the gang at UND.COM is hopefully getting a little sleep right now.  I can't thank them enough for all of their great coverage of our Fighting Irish this season!  The photo above was taken Thursday evening at the Hyundai Sun Bowl Fan Fiesta by the El Paso Times.  Here's a few links to what the Irish were up to Thursday in El Paso, TX -- on the eve of the 77th annual Hyundai Sun Bowl:

LINK:  HYUNDAI SUN BOWL LUNCHEON -- BOTH TEAMS

LINK:  COACH KELLY'S PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME "WALK THROUGH" @ SUN BOWL

Hyundai Sun Bowl: ND vs. Miami -- THE FACTS

Well, we're less than twenty-four hours away from the Hyundai "Snow" Bowl between our Fighting Irish and the dreaded Hurricanes.  To get you "all of the facts" -- I've taken the liberty of breaking down how these two teams match up statistically.  We know that STATS LIE, but -- it's good reading as we count down the hours to kick-off Friday at 2 PM EST.  Here we go...

WHEN THE IRISH HAVE THE BALL:

Notre Dame's Total Offense Avg. -- vs. -- Miami's Total Defense Avg.

• Notre Dame is averaging 378.25 yards per game -- 63rd best in the country
• Miami is giving up an average of 317.17 yards per game -- 16th best in the country  

• Notre Dame is averaging 25.75 points per game -- 74th best in the country
• Miami is giving up an average of 19.67 points per game -- 21st best in the country

Notre Dame's Passing Offense -- vs. -- Miami's Passing Defense

• Notre Dame is averaging 257.42 yards per game -- 29th best in the country
• Miami is giving up an average of 146.33 yards per game -- 2nd best in the country

• Notre Dame has given up an average of 1.67 QB sacks per game -- 43rd best in the country
• Miami has sacked the QB an average of 3.08 times per game -- 6th best in the country

• Notre Dame has thrown 16 interceptions this season -- 104th worst in the country
• Miami has intercepted 16 passes this season -- 21st best in the country

Notre Dame's Rushing Offense -- vs. -- Miami's Rushing Defense

• Notre Dame is averaging 120.83 yards rushing per game -- 96th best in the country
• Miami is giving up an average of 170.83 yards rushing per game -- 81st best in the country

WHEN THE HURRICANES HAVE THE BALL:

Miami's Total Offense Avg. -- vs. -- Notre Dame's Total Defense Avg.

• Miami is averaging 422.58  yards per game -- 31st best in the country
• Notre Dame is giving up an average of 353.17 yards per game -- 46th best in the country

• Miami is averaging 27.08 points per game -- 58th best in the country
• Notre Dame is giving up an average of 20.5 points per game -- 20th best in the country

Miami's Passing Offense -- vs. -- Notre Dame's Passing Defense

• Miami is averaging 232.17 yards per game -- 49th best in the country
• Notre Dame is giving up an average of 206.42 yards per game -- 40th best in the country

• Miami has given up an average of 1.33 QB sacks per game -- 25th best in the country
• Notre Dame has sacked the QB an average of 2.17 times per game -- 47th best in the country

• Miami has thrown 23 interceptions this season -- THE MOST in the country
• Notre Dame has intercepted 14 passes this season -- 35th best in the country

Miami's Rushing Offense -- vs. -- Notre Dame's Rushing Defense

• Miami is averaging 190.42 yards rushing per game -- 26th best in the country
• Miami is giving up an average of 146.75 yards rushing per game -- 56th best in the country

SPECIAL TEAMS COMPARISONS

Miami Punting vs. Notre Dame's Punting

• Miami's Net Punting Average:  38.69 yards -- 19th best in the country
• Notre Dame's Net Punting Average:  36.11 yards -- 69th best in the country

Miami Punt Returns vs. Notre Dame Punt Returns

• Miami is averaging 4.81 yards per punt return -- 103rd best in the country
• Notre Dame is averaging 5.93 yards per punt return -- 96th best in the country

Miami Kick-off Returns vs. Notre Dame Kick-off Returns

• Miami is averaging 19.49 yards per kick-off return -- 104th best in the country
• Notre Dame is averaging 20.92 yards per kick-off return -- 83rd best in the country

MISCELLANEOUS STATISTICS

Penalties Per Game:

• Notre Dame averages 4.58 penalties per game -- 8th best in the country
• Miami averages 8.08 penalties per game -- 114th best in the country

Turnover Margin -- Season:

• Miami has a (-4) turn over margin for the season -- 80th worst in the country
• Notre Dame has a (-3) turn over margin for the season -- 74th worst in the country

BOWL ELIGIBLE TEAMS ON EACH TEAM'S SCHEDULE -- THIS YEAR:

• Notre Dame:  11 opponents had at least six wins -- 10 were bowl eligible 
• Miami:  7 opponents had at least six wins

Clausen to Return to ND for Degree!

Carolina Panther QB, Jimmy Clausen will be returning "home" to the Notre Dame campus in a couple of weeks to finish up the required classes to earn a sociology degree from the University of Notre Dame.  Glad to see this!  Here's a link to the story in the Charlotte Observer:

LINK:  CLAUSEN -- BACK TO SCHOOL!

Notre Dame Gear -- A Big Hit in El Paso!

I found it quite funny this morning -- that today's El Paso Times Photo Gallery's largest album was of photos taken of Notre Dame fans buying Irish merchandise.  The photos were taken at a "temporary" Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore that was set up in the Doubletree Hotel in downtown El Paso.  Here's a link to the gallery!

LINK:  THERE ARE NOTRE DAME FANS EVERYWHERE!

Hyundai Sun Bowl: Thursday Morning Media...

Here's the ND GO IRISH BLOG's daily look at what the media is saying this morning about tomorrow's Hyundai Sun Bowl between the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Miami Hurricanes.  The photo, courtesy of the El Paso Times, is of Kapron Lewis-Moore visiting with a patient at University Medical Center in El Paso.  Here are the links:

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

LINK:  NBC -- NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  EL PASO TIMES

The "Red Hat Diaries" -- It's Entertaining!

Notre Dame walk-on QB, Brian Castello -- is back again this morning giving Irish fans his take on what the Fighting Irish football team is experiencing in El Paso, TX as they prepare for tomorrow's Hyundai
Sun Bowl Game.  Here's the link to this South Bend Tribune feature:

LINK:  BRIAN CASTELLO -- THE "RED HAT DIARIES"

Irish Win Big East Opener Over Georgetown!

With a national TV audience tuning in on ESPN2 last night -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame won their Big East opener -- beating #9 Georgetown 69-55!  The convincing win puts Mike Brey's Irish squad at 12-1 for the season and will undoubtedly move them up from their current #15 ranking in the national polls.  Notre Dame's schedule doesn't get any easier this Saturday as they travel to Syracuse to take on the undefeated and #5 ranked Orangemen on New Year's Day.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune's story on last night's game along with links to Coach Brey's post game comments and game highlights -- courtesy of UND.COM:

LINK:  IRISH ROLL OVER HOYAS

LINK:  MIKE BREY POST GAME COMMENTS

LINK:  UND.COM GAME HIGHLIGHTS

ND's Coordinators Meet with Sun Bowl Media

University of Notre Dame's Charley Molnar and Bob Diaco met with the assembled media this morning in El Paso, TX for the Hyundai Sun Bowl.  Here are the links to their media sessions today:

LINK:  BOB DIACO -- ND DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

LINK:  CHARLEY MOLAR -- ND OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Coach Kelly's New Boots!

University of Notre Dame head football coach, Brian Kelly -- "tweeted" this photo earlier today to his 20,647 followers on Twitter -- from the Hyundai Sun Bowl.  It's a photo of Coach in his new Lucchese Boots!

Justin Tuck Named to 2011 NFL Pro Bowl!

Former Notre Dame football star, Justin Tuck was named last night by the NFL to play in the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl -- January 30th in Honolulu!  For Tuck, this will be his second appearance in the NFL's annual All-Star game.  Congratulations Justin!  Here's a link to the New York Giants website and their story about Tuck's selection:

LINK:  JUSTIN TUCK OFF TO HONOLULU!

Hegarty Named High School Player of the Week!

Notre Dame football verbal commit, Matthew Hegarty (Aztec, New Mexico) was named today by Sports Illustrated as the High School Player of the Week.  Hegarty committed to the Irish in April and is widely considered one of the best offensive lineman -- if not the best -- in the country.  Here's a link to the story and video:

LINK:  MATT HEGARTY -- HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE WEEK!

Irish BB Team on ESPN2 Tonight @ 7 PM EST

The #15 Fighting Irish Men's Basketball team tips off the Big East schedule tonight against the #9 ranked Georgetown Hoyas.  It's a home game for Notre Dame and it will be televised on ESPN2 beginning at 7 PM EST.  Both teams are 11-1 on the season -- a great early test for Mike Brey's boys!  Here's a link to UND.COM's story on tonight's matchup:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. GEORGETOWN

It's Only Had 1.8 Million Views -- the Rudy Play!

It's been 35 years and a MOVIE later -- but this YouTube video is the most watched Notre Dame moment on the web.  It's the actual game footage of the last few minutes of the ND vs. Georgia Tech game that became movie legend.  Here's a link to the story and video in the Seattle Post Intelligencer:

LINK:  THE RUDY PLAY

The "Red Hat Diaries" -- Hyundai Sun Bowl

Notre Dame senior "walk-on" QB, Brian Castello -- is writing a story each day this week from the Hyundai Sun Bowl for the South Bend Tribune.  Called the "Red Hat Diaries" in honor of the red hats that he and the back-up QB's at Notre Dame wear on game days.  You'll enjoy this:

LINK:  THE RED HAT DIARIES -- WEDNESDAY

Hyundai Sun Bowl: Wednesday Media Coverage

It's Hyundai Sun Bowl Week in El Paso, TX -- and with only two days left before Friday's 2 PM EST kick-off -- the Fighting Irish and Hurricanes still found time for some fun after yesterday's practices.  Here's a link to this morning's media coverage of the Fighting Irish!

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE 

LINK:  WNDU-TV

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  ON DOWN THE LINE BLOG

LINK:  ELKHART TRUTH

LINK:  TC PALM

LINK:  EL PASO TIMES:  COACHES PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  EL PASO TIMES:  EXTRA TICKETS SELL IN LESS THAN 1 MINUTE!

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish Visit Fort Bliss

The Notre Dame football team had an afternoon yesterday they won't soon forget!  The men and women at Fort Bliss hosted the Fighting Irish and the Hurricanes yesterday -- treating them to all of the "toys" of the military.  The photo is of Notre Dame junior, Mike Golic.  You'll enjoy the looks on all of the faces in this UND.COM video:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME AT FORT BLISS

Hyundai Sun Bowl: Coaches Press Conference

University of Notre Dame football coach, Brian Kelly and Miami's interim head coach Jeff Stoutland -- met with the media this morning to talk about this Friday's Hyundai Sun Bowl.  Here's a link:

LINK:  HYUNDAI SUN BOWL PRESS CONFERENCE

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Rudolph Back at Practice!

Well, he's not in uniform -- but Notre Dame tight end, Kyle Rudolph was seen at the Irish's Hyundai Sun Bowl practice yesterday -- running and stretching with the team.  Rudolph was lost for the season in October with a hamstring injury that required surgery.  This photo ran in a story today in the South Bend Tribune -- you'll see Kyle in line, behind Gary Gray, for ND's dynamic stretching exercises.  He's the guy not in uniform!

The "Red Hat Diaries" -- Good Stuff!

The South Bend Tribune has teamed up with Notre Dame walk-on QB Brian Castello -- the guy wearing #15, standing next to Coach Kelly, signaling in the plays each week -- to write a "diary" from the Hyundai Sun Bowl.  We'll link to it every day this week.  Here's Brian's first post:

LINK:  THE RED HAT DIARIES

LINK:  SUN BOWL TALENT SHOW

Hyundai Sun Bowl: Tuesday Media Coverage

Here's this morning's local news coverage from the Hyundai Sun Bowl.  Looks like you better be dressed for "snow or rain" if you're going to Friday's game!  Here are the links:

LINK:  FRIDAY'S WEATHER FORECAST

LINK:  KAMARA OUT OF GAME

LINK:  CHRIS STEWART STORY

LINK:  FLOYD AND RUDOLPH -- OFF TO NFL?

LINK:  BRIAN HAMILTON BLOG

LINK:  A FEW TICKETS GO ON SALE THIS MORNING

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S INJURIES THIS SEASON

LINK:  TOMMY REES STORY

LINK:  LOCAL BUSINESS BENEFITS FROM SUN BOWL

LINK:  SUN BOWL WEEK BEGINS