Notre Dame Fighting Irish Ranked #16 in AP Poll

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame football team was ranked #16 today in the first AP poll for the 2011 season.  Looking at the AP-Top 25 -- the Irish will play one team ranked higher than them going into the season and that's #7 Stanford.  Beyond the away game with Stanford, the Irish have Michigan State (ranked #17) and USC (ranked #25) in the top 25 -- both games at home.  Here's the link to the AP POLL -- along with a link to how each of the AP voters ranked Notre Dame:

LINK:  AP POLL RANKS ND #16

LINK:  HOW THE AP VOTERS -- RANKED ND

Brady Quinn Photos -- Denver Post

My brother Jay lives in the Denver area -- this morning he sent me a note and a link to a photo gallery in the Denver Post of Brady Quinn's career (Denver / Cleveland / Notre Dame).  

Jay tells me that former Denver Bronco and local sports talk radio host Alfred Williams thinks that Quinn is finally becoming a NFL quarterback and that the Bronco’s have a tough decision to make.  Let's hope for Brady's sake this is true!!! 

I don't think Brady is going to like the photos (more than one) of his "eyes closed" throwing the football -- maybe that's been the problem!!!

LINK:  BRADY QUINN PHOTOS

#1 Ranked Irish Win Season Opener!

The defending National Champions opened up their 2011 - 2012 season with a 2-0 win over Wisconsin yesterday!  Here's a link to the UND.COM story:

LINK:  TOP RANKED IRISH -- WIN SEASON OPENER

Jimmy Clausen vs. Cam Newton -- Update

The Carolina Panthers played the Miami Dolphins last night in an NFL exhibition football game -- and the Panthers #1 pick Cam Newton got the starting nod.  Now, if you watched the ESPN highlight package on Sports Center you would have thought Newton had one of the best games ever in a first start (albeit an exhibition game) for a rookie starter.

Well, here are the facts about Mr. Newton's start:

• 7 for 14 passing for 66 yards
• 1 completion to a wide receiver a 2 yard gain
• Longest completion -- 21 yards
• Ran 4 times for 18 yards
• Led the Panther first-team offense to 90 total yards, in his first half of play
• In Newton's two exhibition games to date -- he's yet to convert a third-down

Unfortunately, Mr. Clausen didn't do any better:

• 9 for 15 passes for 69 yards
• Longest completion -- 21 yards
• Carolina's 10 points, came when Clausen was in the game

LINK:  CHARLOTTE OBSERVER 

LINK:  ESPN NFL NATION BLOG

LINK:  USA TODAY

LINK:  MIAMI HERALD

LINK:  SUN SENTINEL

Still No Word on ND's QB Starter for Game #1

It's becoming quite obvious that Coach Kelly is in no hurry to name his starting QB for his 2011 Fighting Irish.  A few days ago I would have bet the farm that Dayne Crist would get the starting nod -- now, I'm not so sure.  Here's a link to UND.COM's feature today on the QB position:


LINK:  WHO WILL START AT QB?

A Nice Brady Quinn Story -- For a Change!

Former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn has not had the success many Irish fans had hoped for him in the NFL.  The back-up Denver QB played quite well in their first preseason game -- leading the Broncos to a couple of TD's against the Cowboys.  With all of the attention on Orton vs. Tebow -- the folks at the Denver Post took the time to notice Mr. Quinn.  Here's the story:

LINK:   MORE THAN A BACK-UP

Coach Kelly Talks QB's and Freshman Class

ND Head Football Coach Brian Kelly spent an extended period of time after practice today with the media taking questions about the status of his football team.  He also talks about TWITTER, the Miami situation, etc.  Here's the link:


LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH MEDIA

15 Must "To Do's" For Notre Dame Freshmen

The Observer editorial staff posted their "15 Things Not To Miss" your freshman year at the University of Notre Dame.  I thought you'd enjoy reading this story:

LINK:  THINGS YOU MUST DO!

Irish Hoops In Final Two for #7 Player in USA!

Malina Howard, a 6'-3" "lefty" center at Twinsburg High School in Twinsburg, OH -- and the #7 ranked player by ESPN in the country in the Class of 2012 -- is down to the University of Maryland or the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Should this five-star post player join Notre Dame's 2012 recruiting class -- Muffet will probably be bringing in her highest ranked recruiting class of all-time!  Here's a link to Malina's recruiting profile:

LINK:  MALINA HOWARD

Photos From Media Day 2011 @ Notre Dame

South Bend Tribune photographers posted a section on the web today that features a number of photographs they took Tuesday of Notre Dame football players and coaches during Media Day.  I must admit, I'm not a big fan of seeing the new "fangled" football jerseys on the players without pads in them...

LINK:  PHOTOS FROM NOTRE DAME MEDIA DAY

The Best Linebacker Group in 20 Years @ ND!

When the Irish line up on defense for the first time on September 3rd against the University of South Florida -- we'll run out a set of linebackers in our 3 - 4 system that are the best we've seen in a gold helmet since the Holtz years.  In fact, for the first time in so, so long -- we'll run out an entire defense that will be thought of as one of the best units in all of college football.  It's going to be fun to dominate again!!!  The folks at UND.COM rolled out a feature today on our linebacker corps -- here's the link:

LINK:  LINEBACKER U!

ND Football Practice Report -- Wednesday!

We're only 17 days away from Notre Dame's home opener against the University of South Florida -- and the UND.COM crew was back at practice today.  Here's their feature of the safety position!

LINK:  FOOTBALL PRACTICE REPORT

A New Feature @ UND.COM -- Good Stuff!

I'm growing fonder every day of the work that the gang at UND.COM are doing for the Notre Dame Family.  Here's their latest effort called "Irish Connection."  You'll enjoy!

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

The Media's Reaction to Notre Dame Football

The Notre Dame football team was on full display today as the media arrived in full force at Notre Dame Stadium to take part in Media Day 2011.  I just took a lap around the web to see who's saying what about the 2011 edition of the Fighting Irish.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- AL LESAR

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- ERIC HANSEN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- BOB WIENEKE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE -- BRIAN HAMILTON

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES -- NEIL HAYES

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES -- PETE THAMEL

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE -- TONY KRAUSZ

LINK:  WNDU-TV

LINK:  FOX-28 TV

LINK:  ESPN BLOG -- SCOTT POWERS

LINK:  THE SPORTING NEWS -- STEVE GREENBERG

LINK:  THE NEWS SENTINEL -- TOM DAVIS

ND Football 2011 Media Day -- Highlights!

The University of Notre Dame football program hosted their annual MEDIA DAY today.  The good folks at UND.COM did a wonderful job of reporting on all of the action -- you'll enjoy their coverage:

LINK:  COACH KELLY AT MEDIA DAY

LINK:  ASSISTANT COACHES AT MEDIA DAY

LINK:  DEFENSIVE PLAYER INTERVIEWS

LINK:  TEAM PHOTO SHOOT FEATURE

Kelly Meets with Media Tuesday @ 10 AM!

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly will meet with the media tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10:00 AM ET to kick off NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY 2011.  You can watch Coach Kelly's press conference LIVE at the link below:

LINK:  COACH KELLY MEETS WITH MEDIA

ND Practice Reports: Sunday & Monday

The UND.COM team has been busy at work the past 36 hours filing some updates from the LaBar Practice Complex on the University of Notre Dame campus.  You'll see the links listed below from Sunday and Monday's football practices -- click on to watch:

LINK:  SUNDAY PRACTICE REPORT -- TIGHT ENDS FEATURE 

LINK:  MONDAY PRACTICE REPORT -- FACULTY APPRECIATION DAY

Coach Kelly Media Session After Practice #9

The University of Notre Dame football team has two practices scheduled for today, August 13th.  After the morning session -- head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media.  Here's a link to the session:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH MEDIA

ESPN's Outside The Lines -- Ian Williams

Former Notre Dame and now San Francisco 49'er Ian Williams, was the subject of an ESPN Outside The Lines story this morning.  Here's the link to the entire feature.  Notre Dame fans will enjoy watching Ian's journey -- boy, do I want him to make it!

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS -- OUTSIDE THE LINES

His Nickname is "HERCULES" -- ND's Niklas

During Brian Kelly's meeting with the media yesterday he raved about the exploits of a freshman by the name of Troy Niklas.  Niklas was recruited by USC to play OT, Stanford to play TE and ND to play DE.  Now this 6'-7" 250lb. 18-year old athlete is playing OLB (yeah, he's that big!) and turning heads.

Kelly used the word "extraordinary" to describe Niklas' ability to play in space.  Here's a link to a South Bend Tribune story about the young man they call "HERCULES."

LINK:  TROY NIKLAS