Sunday, September 11, 2011
Mike Lee Public Workout @ ND on Tuesday!
Notre Dame fans will have a unique opportunity this Tuesday @ 4 PM as professional boxer Mike Lee will be working out in Purcell Pavillion in preparation for Friday night's first ever pro boxing event at ND. This event is FREE and open to all Irish fans! Tickets to Friday's fight are still available -- just click on the link below.
Lee, a 2009 Notre Dame grad and three time Bengal Bouts Champion -- is undefeated as a professional. This past Monday, Mike appeared in his first ever TV commercial for Subway -- just click on the video player above.
LINK: TICKETS TO MIKE LEE'S FIGHT AT ND
THE GREAT GIVEAWAY -- PART II
NOTRE DAME Fans -- it's getting ridiculous...
- Ten turnovers in two games -- five inside the red zone going in for scores
- 23 seconds left and 80 yards for Michigan to go -- two plays later, game over
- We've had a rusher gain more than 100 yards in back to back games
- We've had a receiver gain more than 100 yards in back to back games
- Michigan only has 11 completions yet gains 338 yards
- Michigan scores 28 points in the fourth quarter -- 14 points in the last 72 seconds
WE ARE 0 - 2.
We are better than this.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Maybe the IRISH Should Be More Like Dogs...
If you haven't seen this video -- YOU MUST! Coastal Carolina's football coach David Bennett met with the media this week and he shared a little "story." This is a classic!
LINK: WE DON'T NEED MEEOWS
BIG Time Recruits @ Game Tonight!
When I say BIG -- I mean it. Zach Banner (photo above), who stands 6'-9" and weighs 310 lbs will be standing on the Michigan sideline during tonight's game with the Irish. Banner is a top recruiting prospect for both schools as is wide receiver Jordan Payton -- out of Jimmy Clausen's HS in CA. Here's hoping these two root for the boys in white tonight! Here's a South Bend Tribune story about these two:
LINK: BIG TIME RECRUITS
Friday, September 9, 2011
21 Hours Away -- But Who's Counting!
Well, I just took a lap around the web to see what the "experts" are saying about tomorrow's PRIME TIME game between the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Wolverines of Michigan. Can't we for once just BLOW THESE GUYS OUT!!! Is that too much to ask for!
Here's what the media has to say the day before the war:
LINK: ESPN BLOG
LINK: ESPN GAMEDAY
LINK: ESPN'S COLIN COWHERD
LINK: ESPN PREVIEW
LINK: ESPN -- DESMOND HOWARD
LINK: SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- HANSEN
LINK: SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- LESAR
LINK: CHICAGO SUN TIMES
LINK: CHICAGO TRIBUNE
LINK: ANN ARBOR NEWS
LINK: DETROIT FREE PRESS
LINK: DETROIT NEWS
LINK: CBS SPORTS
LINK: FOX SPORTS
LINK: CNNSI
LINK: FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE
LINK: COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Michigan Week: Thursday Irish Update
We're about 47 hours to kick-off and I have to admit I'm a little nervous about this game. My prediction -- if the Irish lead after Quarter #1 -- GAME OVER, IRISH WIN!
Here's what's being said today about Saturday's game with Michigan -- starting with Coach Kelly after practice:
LINK: COACH KELLY AFTER PRACTICE
LINK: ESPN
LINK: SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE
LINK: DETROIT FREE PRESS
LINK: DETROIT NEWS
LINK: ANN ARBOR NEWS
LINK: CHICAGO TRIBUNE
LINK: CHICAGO SUN TIMES
National Rankings -- Where the Irish "D" Ranks
Notre Dame fans will be sick to their stomach after reviewing the defensive rankings of our Fighting Irish and realizing we're 0 - 1 on the season. Those turnovers were devastating!
Here's a look at where Notre Dame's "D BOYS" are ranked among their peers in college football after Week 1 of the 2011 season. You'll also see how we fared in 2010 and 2009.
NOTRE DAME DEFENSE -- 2011 TEAM STATISTICS
Quarterback Sacks: 2011 after game #1: 2 sacks, ranked #37 in the country. 2010 Rank #45 with 26 QB sacks -- in 2009 we had 19 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #92.
Tackles for Loss: 2011 after game #1: 6 tackles for loss, ranked #55 in the country. 2010 Rank #65 with an average of 5.63 tackles for loss per game -- in 2009 we averaged 6.0 tackles for loss per game, ranking us #48 in the country.
Interceptions: 2011 after game #1: 0 interceptions, ranked #74 in the country. 2010 Rank #32 with 14 interceptions -- in 2009 we had 12 interceptions for the season, ranking us #50.
First Downs: 2011 after game #1: 20 first downs allowed, ranked #62 in the country. 2010 Rank - #30 allowing an average of 17.92 first downs per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 19.67 first downs per game, ranking us #72.
Third Down Conversion Rate: 2011 after game #1: allowed a 14.29% conversion rate on third down, ranked #2 in the country. 2010 Rank #22 allowing only 35.08% conversion rate on third down -- in 2009 we allowed a 39.5% conversion rate, ranking us #67.
Red Zone Efficiency: 2011 after game #1: allowed opponents to score 100% of the time, ranked #60 in the country. 2010 Rank #53 allowing the team to score 81% of the time -- in 2009 we allowed teams to score 75% of the time, ranking us #15.
Turnovers Gained: 2011 after game #1: 0 turnovers gained, ranked #98 in the country. 2010 Rank - #54 with 21 turnovers gained -- in 2009 we gained 19 turnovers for the season, ranking us #80.
Rushing Yards: 2011 after game #1: 126 rushing yards given up, ranked #56 in the country. 2010 Rank #57 giving up an average of 147 yards rushing per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 170 yards rushing per game, ranking us #89.
Passing Yards: 2011 after game #1: 128 passing yards given up, ranked #20 in the country. 2010 Rank #44 giving up an average of 206 yards passing per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 227 yards passing per game, ranking us #76 in the country.
Total Yards: 2011 after game #1: 254 yards of total offense given up, ranked #24 in the country. 2010 Rank #49 giving up 353 yards per game -- in 2009 we gave up an average of 397 yards per game, ranking us #86.
Points Allowed Per Game: 2011 after game #1: 23 points allowed, ranked #64 in the country. 2010 Rank - #29 giving up 20.5 points per game -- in 2009 we gave up 25.3 points per game, ranking us #63.
Mike Lee to Star in Subway TV Spot Tonight!
And, don't forget that tickets are still available for Mike's fight at Notre Dame on Friday, September 16th -- the first professional boxing match ever on the ND campus.
LINK: TICKETS TO MIKE LEE'S FIGHT AT ND!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Just Passed the 200,000 Unique Visitor Mark!
This blog was launched 19 months ago as a project to prove whether I could create content that would attract an audience. Well, the site's growing faster than I would have ever dreamed. Just goes to prove the power of the Notre Dame brand -- no other school could generate such demand on the web for a blog created by one fan.
The ND GO IRISH BLOG is now ranked among the top 9% of all blogs on the worldwide web...
Notre Dame fans, this post will be the 1,882nd story I've written on this site -- it's been great fun! Thanks for making the ND GO IRISH BLOG part of your daily Notre Dame 'fix' on the web!
Can we say 300,000!!!!
Michigan Week: Wednesday Report on ND
The University of Notre Dame is one day closer to erasing the memory of the GREAT GIVEAWAY GAME against USF -- and playing in the first night game at Michigan Stadium. Here's what's happening around the Irish football program:
LINK: COACH KELLY WITH THE MEDIA AFTER PRACTICE
LINK: IRISH CONNECTION
2011 NCAA Offensive Rankings After Game #1
OFFENSIVE TEAM STATISTICS
First Downs: 2011 after game #1: 27 first downs -- ranked #10 in the country. 2010 Rank #57 with 19.83 first downs per game -- in 2009 we averaged 24.4 first downs per game for the season, ranking us #13.
Third Down Conversions: 2011 after game #1: 28.6% -- ranked #82 in the country. 2010 Rank #76 with a 37.5% conversion rate -- in 2009 we had a 39.1% conversion rate for the season, ranking us #48.
Passing Yards Per Attempt: 2011 after game #1: 8.0 yards per passing attempt -- ranked #43 in the country. 2010 Rank #75 with 6.8 yards passing per attempt -- in 2009 we averaged 8.7 yards passing per attempt, ranking us #7 in the country.
Passing Yardage: 2011 after game #1: 391 yards per game -- ranked #5 in the country. 2010 Rank #29 with 257 yards per game (3,089 yards for the season) -- in 2009 we passed for 323 yards per game (3,882 yards for the season), ranking us #7.
Rushing Yards Per Attempt: 2011 after game #1: 4.0 yards per game -- ranked #64 in the country. 2010 Rank #83 with 3.9 yards rushing per attempt -- in 2009 we averaged 3.8 yards rushing per attempt, ranking us #76 in the country.
Rushing Yardage: 2011 after game #1: 117 rushing yards -- ranked #83 in the country. 2010 Rank #97 with 121 yards rushing per game (1,450 yards for the season) -- in 2009 we rushed for 127 yards per game (1,539 yards for the season), ranking us #88.
Most QB Sacks Given Up: 2011 after game #1: 2 sacks given up -- ranked #32 in the country. 2010 Rank #66 giving up 19 QB sacks -- in 2009 we gave up 25 QB sacks for the season, ranking us #66.
Fewest Pass Interceptions Thrown: 2011 after game #1: 3 interceptions thrown -- ranked #112. 2010 Rank #105 having thrown 16 pass interceptions -- in 2009 we threw 5 interceptions for the season, raking us #4.
Fewest Fumbles Lost: 2011 after game #1: 2 fumbles -- ranked #89 in the country. 2010 Rank #31 having lost 8 fumbles -- in 2009 we lost 9 fumbles for the season ranking us #39.
Fewest Turnovers Lost: 2011 after game #1: 5 turnovers lost -- ranked #108 (last) in the country. 2010 Rank #84 with 24 turnovers lost -- in 2009 we had 14 turnovers for the season, ranking us #7.
Total Offense: 2011 after game #1: 508 yards per game -- ranked #15 in the country. 2010 Rank #63 with 378 yards per game of offense -- in 2009 we had 451 yards per game of offense, ranking us #8.
Points Per Game: 2011 after game #1: 20 points per game -- ranked #84 in the country. 2010 Rank #73 with 25.75 points per game -- in 2009 we averaged 30.1 points per game for the season, ranking us #32.
.
TEAM STATISTICS
Fewest Penalties: 2011 after game #1: 8 penalties -- ranked #85 in the country. 2010 Rank #10 with 55 penalties -- in 2009 we had 75 penalties for the season, ranking us #50.
Fewest Penalty Yards: 2011 after game #1: 73 yards in penalties -- ranked #95 in the country. 2010 Rank #25 with 511 yards in penalties -- in 2009 we had 666 yards in penalties, ranking us #60.
Net Punting Yards: 2011 after game #1: 34.6 yards per game -- ranked #73 in the country. 2010 Rank #72 with an average net of 36.9 yards per punt -- in 2009 we averaged 32.1 yards per punt, ranking us #112.
Field Goals: 2011 after game #1: 0 field goals made -- ranked #75 in the country. 2010 Rank #32 with 15 field goals made. In 2009 we made 19 field goals, ranking us #22 -- while going 19 for 22 in the process.
CNNSI Interview of Coach Kelly
LINK: BRIAN KELLY CNNSI.COM INTERVIEW
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tommy Rees Named Notre Dame's Starting QB
To no surprise to most Notre Dame football fans -- Tommy Rees was named today as the starting QB for the Irish. Rees is a calm, cool customer -- who apparently doesn't get too rattled. And, he's accurate and he's productive -- a must for his head coach. Here's what Coach Kelly had to say about the decision at today's press conference -- and here's a look at how the NEW GUY behind center has to think. I also threw in a few "talking heads" in Bristol, CT just for kicks:
LINK: COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE
LINK: TOMMY REES PRESS CONFERENCE
LINK: ESPN
LINK: ESPN #2
LINK: ESPN BLOG
Where's the Home Field Advantage?
The University of Notre Dame football team has won 13 of their last 28 games inside Notre Dame Stadium. Think about that...
Monday, September 5, 2011
Michigan Coach Press Conference -- ND Week
University of Michigan's Brady Hoke met with the media today. Here's what he had to say about their win over Western Michigan on Saturday and their game this week against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
LINK: BRADY HOKE PRESS CONFERENCE
Brian Kelly's Sunday Press Conference
Notre Dame head football coach took calls over the phone from the media on Sunday about the 23 - 20 loss to the University of South Florida. Here's the link to the podcast:
LINK: BRIAN KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE
Sunday, September 4, 2011
T Boone Pickens -- Takes A Shot @ Notre Dame
The same man who gave his alma mater $165 million in cash and then required that Oklahoma State let him manage it for them - and lost most of it -- ripped the University of Notre Dame yesterday calling them "damaged goods."
Really?
LINK: T BOONE PICKENS -- HAS HE LOST IT?
ND Players Who Have A Job in the NFL Today
The NFL required its teams to get down to their 53 man roster yesterday -- as they get ready to open up the 2011 season this week. As you'll see in the updated report, we have a few of our former Irish football stars looking for jobs today. Here's a list of many of the ex-Notre Dame players who were battling for a job in the NFL -- and where they stand this morning:
THIS WAS WAY TOO CLOSE!
The Notre Dame fans standing outside of Gate D last night, during the first rain delay, witnessed a pretty scary moment that NBC caught on TV (my wife and I were standing just inside Gate D's concourse). Thankfully, no one was struck!
LINK: SHAKE DOWN THE THUNDER AT NOTRE DAME
Which Team LOST This Game? -- THE TEST
Just to prove that STATS ARE FOR LOSERS, Notre Dame football fans can give this test to a SKUNKBEAR fan this week (those are the Walmart Wolverines we've grown to love here in Michigan) to see if they're smart enough to figure out who won this college football game:
FIRST DOWNS:
- Team #1: 20 First Downs
- Team #2: 27 First Downs
TOTAL YARDS OF OFFENSE:
- Team #1: 254 Yards
- Team #2: 508 Yards
LEADING RUSHER FOR EACH TEAM:
- Team #1: 14 carries for 40 yards -- 2.9 yard average
- Team #2: 21 carries for 104 yards -- 4.9 yard average
LEADING RECEIVER FOR EACH TEAM:
- Team #1: 8 catches for 75 yards -- 9.4 yard average
- Team #2: 12 catches for 154 yards -- 12.8 yard average
THIRD DOWN CONVERSION:
- Team #1: 2 for 14
- Team #2: 5 for 14
LONGEST RUNNING PLAY FROM SCRIMMAGE:
- Team #1: 12 yards
- Team #2: 18 yards
LONGEST PASSING PLAY FROM SCRIMMAGE:
- Team #1: 18 yards
- Team #2: 37 yards
OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS:
- Team #1: 1
- Team #2: 3
FIELD GOALS:
- Team #1: 3 for 4
- Team #2: 0 for 1
TOTAL PENALTIES:
- Team #1: 9 penalties
- Team #2: 8 penalties
TOTAL TURNOVERS:
- Team #1: 0 turnovers
- Team #2: 5 turnovers
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