Michigan State Week: The Night Before...

Well, it's less than seventeen hours to kick-off of the 2011 MSU vs. ND football game -- and it's a game most Irish fans don't have a clue which way it will go.  Will we play error free and dominate?  Or, will we continue to be our own worst enemy?  WHO KNOWS!!!  Here's a glimpse of what the mood was like on campus today as the 1966 National Championship Team came home:

LINK:  PEP RALLY

LINK:  QB LUNCHEON -- COACH KELLY

LINK:  QB LUNCHEON -- INTERVIEWS

LINK:  QB LUNCHEON -- 1966 NATIONAL CHAMPS

Michigan State Week: Thursday ND Update

Took a lap around the web tonight to get all of you caught up with who's saying what about Notre Dame's game with Michigan State University.  Here you go!

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY POST PRACTICE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  DETROIT NEWS

LINK:  DETROIT FREE PRESS

LINK:  LANSING STATE JOURNAL

Herbstreit Believes In The Irish!

ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit sat down with the Chicago Tribune's Brian Hamilton to talk Notre Dame football.  Here's what ol' "Mr. High School Defense" had to say about the Irish:

LINK:  HERBSTREIT ON THE IRISH

A Look At How Nike Would Handle Notre Dame

The folks at Michigan State University are asking out loud "I thought our colors were GREEN & WHITE?"  You'd never know that with Nike's helmet and jersey/pant designs for their game in October with Michigan.  Looks more like a uniform combo Nike might try to sell our Fighting Irish.  Do you like?

Michigan State Week: Tuesday ND Update

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Coach Brian Kelly met with the media today for his typical Tuesday press conference.  If you'd like to know what he has to say about the Irish and Michigan State -- click on the link below:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY PRESSER

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

What Michigan State's Media Is Sayin'

Took a lap around the web this evening at all of the Michigan based media outlets to see what they have to say about this Saturday's game with Michigan State University.  Here you go!

LINK:  LANSING STATE JOURNAL

LINK:  DETROIT NEWS

LINK:  DETROIT FREE PRESS

LINK:  GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

Brian Kelly's Post Game Presser -- Michigan

If you're so inclined -- here's a link to Brian Kelly's post game press conference after the loss to Michigan last night.

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY -- POST GAME

I Will Always Be a Notre Dame Fighting Irish Fan

Folks I'm as upset as anyone in the world about our football team's start to this season.  It's the season of "what could go wrong, will go wrong and has gone wrong."  Ten turnovers in two games -- to put that in perspective -- two season ago Notre Dame had fourteen turnovers for the entire season.

Yet, after all the heartbreak and disappointment -- I still know one thing.  I'm proud to be a Notre Dame fan and I always will be!

What though the odds be great or SMALL...

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.

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

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

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.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S OFFENSE -- NATIONAL RANKINGS

Mike Lee to Star in Subway TV Spot Tonight!

Notre Dame fans -- if you're planning on watching tonight's NFL opening game (Saints vs. Packers) -- please keep an eye out for Mike Lee '09 and his Subway commercial debut at the TWO MINUTE WARNING commercial break in the first half of tonight's game on NBC.  The telecast begins at 8:30 PM ET.

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!

Just Passed the 200,000 Unique Visitor Mark!

At 10:01 PM this evening a Notre Dame fan from Baton Rouge, LA became unique visitor #200,000 to the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- THANK YOU!

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

It's time for our FIRST look at where Notre Dame Football ranks in certain statistical categories amongst the 120 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision -- FOR THE 2011 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 2010 and 2009.

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.

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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

Here's a link to a CNNSI.com interview of Notre Dame head football coach the day after the loss to the University of South Florida -- also known as the "GREAT GIVEAWAY GAME."  Here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY CNNSI.COM INTERVIEW