BOOKEND USC GAMES: 72 YEARS APART!

In the "you can't make this up" category of stories -- this was a story I couldn't pass up...

Stanley Weber's first game inside Notre Dame was against USC as Frank Leahy's Irish beat the Trojans 20 -18 on November 22, 1941 -- game #400 (72 years later) Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish beat USC 14 - 10 !!!

If you follow this blog you'll recall that the only game Stanley has missed inside Notre Dame Stadium since 1950 was the 1975 game against Georgia Tech when some guy named "Rudy" sacked a QB -- see the South Bend Tribune story linked below.

Well, wouldn't you know it -- before game 400 -- Stanley Weber gets to meet Rudy Ruettiger (photo above).  

And, it gets better.  While Stanley is talking with Rudy he pulls off his hat and reveals a "special hair cut" (bottom photo) that he received by a barber this week in Tiffin, OH.   Come to find out, the barber who cut the Notre Dame monogram into the back of 89 year-old Stanley's head is Jason Raitz -- the "first cousin" of Brian Kelly's executive assistant, Beth Raitz-Rex.

You can't make this up!

Congratulations on #400 Stanley!

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Bottom Line: Notre Dame Beats USC 14 - 10

It wasn't pretty...

The Fighting Irish held on to a 14 - 10 halftime lead -- shutting out the Trojans in the second half -- beating the team from southern California for the first time at home since 2001.  Here's some of the media coverage:

LINK:  COACH KELLY AFTER THE GAME

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE 

LINK:  INSIDE THE IRISH BLOG

LINK:  JOE SCHMIDT INTERVIEW

LINK:  TONY RICE TALKS IRISH WIN

Coach Brian Kelly Post Game With Media

A 14 - 10 win over arch-rival USC was all on Notre Dame's defense.  They performed!

The offense struggled as did special teams -- yet, the IRISH WIN!

Here's what Coach Kelly had to say with the media:

LINK:  COACH KELLY POST GAME PRESSER

The Media Talks About USC vs. Notre Dame

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what's being said about tonight's PRIME TIME clash between USC and our FIGHTING IRISH!  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

Game Day @ Notre Dame: Weather Forecast

Here's the latest weather forecast (12 hours before kick-off) for tonight's game between USC and the FIGHTING IRISH of NOTRE DAME -- along with a LIVE LINK to Notre Dame Weather Radar.

Dress warm -- the "real feel" temperature will be 40 degrees at kick-off and around 36 degrees at game's end.  

PERFECT WEATHER FOR A TEAM FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!

LINK:  COLD

LINK:  LIVE WEATHER RADAR

Lou Holtz Pep Rally Speech @ Notre Dame

In the shadow of Touchdown Jesus -- Lou Holtz riled up the Notre Dame nation...

Here's a replay of Coach Holtz's pep rally speech tonight:

LINK:  COACH HOLTZ

Photo of Newly Sodded Notre Dame Stadium

The day after the Fighting Irish's last home game in Notre Dame Stadium -- the turf was removed, making way for a new playing surface.

Here's what it looked like this afternoon as the crew was re-painting the numbers on the field.

Doesn't look too bad!

25th Anniversary of the 1988 National Champs!

This weekend the 1988 National Champions will be honored here at Notre Dame.  It was a special team -- a special season.  You're going to want to watch this look back at their championship run through the eyes of Coach Holtz and his players.

LINK:  NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

How Did This Notre Dame Student Do It?

Folks, he did zero training -- he is not a varsity athlete...

Yet, he shows up in the Windy City last weekend and runs the 26 mile Chicago Marathon in 3 hours and 3 minutes -- qualifying for the Boston Marathon!

Here is Daniel Yerkes' story -- which I found on the St. Edward's Hall Blog, The Gentelemen's Monthly.

LINK:  LOOK, NO TRAINING!

Coach Kelly's Last Media Session Before USC

It's Thursday of game week -- which means Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media for the last time before kick-off.  Here's what he had to say about Saturday night's game against USC:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

Inside Look @ NFL Films on Campus

NFL FILMS, widely considered the "best at what they do" -- was back on campus the week after the Oklahoma game -- producing a feature film called ONWARD NOTRE DAME.

Irish fans can watch this show this Saturday at 5 PM ET on the NBC.

Here's a sneak preview of what they were up to:

LINK:  NFL FILMS @ NOTRE DAME

LINK:  PROMOTIONAL TRAILER

OT: The College Brand Run by Nike...

The folks in Eugene, OR will be outfitting their football team in PINK HELMETS, shoes, socks and gloves for this Saturday's game against Washington State.  Twenty-five of the helmets will be "auctioned" off to raise money for Breast Cancer Research.  Here's a link to the ESPN story:

LINK:  PINK HELMETS

USC's Effort to Hire Knute Rockne in 1924

Can you imagine if this had happened?

You'll want to read this story written by Notre Dame alum Keith Arnold -- on his INSIDE THE IRISH Blog:

LINK:  ROCKNE TO USC

Jerian Grant Named ALL ACC Preseason Team

Notre Dame senior shooting guard Jerian Grant received a little recognition yesterday from the Atlantic Coast Conference media -- as he was selected to the ALL ACC "Preseason" Team.

LINK:  GRANT -- ALL ACC PRESEASON

Kelly's FIRST FIVE STAR RECRUIT this Fall!

Word here on campus -- according to the Observer -- is Stephon Tuitt will return for his senior year of school and football at Notre Dame.  Tuitt is currently the #2 defensive end on one of the ESPN "talking heads" draft boards.

Let's hope he doesn't change his mind!

Here's the story:

LINK:  TUITT TO RETURN!

Notre Dame Picked Fifth in ACC Media Poll

The first season for Notre Dame basketball in the Atlantic Coast Conference -- began today with the ACC's official media day.  And, as they do - the media released their poll of who would win the conference title.  Here's their ranking:

1. Duke
2. Syracuse
3. North Carolina
4. Virginia
5. NOTRE DAME
6. Pittsburgh
7. Maryland
8. Boston College
9. Florida State
10. North Carolina State
11. Georgia Tech
12. Miami
13. Wake Forest
14. Clemson
15. Virginia Tech

Now that my friends is a basketball conference!

Replay: Brian Kelly on Dan Patrick Show Today

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was a guest on the Dan Patrick Show today -- you'll hear some things you've never heard before...

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY ON DAN PATRICK

USC's Marqise Lee -- "I'll be 100% by Saturday"

USC's All-American wide receiver, who missed the past couple of weeks with a knee injury suffered against Arizona State, says he'll be 100% by Saturday night.  Bring it on!

LINK:  LEE TO PLAY SATURDAY

PRIMER: USC vs. Notre Dame

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media put this piece together on the "greatest intersectional rivalry" in college football.

I have never understood the use of "intersectional" when describing this game...

LIVE:  GET FIRED UP!

USC Week: Coach Kelly Press Conference

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today to talk about Saturday's prime-time game against USC.  Here's a link to the replay:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE