AP Poll: Notre Dame #6 -- A Look at the Votes

Here's how the Associated Press Poll voters -- see link below -- voted this week for the Fighting Irish.  Here's where the writers are from who didn't vote for Notre Dame in their TOP TEN:

Important to note -- Scott Wolf, (in the photo above with the USC cheerleaders) who voted Notre Dame #13 in his AP Poll (the lowest of all AP Voters) has a USC Football blog: http://www.insidesocal.com/usc/  

• Michael Lev -- Orange County Register -- USC beat reporter
• Nick Baumgardner -- lives in Ann Arbor, MI -- Michigan State alum
• Drew Sharp, Detroit Free Press -- Michigan alum
• Ed Johnson, Albuquerque Journal
• Scott Wolf -- Los Angeles Daily News -- see photo above

LINK:  AP POLL

Audio Replay: Coach Kelly's Sunday Presser

The head coach of the #5 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame met with the media -- via conference call today.  Here's a link to the press conference:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESSER

Notre Dame Moves Up to #5 in Coaches Poll

Notre Dame moved up a few spots in the just released Amway Coaches Poll.  Just click on the link below to see who's ranked ahead of our Fighting Irish:

LINK:  COACHES POLL

Ranking the "UNDEFEATED" in College Football

With just EIGHT teams still undefeated after WEEK SIX of the college football season I thought it was time to release the first ever ND GO IRISH RANKINGS INDEX.

The NDGIRI is based on "strength of schedule" -- wins against FBS competition, wins against POWER FIVE Conferences and if the opponent won ten or more games the prior year.  I give each team a point for each.  Pretty sophisticated!!!

THE NDGIRI FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL

1. Notre Dame:  11 points
2. Florida State:  10 points
3. Mississippi:  9 points
4. Mississippi State:  9 points
5. Auburn:  7 points
6. Arizona:  7 points
7. Baylor:  7 points
8. TCU:  6 points

Now, what tells me that four or five of these teams will be ranked higher than Notre Dame this afternoon when the polls come out...

Stanford's David Shaw's Post Game Presser

Here's what Stanford's head coach David Shaw had to say after their 17 - 14 loss to Notre Dame yesterday afternoon.  Just click on the link below:

LINK:  POST GAME PRESSER

LINK:  TRANSCRIPT

ESPN: Downplaying Notre Dame and Golson

Take a look at this video clip of Herbstreit and Fowler after the Michigan State game last night -- and then read the article...

Little love for the Fighting Irish as a contender -- and no love at all for Everett in the Heisman hype...

That's okay -- let's win next week and then "shock the world" in Tallahassee a week later.

LINK:  ESPN

The Mornin' After Notre Dame Beats Stanford!

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see how the media was reacting to Notre Dame's last minute win over Stanford yesterday.

Just click on the links below:

LINK:  NBC SPORTS

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  ASSOCIATED PRESS

LINK:  THE ELKHART TRUTH

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

OT: Arizona State's "Hail Mary" vs. USC For Win

The folks at USC are a little stunned this hour...  They led by 9 points with 3 minutes left in the game -- only to lose on this 46 yard pass on the last play of the game to Arizona State!

Final score:  Arizona State 31 - USC 34

LINK:  REPLAY

PAC-12 Networks' Replay of ND Over Stanford

Here's what the PAC-12 Network's commentators had to say about Notre Dame's 17 - 14 over Stanford.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  PAC-12 NETWORK

Hug of the Day: Jack Swarbrick & Joe Schmidt

Got to love it!

Here's Notre Dame Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick (ND undergrad, Stanford Law) hugging former walk-on, now defensive leader Joe Schmidt.

USC vs. NOTRE DAME -- Stanford Comparison

Here's a comparison of Notre Dame's performance -- versus USC's performance -- against their common opponent Stanford:


NOTRE DAME DEFENSE vs. USC DEFENSE

Points allowed to Stanford:

• Notre Dame:  14
• USC:  10

Rushing yards allowed to Stanford:

• Notre Dame:  47 yards rushing
• USC:  128 yards rushing

Passing yards allowed to Stanford:

• Notre Dame:  158 yards passing
• USC:  285 yards passing

Total offensive yards allowed to Stanford:

• Notre Dame:  205 total yards allowed
• USC:  413 total yards allowed 

NOTRE DAME OFFENSE vs. USC OFFENSE

Points scored on Stanford:

• Notre Dame:  17
• USC:  13

Rushing yards against Stanford:

• Notre Dame:  129 yards rushing
• USC:  156 yards rushing

Passing yards against Stanford:

• Notre Dame:  241 yards passing
• USC:  135 yards passing

Total offensive yards against Stanford:

• Notre Dame:  370 total yards of offense
• USC:  291 total yards of offense

MUST SEE TV: INSTANT CLASSIC!

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media just released this GREAT LOOK at the last 70 seconds of the game from Notre Dame's "sideline" point of view -- and Coach Kelly in the locker room!

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

Coach Brian Kelly -- "GREAT VICTORY!"

Here's a "nine-second" clip of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly in the locker room immediately after the Fighting Irish's 17 - 14 win over Stanford.

LINK:  GREAT VICTORY!

Only 9 of the AP Top 25 Still Undefeated...

As of 9:00 PM ET on Saturday, October 4th...

THE UNDEFEATED:

• Florida State
• Auburn
• Baylor
• UCLA
• NOTRE DAME
• Mississippi
• Mississippi State
• Nebraska
• TCU

The next AP Poll will undoubtedly have undefeated Arizona added to this list...

Brian Kelly's Post Game Presser after Stanford!

Here is NBC's coverage of Coach Brian Kelly's press conference after #8 Notre Dame's 17 - 14 win over #14 Stanford.

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

NBC Post Game Interview: Golson & Koyack

NBC's Kathryn Tappen interviewed Everett Golson and Ben Koyack after their game-winning throw and catch on FOURTH and ELEVEN!

LINK:  GOLSON AND KOYACK

PHOTO OF THE DAY: ND Drum Major...

NBC caught this reaction -- following Brindza's kick-off after Notre Dame's go-ahead TD -- of the Band of the Fighting Irish catching the game ball.

Photo: David Robinson and Corey Robinson

The Admiral is seen here with his son Corey in a photo taken just after Notre Dame's last minute win over Stanford today. 

Photo "tweeted" by @therobfranklin -- of the South Bend Tribune

Cole Luke Grabs His First Two Career "PICKS"

Cole Luke intercepts Stanford's Kevin Hogan TWICE TODAY -- here he is (linked below) after the game making his first on-field interview DEBUT!

That's Cole tackling Stanford's Kevin Hogan -- in the photo above -- in the first half...

LINK:  COLE LUKE

Replay: Notre Dame TD WINNER Over Stanford

Here it is Fighting Irish fans -- BELIEVE!

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION'S LOOK!

LINK:  GAME WINNING TD

LINK:  SLOW-MOTION REPLAY!