Notre Dame: #3 Scoring Defense in the Country

The unit that we all thought would struggle the most this season -- is now one of the best in the country at what they do...

The Notre Dame Defense has held their first five opponents to an average of 12.0 points per game -- good for THIRD BEST in the country -- think about that!

Here's how the Fighting Irish defense ranks in these defensive team categories:

• POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME:  #3
• RUSHING YARDS PER GAME:  #9
• TOTAL YARDS PER GAME:  #21

LINK:  NCAA DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

Domer Jed York Has a Chat With Jim Harbaugh

Jed York '03, has his hands full these days with his 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh.  The media is reporting that Harbaugh is coaching his last season in San Francisco...

York addressed this issue on the NFL Network today.

LINK:  YORK TALKS HARBAUGH

ESPN's Kanell Has Notre Dame in the Playoff

Take a listen to former Florida State QB pick his top four football teams in the country.

I always thought this guy was smart...  :)

LINK:  PLAYOFF BOUND

SF Chronicle Writer's Pilgrimage to Notre Dame

Bruce Jenkins, a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, made the trip to South Bend this weekend with his wife to take in the game between Stanford and Notre Dame. 

You'll enjoy his thoughts on their pilgrimage to Notre Dame.

LINK:  A PILGRIMAGE

Notre Dame's Latest "FIGHTING FOR" TV Spot

This Notre Dame television commercial ran at halftime during NBC's coverage of the Fighting Irish's big win over Stanford Saturday.  Thought you'd like to see it again.

LINK:  FIGHTING FOR

Another "Inside View" of ND's Victory Saturday!

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media were up to their "old magic" with this inside look at Notre Dame's big win over Stanford yesterday. 

You'll see the late game-winning TD drive!

MUST SEE!

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

Full Game Replay: ND 17 - Stanford 14

Here's a link to a full game replay of Notre Dame's 17 - 14 victory over Stanford yesterday...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME 17 - STANFORD 14

Notre Dame Statement on Suspended Students

The University of Notre Dame released this statement today on the student-athletes involved in the academic fraud investigation.

LINK:  UNIVERSITY STATEMENT

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