Full Replay: Fox's Telecast of ND vs. USC

Not that any Notre Dame fan would ever want to watch this again...

LINK:  FULL GAME REPLAY

Domer Jed York to "Trade" Jim Harbaugh

How would Michigan fans feel about a Notre Dame alum trading away their #1 choice to replace Brady Hoke -- to another NFL team?

LINK:  TRADING HARBAUGH

Notre Dame's ACC Bowl Options This Morning

Now that Notre Dame is aligned with the ACC's post season bowl game package -- here's what the options look like for the Fighting Irish:

• Orange Bowl has first selection
• Russell Athletic Bowl has second selection
• If the Orange Bowl picks a Big Ten Team to play opposite an ACC team -- then a spot opens up in the Capital One Bowl for an ACC Team
• After those choices have been made -- the following Bowls could conceivably pick Notre Dame; Hyundai Sun Bowl, the Belk Bowl and New Era Pinstripe Bowl 
• In addition, an ACC team or Notre Dame will have the option of appearing in the Gator Bowl (three times) or the Music City Bowl (two times) over the next five years

BOWL PAYOUTS -- PER TEAM (last year):

• Orange Bowl:  $17 million
• Russell Athletic Bowl:  $2.275 million
• Capital One Bowl:  $4.55 million
• Hyundai Sun Bowl:  $2 million
• Belk Bowl:  $1.7 million
• New Era Pinstripe Bowl:  $1.8 million
• TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl:  $3.5 million
• Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl:  $1.837 million

If I was a betting man (and I'm not) I would bet we'll end up in Charlotte playing in the Belk Bowl -- since we've played in the Hyundai Sun Bowl and the New Era Pinstripe Bowl in Coach Kelly's previous four seasons at Notre Dame.

But, don't be surprised if the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl makes a run at a 7 - 5 Fighting Irish football team -- to sell tickets!  They took two 4 loss teams last year...

And, you just know the folks in El Paso, TX and the Bronx, NY will be making pitches to get the Fighting Irish back in their Bowls.  Jack Swarbrick's phone must be ringing off the hook this morning.

LINK:  BELK BOWL -- DECEMBER 30TH 

LINK:  CBS -- ND VS. TENN IN BELK BOWL

Notre Dame Football's "Fighting INJURED Irish"

Never seen anything like this -- especially on the defensive side of the football.

Four more Notre Dame defensive players were hurt against USC -- a fifth, Austin Collinsworth re-injured his shoulder...

• 21 Notre Dame defensive players missed game action from injuries or academic suspensions this season

Here's a look at Notre Dame Football's injury / suspension list this season:

OFFENSE -- starters (or projected) in bold

• Amir Carlisle -- missed a couple of games
• Torii Hunter Jr. -- missed a couple of games
• Tyler Luatua -- missed a few games
• Davaris Daniels -- out for season

DEFENSE -- starters (or projected) in bold

• Jarret Grace -- out for season
• Ishaq Williams -- out for season
• Keivarae Russell -- out for season
• Tony Springman -- out for season
• Sheldon Moore -- out for season
• Eilar Hardy -- missed first 9 games
• Joe Schmidt -- out for season (5 games)
• Jarron Jones -- out for season (3 games)
• Nicky Baratti -- out for season (10 games)
• Sheldon Day -- missed 2 games / maybe 3
• Andrew Trumbetti -- missed a game
• Daniel Cage -- missed a game
• Austin Collinsworth -- missed 9 games -- injured again in USC game
• Drue Tranquill -- out for season (2 games)
• Ben Councell -- missed 3 games
• Cody Riggs -- missed 3 games / maybe out for season
• Greer Martini -- injured in USC game
• Jacob Matuska -- injured in USC game
• Jay Hayes -- injured in USC game
• Max Redfield -- injured in USC game

The Malik Zaire Era -- Video of First Three Plays

Here's a look at Malik Zaire's first three plays against USC...

LINK:  ZAIRE

Coach Kelly's Post Game Press Conference

Here's Coach Kelly's post game press conference after the humbling loss to USC.

LINK:  COACH KELLY

"Jekyl and Hyde" Football Season for the IRISH

A 6 - 0 start -- with a penalty flag away from being 7 - 0 and ranked in the top THREE in the country.  And, then it all went wrong for our Fighting Irish...

A season that looked like we were heading to a BIG TIME BOWL BID -- has left us shaking our heads wondering if we'll even have enough healthy defensive players to play another game.

Here's what our scores looked like the second half of the season:

• FSU 31 -- ND 28
• ND 49 -- NAVY 39
• ASU 55 -- ND 31
• NW 43 -- ND 40
• LOU 31 -- ND 28
• USC 49 -- ND 14

If you want to relive today's game -- just click on the link below:

LINK:  FOX RECAP 

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Say a Few Prayers for Family of Connie Morris

Connie Morris, a Notre Dame employee and huge Fighting Irish fan -- was killed yesterday morning in a fire in Elkhart.  So sad...

LINK:  FATAL FIRE

Photos From Notre Dame's Trip to West Coast

Here's a few photos of Notre Dame's trip to USC -- what a difference a few hours in a plane can make...

One of the Greatest College Football Rivalries

Where do you think the USC vs. NOTRE DAME rivalry ended up on this list of the 25 greatest college football rivalries?

LINK:  USC vs. NOTRE DAME

Brady Quinn & Matt Leinart Talk ND vs. USC

Two former All-Americans -- one a Heisman Trophy winner, the other a runner-up -- sit down for an interview with the South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen to talk about this game...

LINK:  QUINN & LEINART

IT'S GAME DAY IN LA -- TIME TO BEAT SC!

Notre Dame's game with "that school in Los Angeles" kicks off today a few minutes after 3:30 PM ET on FOX.  And, former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn will be in the broadcast booth -- hopefully bringing some good luck to the IRISH!

Here's what the media is saying this morning about today's clash:

LINK:  LA TIMES #1

LINK:  LA TIMES #2

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #1

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #2

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO 

LINK:  NBC SPORTS 

LINK:  ELKHART TRUTH 

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

The San Diego Chargers' DOMERS...

Former Notre Dame student athletes Chris Watt '13 and Manti Te'o '13 -- are garnering some praise in San Diego for their recent play...

That's a photo of Chris Watt (#65) in his first NFL start this past Saturday.
 

LINK:  SAN DIEGO DOMERS

Less than 32 Hours to USC vs. Notre Dame!

Took a lap around the California web-world this morning to see what they've been saying about tomorrow's 3:30 PM ET clash between the two most famous "7 - 4 teams" in all of college football.

Just click on the links below:

LINK:  LA TIMES #1

LINK:  LA TIMES #2

LINK:  LA TIMES #3

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #1

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #2

Photo: Thanksgiving Meat & Cheese Tray

My wife Susan was up early getting this ready for Thanksgiving with the family...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving from Notre Dame!

Earlier this month, our team crafted a "BIG" thank you for the Notre Dame Family.  It took us a few weeks to pull off -- in some less than ideal conditions -- but, the end product turned out quite nice...

We built a 119 foot-long THANK YOU wall that was nearly 9 feet tall -- see photo above.

More than 3,000 Notre Dame students participated in this THANK YOU.

Please click on the link below -- it will take you to a site that has the following:

• Three unique videos
• A photo that spans the entire 119' of the THANK YOU WALL -- with a navigation tool that will allow you to zoom in and read every message
• And, a photo gallery

Happy Thanksgiving!

LINK:  THANK YOU WALL & VIDEO

A Look at Notre Dame's Fighting INJURED Irish

Never seen anything like this -- injury, after injury, after injury...

Here's a look at the toll injuries and suspensions have taken on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team this season -- 12 STARTERS HAVE MISSED CONSIDERABLE TIME!!!

OFFENSE -- projected starters in bold

• Amir Carlisle -- missed a couple of games
• Torii Hunter Jr. -- missed a couple of games
• Tyler Luatua -- missed a few games
• Davaris Daniels -- out for season

DEFENSE -- projected starters in bold

• Jarret Grace -- out for season
• Ishaq Williams -- out for season
• Keivarae Russell -- out for season
• Tony Springman -- out for season
• Sheldon Moore -- out for season
• Eilar Hardy -- missed first 9 games
• Joe Schmidt -- out for season (5 games)
• Jarron Jones -- out for season (3 games)
• Nicky Baratti -- out for season (10 games)
• Sheldon Day -- missed 2 games / maybe 3
• Andrew Trumbetti -- missed a game
• Austin Collinsworth -- missed 9 games
• Drue Tranquill -- out for season (2 games)
• Ben Councell -- missed 3 games
• Cody Riggs -- missed 3 games / maybe out for season

I Don't Get This: Leinart to Lead Trojans...

The USC Trojans have asked former QB Matt Leinart to lead their team onto the field against Notre Dame on Saturday...

Pretty sad -- a Heisman Trophy winner turned into a mascot.

LINK:  LEINART

Thanks to a "Gang of Six" on Thanksgiving Eve

Eight days ago, in sub-zero wind chill on the campus of the University of Notre Dame -- six members of ND's Carpentry Services team (photo above) went beyond the call of duty to create something special for the entire Notre Dame family. 

Their names:

• Tanner Andrysiak
• Tim Meers
• Jeremy Feltz
• Derek Stump
• Vance Welton
• George Walters

You can see the result of their efforts in this video linked below:
 
LINK:  WATCH IT RIGHT HERE!

Happy Birthday to the University of Notre Dame!

She is 172 years-old today!

Fr. Sorin founded the University of Notre Dame du Lac on this very day -- November 26 -- in the year 1842.

Happy Birthday Notre Dame!