USC Goes "Interim" Again vs. Notre Dame

USC AD Pat Haden announced today that the Trojans would be coached by interim head coach Clay Helton as Steve Sarkisian was placed on a leave of absence...

ND fans may remember that the last time USC came to town in 2013 they had an interim head coach in Ed Orgeron for the game against our Irish.  ND beat USC 14 - 10 that night.

Here's the story...

LINK:  INTERIM COACH

Five Teams in Notre Dame's Way of CFB Playoff

There are five teams -- listed below -- who stand in the way of Notre Dame earning one of the four COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF spots.  They hail from three conferences -- the Big 12, Pac 12 and ACC.

Here's what lies head for our Fighting Irish:

1. We have to win every one of our games.  And we need to win by convincing scores.
2. I'm going to give two spots in the College Football Playoff to the winner of the SEC and Big Ten Championship games.
3. So, we need to finish ahead of the top team in two of the following conferences ACC, PAC 12 and Big 12 by the last week of the season

Here are the difficult games ahead for the FIVE SCHOOLS that stand in the way of Notre Dame's road to the College Football Playoff:

#2  BAYLOR

• Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State
• TCU

#3  TCU

• Oklahoma
• Oklahoma State
• Baylor

#6 CLEMSON 

• Miami
• Florida State
• ACC Championship Game

 #7 UTAH

• Arizona State
• USC
• Arizona
• UCLA
• Pac 12 Championship Game 

#8 FLORIDA STATE

• Clemson
• Florida
• ACC Championship Game

Game Highlights: Notre Dame 41 -- Navy 27

Coach Kelly After 41 to 24 Win Over Navy Today

Navy Week: Notre Dame Pep Rally Last Night

The "Experts" Pick the Winner of Navy vs. ND

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the media is saying about today's game between the Naval Academy and our Notre Dame Fighting Irish...

Here's what I could find:

LINK:  FOX SPORTS

LINK:  MILITARY TIMES

LINK:  HEAVY SPORTS

LINK:  NAVY TIMES

LINK:  ESPN

Domer Pat Eilers Endows FB Coaching Position

It was announced yesterday that former Notre Dame football player Pat Eilers '90 and his wife Jana have made a $3 million gift to the University to endow the Defensive Backs Coaching position.

Here's the story.

LINK:  ENDOWED COACHING POSITION

Domer Matteoni Authors a Book on Sitting Bull

I had the great pleasure of meeting Norm Matteoni '63 -- a graduate of Notre Dame Law School -- and his beautiful wife Pam, a few weeks ago at a dinner here on campus.

Norm, a legal scholar with a successful law practice in Los Gatos, CA -- has a passion for the American West.

During dinner I learned Norm attended Bellarmine Prep High School in San Jose at the same time my Dad did back in the mid 50's.  I was honored to be able to reconnect the two Bellarmine "Bells" a couple of days later prior to the Texas vs. Notre Dame game

In his spare time, Norm found the time to write a book called Prairie Man: The struggle between Sitting Bull and Indian Agent James McLaughlin. 

Here's a Mercury News story about Norm and Prairie Man -- and a second link to where you can buy it from Amazon.

I highly recommend you buy this book!

LINK:  MERCURY NEWS 

LINK:  AMAZON 

LINK:  PRAIRIE MAN -- FACEBOOK PAGE

LINK:  NORM MATTEONI '63

"Best Season Ever for a NFL Safety..."

Former Notre Dame football captain Harrison Smith is quietly becoming one of the top players in the National Football League...

Check this out!

LINK:  BEST SEASON EVER...

Navy's "Best Defense We've Had" -- Banged Up

Here's a Washington Post story on a couple of injuries facing the Naval Academy defense as they prepare for tomorrow's game with our Fighting Irish...

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST STORY

Navy Head Coach & Players Talk Notre Dame

"The Admiral's Son" -- Takes Ownership

A Utah Teen's "Fighting Irish Wish Come True"

Navy Week: Coach Kelly's Last Media Session

The 89th Meeting of Navy vs. Notre Dame

Send a Thank You Letter to Coach Lou Holtz!

The folks at the New ND Nation are putting together a book of thanks -- from any Notre Dame fan who would like to show their appreciation for Coach Holtz.

Many of you may know that Coach Holtz's Orlando home was struck by lighting a couple of months ago and the ensuing fire destroyed all of its contents -- including all of his memorabilia from his Hall of Fame career.

These letters are going to be published in a book that will be sent to him at Christmas time.  If you'd like to send Coach Holtz a note -- here's where you do it:

THANKSCOACHHOLTZ@YAHOO.COM

Please get involved!

Great Story: Clemson Coach Assists ND Fans

You are going to want to read this story...

LINK:  GOOD SAMARITAN

Five Domers on NHL Opening Night Rosters

There are five former Notre Dame hockey stars on NHL rosters for the opening the 2015-16 Season.  They are (l to r):  Anders Lee -- New York Islanders, Ian Cole -- Pittsburgh Penguins, Riley Sheahan -- Detroit Red Wings, Stefan Matteau -- New Jersey Devils and Erik Condra -- Tampa Bay Lightning.

Congratulations!

"Dreams of a Father" -- Rodney Culver's Legacy

A must read story about the former Notre Dame running back who died tragically in a plane crash 19 years ago...

LINK:  A FATHER YOU NEVER KNEW

Frank DeFord Talks Notre Dame Football...

The sportswriter and novelist offered this commentary on NPR Radio this morning -- about Notre Dame Football...


LINK:  "THE ONE SCHOOL CONFERENCE"