Tommy Rees Named Notre Dame's Starting QB

To no surprise to most Notre Dame football fans -- Tommy Rees was named today as the starting QB for the Irish.  Rees is a calm, cool customer -- who apparently doesn't get too rattled.  And, he's accurate and he's productive -- a must for his head coach.  Here's what Coach Kelly had to say about the decision at today's press conference -- and here's a look at how the NEW GUY behind center has to think.  I also threw in a few "talking heads" in Bristol, CT just for kicks:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  TOMMY REES PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  ESPN #2

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

Where's the Home Field Advantage?

The University of Notre Dame football team has won 13 of their last 28 games inside Notre Dame Stadium.  Think about that...

Michigan Coach Press Conference -- ND Week

University of Michigan's Brady Hoke met with the media today.  Here's what he had to say about their win over Western Michigan on Saturday and their game this week against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. 

LINK:  BRADY HOKE PRESS CONFERENCE

Brian Kelly's Sunday Press Conference

Notre Dame head football coach took calls over the phone from the media on Sunday about the 23 - 20 loss to the University of South Florida.  Here's the link to the podcast:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

T Boone Pickens -- Takes A Shot @ Notre Dame

The same man who gave his alma mater $165 million in cash and then required that Oklahoma State let him manage it for them - and lost most of it -- ripped the University of Notre Dame yesterday calling them "damaged goods."

Really?

LINK:  T BOONE PICKENS -- HAS HE LOST IT?

ND Players Who Have A Job in the NFL Today

The NFL required its teams to get down to their 53 man roster yesterday -- as they get ready to open up the 2011 season this week.  As you'll see in the updated report, we have a few of our former Irish football stars looking for jobs today.  Here's a list of many of the ex-Notre Dame players who were battling for a job in the NFL -- and where they stand this morning:

LINK:  JIMMY CLAUSEN -- CAROLINA PANTHERS

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE -- SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

LINK:  BRADY QUINN -- DENVER BRONCOS

LINK:  ANTHONY FASANO -- MIAMI DOLPHINS

LINK:  BRIAN SMITH -- FREE AGENT

LINK:  CHRIS STEWART -- FREE AGENT

LINK:  KERRY NEAL -- FREE AGENT

LINK:  TOMMY ZBIKOWSKI -- BALTIMORE RAVENS

LINK:  RYAN GRANT -- GREEN BAY PACKERS

LINK:  JUSTIN TUCK -- NEW YORK GIANTS

LINK:  SAM YOUNG -- DALLAS COWBOYS

LINK:  KYLE MCCARTHY -- FREE AGENT

LINK:  KYLE RUDOLPH -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

LINK:  JOHN CARLSON -- SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (OUT FOR SEASON)

LINK:  DEREK LANDRI -- FREE AGENT

LINK:  CHINEDUM NDUKWE -- FREE AGENT

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS -- SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

LINK:  TERRAIL LAMBERT -- FREE AGENT

LINK:  RYAN HARRIS -- FREE AGENT

LINK:  DAVID BRUTON -- DENVER BRONCOS

LINK:  JOHN SULLIVAN -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

LINK:  VICTOR ABIAMIRI -- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES -- PUP LIST

LINK:  TREVOR LAWS -- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

LINK:  MAURICE STOVALL -- DETROIT LIONS

LINK:  ARNAZ BATTLE -- PITTSBURGH STEELERS

LINK:  SERGIO BROWN -- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

LINK:  ERIC OLSEN -- FREE AGENT

LINK:  ROBERT HUGHES -- FREE AGENT

LINK:  DARRIN WALLS -- ATLANTA FALCONS

LINK:  ARMANDO ALLEN -- FREE AGENT

THIS WAS WAY TOO CLOSE!

The Notre Dame fans standing outside of Gate D last night, during the first rain delay, witnessed a pretty scary moment that NBC caught on TV (my wife and I were standing just inside Gate D's concourse).  Thankfully, no one was struck!

LINK:  SHAKE DOWN THE THUNDER AT NOTRE DAME

Which Team LOST This Game? -- THE TEST

Just to prove that STATS ARE FOR LOSERS, Notre Dame football fans can give this test to a SKUNKBEAR fan this week (those are the Walmart Wolverines we've grown to love here in Michigan) to see if they're smart enough to figure out who won this college football game:

FIRST DOWNS:

• Team #1:  20 First Downs
• Team #2:  27 First Downs

TOTAL YARDS OF OFFENSE:

• Team #1:  254 Yards
• Team #2:  508 Yards

LEADING RUSHER FOR EACH TEAM:

• Team #1:  14 carries for 40 yards -- 2.9 yard average
• Team #2:  21 carries for 104 yards -- 4.9 yard average

LEADING RECEIVER FOR EACH TEAM:

• Team #1:  8 catches for 75 yards -- 9.4 yard average
• Team #2:  12 catches for 154 yards -- 12.8 yard average

THIRD DOWN CONVERSION:

• Team #1:  2 for 14
• Team #2:  5 for 14

LONGEST RUNNING PLAY FROM SCRIMMAGE:

• Team #1:  12 yards
• Team #2:  18 yards

LONGEST PASSING PLAY FROM SCRIMMAGE:

• Team #1:  18 yards
• Team #2:  37 yards

OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS:

• Team #1:  1
• Team #2:  3

FIELD GOALS:

• Team #1:  3 for 4
• Team #2:  0 for 1

TOTAL PENALTIES:

• Team #1:  9 penalties
• Team #2:  8 penalties

TOTAL TURNOVERS:

• Team #1:  0 turnovers
• Team #2:  5 turnovers

NBC Replay -- Notre Dame vs. USF

If you dare -- you can watch NBC's replay of the "great giveaway" today at Notre Dame Stadium as the Irish turn the ball over five times in a 23 - 20 loss to the University of South Florida:

LINK:  NBC REPLAY 

What the Media is Sayin: USF 23 - ND 20

Just got back to Motown after the marathon AKA the "GREAT GIVEAWAY" at the University of Notre Dame this afternoon and evening.  I don't believe ND fans will enjoy reliving this experience -- but, here's what the media is saying about our IRISH hours after this difficult defeat to the University of South Florida:

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- AL LESAR

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- ERIC HANSEN

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

LINK:  ST. PETERSBURG TIMES

LINK:  TAMPA BAY ONLINE

LINK:  ST. PETERSBURG TIMES #2

LINK:  WNDU-TV

LINK:  WNDU-TV -- SKIP HOLTZ PRESSER

LINK:  CNNSI

LINK:  FOX SPORTS

Stats Are For Losers...

I made a promise last January when I launched this blog that I'd never go NEGATIVE on the University of Notre Dame.  Thus, I've got nothin' to say after spending 2 1/2 hours sitting on cement in the ND Stadium concourse this evening -- waiting for the storms to pass -- watching the Irish just give a game away to the University of South Florida.  BRUTAL.

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY POST GAME

LINK:  PLAYERS' POST GAME 

LINK:  GAME LOWLIGHTS

ND to Host a Number of Big Time Recruits!

The South Bend Tribune did a nice job today outlining ND's recruiting plans for this weekend -- here's a link to a couple of stories:

LINK:  OFFICIAL & UNOFFICIAL VISITORS -- THIS WEEKEND!

LINK:  TOP RECRUIT IN COUNTRY

I've Always Wanted ND to Have One of These!

The University of Notre Dame football program received a "present today' -- and it's well over due!  I've always wanted the Fighting Irish to paint up a truck to promote ND Football -- and they finally did!  I suspect we'll see a model of the truck for sale in the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore -- before too long!  Here's a link to the UND.COM feature on the truck:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME EQUIPMENT TRUCK

Football Weekend @ Notre Dame!

Just got back from spending this evening on the University of Notre Dame campus.  Took a group from work down to "America's Holy Land" to take in the Band of the Fighting Irish, the Irish Green, South Dining Hall for dinner and the Pep Rally.

Having been to a number of Pep Rally's in my day -- I must admit not feeling the LOVE at this rally.  Sure hope there's more excitement tomorrow in Notre Dame Stadium!  Here's links to a number of the gatherings on campus today:

LINK:  DILLON HALL PEP RALLY 

LINK:  FRIDAY'S QB LUNCHEON 

LINK:  COACH WARRINER -- QB LUNCHEON

LINK:  BRAXSTON CAVE & TREVOR ROBINSON

LINK:  KEITH ARNOLD -- USF GAME PREVIEW

An Enhanced Experience @ Rock's House!

The University of Notre Dame has teamed up with CENTERPLATE, the hospitality partner of choice to many of the largest athletic and entertainment venues in the country -- to enhance the gameday experience for Irish football fans.  Well, more than 80,000 of us will be the judge of that this weekend!  Here's a link to a release that speaks to what's planned:

LINK:  SOMETHING NEW AT NOTRE DAME STADIUM

Coach Kelly's Last Presser Before USF Game

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media for the last time today before Saturday's 3:30 PM kick-off with the University of South Florida.  Today was "PERFECT PRACTICE THURSDAY" for the Irish football program.  Here's the link:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY PRESSER

Diaco Picked the 20th Best Def. Coordinator

Rivals came out today with their ranking of the top coordinators in college football.  On the defensive side of the ball they ranked the top 20 coordinators -- our man Diaco was picked at #20.  Charley Molnar, our offensive coordinator was not ranked.  Only one of our opponents had coordinators picked in the top 20 and that was the school in Ann Arbor.  Their offensive coordinator (Borgess) was ranked #10 and their defensive coordinator (Mattison) was ranked #5.  Here's a link to the lists:

LINK:  RIVALS TOP 20 COORDINATORS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Brian Kelly on Mike & MIKE Thursday Morning!

Irish fans, rumor has it that Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly will be a guest Thursday (tomorrow) morning at 7:15 AM ET on ESPN2's Mike & MIKE!  If you can't catch the show on TV, you can always listen to the interview on the ESPN radio!

Here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY WITH GOLIC

Dayne Crist, Manti Teo & Harrison Smith

Three of Notre Dame football's "leaders" met with the media today to take their questions about the game this Saturday against the University of South Florida.  ND fans will be proud of these three!  Here's the links:

LINK:  DAYNE CRIST INTERVIEW

LINK:  MANTI TEO & HARRISON SMITH INTERVIEWS

Brian Kelly's Media Session Today!

Coach Kelly took questions from the assembled media after practice today -- as the Irish get ready for their opening game this Saturday!  Here's a link to Coach Kelly's media session:

LINK:  COACH KELLY