Once Again -- Notre Dame Plays Top Schedule

Just took a look at the release of the first College Football Coaches Poll for the 2021 season -- to see which school is taking on the most ranked opponents in the TOP TWENTY.  Here are the Top 20 teams "re-ranked" in the order of games against other top 20 teams this season.

This is the story -- much in the media choose not talk about -- when they start ranting about Notre Dame needing to join a conference.  

WHY -- so we can play an easier schedule?

1. NOTRE DAME* -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #12)
   
2. ALABAMA -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #12)
3. INDIANA -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #13)
4. PENN STATE -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #14)
   
5. IOWA -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #15)
   
6. IOWA STATE -- 3 opponents 
7. FLORIDA -- 3 opponents
8. LSU -- 3 opponents
9. WISCONSIN -- 3 opponents
   
10. OKLAHOMA -- 2 opponents
    
11. OHIO STATE -- 2 opponents 
12. GEORGIA -- 2 opponents
13. TEXAS A&M -- 2 opponents
14. NORTH CAROLINA -- 2 opponents
15. CINCINNATI -- 2 opponents
16. MIAMI -- 2 opponents
17. TEXAS -- 2 opponents
    
18. CLEMSON -- 1 opponent
19. OREGON -- 1 opponent
20. USC -- 1 opponent

 

*Notre Dame is ranked as the toughest schedule among the TOP TWENTY -- winning the tie-breaker with Alabama, since the Fighting Irish play two teams in the TOP TEN versus just one for Bama...

Brian Kelly's Fall Camp Opening Presser

Ian Book Talks Camp Progress w/ Saints

Notre Dame's all-time leader in wins for a starting QB -- is a week or so into his NFL career...

LINK:  BOOK W/ MEDIA

Notre Dame's Shamrock Series Uniform

Access Hollywood & Today Show -- Lee Kiefer

 

The Notre Dame grad won the first GOLD MEDAL EVER in her sport in American history...

By Golly Molly -- You Can't Make This Up!

I've been without a laptop for the past seven days -- sorry I've been amiss in reporting on Notre Dame!

The Olympic games proved quite successful for the Fighting Irish with a number of former student-athletes winning medals over the few weeks in Tokyo.

But, one story sticks out for me -- MOLLY SEIDEL.

Who has ever competed for just the THIRD TIME ever in their event -- and runs away with an Olympic Medal?  NO ONE, until Molly Seidel.  Here's some of the coverage of her Olympic journey...

 

 

Custom Golf Car Build -- Latest Update

 

View of the rear seat frame and gold (powder coated) grab bar installation

 

 

View of the custom dash installation (before gold accents)

 

View of battery and speakers (before painting)

 

View of steering wheel before blue half-wrap and ND Monogram

 

The folks at Excessive Golf Carts (Prosper, TX) are continuing to build out a Notre Dame themed custom golf car for me.  Here is their Instagram page, where you can see a number of their finished builds:  EXCESSIVE

They're telling me we're about 3 weeks away -- so, I should have it here before the first football game! 

In case you missed it, here was the first update on golf car build:  UPDATE #1

ESPN Feature: Olympians' Skylar and Jewell

Thought you'd enjoy reading this ESPN feature on two former Fighting Irish All-Americans!

LINK:  OLYMPIC BACKCOURT

OT: USA Olympics Gear = "Dots and Stripes"

I absolutely loved the concept of the golf shirt that the American team wore during Sunday's final round -- not the execution. (click on above image to enlarge)

You have to ask why did Adidas and their Tokyo based designer Hiroko Takahashi place "dots" instead of STARS on this shirt?

Huge miss!

Photos of Ian Book at Saints' Training Camp

 

 
 

Two Domers Win Olympic Bronze in Foil!

Gerek Meinhardt (furthest right in photo) and Nick Itkin (second from left) won an Olympic Bronze Medal in the Olympic Foil...   It's the second Olympic medal for the United States in this event since 1932.

Meinhardt '13 is married to Olympic Gold medalist and fellow Domer Lee Kiefer '17.  Itkin '22 is a two-time NCAA Champion and a rising senior at the University of Notre Dame.

Congrats!

Notre Dame Athletes & Coaches at Olympics

Interviews of Notre Dame Stars in the NFL

Took a lap around the worldwide web and found a number of former Notre Dame stars taking questions from reporters at the start of NFL Training Camp begins for them...

LINK:  CHASE CLAYPOOL 

LINK:  AARON BANKS 

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH

Romeo Okwara Meets w/ Detroit Media

 

Fast forward the video to the 6:00 minute mark to watch former Notre Dame star Romeo Okwara...

Brady Quinn Talks Cam Newton

Notre Dame Stadium's New P.A. Announcer...

It was announced yesterday that Chris Ackles will be the "new voice" of Notre Dame Stadium -- replacing Mike Collins.  

Ackles, a lifelong Notre Dame fan, currently announces for the Chicago White Sox.

Rumored "Look" for Game with Wisconsin

 

 

Rumor has it that this will be the jersey that Notre Dame will wear this September 25th in Chicago vs. Wisconsin...

 

It's also rumored that Notre Dame's helmet will mirror the Green Bay Packers -- since this was the uniform designed for the game at Lambeau that was cancelled due the pandemic.  The helmet would be Notre Dame Gold with two blue stripes and a white stripe down the middle and blue ND Monograms on each side. And, the face mask would be painted blue.

 

If that's the case -- I'm guessing the Notre Dame gold football pants will have the same blue and white striping down each side.

Stay tuned.

Tokyo Olympics Update -- Meinhardt Upset!

Much was written yesterday about the GOLD MEDAL won by Lee Kiefer -- whose husband is Gerek Meinhardt..

Well, Gerek -- the #2 ranked athlete in the world in the FOIL, was upset in his first match by the 124th ranked player in the world...

Here's the Washington Post story.

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST

Notre Dame Feature on Lee Kiefer in 2017

Photo of the Day: Lee Kiefer '17 Gold Medalist

The former Fighting Irish star just won an Olympic Gold Medal -- the first ever for an American (man or woman) in Foil!

Lee's husband, Gerek Meinhardt '13 is currently ranked #2 in the world in Foil -- and he begins his Olympic journey tonight at 10:35 PM ET

OLYMPIC FUN FACT:  America has won only three Olympic Gold Medals in history in Fencing -- and all three have been won by former Notre Dame student-athletes!

• 2004:  Mariel Zagunis, Sabre Olympic Gold Medalist
• 2008:  Mariel Zagunis, Sabre Olympic Gold Medalist
• 2021:  Lee Kiefer, Foil Olympic Gold Medalist