Will the Broncos Turn to Brady Quinn Soon?

ESPN's Adam Schefter (a Michigan alum) is reporting that the Denver Broncos are almost done with the TEBOW EXPERIMENT and don't be surprised if Brady Quinn is the NEXT MAN IN.  The Broncos "activated" Quinn today for the game against Oakland -- if, excuse me, WHEN Tebow struggles -- it could be QUINN TIME in Denver.  Sure hope so for Brady's sake...  Here's some stories I just found about Quinn's situation in Denver:

LINK:  ADAM SCHEFTER REPORTING

LINK:  DENVER POST

LINK:  DENVER POST -- JEFF LEGWOLD

The Mornin' After the Irish Beat Wake Forest

Took my weekly Sunday morning lap around the world wide web to see what the media has to say about Notre Dame's 24 - 17 win over Wake Forest.  Here you go:

LINK:  WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL #1

LINK:  WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL #2

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- AL LESAR

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

LINK:  NBC SPORTS -- NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  NEWS & OBSERVER

LINK:  FOX SPORTS CAROLINAS

ND Team Celebrates Win Over Wake Forest

The boys at UND.COM were working late into the night capturing Coach Kelly's post game press conference, player interviews and locker room celebration (a pretty cool moment for the Golic family!).  A good win for the "beat up" Irish.  If you watch the entire post game media session -- you'll catch Coach Kelly take on a member of the media for a question asked about the Irish passing game...

LINK:  COACH KELLY POST GAME PRESSER

LINK:  IRISH PLAYER INTERVIEWS

LINK:  IRISH CELEBRATE VICTORY

ND Survives Wake Forest -- Injuries Pile Up!

Folks, the Irish are a "beat up" football team.  In this game, starting center Braxston Cave, starting linebacker Manti Teo, starting wide receiver TJ Jones -- all went out with injuries.  Aaron Lynch was hobbled -- the training staff is going to earn its pay this week!

Yet, Notre Dame played well enough to overcome a lackluster performance in the first half -- to win a game they trailed at halftime -- for the first time in Brian Kelly's tenure at Notre Dame.  Here's a quick look at what the media has to say just an hour after the game:

LINK:  CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

First Photo Tweeted From Wake Forest Stadium

Here's a photo just "tweeted" from Notre Dame fan @Irishroundtable -- of the view from the parking lot of Wake Forest's football stadium.

Irish Player @ Home in Carolina -- Tweets Photo

University of Notre Dame sophomore linebacker Kendall Moore #8 -- just "tweeted" this photo of his family taken in the lobby of the team hotel in Winston-Salem.

Photo of the Day -- ND Hockey In Pink

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan tonight (Marquette) to play Northern Michigan University in a CCHA game.  @ND_Hockey "tweeted" this photo from the Irish locker room just five minutes ago...

This is ESPN's Preview of Today's Game

The folks at ESPN will be televising tonight's game between Notre Dame and Wake Forest at 8 PM ET on ESPN2.  Here's a look at the statistical match-up:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. WAKE FOREST

OT -- This Could Get Real Ugly for Penn State

Shocking news out of Penn State territory this morning -- former long-time Nittany Lion defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was charged with 40 counts of child sex abuse (that's Sandusky on the left in photo).  This is a sick man.

In addition, Penn State's Director of Athletics, Timothy Mark Curley was charged with perjury and is looking at the potential for SEVEN YEARS in JAIL!

UPDATE:  Curley was forced to resign last night (November 6th) by Penn State University's Board of Trustees.  Will Paterno be next?  I'm not holding by breath...

LINK:  PATERNO NOT CHARGED

LINK:  ABC NEWS COVERAGE

LINK:  GRAND JURY REPORT

Game Day! -- ND vs. Wake Forest Predictions

Opinions are free -- so there's plenty that have been expressed about tonight's PRIME TIME match-up between the Fighting Irish and the Deamon Deacons.

You can watch the game LIVE on ESPN2 tonight at 8 PM ET.  Here's a link to what all of the pundits have to say about tonight's contest:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME STUDENT NEWSPAPER

LINK:  WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL

LINK:  CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  FAYETTVILLE OBSERVER

LINK:  NEWS & OBSERVER

LINK:  DAILY PRESS

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  HAMPTON ROADS PILOT

Now How's This for a Work Assignment!

The Taj Mahal -- one of the "Seven Wonders of the World" turned to a University of Notre Dame associate professor and students four years ago to do some research.  The work will continue next year as they will return to do a 3-D scan of the mausoleum in January.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOB

Leave it to the Wall Street Journal...

All of the focus this weekend is on the matchup between #1 LSU and #2 Alabama -- and on the field -- that is the game. 

Now, in the game called LIFE -- it might be argued that the real game of the weekend is taking place in Winston-Salem, NC -- where the Fighting Irish will take on the Deamon Deacons.  In an article published today, the WSJ ranks the academic prowess of the student-athletes involved in these respective games and these respective universities.  Special thanks to ND GO IRISH BLOG regular, Ken Devine -- for alerting me to this story!

LINK:  THE OTHER "TOP MATCHUP" IN AMERICA 

48 Hours Til' the Smallest Crowd...

...to see the GOLD HELMETS in person, in more than 400 games!

Took a lap around the web tonight to see what's being said about our IRISH and their game this Saturday night against Wake Forest.  For those of you still wondering where you'll find the game on TV here's the answer:  ND vs. Wake Forest, Saturday @ 8 PM ET on ESPN2.

LINK:  COACH KELLY AFTER PRACTICE

LINK:  WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  NBC SPORTS

LINK:  OBSERVER

LINK:  NEWS SENTINEL

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

"Count On Me" -- Notre Dame Football Mantra

Apparently, Coach Kelly introduced a new rallying cry for his Fighting Irish this past week.  Here's a link to the Chicago Tribune story:

LINK:  COUNT ON ME

Coach Kelly Meets With Media After Practice

I'm quite sure there is not a college football coach in America who meets more frequently with the media than Coach Kelly.  Frankly, I love it -- but, I'm not sure it's the right thing for Coach.  Here's Coach Kelly talking about Saturday's game:

LINK:  KELLY WITH THE MEDIA

Wake Forest Week -- Players Meet With Media

Notre Dame football players met with the media today to talk about the football season, Coach Kelly's comments -- and about Saturday's game with Wake Forest.  Here are the links:

LINK:  MANTI TEO & HARRISON SMITH

LINK:  MIKE FLOYD

ESPN's Maisel & Wojo Talk Brian Kelly & ND

ESPN's College Football Podcast featured Ivan Maisel and Gene Wojciechowski talking Notre Dame's Brian Kelly.  Just click on the link below -- advance the podcast to 21:14 to find their discussion:

LINK:  COLLEGE FOOTBALL PODCAST

Wake Forest Week: Presser Coach Kelly

University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly spent more than 30 minutes today with the media to discuss Saturday night's prime-time matchup on ESPN2 with Wake Forest.  Here's a link to the press conference:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

Smallest Crowd To See Irish In Last 400 Games!

This will be the case this Saturday night at 8 PM ET when the Fighting Irish make the trip to Winston-Salem, NC to play the Deamon Deacons of Wake Forest in their 31,000 seat stadium.  The last time the Irish played in front of a smaller crowd was in November of 1975 when the Miami Hurricanes only drew 24,944 game to the Orange Bowl in a game the Irish won 32 - 9.

So, I figure one or more of these three scenarios played out putting Wake Forest on our schedule:

1. The Irish had an opponent drop from the schedule in the last couple of years and the Irish had a tough time finding a team to play this specific Saturday.
2. The ACC, as part of a Bowl arrangement with the Big East -- negotiated a few football games against the Irish for their member schools.
3. And, Wake Forest agreed to pay Notre Dame between $800,000 to $1,000,000 to make the trip to North Carolina to play a game.

I went on a couple of the ticket sites this evening to see what tickets are going for -- thinking they would be close to $500 or more -- since there's very few seats and the Irish are in town...  Well, I was wrong -- you can buy tickets all day long for under $140 for this game.

Irish Connection -- The Navy Game

The folks at UND.COM had their cameras in the locker room and on the sideline during Saturday's 56 - 14 win over Navy.  You'll see Coach Kelly working on rebuilding the relationship with his players after a difficult week "inside" the Irish program.  Notre Dame fans will love this access!

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION -- NAVY GAME

Getting DEFENSIVE About Notre Dame's "D"

The Irish have played well on defense for all but a quarter leading into last week's debacle with USC.  And you can add another well executed game by Notre Dame's defense in the 56 - 14 romp over Navy.  Here's what was most impressive:

NAVY OFFENSIVE STATS EACH WEEK:

• Delaware:  437 total yards of offense
• Western Kentucky:  510 total yards of offense
• South Carolina:  335 total yards of offense
• Air Force:  466 total yards of offense
• Southern Miss:  569 total yards of offense
• Rutgers:  305 total yards of offense
• East Carolina:  420 total yards of offense
• NOTRE DAME:  229 total yards of offense

Notre Dame's #1 defense gave up less than 175 yards to Navy in total offense in the game.  Navy's starting running back Alex Teich, who last year rushed for 210 yards of their 367 yards rushing that day had this to say about the Notre Dame defense -- who held him to 62 yards on 15 carries:

“You have to give those guys some credit,” Teich said. “Last year ... it was like night and day. Those guys just flat got after it.”

NBC Replay of Notre Dame's Big Win Over Navy

Irish fans would have never thought we'd hear "Navy's won three of the last four meetings" in the same sentence with Notre Dame.  Yet, that's been the case with our football program -- so, YES IT WAS NICE to see the Irish win BIG.  Here's a link to NBC's full game replay of Notre Dame vs. Navy.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME BEATS NAVY

The Media's Take on ND's 56 - 14 Win Today

Just made a visit to a number of websites who cover Notre Dame football.  Thought you'd enjoy what these media types had to say about the 56- 14 win over Navy.  The game was over at halftime...

LINK:  BALTIMORE SUN

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST

LINK:  NBC SPORTS

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- AL LESAR

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- TOM MOOR

Navy Week: Kick-Off Luncheon at Notre Dame

The Notre Dame Nation gathered this afternoon at "the Joyce" for the traditional Friday football luncheon.  Here's a link to UND.COM's coverage of the highlights...

LINK:  ND FOOTBALL KICK-OFF LUNCHEON

Don't Dismiss the Irish -- a CNN Story Today

Found this article on CNN.COM today -- Notre Dame fans will enjoy what the writer has to say...

LINK:  DON'T DISMISS THE FIGHTING IRISH

A Notre Dame Man -- Jeff Faine

When he played for the Irish, he absolutely dominated the men across from him...

Nine years later, Jeff Faine is still playing the game, now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but, it's what he's doing away from the gridiron that will make ND fans most proud.  Jeff Faine is a hero -- to many.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story about Jeff's return home during the Bucs bye week.


LINK:  JEFF FAINE -- GIVING BACK

Think Coach Kelly Would Like a "Do Over?"

I commented to a friend the other day that it would be nice if Coach Kelly stopped using the phrase "I've been a head coach for 21 years..."  It's getting old.

Coach, we all know this isn't your first rodeo.  The best advice right now comes from legendary Raider Al Davis -- "JUST WIN BABY!"

Well, last night Coach Kelly might have said something FOR THE FIRST TIME, to the media, that he is now regretting (see Chicago Tribune article below).  In essence, Coach Kelly took a shot at the players who were recruited by the previous regime -- never a good thing to do from my perspective.  Especially, when they dominate your starting line-up...

It's going to be an interesting 24 hours in the Notre Dame football program.

LINK:  COACH KELLY COMMENTS

LINK:  VIDEO OF COACH KELLY'S MEDIA SESSION

Will We See Field Turf @ Notre Dame?

Coach Kelly has been campaigning for a new field turf at Notre Dame Stadium.  Well, here's a solution to consider.  It's called Desso GrassMaster and this surface combines "tradition with technology." Meaning, real grass mixed in with artificial grass.

Green Bay Packer fans, Philadelphia Eagle fans, Denver Bronco fans -- have all been watching their teams play on this surface for the past few years.

In fact, the Denver Broncos field was named the "BEST PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FIELD IN AMERICA."  Folks that's real grass in the picture that grows and has to be cut!

Here's a couple of links to the technology behind this playing surface.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME STADIUM'S NEXT PLAYING SURFACE?

LINK:  TECHNOLOGY BEHIND REINFORCED GRASS

Notre Dame's Morris Inn To Expand!

The University of Notre Dame announced a $32 million expansion of the Morris Inn -- the university's on-campus hotel.  The expansion, which will begin next year -- calls for the tear down of the south wing, a 300 seat banquet facility and a move from 92 rooms to 140 rooms, etc.  Here's a link to the Chicago Tribune story:

LINK:  MORRIS INN TO GET A NEW LOOK

Joe Montana's Not Happy With Notre Dame

I'm going to write this off as a Dad who wanted success for his son at Notre Dame -- and does not want to accept that his kid wasn't ready for prime time in the GOLD HELMET.  Here's hoping he comes back to the FAMILY. 

LINK:  MONTANA TAKES SHOT AT HIS ALMA MATER

Are the Irish Really Headed to the ACC?

Former Notre Dame Athletic Director, former ACC Commissioner and father to Irish Lacrosse Head Coach Kevin Corrigan -- Gene Corrigan -- tells the media today that the Irish are considering a move to the Atlantic Coast Conference for EVERY SPORT!  Here's the link to the story:

LINK:  IRISH HEADING TO ACC?

The Story the Sports Media Won't Tell...

The University of Notre Dame was named NATIONAL CHAMPIONS for STUDENT ATHLETES -- with 18 of their 22 varsity sports teams earning PERFECT GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE SCORES of 100!  This marks the sixth time in the last seven years that Notre Dame's student-athletes were America's best.

I'm still waiting for the "SPORTS LEADER" to tell this story...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME IS NUMBER ONE!

SI's Peter King Takes ND to Task for Helmets

Earth to Peter King -- Notre Dame has had "specs" of gold in their helmets for years!  In an effort to "pile on ND" -- which seems to be the easy thing to do for the mainstream media these past 48 hours...  Here's a link to Peter King calling out the Irish for their helmets:

LINK:  EARTH TO PETER KING

Colin Cowherd Defends Brian Kelly Today

ESPN "talkin' head" called out a Notre Dame faculty member by the name of "MATT" today who had sent him an email earlier this morning blaming Coach Kelly for the loss to USC.  Here's a link to video of Cowherd defending Kelly:

LINK:  COWHERD A KELLY FAN

Lou Holtz & Jerome Bettis on Golf Channel!

ND fans are going to want to tune in to the Golf Channel tomorrow night (Tuesday, October 25th) at 8 PM ET to catch former Notre Dame greats Lou Holtz and Jerome Bettis getting some golf tips from the pros.  Here's a sneak peek at what you're going to see!

LINK:  JEROME GETTING A GOLF LESSON

Irish Olympic Sports -- Weekend Update

There was a few other things going on this past weekend at the University of Notre Dame other than what took place under the lights on NBC.  Here's the UND.COM feature...

LINK:  IRISH UPDATE

Coach Kelly After the Game & Day After...

Here's what head coach Brian Kelly ("he's been doing it 21 years") had to say about the disappointing loss Saturday night to USC.  He met with the media right after the game and then he met with Jack Nolan Sunday morning.  Here are the links:

LINK:  COACH KELLY ON SUNDAY

LINK:  COACH KELLY POST GAME PRESSER -- USC

The Morning After the GOLDEN Nightmare...

Don't be surprised if you see Notre Dame football go into an offensive formation on the opponent's one-yard line where a "safety" is stationed fifteen yards behind the line of scrimmage.  This safety is there to ensure that the opponent doesn't take our fumble 99 yards for a score...

Twice in one season -- the Irish fumble on the doorstep (ONE YARD LINE) and the opponent takes it the length of the field for a score -- UNBELIEVABLE...

This morning, Irish fans are crying -- while the rest of the world is laughing.

I'm so disappointed for our football team -- the night was set up for greatness --  and we laid a GOLDEN EGG...

Here's the media's take on the GOLDEN NIGHTMARE:

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

LINK:  ESPN CHICAGO

Turnover Jesus -- Notre Dame Football

18 turnovers in seven games -- ranking Notre Dame #117 out of 120 teams in America for most turnovers.

In our three losses this season -- we've turned it over 13 times -- while gaining only 3 turnovers.  A MINUS TEN IN TURNOVERS!

Simply stated, the Irish are the sloppiest, talented team in college football.

BRUTAL...

A BLACK JERSEY Rumor Going Around ND!!!

There's plenty of talk going around the internet at this hour that the FIGHTING IRISH will become the BLACK IRISH tonight against USC!  The rumor is Notre Dame will don black jerseys with green numbers - which I assume will be outlined in gold -- for tonight's game against the Trojans. 

It's only six hours away from kick-off -- I suspect the Irish will not wear their intended game jersey until it's time to run out of the TUNNEL!  Stay tuned!!!

Notre Dame Football Weekend: ND vs. USC

Here's video of Friday's festivities on the University of Notre Dame campus -- as the Irish lead up to the prime-time kick-off against USC on NBC.  Game time is set for 7:30 PM ET -- please note if you have the VERSUS channel you can catch a 30 minute pre-game show beginning at 7 PM ET.  The photo above is of a "wooden" Trojan Horse that the ND student body built -- bringing back memories to 1977...

LINK:  KICK-OFF LUNCHEON -- FRIDAY AFTERNOON

LINK:  PEP RALLY -- USC

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- PHOTO GALLERY

Live Webcam From Notre Dame Stadium

Notre Dame football fans can check in all afternoon -- leading up to kick-off for tonight's game against USC -- to a live webcam located inside Notre Dame Stadium.  Here's the link:

LINK:  LIVE WEBCAM FROM NOTRE DAME STADIUM

It's Less than 8 Hours to Kick-Off: USC vs. ND

I can't wait to see those GOLD HELMETS -- and whatever color jersey we wear today -- come running out of that tunnel tonight on NBC!  Thought I'd take one last lap around the world this afternoon to see what the experts are saying about tonight's game.  GO IRISH!!!

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- STORY #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- STORY #2

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER -- STORY #1

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

America's Top HS QB @ Notre Dame Today!

The last name Kiel is part of Notre Dame football lore...  Will it be again?

In a surprising move, Gunner Kiel -- got to love that first name -- will be visiting Notre Dame today for the USC game.  Kiel had committed to Indiana over the summer and most thought he was going to be a Hoosier.  Well, as a "talking head" at ESPN might say "Not So Fast My Friend..."  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  GUNNER IN TOWN

The "COMPTON" Opens With Irish Victory!

5,022 people had the distinct honor of witnessing the first Notre Dame Hockey game and VICTORY last night!  Anders Lee scored the first goal, the last goal and one in between -- netting the first HAT TRICK in Compton history.  Here's the South Bend Tribune's coverage of ND's 5 - 2 win over Renssalaer:

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Great Moments in the ND vs. USC Rivalry

Did some digging on YouTube this morning to find some of these gems from the Notre Dame vs. USC rivalry.  Now, they're all NOTRE DAME MOMENTS -- would you expect anything else!!!

LINK:  TONY RICE GOES 65 AGAINST USC

LINK:  STAN SMAGALA'S INTERCEPTION TD

LINK:  REGGIE BROOKS GOES 55 AGAINST USC

LINK:  ND VS. USC 2010

LINK:  1977 GREEN JERSEY GAME

LINK:  ND TWO POINT CONVERSION 1977

LINK:  ND ROUTS #5 USC IN 1995

LINK:  ND COMEBACK IN 1999

I Must Admit I Miss "TOUCHDOWN IRISH"

In my lifetime, the greatest radio voice ever for Notre Dame Football was Tony Roberts.  I can still hear him say "He's got one man to beat, TOUCHDOWN IRISH!"  Did a little digging this morning and found some clips of this man's talent.  I miss you Tony Roberts!

LINK:  TOUCHDOWN IRISH

LINK:  TONY RICE AND TONY ROBERTS

LINK:  ROCKET'S FIRST TD RETURN AGAINST MICHIGAN

LINK:  ROCKET'S SECOND RETURN AGAINST MICHIGAN

LINK:  HARRY O'S FIELD GOAL TO BEAT MICHIGAN

A Must See Video for Notre Dame Football Fans!

My son Jimmy sent this link to me this morning.  Every ND football fan should watch this before tomorrow night's kick-off against USC.  GO IRISH!

LINK:  WE ARE THE WARRIORS

USC vs. NOTRE DAME -- Experts Pick Winner

Took another lap around the world wide web this morning to check in on who the "media experts" are picking to win the USC vs. Notre Dame game tomorrow.  Here's what I've found:

LINK:  ESPN'S -- MATT FORTUNA

LINK:  ESPN'S -- TED MILLER

LINK:  BLEACHER REPORT'S -- ERIC BOWMAN

LINK:  OBSERVER -- STAFF

LINK:  ESPN COLLEGE GAME DAY

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Tom Lemming Calls It One of the Best Ever...

The University of Notre Dame will be hosting some of the top high school football talent in the country today, tomorrow and Sunday -- so says recruiting expert Tom Lemming.  In fact, Lemming is calling it one of the greatest collections of school boy talent ever.  Here's a link to Lemming's story at Max Preps:

LINK:  BIG RECRUITING WEEKEND FOR ND