Saturday, November 21, 2015

Boston Globe: A Notre Dame Invasion!


Thought you'd enjoy this Boston Globe story where they suggest a name change for Boston to Notre Dame, Massachusetts as more than 30,000 Fighting Irish fans are expected to invade their town this weekend...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME INVASION

WSBT-TV Coverage From Fenway Park Friday

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Video Proof Domer Did Tryout for Barnstormers


I received a number of inquiries over the last few days as to whether my son Jimmy Small '08 -- actually went through with trying out for the Iowa Barnstormers of the Indoor Professional League.

As you'll see in the story linked below --- they're is not a big market in professional football for a 6'-4" thin guy -- who can't run...

Better stick to your day job!

 LINK:  Burgeoning Iowa Barnstormer

Transforming the "Green Monster" for Football


Thought you'd enjoy all of the changes being made to Fenway Park's iconic Green Monster -- as they get ready to host football for the first time in 47 years -- Saturday night!

Matchup: Nation's #1 Defense vs. #29 Offense


How good is the Boston College defense? 
  • #1 in Total Defense -- an NCAA FBS ranking
  • #1 in fewest yards allowed per game (237 yds)
  • #1 in fewest rushing yards allowed per game (71.7 yds) this season 
  • #3 in fewest points allowed per game (14.1) this season.

They are very good!

Here's BC opponents -- and how they've fared against this defense:
  • Maine -- scored 3 pts / 15.8 ppg avg.
  • Howard -- scored 0 pts / 13.8 ppg avg.
  • Florida State -- scored 14 pts / 30.9 ppg avg.
  • Northern Illinois -- scored 14 pts / 35.8 ppg avg.
  • Duke -- scored 9 pts / 30.8 ppg avg.
  • Wake Forest -- scored 3 pts /  17.5 ppg avg.
  • Clemson -- scored 34 pts /  38.5 ppg avg.
  • Louisville -- scored 17 pts / 27.4 ppg avg.
  • Virginia Tech -- scored 26 pts / 29.8 ppg avg.
  • North Carolina State -- scored 24 pts / 32.8 ppg avg.
  • NOTRE DAME -- scored ?? / 36.2 ppg avg.

National Rankings of Offenses that Boston College has / will play:
  • #20 Clemson  -- 532 total yards vs. BC
  • #21 Northern Illinois -- 153 total yards vs. BC
  • #29 NOTRE DAME
  • #42 Florida State -- 217 total yards vs. BC
  • #44 Duke -- 228 total yards vs. BC
  • #61 Louisville -- 365 total yards vs. BC
  • #71 North Carolina State -- 351 total yards vs. BC
  • #88 Virginia Tech -- 275 total yards vs. BC
  • #112 Wake Forest -- 142 total yards vs. BC
  • Maine (not FBS) -- 91 total yards vs. BC
  • Howard (not FBS) -- 11 total yards vs. BC

Boston Globe Story: Brian Kelly Coming Home


Thought you'd enjoy this story...

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY -- COMING HOME

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Inside Notre Dame's Senior Day -- Saturday!


Boston College's Addazio Talks Notre Dame


Here is a link to a video replay of BC's Head Coach Steve Addazio talking about Saturday's game against our Fighting Irish:

LINK:  STEVE ADDAZIO

Prayers for Doug Flutie & Family


Doug's parents -- Richard and Joan Flutie, died within an hour of each other this morning...  They were married 56 years.

Doug, the former Heisman Trophy winner from Boston College, is NBC's analyst for their broadcasts of Notre Dame Football.

LINK:  FLUTIE FAMILY

A 3rd Grade Class Going to ND vs. Stanford!


Notre Dame alum Tim Connors '89 -- was gracious enough to treat Ms. Allison Silva's 3rd Grade Class' (Taylor Leadership Academy - Stockton, CA) with a pre-game tailgate lunch and tickets to attend Notre Dame's game next week against Stanford.

The video above captures the moment the 3rd graders find out they're going to see the Fighting Irish in person!!!

Ms. Silva's 3rd Grade Class has adopted Notre Dame as their school -- see the story right here:  ND'S CLASS OF 2029


Boston College AD Talks Notre Dame Game


CFB Playoff Chair Talks ND & Big XII


ESPN Talks Notre Dame's CFB Playoff Ranking


Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Ten Teams Still in the Running for CFB Playoff


Folks, there are only TEN TEAMS that still have a realistic chance to be standing in the FINAL FOUR come December 6th -- here they are:
  • ACC: Clemson or North Carolina
  • SEC: Alabama or Florida
  • BIG TEN: Ohio State, Iowa or Michigan State
  • INDEPENDENT:  Notre Dame

On the outside looking in -- right now:
  • BIG XII:  Oklahoma State or Oklahoma 
 

Notre Dame #4 Stays Ahead of Iowa and Big XII


We know our friends in Bristol have been lobbying hard for the Big XII to take ND's spot in the FINAL FOUR...

Well, the FIGHTING IRISH remain in the final Playoff position at #4!

It's all about who you play -- who you beat!
 


NBC's ND Football TV Analyst Models BC's Uni



Here is Doug Flutie, former Heisman Trophy winner and Boston College graduate -- modeling the "throwback" uniforms his Eagles will be wearing this Saturday night against our Fighting Irish.

Shamrock Series Week: Coach Kelly Presser


Four Days From Fenway for the Fighting Irish!


Here's a great aerial view of Notre Dame's "home field" in Boston...

BC vs. ND Not Televised by NBC Saturday Night


Fighting Irish fans -- this Saturday night's Shamrock Series game from Fenway Park between Boston College and Notre Dame is not on NBC.

The game will be televised LIVE beginning at 7:30 PM ET on the NBC Sports Network -- please check with your cable operator to ensure you have this channel.

If not, this is your FOUR DAY WARNING to make different plans to watch this game!


Muffet Talks About Her Incoming Hoop Talent


Monday, November 16, 2015

Must See: Rocket Ismail Telling a ND Story!



I never get tired of watching former Notre Dame football star Rocket Ismail tell this story!

Josh Adams Interview -- Next Man In...


Coach Kelly Talks Win Over Wake Forest


Yahoo! Sports' Pat Forde Has ND #3 This Week


Here's what Pat Forde thinks about who should be ranked where -- in the College Football Playoff...

LINK:  YAHOO! SPORTS

Aerial View: Notre Dame's Fenway "Home" Park


Here's what the finished field looks like from above -- as Notre Dame "hosts" Boston College at historic Fenway Park this Saturday night...

Both Notre Dame and Boston College will share the same sideline --- with a ten yard gap between the two teams - if you look to the side of the field closest to the Green Monster you'll see a 45 yard space designated for each team to stand.

The Band of the Fighting Irish will be on the field, sitting in front of the Green Monster, during the game.

Muffet McGraw's "HIGH HEELS" for Win #700!


Thought you'd enjoy the photographs taken after Muffet McGraw's 700th win at Notre Dame yesterday afternoon!

That's Muffet walking over to give her Mom a hug after the game -- in the third photo from the top...

Full Game Replay: Notre Dame 28 - WF 7


Here's the full replay of NBC's broadcast of Notre Dame's win over Wake Forest on Senior Day at Notre Dame Stadium...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME 28 - WAKE FOREST 7

Sneak Peek -- Inside ND Locker Room...


Sunday, November 15, 2015

Latest Photos from "Fenway Football Field"


Looking pretty sweet!

Sneak Peek at Tuesday's CFP Playoff Ranking


Here's what I believe the College Football Playoff Rankings will look like this Tuesday -- the new Top Ten:
  1. Clemson -- beat (3 - 7) Syracuse 37 - 27
  2. Alabama -- beat #17 Mississippi State 31 - 6
  3. Ohio State -- beat (5 - 5) Illinois 28 - 3
  4. NOTRE DAME -- beat (3 - 7) Wake Forest 28 - 7
  5. Iowa -- beat (4 - 6) Minnesota 40 - 35
  6. Oklahoma State -- beat (3 - 7) Iowa State 35 - 31
  7. Oklahoma -- beat (8 - 1) #6 Baylor 44 - 34
  8. Florida -- beat (3 - 7) South Carolina 24 - 14
  9. Michigan State -- beat (2 - 8) Maryland 24 - 7
  10. TCU -- beat (0 - 10) Kansas 23 - 17 

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Path to CFB Playoffs -- Notre Dame vs. Big XII


With Stanford and Utah's loss this evening -- the PAC 12 is done when it comes to sending a team to the College Football Playoff -- it robs Notre Dame of a season ending signature win -- and, it opens the door for an undefeated Oklahoma State to jump ND into the top Playoff if they remain that way.

Here's where I see things with two weeks left in the regular season for the top teams:

These THREE PLAYOFF SPOTS are a given -- in my opinion:
  • ACC Champ:  CFB Playoff spot if it's Clemson or North Carolina
  • Big Ten Champ:  CFB Playoff spot if it's Ohio State, Michigan State or Iowa
  • SEC Champ:  Alabama

So, the fourth team in the PLAYOFF will come down to Notre Dame -- if they win their next two games -- OR, one of these two teams from the Big XII:
  • Oklahoma State -- if they win both, they're in / ND is out
    • vs. Baylor 
    • vs. Oklahoma
  • Oklahoma -- if they win both -- it will come down to (see analysis below)
    • vs. TCU
    • @ Oklahoma State

If Oklahoma and Notre Dame both end up 11 - 1 on the season, it will come down to a College Football Playoff Committee vote against teams with these resumes:

Oklahoma:
  • Wins over ranked teams:  (3)  Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State
  • Opponent's WIN/LOSS Record as of 11/14/15:  63 - 53
  • Strength of Schedule Rank:  #21
  • Common opponent:  Lost to Texas 24 - 17
  • Record of team that beat them as of 11/14/15:  4 - 6

Notre Dame:
  • Wins over ranked teams:  (5)  USC, Navy, Temple, Pitt and Stanford
  • Opponent's WIN/LOSS Record as of 11/14/15:  67 - 53
  • Strength of Schedule Rank:  #5
  • Common opponent:  Beat Texas 38 - 3
  • Record of team that beat them as of 11/14/15:  10 - 0

So -- what does this all mean:
  1. We must win both of our games.
  2. Oklahoma State needs to lose one of their remaining games.
  3. If both happen -- WE ARE IN THE PLAYOFF!

Longest Run in Notre Dame Football History!


Coach Brian Kelly Talks Wake Forest Win!


The Band of the Fighting Irish in 360!!!


Video Proof of ND's Home Field @ Fenway Park



WNDU-TV: Last Home Game of the Season


The Irish Hung a Banner in Purcell Last Night!


Wake Forest Week: Notre Dame Pep Rally


Photo: Notre Dame's Grotto Early This Morning


Notre Dame's Campus Ministry tweeted this photo this morning from the Grotto -- as the world mourns yesterday's tragedy in Paris, France.

France is the birthplace of the Congregation of Holy Cross -- the religious congregation that founded the University of Notre Dame.

Friday, November 13, 2015

I Just Bought This Cool ND Cell Phone Case!


The folks at Hydro Graphics -- the official finishers of the gold Notre Dame football and hockey helmets created this cell phone case with the same process as our Game Day helmets.

They make them for iPhone 5/5s, 6/6s, 6 Plus/6s Plus, Samsung GS5 and Samsung GS6.

If you want to buy one online -- just click on the link below.  I bought this at the main Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore on campus.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME CELL PHONE CASES

ND Tailgating -- The "Orange Van" Story


Matt Fortuna of ESPN Notre Dame Blog fame, just posted a cool story about some Notre Dame alums and the tradition of the Orange Van on football Saturday's in South Bend...

LINK:  THE ORANGE VAN

Wake Forest's "Walk Through" at Notre Dame


Here is what the Deamon Deacons just "tweeted" from inside Notre Dame Stadium.

This will the the THIRD GAME in history between these two schools in football.  The Deamon Deacons' only trip to Notre Dame was back in 2012 - a game Notre Dame won 38 - 0.

Wake Forest Week: Coach Kelly Media Session


Fenway "Football Field" Taking Shape Today!


Here's the latest photos being "tweeted" by our friends at @fenwaypark -- of the football playing surface being "painted" at Fenway Park for next Saturday's Shamrock Series game between Boston College and Notre Dame.
 

Vikings "Hype" Video of Domer Harrison Smith


You'll enjoy watching this video the Minnesota Vikings created of former Notre Dame football team captain Harrison Smith...

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH

Thursday, November 12, 2015