Monday, November 16, 2015
Sunday, November 15, 2015
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:
- Clemson -- beat (3 - 7) Syracuse 37 - 27
- Alabama -- beat #17 Mississippi State 31 - 6
- Ohio State -- beat (5 - 5) Illinois 28 - 3
- NOTRE DAME -- beat (3 - 7) Wake Forest 28 - 7
- Iowa -- beat (4 - 6) Minnesota 40 - 35
- Oklahoma State -- beat (3 - 7) Iowa State 35 - 31
- Oklahoma -- beat (8 - 1) #6 Baylor 44 - 34
- Florida -- beat (3 - 7) South Carolina 24 - 14
- Michigan State -- beat (2 - 8) Maryland 24 - 7
- 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:
- We must win both of our games.
- Oklahoma State needs to lose one of their remaining games.
- If both happen -- WE ARE IN THE PLAYOFF!
Video Proof of ND's Home Field @ Fenway Park
Watch the #RedSox grounds crew take #FenwayPark to another level in preparation for #NDvsBC. ⚾️➡️🏈
#ShamrockSeries pic.twitter.com/kSmI8VOAw3
— Fenway Park (@fenwaypark) November 13, 2015
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.
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
Wake Forest Coach Talks Notre Dame Game
Here's a link to Wake Forest Head Football Coach Dave Clawson talking about Saturday's game with our #4 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish...
LINK: DAVE CLAWSON
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Goal Posts Going Up at Fenway Park Today!
Here's a couple of photos taken today and tonight at Fenway Park -- as they get ready for football for the first time since 1968!
Boston College vs. Notre Dame -- Saturday, November 21st!
#7 ND Beats #1 Ranked Wake Forest Tonight!
The Fighting Irish Men's Soccer team beat #1 Wake Forest -- on the road tonight in the ACC Semi-Finals!
Jimmy Small '08 Talks Barnstormers Tryout
This is going to get ugly...
He hasn't played football since 7th grade. EMS should be on stand-bye -- right now -- in Pella, IA.
Tickets Available -- Notre Dame / Boston Pops
If you live in the Boston area -- or you're heading to town that weekend for the Shamrock Series game at Fenway Park -- here is something you're going to want to do!!!
There are a few tickets still available for Friday night's event -- An Evening with Notre Dame and the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall.
Tickets are $100 a piece -- WHICH IS A DONATION -- for this special event. Here's more information!
LINK: BUY TICKETS HERE!
ND ROTC Students Honoring Veteran's Day!
Notre Dame's ROTC program is honoring Veteran's Day today by standing guard for 24 hours at the Clarke Memorial Fountain.
Cadets and midshipmen from army, navy and air force ROTC units have been standing guard at each of the fountain's four corners since 5 PM ET Tuesday and will continue until a Veterans Day ceremony at 5 PM ET today.
Herbstreit Talks Notre Dame's #4 Ranking
"If Notre Dame wins out -- there is no one passing them..." -- Hebstreit
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
A Gold Glove for a Golden Domer!
Former Notre Dame student-athlete and Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star outfielder A.J. Pollock '09 just earned his first GOLD GLOVE for defensive excellence!
Congratulations A.J.!
LINK: POLLOCK EARNS GOLD GLOVE!
Media's Reaction to Notre Dame's #4 Ranking
Took a quick lap around the worldwide web to see what the media pundits have to say about Notre Dame moving up into the PLAYOFF TALK at the #4 position this week...
LINK: YAHOO! SPORTS
LINK: SPORTING NEWS
LINK: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
LINK: NBC SPORTS
LINK: ASSOCIATED PRESS STORY
My Son -- Trying Out for the Iowa Barnstormers!
He's 6'-4" and weighs a "hundred and nothin'..." -- but Jimmy Small '08, AKA "Jimmy Football" is going to be at this Saturday's Iowa Barnstormers open tryouts -- looking to earn a roster spot on their Indoor Football League team.
Now, trust me -- this former member of Notre Dame's Irish Guard has as much chance as a guy named RUDY of making a football team -- let alone the Barnstormers...
WAIT -- RUDY DID MAKE A TEAM!
You can see -- Jimmy (he's the President of NASCAR's Iowa Speedway) -- and the Iowa Barnstormers are having some fun with this!
Could their be a "Jimmy Football" ESPN 30 for 30 film in the works?
LINK: OFFICIAL RELEASE ON JIMMY'S TRYOUT
LINK: WHO-RADIO STORY
Monday, November 9, 2015
Wake Forest Week: WF Head Coach Talks Loss
Wake Forest is coming off of a bye week -- this is Head Coach Dave Clawson talking about their 20 - 19 loss to Louisville last week.
This is Clawson's second season at Wake Forest -- he previously was the head football coach at Bowling Green (2008 - 2013).
He is quite frank about his football team...
The Media Picks Their "Top 4" in CFB Playoff
Took a lap around the worldwide web this evening to see who is forecasting what in light of the College Football Playoff Committee's upcoming Tuesday release of their latest rankings.
Here's what I could find:
LINK: YAHOO! SPORTS -- ND #4
LINK: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED -- ND #4
LINK: CBS SPORTS -- ND #4
LINK: SPORTING NEWS -- ND #5
LINK: FOX SPORTS -- ND #7
Latest Look at Fenway Park Transformation
Sunday, November 8, 2015
CFB Playoff: The Top 10 With Wins Saturday
Here's a look at the CFB Playoff Top Ten teams who won games yesterday -- and how many FBS teams and "non-Power 5" schools that are on their respective schedules this season.
Remember this when you hear stories these next few weeks about Notre Dame not playing a "thirteenth" game this season:
1. Clemson: 10 FBS / Wofford, Appalachian State, #5Notre Dame
3. Ohio State: 12 FBS / Hawaii, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan
4. Alabama: 10 FBS / Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana-Monroe, Charleston Southern
5. Notre Dame: 12 FBS / UMass, #21 Temple, #23 Navy
6. Baylor: 11 FBS / Lamar, SMU, Rice
9. Iowa: 11 FBS / Illinois State, North Texas
10. Florida: 12 FBS / New Mexico State, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic
Here's how many teams that the Big 12's Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State played in the first nine weeks (prior to yesterday) with a winning record:
- BAYLOR: ZERO
- TCU: ZERO
- OKLAHOMA STATE: ZERO
- OKLAHOMA: TWO (Tennessee & Tulsa both are 5 - 4 on the season)
The photo above shows Alabama scoring a TD against Middle Tennessee State earlier this season...
The Big 12's Scheduling -- Just The FACTS!
Folks -- this will blow your mind -- the four teams in the BIG 12 that are currently ranked in the top 20 in the College Football Playoff (Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma) -- came into this weekend having played 32 games...
Only 2 of those 32 games have been played against a team with a winning record this season -- TWO! Oklahoma has played Tennessee and Tulsa -- both teams are 5 - 4 on the season.
How can you call a win over Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma -- a quality win, when they haven't played anyone?
Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State had ZERO wins against teams with winning records 24 hours ago... How can that be in November?
How can you rank any of them over Notre Dame who has played FIVE STRAIGHT GAMES over teams who have been ranked at some point in the TOP 25 this season?
You can't -- if you do your homework.
Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame -- Playoff Rank
I saw on Twitter this AM that Kirk Herbstreit has Oklahoma State jumping from #14 all the way up to #4 (surpassing Notre Dame) -- after their win over undefeated TCU and LSU's loss to Alabama last night.
I don't think Mr. Herbstreit has taken the time to do his homework -- I have...
Yes, Oklahoma State is undefeated -- but there is a reason the College Football Playoff Committee had them ranked so low this week at #14 -- here's why:
- TCU is the first "Power Five" conference team Oklahoma State has played this season with a winning record -- ND has played five so far this season
- The opponents Oklahoma State has beaten -- going into last night's game -- are 28 - 43 on the season -- ND's opponents over same span: 42 - 30
- Oklahoma State beat a 3 - 5 Kansas State team on a last minute field goal -- at home
- Oklahoma State beat a 4 - 5 Texas team on a last minute botched punt snap and then a last second field goal -- ND beat Texas 38 - 3.
- Oklahoma State beat a 4 - 4 West Virginia team in OT
And, their perceived "big win" over TCU yesterday -- was against a team who had not played a team with a winning record this season. Think about that!
TCU's wins -- leading into yesterday's game against Oklahoma State -- were against teams with a combined record of 27 - 44.
Is TCU really a big win for Oklahoma State?
Bottom line: We need to win our next three games -- nothing else matters -- until then.
Saturday, November 7, 2015
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