Sunday, September 22, 2019

Kelly & Book: Post Game Media Session



Just Got Back From Athens -- Some Thoughts


Never seen anything like I experienced last night in Notre Dame's 23 - 17 loss to Georgia at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium.  Click on the photos above to enlarge.
  • It was a "black out" -- but, it looked more like a RED OUT!
  • There were red and black tents, tablecloths and chairs -- on every square inch of green grass on campus.  They don't have any parking lots around the Stadium -- so the tailgating is on campus grounds...
  • The noise was beyond anything I've ever heard before.  I thought Miami 2017 was loud -- this was at another level.
  • The Georgia student section -- world-class!  A little like Oakland's "Black Hole..."
  • Don't know how we ever got any snap off in sync.
  • First time I ever saw a football stadium turn into a night club -- the light show was impressive and effective -- pre-game and prior to 4th quarter!  The top photo, that's the start of the fourth quarter light show -- a first for Georgia...
  • The Georgia home field advantage -- is incredible.
  • The campus is very nice -- and very hilly.
  • The fans treated us very nicely -- now, if we had pulled the game out -- not so sure...   
  • The Georgia fan base did not sell their tickets to Notre Dame fans   
  • I was sitting with Tim Brown and Jerome Bettis at half-time on the Notre Dame bench when the Georgia "Red Coats" Marching Band -- marched directly at us on the sideline.  See the photo of Jerome and Tim's reaction seeing the band charging at us -- that's me on the left:  
Now, on to what I saw on the field;
  • We miss quickness and speed at the running back spot
  • Georgia's speed at every position (but OL and QB) -- is scary!
  • Not sure what percentage of Georgia's starting line-up is "home grown" in the Peach State -- but, when they announced their starting line-up, it seemed like every player grew up in Georgia.
  • I stood on the sideline for half of the game -- the hitting was intense
  • Our kicking game -- solid
  • We need to find a running game in big games like this...
  • Dropped passes hurt us in the 1st half
  • And, the penalties -- when I saw the officials come out onto the field with their SEC sweaters -- I knew we were in for a long day
  • The Georgia fan base thought they were going to destroy us -- we earned their respect...
  • Impressed we didn't cave -- in that environment, it would have been easy too!
  • Georgia's home field advantage is at least 14 points -- it's a really tough environment to play in...

Need to beat Virginia!

Friday, September 20, 2019

Georgia Royalty Hosts Notre Dame Tonight


Was fortunate to be able to tag along with Notre Dame alum Dick Corbett '60, to an event put on by former Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne (a former Georgia Bulldog football player) and his friends.  What a night -- here's some of the highlights...
  • We get off the bus and what are we greeted by -- four F-16 Fighter Jet's doing their test run over Sanford Stadium for tomorrow night's game
  • A beautiful view from the west end of Sanford Stadium -- the most beautiful natural grass field you'll ever see.  I learned that Georgia does not practice on the field -- only the kicker's have access to the field (one day each week)
  • We were treated to an event in Georgia Football's Recruit Lounge -- a very large facility that sits on the western edge of the Stadium -- it's slick
  • A gospel choir surprised us with a singing of Here Come The Irish and Georgia On My Mind 
  • Every table had Georgia guests and Notre Dame guests 
  • Broadcasting great, Vern Lundquist was the MC
  • The Governor of Georgia and their two (2) U.S. Senators were in attendance
  • Heisman Trophy Winner Herschel Walker
  • CBS's Sports' Chairman Sean MacManus
  • NBC Sports' President Pete Bevacqua (ND grad)
  • Jerome Bettis
  • Lou Holtz
  • Vince Dooley -- the legendary Georgia coach admitted he grew up rooting for the Fighting Irish, hoping to play for Notre Dame someday...
  • CBS's broadcast crew for tomorrow night; Nessler and Danielson 
  • University of Georgia's President and Athletics Director
  • Jack Swarbrick
  • Executive Director of the College Football Playoff
  • A number of Augusta National members
  • Shannon Cullinan (Notre Dame's EVP)
  • Tom Burish (Notre Dame's Provost)
  • Etc.

A truly wonderful event!

This is the first of three events (tonight and tomorrow) -- where Georgia is hosting Notre Dame...

There's a "Few of Us" Here in Athens, GA!


Just spent the last three hours in downtown Athens -- and saw some GREEN, BLUE and GOLD in the restaurants and sidewalks...

Even ran into a College Football Hall of Fame Coach walking the streets by himself -- then spent a good 30+ minutes talking with Lou outside our hotel -- with many Georgia fans interrupting for photos (I took many!)...

Coach Holtz took it all in stride.  That's Notre Dame alum Dick Corbett (of Corbett Hall fame) taking the photo for a fan with Coach Holtz.

I will tell you -- he's not happy that we're 15 point underdogs...

He jokingly said "Jim, I wouldn't wait until 8 PM -- I'd knock on their locker room door at noon tomorrow -- and tell Kirby; we're on the field right now, come and get it!"

Thursday Night With the ND Offensive Line


Thursday, September 19, 2019

Mick's Mix Tape -- Beat Georgia Bulldogs


Urban Meyer Talks About Brian Kelly & ND



The discussion on Brian Kelly and Notre Dame -- begins at the 6:07 mark.

More "Notre Dame Love" From the Pundits...

 

Brian Kelly Talks Georgia Game With SVP


Notre Dame Volleyball Off To Great Start!



The win over Michigan puts the Fighting Irish at 7-2 on the season...

Georgia Week: Injury Report on Bulldogs


This is from the folks at DawgNation...

LINK:  INJURY UPDATE

Missed This: Brady Quinn with Rich Eisen