Notre Dame Subway Alumni Station

Notre Dame Football Roster Shaping Up

2012-02-29T11:07:00.000-05:00

The awarding of an athletic scholarship to walk-on Chris Salvi and the announcement of 5^th year seniors returning for their final year of eligibility appears to have solidified the 2012 Irish football roster. Those soon to be grad students are: Braxston Cave – C, Mike Golic Jr. – C, John Goodman – WR, Kapron Lewis-Moore – DE, Dan McCarthy – S, Jamoris Slaughter – S. The only thing lacking is the assignment of jersey numbers to the freshmen in the fall.

You can read the entire article Here.

The idea of awarding a walk-on with a one year scholarship is great for morale and incentive to the lads on the scout team and those serving as tackling dummies. Just ask David Ruffer and now Salvi.

Cave and Lewis-Moore went down with injuries last year. Golic stepped in at center and can play tackle as well. Slaughter had a lot of playing time as did Goodman. Although Goodman became the goat for a lot of fans because of his duties as punt returner fair catching the ball on Brian Kelly’s orders. We here at the Station have a different take on John. We believe he is going to have a breakout year after toiling in the forgotten shadows of Golden Tate and Michael Floyd. McCarthy did not see much playing time at the safety position however he did play special teams.

The class breakout is as follows:

GS – 7

Seniors – 15

Juniors – 19

Sophomores – 26

Freshmen – 17

Hmmm. That’s 84 by our count with a maximum of 85 allowed. Does Kelly keep a scholarship in his back pocket for contingencies and rainy day chances of picking up a transfer or awarding another walk-on? Snatching up Jordan Presswood last year was a good example of having an extra scholarship to award.

So which seniors were not asked to come back for a fifth year. They too have a year of eligibility remaining on the books and can play anywhere immediately. Some battled injuries and others just got flat out beaten out of playing time.

Deion Walker – WR

Brandon Newman – NG

Lane Clelland – OL

Hafis Williams – DL

Anthony McDonald – LB

David Posluszny – LB

Also nose guard Sean Cwynar has decided to put his masters in business administration to the test and of course quarterback Dayne Crist who will play for Charlie Weis at Kansas. Also rumor has it that Newman is headed to Ball State.

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

The New 35 Yard Line Rule And Notre Dame

2012-02-27T10:49:00.000-05:00

Kyle Brindza

Well the NCAA is following the NFL and moving forward five yards the kick-off to the 35 yard line. Additionally it is requiring the kicking team to a five yard running start. This is all in the interest of protecting players from the collisions of racing at each other hell bent for leather full speed. I have personally only known one legitimate NFL football player and that is exactly what he did. They called it the suicide squad and this was 35 years ago.

So what does this mean for Notre Dame?

First off it can complicate the return for both the kicking team and receiving team.

Second, it is another good reason to have a full-time, knowledgeable Special Teams coach.

Kicking off:

Do you let Kyle Brindza kick it as deep as he can? Last year Kyle kicked off 71 times for a 65.3 yard average, with 4 OB (that’s not good), and 12 TB’s. He kicked 17 % out of the range and comfort zone of the opponent return guys. Given five more yards that number will improve, he was injured some last year so his distance was not as good. We are hoping for at least 90% TB’s.

An interesting possibility is Nick Tausch. Nick did not step foot on the field during a game in 2011. In 2010 he kicked off 8 times for a 55.4 yard average, with 2 OB (that is terrible) and 0 TB’s. You can see why David Ruffer did most of the kicking off that year. Anyway, Nick is a more directional and aerial type kicker. This leads to the possibility of the perfect kick off, a high floater to about two yards deep in the end zone forcing the return man to make a tough decision.

Receiving:

The Irish are sitting in the cat-bird-seat with George Atkinson III. Last year George electrified the fans with two returns for touchdowns and a couple of almost-bees. With his great speed and teammates willing to block, GAIII could be taking it to the house and flipping the ball to the referee some more. As member of the suicide squad you are a lot more willing to sacrifice your body if you know the receiver is running behind you with the ball. Put a second speed demon back there with GAIII and kick returns still can be fun to watch instead of seeing the ball get blasted through the end zone like in the NFL. They can accept a kick five yards deep in the end zone and still manage 20+.

Trivia:

1926 For kick-offs the ball was placed at the 40 yard line.

1986 Ball placed at 35 yard line.

2007 Ball placed at 30 yard line.

2012 Ball placed at 35 yard line.

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Who Will Quarterback the Irish in 2012?

2012-02-25T09:46:00.002-05:00

If you are a loyal reader previously you have read it here on Notre Dame Subway Alumni Station (our formal moniker). On just about every Irish website, competing Blogs, on national sports websites, in the printed media and it’s been talked to death on Notre Dame friendly Bulletin Boards. Bleacher Report spins a shallow story at least daily concerning it. Most speculate or lay out the options. Instead of that dribble here is what we think.

Who Will Quarterback the Irish in 2012?

Of course the dismal quarterback play of 2011 is still fresh in all our minds. The picks in the red zone. The picks in the end zone, the numerous almost picks, the fumble and subsequent touchdown on the four yard line, the numerous bonehead QB decisions. They collectively cost us at least three games, maybe four, you never know since the errors simply put the games away and out of our reach. You could tell they were bad QB decisions by Coach Brian Kelly going ballistic and turning purple on the sidelines.

The Irish start spring practice March 21^st and play the Blue-Gold Game April 21^st. 15 authorized practices. Expect some potential crappy late winter “Bend” weather to contend with, limiting the Team to the Loftus Center. Not much time. Four quarterbacks to evaluate. We have a new offensive coordinator looking to assert himself. A junior, a sophomore, a redshirt freshman and a freshman all vying to be the next “Golden Boy”. A wide open competition according to Kelly and his statement about Gunner Kiel getting a chance this spring. At least that is what we should expect after that we went through last year.

If freshman Gunner Kiel starts for the Irish, we are in big, big trouble once again. What does that have to say concerning our QB talent and experience? Suffering through a freshman quarterback starting yet once again could be deadly for the Irish considering the schedule.

If junior Tommy Rees starts in Dublin, we are déjà vu all over again and folks will be jumping off the bandwagon often and early.

If sophomore Andrew Hendrix starts, he has progressed a long way and the offense can grow with him. That appears the message.

If redshirt freshman Everett Golson starts, stand back and look out Michigan, USC, Oklahoma and the rest of the 2012 schedule. He has got to be the QB derby winner.

Most of the limited time has to be devoted to Kiel and Golson this spring. We pretty much know what Rees and Hendrix can and cannot do. Expect no decision, no announcement after the Blue-Gold Game. Why invite transfers, unrest, and the development of poor work and improvement habits during the off-season? Competition is a good and healthy thing.

Last year Rees and Crist wore red jerseys during the Blue-Gold Game. It will be a sign who if anyone wears one this year.

Charlie Weis and Brian Kelly before have gone into spring practice with four quarterbacks competing for depth chart positions and repetitions in the fall. The results have been mixed trying to placate for everyone wanting to start. Both have complained that by the time fall camp rolls around, they do not have the time to train and develop four quarterbacks with time and meaningful repetitions leading the offense.

Here is something we have never understood. Something that has always bothered us was the fact that there is not enough time or resources to develop four quarterbacks. We keep hearing not enough repetitions are available. Why can’t the number 3 and number 4 quarterback spend time with a hobbled together offense and defense instead just standing and watching the 1 and 2 quarterbacks work with the number one offense and the scout team defense. Tape all work and repetitions for later review and comment. While its’ not the same as standing under center with the first team defense it will help with rhythm, reading defenses, snap counts, checking off, learning plays, etc.

No one here at the Station has ever played college football. So just maybe we are the biggest fools of all.

Without the benefit of watching limited playing time and vanilla play calling opportunities during the Blue-Gold Game, here is our early predictions. Barring injuries, personal problems, and the like.

Everett Golson will start in Dublin.

Andrew Hendrix will be second on the depth chart but may transfer.

Tommy Rees will be third on the depth chart, accept his new role however may transfer.

Gunner Kiel will red-shirt.

Everett Golson

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Brian Kelly Pulls Recuiting Coup and Rabbit Out of Hat

2012-02-21T16:15:00.002-05:00

Davonte Neal

Well apparently the Notre Dame Football recruiting class of 2012 and the graduating class of 2016 is finally in the bag.

Coach Brian Kelly for the second year in a row has pulled the recruiting rabbit out of his ND baseball cap. This year it is Davonte Neal, the top rated athlete in the nation. This guy can play wide receiver, cornerback, and is a return specialist. Goodness we can sure use a return specialist.

High light reel here.

Neal was a no-show for his televised announcement this morning at his old elementary school. This got heads scratching and I’m sure it will all come out eventually. Read it here.

Here’s hoping he does not get homesick or have a change of heart.

Welcome aboard Mr. Neal.

Street Thug U

2012-02-19T06:23:00.002-05:00

While trolling through the sports websites for news on college football, I stumbled across an article on Florida tight end freshman A.C. Leonard. Seems Mr. Leonard beat up his girlfriend and through her out of their apartment. Ended up getting arrested for domestic battery.

What struck me as a different culture at Florida than at Notre Dame were these two nuggets.
Freshman at Notre Dame live in dormitory halls.

Leonard is the TENTH (10^th) football player arrested and suspended since head Coach Will Muschamp took over from urban Meyers fourteen months ago. Didn’t Meyer suspend something like 30 players during his tenure at Florida? Obviously these guys get reinstated our Florida couldn’t field a team. Neither Meyer or Muschamp would still be coaching at Notre Dame.

You recruit street thugs and common criminals, you pay the price I guess?

A Stupid Pre-Preseason Prediction (guess)

2012-02-07T10:11:00.000-05:00

Well Mark Schlabach over at the ESPN website must be bored or experiencing college football withdrawals. His pre-preseason top 25 rankings are hot off the keyboard and he has the audacity to crown Notre Dame #24. You can read the entire dribble here.

Why is it always team speed that is lacking and a sore point? Where does this guy get this stuff? Is he out there at practice with a stop watch? Why is team speed always an overriding issue that needs to be constantly addressed?

If our defense is such a plus, how come FSU came from 0-14 down to beat us 18-14?

Ok, though, let’s get this straight and put our thoughts in order on this under deserving honor.

Notre Dame finished out of the rankings in 2011 after giving away the Champs Sports Bowl to FSU.

Throughout the 2011 season Notre Dame fumbled, threw to the other team, and performed inept at quarterback.

One of the best wide receivers in Irish history as in Michael Floyd has graduated. No one appears on the radar with the hands or size to replace him. Not incoming freshmen or rostered players.

Notre Dame has no quarterback as of this moment and it is a shame that so much time again this spring and fall is going to be devoted to scraping together something.

The 2012 killer schedule was put together for a team coming off a BCS win and a 10-2 record, not 8-5. It’s a tough one and with the inevitable injuries to key players, it could be a disaster.

Coaching. Two new coaches. A third promoted from the grad assistant ranks. No fulltime Special Teams Coach. A third year head coach that has not won the hearts and minds of Domers let alone Subway Alumni. Coaching and coaching decisions have been an issue both last year and the year before that.

Normally these predictions are based upon the previous year, I don’t know what year Schlabach is looking at, and the Irish were out of the top 25 the past two years.

They don’t start the BCS rankings until, what the fifth week because of cupcake scheduling and pure guess work that ranked teams to begin with.

If you got nothing better to do add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

The Gray-Shirt System – The Alabama Way

2012-02-03T12:14:00.000-05:00

Obviously unless you just popped up from a hole like Punxsutawney Phil, you are aware that in the college football system there is a way around signing more recruits than unscrupulous schools have scholarships. It is called Gray-Shirting. It is something Notre Dame and other reputable colleges and universities do not practice. The SEC does and has for a long time. They are very good at it. This year, the SEC decided to clean house a bit and limit over-signing and put a cap at 25 signees per year. It sounds good on paper.

Basically you recruit the guys you want and tell them they are headed for your program, you want them. Welcome aboard. Blah. Blah. They quit looking and taking visits to other schools and are pretty much in your pocket and not in your opponents.

Alabama, you know them. They just won the National Championship AND just signed the number one recruiting class for 2012. Dang. How do they do that? Easy, Gray-Shirting.

After you have lied to the recruit, you tell him you ran out of scholarships and you still really want the kid but they have to Gray-Shirt. It is told that maybe by January a scholarship will come available and can be awarded to him. In the meantime he has a number of options.

a. Get a job
b. Enroll in a junior college
c. Enroll at the Gray-Shirt school at his expense
d. Try and get a scholarship on or after signing day
e. Disappear
f. Hope for a phone call in January

How do schools like Alabama then “find” scholarships in January to offer guys like Darius Philon? At Alabama there is no such thing as a four year scholarship, a guarantee of playing football and getting an education. No honoring any commitment to the student athlete. Actually the same can be technically said for Notre Dame. Scholarships are renewed annually. The difference is that Notre Dame does not dump underperforming players or those injuried. Alabama does and uses any guise and excuse.

Anyway, you have got to read the story about Darius Philon from Prichard Alabama and then watch the two-minute video where he is humiliated and embarrassed to death. He ends up finding a scholarship at Arkansas on Wednesday, National Signing Day. He has never visited Arkansas and it is assumed he has no idea on a course of study.

HERE is the story. Darius has basically become a piece of meat.

His coach Kerry Stevenson should be outraged; instead he acts as an apologist for Alabama. What a moron. He probably gets free tickets to Bama games from the recruiting coaches and does not want to lose that perk.

Wrong Kind of Guy and Other Opinions

2012-02-03T08:12:00.000-05:00

So Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly got stiffed in the worst way. Long time WR verbal commitment Deontay Greenberry changed his mind and signed a Letter of Intent with the University of Houston. That’s fine. It happens in the recruiting game. These are kids who are still trying to find themselves in life. What was in extremely poor taste and shows a complete lack of upbringing and respect was the way Kelly received the news. Greenberry’s high school coach called Kelly during the morning of National Signing Day and told him. That’s kind of like the guy who texted his fiancée broke off the engagement and asked for his ring back.

The Notre Dame Football Team doesn’t need guys like Greenberry. Best of luck playing for the Cougars.

Congratulations former Notre Dame Quarterback Tom Clements and former quarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers. Tom was just promoted to offensive coordinator for the same Packers. That’s what happens when you interview for a head coaching job, don’t get it, but the offensive coordinator gets a similar job and the Packers figured they’d better cut their losses and keep a great guy.

So the Big Ten coaches are a little upset with Urban “recruit poaching” Meyers. The gentlemen’s agreement about not messing with another’s recruits has just gone by the wayside. Ask Kelly he lost two coaches and a start lineman to one of the greatest poachers of all times. This is another example as to why Jack Swarbrick and the good Holy Cross fathers would not want Meyer’s as a coach, bad publicity for all the Notre Dame haters out there.

Well let’s get this straight. Jim Tressel is being hired to a ‘created position’ as vice president for creative engagement at the University of Akron home of the “Zips”. Salary $200,000. Wow! Gee, isn’t there a big push and complaining concerning the rising costs of college? Allegedly ‘Tattoo Jim’ will be working in public relations. It appears he needs a few more years of tenure working for the state of Ohio to max out his retirement package. The Zips must be loaded.

13 - 3 - 1 - 3

2012-02-02T11:04:00.000-05:00

Well we updated the 2012 verbal recruits and are now calling them student-athletics class of 2016. Although that’s probably not entirely true. Some will graduate earlier and some maybe a little later, hopefully all will graduate.

The left side of the Blog is now accurate again.

You can read about Brian Kelly’s haul in at least half-a-dozen blogs and media websites and we won’t cut and paste any of that gibberish.

The usual and typical wailing and grinding of teeth is going on over at NDNation. Those guys that comment need full time jobs.

The numbers are 13-3-1-3.

13- Enrolling this summer for Longo Beach

3 – Enrolled and chasing co-eds

1 – Former enemy (USC) and now friend

3 – That got away and is probably best for them and Notre Dame

17 - Not a very big class. The issue now turns to the fifth year seniors and now many can and will return.

John Goodman’s high school coach kind of let the cat out of the bag a couple of weeks ago when he mentioned to the local media that John had been offered and accepted a fifth year. Lots of head scratching and comments concerning “wasting a scholarship on a guy best known for fair catching punts”. In Goodman’s defense, those were in most cases Kelly’s calls, though a few times John had plenty of room to run and called a fair catch anyway. Who knows what the rules were laid down by Kelly. Goodman does have very good hands, however his feet appeared mired in cement.

Anyway, the logic goes that if Goodman was cleared by Notre Dame to return, offered, and accepted, so were all the other seniors.

So when is that story going to break and end the speculation?

Leaving Late or Coming Late - Greg Schiano or Charlie Weis

2012-01-27T11:00:00.002-05:00

So which is a worse hit for “The Team”?

A coach quitting days before National Signing Day (NSD) as in Greg Schiano formerly from Rutgers.

OR a coach being hired and not able to truly devote recruiting and signing time because of NFL commitments and a Super Bowl as in Charlie Weis formerly of the Patriots, Irish, Chiefs, Gaters and now Jay Hawks.

We feel sorry for the Rutgers coaching staff and training staff left behind. Especially also for the young men who committed to the Scarlet Knights to play football for Schiano.

Money and opportunity. Opportunity and money. Quite a combination.

Rutgers has/had 17 verbal commitments so far (same as Notre Dame this year) and it will be interesting to see who tries to poach and who tries to jump ship. We suspect that if there is anyone Urban Meyer’s would have wanted he would have poached him already.

More interestingly where to do find a head coach this time of year? If you rob a head coach from another school, you’ve just screwed them. Do you hire within to try and hold the team together? Is there anyone qualified on the staff or are you looking to tube the season?

The school is in the process of spending $$$ to upgrade facilities and enhance the football program because of Schiano and his winning ways. Will be interesting to watch Rutgers the next few years and see if the investment pays off.

Apparently talent is in place at Rutgers, something lacking on defense and the offensive line when Charlie finally arrived at Notre Dame after winning the Super Bowl for Tom Brady.

Schiano has his work cut out for him in Tampa. The Subway Alumni Station has a Blue Line from Tarpon Springs to Tampa and some things are known about the Bucs. (1) They quit last year on their coach, quarterback, and fans. (2) They are not very good. (3) Josh Freeman and Tommy Rees could be related by the number of turnovers they both committed last year. (4) The fan base is dissatisfied because the Bucs don’t sellout and the home games are blacked out by the NFL. (5) Management dicked around in waiting to fire R. Morris and lost out on all the available head coaching talent.

We think a coaching resigning just before NSD is worse than one coming in late trying to no avail to play catch up.

18 Notre Dame Does Not Have To Fret Over

2012-01-20T10:41:00.003-05:00

Ran across an enlightening article in USA Today (1-19-12), read it Here.

65 underclassmen having college football eligibility left have declared themselves for the 2012 NFL draft. This is the most in ten years. The draft starts on April 26^th and it appears that Notre Dame will have at least four contenders based upon their selection for post-season all-star games.

Robert Blanton

Gary Grey

Trevor Robinson

Harrison Smith

Michael Floyd ( Has Declined To Particiape In Post Season Actitives )

I would guess that if any of the four are not drafted, they will at least get some free agency tryouts.

Anyway, out of those 65 underclassmen, 18 come from eight different schools the Irish will play in 2012. This can only be a very good thing.

Miami (FL) 6

Stanford 3

USC 2

MSU 2

BC 2

Purdue 1

OK 1

Wake Forest 1

I won’t bore you will repeating the names, the complete list is in the USA Today article.

The interesting point is the apparent abandoning ship down in Cane Country. Between the transfers that have taken place and now underclassmen departing the handwriting on the wall must be obvious even to those guys. I wonder what kind of a recruiting class is coming in this year for the Canes?

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Flying Rumors and Flying Pigs

2012-01-17T12:10:00.001-05:00

Well just when we thought things were settling down and we were beginning to lick our wounds after losing recruits Ron Darby and Taylor Decker. Plus the coaching shakeup, defections and position changes taking place on the staff. The jokes on us.

Now these rumors!!

** Gunner Kiel to Notre Dame! We will wait until we can put our fingers into the wounds on his hands though. Supposedly his mama wants him closer to home and that does not mean Bourbon Street. Guess IF IF IF he is highly successful with the Irish, he would have to play for the Bears or the Colts.

** The Armstead brothers on campus? Armond and Arik. A package deal coming together?

** Reported that future fifth year senior John Goodman (WR) has been offered a slot? Wow! He was on the bubble for returning. Returning in not returning punts that is. So if that is true, it implies other fifth years have been accepted. Which means the recruiting season is really over. Numbers have been set.

** Brian Kelly is bringing in/back Gary Darnell to join the staff. Darnell is a former head coach at Western Michigan and Tennessee Tech and defensive coordinator at ND, Texas, Florida, Texas A&M, Wake Forest and Kansas State. I’d like to see the stickers on his luggage. Guess he would come in as a position coach on defense somewhere. Man has his stock been up and down. Lou Holtz basically ran him off if I remember correctly by taking over calling defensive plays.

This is dated, January 17^th at high noon. Stay tuned.

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Notre Dame and the 2012 Murderer's Row Schedule

2012-01-13T10:57:00.000-05:00

Well Notre Dame’s 2012 Murderer’s Row Schedule is starting to look even tougher than after the first glance we gave it when it was finalized last year. 6 and 6 is becoming a real distinct possibility even this early in the year. Rivals.com has come out with their top 25 and Notre Dame is not on it.

No not this murderer’s row.

Unfortunately 5 of our opponents did make it:

2. USC

5. Oklahoma

8. Michigan

13. Michigan State

20. Stanford

Also consider:

** You can bet MSU head Coach Mark Dantonio has already circled September 15^th (in East Lansing) on his calendar and is figuring out how to cream us as payback for last year.

** We have not figured out how to beat Denard Robinson and quite to the contrary will we figure out another way to give the Skunkbears yet another game?

*** Last year we managed to squeak by Wale Forest, Pittsburgh and Boston College by an average of five points.

** We can’t seem to win all the “easy games” as in USF, Tulsa, Navy and always find a new and exciting way to lose.

** Matt Barkley (QB), WR’s Marqise Lee and Robert Woods return along with 14 other starters to USC and we play in California.

** Michigan returns 14 starters, a better yet defense and Robinson who has our number.

** Oklahoma returns 13 starters along with QB Landry Jones and we play them in Norman.

** Do not overlook Miami or BYU, teams that we will be matched pretty close.

Some pending in-house issues:

** The Irish do not have a quarterback and if we do, I have not seen him play.

** Brian Kelly has not hired a Special Teams coach and there is no indication that it is in the works. The Irish need to settle on a place kicker, improve the kick-off game and establish a punt return among other issues.

** Proven wide receiver depth is kind of scary. The loss of Michael Floyd (100) and moving Theo Riddick (38) back to RB hurts. TJ Jones (38), Robby Toma (19) and a maybe returning John Goodman (7) is all she wrote.

So anyway, this schedule is going to give us fits. You can check it out and cry over on the right side of the Blog.

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

KELLY GETS TWO MORE YEARS ! POOR US !

2012-01-11T12:34:00.000-05:00

Well the moronic outrage has begun. God help us all. Notre Dame has exercised an option/contract clause provision to extend Head Coach Brian Kelly’s five-year contract through 2016.

Everyone is pointing at his 18-10 record and the really stupid extension that was given to Charlie Weis after less than one year at the helm. How could Notre Dame repeat such an ugly, terrible, historical event?

No big deal. Let’s get real. Grow up you idiots over at NDNation and misc. blogs. The Good Fathers of the Holy Cross dumped Ty Willingham and Charlie Weis early, they can/will do the same with Brian Kelly. The $$$ makes no difference. The fools at NDNation are still hoping that Stoops, Meyers, Gruden, JoPa, Skip Holtz, Knute Rockne, et al, etc, and anyone else in the current favor will come to Notre Dame and wake up the echoes.

Most of those guys listed above are not in lock-step with graduation rates, course grades, recruiting of street thugs, and kids that only want to play until the NFL calls. The administration won’t even talk to those type coaches anymore.

The problem with Brain Kelly is that the individuals who for the last two years have touch the football right after the center hikes it to them have not very good. That includes, Nate Montana, Tommy Rees, and Dayne Crist.

Whether Andrew Hendrix or Everett Golson are the answer remains to be seem, however it would appear lacking a freshman QB recruit in 2012 that Brain Kelly’s tenure remains in the balance.

Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert Decision

2012-01-06T11:46:00.004-05:00

Well January 15^th and NFL declaration day is only 11 days away for Junior Tyler Eifert of the Fighting Irish. Everyone here at the Station is holding their breath and hoping Tyler makes the right decision best for him. We think that decision is also best for subway alumni fans, return for a third year.

Tyler received his NFL draft projection and got a 3^rd round possible pick. That and $4.95 will get you a small cup of Starbuck’s coffee. Just ask Jimmy Clausen or Brady Quinn.

Realistically, Tyler has two years of eligibility left, however no one expects him to stick around for the 2013 campaign. 2012 would sure be nice and picking up a sheepskin wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

We see three issues:

*** Draft competition and any other juniors declaring. No sure if the 3^rd round projection takes all that into consideration or just his resume.

*** Who does Notre Dame have to toss Tyler the football in 2012? Hmmm good point. He did have 6 catches and 90 yards in the Champs Sports Bowl. However we are hoping neither one of those guys will be passing the football around come this fall.

*** Not a lot of playing time.

Tyler Eifert’s resume:

6’ 6” – 249 lbs.

Mackey Award Finalist (that and $4.95 will get you another cup of Starbuck’s coffee).

Broke Notre Dame's Ken MacAfee’s single season record (1977) of 54 receptions (57), howver that is not near the NCAA record.

Started all 13 games in 2011: 57 receptions, 713 yards and 5 touchdowns

Played in 11 games in 2010: 27 receptions, 352 yards and 2 touchdowns
Statistic wise NCAA ranked #1 2011 Tight End with: 13 games, 63 receptions, 803 yards, 5 touchdowns.

Rumor has it that Tyler’s blocking technique needs work. Hmmm, no one in the office wanted to test that rumor.

Subway Alumni Station other points of issue:

Great hands.

Can take hits.

Quiet, team player.

Does not make many mistakes (penalties), false starts, personnel fouls.

It would appear that the potential 2012 Notre Dame All American Tight End would take pressure off a fledging Irish receiving corp.

Editors Note: About six hours after this posting Tyler Eifert announced his decision to return to Notre Dame, get his degree and once again play with his fellow teammates for at least another year.

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

What’s Next on the Schedule

2012-01-02T12:12:00.002-05:00

Musings On Where Is The Notre Dame Football Program Going.

Driving back from the debacle in Orlando I tried to find a positive spin on the 18-14 loss to an inferior FSU team and could not think of any rational theme. It was hard enough just licking my wounds. Then I got wrapped up in family visiting and just plain having fun around the house with them. So no posting in over a week.

Did not listen or watch Kelly’s post game comments nor did I subject myself to the zillion stories, articles and commentary over here in Tarpon Springs on the “great FSU win”. What the heck, I was there and watched in horror as our quarterbacks self-destructed. Talk about the tired cliché, “snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory.” I did read a couple of threads on Rock’s House over on NDNation but they seemed bent on jumping out the basement window or trying to slash their wrists with a butter knive over Brian Kelly. Just checked again and they are still at it. Why do they think Gruden, Stoops, Meyers, et al would come coach at Notre Dame when graduating is more important than playing football. They wouldn’t last a season and rightly so.

Notre Dame and Brian Kelly have just announced some coaching changes. Read it Here. Knew about Charley Molnar going to UMass however did not think Tim Hinton was leaving just after he said he was sticking around. Ed Warinner leaving was a complete surprise. They both get one sentence at the bottom of the news release. Reading between the lines, I guess the parting was not amiable. What was missing was any mention of the hiring of a Special Teams coach. That seems a huge mistake and hope a hire is in the works.

No word from Tyler Eifert. You would think he’s leaving since if Tyler were staying he would have said so by now. Can’t blame him. Looking at the quarterbacks he’s got throwing at him, I’d leave as well.

Seventeen recruits, probably three or four more yet to be committing or picked. Surprised none have jumped ship after the Stanford and FSU games. Check them out on the left side of the Blog.

Big decision on fifth year seniors and who will be invited back. Again, the number of spots is contingent on the number of recruits and if anyone else transfers out. The list is long and the decisions tough. Very few guarantees after Braxton Cave, Kapron Lewis-Moore and Jamoris Slaughter.
Looking at the quarterback situation, I don’t see the same logjam that Gunner Kiel did. The position is wide open. Or is it? My youngest son said he would not watch Notre Dame Football this year (2012) if Tommy Rees starts in Dublin. I was toying with the idea of going over to the game and some sightseeing. Naw, changed my mind.

Well let’s see the schedule:

** Tyler Eifert decision.

** Finish up picking the coaching staff.

** Finish up recruiting.

** Decisions on fifth year seniors.

** National signing day

** NFL Draft and Free Agency

** Spring ball.

Can’t wait.

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas, God Bless, Happy New Year

2011-12-24T11:02:00.000-05:00

Joe Montana Scrambling In My Christmas Tree

Well here it is Christmas Eve. A good time for a short reflection over some alcoholic spirits and a large tray of finger foods that is only going to end up in places where we don’t need it.

This Blog was started on March 26^th, 2010 and 371 posts later we are still going like that little pink bunny and the drum.

A number of Notre Dame oriented websites and blogs have folded since we started Subway Alumni Station back in March. Bleacher Report has exploded on the college football reporting scene and they always seem to have a couple of Notre Dame stories each day. Some pretty good, others quite lousy and shallow. Ha! We should talk. People in glass houses should not throw stones.

Our purpose and direction has changed a little and we still do not claim any great insight into college football. But we are having fun. When the fun stops so will we. This brings us back to the title of the post.

We have been greatly blessed this year with good health (well almost except for getting thrown off a bike), beer money when we needed it, good friends, the opportunity to watch the Irish play twice, and hope for the future.

This country’s economic situation is touch and go. At least two of the three branches of our Government are dysfunctional. The moral decline of the citizenry in America continues.

We hope and pray things will get better.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.

Champs Sports Bowl and Notre Dame

2011-12-22T15:33:00.003-05:00

Blatantly Stolen From the Champs Sports Website

Well well, Champs Sports Bowl, week from today. Be there or be square. The Station crew will be sitting in section 225 screaming our lungs out and grousing about the Indian chant and tomahawk arm waving idiots from FSU.

Last time I looked Notre Dame was a 3 point underdog, unranked, going against 25^th ranked FSU. It is obviously good to be the underdog and not have to worry about over confidence and taking things too lightly.

See that FSU had to discipline three street thugs and they will not be playing. Week to go and anything can happen with those morons.

Sure would like to see a thumbs-up from Tyler Eifert and another year. Nice Christmas present for ND Nation.

So what’s our prediction?

Everyone is talking about how good FSU’s defense is and that they are fast and athletic. Hmmm, if Notre Dame brings their best defensive game to the Bowl, it could be a low scoring affair. FSU has struggled on offense this year. Hmmmm, that sounds familiar with the Irish as well.

Notre Dame 24—Florida State 21

Most valuable player on Offense – Andrew Hendrix --- 12 for 16 and 191 yards passing, 1 TD and 61 yards rushing on 5 attempts.

Most valuable player on Defense – Harrison Smith --- 8 tackles and 1 interception

Most valuable player on Special Teams – David Ruffer --- game winning field goal

Go IRISH Beat FSU

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Swag, Bowls and the Gift of Receiving

2011-12-22T11:52:00.000-05:00

Fossil Watches

Well it’s that time of year again when Santa brings SWAG to all the nice boys who made it to one of the thirty Bowl games this year and the beginning of next. Not all Bowls and Santa treat the boys the same way. Not all SWAG is equal. The only thing common is the rule mother NCAA has laid down.
$550 limit per person

Samsung Galaxy Tablet

Most Bowls go with a “Gift Suite” which is setup as a private event where game participants and often Bowl VIPs are given an order form and allowed to select a gift, or gifts up to a value that is predetermined. Gifts usually are custom made with the Bowl Logo. Watches, sunglasses, rings, clothing are popular. A number of Bowls are lazy and present gift cards for the majority of the $550 limit. Best Buy in the case of Notre Dame and FSU takes the boys to a store to pick out what they want. Here are some of the better SWAG deals.

Oakley Eyepatch Sunglasses

Best:

GoDaddy.com Bowl: Nikon S80, Timely Watch Co. watch, leather luggage bag, commemorative football.

Military Bowl: Amazon Kindle Fire, Apple iPod nano, Deuce watch, LunaTik wristband (to hold iPod), beanie, Nike backpack.

Hyundai Sun Bowl: Gift suite, Timely Watch Co. watch, Majestic Pro-Base fleece pullover, VP Sports cap, Ogio Politan backpack, Helen of Troy hair dryer, souvenir coin

Taxslayer.com Gater Bowl: Fossil watch, Gator Gear performance headwear, rolling luggage bag, Jostens ring, commemorative football

BBVA Compass Bowl: iBeats by Dr. Dre (ear buds), Reactor watch, Oakley Eyepatch 2, Oakley backpack duffel, Big Game commemorative football

Worst:

Gildan New Mexico Bowl: Gift suite, Oakley Eyepatch 2, Oakley beanie, New Era cap, Oakley Flak Pack 3.0, pen with box, Christmas ornament. Lot of little junk. Christmas ornament? What the..

Sheridan Hawaii Bowl: Oakley sunglasses, Aloha shirt, Pro Athletics custom beach shorts, Oakley T-shirt, performance wear, cap or visor, backpack, beach towels, bowl calendar, playing cards. Bunch of little junk.

Belk Bowl: Estimated $400 shopping trip to Belk’s flagship store in Charlotte, Fossil watch. Guess you'd better find something you like at Belk's.

Valero Alamo: $400 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Schutt mini-helmet, panoramic team photo. Wow a mimi helmet and a team photo.

Outback Bowl: $150 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Jostens ring, cap, $25 Outback Steakhouse gift certificate Not much forthought went into these gift cards.
Scrooge:

New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Bowl committee would not disclose details about participants gifts. Sounds cheap and fishy.

AT&T Cotton Bowl: committee would not disclose additional details about participant gifts. No wonder they got bounced and shutout ofthe BCS Bowl system.

Well a gift is a gift in the eyes of the recipient as well.

For a complete rundown, Here is the site.

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

The Curious Case of Notre Dame Safety Chris Badger

2011-12-20T13:00:00.000-05:00

Chris Badger

Let’s review some facts and circumstances.

Chris Badger a 6 foot 1 inch, 195 pound safety out of Timpview High School in Provo, Utah was a 3 Star Recruit by Rivals. He had 77 tackles and three interceptions his senior year. Originally committed to Jim Harbaugh and Stanford, Chris changed his mind and signed with Notre Dame and was an early enrollee in First Year of Studies January 2010.

Badger participated in spring practice and had six tackles in the Blue-Gold Game. After his first semester, Chris changed his mind after a calling to complete a mission for his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. With a couple of other player losses, the safety position got a little thin experience and numbers wise in 2010. He left Notre Dame for a scheduled two-year stint of missionary work teaching the people of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Coach Brian Kelly gave his blessing and thought it best for Chris.

During his short time in South Bend, Chris worked alongside then fellow Mormon teammates Manti Te’o, Kona Schwenke, and Justin Utupo.

He started his missionary work in August of 2010 and expected to return in time for fall practice August 31, 2012. Then he changed his mind and was able to move up his schedule and complete his mission in March 2012. Now Chris has changed his mind again and the family is looking for another dispensation for Chris so he can be on campus this January.

The family has been shipping cans of protein powder to Chris and he works out every day to try and keep in shape. Not exactly the same thing that his fellow teammates are doing every day here at Notre Dame.

The graduation loss of safety Harrison Smith automatically opens up one safety position.

What is Chris’s competition?

Jamoris Slaughter, 5^th year candidate

Dan McCarthy, 5^th year candidate

Zeke Motta, Senior

Austin Collinsworth, Junior

Eilar Hardy, Sophomore

Nicky Baratti, Freshman

C.J. Prosise, Freshman

John Turner, Freshman

Hmmmm. Yup. Time to come home Chris and as soon as possible. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Where Will Highly Recruited Gunner Kiel Land?

2011-12-17T13:20:00.013-05:00

Gunner Kiel

Wow, Gunner Kiel the best and last quarterback available in the 2012 recruiting class is considering Vanderbilt? We just heard/read that latest recruiting rumor off the wire.

First it was a commitment to Indiana, the perennial doormat of the BIG TEN. Now he is looking at the bottom dweller of the SEC? Who is counseling this guy?

If Gunner does not sign-up with Notre Dame he will be mired in doubt for the rest of his life.

The real stupid issue is verbally committing early to Indiana who has no business promoting or playing football. Gunner then dropped off the radar screen.

The true issue is whether Indiana or Vanderbilt can provide the offensive line to protect Gunner and a receiver corps to sustain him? We think not.

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Slim Pickins For Notre Dame News

2011-12-16T12:04:00.002-05:00

Slim Pickens

No not Slim Pickens, slim pickins. Notre Dame Football news is hard to come-by now with final exams over, players getting a short break before getting serious about preparing for FSU and practice. Plus the recruiting trail is dryed up for now. Here are a few nuggets.

*** The crew here at Subway Alumni Station has received their tickets for the Champs Sports Bowl (CSB). We are in Section 224, which is tucked away high in the Southwest end zone corner. That’s what happens when you are not Domers. It was our impression that the game was sold out. For giggles and grins Peggy (not the credit card Peggy that enjoys screwing Lou, Bobby and Kurt) checked out the availability of tickets at the CSB website. Low and behold, you can still purchase tickets for $67; however you need a parachute or oxygen tank as a precaution. Sold Out? Hmmmmm?

*** What’s this rumor about the Stanford and Notre Dame game being played in China in 2012? That pretty much screws the local West Coast Alumni from watching the Irish play in 2012. I thought the purpose of East and West Coast games were to provide a venue for the subway alumni?

*** Brian Kelly’s latest recruit has been added to the left side of the Blog. Ronnie Stanley is one huge dude. I’m all for as many linemen on both sides of the ball Kelly can recruit.

*** How long does this dead period last where recruiting is limited? After the New Year? 16 recruits. It appears that 22 is the magic number. Also depending on the 5^th year status. Kapron Lewis-Moore, Braxton Cave, and Jamoris Slaughter appear the sure lock-ins. Obviously Dayne Crist took himself out of the equation.

*** We are hoping Dayne Crist finds a home where he can start. Pulling for Kansas and Charlie Weis.

*** It will be interesting to see if Theo Riddick can make a go at running back. I have never known the bouncing around of talent and positions to benefit the player or his career.

*** Here at the Station there was a lot of grousing over Michael Floyd not being selected for the AP All-American team. Everyone talks up Michael as a first round NFL draft pick. Turns out he was 9^th in receptions and 25^th in receiving yards. Guess if Notre Dame had been 10-2 or ranked it may have put him on the radar. He’s All-American in our book for just coming back his senior year and then dealing with his issues.

*** Recruit Quarterback Gunner Kiel probably will choose the Irish. He will be an early enrollee and jump into the quarterback competition in the spring of 2012. Wow. Four quarterbacks. Tommy Rees, Andrew Hendrix, Evertt Golson, and Gunner Kiel. Kelly needs to sort that out and start grooming. We do not need a repeat of 2011. Don't expect any announced decision coming out of spring ball though. Kelly will want to keep all four actively in the hunt.

*** So what do the Irish players get as far as swag from the CSB? A $420 shopping trip to a local Best Buy and a Timely Watch. Mother NCAA limits the sway value to $550 maximum. Phooey on the CSB. A crappy trip to Best Buy? So if the guys go over the $420, they have to pony the difference. The real winner is Best Buy. The best gifts and swag are the ones with Bowl logos, a real memento and keepsake, not a camera or electronic device.

*** We will have a later post on the various sway awaiting players from the major bowls coming up.

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Go Irish, Beat Free Shoe U.

Latest From Notre Dame Inc.

2011-12-08T08:13:00.001-05:00

Well Notre Dame subway alumni fans here is your chance to get a piece of the Irish Bowl action! Latest from the Notre Dame Official On-Line Store direct to you. Wear one just like the Domers.

What a piece of junk. (See below)

But wait, this is the best part.

$ 19.00            T-Shirt

$ 5.95              Shipping and Handling

$ 2.50              Sales Tax

$27.45             Rip-off Total

Get yours now before they are sold out. Order here.

Here is a better deal: we are free with no pesky advertisements or pop-ups!

Add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Nate Montana Quarterback Career Update

2011-12-06T11:57:00.001-05:00

Grizzlies QB Nate Montana

Well we just paid a small tribute and thanks to a real class guy in Dayne Crist (below post). It will be fun to see where he lands and if he can contribute to another football program. We sure hope and pray that it be so.

So what happened to the last quarterback that left Notre Dame with eligibility remaining? Nate Montana remember him?

Hmmmm. What can we remember?

Nate did not have any scholarship or non-scholarship offers to play football anywhere. None. Zero. Zilch.

Famous dad and alumni got Nate preferred walk-on status with a famous quarterback coach and Head Coach.

Nate somewhere along the line left for a year to hone his quarterback skill at a junior college with mixed results.

Nate returns to Notre Dame and said quarterback coach eventually awarded Nate with a scholarship and real team member status.

He got involved in a spring practice quarterback derby but dropped on the depth charts.

Also participated in what is apparently an Irish football rite of passage and a brush with the Indiana Liquor Gestapo.

Saw his first game participation in the quarterback shuffle and interception riddled Michigan game back in 2010.

8 completions, 17 attempts, 104 yards, 1 interception. Rushed for 23 yards in 4 attempts.

Nate got mop-up duty in the Western Michigan game with 1 completion, 1 attempt, 12 yards. He rushed for 2 yards on 5 attempts.

Seeing zero chance to climb the depth chart with Dayne Crist, Tommy Rees, Luke Massa, and incoming Andrew Hendrix, Nate decided to take his quarterbacking skills to his name sake school: The Montana Grizzlies.

Nate is one of seven (7) rostered quarterbacks for the Grizzlies. Yes, 7 as in 5, 6, 7.

He no sooner showed up in Big Sky Country and he got himself arrested on a DWI charge. Hmmmmmm.

Along the way, his father took a cheap shot at Notre Dame and Coach Brian Kelly complaining in an interview that Nate got a raw deal and was not fairly treated. Phooey.

So how is Nate doing at Montana?

25 completions in 40 attempts, 264 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. (Corrected data)

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Dayne Crist All- American Person

2011-12-06T08:05:00.002-05:00

Dayne Crist

Good bye Dayne Crist, son we hardly knew ye.

Life thus far has thrown you some tough curve balls. Red shirting and riding the bench behind Jimmy Clausen, two serious leg injuries, a new coach, a new offensive system, some poor play and benching again.

All your volunteer work in the community and efforts to raise awareness to many special causes is inspirational. You could always be counted on to help out. The leadership, team effort you displayed throughout your career is very commendable.

We think you will go far with your work habits, college degree, fortitude, loyalty, and determination.

Dayne Crist, God Bless and Good Luck. The latter is something you’ve not had much of in playing football for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame’s Luke Massa A Team Player

2011-12-03T11:11:00.000-05:00

Back in January 2011 we did a post on Luke Massa, read it Here. There is something about the guy you really have to like.

Recruited as a quarterback out of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati he opted out of a crowded position and settled his 6’ 4” frame into the wide receiver position. This in itself is interesting as Jackson Bennett and Austin Collingsworth were moved from WR to the defensive backfield.
After fooling around on the scout team his freshman year, donning a red shirt, Luke has seen action as a WR in seven games this year.

He does not show up in the statistics. He does not show up on the two-deep depth chart.
His value so far has been working with the scout team, wearing a red baseball cap helping to signal in plays and spelling other WR’s on the field. Coach Brian Kelly knows he has a “quarterback in waiting” similar to John Goodman if the situation turns desperate.

We are going to keep our eyes on him, we like what we see. Luke’s a Notre Dame man. He's contributing any way he can.

Luke is enrolled in the Mendoza College of Business.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

A Riddle Wrapped In A Mystery Inside An Enigma

2011-12-02T17:05:00.000-05:00

Theo Riddick Kick Off Return

To steal from Sir Winston Churchill.

Looking back at the play of Theo Riddick this year he appears to fit Churchill’s famous phrase quite nicely.

He won the kick return, punt return, and WR positions at the start of the season.

He started nine games at WR, was out with a hamstring injury for two, and participated in the Stanford game but did not start.

Theo lasted all of two punt return attempts. Both infamous and memorable in the USF game. Two for two yards plus a fumble and one of the two was a muff he recovered.

He was used eight times in three games at kick-off returning for 166 yards.

As a wide receiver Theo caught 36 passes for 429 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those TD’s were in the MSU game. A game looking back I don’t know how we won. His best game was against AFA where he racked up eight receptions for 83 yards and his third TD.

His rushing yards were 6 carries for 27 yards. In the Stanford game he earned six of those yards in four carries. The other two rushes were reverses/end a round.

When all said and done, I’m sure Theo would agree that a number of experiments did not work out. This includes his efforts being less than a 100% at running back in the Stanford game. I’m not sure why Coach Brian Kelly did not utilize either George Atkinson or Cam McDaniel in the Stanford beating.

Here’s hoping Theo can find himself in the Champs Bowl and next year.

Here’s hoping Brian Kelly can figure out how best to use Theo’s speed and talent.

BTW. The phrase originated from a statement made by Churchill in 1939 about what role the Soviet Union might play in WWII.

“I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigna, but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.”

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Is 8-4 Better Than 7-5?

2011-11-27T12:09:00.001-05:00

If you say Yes, then you have to agree that the Irish have improved over last year and that the Football Program is headed in the right direction? It sure is a mixed bag and a vexing question with no easy answers.

It appears that Head Coach Brian Kelly cannot escape a quarterback controversy. Who will start in the Bowl Game? Will spring training be an open quarterback competition? It is pretty much assured that Dayne Crist barring any quarterback injuries in the above assumed Bowl Game is finished playing football for Notre Dame. What about recruit Gunner Kiel on the outside looking in? He has to be pleased with what he sees as a great opportunity to play for the Irish. One he did not anticipate when he erred in verbally committing to Indiana early this fall. I blame Jimmy Clausen. If Jimmy had not performed his ill-timed jump to the NFL and stuck around to play for Kelly, none of this would have happened. What if Golden Tate had said, yeah, I’m going to stick around too.

Oh well, this quarterback business will keep all the message boards and media in speculation fodder until the starting quarterback is announced next fall.

Wow. I never thought I would miss Braxton Cave and Jonas Gray. Those two injuries hurt more than all the other player injuries combined this year. Their play against Stanford was sorely missed.

A lot of folks complained about Notre Dame Stadium’s natural grass this year and at times it was pretty bad. However it played like the 18^th fairway at Augusta National compared to the embarrassment Stanford calls a football field. Talk about home field advantage. They knew better than to cut and weave and instead tried to run North and South. The Irish never did figure that out.

I guess a less than 100% Theo Riddick was better than a 100% George Atkinson III. George went missing from the Irish backfield. Kelly had said GAIII and Cam McDaniel would see playing time spelling Cierre Wood. Riddick looked as if he was still favoring the hamstring injury.

Looking at Andrew Luck’s statistics and play, I’d say once again, Notre Dame has unintentionally helped a Heisman Trophy Winner clinch the award.

People living in glass houses don’t throw stones. Although the Irish ran on the field twice this year sporting some unusual uniforms and helmets, at least they didn’t have small, tiny names on the back. Stanford should start a tradition and save those "All Cardinal" colored uniforms and black helmets for “worthy opponents”. Maybe someday we will be worthy enough for Stanford to wear them against us.

This being the 12^th and final regularly scheduled game of season last night and listening to all the Kelly bashing, I would have to say the Team let Kelly and his staff down by their play against Stanford. Sure this year you can talk about some of his decisions at playing which quarterback, throwing some players under the bus after USC, ranting on the sidelines, and refusing to correct the punt return game. But against Stanford, a lot of players had games they wished they could replay. If you watched the game you know what I mean.

Well here at Subway Alumni Station, we are the first in yelling:

Go IRISH BEAT FSU.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Black Friday Odds and Ends

2011-11-25T10:44:00.001-05:00

No way in hell am I venturing out shopping or getting in traffic with crazed drivers bent on a bargain.

Got involved with a movie and forgot all about the Texas and T A&M shootout Turkey night. No big deal, all those state of Texas fans kind of remind me of Black Friday Shoppers anyway. What did strike me funny as I read the paper was the fact that the rivalry will end this year with A&M going to the SEC. Texas gave the answer that their future schedules are full through 2018. I googled up the Texas football web site and checked out their future schedules and noticed two things. They have already included Notre Dame in 2015 and 2016. They still show playing A&M the last game of the season as usual year after year. So who did Texas add? They had better update their schedules as it looks to me as sour grapes by Texas and the Big 12 against A&M.

Here’s hoping the Irish do not turn the ball over Saturday. If they are lucky enough to get a turnover from Stanford, they had better convert it into a touchdown. The Tree does not give up many gift horses.

Well down here in Florida, the media has finally picked up on the Urban Meyer rumors of him going to Tattoo U and coach football. Yeah, what did happen to spending quality time with the family and his mysterious illness? Hmmmm. One coach gets well (Meyer) and another gets treatable lung cancer (Paterno). You got to wonder eh? Wonder how many Irish fans still want a coach that leaves a program in a talent decline but claims burnout, family concerns, health. If he’s done that once would he do it at Notre Dame?

I think every Irish fan realizes that our Team is better than 8-3. Could we make it 9-3 and then 10-3? Would that be a successful season? How about losses to Stanford and probably a FSU in Orlando. 8-5, same as last season. Would that be considered successful? No improvement even with a tougher schedule? A step back? It will be fun and interesting to see how this plays out.

A number of pundits say we should be 10-1 right now except for two fumbles (Jonas Gray and Dayne Crist). A group of Brian Kelly haters blame him for Gray’s fumble against USF [Need to teach runners how to carry the football] and Crist’s fumble against UM, [Should have put Hendrix in, stupid play to call]. I have a difficult time blaming Kelly. My only complaint against him was the call for a freshman quarterback to pass instead of taking the field goal against Tulsa.

After some discussion here at The Station we have decided to pull the plug on “Gipper’s Blackboard” after the Stanford game. We started it up just before the start of the season and have 26 posts, 20 by me. We only signed up 14 members and only three chipped in now and then. Pretty dismal. Thanks Tulsairish, Grim Jack, and Kreyfish34 for your support.

Getting back to the bitchers and Kelly bashers. I sometime suspect they would be out for Knute Rockne’s head after his first year at Notre Dame (1918, 3-1-2 record). Or Frank Leahy’s 1950 season going 4-4-1 after winning the NC in 1949 with a 10-0-0. It is starting to get tedious reading their rants and not worth the cheap entertainment anymore.

Talk about dismal. Take a look at the injury list on the left side of the Blog. And that's just what we can gleem from stories and tweets.

Here is something nice from the South Bend Tribune. Geat story. Read it here.

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving and gave some time to give true thanks.

Go IRISH, Beat the Cardinal (or is it Tree)?
Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Brian Kelly Pulling a Hare Out of His Bonnet

2011-11-22T12:52:00.000-05:00

Head Notre Dame Football Coach Brian Kelly needs to pull a rabbit out of the hat. Actually a number of rabbits. Are there enough hiding in the hat and can Kelly figure out how to pull them out? He must prepare the Team and game plan worthy of a true Notre Dame Football Coach. An awful lot of Notre Dame Subway Alumni are watching, waiting and counting on him.

*** Who is going to backup Cierre Wood at tailback? George Atkinson III or a hamstring gimpy Theo Riddick? Who will pop out of the hat?

*** If quarterback Tommy Rees is unable to find receivers open when Stanford drops eight and even nine into coverage will he throw Picks, run slowly for his life, run to the sidelines, or throw the ball out of bounds? Which course of action will come out of the hat? What can Kelly do to prevent this from happening again?

*** Will Kelly pull Andrew Hendrix out of the hat to force the Stanford defense to play fair and defend the run? While Rees has poise and game experience savvy he cannot throw deep, run well or make good decisions concerning slinging the ball into double coverage.

*** Will Kelly dig deep into the top hat and pull a “Leprechaun” series of plays involving Riddick or John Goodman taking snaps to help take pressure off Rees?

*** Who will Kelly utilize to patch up a injury decimated Team and one that is also hobbled, sick, and lame?

*** Can he correct a kickoff problem in which the Irish defense is forced to defend from the 40 yard line.

*** An injured Jonas Gray made an emotional locker room speech after the Boston College game. Will Kelly needs have Jonas speak to the Team in the visitor’s locker room at Stanford either before or at half time. Quite a trick if he can pull it off.

A couple things are clear, Tommy Rees cannot play like he did against Boston College for the Irish to have a ghost of a chance. The Irish cannot come out flat like aginst USF or BC. Not against Stanford.

Kelly needs to find a way to keep Stanford from doing what most teams lately have defensively thrown up against the Irish. It has become fashionable on passing downs to drop seven, eight, and even nine defenders into coverage to blanket Kelly’s spread passing offense. This is even more critical with the loss of Jonas Gray.

For the Irish, this game Saturday against Stanford is the closest they are going to get to a BCS game. Kelly has a lot rabbits to pull out of his hat and the Team needs to dig down deep into a gut check and PLAY LIKE CHAMPIONS TODAY.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Got something to say? Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Decisions That Are Coming Back To Haunt ND’s Brian Kelly

2011-11-20T10:38:00.000-05:00

Special Teams Coaching

While the Irish have long given up in developing a punt return game, these two years in a row now of dismal performances are embarrassing.

The kickoff aspect of special teams has faltered as well. Against Boston College, Kyle Brindza winged one kick toward the sideline only to have a BC return guy snatch it before it went out of bounds. Later Brindza would kick TWO out of bounds giving BC the ball at the 40 yard line. Brindza has kicked off 66 times so far for a 65.3 net yard average, with FOUR OB’s and ten TB’s. Looking at last year, David Ruffer kicked off 65 times for a 64.3 net yard average with two OB’s and ten TB’s. So where is this great leg brought in early to improve the kicking game? Better yet, where is the Special Teams coach to nurture it? Hire one now.

Theo Riddick to WR

Theo flunked punt returns. This year he has 34 receptions for 362 yards and 3 TD’s ranking him fourth on the team. Robby Toma in very limited action has 15 receptions, almost halving Riddick’s total. Riddick needs to be moved back to tailback where things are getting a little dicey. See below.

Playing Time

Notre Dame has played four games that were basically over at half time. Purdue 38-10, AFA 59-33, Navy 56-14, MD 45-21. You could even throw in MSU 31-13 to some extent. So we are down to one tailback and how many game reps has George Atkinson III gotten? 9 for 23 yards. Another freshman Cam McDaniel is 3 for 13 yards.

At quarterback everyone has been waiting for Andrew Hendrix in the easy wins or even some time for Dayne Crist. Hendrix has participated in the AFA, USC, and MD games. Crist has been in the USF, Purdue, USC and Navy games. If Tommy Rees goes down again, it will look like the Chinese fire drill during the USC debacle all over again.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Cam Roberson Update

2011-11-18T11:47:00.001-05:00

Cameron Roberson - Tailback

We here at Subway Alumni Station try to stay abreast of injuries and status of rostered players. You can check out what we know on the left side of the Blog. If the Notre Dame Athletic Department would only grant us press credentials!! Oh we could do such a much better job of keeping all you Subway Alumni informed on a variety of topics that the local media fail to report or are interested in writing about.

Finally a reporter asked about Cam Roberson. Remember him? Cam a redshirt freshman starting his second year and spring training this 2011 eager to compete for tailback against Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray for playing time. On the very first practice with full pads he goes down with what turns out to be a full LCL tear and a partial ACL tear. Those are very bad knee injuries and bad juju.

Just as a reminder, Cam ran for 1,452 yards on 226 carries and scored 18 touchdowns for Newbury Park CA in 2008. He had 29 receptions for 279 yards and three more scores. His best running game was 279 yards and he had two games of more than 200 yards rushing.

Reporter: Cam Roberson we haven’t asked you about him for a while. How is his rehab coming?

Coach KELLY: It’s been a slow process and it will continue to be. He’s moving around a little bit. He’s not going to be able to practice this year for us, but certainly it’s a long, long road for him.

Wow. We don’t claim any prizes for brilliance here at SAS, however reading between the lines and trying to decipher “coach speak” this is not good for Cam.

Two pieces of advice from someone who is not/has not walked in your moccasins Cam.

*** Give it everything you got to come back physically.

*** Get the best possible education you can out of NotreDame.

If anybody is passing by the Grotto, light a candle for Cam, say some prayers and send us the bill.

Hang in their Cam!

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Got something to say? Hey come on! Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

If You Plan On Attending The Notre Dame vs. Boston College Game, November 19, 2012

2011-11-15T10:44:00.000-05:00

you are a diehard football traditionalist.

you like the look of natural grass.

you don’t like commercials mixed in with instant replays.

you don’t care to view advertisement signs and billboards for Sirius, Sprint, Coke, et al.

you don’t like blaring music and obnoxious PA system announcers.

you don’t need a wall of flashing lights telling you when to cheer, clap, stand, sit, or shut up.

THEN

take a good long look around Notre Dame Stadium, because change is in the wind. Between hints and comments from Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick and Head Coach Brian Kelly all indications are that field turf and a Jumbotron are in the works. It may be the last time you get to enjoy a football game the way Stagg, Rockne and all the rest saw it coached and played. You saw or heard a taste of it at FEDEX Field last week and heard the beginning of it during the USC game. Music, uniforms, wall of lights/video, plastic and rubber grass, it’s a coming.

Our feelings have been well documented here at Subway Alumni Station:

Read Traditionalism Here.

To steal from Margaret Mitchell, it appears that Notre Dame traditional football is gone with the wind.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Got something to say? Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Sunday Morning Musings From Saturday Night

2011-11-13T11:30:00.000-05:00

Moth Balls

They can wrap up the green jerseys, bright gold pants, flesh colored undershirts, and gaudy helmets until Soldiers Field and the Hurricanes next year. If they store them with moth balls maybe no one will want to wear them.

Numbers

The Irish sell-out Notre Dame Stadium at 80,795 every home game. This "home game" at FedEx Field was a different breed of Turtle. 91,704 seats to fill and they only could get 70,251 to show-up. Does this “home game” go against the consecutive sell-out streak?

Hurry up already

The Irish offensive tempo was just super. Guess Tommy Rees and the offense are starting to click. He looked poised and in control.

Limited Duty

Manti Te’o started at ILB but was not very effective and was eventually pulled and replaced by sophomore Kendall Moore. Manti had 4 tackles and at times appeared to be slowed and out of position by his ankle injury. Moore ended up with 4 tackles himself and looked very good.

Fumble!!

George Atkinson III was credited with a fumble, his second or third returning kick-offs.

Spread the wealth

No one had more than six tackles on defense (Gary Gray and Danny Spond) and 7 different receivers caught passes.

Did not see action

DE Chase Hounshell nursing a shoulder injury although cleared to play did not get in the game.

One pain tolerant dud

DE Aaron Lynch hobbled with an ankle injury where in the Wake Forest game he limped-hopped off the field twice, limped off again in the Maryland game. But once again Lynch came back in and harassed the quarterback and made 5 solo tackles. To top it off he was held on almost every play.

Theo who?

Robby Toma getting his first start at WR had 7 catches for 73 yards in place of Theo Riddick who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Not fair

It was pretty clear that Notre Dame had the game well in hand and controlled the outcome early. So why didn’t senior Dayne Crist see any playing time? His last chance will be the Boston College this Saturday. It’s senior game, Brian Kelly should start Crist.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Got something to say? Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

JoePa Memorial

2011-11-10T09:59:00.000-05:00

In Memory of JoePa, PSU updated his statue outside the Stadium.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE VICTIM CHILDREN

Jonas Gray of Notre Dame

2011-11-09T08:08:00.000-05:00

#25 Jonas Gray

Check out his arms and biceps. Look at his calf muscle protruding.

Duh, you can’t arm tackle this dude.

Without getting obscene or personal, you’d almost like to see Jonas in an athletic speedo just to note his thigh muscles. He can at times run like a man possessed.

I picture myself rushing to tackle Jonas head-on and it really turns into a painful nightmare.

Charlie Weis could never convince Jonas to run North and South. Somehow Brian Kelly go him to quit going East and West and start hitting linebackers and safeties. The cornerbacks pretty much are afraid of him.

Wish he was coming back next year.

This lad can make it in the NFL.

Side note: Nice tat on Trevor Robinson.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Got something to say? Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Battle of the Uniforms

2011-11-08T12:20:00.000-05:00

Well it’s official for the Irish. Kelly green jerseys, bright gold pants and new shiny helmets with a big green shamrock on the sides and a leprechaun slapped on the back for good measure. Even new fancy gloves.
What it takes to motivate kids these days to play football. Check it all out Here.

Now what is Maryland going to wear to upstage the Irish?

More importantly, what is Maryland going to do on the field to upset the Irish? Not much, they are full injuries, coaching problems, and nothing to play for but a butt-whipping from the Irish.

Tough game to call since a strange team took the field in the first half against the Deacon Demons. It reminded me of a problem Lou Holtz had in getting his teams ready against an inferior opponent. His teams had the tendency to play to the level of the opposition. As a fan it was most frustrating because you knew the Irish were so much better.

Can Head Coach Brian Kelly (no relation to the color) wake his team up? (It took a half-time locker room chat last week)

Can Quarterback Tommy Rees quit throwing picks? (We doubt it)

Can Defensive Coordinator Bob Diaco hobble together a defensive front seven smitten by injury? (Good luck)

Can the Irish out-fashion the Terrapins? (Not likely from what we’ve seen this year coming out of College Park)

We would really like to see a blow-out early and get Dayne Crist going in the 3^rd quarter and Andrew Hendrix running in the 4^th.

This game and next week will be the best chances for the younger guys and walk-ons to see action. Sure hope the Irish come out strong and keep it that way.

Go IRISH Beat the Turtles.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Got something to say? Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Road Trip Home Game

2011-11-08T07:33:00.000-05:00

HOME SWEET HOME?

Notre Dame versus Maryland – Saturday, November 12, 2012.

Who was the moron that thought this up concept? Play a home game at a neutral site? We can’t get teams to come to South Bend for a one-game series anymore?

Neutral? The Maryland campus is 20 miles from FedEx Field. The football team, support staff, band, camp followers can be there in 30 minutes.

What the advantages???

** We get to wear our home uniforms. Actually ‘special’ uniforms and shamrock blazon helmets again. However, we could wear them at home as well. As an added attraction, Maryland is going to wear some crazy god awful football uniform as well.

** The Notre Dame band will be there. Of course we miss all the band game day activities that they do back on campus.

** The majority of tickets are reserved for the Irish faithful. A lot of east coast subway alumni who could never make it to South Bend can see their favorite team play in Maryland.

** Potential recruits can see the Irish play. Although the coaching staff is prohibited for having contact with any of them and this is not considered an official or unofficial visit by NCAA rules. You would think recruits would be more interested in participating in the one official visit allowed by touring the campus and watching a game from the Team sidelines.

What are the disadvantages???

** Difficult and expensive for the Notre Dame students to travel to Maryland.

** Prohibitive cost for Team, coaches, staff, cheerleaders and band in traveling.

** Tremendous loss of revenue from parking, bookstore (estimated game day sales are a million bucks), stadium concessions (non-profits are the majority of the employees), alumni club store in the JACC, students who sell food on the Quad, and all the area businesses.

Guess it evens out since next year we play Miami at Soldiers Field in Chicago, not exactly a neutral site for the Hurricanes. But who has ever cared about them anyway?

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Got something to say? Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Why Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o Will Return For His Senior Year

2011-11-06T11:18:00.000-05:00

Te'o - High School

The pundits, NFL analysts, bloggers, and Irish fans everywhere are starting to ask if Manti Te’o will return to anchor the defenses for his final year.

Of course he will oh ye of little faith.

Although the tom-toms are beating strongly that Manti will be drafted in the first round along with Michael Floyd it makes perfect sense for him to stay at Notre Dame.

** His family and friends want him to complete what he started, his education.

** He has to decide on taking a mission for his Mormon faith.

** His best friend WR Robby Toma will still be at Notre Dame in 2012, going to class and playing football.

** Manti’s best year is still ahead of him. He’s still learning and mastering the middle of the field.

** While he is being considered and in the running for almost every award and recognition, he will be in a much better situation next year to run the table on defensive awards.

** He still has things to prove to himself. 87 tackles this year through9 games, 133 last year and 52 his freshman year.

** The most compelling reason is that he has been playing through an ankle injury which has slowed him down considerably. Manti Te’o comes from a very proud heritage, culture, and family. He’ll be back to finish what he started.

Te'o - College

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Got something to say? Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Wake Forest Factoids

2011-10-31T19:56:00.000-04:00

Wake Forest was founded as a private Baptist school in 1834. It started out on a 600 acre plantation in Wake County North Carolina in an area called Forest of Wake. So now you have how they got their name.

Notre Dame was founded as a private Catholic men’s school in 1842. They are not called South Bend.

The current President of Wake Forest is Dr. Nathan O. Hatch a former provost and professor of history at the University of Notre Dame. Mmmm. Guess you know how this matchup came about.

Exciting, wild and crazy Wake Forest event: In the predawn hours of April 18, 1978, students affixed a large Mickey Mouse to the 10-foot diameter clock face of Wait Chapel facing the Quad. Wow, those wild and crazy Baptists!

When the Demon Deacons pull off a major athletic feat, the students “Roll the Quad”.

We suspect they have never been around Notre Dame tailgating. They will get their wish next year.

Originally, Wake Forest’s athletic teams were known as the Fighting Baptists. However, in 1923, after a particularly impressive win against the Duke Blue Devils, a newspaper reporter wrote that the Deacons “fought like Demons” giving rise to the current name, Demon Deacons. Thus the name eventually stuck. Too bad, we would rather have the matchup: Baptists and Irish Fight.

The Wake Forest undergraduate population is 4,564. Gee when was the last time we played a non-academy school with a student population that small?

The venue, BB&T Field seats 31,500. Wow, Cartier Field holds more doesn’t it?

Oh well. Here Goes. Go Irish! Beat the Demon Deacons.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Got something to say? Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Ethan Johnson and His Nagging High Ankle Sprain

2011-10-31T11:53:00.000-04:00

Denard Robinson Meets Ethan Johnson

Trying to keep up with Team injuries is a losing proposition. Coach Brian Kelly only reports the obvious and if the reporters are not smart enough to ask during the infrequent press conferences, a lot goes unsaid. You have to respect coaches that keep key injuries close to the vest for fear of giving an advantage to the other team.

We try and keep up with injuries on the left side of the Blog. It’s never fun posting those, especially when it involves a starter.

Defensive end Ethan Johnson went down early in the Purdue game on October1st with what was originally reported as a knee injury. Turned out to be a “High Ankle Sprain”. Ouch, that type injury can linger worse that a low ankle strain.

We called in our Physical Therapist expert Alex Brenner to give us the low down on high ankle sprains. (Sorry bout the pun)

Alex has over 15 years of physical therapy experience in the military, private clinics and the U.S. Public Health Service. He is rated as a DPT, Doctor of Physical Therapy. Alex jumped on the Red Line and came right over.

High Ankle Sprain

Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries seen in sports medicine. A high ankle sprain is a little bit different than usual ankle sprains seen on the playing field. Most ankle sprains involve the ligaments that run along the side of the ankle and foot but a high ankle sprain involves the ligamentous structure between the two lower leg bones called the syndesmosis or syndesmotic membrane. A high ankle sprain involves more of a rotation injury of the ankle versus an inversion type of mechanism. This rotation causes a tear to the sydesmotic membrane between the two bones.

Rehab considerations are not too different from a normal ankle sprain meaning that they are treated relatively the same. The big difference between the two types of ankle sprains is the healing time. A high ankle sprain takes longer to heal and it is not unheard of that these types of injuries can be nagging throughout an entire season. I remember a few years ago the Tight end for Baltimore Ravens, Todd Heap, suffered a high ankle sprain and it limited him the entire 16 weeks of the NFL season. Depending on severity of a normal ankle sprain, these usually heal within 2-3 weeks. A syndesmotic ankle sprain can last 4-6 weeks, depending on the severity. They unfortunately heal much slower.

Notre Dame Kicker Gone Missing

2011-10-30T17:30:00.000-04:00

Milk Carton Poster Boy Nick Tausch

Junior Notre Dame kicker Nick Tausch out of Jesuit High School in Plano Texas has not kicked a football for the Irish this year. We thought he would get a chance in either the Air Force game or the blow-out last Saturday against Navy. In the AFA game Head Coach Brian Kelly did send in walk-on senior Mike Grieco to kick an extra point as a reward for being a loyal and dedicated member of the Team. Kelly also opted to work through David Ruffer's shaky start this year and did not call on Tausch.

During 2010 Nick had lost his starting role and was 1/1 in field goals, kicking a 34 yarder while Ruffer was 18/19 and 37/40 on PATs. Nick kicked off 8 times and averaged only 55.4 yards compared to Ruffer’s 65 kicks averaging 64.3 yards including 10 touchbacks.

During pregame warm ups before the Pittsburgh game in 2009 then freshman Tausch came up lame and could not play. He had been 14-17 in field goals and 27/30 for PATs. David Ruffer kicked a 42 yard field goal but missed a PAT in relief and took over the kicking duties. Nick and David were in a basic dead heat with kick-offs. Tausch 65 kicks averaged 61.8 yards with no touchbacks or out of bounds. Ruffer also kicked off 65 times averaging 62.1 yards, two touchbacks and two going out of bounds.

Thus far in 2011freshman Kyle Brindza has kicked-off 48 times, averaging 66.2 yards with 9 TB’s and 2 OBs.

So where is junior Nick Tausch? Wearing a redshirt?

Kelly does not have a verbal commitment for a kicker in the 2012 recruitment class thus far. There may be some walk-on deals that are not public knowledge. Ruffer is a fifth year senior earning a scholarship for this his last year.

Brindza was brought in as a kicker and punter. His punting skills were not good enough to beat out sometime erratic Ben Turk. What Kyle can do kicking field goals is unknown.

Tausch is on scholarship and a possible added year of eligibility would/could be a good thing.

The Sweetness of Revenge ????

2011-10-28T11:23:00.000-04:00

There are other persons I would rather be than a Naval Academy Football Player come this Saturday in Notre Dame Stadium.

Case in point.

** Last year Navy humiliated the Irish.

** Last week the 9 point underdog USC humiliated the Irish.

** This past week the press humiliated Coach Brian Kelly for quitting against USC.

** Former Notre Dame players and alumni called out the Team for playing poorly and humiliated them for lack of leadership especially by the seniors.

** ND Nation has risen up with torches, pitch forks, and rails against the humiliation in the Stadium involving trash music, towels, and the prospect of a Jumbotron.

Navy will get their yards running and passing. Just keep them out of the end zone.

Run and pass the ball against Navy at will. Pound them. Sink them. The heck with the score.

Show no mercy Lads. Heck no one has shown you any this past week.

This Injury Hurts And No Pun Intended

2011-10-26T11:27:00.000-04:00

The loss of defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore to a detached medical collateral ligament for the season really hurts. Kapron is the sixth Notre Dame player lost for the season and the first starter. (The injury list is on the left side of the Blog)

How critical?

Kapron started all seven games and was 6^th in tackles with 32.

The other four defensive ends have a total of 42 tackles.

Tuitt – 16

Lynch – 13

Johnson – 9

Hounshell – 4

Glass half-full? Silver lining? Kapron although a senior has a year of eligibility left and could be ready for spring ball.

Go IRISH! Depth Charge the Sailor Boys.

Notre Dame Makes Pact With Devil (Sirius SM)

2011-10-25T15:17:00.000-04:00

Well another freebie snatched away in the name of the almighty $$$.

On the University of Notre Dame Athletic Website until recently you were able to open up video’s of player interviews, coach interviews, view clips of practices, and watch all Coach Brian Kelly’s interviews. Got some great material for posts.

Well a couple of weeks ago ND redesigned the website and setup a deal with Sirius XM Video Channel. Never saw or heard this coming. Now you have to subscribe for $14.95 a month to watch what used to be free. It’s bad enough with all the advertising on the website, now you got to pay. What will be next Howard Stern interviewing Jack Swarbrick and Father Jenkins?

No thank you Notre Dame and Sirius. Keep your videos.

Notre Dame Kick-Off Return Specialist George Atkinson III

2011-10-25T12:13:00.000-04:00

Congratulations George Atkinson III for your second kick-off return for a touchdown.

George is ranked 9^th and has returned kick-offs in six games for a total of 19 times, 577 yards, 2 touchdowns and averaging 30.37 yards per return.

The national leader is from Texas, Fozzy Whittaker who in six games and only returning 8 kicks for 372 yards, has 2 touchdowns, averaging 46.50 yards per return.

George we will be watching for number three against Navy.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Thrown Under the Bus

2011-10-25T11:46:00.000-04:00

Bump, clunk, flop, folks are jumping and falling off the Notre Dame bandwagon in droves. We here at the Station are fully involved in supporting our Irish lads and the entire coaching staff. It is rather disappointing to read some of the bulletin boards and websites gouging Head Coach Brian Kelly. Kelly is taking hits from running out of toilet paper in the stadium restrooms to overzealous ushers asking fans to sit down.

Here is the official Subway Alumni Station position.

Coaches discuss players’ actions in three places.

** The Locker room

** In the privacy of the coaches office

** In the film room

Excerpts from Sunday October 23 teleconference with the media:

Q. I know last night you mentioned you weren't going to fall on the sword, and I know people interpret that in a lot of different ways. How do you hope your players interpret that? What do you hope that that does to them?

COACH KELLY: Well, we always have the conversations first before I talk to you guys. You get it second. My conversation with our football team is what we talk about in the locker room, and then it's left for you guys to interpret any way you want. My players know exactly how I feel. There is one thing we don't have a problem with is communication. It's really clear with our guys as to what my feelings are after a game, what my expectations are of our football team, and we never put the loss squarely on one or the other. It's a team loss; I lost; our players lost. The specifics of that stay within the locker room.

Q. Cierre (Wood) has been pretty consistent for you this year. Last night was not one of those times. When did you say to him after the game? This was a big moment for him, USC, game day captain, all that?

COACH KELLY: He didn't live up to the expectations that we have for our players at Notre Dame. He's got to find himself and put himself in a position where he can be his best when his best is needed.

Q. Obviously putting Dayne (Crist) back in there and seeing him fumble like that, do you have to worry at all about maybe his mental makeup going back in there knowing he just got that one opportunity and it kind of went the other way on him?

COACH KELLY: No, I don't have to worry about it, he does.

New Jersey's For Crist and Wood

What Kelly said in answering those three separate questions was wrong. He basically threw Wood and Crist under the bus. The Head Coach always takes the blame and hands the accolades to the team and individual players. Same thing in business if you want to prosper. Same thing in the military for the leaders. I still remember the phrase, “the commander is responsible for everything his unit does or fails to do.”

Now we watched the game and saw the replays just like you did. It is no one’s fault but Dayne Crist’s for the fumbled snap. It is Cierre Wood’s fault that he failed to catch the backwards pass and compounded failure of not recovering or knocking it out of bounds. They both have been schooled, practiced and trained in what to do. Kelly can’t be out on the field to do it for them. He didn't tell the media anything they didn't already know.

Brian Kelly is very passionate. Football is his life. We still support him and see great things in the future for the Irish. We are going to quit reading from all the 20-20 hindsight, Monday morning quarterbacks out there in ND Nation and the media.

For most of the Team, this will be the end for them unless they also go into coaching. If they do, hopefully they won’t throw anyone under the bus.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Got something to say, check out and join our Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Notre Dame Rally Towel

2011-10-23T15:02:00.000-04:00

Wonder what those towels looked like that the Irish fans were waving Saturday night?

Silver Lining after a Terrible Whipping

2011-10-23T11:19:00.000-04:00

** Brian Kelly did not have the Irish sport the green jerseys.

** The gold shiny helmets looked nice.

** Lane Kiffin did not try and score on USC’s final drive. (Mark Dantonio would have tried)

** See previous post points.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Wrong Flag in the Pile – ND 17

2011-10-23T09:44:00.002-04:00

Except for ……………

Kyle Brindza doing a stalwart job on kick-offs.

Tyler Eifert catching 7 passes for 66 yards in heavy traffic.

Ben Turk averaging 42 yards on punts.

Harrison Smith making 14 tackles (7-7)

George Atkinson running one back for 96 yards.

David Ruffer making all his kicks.

Gary Gray making 12 tackles (7-5).

……….the wrong flag is stuck in the pile.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Gunner Kiel Has Second Thoughts

2011-10-22T08:52:00.003-04:00

Well apparently high school quarterback Gunner Kiel has come to his senses and decided Indiana was not the right fit for him. Read about it Here. Is Indiana the right fit for anyone wanting to play football? We mocked his choice and thought process Here.

Gunner is one of about 50 recruits (about half are juniors) visiting Notre Dame this weekend. His visit is unofficial but should prove interesting.

The Irish have 16 verbal 2012 recruits on the books. A couple are still visiting other schools such as Ronald Darby. You can view the current recruit crop on the left side of the Blog. There is room for only 5 - 6 more. The tall pole in the tent is the long list of 5^th year seniors who will be eligible to return if approved by the University. A lot will be written about that situation when the season is over and before national signing day. Some tough choices.

Anyway, is Kiel the right fit for Brian Kelly and his spread offense in which the quarterback is required to be mobile and run the ball when necessary? Why do you think Kelly used Andrew Hendrix against Air Force and is redshirting Everett Golson this year?
Gunner Kiel is not the right quarterback. The Irish should pass on him.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

The Demise of Former Notre Dame Quarterback Jimmy Clausen

2011-10-21T07:54:00.002-04:00

Jimmy and his rings

Apparently this is Rivalry or Southern Cal Week.

What to write about? How to chime in?

New gold helmets?

How the Trojans are just calling this another game?

Lane Kiffin bitching about how USC should not have lost last year?

Interesting takes on Southern Cal injuries that they are trying to hide?

Almost all interesting topics have been grabbed by the big guys.

How about the fate of Jimmy Clausen?

Jimmy and his black eye

Some 20-20 hindsight and Monday Morning Quarterbacking for our loyal Subway Alumni Station fans.

A California star that could have gone to Southern Cal just as easily as coming to Notre Dame and be tutored under purported quarterback guru and signal caller maker, Charlie Weis.

Mistakes were made. The typical throwing a freshman to the wolves with no offensive line and no running game hurt Jimmy’s his first year just exactly like it doomed him at Carolina.

Jimmy should never have left Notre Dame after his junior year. 20-20 vision of course is better than avoiding the NFL lockout and learning a new offensive scheme under Brian Kelly.

So what are the facts?

Embarrassingly he was drafted in the second round, # 16 by the lowly Carolina Panthers.

Analysts attributed his slide partly to his cocky demeanor and “persnickety smirkness”.

Four year deal for $4.2 million. $2.53 million guaranteed. Sounds good?

Heisman Trophy Winner Sam Bradshaw inked a 6 year, $78 million, $50 million guaranteed, with options for up to $86 million with the St. Louis Rams.

Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow inked a 5 year, $11.25 million, $8.7 million guaranteed, with options for up to $33 million with the Denver Broncos.

Bad year, bad decision to enter the draft.

Jimmy Clausen is on the Carolina Panther reserve roster. He does not have a jersey. Jimmy is the number three quarterback behind Cam Newton (Heisman Trophy Winner, gee that seems to follow Jimmy) and Derek Anderson.

How did Jimmy end up number three and inactive?

In 2010 he played in 13 games and started in 10. His record was 157 completions out of 299 attempts for 1,558 yards and 3 touchdowns. Jimmy also carries baggage of 9 interceptions, 9 fumbles with 2 lost.

So if Newton or Anderson gets hurt Jimmy can be activated.

After this year he will have two years left on a measly contract and likely will be traded or most likely let go.

Is Canadian football an option? Will another team give him a chance?

Jimmy did go back and get his degree in Sociology from Notre Dame, probably the most important thing he’s got going for himself right now.

Good Lucky Jimmy.

Go IRISH Beat U$C

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Southern Cal Song Girls

2011-10-20T07:09:00.001-04:00

Well I’ll be darn. We are still learnin stuff here at Subway Alumni Station each and every day. Who’d of thought?
Guess what. Southern Cal does not have cheerleaders!! So who are all those people on the sidelines?

They have a co-ed squad of Spirit Leaders who lead in cheers, gymnastics and those sorts of such things.

Spirit Leaders

And they have Song Girls who are basically a dance squad. Stupid us, we have always thought the Song Girls were cheerleaders. Duh.

Song Girls

Learned a bunch of other things as well while doing indepth research.

** Song Girls are the cream of the California beauty crop. Obviously.

** Apparently Hispanics, Oriental, and African Americans either do not attend Southern Cal or they cannot sing, cheer, or dance.

** The Song Girls not only have those short pretty white outfits but also are issued black bikini’s.

Song Girls wearing non-USC colors

** One Song Girl does not know which team she is suppose to root/sing/dance for and as you can see here she is rooting for Texas.

Natalie Cheering for the Long Horns

** Song Girls wear very very short skirts. Sometimes they are not very ladylike in how they sit, stand, dance, lay down or otherwise show themselves.

Skirt Fling I

Please cross your legs

Skirt Fling II

Song Girls doing pushups

Song Girls and the High Kick

** Song Girls sometimes try to fly.

Flying Song Girls

Pantyless Song Girl Cheering to a 3-3 tie

** Sometimes they do dance routines that are kind of weird or kinky.

What the?

Here is a digruntled co-ed that did not get selected to the Spirit or Song squads.

Editors Note: This has been written with tongue-in-cheek and in no way is intended to be malicious. These young women are obviously very pretty, talented, and athletic.

Go IRISH Beat U$C

Who Really is Number 21?

2011-10-19T12:04:00.000-04:00

Found this guy’s picture surfing on Google. Went to the USC official website and the roster lists him as Kyle Prater, 6’ 5”, 215 lbs., RS/FR, WR.

What is " Lame" Kiffin tryin to pull here, a bait and switch?

Who is this goof-ball looking guy?

Go IRISH Beat U$C

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

First Time Jitters - Stage Fright – Too Anxious – Perfect Storm

2011-10-19T11:49:00.000-04:00

USC's Most Famous Alum

Got to thinking about the loss to USF (23-20) and have come to the conclusion that it may have simply been “First Game Jitters” and the perfect storm of one time mistakes.

Dayne Crist – First game since Tulsa. 7-15 -1. He missed some receivers and appeared shaky.

David Ruffer- First field goal attempt for 2011. He missed from 30 yards out.

Theo Riddick – First game attempting to field punts. Fumbled/muffed two, lost one.

Jonas Gray – First real chance to score his first Notre Dame touchdown. Fumbled from the one.

I’m not blaming anyone, including the coaching staff. There was plenty to go around.

Why am I dredging this up during rivalry week? Because none of us here at the Station can think of anything pertinent concerning USC to write.

Go IRISH Beat U$C

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

USC’s Bowl Game – Saturday October 22, 2012

2011-10-17T10:54:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Reggie Bush and Pete Carroll, Southern Cal’s bowl game for 2011-2012 is in Notre Dame Stadium this Saturday night.

What can the Trojans expect?

** A lot of Green. Natural green grass. Green Irish uniforms and 80,000 folks waving green towels. Well an awful lot of rumors have been swirling about concerning breaking out the jinxed green jerseys to break the curse of the Bush Push. Been a lot of talk concerning towels as well. Guess we will find out 7:30 pm EST.

** A national audience eager to see a great matchup but will unfortunately have to listen to Tom Hammond.

** Probably a rambunctious Irish crowd that has been tailgating all day.

** The cream of the 2012 recruiting class standing on the Notre Dame sidelines.

** An Irish Football Team that knows they have to win to get the THEIR Bowl Game.

** A lot of Irish fans sick of hearing from Lane (Lame) Kiffin that USC should have won last year except for a USC receiver falling down or Matt Barkley being unable to play.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Go IRISH!

Notre Dame Stadium Crowd Noise

2011-10-16T11:01:00.001-04:00

No dominate color, only the student section

Last week Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick visited both campus dining facilities and encouraged the students to cheer during the upcoming USC game this week.

“I need your passion,’ he said. “traveling around with our Team, and our stadium is the quietest place we play. I want you guys on that Saturday night at least once to make USC have a false start penalty.”

Obviously Swarbrick is aware of something that has been quite noticeable to anyone who attends a Notre Dame home football game. Maybe he doesn‘t spend all his time in the ND luxury box with the Notre Dame beautiful people, movers and shakers, and invited guest and dignitaries.

Jack let me tell you the problem is not the students. They can get plenty loud when needed and when the time is ripe for noise. In fact, on the other hand, the Administration over the years has encouraged the ushers and security (using binoculars and plain clothes personnel) to spy on the student body and take care of what they consider rowdy individuals. What constitutes rowdiness? One year it was marsh mellow fights. One year toilet paper throwing. Another year tossing oranges around because the Team was going to the Orange Bowl. The ushers and security need to leave the students alone.

The real problem is everyone else. Well then actually who is everyone else?

First. Attending a Notre Dame Football game for many is a once in a lifetime experience. Something like attending a World Series Game or the Super Bowl. An event to remember, an item on the “Bucket List”, something you have always wanted to do. Been there, done it, seen it, type thing.

I go to a home game almost every year, been doing it since 1986. At the MSU game this year, two guys sat down next to me and were not wearing any Notre Dame or enemy apparel. In fact, one guy wore a St. Louis Cardinal sweatshirt. They left at half-time never to be seen again. I heard them commenting that this being their first time on campus and attending a game. I either run across them in the Stadium, tailgating, or in the Bookstore. An awful lot of spectators are once in a life time types and they don’t cheer with the passion of the true fans.

Second. There are a whole lot of “Blue Hairs” that attend games and don’t cheer or yell for the defense to rip someone’s face off and scare them with it. Saw a ton of them at the Michigan game last year and I suspect they will be out in force at the USC game. Many are perennial season ticket holders that save one game to attend and give/sell the rest to first time folks. The Blue Hairs are the ones yelling ”down in front” as well. (Man I hate that) I wish they would just stay home and tend to their gardens or something.

Third. This group are those that sell their season tickets for profit. There are a lot more in this category than Jack would like to admit. Got my MSU tickets from my son who bought them off the internet. On the front of the ticket in red letters, Faculty/Staff use only not for resale. Duh, they get season ticket packages at a $100 discount and resell them at least double face value. The USC tickets are probably going for three or four times that. This is how a lot of the onetime only folks get into the Stadium.

Fourth. These are my favorites, all the season ticket holders in the gold seats. They are the ones that clap politely, the nice crowd folks. They never yell “down in front” because none of them ever stand.

Besides the many spectators who are not true Irish fans and don’t cheer, two architectural issues stand in the way of crowd noise.

· The Stadium does not hold sound. It’s a bowl and the sound simply dissipates up and out.

· There is no Jumbotron. A Jumbotron encourages the crowd to yell or boo and make noise. Go to a Michigan game and listen. Also, I don’t mean what our lame attempt of a Stadium Scoreboard signals with “Make Noise” or DEEEEEFENSE, et al. I just wish they would stop that crap. No we do not need a Jumbotron either, just stating the facts.

So what else can Jack Swarbrick do to get the Blue Hairs, Gold Seaters, and one-time event fans to make noise along with the students? Get them to be part of what is going on.

Kelly Green Notre Dame Fan

Some Easy Stuff:

** Wear Kelly Green and have a Green Out like when PSU wears white and Alabama, Wisconsin, Nebraska wear red.

Penn State White-Out

** Handout Kelly Green pomp-pomps, similar to what most of the SEC teams do.

Maize Out With Pomp Pomps

** Handout Kelly Green towels.

** Figure out how to make NBC happy without all the momentum killing TV timeouts.

** Stop the constant “recognition “crap during every break in the action. (Do it at half-time or before the game)

** Double the size of the cheerleading squad and add a second Leprechaun.

** Get our Band to play the song Gary Owen every time our defense takes the field and when they force the opponent to punt. (Gary Owen is a US Calvary tune, which is actually an Irish ballard. Listen Here.

Noisy Closed, Red Alabama Studium

Some Tough Stuff:

** Move the student body section to right behind the Team. Talk about generating noise.

** Conduct a 100% review and reissue all season tickets. Anybody who has had them for ten years is out of luck. Increase the alumni lottery. All staff and faculty must show ID with their tickets.

** Do away with reserved seating. First come first seated.

** Limit opposing team bands.

Go IRISH! Go NOISE! BEAT USC

October 20, 2001

2011-10-13T13:01:00.002-04:00

10-20-01 the last time the Irish beat USC in South Bend. Bob Davie and his boys did it, 27 to 16.

Coach Brian Kelly has played ten freshmen this year. Those guys were eight years old when Notre Dame pulled off that win. Dang that makes me old too.

All great football programs have their rivalries whether it’s Auburn and Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma, Michigan and Ohio State.

USC is ours.

The Irish are due to start another dominance run against the Trojans.

Between 1983 and 1995 Notre Dame won 11 straight.

Between 2002 and 2009 USC won 8 straight.

Between 2010 and ?? Notre Dame will win ?? straight.

Who could ask for a better setting? The students will be back from break and the entire campus primed for the rivalry. The trees on campus turning into autumn colors. Notre Dame Stadium packed. A night game in prime time. Cool crisp fall weather. Yellow mums set out on both sides in front of the “beautiful people gold seats”. 80,000 crazed fans waving green towels. The Irish running onto the field wearing green jerseys with gold letters.

Man it is going to be electric.

Go IRISH!

Hey, on the left side of the Blog are mug shots of the 15, 2012 recruits thus far. Also a list of recent articles. On the right side is a list of popular posts and the football schedules. Check them all out.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Some Mid-Term Numbers

2011-10-10T19:46:00.000-04:00

Well mid-terms are over for the student athlete Notre Dame football players. Here are some numbers for the mid-term football team.

Rushing ATT YDS AVG

Cierre Wood 113 684 5.8

Jonas Gray 47 407 8.4

Andrew Hendrix 6 111 18.5

Passing ATT Comp INT TOT YDS

Tommy Rees 140 212 6 1503

Dayne Crist 8 16 1 105

Andrew Hendrix 4 4 0 33

Receiving REC YDS AVG

Michael Floyd 53 639 12.1

Tyler Eifert 32 363 11.3

Theo Riddick 24 236 9.8

T. J. Jones 21 229 10.9

Cierre Wood 14 92 6.6

Scoring TD PTS FG PAT

Cierre Wood 6 36

David Ruffer N/A 35 12 23

Michael Floyd 4 24

Jonas Gray 4 24

Tyler Eifert 3 20*

T .J. Jones 3 18

George Atkinson 2 12

Robby Toma 1 6

Tackles UA A TOT

Manti Te’o 34 25 59

Harrison Smith 25 15 40

Robert Blanton 26 13 39

Darius Fleming 10 17 27

Kapron Lewis-Moore 14 12 26

Gary Gray 20 6 26

Carlo Calabrese 11 13 24

Dan Fox 10 13 23

Zeke Motta 6 11 17

Jamoris Slaughter 8 8 16

Lewis Nix 2 11 13

Sacks UA A

Manti Te’o 4 0

Lynch 3 0

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

ND vs. AFA Observations From Afar

2011-10-10T10:41:00.002-04:00

The yellow mums looked awesome in the stadium. Hope they hold up for U$C in two weeks. Somehow I don't think the guys from Colorado Springs noticed.

The weather was spectator for South Bend the first week of October. The 80 degree sunny day allowed for all the students to wear there blue T-shirts at least one more time.

The trees have started to turn and should be out with full force color when the Irish battle the Men of Troy.

So why the disappearing act with Manti Te’o? Coach Brian Kelly conceded at the Sunday teleconference that he dinged his ankle in practice that Wednesday. He was nonexistent in the second half. However Manti still recorded 5 unassisted and 5 assisted tackles against the AFA. We need him and Ethan Johnson back when the Irish take on the under NCAA suspension University of Southern California.

So what was with the AFA kick-off team holding hands and swinging their arms in unison? I suspect that it is part of a called on-side kick play that can be implemented at a time, place and circumstance required. The AFA on-side kick play that was executed was not expected by the Irish and surprise was not required. Don’t expect any of that foolishness from Southern Cal.

Rumor floating around NDNation is to expect 80,000 green towels waving at a green jersey clad Notre Dame Team. Can’t wait. Suspect USC could care less as long as they bring their crappy band and that doubly crappy ditty they insist on playing after every play. At least the Administration has drawn the line on the stupid horse and rider in the stadium.

So did the introduction of Andrew Hendrix wakeup the game film watchers in the darkroom of the Trojan film room? How about Michael Floyd back to receive punts? How about the reverse to Theo Riddick or the neat pitch to Cierre Wood? Or maybe the option toss? You got to love the wrinkles added by Brain Kelly just in time for bye week before the biggest rivalry the Irish have on the schedule.

Head Coach Seattle Sea Hawks

Man. Everyone in the Station is pumped up already.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Lubricate the Trojans

2011-10-09T14:09:00.000-04:00

Now that Air Force has been dispatched our attention turns to U$C.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Hey don't be a chicken. Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Notre Dame Bells

2011-10-07T11:16:00.000-04:00

For whom the bell tolls? Why they toll for thee Notre Dame! These are not the Bells of Saint Mary’s. Rather the death knell of Independent Football for Notre Dame. Can it be possible after all these years?

The death of the Big East Conference (BE). The tall pole in the tent. The one factor that has kept the Irish a national independent football power.

The Big East is flopping around on the boat deck like a tuna just gaffed and thrown on board. Texas Christian University has come to the conclusion that it is cheaper and smarter to join the Big 12 instead of the Big East. Saves time and distance for all its sports. Makes a lot of economic sense/cents. The Big East can’t stop the hemorrhaging from Pittsburgh and Syracuse.

UConn is quietly seeking a way out and into the ACC. West Virginia has already been soundly rejected by the SEC and ACC. East Carolina has petitioned to join the Big East. They bring nothing to the table and actually diminish the sports gene pool. Navy is sniffing around but there is no real advantage over being independent. The Big East has even openly stated they are soliciting membership in a desperate attempt to garner and hold eight football schools together to keep their grip on a BCS spot.

Notre Dame needs the Big East to provide a venue for basketball and Olympic sports. Where will it turn?

Will any conference accept the University minus the Football Program? It is doubtful that the Big Ten would and probably not the ACC. The worst scenario is that the Big 12 may and that is like jumping into a frying pan that is already burning everything in the pan. Turmoil breeding turmoil and no stability. After all they started this last round of conference moves with Nebraska and Texas A & M. Who says Texas won't remain the big bully of the less than Big 12?

The Big Ten is waiting. They are waiting with a heavy boot to stomp on the neck of Notre Dame. They have waited a long time for this to happen especially after getting their faces rubbed in it back in the 1990’s when the Irish rejected the latest offer when the Big Ten added PSU. Notre Dame would be gang raped every time they would open their mouths sitting at the table with those SOBs.

The answer is for the basketball teams of the Big East including Notre Dame to continue on as a basketball conference only. The remaining football schools either go independent or join a lesser conference. But who cares about them? Notre Dame can play and schedule whomever they like for the Olympic sports. Big Ten, MAC, ACC, other small independent schools. Notre Dame Hockey is already joining a separate conference thanks to the Big Ten and its new league play.

This keeps Notre Dame Independent.

For Whom the Bell Tolls? Why yes, it could be chiming for Notre Dame.

We like that.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Hey don't be a chicken. Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Notre Dame Issues at Quarterback on the Horizon?

2011-10-06T11:04:00.003-04:00

Traditionally the open date on the Notre Dame schedule (after six games) is the point where the coaching staff “fish or cuts bait” with the freshman who have not yet seen action. The decision is made to “Red Shirt” a player and save a year of eligibility if he has not seen the field.

This is taking on tremendous meaning and possible long term consequences at the quarterback position.

Senior Dayne Crist who was anointed the starting quarterback for the all 13 games after winning the position in fall practice could petition for a fifth year but was benched after half a game against USF. So far he has gotten in for mop-up duty against Purdue and three plays.

Sophomore Tommy Rees is a work in progress. He is still learning to read defenses and Head Coach Brian Kelly has stated that Rees cannot yet operate a high tempo, no huddle full spread offense. Add the fact he is not a mobile quarterback fitting the quarterback mold that is required and has a short history of turnovers is somewhat discouraging.

Sophomore Andrew Hendrix has yet disappointingly to see action.

Sophomore Luke Massa was officially designated a WR but is working on the scout team as QB and wears a red hat signaling in plays during the game.

Everett Golson apparently is going to be “Red Shirted” this year.

It appears Kelly does not have a quarterback lined up for the recruiting class of 2012.

Will Kelly play Hendrix ahead of Crist? What game? Maryland, Wake Forest, Boston College, mop-up duty? A lot of ‘ifs’ based upon how late Crist got inserted in the Purdue mop-up.

What is the worst case quarterback scenario for 2012?

** Crist takes his diploma and moves on with his life.

** Next spring an unfulfilled Hendrix does not beat out Rees or Golson and takes his two or three years of eligibility somewhere else.

Leaving Rees, Massa and an unproven Golson. Not good.

We expected to see Hendrix in the Purdue game with a special package of plays based upon the score and the domination of the Notre Dame defense. We were fooled. We do not expect to see Hendrix in the AF game but we have been surprised before. A lot depends on how that game unfolds. Maybe when USC comes to South Bend to add to the excitement of Green Jurseys and Green Towel?s

We need a maturing, healthy Tommy Rees and a jump start from Everett Golson next year barring any other scenarios.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

OSU Boosters and Tattoo U

2011-10-05T10:39:00.000-04:00

Well just when we thought it was all over, now we hear that two OSU players already under suspension and scrutiny have been suspended for the Nebraska game. Read the story Here.

Last year leading rusher Daniel Herron and top receiver DeVier Posey were set to be reinstated only to receive an additional suspension along with offensive lineman Marcus Hall. It appears they accepted too much money for too little work during summer jobs. These guys were hired to work at a car wash and to pick up scrap metal. Pick up scrap metal? What the heck does that mean? Also, you are trying to tell me that they also dried off cars at a car wash? Give me a break.

The real issue is not the street thugs who failed to register the summer jobs with the University, but rather the attitude and belief of the Athletic Director, Gene Smith that promotes the idea that OSU does not have a systemic problem.

The real issue is the booster system and turning of a blind eye by the University to all the goings on.

Let’s see………….

** A booster who ran a drug operation out of a tattoo parlor frequently by numerous OSU players that received free and discounted tattoo’s for bringing in OSU sports memorabilia.

** A booster who took a particular liking to Terrell Pryor and provided for him.

** A booster who provided loaner automobiles for tickets.

** A booster who provided summer jobs and “great pay” for who knows what in return.

The OSU Football stinks worse than a fish market.

The OSU AD needs to be fired.

The relationships between “Boosters” and OSU student athletics needs to be reined in and controlled.

The program is out of control and is a disgrace to college football.

Notre Dame Reverse Play

2011-10-04T11:34:00.000-04:00

If you follow Subway Alumni Station (SAS) Blog (and we hope you do), you know that one of our rants is the Irish lack of originality in the running game. Read rant Here. One of our examples is the end around or reverse.

** It gets a swift WR in space.

** It slows down the rush on the quarterback and keeps them honest.

** It works well with a defense trying to defend a spread offense.

** It can be run “naked” without a lead blocker or with a tight end breaking free of his block to lead.

Well Blog fans, Brian Kelly must read our wonderful Blog, we got my wish Saturday against Purdue!

If you missed it or were as open mouth dumbfounded as me, there is what happened:

Fourth quarter, Notre Dame 38 – Purdue 3, ND first and ten on their 45.

WR John Goodman swings around behind Tommy Rees and gets the handoff and runs for two yards before being forced out-of-bounds. No big deal, ND was flagged for a false start.

OK………….

Why was the play called? Look at the score.

Why sure handed, but lead boots Goodman?

Why not Robby Toma, Theo Riddick, or TJ Jones?

Why…………..? What a waste of a great play.

** To let the rest of the schedule know the reverse is actually in the playbook?

** To placate ranting SAS?

** None of the above.

Who knows. At least we know the play is actually in the playbook and practiced.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog.

Notre Dame and Air Force Some Statistics and Rankings

2011-10-03T16:46:00.002-04:00

Dead Falcon

First of all, let’s not get too cocky over zero turnovers in the Purdue game last Saturday.

Case in point:

** Tommy Rees had two passes dropped by Purdue defenders. One might have been a pick-six except the ball hit Purdue DB on the hands.

** Michael Floyd fumbled and recovered the ball after a nice catch.

** Tommy Rees and Jonas Gray fumbled a handoff that was recovered by Rees.

Notre Dame and Air Force are different as night and day. Here are some miscellaneous statistics and rankings that bear this out.

Rushing Offense:

AF ranked 3^rd.

ND ranked 41^st.

Passing Offense:

AF ranked 113^th, 55 for 38, 596 yards, 69.1 completion

ND ranked 21^st, 196 for 125, 1347 yards, 63.8 completion

Net yards:

AF ranked 38^th, 2054 yards, 1458 rushing and 600 passing

ND ranked 15^th, 2245 yards, 898 rushing and 1373 passing

First Downs:

AF ranked 65^th, 93 first downs, 64 rushing, 25 passing, 6 on penalties

ND ranked 3^rd, 130 first downs, 45 rushing, 69 passing, 12 on penalties

Defense by Sacks and Interceptions:

AF ranked 40^th, 10 sacks and 5 interceptions

ND ranked 19^th, 13 sacks and 5 interceptions

Punting:

AF ranked 112^th, 12 for 511 yards and 38.4 net

ND ranked 83^rd, 19 for 708 yards and 37.1 net (Don't be fooled, Ben Turk is getting good/lucky rolls out of his rugby style punting)

Punt Returns: (We already know this is dismal)

AF 4 for 50 yards, 12.5 avg.

ND 10 for 3 yards, .3 avg.

Kick-Off Returns:

AF ranked 77^th, 15 for 361 yards

ND ranked 37^th, 21 for 484 yards (Without George Atkinson’s touchdown run, this stat would be average)

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog. Got something to say, well sign up and say it.

Go IRISH Shoot the Falcons! (Yeah that's not politically correct, so what, it's our Blog)

Spoilermakers Exposed

2011-10-02T09:44:00.004-04:00

Well after Middle Tenn., Southwest Missouri State, Rice, a Bye, Purdue came home to harsh reality and an overpowering Irish defense, some great running and a Tommy Rees who’s only criticism is overthrowing receivers. The Spoilermakers and in danger of losing their historical moniker. Fear not, they play hapless, luckless and worthless Minnesota next week. But after that it gets ugly with games against PSU, IL, MI, Wis, and OSU. We don’t see a bowl game or winning season for these guys.

Some shout-outs in no particular order:Austin Collinsworth – 3 solo tackles, all on special teams.

George Atkinson III – two tackles on special teams.

David Ruffer – Hang in their son. How about kicking more medium range field goals from the left hash mark in practice? Say an extra 10-12.

Michael Floyd – All American. Potential first round draft pick. Great game. Don’t let it go to your head. Stay focused. Good decision on returning for your senior year heh? Too bad Jimmy didn’t.

Ben Turk – Well you only had to punt twice but you averaged 44 yards. Good job.

Theo Riddick – Gone missing at Purdue?

John Goodman – Punt returning can only get better (hopefully).

Kyle Brindza – Ditch the florescent green shoes until you can consistently kick the ball deep into the end zone.

Cierre Wood - Man you are a breath of fresh air for a rushing game that has been missing for so long.

Jonas Gray - Ditto

Jordan Cowart – We all watched as Coach Kelly discussed your personal foul for fighting. Hey, you’re not playing for the “Prayerful Choirboys”. You are playing for THE FIGHTING IRISH. Good job son.

Ethan Johnson - Hope and pray the injury (ankle sprain?) is slight and you're be ready to go against Air Force.

Luke Massa, Matt Mulvey, Kona Schenke, Deion Walker - Congrats on your first playing time.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog. Got something to say, well sign up and say it.

Spoilermakers

2011-09-29T16:06:00.002-04:00

True Boilermakers

Been to West Lafayette once, the town and stadium are difficult to reach and with reported road construction all over the place, I’m watching the game from the comfort of my living room. I can't say I think much of the big drum, the stupid train/whistle or the golden girl. The fans stink too.
Plus, we just relocated the Station to Florida for the fall/winter; it would be a long commute.

When the team sporting the 5^th toughest strength of schedule plays the team having the weakest strength of schedule who is going to win? Purdue has managed to schedule Middle Tenn., Southeast Missouri State, Rice and that dreaded Bye Week U. They could, could be in for a dose of reality and wondering why they don't schedule competition.

So Purdue is coming off that bye-week with plenty of time to prepare for the Irish. What can we expect?

** They will double-team Michael Floyd, they would be stupid not to after watching Pitt and their success.

** Give confusing defensive looks to an easily confused Tommy Rees. Why not, Pitt did and it almost worked.

** Spend little time on defending the Irish punt return game since it is basically self-destructing each week on its own.

** Try and create turnovers or at least stay ahead of the ratio against the Irish.

** Hope that Rees will continue his telegraphing of receivers by staring down his target from the snap.

** Purdue always plays the Irish tough at home, try and capitalize on that. This should be a game where we get to see Andrew Hendrix but I doubt it. I think we will have to wait for Wake Forest at home.

So what are our thoughts about Notre Dame?

** If the Irish have to depend on Kyle Eifert to take up all the slack from the wide receivers, Floyd being double teamed and no vertical passing game, it is going to be a long night.

** If the rushing of Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray are ineffective and the burden is put on Tommy Rees, we are in trouble.

** We are scratching our heads and wondering about the Notre Dame play book and the spread offense.

· Where is the screen play to Wood?

· Where is the reverse to Riddick?

· Where is the double reverse from Jones to Riddick?

· Where is the Leprechaun?

Brian Kelly keeps defending Tommy Rees by stating that they are still installing and feeding offensive plays. Wait a minute this has been going on since after the Tulsa debacle. When is Tommy going to be full?

Go Irish.

NUMBERS

2011-09-24T15:30:00.001-04:00

If you don't understand the problem, then these numbes mean nothing to you.

5-5-3-2

ND – Pitt the Glass is Half Empty

2011-09-23T16:08:00.000-04:00

Well we roll into Pittsburgh Saturday. On paper this is a Team we should easily handle, just like USF. There in lies the rub. What aspect of the Game of Football will the Irish squander or fail to execute? Let’s see…… we have already exposed ourselves by…….

Missing a chip shot field goal.

Shanked a number of key punts.

Blundered through 13 turnovers in three games.

Execute punt returns in a way that defies logic.

Can rip-off 8-14 yard runs but can’t make a third and one.

Being a glass half empty type person I fear the worse……

Our field goal and PAT execution will disintegrate into blocked kicks.

Kickoffs will be short and turn into long runbacks by Pitt.

The defensive line will become porous.

The offensive line will forget how to block.

Something or somebody prove me wrong. I’ll be watching.

Go IRISH Beat Pitt

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog. Got something to say, well sign up and say it.

The Punt Game – A ND Perplexing Dichotomy

2011-09-22T08:44:00.000-04:00

Notre Dame cannot punt.

Notre Dame cannot catch and return punts.

Attestation:

Let us see if we have the numbers straight. Statistics after three games are:

** We have fielded 7 punts for 5 yards for a 0.7-yard average. 2 of the 7 ended up being lost fumbles. Throw in one muff that was recovered and we have caught 4 punts cleanly.

** We have punted 13 times for 471 yards, a 36.2 average, and a 32.0-yard net. Ben Turk is ranked 113 out of 120 with that 32.0 net punting statistic. In his defense, against MSU he punted twice pinning them back inside the 20-yard line, one rolled to the one-yard line. He came through when he was needed. These were rugby style punts that are harder to field but do not give your gunners much time in providing coverage since they are basic line drive punts.

Ben Turk

I studied Ben Turk and Kyle Brindza as they warmed up before the MSU game. Turk would boom one spiral punt and then kind of miss the next one. He was not consistent. Brindza was consistent however; his best punts equaled the ones that Turk kind of missed. The two were not even close or competitive in punting. Brian Kelly has stated that fact over and over again at press conferences.

Kyle Brindza - Plymouth H.S.

I was disappointed in watching Turk. He punted a lot without his helmet and walked around bouncing the football off the ground. Looked kind of cavalier to me. I do not know if that is his pregame ritual or just his style. I was taught you always worn your helmet when you practice, just like in a game situation.

Rumor is that Robby Toma is getting a chance at punt returning. For cryin out loud he can’t do any worse that Theo Riddick or John Goodman. I don’t understand it. You have 85 scholarship players and 20 walk-ons, plus an entire student body and the Irish have no one to field a punt?

Isn’t it a three-step process?

*** Decide to fair catch it or field it.

*** Catch it.

*** Run.

If Brian Kelly decides to revert back to last year and send someone out there to just call a fair catch and hopefully field the ball cleanly we have ceded a big part of Special Teams to the opponent. If that is the case, put NO ONE back and rush 11 at the punter.

Don’t forget to add us to your favorites list: http://subwayalumnistation.blogspot.com

Check out and join our brand new Forum: Gipper's Blackboard here: http://dragonspress.proboards.com/or click on the Blue Button on the top left side of the Blog. Got something to say, well sign up and say it.