Irish Play Wrist Bands and Pads

Coach Brian Kelly had quarterback Everett Golson and his skill players wear play wrist bands for the MSU game.  It was a one game experiment to help build confidence and get the play call into the offense in a timely manner.  It started out slow with a called timeout due to a mix up in reading the bands.  However they ended up working well enough for an Irish 20-3 victory.  Kelly did not continue the wrist band use for Michigan; it is suspected he considers it a crutch and a hindrance to learning.

Here’s a nice catch by T.J. Jones in the Miami rout.

 

Whoa!  What’s he got on his belt?  Looks like a play list.  Never seen one adapted quite that way.

Ex-Irish Coach Holtz On The Hot Seat

No, not Lou, Skippy.  (Skip Holtz was wide receivers coach and Special Teams coach at ND under his father.)

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Skip Holtz in trouble?  Hey, while at USF he has beaten Miami AND Notre Dame.

The problem is Skip hasn’t beaten anyone else.  He has a losing record of 15-16 in this his third year.

After beating Notre Dame or rather watching Notre Dame beat itself last year, the Bulls ended up 5-7.

Skip has lost his last 10 of 11 Big East games and is only 4-12 in the conference.  He had a four game losing streak last year and is suffering through another one this year even as I type.

Things don’t get any easier with Skip and the Bulls headed to take on #18 Louisville this Saturday.

Skip needs to hold on for another year when Pittsburgh and Syracuse head to the ACC.  Gee what the worry?  USF officials this past summer concerned that Skip was getting offer(s) to coach elsewhere EXTENDED his contract.  Who the heck was looking at a 5-7 coach?  That sounds like the same mistake ND made with Charlie Weis that cost them a fortune.

Skip and Lou During Happier Times

 

Yes, Skip played on special teams and was a wide receiver for the Irish.



Notre Dame – Stanford Prediction

Go Irish! Beat the Tree

Goodness sakes that just does not sound right.

Well the Irish are going to win, picking the score is going to be tough.  This is the best team we will have faced to date.  The Tree beat USC, enough said.

First let’s review the results of our prediction versus the Seagulls, a.k.a. Convicts.

Prediction:  Notre Dame 42 – Miami 10

Dang that Cane WR Philip Dorsett!   If the pass thrown on that first play had not hit him squarely on the hands he would have caught it.  Since he couldn’t catch that pass and a couple others, Miami only scored 3 points.  On the other hand, the Irish were right on target with 41.

Final Score:  Notre Dame 41 – Miami 3

Stanford can throw the ball and throw they will.  It’s their best chance of scoring.  Rushing will be tough.  Don’t count out trick plays. 

Our secondary is getting better and if they keep everything in front of them and don’t give up the big plays we have a good chance of pulling this off and going 6-0.  Couple of picks would be nice.  The Irish put enough pressure on Morris to make him scramble alot and throw the ball in the grass.  If that works against Nunes fine, if not, we are going to have to send a linebacker or safety after him.

Our offense has to continue to grow on the ground and I fear Stanford will be a little stouter than Navy and Miami.  Get the ball to George Atkinson III in space, pound with Cierre Wood, make them double up on Tyler Eifert.  Let Everett Golson loose once and awhile.  On the other hand Stanford has the 6th best rushing defense.  Ouch.  Suspect Brian Kelly will abandon the run if it is not clicking early.  Hey you have to go to the opponents weakness.

Irish 28 – The Cardinal 17

If you think the mascot is just a little weird, check out the band.

EX-Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis

 

Well the honeymoon at Kansas is over for Charlie Weis.  You might as well add Dayne Crist too.

Kansas State put a beating on Kansas last Saturday, 56-16.  Kansas is 1-4, having lost four straight after an opening win against South Dakota State, a Division I-AA team.

In the run up to the KS game, Charlie complained that the Jayhawk student newspaper criticized the football team.  He did not gain any friends with that attack on the student rag.  So much for free speech and honest assessment.

It hurt that Charlie lost two he should have won, Rice and Northern Illinois.

Crist threw three picks and fumbled in the Kansas State thumping.  Sound familiar?

Dayne is78 out of 156 for 952 yards, 50% completion, 3 TD’s and 7 INTs.  Those seven picks and only completing half his passes have cost the Jayhawks a number of easy wins.

Speaking of easy, the schedule does not get any better.  Oklahoma State, OK, Texas and Baylor are the next four up.  Charlie gets to finish up against WVU with a two other iffy games sandwiched in between.  1-11 looks like a real possibility.

 

Sorry Charlie

Random Thoughts On The Miami Game

Bet Miami is having second thoughts on buying into a home and home series PLUS playing at a neutral site.  Chicago turned out to be as neutral as Miami playing FSU in Gainesville.  Irish band, 75-85% partisan crowd, 90 miles from South Bend and having to wear away uniforms while the Irish showed off their Shamrock duds.

Speaking of the Shamrock duds and helmet.  Everything is quiet about the fashion statement.  Guess it shuts us up when the lads won.

For recruiting purposes and NCAA compliance rules, the Irish coaching staff were not allowed to make contact with the recruits making trips to Chicago.  There was a fairly large contingent made up of those already verbally committed, those offered and taking an unofficial trip, those offered and verbally committed elsewhere and a number that have not received an offer but would sure like one.  The largest group attended the Michigan game and a pretty good crowd of recruits is expected for Stanford.  Anyway, how could you not want to play for the Irish after that display of offense and defense?  By all calulations, Coach Kelly can only take about half a dozen more.

If Tommy Rees had driven the Team down the field and scored would he have been under center for the second series?

We are not blocking or setting up blocks for Devonte’ Neal to return a punt.  Same as last year.  Even more frustrating is when faking the fair catch and the ball is downed at the three yard line.  Why we are missing out on this opportunity to score is beyond me.

While NBC performed its’ usual stellar job in bombarding us with long TV timeouts and commercials.  We were not subjected to any political commercials, at least any I could remember.  Of course I did spend a lot of time running to the bathroom or sticking my head in the frig.  We watch very little ‘live’ TV except for news; however the disgust level with political commercials has reached the point that they are muted.

I’m not sure Mike Maylock’s heart is in his job as color commenter this year.  He may have too much on his NFL plate.  Mike got the history of why Notre Dame played so many games at Soldier Field screwed up as well as why the Irish started playing a national schedule.  Hint:  Michigan had a large role.  Also, he kept inferring that Miami is about to turn the corner and Coach Golden is bringing the Canes back.   Doesn’t he read the papers?  The Miami AD just bailed and the NCAA is about to lower the hammer big time.

George Atkinson III leads the Irish in rushing with only 29 carries.  For god’s sake get him the ball, particularly in space.  That shovel pass in the third quarter was a thing of beauty.

Manti Te’o had a ho-hum game with only 10 tackles.  Are you kidding me?  8 were unassisted.  He struck fear into everyone he ran at.

Ben Turk one punt 32 yards.  The one punt is great and reflects a working offense.  The 32 yards sucks and exposes his inconsistency again.

Without unduly exposing Everett Golson, a few designed runs a game will force the defense to take that threat into consideration.  I know that has been talked to death however it finally happened against Miami and Stanford will now have to account for Golson.

The Notre Dame band did a nice job.  Unfortunately the Shamrock series is not a home game although only 90 miles from the Bend.  No true student body section although a ton were present, just scattered about.

Along with a zillion commercials strategically spread out during the 20-25 minute half-time break, NBC uses some of the time to hawk their Sunday NFL matchups.  I would much prefer more highlights and scores of other college games; however that is asking way too much.  They won’t even run a score ticker across the bottom of the screen.

Irish 5-0 Start What Does It Mean?

Respected blogger Omahadomer over at Rock's House on the NDNation website posted the below list.  The list notes the final record and final AP ranking AFTER A 5-0 START.

Year   Final record   Final AP ranking

1964       9-1                 3

1966       9-0-1              1

1970       10-1               2

1971       8-2                13

1973       11-0               1

1980       9-2-1              9

1988       12-0               1

1989       12-1               2

1993       11-1               2

2002      10-3               17

First of all, only ten  5-0 starts since 1964.  Second, three first place finishes and three second.  Not too shabby.

Notre Dame and Some Numbers

Nationally speaking:

Irish rushing offense went from 84^th to 40^th thanks to the Canes.

Still the only Team not to trail in a football game this year.

2^nd in scoring defense, 17^th in rushing defense, 10^th in pass-efficiency defense, 20^th in sacks, 13^th in total defense.

Have allowed 0 rushing touchdowns and scored 13.

Allowed 7.8 points per game.

Allowed no TD in last 3 games.

Allowed only 4 FG in last 3 games.

In the last 19 games, allowed 16 points in the third quarter.  (Half-time adjustments?)

1 of 14 undefeated teams.

From the Miami game:

George Atkinson III leads the team in rushing:  29 – 278 – 3 with 9.3 average per carry.

Everett Golson:  67 – 111 – 3 with 60.4% completion.

13 players have a reception.

2^nd half only 3 pass plays.

2 fumbles, neither lost. (Everett Golson and Cierre Wood)

1 punt for 32 yards.

8 kick-offs 2 for touchbacks.

1 kick-off return for 13 yards.

1 punt return, 0 yards.

Manti Te’o lead Team with 10 tackles.

Jack Golic and Tate Nichols made 1^st  game appearances this year.

Irish vs. Seagull Prediction

Does Donna Shalala know what this bird is smoking?

Well the Irish are coming off an open date (no it is not a ‘bye week’) and pretty much healthy or mended enough to pound the Seagull.  It appears place kicker Nick Tausch still has the lingering effects of a groin pull at least that is what Coach Brian Kelly alluded to in his press conference Tuesday.  (Current injury list can be found on the left side of the Blog) The rest of the Irish are ready to go.  Great piece of scheduling strategy by ND with an open week against a Team most of us old timers despise. 

 

Miami is a bit of a mystery.  It can really, really rack up the points against weak opponents and their sorry defenses.  Will the strong Irish defense show up to stop them?  Miami likes to pass, can our young secondary have enough in them to stop the big plays?  Can we bring pressure with our front three and an occasional blitz?  How about some more picks like we tagged on Denard Robinson?

The Miami run defense sucks.  Can we get a ground game going again?  I would love to see a pounding rushing game like against Navy.

There kick-off return crew is deadly, Kyle Brindza needs to bury his kicks in the end zone to neutralize that threat.  Miami’s place kicking game is a work in progress; hopefully it won’t come down to that.

While playing in Chicago, this is a home game not only because NBC will be bombarding us with mindless commercials but also our fan base and proximity to South Bend and Notre Dame.  Unfortunately the NBC broadcast crew will exploit the obvious and tell us what we already know.  Expect a big partisan rowdy Notre Dame crowd.

The uniforms are tolerable for one game.  The desecration of the golden helmet is not.

 

Hey is it our imagination or is the leprechaun facing the wrong way?

 

Will the coaching staff prop up quarterback Everett Golson enough to preclude the need for reliever Tommy Rees?

The answer to all our questions are YES.

NOTRE DAME 42 – DA U 10

Go IRISH Beat the Seagull

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Ah……. Blood Feud OSU-MSU

Urban Meyers and Mark Dantonio going after each other you got to love it.  Couldn’t happen to a couple of coaches we despise more.

Urban is no more popular with us than he is with Gater fans.  He no sooner showed up at OSU and he poached a big time recruit and two coaches from Notre Dame. 

Mark shows his disdain for Notre Dame every chance he gets.  According to him, the school, the university, the football program, the history, the tradition, the respect, mean nothing to him.  He probably can’t spell ND. 

 

If you don’t believe he is a douche bag, watch this tape.  It gets good at about the one minute mark.  Dantonio is presiding over a post game press conference where MSU squeaked out a win over compass school mighty Eastern Michigan.  Of course this is when a week before the Irish rubbed his nose into the grass of Spartan Stadium.

Apparently Mark has no great love for another (former) OSU coach.  Looks like he would rather shake hands and hug a pile of dog poop.

The feud:

First MSU accuses OSU of cheating on the reciprocal game tape exchange by clipping off the motion and realignments sections.  How stupid was that?  Here is the crux of the complaint.

Second, OSU accuses MSU of eye gouging.  Here is the eye-opener story.  (Sorry about that)  If memory serves me, didn’t Michigan accuse Sparty of punching and pinching Denard Robinson when he was at the bottom of the pile?  We think so!

 

Anyway let the feud begin and fester for many years to come.

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The Strange Notre Dame Return Game

 

What has happened to the Irish punt return and kick-off return game?  I thought Brian Kelly hired a Special Teams coach during the off season?  Punt returns are as dismal as last year.

Irish Punt Returns – Devonte’ Neal is ranked 77^th with 7 returns for 28 yards, longest 11 yards through 4 games.

Opponent Punt Returns – 2-12 yards.  Although Ben Turk has been inconsistent, the end results are outstanding.

NCAA Punt Return Leader Deante' Gray TCU - 4 games, 6 returns, 162 yards, 1 TD, 27 yard average.

Irish Kick-Off Returns – 5 returns for 106 yards which does not qualify for the minimum necessary for NCAA ranking.  (George Atkinson has returned 3 of the 5)

Opponent Kick-Off Returns – 13 for 339 yards.

NCAA Kick-Off Return Leader Dri Archer Kent State - 4 games, 10 returns, 427 yards, 2 TD's, 42.7 yard average.

Special Team emphasis appears an after thought.

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How Do You Improve The Irish Offense?

Some simplistic ideas from a non-football mind to help the lethargic offense.  If somebody doesn’t do or say something, we’re not going to run the table with just our defense.

** Figure out a way to get TE Tyler Eifert the ball.  Sure he contributes as a WR, TE, and blocker; however he is not getting the ball.  Kind of a waste of a huge All-American tight end.

** With Eifert double-teamed find the open receiver.  It would appear that some pretty good matchups have to materialize with all the attention Eifert is receiving.

** George Atkinson III has got to be given the ball in space.  End-a-rounds, screens, passes in the flats or in space, something better than having him struggle along with the offensive line blocking.

** In the Michigan State game Everett Golson over threw a couple of passes.  He’s got to be given the chance to try again.  On the first play Chris Brown on another fly pattern deep, deep.

** If you have a mobile quarterback and you don’t use him in that capacity at least to keep the defense honest, what have you gained?  Does the threat of injury out-weigh loosening up the defense? 

** Help from special teams.  Punt returns Davonte’ Neal is ranked 77^th.  Kick-off returns Notre Dame is not even listed in the NCAA statistics.  Neal is not going any more than John Goodman did last year in calling for fair catches.  On kick-off returns, the Irish to some extent are a victim of their own success on defense.  Between touchbacks and not giving opponents many kick-off opportunities, Notre Dame has only ran back 5 kick-offs for 106 yards.

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Manti Te'o Graces Sports Illustrated

Irish Linebacker Manti Te'o

The last time a Notre Dame player graced the cover of SI was August 2006 when Brady Quinn, Tom Zbikowski and Travis Thomas proclaimed the Irish were back after a 9-3 season.  In 2006 the Irish went 10-3, but of course fell apart the next three years under Charlie Weis.

Check out our newly posted Manti Te'o Heisman Watch List on the top right side of the Blog. 

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Irish and Da U

When the Irish and the Hurricanes get together fashion goes out the window.  On October 5, 2012 in Chicago, Notre Dame will do it's part by wearing the 2012 version of the Shamrock Series uniform.



 

 

Team Captains Manti Te'o and Tyler Eifert show them off for Coach Brian Kelly

Nike put together this great looking orange bomb and puke green helmet for Miami.  Since this is a off-site home game for the Irish it is unknown if the Hurricanes will be able to don these beauties and instead be forced to where a typical white away uniform.  We surely hope not.

December 31, 2010 it got a little nippy down El Paso way for the Sun Bowl.  While a number of Notre Dame players came out for kicking practice and warm ups in T-shirts and shorts, boys from Da U, were spotted looking like aliens from Florida.  We knew right then they didn't have chance.  Some enterprising person even came up with a T-shirt after the game.

 

 

Students today were not even the twinkle is someone's eye when one of the most famous fashion statements came out for the 1988 game.  The unfinished business had to do with good ole Jimmy Johnson in 1985 (last time prior the two teams had met) ramming it down our throats 58-7 and scoring unmerifully late into the 4th quarter against a luckless and lame duck coach Gerry Faust.  Lou Holtz and team beat then #1 Miami 31-30 in 1988 on their way to our last National Championship.

 

The shirt also had two other versions with a II and III printed on them replacing the ND which had gotten the original designers and sellers in deep hot water over the little issues of selling on campus without a licence and illegal use of the trade mark ND logo.

We expect to see some to these worn in Chicago was well.

 

 

Little too bland?  Well step right up.  Adidas has everything you could possibly need or want.  All kinds of shirts, pants, hats, helmets (yes those pictured on top), etc.  Here are couple of the nicer T-shirts.

 

 



Notre Dame thoughtfully will drive over a concession stand/truck loaded with swag to Chicago to ensure you look your best when we once again pound Miami into the lush green natural grass of Soldiers Field.  This ones for you Gerry.

Hey come on.  We put a lot of time into this post. 

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Irish Heisman Candidate Manti Te'o

Notre Dame Middle Linebacker Senior Manti Te'o

 

Awarded To:

The outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.

 

Ok, someone has to start it.  Come on, jump on the Red Line to the New York Downtown Athletic Club, we are campaigning for Manti Te’o and having his name placed on the 2012 Heisman ballot.  It should be the local beat reporters in South Bend with a wink and a nod from the media office in the ND Athletic Department doing this; however we are not sure those reporters are up to the task.  (Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, South Bend Tribune, Gary Post Tribune, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette)

Only one primary defensive player has ever been awarded the Heisman (1997); cornerback Charles Woodson from Michigan.  He also was a kick returner and played some wide receiver.  In the NFL Woodson was an outstanding cornerback. 

Usually the award goes to the quarterback or running back and occasional wide receiver from a team that relied on the winner to propel them to a BCS Bowl or National Championship game.  The other candidates on the ballot did the same thing only to a lesser degree.

Others have been nominated but are almost as rare as hen’s teeth:

Dick Butkus Illinois – Linebacker 1963 and 1964

Tom Brown Minnesota Offensive Guard 1960

John Hicks Ohio State Offensive Tackle 1973

Rich Glover Nebraska Defensive Lineman 1972

Hugh Green Pittsburgh Defensive End 1980

Ndamukong Suh Nebraska Defensive Tackle 2009

Kurt Burris Oklahoma Center 1954

Orlando Pace Ohio State Tackle 1996

In this sad college football era of:

A Heisman winner returning his trophy for NCAA rules violations.  (USC)

A head coach lying over knowledge concerning illegal selling of uniforms and memorabilia.  (Ohio State)

A head coach crashing a motorcycle with his paid mistress hanging on for dear life.  (Arkansas)

A pedophile scandal that destroyed a coach’s reputation and laid low a storied school program. (Penn State)

A systemic problem of academic fraud and ineligible participation of players.  (North Carolina)

Pending investigation into illegal booster payments and compensation to recruits and players. (Miami)

Pending recruiting scandal investigation, illegal payments and kickbacks.  (Oregon)

The whispered take around college football is that Notre Dame is on its’ way back and it can only be a good thing for the Sport of College Football.  It is secretly somewhat encouraged through the media.  Although the Notre Dame distracters and haters are definitely out there in the media questioning and making fun of the comeback. 

Too much money, too many cheaters, too many Bowls, too many grabs for cheap fame, too many street thugs, too many out to promote a school or a conference all at the expense of integrity. 

 



We do not personally know Manti Te’o but by gosh he appears the real deal and we really respect him.  Strong in Faith.  Dedicated to completing his education.   Loyalty to his Team and school.  Believes in family and true friends.  Manti is undergoing some hard and troubling personal issues over the death of loved ones and has to be admired and is an example in faith to be emulated.

Notre Dame is four games into a pretty tough schedule.  Te’o has produced some decent statistics.

Tackles – 38 (16 unassisted and 22 assisted) Including 2 for loss

Fumbles Recovered – 2

Interceptions - 3 

Manti Te’o is a Notre Dame Team Captain and a quiet leader by example.  Younger players on the Team (and recruits) don’t look to him for the rah-rah, the head butt or the slap on the butt.  They look to him by the way he goes about business in the class room, weight room, the practice field and on Saturday.

So should the movers and shakers at the New York Downtown Athletic Club.

Check out our Blog.  Recent posts.  Injury List.  Basher List.  Verbal Recruits.  Campus Photo’s.

Go IRISH Beat The U.

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Some Notre Dame Statistics to Chew On

A little Irish coffee this a.m.

Feeling melancholy right now.  Knowing the Irish are 4-0 and that a third of the regular season is over already.

Here are some numbers from the NCAA official statistics after four games:  Most everything is defensive for obvious reasons.

Total defense 16^th

Scoring defense 4^th

Red zone defense 8^th

Sacks tied for ninth with 14 and 91 loss yards

Turnovers gained – tied for second with 13

Turnover margin 5^th  5 fumbles and 8 interceptions

Passes intercepted 2^nd  8

National player rankings:  Irish players who show up in national NCAA FBS rankings

Passing efficiency – Everett Golson – 95^th

Interceptions – Bennett Jackson and Manti Te’o – tied for 6^th  (3 each)

Punting – Ben Turk 63^rd (40.74)

Punt Returns – Devonte’ Neal T-82

Field Goals – Kyle Brindza – T-25

Solo Sacks - Stephon Tuitt - 1 (6)

Sacks (OA/A) – Stephon Tuitt – T-4, Prince Shembo – T- 91, Shelton Day – T-91

Tackles – Manti Te’o – T-31

Tackles for Loss – Stephon Tuitt – T-33

This was gleamed off the Notre Dame statistical records.

In the Michigan game, 60 players saw action.

Chris Brown earned his first start against Michigan.

Chris Badger, Joe Schmidt and Will Mahone saw their first action.

Jalen Brown for the first time did not get in the game.

Hanratty, Hendrix, and Heggie have not played since Navy.

Manti Te’o – Some Heisman numbers in the making:

Tackles – 38  16 OA / 22 A

Fumbles Recovered – 2

Interceptions – 3

Odds and Ends:

Notre Dame has not been scored upon in the first quarter.

Running back Theo Riddick leads the team in rushing (63/251/2) AND receiving 14/117/0

12 receivers have caught passes.

Opponents have returned 2 punts for 6 yards.

Kyle Brindza leads the Irish in scoring with 23 points.  6/7 FG and 5/5 PATs

FOR MANTI TE'O

 

In Loving Memory for your Loss

 

Annette Santiago  &  Lennay Kekua

John L. Smith’s Cry for Help

Arkansas Head Coach John. L. Smith

We tend not to discriminate here at Subway Alumni Station.  We are an equal opportunity basher.  The staff will beat up Brian Kelly as needed and as seen fit.  I have called out Les Miles for his snide remarks concerning Gunner Kiel flipping to the Irish.  Jim Harbaugh for just being a plain jerk.   Even got after the venerated idol of many, Lou Holtz for his sorry, degrading Mutt and Jeff routines with Mark Mays on ESPN.  

When the Jim Tressel and Tattoo U story broke we had fun with it.  Here’s one.

The shame of PSU and the cover up was sickening and it appears those chickens have not all come home to roost.  We sadly wrote about JoePa and his arrogance.

We felt sorry for former Michigan star and Notre Dame coach Corwin Brown and wrote about it Here.

Now John L. Smith.  He is the butt of jokes and even a number of startup campaigns to fire him.  He needs help and we hope he gets it.  Hey he was 2-2 aginst the Irish.

Of course who can forget what John L. probably considers his signature career victory?  The 2005, 44-41 OT victory over the Irish and the infamous flag planting in Notre Dame Stadium by a group of Sparty street thugs?  It has taken Mark Dantonio nearly four years to clean house of those morons.

 Reference to the beating Alabama gave the Hogs

The sad story in a nut shell.  Smith is bankrupt after $25,000,000 in bad decisions/investments.  Sports Illustrated story.  Guess the word investments should be changed to greedy gambling.

Let's go to the video history.

The Slap  This came about from a false allegation by Charlie Weis who claimed he had been slapped by a Spartan player who got up after being knocked into Irish sidelines.

 

The Melt down  Notice how John L. almost threw his headset on the ground but thought better of it.  So he's not THAT crazy.

The AK press conference

John L. fell into the Arkansas job after Bobby Petrino rode into the sunset and a ditch with his mistress hanging on for dear life riding on the back of his motorcycle.  He had been Bobby's Special Teams coach but departed for Weber State to take on the coaching duties there.  John L. got the 11th hour call and thumbed Weber taking the job for the Hogs.  Yes they were desperate who wouldn't be in April?

Seriously his family and benefactors need to get him out of football and straightened out before he REALLY does something stupid.

The final nail in his coffin could be as early as this Saturday when the Hogs visit 3-0 Rutgers.

 

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A Subway Alumni Goes To Dublin

Sorry about the delay in reporting.  Between cracking a couple of ribs, closing down a house for the winter, helping a son get settled in new digs, Purdue, MSU and driving to Florida, it’s been busy.  Anyway, here goes……..

Tickets.

Got two tickets off the Navy website for $50 each.  Sat about half way up in the upper tier on the Navy side.  Exactly on the 50 yard line.  My seat was the last number of one sequence and the seat next to me started another.  Just great seats.  About 60% Navy and 40% Notre Dame fans in the section.  Interestingly the lady and man sitting next to us were Irish!  He explained the rules of play to her however she was more interested in the leprechaun and the Notre Dame band.  No idea where he learned American football.

The Aviva Stadium is enclosed so you don’t have to worry about the Irish weather.  Seats 50,000 however they had to give up 2,000 seats down close the field because of the teams and staff were blocking the view.  Beautiful venue, clean well supervised with ushers, modern restrooms and plenty of refreshment stands.  The 80,000 Croke Park where Notre Dame played last time was not available because of an Irish football match the next day.

Irish Pep Rally 02 Arena Dublin Ireland

 

Pep Rally.

Paid $50 for two tickets to the pep rally in the O2 Arena.  What the heck!  I thought pep rallies were free!  The rally lasted 90 minutes and was televised throughout Ireland.  It was actually more Irish music, dance and singing than pumping up the 9,000 Irish faithful on hand.  Mostly old Irish faithful at that, the young crowd was supporting the Irish economy at numerous pubs throughout Dublin.  For cryin out loud the Prime Minister of Ireland spoke for ten minutes.  Also interviews with Father Jenkins and AD Jack Swarbrick were conducted.  Only saw the band and cheerleaders for a total of 15 minutes or so.  No team or coaching staff.  Guess they were scheming on how to pound Navy.  Strangest thing.  9,000 thirsty Americans and what is the only beer being hawked in the stands?  Budweiser.  Needless to say, his sales were way off.  Most of us were sampling the Guinness on tap.

Bud Vendor 02 Arena Dublin

 

Game.

Our hotel lined up a bus, 5 Euro to get us to the stadium, mix of Navy and Irish fans.  There is zero parking at the stadium and almost no vehicle access areas to unload.   The driver while grinning dropped us off about ¾ of a mile away.  Walked with huge crowds to the stadium, passing numerous pubs filled with overflowing fans of all college colors.  Guinness must have been brewing overtime waiting on the Americans to show up.  The Irish people do a lot of walking and let me tell you they walk fast.

 

Pub Tailgating Dublin

Walked up 18 kilometers of steps to get to our seats.  Nice comfortable stadium types with arm rests and beverage holders.  Stopped first to check out the refreshments and load up.  Guinness, Carlsberg, Heinekens, Coors, Coors Light, Budweiser on tap.  No English beer.  Let me say that again, no English beer.  Saw no taps at the 02 Arena, or any pubs, guess they don’t like the English or Brit beer.  The Irish had a little bit of a harder time breaking away from England than our American forefathers did.

Aviva Stadium Dublin

I kept forgetting this was a Navy home game.  While the starting Navy offense and defense players were introduced over the PA system, ND players never were.  When a tackle was made by Navy you got the name, not so when the Irish did the pounding.  It went like that the whole game. 

 

 Nose Bleed Seats in Enemy Territory Aviva Stadium Dublin

The announcer was always hyping up Navy and they piped in music during all the stops in play.  This apparently is the state of college football.  The music did keep the Irish band (seniors) and the Navy band quiet most of the time.  I expect the same thing when I venture to ND for the Stanford game.

Irish Kick Return Practice

We have watched a ton of pregame warm ups but never specific punt and kick-off return drills.

The strangest thing!  Divot replacers!  Come half-time they swarmered all over the 'pitch' and replaced the divots.  I've seen it done at turf horse racing tracks but never during a football game.

Divot Replacers

Irish warm ups

The Irish stretching out, sure was nice to seem them again.

The Irish band was outstanding!  The Irish lady next to me really appreciated “Rakes of Mallow”, “Garry Owen”, and of course “Danny Boy”.  The shamrock and outline of Ireland didn’t hurt either. 

Irish Band Shamrock

 

Irish Band Ireland

Those pesky Bud vendors would not give up.  Why they imagined Americans would fly all the way to Ireland to drink Bud is beyond me.

Bud Vendor

Great game.  Wonderful pounding of Navy, don’t know if we can ever get even for the Navy bashing three years ago.  The team went over to the band and student section for the traditional salute to the fans and singing of Notre Dame Our Mother.

Team Salute to the Fans

It was a long walk to find a taxi with 50,000 fans having the same idea, except for those stopping off to recharge the battery.

Post Game Tailgating Dublin Ireland

These and other pictures are posted at the bottom of the Blog.

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