Leaving Late or Coming Late - Greg Schiano or Charlie Weis

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

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?

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Flying Rumors and Flying Pigs

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.

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Notre Dame and the 2012 Murderer's Row Schedule

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.

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KELLY GETS TWO MORE YEARS ! POOR US !

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

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.

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What’s Next on the Schedule

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.

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Merry Christmas, God Bless, Happy New Year

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

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

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Swag, Bowls and the Gift of Receiving

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.

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The Curious Case of Notre Dame Safety Chris Badger

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.

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Where Will Highly Recruited Gunner Kiel Land?

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.

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Slim Pickins For Notre Dame News

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.

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Go Irish, Beat Free Shoe U.

Latest From Notre Dame Inc.

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!

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Nate Montana Quarterback Career Update

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)

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Dayne Crist All- American Person

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

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.

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A Riddle Wrapped In A Mystery Inside An Enigma

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.”

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Is 8-4 Better Than 7-5?

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.

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Black Friday Odds and Ends

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)?
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Brian Kelly Pulling a Hare Out of His Bonnet

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.

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

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. 

 
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