Category: Football

MAJOR RECRUITING COUP AND ANOTHER AWARD END THE WEEK

ND Editor December 10, 2012 Football Tagged Greg Bryant

5 Star running back Greg Bryant 5’11” 196 , 4.5 speed from Delray Beach Florida committed to Notre Dame Saturday after guesting at the Annual Awards Show. He was surrounded by around a dozen of the 2013 class which certainly helped the cause. This is really a major major pick up for ND and once again kudos to Tony Alford – give him a raise now.

Bryant was a previous commit to Oklahoma, de-committed and chased by every big time school in the country. Apparently his father a big time ND fan wants his son to get a ND degree, also very impressed by graduation rates at ND.

We will see how this stands up after Jan. 7th but for now we can celebrate for this kid can play right away – he’s that good.

I already dropped Mattingly and RB Jamel James so for now we have 21 commits. We really need a NG – there must be a guy out there about 320 from anywhere – 3 star, big body just to clog the middle.

Finally Manti’s trek all over ends with winning his record setting 7th award – Lott Award for Impact Player for best defensive player with biggest impact on team. Now back to practice.

Final word on Heisman – just a little bit disappointed but c’mon Johnny Manziel had a great year and did beat Bama and caught the catchy name Johnny Football which won him the award – congrats kid.

Jimmy Byrne 2014 Is Irish Commit

ND Editor December 9, 2012 Football Tagged Jimmy Byrne

With all the hoopla about Manti and awards, Rivals 4 star Jimmy Byrne 6’4″ 275 OG from St. Ignatius HS in Cleveland Ohio became commit #4 in the 2014 class. Kelly stomped Urban to get the current best offensive lineman in the State of Ohio.

Byrne has a nice crop of offers but selected Notre Dame for the comfort factor, OL coach Hiestand and academics. This looks like a solid commit but expect Urban to harass this kid right up to signing day.

If ND happens to lose to Alabama expect Urban to scream bloody murder for number one.

So far Notre Dame is cruising with 4 commits and plenty of offers out – certainly helps to have a magical season. The 4 Commits are:

Johnny Football wins the Heisman over Manti further diminishing it’s importance by selecting offensive players only. But you have to give credit to Johnny – what a year he had. Believe he sealed the deal by beating Alabama.

Manti Sweeps Awards

ND Editor December 8, 2012 Football Tagged Manti Teo

At the Home Depot Football Awards Show Manti’s take:

Bednarik Award – Top Defensive Player
Walter Camp Award – Player Of The Year
Maxwell Award – Player Of The Year

That makes a total of 6 awards – record setting for a defensive player. God, we will miss this kid.

On another note and as expected OLB Danny Mattingly decommited from the Irish – how the hell does that make sense with ND the #1 team in the country.

Wavering RB Jamel James – he has never even visited the school. I count him as out.

So that brings total down to 20 and some maneuvering room for Kelly to add to this years haul.

Te’o Awards Keep Piling Up

ND Editor December 6, 2012 Football Tagged Manti Teo

After cinching the Butkus and Nagurski awards Te’o wins The Lombardi Award for Top Collegiate Lineman, as well as CBS SPORTS Defensive Player Of The Year.

Next up:

Maxwell Award–Player Of The Year Award.
Chuck Bednarik Award–Best Defensive Player.
Heisman
Lott Impact Award.

Tons of hardware coming to ND this year.

Everyone in the US knows who Te’o is and that he plays for Notre Dame–how good does it get.

Finally, we really need Bob Diaco for the BIG game–if he gets a HC job let it be after this game.

AWARDS AWARDS AND AWARDS

ND Editor December 5, 2012 Football Tagged

Brian Kelly wins Coach Of The Year For 2nd Time – first was 2009 Cinncy.

Mackey Award Best Tight End – Tyler Eifert–he deserves it.

Broyles Award – Best Asst. Coach Bob Diaco – no contest for me

Manti Te’o – Butkus and Nagurski Awards – For a Linebacker these are more important than the “H”, even though Manti invited to the “H” show along with Johnny Football and Klein.

Eifert is the first ND Tight End to get the Mackey Award – I can think of at least 3 others that should have gotten this prize on prior ND teams – what can you do.

How the hell can Alabama even show up for the Big game with all these prizes going to ND. Even if we lose we have already won.

TRIFECTA FOR MANTI TE’O

ND Editor December 4, 2012 Football Tagged Manti Teo

Manti starts this week winning The Butkus Award, The Bronko Nagurski Award and Named a finalist for trip to NY for The Heisman Award. Next up The Bednarik Award?

Notre Dame 2013 commit Jaylon Smith wins the High School Butkus Award. Manti won this in 2008–first ever.

For a look at Butkus and Bednarik scroll down–clips of each.

Other News;

ND Bowl Game Practice Schedule:

DEC. 7, 8, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30 & 31
Jan. 3, 4 & 5
Fly to Florida Jan. 2

Bob Diaco – reports in that he interviewed for Boston College job .

Biggest screw job – Georgia left out of BCS game.

BCS Games:

Championship – #1 ND vs. #2 Alabama
Sugar – #3 Florida vs. #21 Louisville?
Fiesta – #4 Oregon vs. #5 Kansas State – must see game.
Orange – #12 Florida State vs. #15 Northern Illinois – gotta be a joke.
Rose – #6 Stanford vs. unranked Wisconsin

Who the hell is in charge of these selections?

SEC SLUGFEST Alabama 32 Georgia 28

ND Editor December 2, 2012 Football Tagged

Alabama vs. Georgia game lived up to all expectations in a back and forth battle for all 4 quarters. You come away from that game thinking you just saw 2 great football teams and either one of them could have won this game.

Last seconds of the game saw a terrific drive engineered by Georgia QB Aaron Murray with 1:08 left on the clock and Georgia on it’s own 15 yard line, Murray passed his way to Alabama’s 8 yard line–15 seconds left and then inexplicably did not spike the ball. Tipped pass, caught on the 5 yard line in-bounds, down and game over. Wow, horrible time management by the Georgia coach.

So what did Notre Dame learn:

Be happy you’re not playing Georgia and QB Aaron Murray who had 265 yards passing.
Damn Alabama has some rushing game– 350 yards and a big OL.

I would rather play Alabama. Better to go against their QB AJ McCarron who is hot and cold and can get rattled if pressured–but you have got to stop the run. Bama plays from a Pro Set so you know where QB will be and don’t have to worry about him scrambling. Bama’s RB’s are big tough and fast:

Eddie Lacy 6′ 220
TJ Yeldon 6’2′ 216

These guys are battering rams. Bama’s running game controls the clock and wears down a defense–they had possession 37 minutes vs. Georgia’s 22 minutes. Georgia had 265 yds passing and 122 yards rushing.

I just don’t know if we can run on these guys, but somehow or other we have to find a way. Golson has to have the game of his life both running and passing–study Johnnie Football.

ND on defense–stop the run which means I would start Calabrese over Fox and plenty of 4 down linemen. Power vs. power and Te’o has to be sensational. I would use Buddy Ryan’s famous 46 defense that killed teams when he was with the Bears.

His basic philosophy was stuff the lanes while trying to kill opponents QB’s. If ND can’t slow the running game plus get to the QB we are in big trouble.

This is truly an outstanding Alabama team.

Passing Time

ND Editor November 29, 2012 Football Tagged

This one’s for Chris in Boston. Clip was posted on the Keith Arnold site.

Manti should win the Heisman if it stands for what originally intended. Nice if he was to join Leon Hart who played both ways but was a standout on defense on Leahy’s post war teams.

What’s Next As We Wait 6 Weeks

ND Editor November 28, 2012 Football Tagged

Before going ahead let’s revisit Lane Kiffin’s calls on that goal line stand. Running 3 times (he must not have known what we did to Stanford) not only did he run but he ran right at Big Lou Nix–really stupid. I would have passed all those downs to Lee–he would have caught one.

I guess that recruiting is center stage now with coaches all over the place and Kelly really going hard at Max Redfield, safety prospect from California–would be great to get him. Chasing a few RB’s also–is their a big fullback out there–say 245 lbs? I want that guy.

Kelly’s problem right now–only 2 maybe 3 spots left although there have been rumblings that OLB commit Danny Mattingly is looking around as well as RB commit Jamal James. I hope we can keep both.

Anyone notice the lack of production from Tuitt in last several games? Man was he overshadowed by Kap Moore.

Seniors to worry about not coming back–Cierre Wood (gone) Louis Nix, Zack Martin, Chris Watt–all seniors, how do you get better than 12-0 and possible win in the big game. I think all 3 linemen would go in the 1st 3 rounds–get paid now and avoid a career ending injury.

Talking about the Championship Game, I’m with Chris who commented earlier–let’s play Bama and shut them the hell up.

And finally to help us get through Dec. NBC WILL AIR A ND SPECIAL–UNDEFEATED 2012 SEASON AT 2PM EST. SATURDAY DEC. 22ND.

Notre Dame 22 USC 13

ND Editor November 25, 2012 Football Tagged USC

12 and 0 and going to the BCS Championship game. USC– 6 tries inside the 5, 2 and goal line and 0 points thanks to an incredible goal line stand including a dropped pass. Please extend Kiffin’s contract say for 10 years.

Credit really goes to the entire Notre Dame team but special credit once again to the defense–maybe a little more blitzing in next game which I sincerely hope is not on ABC and their 10,000 commercials.

Golson has come a long way but Cierre Wood has become an enigma–don’t get it and I’m not really sure it’s him or the blockers.

Other than the defense 2 guys came up super big.