In New Orleans, the arrival of a season is generally marked by the appearance of a new menu item. Crab, shrimp, oyster and crawfish are our seasons. Mardi Gras is another of our seasons, but its beginning and end are set by the moon. For the Notre Dame football fan, the arrival of the South Bend Tribune's ND Insider Notre Dame Football Preview is a $9.95, hundred-ish page, glossy reminder that a new season has begun. Football is coming. Reviewing the magazine, and its $4.99 digital sister, … [Read more...]

This morning, The Observer reported on The Shirt's unveiling, and the article contained a quote from Kristin Andrejko, The Shirt committee's vice president. According to the article, she said, "I think it's special because I've never seen a Shirt that captures a moment in the stadium, and I think this Shirt really does just that. It's the players walking out at the beginning of the game, holding hands, a sign of unity … and it's the chills you get when you hear 'There's a magic in the sound of … [Read more...]

Once again, I was fortunate enough to enjoy Blue Gold Weekend from the relative comforts of the 504 area code. To be fair, at my age and with my systolic, I was lucky to just be alive. But in any event, and with my history with The Shirt, I look forward to its unveiling and to that of next season's forlorn hope with a mixture of excitement and nausea. This year's The Shirt does to the eyes what a heaving ocean does to the stomach. There are worse horrors in the world, but if we can send a … [Read more...]

This is a piece about basketball, football, and conference membership, and it's one of those pieces that drives a lot of people to distraction, seeing as it's mostly devoid of statistics and objectivity. The ones of people who read this either be staunch proponents of our football independence or at-peace with our football independence. That said, I cannot help but consider our position relative to the ACC whenever tournament time rolls around. To say that conference membership has been good … [Read more...]

Tomorrow, March 7, Notre Dame kicks off Campaign 2017 with a press conference by Head Football Coach Brian Kelly at noon South Bend Time. The conference will be live-streamed at und.com. Actual practice starts on the 8th at 7:30 a.m. and I feel exhausted already. The Irish are allowed fourteen (14) total practices before the annual Blue-Gold Game, which will take place on April 22. The BG Game's website will go live next week. It's finally happening... … [Read more...]

National Signing Day 2017 has come and gone. To be honest, I'm pleasantly surprised at where the Irish finished the day. Credit that to a staff that weathered significant turnover and new arrivals who hit the recruiting trail running. Credit, too, to an Athletic Director who took an active, and rare, personal role in the success of #IRISHEL17E. Notre Dame finished somewhere in the top fifteen, nationally, depending on the service to which you subscribe. ESPN has ND ranked 16th overall, … [Read more...]

In a move that is perhaps surprising, Notre Dame's QB1, DeShone Kizer, has declared for the NFL Draft. Via Twitter-dot-com, Kizer made it official some minutes ago:   Thank you @NotreDame pic.twitter.com/LDjdlCf9nw — DeShone Kizer (@DKizer_14) December 12, 2016 Despite just two years under center, and difficulties at the position this year, Kizer's move vaults Brandon Wimbush, the wunderkind from Saint Peter's Prep, into the starter's job. One hopes that Winbush's talent and … [Read more...]