As we enter the final week before Spring ball, I can’t help but notice a certain level of restlessness around my fellow Notre Dame football fanatics. Especially after a disappointing, and yet still encouraging, 2013 campaign, it seems like the kids can’t quite go to sleep at night.
I’m always intrigued by this time of year. It seems like so much (national signing day, NFL combine/draft, spring practices) is going on and yet so little is actually happening. We fantasize about our abilities to grow VanGorder-like mustaches and drink from our Figthing Irish cups. But there is so much more to do, right now, Irish fans.
Yes, I know Everett Golson is back and will be dueling Malik Zaire for the starting quarterback spot this spring, but before that, did you know that Notre Dame boasts one of the best up-and-coming softball teams this year? That’s right, ND Softball is young and their tweets can be quite entertaining, if not informative. Easily the best live-tweeting action from Notre Dame athletics.
It also won’t hurt to watch them battle for a very winnable ACC title. Only Florida State, ranked 10th, is ahead of the 24th ranked Irish squad at this point.
Speaking of ACC titles, remember how exciting it was to watch the football squad go unblemished through the regular season in 2012? Well, turn your heads a few feet east and watch Muffet McGraw lead a stellar (thus far) undefeated women’s basketball team in the Purcell Pavilion. They clinched the regular season ACC title with their second win against Duke this year.
That’s two conference championships in two years. In two different conferences. Take that, Nick Saban.
In all honesty, if you don’t yet know the name Kayla McBride, you just aren’t doing yourself justice. Between her and Jewell Loyd, Notre Dame has one of the best back courts in all of women’s basketball. They are on an almost inevitable collision course to face their long-time rivals, UConn, in the finals. Seriously, don’t miss that kind of stuff. The last few games have made Duke vs. North Carolina look like Northwestern vs. Penn State.
Speaking of missing things, did you give up on Irish hockey’s chances at going to the NCAA tournament? Pay attention, because a win against Boston College this Saturday could put them into one of the last at-large spots after they gave Boston University a double dose of Summerhays shutouts last weekend (for what was actually their third straight shutout). The team is late to the party, but peaking at the right time and selection committees love that stuff.
There are plenty of exciting things going on in South Bend right now, and spring football is just one among them.
But if you want that football fix…if you NEED that football fix, just remember how awesome it is that we still get to be entertained by one of the greats: Mr. Louis Nix III. I hope that man never leaves a microphone behind.
Go. Irish.
WhiskyPoet
Latest posts by WhiskyPoet (see all)
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Welcome to the team, Whisky! Solid start!
Gracias, Tex. Looking forward to reader feedback and interacting with one of the greatest fan bases on Earth.
Especially if the reader feedback is always positive and emotionally fulfilling.
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Glad to see other sports getting some love. Women’s bball is fantastic, and another worth mentioning is Reaney, the swimmer who set an American record over the weekend. Not just school, not just conference, an American record. Thanks for the post!
You know, I almost did put her in, but I know so little about collegiate swimming that I figured I’d be transparently full of crap.
I highly recommend following my twitter for frustrated hysterics during the women’s tourney.
How about giving @NDlacrosse some press? Coming off of 4 straight NCAA Quarterfinals appearances or better, NDMLAX was ranked 11th this past week but upset #2/3 UNC @ UNC on Saturday to open ACC competition. All 6 ACC teams were ranked in the top 7 to start the season. NDMLAX will be on ESPNU for 5 of their 9 remaining regular season games so they are easy for Irish fans anywhere to follow.
Thanks for the heads up! I honestly didn’t know it was on TV that much, and the win against UNC certainly caught my attention. For all Kevin White did wrong with football, he was a huge blessing for all of our olympic sports. Honestly, if we were a bigger school, I’d expect us to compete for the Capital One Cup.
Hell, we were actually tied for NUMBER ONE in men’s sports after Christmas break. Men’s BBall is going to hurt us there, but I think with some of the spring sports we may stay up top.